Midnight Thief by Livia Blackburne | Book Review #62

‘Growing up on Forge’s streets has taught Kyra how to stretch a coin. And when that’s not enough, her uncanny ability to scale walls and bypass guards helps her take what she needs.

But when the leader of the Assassins Guild offers Kyra a lucrative job, she hesitates. She knows how to get by on her own, and she’s not sure she wants to play by his rules. But he’s persistent—and darkly attractive—and Kyra can’t quite resist his pull.

Tristam of Brancel is a young Palace knight on a mission. After his best friend is brutally murdered by Demon Riders, a clan of vicious warriors who ride bloodthirsty wildcats, Tristam vows to take them down. But as his investigation deepens, he finds his efforts thwarted by a talented thief, one who sneaks past Palace defenses with uncanny ease.

When a fateful raid throws Kyra and Tristam together, the two enemies realize that their best chance at survival—and vengeance—might be to join forces. And as their loyalties are tested to the breaking point, they learn a startling secret about Kyra’s past that threatens to reshape both their lives.

In her arresting debut novel, Livia Blackburne creates a captivating world where intrigue prowls around every corner—and danger is a way of life.‘

By the time that I had finished reading Midnight Thief I was surprised. It’s been so long that I was actually engrossed in a book as I had been with this one. There are so many factors in this story.

I got so swept up in this story that when it came time to returning this book, I went to another library and borrowed it from them! And then I finished reading Midnight Thief the next morning. Which is surprising because I was very skeptical about Midnight Thief and what it had to offer.

I really like the atmosphere in this book as well. There’s always this hint of something happening around the corner, and I really think that’s one of the factors that kept me reading! One thing that I know for sure that kept me interested is that we didn’t really know much -at all- about the Demon Riders, and of course, Kyra. She’s a great character in my opinion..

There are two points of view. The first, and most important in my eyes, is Kyra. She’s taken what she’s been given her whole life, and what life hasn’t given her, Kyra has stolen. She’s a thief and a damned good one. I admire Kyra so much. I liked her in the beginning. By the end I was very much so intrigued and just ended up loving Kyra. Kyra brings so much to the table in this world. She’s pulled in every direction possible, and is forged into what people want her to be. Yet Kyra somehow manages to be able to stay the same. When one person doesn’t have her, she was taken by another. Kyra has very realistic values and is an all around great character. There’s nothing that we don’t see with Kyra.

The second point of view; the one I don’t really care for honestly, is Tristam. Although he is an important character, I laughed at Tristam’s dramatics. There’s this one scene in the beginning. You know in movies when one character grabs the shoulders of the person they’re standing infront of and they just yell? That’s what basically happened in the beginning of us meeting Tristam, and I just laughed. I found that the dramatics of Tristam pretty much sputtered out after that incident. Then he was such a likeable character! Stubborn in his ways (why are they all stubborn??), Tristam does what he thinks is best. Especially when he realizes that the people who he works for may be shady and morally compromised.

I gotta say, I don’t think I’ve read a book where almost everyone that Kyra meets is practically the enemy. The “enemy” that I like the most though, is a group that’s been dubbed “The Demon Riders.” These Demon Riders ride these huuuge cats that are super bloodthirsty. I didn’t know if this specific part; the Demon Riders, is part of a specific mythology. None is coming to mind, but I do have an inkling. I won’t say much more about these Demon Riders because of spoilers, but just know that I KNEW it and I love love love the Demon Riders so freaking much. They’re my second favourite part of the book.

One thing that really managed to piss me off was the language. I just ended up automatically correcting the writing in my mind. I can’t stand reading their idioms. There’s only one word that they’ve shortened and its “in’t” and I just can’t handle it. I think I would have been alright if they used “ain’t” but they don’t and “in’t” just got on my nerves.

I like Blackburne’s writing as well. She somehow managed two points of view without their stories overlapping; which I feel like some authors tend to struggle with. I enjoy how she wrote out the characters in this book, and I also really enjoyed her descriptions of things. Enough is described, but you still get the sense that some of the little details can be up to you – in a sense-.

All in all, I really enjoyed reading Midnight Thief!! I really wish that this book had been a standalone, but it isn’t; and that’s totally okay because I NEED more of Kyra. — And the Demon Riders! Thankfully there’s a second book, Daughter of Dusk! I hope there’s more of them and their world, their history in Daughter of Dusk. I have no idea if that’s the last book though. I mean, I haven’t read it yet, and I hope it’s not the last book. I hope that there are more books related to this world. I am not ready to leave Kyra’s world yet!! With everything that happened in this novel, it feels like Kyra’s story is just beginning!!!

If you’re interested at all in finding out more about Midnight Thief, click the cover at the top of this review!!

Thank you for taking the time to read this review!! I really do appreciate it.

Until next time,
Adele