Book Review – Midnight Will Come by Kristina Hall! (when dystopian meets real life)

WOW.

*takes just a minute to soak in the whole story…and recover from the plot twists*

Midnight Will Come is such a suspenseful, gripping book, unsettlingly realistic and because of that, much-needed in our fare of Christian fiction these days. Despite the gloom and angst and danger, Kristina Hall delivered a message of hope and endurance that will ring true now more than ever.

Oh, and did I mention the suspense? Yeah. Kristina Hall is the QUEEN of suspense.

Onto the characters! What struck me overall was how relatable they were. Friedrich is an amazing book boyfriend *smirks* but that doesn’t mean he’s some super-strong hero who always saves the day and knows the right thing to do and say in every situation. Uh-uh. He’s so wonderfully realistic. He has regrets, and carries around pain from his past that, well, makes his present pretty rough to live in. But that’s where the relatability comes in. I love it. (And he has a slight German accent!! What’s not to love?)

And Mellie is even more relatable than Friedrich. *sobs* I just want to give that girl a year-long vacation. The trauma she went through…let’s just say, she’s got a backbone (as Blake so unhelpfully pointed out). She has determination, tenacity, grit. And her snide remarks are the absolute best. XD But she also gets overwhelmed by stress, and breaks down, and doubts and worries. SHE NEEDS HUGS.

Also, the touch of romance between Mellie and Friedrich has me needing moreeeee!!!!! It’s so sweet and subtle and must be continued. 😊

I love how protective Mellie is of her sister Jess. Who is an awesome little sister. She added so much humor and lightheartedness to the story – it really needed her. I loved the entertaining interactions she and Mellie had. Plenty of barbs get thrown at each other, but Jess really cares for Mellie and is a sweet girl. (And I can’t wait to see more of her in the following book!)

The villains…were horrible. You just love to hate them. And yet…there were flashes of humanity. (Like you-know-what at the end. That was sooo unexpected and honestly made me tear up!)

Karl is AWFUL. I like how he’s not some obviously ugly villain, but his good looks just make him even more horrid and slimy. *glares at him* (And Kristina Hall did amazing at making me feel like I was inhaling his overpowering cologne along with Mellie. *gags* I could practically feel my nose burning!) Though I must say, secretly, I’m so entertained by his and Mellie’s dialogue. They have great enemy chemistry, weird as that is to say. (Am I the only one who thinks like that? Enemy chemistry?) Like I said, Mellie’s snide comments are epic. 😀

But he’s just so awful. The complete opposite of dear Friedrich. *is still in shock that they are actually…related*

The writing fit the story well – short sentences kept the pace fast and tension thick, and we were kept immersed in deep POV, which is my favorite way for a story to be told. The danger and harrowing action were interspersed with some much-needed humor usually in the form of character thoughts, humorous plays on words in the midst of serious situations. The subtle levity does wonders. (“Seemed this rest stop lacked rest.”) Sometimes the writing got repetitive and choppy, but I must admit I’d prefer that to overly drawn-out passages I’m forced to skim over, so it didn’t me from forging ahead in the story.

The fight scenes were AMAZING. There’s never any unnecessary stalling in how it’s written – they’re straight and to-the-point and cut right to the action. 🔥 And speaking of that, the plot twists threw me for a loop! I really didn’t predict much that happened!

At the end, the assurance and peace in Christ came washing over the pages. It gave me chills and made me tear up. I’d been getting weary along with the characters by the stress, the danger they were in, and the endless cycle of being trapped, but that one simple hymn “The Solid Rock”…it captured the theme of the story so powerfully. God won’t forsaken us, no matter what, and there is always hope in Him. Beautifully done, Kristina Hall.

I can’t wait for Darkness Draws Near, the second book in the series! (And considerably worried for what’s going to happen to the poor characters… 👀)

FAVORITE QUOTES

“What’re you doing up here?”

He shrugged. “Thought I’d get some blood moving.”

“Pretty sure your blood didn’t stop moving.”

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I found a grin somewhere in the deep, dark depths of my soul.

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“It’s okay.” Because it was. Because I had a Savior Who was more precious than anything this world could offer. A Savior Who would never leave me.

Even when midnight came.

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“It’s okay. We’re okay.”

Oh, somebody needed to redefine that word.

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If I were in a movie or book, I’d be asking him his motives right now. But that wasn’t real life. His motives didn’t matter. All that mattered was that he was aiming that gun at me and I couldn’t escape.

–

Trembling tore through me, rattled each and every bruise.

But God was with us, would never leave us.

Not even at midnight.

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DISCLOSURE: I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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About the Book!

She can’t escape the past …

Mellie Rivers’s job as a nurse allows her to help those the dystopian government has deemed unworthy of medical care. The threats she’s been receiving are a small price to pay. Besides, she has the help of her new neighbor—German missionary and powerlifter Friedrich Wolf.

Friedrich didn’t expect to be drawn into protecting Mellie, but now he’s getting all too close to her—and to the danger threatening her life.

When the threats turn to something more, Friedrich and Mellie face a danger neither of them could’ve imagined, and they’ll have to find a way to escape a situation that has no escape.

Because midnight has come.

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Follow the Author!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21133401.Kristina_Hall

Website: https://kristinahallauthor.wordpress.com/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kristina-hall

Newsletter: https://kristinahallauthor.ck.page/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinahallwriter/

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Have you read Midnight Will Come? Who’s your favorite character from it? What should I do to prepare myself for the next book? *whispers* Do you have any book boyfriends?? 😜 What’s your favorite dystopian novel?