The Midnight Girls

In a snow-cloaked kingdom, two wicked rivals secretly compete for the pure heart of a prince, only to discover they might be falling for each other.'A magical, immersive and feminist fantasy - I wanted it to last forever.' - New York Times bestselling author, Amie KaufmanIn a snow-cloaked kingdom, now is a time for mischief and revelry. For the next few weeks, all will be wintry balls, glittery disguises, and nightly torch-lit sleigh-parties.But unbeknown to the merrymakers, two uninvited girls join the fun. Zosia and Marynka are drawn to each other the moment they meet - until they discover they're rivals, who both have their sights set on the prince's heart. If one consumes a pure heart, she'll gain immeasurable power. Marynka plans to bring the prince's back to her patron in order to prove herself, while Zosia is determined to take his heart and its power for herself.Their ambition turns into a magical contest, even as their attraction to one another grows. But their attempts on the prince's life draws the attention of the city that would die for him, and their escalating rivalry might cost them not only their love for each other but both their lives.'Alicia Jasinska is a master of dark, atmospheric fantasy. The Midnight Girls reads like a modern-day Grimms' fairytale with a dash of historical fiction and a compelling sapphic romance. I loved the unique magic system, the wintry world, the fragments of Slavic folklore. It's evocative and enchanting, and it completely swept me away.' Tobias Madden, author of Anything But Fine

Alicia Jasinska's The Midnight Girls will be eagerly devoured by fans of her dark fantasy YA debut The Dark Tide. In Lechija, a kingdom much like 18th-century Poland, three witches rely on their servant girls to bring them the pure hearts of princes that sustain them. With the kingdom at war and the two-month-long festive season of Karnawał beginning, Beata, Marynka and Zosia-Morning, Midday and Midnight-join the crowds in Warszów to stalk Prince Józef and compete to rip out his heart. Marynka is desperate to prove herself, even after she realises that the girl she has been falling for on their journey is her enemy and rival Zosia. For Zosia, this is her chance to steal the heart for herself and finally have enough power to be free. Unbeknown to either, Prince Józef's exiled soul mate wields a divine sabre and recognises the monstrous girls for what they are. The tension increases as the tsarina tightens her grip on Lechija, the Karnawał festivities grow wilder, and the Midnight Girls are torn between duty and desire. Jasinska's creative use of Polish history and culture is dazzling, and the dark fairytale ambience of the novel will appeal to readers of retellings such as Erin A Craig's House of Salt and Sorrows. Ilona Urquhart is a children's and youth services librarian on the Surf Coast and has a PhD in literary studies.

Alicia Jasinska is a fantasy writer hailing from Sydney, Australia. A library technician by day, she spends her nights writing and hanging upside down from the trapeze and aerial hoop. She is the author of The Dark Tide and The Midnight Girls. Visit her at aliciajasinska.com.

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