The Tiger at Midnight (The Tiger at Midnight Trilogy #1)

I am very happy that I bought the book because we need to support more fantasy by POC, but it just wasn’t great. And I think I want to elucidate why.

World-building: we see the difference between the two lands, but there’s no compelling explanation of what the janma bond is that elevates the stakes for the reader. We get a little bit of this when Kunal speaks to a merchant in a town while eating a meal, but moments like that should have been littered throughout the novel IMO. And not just with Kunal’s character evolving, but Esha’s as well. Good world building impacts character development, but I only saw glimpses of that here.

Characters: I was way hyped for this novel because, in addition to other things, the characters – especially Esha – were a big part of the marketing. I even got an Esha trading card for preordering the book. How cool! The problem is that the Viper is never shown as a bad ass. Does she sneak past security and take out a couple guards outside the general’s room during her first mission at the opening of the book? No. Are there any thrilling fight scenes where she shows she’s so clearly superior to Kunal despite his military training? No.

Writing: I thought the author was holding my hand during the book in a way that created distance. She would explain things too much instead of trusting the reader to put it together themselves. Reading the book reminded me of Children of Blood and Bone, except that novel was perfect in many ways – including how it used prose to make the stakes clear and make you feel for the MC.

Plot: It was just boring, ultimately. Esha runs a little ahead, and Kunal catches her. Then she escapes and runs a little ahead…and Kunal catches her. I really enjoyed a part of the book where Esha makes it clear to us why she can’t be with Kunal (basically, she thinks she’s no good for him), but I just did not believe enough had happened during the first half of the novel to convince Kunal that he should give up his worldview as a soldier and be with her.

Maybe because I follow this stuff, but the book was mega-hyped IMO as an epic romance with high-stakes fight scenes and it just did not deliver on that premise at all.

(I received this book from Edelweiss. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

The Tiger at Midnight is a stunning debut fantasy book that will thrill you, make you scream, and wrench your heart. This dual point of view story takes you into Esha and Kunal’s heads as they dream of revenge, righting wrongs, and filling holes in their hearts with grief and retribution. Both Esha and Kunal come to question their roles in their revolutions, their duty, and exactly how far they’re willing to go for their dreams.

When their eyes met, he knew they both were aware the performance was over and the game had begun. No words had been exchanged, but Kunal knew in his marrow that he and Esha understood each other. She wouldnt stop running and he wouldnt stop chasing her.

In The Tiger at Midnight by Swati Teerdhala, Esha and Kunal are on opposite sides of a war. Esha is the notorious Viper, a legendary assassin, and Kunal is a soldier on the opposite side. When their paths cross, it seems they are destined for something bigger, and they may have a much deeper connection than either could have expected.

I honestly surprised I dont hear more rave reviews for this book. It was a fast paced fantasy with a wonderful forbidden romance. The writing was smooth and a delight to read and the characters stood out and were easy to connect with. I will definitely continue reading this series. I give this book 4.5 stars.

The soldier and the Viper.
Both could cut a man down without blinking but couldnt talk about a kiss.

“A broken bond. A dying land. A cat-and-mouse game that can only end in bloodshed.”
The Tiger at Midnight follows the story of Esha, a rebel assassin, and Kunal, a fort soldier on a mission to honor his murdered uncle. Their paths cross and the ensuing chase across a dying land left me spellbound.
Things I loved about this book:
1. It’s a gorgeous fantasy set in a place *other than* a vaguely European land
2. Seriously, I loved the world building and the infusion of Hindu mythology and ancient Indian history
3. Esha is a well-rounded person who happens to be an assassin and isn’t a flawless female character
4. Kunal is such a cinnamon roll, but also a little bit of a SINamon roll
5. The romance is a major subplot, but honestly, the story would have been just as good without it. I love a good romance, but I also love that these characters had development outside of “oh maybe I like him/her”
6. I enjoyed it even more the second time through (whoops I read this in January for the first time and then listened to the audiobook this week)
7. WOW WOW WOW WOW so much subtle foreshadowing that I completely missed on the first read through

Wow, this was fun.
A cat and mouse romance in which the chaser and the chasee (lets pretend thats a word) are never quite clear. Or done with the hunt.
Both main characters are genuinely interesting. The unexpected bond done so right. The secrets, tangles, intrigue, and action making it so good I WOO HOO!d when I realized the sequel comes out tomorrow, then immediately preordered it.
If you enjoyed books like WE HUNT THE FLAME, THRONE OF GLASS, DEFY, SNOW LIKE ASHES, youll love this.

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