Midnight Books: Midnight in London
By stelreadsloads12
Hello, everyone! On this week’s adventure to finding the perfect midnight story, I’ll be reviewing a pretty unknown book—Midnight In London. I found it dusted and forlorn in a nearby library and decided to bring it back to give the old chap some love, and by the time I had finished reading it, it was already 4am in the morning. One of the best novels I’ve ever read, couldn’t recommend it more.
It’s a good read for those nights when the world feels like it’s running away from you, and you just need some reassurance that there’s still something worth living for. While there’s a strong focus on the romantic plot, there’s also a fairly interesting alternative interpretation of the Fire of London, as well as various historical figures. There’s hints of a deep history of the world that makes me wish there was some sort of sequel to tell me more about it.
I could barely find anyone talking about it online, but I double checked and the publisher is still publishing it.
Here’s the extract from the back of the book:
When the city of London burns down, it’s not just the humans that panic- but also the unknown mythical inhabitants of the city. Ancient runes inscribed within London’s foundations have been compromised- ones that are holding back forces beyond comprehension. Only Alex, a woman from places humanity has long forgotten, holds the knowledge on how to restore them.
However, there’s a slight issue. She’s forgotten how to locate the runes.
Now, in a city that is completely foreign to what she remembered, and with the help of a local historian, Alex will have to balance handling the inhuman forces of the city while keeping her new companion alive long enough to find the runes.
The book is written in a third person perspective, but is heavily based on Alex’s perspective and opinions, with even the very descriptions shifting depending on her mood at the moment. Alex was easily the highlight of the book to me. Unlike most typical fantasy protagonists, Alex provided a breath of fresh air to the ‘normal girl in a magical society’ trope I’ve grown accustomed to, being a complete reversal to that trope. Even in the world of Midnight in London, the supernatural beings treat her as if she’s an abnormality to the world.
She acts enigmatically and impulsively, but with a certain charisma to it that makes it seem as if she’s one step ahead of the other characters at all times. Her infallibility is hard to ascertain if it’s genuine or not, as the writing often makes me as confused as the enemies. The narrator often contradicts itself or downright lies along with Alex, keeping you on your toes as you never know what Alex says is truth or lie.
The lack of stability makes the reader both frustrated and intrigued, as any genuine hints that are found seem all the more rewarding after Alex ’s tenth lie about being a vampire overlord. It also made me sympathise greatly with the deuteragonist—a historian called Constance. He’s the straight man to Alex ’s shenanigans, an honest character who at first starts out as her biggest hater—only to later develop into her love interest.
While definitely intertwined with the main plot, Alex and Constance’s love story isn’t a picture perfect romance, and was one of my favourite parts of the story. Alex is definitely toxic in parts of the book, and Constance’s awareness of the toxicness makes their growing bond interestingly complex.
I’m going to be reviewing spoilers ahead, so scroll away if you want to read this for yourself!
One of the book’s biggest stand-out points to me were the clues strewn about. One of the main themes I’ve noticed in the book is the idea of uncertainty and how people feel about it. Alex’s true identity is never outright revealed to anyone in the story, and we’re never left with closure, but upon rereading it multiple times and referencing Slavic mythology, I suspect she’s related to the fae—a faction that while never directly appears in the book, is mentioned a couple of times.
While their bond is developed beautifully, with many crucial developing scenes happening at midnight, there are multiple signs throughout the story that their relationship will not be a healthy one. Alex’s enigmaticness starts out charming, but her constant lies and elusiveness about her identity soon become an apparent problem in their relationship, and one of their main conflicts is her lack of honesty with him.
Constance himself isn’t perfect either, something which is slowly revealed when he’s put under pressure throughout the book. One secret which is heavily implied is him lying about his name, as well as his morals being not as good as they first appear to be. He’s hinted to have an obsession with something dangerous, an obsession strong enough to lead him to endanger himself several times in the past. While Alex tries to talk to him about it, he keeps tight-lipped and remains a hypocrite about honesty.
The final nail in the coffin, really, was when I reread the book and realised something else that had been hinted at. It’s established that in this alternate history, Guy Fawkes was a scapegoat for starting the fire of London, with the real culprit being on the loose. As we explore how the city has been impacted, the culprit’s identity is questioned by Alex multiple times.
Constance at first appears neutral to the subject, but as he and Alex bond more, there’s subtle signs of him being uncomfortable around the subject. An especially strong reaction happened when Alex talked about the cruelty of the fire setter. That’s when I figured out what the author had been suggesting- that Constance was the person who set the fire all along. Combined with his dangerous tendencies, it probably wasn’t for a sympathetic reason either.
