Midnighters: Touching Darkness By: Scott Westerfeld

source

• Title: Touching Darkness (Midnighters #2) 
• Author: Scott Westerfeld
• Publisher: Eos
• Publication Date:  March 1, 2005 
• Pages: 336
• Genre: YA/ Sci-Fi
• Recommended Age(s): 13+
• First Read: 2014
• Source: Library 
• Rating: 3.5 / 5.0 stars

Ever since finding out about Bixby Oklahoma's secret hour, Jess and her friends have been quite busy fighting off the creatures of the night. For a long time, the Midnighters have wondered why the generation before them disappeared without a trace. During their search, they encounter horrors worse than anything they could have ever imagined, and a secret more horrifiying than the creatures itself. With time running out, an extra hour may not even be enough to save the Midnighters even as they race to solve the puzzle.

---

After powering through the first Midnighters, I was super excited to start this one. Again, I read this one in practically one sitting, late into the wee hours of the morning. While still interesting, it was definitely more slow paced than the first volume and was filled with a lot more teenage ~angst~ compounded with super powers, naturally. I still enjoyed this book, and was thoroughly and appropriately creeped out at the *big* reveal that the whole plot centered on, but I couldn't help but feel that this book fell into the dreaded "middle child" syndrome where the first book outshone it a lot more and everyone's attention was already focused towards the anticipated final installment.

I was also a lot more annoyed at the characters in this book, particularly Melissa's, Rex's, and Dess' relationship. Honestly guys- you two have amazing super powers- would it kill you to communicate a little more? I did like all the information I found out from all their separate adventures, so I guess that's a plus. I do wish the book was longer though; there is so much more information that could have helped to flesh out the world more and honestly, I just couldn't get enough of Blue Time.

This book got its job done and set up the final installment, so I guess I can't complain about that. While it felt ironically rushed at times, yet slow in others, I am still fully immersed in the world of the Midnighters and cannot wait to see what happens next. I'll probably be found reading in some corner, curled up in my blanket, devouring this book series.