England flourishes under the hand of its Virgin Queen: Elizabeth, Gloriana, last and most powerful of the Tudor monarchs.
But a great light cast...
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Oct 04, 2008
Kim
rated it: 
This is an elegantly written historical fantasy about two queens and two courts, the mortal one of Elizabeth I, and the fae, known as the Onyx Court, of Invidiana. The two courts are linked both by physical proximity---the Onyx Court is beneath the city of London---and by an arrangement between the two monarchs when Invidiana raises the young Elizabeth to the throne. There are fae spies at the mortal court, and mortal pets at the faerie court, but how the two courts are otherwise linked ta
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Dec 01, 2008
Jim
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With her latest book, Brennan has moved from more traditional sword & sorcery to intricate historical fantasy. Anyone wanting or expecting more of the same might be disappointed. I was not.
Set in the late 16th century, Midnight Never Comes opens with a pact between two women who will soon become the most powerful rulers in England: Elizabeth the Virgin Queen, and Invidiana, faerie ruler of the Onyx Court below London. The Onyx Court is a dark shadow of the city above, a secret place More...
Set in the late 16th century, Midnight Never Comes opens with a pact between two women who will soon become the most powerful rulers in England: Elizabeth the Virgin Queen, and Invidiana, faerie ruler of the Onyx Court below London. The Onyx Court is a dark shadow of the city above, a secret place More...
Sep 11, 2008
Juushika
rated it:
In 1588, England flourishes under the rein of Queen Elizabeth, but deep in the hidden catacombs beneath London, a second queen reins: Invidiana, the cruel, cold-hearted ruler of faerie England. Above ground, Deven enters Elizabeth's court while below ground, Lune is cast from Invidiana's court, and when the two are drawn together they must discover the secret bond that joins the two monarchs—and break it. Midnight Never Come is a historical fantasy which takes full advantage of both parts, spinn
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Aug 27, 2008
SheWunders
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Midnight Never Come is a tale of twos.
Two Courts – Mortal & Faerie.
Two Queens – Elizabeth I of England & Invidiana of the Onyx Court.
Two Bindings – A Curse & A Pact.
Two Identities – the faerie Lady Lune & her mortal glamour Anne Montrose; Invidiana & Suspiria.
The moral court is the court of Queen Elizabeth I of England. At the start of the story Elizabeth is her prime as monarch. Her kingdom is secure thanks to the defeat of the Spanish Arm More...
Two Courts – Mortal & Faerie.
Two Queens – Elizabeth I of England & Invidiana of the Onyx Court.
Two Bindings – A Curse & A Pact.
Two Identities – the faerie Lady Lune & her mortal glamour Anne Montrose; Invidiana & Suspiria.
The moral court is the court of Queen Elizabeth I of England. At the start of the story Elizabeth is her prime as monarch. Her kingdom is secure thanks to the defeat of the Spanish Arm More...
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Jul 12, 2011
grellian
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"Midnight Never Come", part one in "The Onyx Court" series is Marie Brennan's imaginary interpretation of the court politics in 15th century England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. In this enthralling historical/urban fantasy novel, the mortal court is shadowed by its mysterious and slightly ominous counterpart led by the cruel faerie queen of Britain Invidiana.
The plot follows the struggles of Lady Lune, a courtier trying to regain the favour of Invidiana, lo More...
The plot follows the struggles of Lady Lune, a courtier trying to regain the favour of Invidiana, lo More...
Sep 02, 2010
Ksenia
rated it:
Oh, what a deliciously written book. I have never truly read a book about the fae, but with it’s taste of historical fiction, this definitely sounded intriguing. I had picked this up soon after it came out and it has just been sitting on my bookshelf. I am so glad I did, and I wish I had read it sooner. The author’s writing was lovely; I don’t know how else to describe it but it really was just so good and I felt like I was reading something that a true word-artist wrote. Does that make any sens
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Jan 10, 2012
Lisa
rated it:
Imagine a royal court in 16th-century England as grand and full of glamour, treachery, opulence and intrigue as the Tudor court of Elizabeth I. This is the realm of Invidiana, the imperious queen of the faeries, whose Onyx Court mirrors that of her mortal counterpart in both ruthlessness and splendor in Marie Brennan's vivid historical fantasy. Richly conceived and cleverly laid out, Brennan's "Novel of the Fae" makes judicious use of historical events laced with fantasy and magic.
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Jul 13, 2009
Kelly
rated it:
Elizabethan England and the fae? Count me in.
