Midnighters: Blue Noon By: Scott Westerfeld

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• Title: Blue Noon (Midnighters #3)
• Author: Scott Westerfeld
• Publisher: Eos
• Publication Date:  February 28, 2006
• Pages: 378
• Genre: YA/ Sci-Fi
• Recommended Age(s): 13+
• First Read: 2014
• Source: Purchase
• Rating: 4.0 / 5.0 stars

For the Midnighters, the secret hour has always come at, well, midnight. However, the secret hour suddenly comes sweeping in the middle of the school day turning the cacophony of noise into blissful silence. The Midnighters soon discover that the barrier between the blue time and normal time is weakening. The creatures of the night are hungry after centuries of being confined to one hour of the day, and Jess and her friends must find a way to stop midnight from engulfing them all.

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I have so many conflicted feelings towards this book, and I don't know how I'll ever reconcile them all together. It was an exciting book, and I loved how none of the action stalled. There was a lot more running around, considering midnight is no longer confined to its traditional time. I also liked how Rex and everyone else began to question their sources and really begin to think for themselves, rather than blindly following in other people's footsteps. This made them grow as characters and gave a greater three-dimensionality to them.

However, I definitely have feelings on how the series ended. Like, excuse me, Mr. Westerfeld, are you going to leave us hanging like that? I think an epilogue to the epilogue should happen at least so that we know what happens to everyone and all the loose ends are tied up. But at the same time, the ending gets kind of tricky, so I see how writing anything to follow up the series could be a challenge. It's bittersweet, so maybe that's why I'm slightly upset; I'm a sucker for happy endings but I understand that with a series like this, entirely happy endings would not have fit the story.

This final book is worth a read and is one of those books you may or may not throw at the wall a couple times or so. It's another quick read, and one sure to keep you up long past the secret hour has passed!

Midnighters: Touching Darkness By: Scott Westerfeld

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• 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.

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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.

Midnighters: The Secret Hour By: Scott Westerfeld

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• Title: The Secret Hour (Midnighters #1)
• Author: Scott Westerfeld
• Publisher: Eos
• Publication Date:  March 1, 2005 
• Pages: 383
• Genre: YA/ Sci-Fi
• Recommended Age(s): 13+
• First Read: 2014
• Source: Purchase  
• Rating: 4.5 / 5.0 stars

Bixby, Oklahoma seems like a sleepy town in the middle of nowhere. But looks can be deceiving, as Jess Day finds out upon moving there. Soon, she discovers that Bixby's time hides a secret hour filled with both wonder and terror. Along with others who share special abilities, Jessica and her friends must find out why the creatures that haunt the secret hour have suddenly become restless and are on the mission to hunt down Jessica and her friends.

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I love this book series and whole heartedly think it is one of the under appreciated gems of YA literature. The premise is so original and interesting that I finished this book in one sitting, sacrificing my sleep for the sake of finding all I could about this secret extra hour of the day. I loved how this book was fast-paced and full of sci-fi action. It was also a little spooky, and to be honest I caught myself snuggling down in my covers and listening for unfamiliar sounds as I read late into the night.

The cast of characters was also really enjoyable; none of them are "perfect" in any sense and I liked that because it made them all relatable. I mean, as relatable as they could be while having kick ass super powers, you know? While Jess is supposed to be the main character, I found myself cheering on Dess the most because she reminded me a bit of myself and had a lot of the abilities I wish I was better at. All the others were all fascinating in their own ways too, and I loved getting to know them.

This book got me out of my reading slump and I was on the edge of my seat for the entirety of it. I can't wait to read the rest of the series and delve more into the world of the Midnighters. As much sleep as I lost reading this book, I sure would benefit from having that extra hour in the day to catch up on some snoozing!