Book Summary
In the little village of Castle Down, in a kingdom plagued by war, lives a peasant girl called Bella. Blessed with a kind family, and a loving friend, she manages to create her own small patch of sunlight in a dark and dangerous world. Bella is a blacksmith’s daughter; her friend Julian is a prince, yet neither seems to notice the great gulf that divides his world from hers.
Suddenly, Bella’s world collapses. First Julian betrays her, then it is revealed that she is not the peasant she believed herself to be: she is Isabel, the daughter of a knight who abandoned her in infancy. Now he wants her back, so Bella is torn from her beloved foster family and sent to live with her deranged father and his resentful new wife. Soon Bella is caught up in a terrible plot that will change her life and the kingdom forever. With the help of her godmother and three enchanted gifts, she sets out on a journey in disguise that will lead to her to a destiny far greater than any she could have imagined.
What I Expected
I thought ‘Bella at Midnight’ would be a light, sweet piece of historical fiction. Plus I love knights, so the mere mention of one is enough to make me interested.
Story
To be honest, I was disappointed with this book. It was childish, and at times, way too far-fetched. By far-fetched I don’t mean that the impossible happened- it’s great when things we don’t even imagine happen in books- it was just that the things in the book (no spoilers about to be released) had no clear explanation. Maybe this book would appeal to middle grade readers.
Characters
There was just something about the MC Bella that I didn’t like. She was way too perfect and good to be realistic.
I really liked Julian, though, especially since he wasn’t the typical storybook prince, but a normal guy with a big heart and lots of love for Bella.
Parting Thoughts
In conclusion, it would’ve been a cute story if Bella wasn’t such an annoying character. I read it in one sitting, so it was a quick read, too. If you’re bored and in the mood for a good old fairytale, Bella at Midnight is an okay one to borrow from the library.
Rating: 3.5/5. This was not a book that matched me at all.
Book Stats
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 278
Release Date: 2006