This book had a very interesting premise - that a fae court existed as a mirror to Elizabeth's court. Except in this case, the mirror is a dark one. The cruel fairy queen rules with an iron fist and becomes the villain of the tale (a very well-done villain, I might add). If you're looking for the focus to be on major players in Elizabeth's court, pass this book by. The plot focuses mainly on Lune, who is fey, and Michael, a human co More...
This book had a very interesting premise - that a fae court existed as a mirror to Elizabeth's court. Except in this case, the mirror is a dark one. The cruel fairy queen rules with an iron fist and becomes the villain of the tale (a very well-done villain, I might add). If you're looking for the focus to be on major players in Elizabeth's court, pass this book by. The plot focuses mainly on Lune, who is fey, and Michael, a human co More...
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Nov 02, 2010
Scott
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I borrowed this book from a friend who told me "You'll probably like it, and it was inspired by a Changeling game."
Now the first part of that recommendation nearly negated the dread I felt from the second part of the recommendation - fiction inspired by games actually played rarely comes off well.
Thankfully, Brennan, did a good job at separating the inspiring moment from the fiction. I enjoyed her writing, and while it never sung, it was a solid read that kept m More...
Now the first part of that recommendation nearly negated the dread I felt from the second part of the recommendation - fiction inspired by games actually played rarely comes off well.
Thankfully, Brennan, did a good job at separating the inspiring moment from the fiction. I enjoyed her writing, and while it never sung, it was a solid read that kept m More...
Mar 27, 2009
Stefan
rated it:
"Midnight Never Come" is mostly set in London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, while in a hidden hall under the city of London, the faerie queen Invidiana reigns over the faerie population. The story follows two main characters: Deven, a young Gentlemen Pensioner (sort of a noble bodyguard devoted to Elizabeth), and Lune, who is a faerie lady in Invidiana's court. Marie Brennan divides her novel into five acts, according to the conventions of Elizabethan drama, and actually st
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Mar 16, 2011
Bookmole
rated it:
Marie Brennan knows her stuff, and it shows in this erudite depiction of Fairies in Elizabethan times.
The Queen of the Onyx Court holds sway under London, Queen Elizabeth, last of the Tudor monarchs, holds sway above. The Onyx Court is cruel and capricious, and the plot revolves around Lune, her struggles at court and her relationship with Michael Deven, a courtier bodyguard to Elizabeth and spy for Walsingham.
It was spoiled, a little, for me by having read the third Onyx More...
The Queen of the Onyx Court holds sway under London, Queen Elizabeth, last of the Tudor monarchs, holds sway above. The Onyx Court is cruel and capricious, and the plot revolves around Lune, her struggles at court and her relationship with Michael Deven, a courtier bodyguard to Elizabeth and spy for Walsingham.
It was spoiled, a little, for me by having read the third Onyx More...
Sep 20, 2010
ambyr
rated it:
Let me start by praising this book as a physical object. The composition, the subtle blue tones, the spot-gloss filigree, the typography: there is nothing about the cover I do not love. It caught my eye on the shelf time and time again. A good cover won't make me buy a book, but it'll certainly make me read the blurb, and that's always a good start.
The book itself doesn't--quite--live up to the gorgeous art that houses it. But it's a solid tale of adventure, solidly told. There's nothi More...
The book itself doesn't--quite--live up to the gorgeous art that houses it. But it's a solid tale of adventure, solidly told. There's nothi More...
Jan 17, 2012
Indiana
rated it:
Enjoyed! It's set during the duals reigns of Queen Elizabeth I of England and that of the faerie Queen Invidiana, whose kingdom lies directly below the City of London. Their powers rests on a compact made between the two when Elizabeth was a prisoner in the Tower of London. Over the course of 30 years, fae and mortal politics have become inextricably entwined, and sometimes not always for the best of either world.
The story focuses on two courtiers, one mortal and one fae, as they str More...
The story focuses on two courtiers, one mortal and one fae, as they str More...
Aug 04, 2009
Tudor-Lee
rated it:
When I first discovered this book, I honestly believed it may have been the most perfect fantasy book ever created. Firstly, it takes place during Elizabethan England, one of my favorite periods in English history. Secondly, it is about the Fey, and I feel that too few authors write truly great books about faeries.
When I got hold of it, I was immediately disappointed. The protagonists of Lune (female fey) and Michael Devan (male mortal) were not particularly interesting and the st More...
When I got hold of it, I was immediately disappointed. The protagonists of Lune (female fey) and Michael Devan (male mortal) were not particularly interesting and the st More...