Given all this, their relationship by the end of the novel is almost doomed to fail. It’s left off on a bittersweet note, with them celebrating their newfound love after an argument which was left unresolved. On one hand, the fact there isn’t a sequel makes me sigh in relief, because I can live in ignorance and pretend they’re happy forever. On the other hand, I want to know what happens next. They’re both deeply interesting characters, and if a sequel ever releases, you can bet I’ll be first in line at the bookstore.
Interview:
Xela London: “Really, I never expected my silly little love tale to receive so much love.”
In today’s article, we interview the author of Midnight in London, an urban fantasy novel which has topped the charts with outstanding sales after going viral on TikTok. Site member Jane Brown got the inside scoop.
Jane Brown: Hello! It’s so nice to meet you! It’s an honor to meet the writer of one of my new favourite stories.
Xela London: No, no, the pleasure is all mine—or maybe it’s both of ours. May I have your name?
Of course, it’s [ERROR]. Now, for my first question, could I ask if you’d ever expect Midnight In London to achieve the fame it did today?
Xela London: Maybe, and mayhaps not. I wrote my very first draft of it after a really bad breakup, and I needed a—what do people call it? A, like, refresh. Clean girl makeover. My therapist suggested writing it, so I did. Was just a little homework thing that I published since I had nothing else to do. Really, I never expected my silly little love tale to receive so much love.
Wow! How long did it take you to write it?
Xela London: Hmmm…just a decade. Or mayhaps a century! Both can feel like the other, you know?
Was there anything that particularly influenced this book?
Xela London: Welllll, the description was influenced by how I remember things! Memories come and go, but certain things stand out. Just thinking of how I remember my own past helped me write descriptions of old London without needing to reference dusty history books. At the start, people said that the thoughts and emotions were hard to comprehend, but in the end I think it turned out understandable enough.
Readers have been clamouring and obsessing over the hints and fantastic worldbuilding, are there any plans for a sequel?
Xela London: Nah. I mean, there’s so many sad stories in life. I’d like to keep this one kinda happy, ya know? Sometimes, when bad stuff happens to us, we just obsess over it, and forget about all the happiness that once was. It doesn’t change what happened, of course, but sometimes it’s a nice reminder there used to be love. We regret so much, and we have nothing left but memories. Oh, and have this back!
Jane Brown: What?
Xela left the interview abruptly, claiming she had fun doing it, but had some urgent business to attend to. We contacted her publishing company multiple times to attempt to obtain a brief biography on her life, but they did not respond.
Midnight Books: Midnight in Kuala Lumpur
By stelreadsloads12
Hello everyone! It’s been awhile since my last review, mostly cause I landed myself an internship at a journalism company! I’ll still be doing reviews on the side, but I also have to focus on work! Hopefully, I’ll be able to interview authors one day.
When I first picked up Midnight in Kuala Lumpur, I thought it would be some parody of Midnight in London, since it gained so much popularity since my first review of it. While they’re both urban fantasy books, the writing style is much different compared to Midnight in London. The pages are formatted in a diary format, in a first person perspective from the main character. Descriptions are brief and to the point, and there’s a grounded realism to the whole story.
If you’re in the mood for a shockingly down to earth commentary on regrets and bitter love, that will leave you wondering about your own relationships, Midnight in Kuala Lumpur is for you. It’s the type of book that when you read it after a bad breakup, relates with that sense of bittersweetness as well as hope for the future.
Here’s the extract from the back of the book:
Most people would consider ten years the dating phase, but three hundred was how long it took Constantine—a human cursed with immortality—to propose to the love of his life. Moving to Kuala Lumpur for their wedding and eventually settling down, unexpected problems expose the instability of their wedding plans.
Despite the problems, Constantine can’t help but wonder if their difficulties are really due to the new environment, or if they’re caused by the same person he’d once give up everything for.
While magical elements are definitely present, especially when it comes to Constatine’s backstory, the relationship troubles faced by Constatine and his fiance are shockingly grounded. Their troubles source from very real problems that people face in everyday life, rather than due to some curse or spell. The progression of their relationship is incredibly interesting to watch, alongside how their past dynamic was portrayed.
I’m getting into mild spoilers ahead about character development, so swipe away if you don’t want to know!
While Constatine presents himself as a very down-to-earth, sensible man, there’s strong hints of him being an unreliable narrator the more the story continues. The conflict with his partner, who’s never named, reduces her identity to what the reader and Constatine perceive of her. She starts out shallow, and has a fear of commitment that Constantine is aware of.
