Midnighters: The Secret Hour

There are 25 hours in a day – the extra hour is telescoped in at midnight when the world is frozen and no-one except the Midnighters remain mobile. When Jessica Day’s family moves to Bixby she discovers that she is one of this small band, each with their own talents – Polymath, Acrobat, Seer and Mindcaster – which are utilised to keep at bay the ancient, dangerous creatures who also roam at midnight. Her presence rouses them to a terrifying hatred, unexplained until her own talent as Firebringer is established.

This is a long and satisfyingly complex book which will appeal to lovers of gothic fantasy and myth and legend alike. The personalities of the Midnighters form an integrated whole, combined together in the battle against the darklings, devising ingenious weapons to use against them. Yet simple human emotions are explored too – isolation, loneliness, jealousy, love.

The descriptions of the darklings and their epic battles are gruesomely detailed if in need of some editing to prune the narrative in places and enliven pace. The book ends with a tantalising cliff-hanger, preparing the way for a sequel. VR