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Jul 15, 2009
Jonathan
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Okay, to be easy on this book, let me say that for a majority of the time, I enjoyed myself immensely. By majority I mean 280 or so of the 380 pages. You see, the first 50 pages are...kind of terrible. And the last 50 pages are also...kind of terrible. Let me explain: this is not all that well written of a book. It is sparse, FAR too sparse, on description--not once did I get a clear vision of an event, character, object, or environment. We do not get nearly enough detail, especially visual deta
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Dec 05, 2009
Minli
rated it:
This book is FANTASTIC. It took me a while to really get into it, since I'm a faerie neophyte, I know practically nothing about the 'race' and what it does. My preferred fantasy setting is vaguely medieval European court setting, typically with a warriors. Well, I'm glad I decided to try something new.
Midnight Never Come was disorienting at the start for me, because I had all these burning questions in my mind. Such as: why is Invidiana so evil? How is it possible to have a faerie co More...
Midnight Never Come was disorienting at the start for me, because I had all these burning questions in my mind. Such as: why is Invidiana so evil? How is it possible to have a faerie co More...
Aug 31, 2011
Lisa
rated it:
I discovered this novel by chance here on goodreads.com. I was already reading Brennan's other novel, Warrior, and have enjoyed it so far so I thought, Hey - what the heck? I'll try this one too. Wow, I'm glad I did!
Midnight Never Come is a novel of Fae and Human entanglements but the story was different than anything else I had read before. It takes place during Queen Elizabeth I reign in England so there is a historical aspect but the novel is more about the story than the hi More...
Midnight Never Come is a novel of Fae and Human entanglements but the story was different than anything else I had read before. It takes place during Queen Elizabeth I reign in England so there is a historical aspect but the novel is more about the story than the hi More...
Nov 02, 2011
Yvonne
rated it:
Midnight never come is set in London in the 1590's. There are two courts and two queens, one where Elizabeth rules and one where Invidiana is queen of the Fey. When Elizabeth is locked in the tower of London, Invidiana makes a deal with her promising Elizabeth her sister's throne. The story takes place thirty years later. Lune is sent by Invidiana to spy on Walsingham, Elizabeth's master of spies. There she meets Michael Deven who works for Walsingham and is struggling to navigate his own way th
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Mar 13, 2010
August
rated it:
So far, so good. The dialogue is sharp, exactly what I would expect from a good period piece and I like what I've seen so far. I am not certain I would have picked this book up on my own were it not a gift by a dear friend. Had I not, I would have been the poorer for it.
More as I consume it... Om nom nom.
<several yummy chewings later>
And the noms are gone. Well, perhaps it would be more fair to say they are done. I am not sure the taste of Midnight More...
More as I consume it... Om nom nom.
<several yummy chewings later>
And the noms are gone. Well, perhaps it would be more fair to say they are done. I am not sure the taste of Midnight More...
Jan 14, 2010
Gabby
rated it:
I felt the premise of this book was very interesting, which is why I had it on my to-read list for quite some time. It's set during Elizabethan England, with a story that involved her court and the fae court under London.
However, the story started out WAY slow. There was a lot of building to get somewhere, and then ... when it started to get there, I did feel like the ending was a little, simplistic and almost cliche (love conquers all).
However, once the last third of the More...
However, the story started out WAY slow. There was a lot of building to get somewhere, and then ... when it started to get there, I did feel like the ending was a little, simplistic and almost cliche (love conquers all).
However, once the last third of the More...
Feb 02, 2009
Kathy
rated it:
An interesting book that intertwines two royal courts with fairies and magic.
England flourishes under the hand of its Virgin Queen: Elizabeth, Gloriana, last and most powerful of the Tudor monarchs. But a great light casts a great shadow. In hidden catacombs beneath London, a second Queen holds court: Invidiana, ruler of faerie England, and a dark mirror to the glory above. In the thirty years since Elizabeth ascended her throne, fae and mortal politics have become inextricably entwi More...
England flourishes under the hand of its Virgin Queen: Elizabeth, Gloriana, last and most powerful of the Tudor monarchs. But a great light casts a great shadow. In hidden catacombs beneath London, a second Queen holds court: Invidiana, ruler of faerie England, and a dark mirror to the glory above. In the thirty years since Elizabeth ascended her throne, fae and mortal politics have become inextricably entwi More...
