Reviewed by Larissa
TITLE: On a Midnight Clear
AUTHOR: Lily Morton
NARRATOR: Joel Leslie
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 6 hours and 52 minutes
RELEASE DATE: December 20, 2022
BLURB:
It can safely be said that Lord Barnaby Greenwood is not having the best of Christmases.
He’s penniless, up to his eyeballs in debt, and about to lose his estate. Therefore, it’s hardly surprising that when a local property developer offers a lot of money to buy King’s Wood from him, Barnaby is very tempted. But his father had always impressed on him that the green wood was sacred and must be protected at all costs, so he finds himself saying no.
He knows this will result in the loss of his home, but duty comes before everything. However, that fateful decision leads instead to a magical Christmas for Barnaby, complete with an old god who grants him a favour, and a beautiful statue that comes to life.
Cosmo is perfect for him. He’s funny and kind and completely enraptured with Barnaby, and for the first time in his life, Barnaby falls in love. But how can this lead to anything but heartache, when on the last stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, Cosmo will go back to being a statue and take Barnaby’s heart with him?
From best-selling author Lily Morton comes a truly magical romantic comedy.
REVIEW:
Did you know that the word “perfect” has over sixty synonyms listed in Merriam-Webster’s thesaurus? I think I may need to utilize that alternate terminology because there are only so many times I can use the word “perfect” to describe a Lily Morton/Joel Leslie audiobook collaboration before I feel redundant. Admittedly, I may have passed redundant some time ago given some of their recent audio projects, like the flawless (TYVM merriam-webster.com) Spring Strings audiobook that just released this December and immediately landed at the top of my Best of 2022 list. But the point remains, and I call it like I see it – or hear it as the case may be.
On a Midnight Clear‘s audiobook presents another clear example of how Morton and Leslie perfectly impeccably synergize their talent and skill to produce beautiful romances that demand repeat listening. While certainly worthy of being called perfect exceptional, this lovely, poignant holiday story calls to mind a different word that captures what Morton and Leslie have accomplished: magical. The premise itself relies on magic, legends and lore: A statue, Cosmo, is brought to life when Barnaby is granted “a favour” by an old god. Barnaby is certainly worthy of the favour. He’s a down-on-his-luck aristocrat looking to save his home, including the woods that are part of his estate. Barnaby is utterly without aristocratic snobbery. He’s down to earth and just wants to do what’s right for his staff and the kind people in the village, and he refuses to give up the green wood even though selling it would save him from losing his heritage. He makes an honorable decision at a steep personal cost. His reward for his loyalty is love, even if for just a brief slice of time.
Cosmo is perfection (sorry 😬 ), quite literally brought to life. He’s a walking, talking personification of all of what’s good and kind – Barnaby’s very nature. He’s exceptionally endearing to boot with his fish-out-of-water marveling and his spirited whippet sidekick Cyrus. Cosmo and Barnaby are kindred spirits, but Cosmo shows what that looks like when not burdened down by the stress and demands of modern-day society – pure, unadulterated joy. Cosmo knows his time is limited and he relishes every moment of it.
On a Midnight Clear differs significantly in feel from Morton’s other works. The story has a gravitas that can’t be ignored – especially not when gods of old come knocking on your door demanding promises or else peril. Morton balances a bit of fae/fairy tale lore and legend against a modern-day story, and she literally makes magic appear from darkness. The subtextual message is that magic surrounds us always, there for us to experience if we open our minds and hearts to do so, like Barnaby.
The denouement of this story literally made my heart hurt, but in all the best ways. I have now experienced what writers describe as having an emotional reaction “like a hit to the solar plexus”. Morton narrows the lens to a time when everything comes together and balances on a knife’s edge. This is high-stakes decision-making when the decisionmaker doesn’t know the consequences. Yet Barnaby being the pure soul that he is takes a chance because it feels right, and speaks his truth even though it leaves him vulnerable.
Morton excels at creating vivid characters and fascinating couples, and Cosmo and Barnaby may be one of her best because of the “other-ness” of their relationship. There’s something you can’t quite identify but clearly resonates in their connection. Perhaps it’s because this is quite literally a fantasy romance made real in a difficult, complex world.
This story is perfect (gah!) for Leslie. It’s deep and impactful giving Leslie something to sink his teeth into. He throws himself into his performance, channeling Barnaby and Cosmo with exquisite attention to the nuances of their personalities. I am completely enamored with his portrayal of Cosmo in particular. His voice is slightly stilted, apropos of a being that was, in fact, still. But Cosmo’s emotions are palpable as is his adoration of Barnaby, and Leslie gets that and makes us feel it. Leslie’s technical precision is showcased especially through his accents and his nimble handling of the myriad side characters, all distinct and colorful in their own right. Like Morton’s story, Leslie’s vocal performance is magical.
On a Midnight Clear is one of my favorite MM holiday romances. I unequivocally, resoundingly recommend this lovely, endearing, very special audiobook. Pick any synonym you like, but this audiobook is undeniable Morton/Leslie perfection.
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