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…

Karnawał season 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.

Unbeknownst to the merrymakers, two monstrous 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 heart back to her grandmother in order to prove herself, while Zosia is determined to take his heart and its power for her own.

Their ambition turns into a magical contest with both girls vying to keep the prince out of the other’s grasp. But their attempts on his life draw the attention of the city that would die for him, and suddenly their escalating rivalry might cost them not just their love for each other, but both their lives.

Designed by Nicole Hower with art by Charlie Bowater

Order From:

Praise for The Midnight Girls

“Dark and delectable, you’ll sink into this tale with utter delight. A magical, immersive and feminist fantasy—I wanted it to last forever. Keep your eyes on Alicia Jasinska.”
— Amie Kaufman, New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author

“Bewitching from the first page! Alicia Jasinska has given us a dark and stunning tale, steeped in vicious magic. Watch out for these monster girls—you’ll be begging them to eat your heart.”
— Heather Walter, author of Malice

“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

 

“Jasinska mingles human fears and goals with sharp-edged default-white protagonists in this rewarding high-stakes novel, drawing from Slavic fairy tales to craft an intriguing tale of bitter rivals exploring their bond.”
— Publishers Weekly, starred review

 

“[R]eaders craving morally gray queer characters will happily make room on their shelves for this one.”
— Kirkus

“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.”
— Books + Publishing

 

Inspired by eighteenth-century Poland, the setting makes an intriguing backdrop to the story of two girls who discover that true power rests in alliances, whether witchy or romantic.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

 

“[A] slow-burn romance with murderous heat that fans of BBC’s Killing Eve will devour.”
— Booklist