When an author writes their second book, fans of the first wonder whether or not the next will be similar to its predecessor. In most cases, the themes and the characters remind readers of what they’ve read before. Then, there are the authors whose second book moves in a different direction from their first , which forces readers to acknowledge they cannot expect the same book from that author every time. Rena Rossner presented a magical story in her debut novel, The Sisters of the Winter Wood. In her second novel, The Light of the Midnight Stars, readers are given the same magic, but within a different setting.
The protagonists are the daughters of Rabbi Isaac Solomonar and his wife, Esther: Hannah, Sarah and Levana. The Solomonars are the descendants of King Solomon, and they inherit some magical ability. Hannah is the eldest and is able to help plants grow. Sarah is the middle daughter, and her talent matches her father’s—fire magic. Levana is the youngest and she can decipher messages of the stars. The sisters live a happy and a prosperous life in the Jewish quarter of Trnava. Their parents teach them how to control their talents while they find husbands for them.
The Solomonar Sisters find young men worthy to be their suitors. Hannah meets Jakob who is the son of the Duchess of Trnava, and a Christian. Sarah meets Guvriel who is one of her father’s students. Levana meets someone too, but she keeps his identity a secret from her family. The sisters approach adulthood as their love for their suitors bloom. However, before the sisters have a chance to live out their lives in happiness, circumstances force them and their parents to flee their home, leaving everything behind including their loves and their identities. As the family adjusts to their new life, the sisters meet new suitors, but are they able to leave their old shelves behind for good?
This novel is both a fantasy and a historical fiction. Both genres are known for bringing out the darker nature of humanity’s past, and The Light of the Midnight Stars is no different. This book presents both a poignant and a horrific reminder of how a group of people continue to be mistreated. This story will linger within you for a very long time.
What I liked about it is how the author presented the Solomonars to her readers. Yes, they are a family with a powerful legacy and with magical abilities, but they are still a family. The sisters fight with each other as any siblings do. Their parents make sure they can control their magic and their daughters’ husbands-to-be are men who are worthy of them. The author does an excellent job of making this family believable with them being familiar and strong.
The story Rena Rossner presented here is another historical retelling of how the Jewish community were often the scapegoats for any and all misfortunes that befell a town, a region, or a country. Survivors of attacks and massacres were forced to wander from place-to-place only for them to hide their heritage from the outside world after settling into a new location. Then, those survivors had to come up with ways to make sure that their heritage wouldn’t be lost to posterity.
If you enjoyed Rossner’s debut novel and/or are fans of books by Naomi Novik, Katherine Arden, Alix E. Harrow and Tasha Suri, then you should read this book. The Light of the Midnight Stars is about the continued resilience of a group of individuals. You should be aware of moments of violence such as persecution and sexual assault, which adds to the adversity the characters have to overcome, which makes the story more uplifting.
The Light of the Midnight Stars is a story about magic, family, resilience and love. Rossner presents a strong follow up to her debut novel, which is a strong addition to the fantasy genre. This story about a family’s magical legacy is worthy of reading. I can’t wait to read what the author writes next.
Jennie Ivins
JC Kang