Sep 26, 2011
Janet
rated it:
This was an engrossing and original tale of the mortal and faerie courts of the Elizabethan era, rich in setting, historical and sartorial detail, mystery and intrigue. Happily, this is a complete story, not an exposition for the rest of the series. However I wasn't completely convinced to care about and root for the two main characters; I didn't invest. In general I prefer more action and less navel gazing, but this story neglected characters' internal lives to the point where I didn't really
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Jan 23, 2010
Geoffrey
rated it:
There have been numerous novels set in Elizabethan England - Historical Fiction, Alternate Histories, Fantasies - the list goes on. This novel could be one more in a common genre; instead it stands out as one of the finest novels I've read set in this period.
The characters are three dimensional. The visual details are all filled in. The story line quickly becomes absorbing. In all, this is a well written novel. In it, the first 2/3 read like to different, slightly overlapping novels More...
The characters are three dimensional. The visual details are all filled in. The story line quickly becomes absorbing. In all, this is a well written novel. In it, the first 2/3 read like to different, slightly overlapping novels More...
Jan 17, 2009
Ashley
rated it:
Honestly, I did not read many other reviews for this book. Many said how it was poorly done, without enough detail and climax, tagged on with a "slow" setting. Some, were rather good reviews, and I agree.
One of the best fantasy books I have ever read. The plot was new, not mainstream, and exciting. There was buildup, and then climax, and then the settling down. It flowed perfectly. Not to mention the many latent sub-plots that tie into the bigger picture towards the end. Th More...
One of the best fantasy books I have ever read. The plot was new, not mainstream, and exciting. There was buildup, and then climax, and then the settling down. It flowed perfectly. Not to mention the many latent sub-plots that tie into the bigger picture towards the end. Th More...
Sep 18, 2009
Gigi
rated it:
In my search for new takes on faerie tales and fantasy, this is a lovely little gem. A fast read, but filled with details so rich you'll really believe there is a faerie kingdome beneath London! Brennan beautifully weaves the complicated web of intrigue and ambition in Elizabethan court life with an equally compelling and infanitely more dangerous faerie version. Let's just say if you were a courtier in this time period, Lizzy's volitle moods and temper were extremely preferable to Invidianna's
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Nov 11, 2010
Avrelia
rated it:
1)I loved it. It's probably not a brilliant book, but I don't care – it has that magical quality of pulling me right in and not letting go until the last page. Your millage might obviously vary, but I enjoyed the hell out of it. I cannot say that I am a huge fan of Elizabethan time and fairies (I love them, but not with passion), which probably helps, since I cannot catch any historical details that might be different from reality. Nothing spoiled my fun. The language is simple and flows perfect
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Dec 07, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
Nicely realised mix of the fantastic and historic, in which the fate of Queen Elizabeth I is interwoven with that of Invidiana, Faerie Queen of the Onyx Court (residing below London) when they make a pact which will put them on their respective thrones.
While there were some interesting characters and I enjoyed the way the faerie world worked, I only really warmed to the Goodmeades (Lune and Deven both came across as rather cold, so I didn't invest in their relationship as perhaps was More...
While there were some interesting characters and I enjoyed the way the faerie world worked, I only really warmed to the Goodmeades (Lune and Deven both came across as rather cold, so I didn't invest in their relationship as perhaps was More...
Dec 27, 2009
George
rated it:
I particularly enjoyed this novel...a skillful blending of historical and fantasy fiction that creates a fae world to mirror the reign of Queen Elizabeth the first...Marie Brennan has elevated her prose significantly in contrast to her Witch/Warrior duo and her two central protagonists are sufficiently engaging to evoke reader empathy...I was pleased with the story concept, the development of the story themes and Marie's use of language in the novel...My only minor qualm revolve around my desir
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Oct 08, 2011
Kat
rated it:
'Not another story of Queen Elizabeth!' I hear you cry. And I would agree with you, it has been done, to, death. But fear not, for this one has a rather delightful, if at times sinister, twist to the well worn yarn. It's got fairies in it. A whole Onyx Court of them, hidden beneath the streets of London. So if you ever wanted to know the truth behind the Queen's ascension, read on and discover that there is a whole other world out there and they are pulling the strings.
Full of magic a More...
Full of magic a More...
Jan 04, 2010
HRM Maire
rated it:
It didn't grab my attention at first, but then, all of a sudden, I was very involved and wanted more. So it might have been a three-star, but then got better and better. Don't be afraid that it says "Book 1" because it doesn't leave you hanging. In fact, I did not know it was meant to be part of a series (never saw "Book 1" on cover, which is good, because I probably wouldn't have read it).
Unique story about a connection between England's Fairy queen living literally More...
Unique story about a connection between England's Fairy queen living literally More...