However, she’s not the only one with problems. Her arguments with Constantine go from what I assumed was bitter criticism to valid criticisms, ones that he responds to with spite and hatefulness. At one point, his fiance suggests therapy, only for Constantine to immediately shoot the idea down, while insulting her in his head. Constantine is not the victim of their relationship, but rather also has his own issues that he seems to grow increasingly aware of.
There’s moments of self-awareness at the end of some diary entries, which grow longer and longer with each passing chapter. In the end though, only glimpses of self-awareness weren’t enough to stop them from having a messy breakup at the end. Constantine and his fiance’s relationship ends on an extremely bitter, almost desolate note that reminded me of how my own friends have complained about their own breakups.
Overall, it was a fantastic story exploring the messy parts of relationships as well as how both parties blame each other, and I’d even say it’s second in ranking behind Midnight in London.
Interview:
Cozbi Hora: “I believe that humans can learn from their mistakes- it’s a lesson I realised while writing.”
In today’s article, we interview the author of Midnight in Kuala Lumpur, the hottest romantasy novel between two immortals in our very own city. Site member Stel Jajeong brings us a never before seen glimpse of the author behind this book.
Stel Jajeong: Good morning! It’s so great to have the chance to interview you.
Cozbi Hora: The pleasure is mine.
Stel Jajeong: Was the final draft of Midnight in Kuala Lumpur different from your initial vision?
Cozbi Hora: Yes. In the beginning, I had a very clear vision of how the story would begin and start. The fiance, in particular, was intended to be a villain. However, the more I wrote, the more I realised that while with faults, she wasn’t the only one to blame for the dissonance in the relationship. Constantine’s character was the same from start to finish, but certain traits became more obvious to me over time.
Stel Jajeong: Can you explain how you chose the title ‘Midnight in Kuala Lumpur’?
Cozbi Hora: When first drafting titles, they were mainly focused on Constantine’s fiance. She initially was named within the story, but it was redacted in later versions. Midnight is a significant moment to both Constantine and his fiance, especially during parts of their past that weren’t touched on in the story, but existed nonetheless.
Stel Jajeong: If readers could take one thing away from the story, what would you like it to be?
Cozbi Hora: To not be overly critical to the point of ignorance. While there are cases where only one party in the relationship is in the wrong, it is not every case. Every relationship is unique and complex, and while Constantine and his fiance’s relationship isn’t applicable to everyone, I hope that people can realise if they themselves have flaws, and take steps to becoming better- whether that be with, or without their partner.
Stel Jajeong: Does your job as a history lecturer influence your writing career?
Cozbi Hora: Yes. Preparing for my job while also writing was a difficult balance to achieve. However, learning from history is a lesson I wanted to both teach and write about.
Stel Jajeong: I’m aware we’re on a short time limit, but could I ask if you’ve ever read Midnight in London?
Cozbi Hora: No, I haven’t heard of that book.
Stel Jajeong: My organisation is hosting a writer’s conference in a few weeks time, and some readers like to read both your novel and Midnight in London together, calling them Midnight Stories. Would you be interested in joining a panel with the author of Midnight in London?
Cozbi Hora: I would.
[THE FOLLOWING RECORDING IS FROM A VOICE NOTE RECORDING, FROM AN IPHONE BELONGING TO STEL JAJEONG]
STEL: Alright, alright, I managed to get here early. I’m so nervous. Hopefully I’ll like relisten to this in 10 years and think back of myself and like laugh at myself.
[In the distance, sounds of an argument can be heard]
STEL: Oh crap, that’s- wait, isn’t that from the interview room?
A MASCULINE VOICE: -lex, weren’t you the one who insisted we would never meet again, and yet here you are at one of the first events, intent on-
A FEMALE VOICE: Woah, someone’s got a stick up their ass. Even if you are writing some dusty new history textbook, this is for fiction authors, you know? There’s supposed to be some other guy here, it says so online- wait, do you even know what the Internet is? Or are you still stuck in the last century? You know, modern internet slang is so great, because now I can say all the stuff you pulled in the past was total performative male behavior. Mansplain, manipulate, manlight.
A MASCULINE VOICE: Is that an insult for old age???? Frankly, between the two of us, we know you’re the-
[The door creaks open.]
STEL: Ms London? Mx Hora? Could I…maybe ask why you two are arguing?
[There is a short pause before both parties begin swearing in an unknown language.]
Written by: Hoe Yan
Edited by: Amberlyn
