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THE MIDNIGHT BALL
This was a wonderfully fun supernatural coming-of-age story, with the perfect mix of creepy, funny, and genuinely tense. The family’s casual attitude toward the Midnight Ball is hilarious—“Questions are how people end up as party favors” is exactly the kind of joke that makes the darker details land even harder. I loved the reveal that Lisa is a werewolf, especially because their friendship immediately becomes more awkward and more honest instead of turning into a dramatic betrayal. Then the Feast takes a sharp turn when Mr. Marsh recognizes Sadie. That moment gives the story real stakes, and Lisa’s transformation from horrified teenager to fiercely protective daughter is excellent. The scene with Voss works because Sadie doesn’t suddenly become stronger than everyone in the room; she uses the rules, her nerve, and the fact that other people are willing to stand with her. And Cerberus choosing to sit between them? Perfect. The ending keeps the ordinary teenage rhythm—bus stop, cafeteria pizza, carpool—while leaving that final many-eyed presence watching from the shadows. I’d happily read more about Sadie and Lisa navigating school, family secrets, and a supernatural community that is apparently just as petty and bureaucratic as any human one.
Ethan Walker