REVIEW: Into the Midnight Void by Mara Fitzgerald

**I received an ARC from a giveaway from the author (thank you, Mara!). These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**

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Book: Into the Midnight Void (Beyond the Ruby Veil #2) by Mara Fitzgerald

Release Date: January 25, 2022

My Rating: 3.75 stars

Rep: lesbian protagonist and love interest, gay side character

CW: blood, eye gore, body horror

Summary: Emanuela has finally gotten what she wanted. Since escaping her catacomb prison, she’s started running things her way. Under her rule, citizens no longer give up their lives at the first, tiny appearance of their omens. As long as they aren’t caught bad-mouthing their queen, they can live out their days like everyone else.

But when cracks in her magic start to show, Emanuela begrudgingly allies herself with her enemies, including her frustratingly alluring archnemesis, Verene. Together, discover deeper truths about the mysterious blood magic Emanuela and Verene both wield. There is a higher, otherworldly authority outside the veils, and in order to save Occhia and the other realms, Emanuela may just have to rip another crown off someone’s head.

Read these other related posts:

my review of book one, Beyond the Ruby Veil

my interview with Mara Fitzgerald

I unexpectedly loved Beyond the Ruby Veil when I read it last year, so I was really excited for the sequel! I couldn’t believe my luck when I won an ARC and picked it up to read way too early. Fast-paced and unapologetic, Into the Midnight Void uncovers more secrets about the blood magic and the veils shrouding the cities.

This review contains spoilers for book one.

A year after the events of the first book, Emanuela is ruling six of the eight cities with an iron fist. They fear her, and she finally has the power she’s always craved. Meanwhile, Verene plays the leader of the rebellions. She’s working with Emanuela, but this way, she gets the love of the people she’s always craved. Their hold over the cities soon fades, however, as they lose control of their blood magic.

It’s a bit difficult to talk about the plot because there’s a twist early on in the book. I can say that I found it as thrilling and intriguing as the first book; in terms of readability, I read this book in one sitting in a couple of hours. I just couldn’t put it down! It’s also short and a fast read, which I enjoyed.

The worldbuilding was expanded more from the first book. Emanuela and Verene also uncover more secrets about their blood magic, and lack thereof, as they begin to lose control of themselves. Their sheer will to survive is impressive, and I really enjoyed how the plot unraveled.

The characterizations were also so well-done. Emanuela remains the morally gray, unlikable female protagonist, whom you were oddly compelled to like as in the first book. Even after she’s presented with all her mistakes, she still knows who she wants to be and what she wants to do. It was also interesting seeing this reflected in Verene, although her characterization was slightly different because she really wanted to be loved, not adored like Emanuela.

We get to see the fruition of the enemies to lovers that was hinted at in the first book. I really liked Emanuela and Verene’s dynamic; even when they’re fighting, it’s very obvious that they do it for the familiarity. Again, they’re mirror images of themselves, so their rivalry exists, and continues to exist, because they know that they’re the only two people who really understand the other’s wants and desires.

Theo and Ale also come back into their lives. I found their dynamics with Verene and Emanuela, respectively, really fascinating. They’re both the two girls’ consciences, not that they bother to listen to them, but it’s clear that they love them even after the betrayals and the hurt. I really liked the ending and where the characters all ended up!

Into the Midnight Void was a thrilling sequel that I couldn’t put down. The ending wrapped up nicely, and I liked the characters and the romance. If you’re looking for an lesbian enemies-to-lovers romance and/or morally gray unlikable female protagonist, you should check out the Beyond the Ruby Veil duology!

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About the Author: Mara Fitzgerald writes YA fantasy about unlikable female characters who ruin everything. She is a biologist by day and spends entirely too much time looking at insects under a microscope. She was born in the same state as Disney World and now lives in the same state as Dollywood, which is just as good. BEYOND THE RUBY VEIL is her first novel.

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