Leo Hunt - 13 Days of Midnight

13 Days of Midnight is a book I picked out spontaneously while browsing at a bookstore. The synopsis seemed interesting enough, so I bought it. Unfortunately, I was unable to start reading it straight away - school work comes first! However, when I finally immersed myself in the world of Leo Hunt’s novel, it charmed me with its unconventional, funny and yet dark story, despite some obvious flaws.

When Luke Manchett finds out he is about to inherit his father’s fortune, his joy is not overshadowed by grief, as he barely remembers the man. However, daydreaming about a life free of responsibilities stops abruptly, as it turns out the money comes with an unpleasant bonus. Luke may be the richest teenager in the UK, but his chances of surviving until his 18th birthday became drastically slim - his soul is bound to eight vengeful ghosts summoned by his father years ago. Conquering them is a seemingly impossible task for a sixteen year old, however, the stakes are high - the fate of the world and his mother’s life hang in balance. With the aid of his only ally, Elza, Luke attempts to beat the ticking clock - thirteen days to do the impossible. 

At first glance, our protagonist, Luke, is a typical, annoying teenager, however, he quickly earns the sympathy of the reader with his sense of humour and charm. It is also easy to understand his motives - his actions are dictated by the desire to fit in. I think many people go through something similar, with peer pressure influencing the way we dress or even speak to earn the acceptance of our peers. That being said, Luke shows he is resourceful and capable of controlling his fear in precarious situations. Furthermore, his decision-making shows surprising maturity. 

While Luke is likeable, personally, I think Elza deserves the figurative spotlight more. Independent, sarcastic and obsessed with poetry, she easily wins the reader over. Unfortunately, she is the last well developed character, as the novel does not concern itself too long with the classmates of our heroes. As for the ghosts tied to Luke’s soul, there was definitely potential for an unique antagonist, however, just as all of the other secondary characters, they lack dimension. 

As the target audience of this novel is comprised largely of teenagers, there is an obligatory romantic subplot. Thankfully, the author does not fall into the trap of prioritising it over the main plot. However, it is not well executed. In fact, I felt like the author completely forgot about the love life of his protagonist and tried adding in appropriate, albeit short paragraphs wherever he could To make up for his blunder. This translates into a forced relationship between Luke and Elza that is almost painful to read. 

The pacing in 13 Days of Midnight is relatively fast. The fact it only spans two weeks is definitely a contributing factor, but, nevertheless, the action is not confined to the novel climax. Furthermore, the author managed to achieve an air of underlying fear and tension, making this a formidable introduction into the horror genre for a younger reader. This is further solidified by the graphic design of the cover, which succeeds in portraying the climate of the novel.

While I approached 13 Days of Midnight with few expectations, it proved to be an entertaining read. Unconventional characters, humour and creepy atmosphere are its biggest positives, however, they are hindered by the poorly executed romantic subplot and lack of realistic characters (with the exception of the protagonists). Despite that, it is a perfect book to pick up for Halloween, perhaps as a light-hearted introduction to the horror genre.

6/10