The Midnight Girls

October 15, 2021
Bad girls steal hearts--literally--in this Sapphic sophomore novel. In a magical version of 18th-century Poland, three girls are bound to serve three extremely powerful, abusive, elderly witch sisters. Beata, aka Morning, serves White Jaga; Marynka, or Midday, serves Red Jaga; and Zosia, who is Midnight, serves Black Jaga. Gifted magical powers that can transform them into murderous monsters, each is tasked with murdering princes and bringing their hearts to their Jagas to give their Jagas power. When Beata and Marynka team up to bring their Jagas the highly coveted pure heart of Prince J�zef during his annual winter Karnawal, they quickly discover that Zosia is on the same quest. Fiery Marynka has always been obsessed from afar with sleek, powerful Zosia, but as their dangerous competition continues to ratchet up, the two begin to realize that their obsessive rivalry may, in fact, be a simmering desire. All three long for freedom, but what that means for each of them is something they'll need to figure out for themselves. The well-realized setting adds a richness to the third-person narrative, which is focalized through Marynka and Zosia. Whiteness is the default, although there are Muslim and Jewish secondary characters, and same-gender attraction is the norm. Some intriguing worldbuilding aspects are underexplored, but fans of Leigh Bardugo's Grisha trilogy and readers craving morally gray queer characters will happily make room on their shelves for this one. A satisfying story evocative of fairy tales. (pronunciation guide, author's note) (Fantasy. 14-18)

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Starred review from November 1, 2021
The teen servants of three brutal legendary witches compete to obtain princes’ literal hearts in this fierce sapphic adventure set in an alternate 18th-century Poland. Imbued with powers such as riding the wind and manipulating the elements, each fetches the organs to power her ancient mistress: Beata, White Jaga’s servant, is known as Morning; Marynka, known as Midday, serves Red Jaga; and Black Jaga’s servant, Zosia, is called Midnight. When Beata and Marynka are dispatched to Warszów to obtain the exceptionally pure heart of Prince Józef, they soon encounter Zosia. As the three compete for the same prize amid the revels of the winter Karnawał season, Marynka and Zosia slowly discover a mutual attraction born of competition, danger, and shared monstrosity, but neither can afford to fail her unforgiving mistress. A raw chemistry links the duo, turning discord into wary courtship without blunting either’s passions or wits, and allowing for plenty of satisfying conflict. Jasinska (The Dark Tide) mingles human fears and goals with sharp-edged default-white protagonists in this rewarding high-stakes novel, drawing from Slavic fairy tales to craft an intriguing tale of bitter rivals exploring their bond. Ages 14–up. Agent: Rena Rossner, the Deborah Harris Agency.

December 1, 2021

Gr 8 Up-In this atmospheric fantasy inspired by Polish culture, two monstrous girls battle each other for the heart of a prince but ultimately fall for each other. Marynka and Zosia are apprenticed to the witches of midday and midnight, vicious competitors who consume the hearts of princes to gain power. Caught in a cycle of brutal one-upmanship, the girls must constantly outfox each other to gain the upper hand, extract princely hearts with their claws, and feed their masters. However, instead of demoralizing them, this fierce rivalry inspires both to greater heights. On assignment to gain the heart of the saintly Prince J�zef, Marynka and Zosia finally meet in person and find that the tension between them easily shifts from violence to flirtation. Although the brutal nature of their connection often leaves the romance feeling cold, Marynka and Zosia do eventually find common ground in their shared experiences. However, the lack of closure at the end may leave some readers feeling unfulfilled. A background romance between Prince J�zef and his former best friend turned enemy is at times more compelling than the main affair. Jasinska crafts a detailed, distinctive world, including diverse religious beliefs and Polish mythology, though all of the main characters are coded as white. VERDICT An additional purchase for readers who prefer slow-build romance or for fans of dark, fairy tale-inspired fantasy authors like Marie Rutkoski or Natasha Ngan.-Catherine Cote, John Champe H.S., Aldie, VA

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2022
Grades 9-12 Villainous romance takes center stage in the snowy kingdom of Lechija during Karnawal season. Beata, Marynka, and Zosia all have the ability to turn into a monster in order to retrieve the hearts of princes and bring them back to the witches the three serve. Zosia and Marynka, bitter rivals, both set their ambitious sights on the heart of Lechija's Prince J�zef, which would provide immeasurable power. Zosia wishes to take the power for herself, while Marynka seeks to prove herself, and their rivalry turns into a slow-burn romance with murderous heat that fans of BBC's Killing Eve will devour. Happily, the friendship between the three leads is treated with as much weight as the enemies-to-lovers romance, and along with these deeply engaging characters, an immersive magic system and vivid setting make Jasinska's atmospheric fantasy world, based on eighteenth-century Poland, a character in itself. High stakes and a fast plot add to this dynamic fantasy that really understands how to present the enemies-to-lovers trope to an LGBTQ+ audience.

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October 6, 2021
Alicia Jasinska’s The Midnight Girls will be eagerly devoured by fans of her dark fantasy YA debut The Dark Tide. In Lechija, a kingdom much like 18th-century Poland, three witches rely on their servant girls to bring them the pure hearts of princes that sustain them. With the kingdom at war and the two-month-long festive season of Karnawał beginning, Beata, Marynka and Zosia—Morning, Midday and Midnight—join the crowds in Warszów to stalk Prince Józef and compete to rip out his heart. Marynka is desperate to prove herself, even after she realises that the girl she has been falling for on their journey is her enemy and rival Zosia. For Zosia, this is her chance to steal the heart for herself and finally have enough power to be free. Unbeknown to either, Prince Józef’s exiled soul mate wields a divine sabre and recognises the monstrous girls for what they are. The tension increases as the tsarina tightens her grip on Lechija, the Karnawał festivities grow wilder, and the Midnight Girls are torn between duty and desire. Jasinska’s creative use of Polish history and culture is dazzling, and the dark fairytale ambience of the novel will appeal to readers of retellings such as Erin A Craig’s House of Salt and Sorrows.   Ilona Urquhart is a children’s and youth services librarian on the Surf Coast and has a PhD in literary studies.