Release Date: June 11th 2020
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Pages: 352
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 4/5 stars
Synopsis
The first novel in a lyrical, endlessly inventive urban fantasy trilogy from debut author Holly Race.
Fifteen-year-old Londoner Fern is about to uncover a place that she could not have imagined in all her wildest dreams. Annwn is the dream mirror of our world, a place where Dreamers walk in their slumber, their dreams playing out all around them. An enchanted, mysterious place that feeds our own world – as without dreams, without a place where our imaginations and minds can be nourished, what kind of humans would we be?
But Annwn is a place as full of dangers as it is wonders: it is a place where dreams can kill you. Annwn and its Dreamers are protected by an ancient order known as the Knights – and when Fern’s hated twin Ollie is chosen to join their ranks, Fern will have to do whatever she can to prove she is one of them too.
But the world Fern discovers in Annwn, in this dream mirror of her London, is a fragile one, threatened by vicious nightmares. Nightmares that are harder and harder for the Knights to defeat. Something dark is jeopardising the peace and stability of Annwn, something that must be rooted out at all costs. And gradually, Fern realises that the danger lurking inside our sleep is more insidious and terrifying than any nightmare. Because if you can influence someone’s dreams, you can control their thoughts …
Review
Midnight’s Twins is the first in an all new fantasy trilogy from Holly Race. The story follows fifteen year old Fern, who has always felt like an outsider in her family. When she uncovers secrets surrounding her mother’s past, Fern discovers the magical dream world of Annwn. Annwn is protected by Knights and when Fern’s twin brother Ollie is chosen to join them, Fern must do everything she can to prove she is one of them too.
Midnight’s Twins is one of those books that you just sink into and completely lose yourself in the world. The story is beautifully told and I absolutely loved Race’s lyrical dream like writing. The world building in this story is superb and Annwn is a fascinating place. I loved the slightly eerie atmosphere and the strange creatures that come alive in the world of dreams. The story has a really unique and engaging plot full of mystery. The plot is quite fast paced, giving you plenty of action as you learn about Annwn and the Knights.
The characters in Midnight’s Twins are really fascinating, and I loved watching them transform as they spent more time in Annwn. Fern has always been treated like the outsider, judged by her peers and people she meets in the street. Ollie is the popular and can do no wrong. I really enjoyed seeing their relationship change as well as the characters themselves grow. Midnight’s Twins is an addictive read and one that tackles a lot of topics – not just sibling relationships but also politics, family, grief and judging others.
Midnight’s Twins is a magic read that’s difficult to put down. If you’re looking for a vivid fantasy world to escape into, Midnight’s Twins is exactly what you’re looking for. I really enjoyed this one and I absolutely cannot wait to see what’s in store in book two.
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The Bibliophile Chronicles 