100 Pages A Day...Stephanie's Book Reviews

In an alternate England there is a story about a Queen who escaped from the clutches of King Henry XII at midnight with her baby daughter, the Princess in tow.   The Queen was never seen again...

Meanwhile, at Oxford's Merlin College for those that are magically inclined, student Gray Marshall finds himself in a bit of trouble after he is sent out on a midnight errand that ends with a death.  Gray is taken away to Professor Callender's home and is told that he is being kept safe there.  Gray feels an ominous presence about the Callender's home, and he has been unable to use his magic there.  He has been assigned the task of a gardener and feel's more like a prisoner than a guest.  The one good thing about the Callender's is the Professor's awkward but endearing daughter, Sophie.  When Sophie and Gray realize that Professor Callender might be involved in a dangerous plot, they escape in the night with plans to stop him. 

The Midnight Queen was a good story, but had a slow start that I didn't see where it was going until about a third of the way in; after that this book was everything that I love.  I think it would have helped if the prologue was the escaped Queen's story rather than Gray getting into a fight.  Anyway, I love that it was set in an alternate England where some people had a talent for magic and where a King Henry XII existed.  I ended up loving Gray and Sophie, but it took a while.  They are both a little strange, but that just makes them perfect for one another.  Sophie also ended up being a stronger character than I thought, so it wasn't just a story of a rescued girl, but a girl helping to rescue herself.   The intrigue in the story grows once all the plot points are set out and schemes are set into motion, then there is a good story of trying to prevent a murder, a lost princess and  magic being found.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.