Step into a Miyazaki world: The Midnight Sovereign belongs on your TBR

Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted eARC.

“A legacy to be reclaimed. A debt to be paid. Watch love blossom.” 

Recently, reading was feeling more like a chore for me, but I couldn’t pinpoint exactly why. With nearly 40 books read for the year, I’m guessing it was likely a case of burnout. I tried switching genres for some time, but it was taking me longer to finish a chapter, until I’d go for days without picking up a book.

Then I received an email from The Nerd Fam that I had been approved to download an eARC of The Midnight Sovereign: A Moonstone Bargain by K. N. Murphy, ahead of its scheduled public release on November 1, 2025. Since this was my first ARC gifted from The Nerd Fam, a company I’ve wanted to collaborate with since I started this blog, I was excited to write a quality review for the author and for them. 

Nothing like the pressure of obligation to pull me out of a reading slump.

The Midnight Sovereign: A Moonstone Bargain is a stunning debut that wraps whimsy, grief, and magic into a story that feels like stepping right into a treasured Miyazaki film, complete with a talking black cat companion. If you love Studio Ghibli-style cozy fantasy books with mystery, soft romance, and animal-shifters, this one deserves a spot on your TBR.

After her mentor-turned-guardian passes away, Elvira inherits the title of the Midnight Sovereign, but she still has more questions than answers about what that even means. Desperate to uncover the truth, she is forced out of the sheltered life she’s always known and into a twisted odyssey of truth, legacy, and power. 

And, yes, our MMC is a mysterious bird-shifter who is steadfastly loyal from day one…who may or may not have been watching her through a magic mirror in her bedroom.

(Hey InuYasha fans, if you remember how Shippo would use a leaf to transform, the MMC in this book has a similar method to using his magic, and it made me giggle every time.)

The themes of this book center around change, acceptance, and identity. One quote, in particular, stood out to me:

“All things change, all things eventually come to an end. It takes a certain strength of character to accept when that change is inevitable, and to build a new life, a better life, for yourself.”

Since change is such a constant in my life as a military spouse, this quote struck like a chord and made me consider how I often struggle to find that acceptance to circumstances that I cannot control.

While reading this book, I also connected with Elvira, who expresses frustration throughout the story that she felt unprepared to take on her role as the Midnight Sovereign. Still, she doesn’t allow her lack of knowledge stop her–she uses it as fuel for curiosity. With Corvin by her side (or just a heartbeat away), she faces each magical hurdle head-on, realizing that maybe the way her mentor handled business wasn’t the only way. 

Gotta love an FMC who’s breaking generational curses, am I right? 

My only criticism is that the romance is marketed as a slow-burn, but the attraction was pretty instantaneous from the characters’ first meeting. While Corvin is rather secretive about his identity, the mystery resolves rather simply and a bit predictably. I wanted more drama, and to be swept away with the romance in the same way I was transported into the world Murphy created.

Even so, this book was able to pull me out of my recent reading slump. The fantasy is not too heavy, and the found-family dynamic felt like a warm reunion. Murphy does a wonderful job bringing her world to life while developing Elvira’s character from defenseless to empowered, making this a comforting and worthwhile read. And, since the book is newly released, perhaps this enchanted story will vibe with you, too. 

Pick up The Midnight Sovereign: A Moonstone Bargain for your next rainy day read!

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