Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Beyond the Ruby Veil #2

Into the Midnight Void

Rate this book
Emanuela has finally gotten what she wanted. Since escaping her catacomb prison, she's started running things her way. Under her rule, citizens no longer give up their lives at the first, tiny appearance of their omens. As long as they aren't caught bad-mouthing their queen, they can live out their days like everyone else.

But when cracks in her magic start to show, Emanuela begrudgingly allies herself with her enemies, including her frustratingly alluring archnemesis, Verene. Together, discover deeper truths about the mysterious blood magic Emanuela and Verene both wield. There is a higher, otherworldly authority outside the veils, and in order to save Occhia and the other realms, Emanuela may just have to rip another crown off someone's head.

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 25, 2022

18 people are currently reading
2373 people want to read

About the author

Mara Fitzgerald

2 books264 followers
Mara Fitzgerald writes YA fantasy about unlikable female characters who ruin everything. She is a biologist by day and spends entirely too much time looking at insects under a microscope. She was born near Disney World and now lives near Graceland, which is almost as good. Her debut YA fantasy, BEYOND THE RUBY VEIL, will release on October 13th, 2020.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
131 (27%)
4 stars
191 (40%)
3 stars
112 (23%)
2 stars
31 (6%)
1 star
9 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
Profile Image for Mara Fitzgerald.
Author 2 books264 followers
Want to read
November 4, 2021
hey all! stopping by to let you know a couple things:

-This is the last book in this cursed series. I am taking Emanuela's microphone away because she needs to stop.

-If you want a SIGNED and PERSONALIZED copy, please preorder it from Porter Square Books prior to the release date of January 25th, 2022! And yes there is a special place for you to request whatever weird doodle you want from me! Link here: https://www.portersquarebooks.com/sig...

I hope you enjoy!
Profile Image for Mira Mio.
332 reviews77 followers
November 3, 2022
Я: Ой, как я не люблю этих наглых и тупых героинь, которые считают себя злодейками, а сами думают только про платьюшки, фуфуфу...

Мара Фитцжеральд: Ты просто не умеешь их готовить!


P.S. Два абзаца лесбийской порнухи, яху!

P. S. S. Саундтрек: The Birthday Massacre - Kill the light.
Profile Image for Serena ♡.
212 reviews11 followers
May 16, 2022
3,5
It’s somehow even more terrible than the first book. It’s not a good book, man. But it sure was entertaining!

I honestly would’ve rated it higher (to my own disgrace) if I understood the ending…
I just didn’t get what was going on! I have no idea what to make of it…
Will probably reread it sometime.


Anyway, this will belong to the same category as #1:

“Books that don’t deserve a 4 star but since I’m action deprived, and since this was full of it, I guess we’re giving this 4 stars now.”


^changed it to a 3 star bc i’m ruthless
Profile Image for Ashley.
851 reviews625 followers
February 8, 2022
Star Rating: —> 4.5 Stars

Wow do I love a villain/ morally grey (more like morally corrupt LOL) anti-heroine as an MC! And ahhhh the sapphics! This was such a great follow-up! Idk if its a trilogy or that was it... but that's why I took off .5 stars. If that was, indeed, the complete resolution... I may take off another half star or star bc wtf? But still...

Def recommend!!!
Profile Image for Starr ❇✌❇.
1,679 reviews161 followers
January 25, 2022
I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: implied interrogation & torture (involving spiders), self inflicted injuries, imprisonment
4.7

I'm so glad my favorite horrible murder girl is back and thriving. I have been anxiously awaiting this sequel, and I devoured it the minute I could because oh my god did it meet my expectations. There is so much to love here, the chaos continues to be impossible to look away from, and the sheer basically evil flirting is just.... astounding.

I have to talk about the relationship first because I honestly want to scream. This is done so perfectly. How did Mara Fitzgerald manage this! This is the exact relationship I wanted to see from Emanuela and Verene, and also so true to both the characters and the story built around them. There could have been a real disconnect- a romance that distracts from the story, a romance that softens the wonderful, awful edges of Emanuela, a back and forth that just existed to be exhausting, etc etc. But instead we get a character study in Verene, who is proving that all those little hints of being more similar to Emanuela than to a saint were very very real, and only scratching the surface. I thought I might like Verene before, but now? I love her.
And I love her most with Emanuela! There is flirting, as I said, and it's the best sort of sarcastic, kind of obnoxious, holding your chin with a dagger kind, and then there's the sheer intimacy of them knowing each other and Verene having a drawer in Emanuela's office to keep her hair ties. And the fact that they know each other well enough to know when the other is going to betray them and not even taking is personally? Phenomenal, and so on brand. I knew I liked these characters together but I never expected this level of chemistry or how well they could mesh!

I could go on and on about the villainous romance- I am truly obsessed with them- but that's not the only draw here! The humor is wonderful, as it was in the first book. It's a dark humor generally made up of dry comments, over the top reactions, and unexpected quips, and it honestly rarely misses. I laughed so many times reading this story- which is saying something, when you're reading about lots of murder and betrayal.

And, ah, yes, the betrayal. This book manages to keep up the romance and humor and add in some new context while also keeping up the tension! There are so many threats of betrayal, hidden plots, twisty secrets, and bad intentions that your heart never really stops racing.

I love so much that no one in this entire novel is untouched by "badness", they are all flawed and morally gray at the very least. There are some hints of that in the first book, but it's full fledged here and it makes every character and their intentions so interesting. I love complex, morally gray or downright immoral characters, so a whole cast of them was enough to make me want to reread this book immediately when I finished.

I also think the ending was handled well. It's difficult to imagine an ending that doesn't leave things looking negative and also doesn't magically fix everything and everyone, and I think Fitzgerald hit the balance perfectly.

The only thing that I was a little disappointed with in this book was that I had been so excited to get to see Emanuela and Verene in jail together, bonding, and we only get that in a small handful of flashbacks. I can understand why the choice was made, and it still works really well, but I do feel just a little deprived, and I'd now like to request a short story.

I loved this book! Sequels/second books are difficult and unpredictable, and I tried to keep my expectations low- but I didn't need to! I trust Mara Fitzgerald's brain so much now that I will gladly read any scrap she writes.

pre-review comments below
This was somehow even better than the first book?????? How is this possible!
Profile Image for Nyx.
351 reviews2 followers
February 20, 2022
No redemption to be found in this sequel. Emanuela and her love interest continue to be narcissistic psychopaths. With the former thinking she’s a benevolent ruler and the latter with delusions of being a ‘savior’—even she thinks it’s okay to kill people🤨

Do not recommend this duology. Especially, since every type of relationship portrayed in the books are abusive and accepted. From familial to friendship to romantic relationships—all of them.
Profile Image for Grace.
1,278 reviews82 followers
September 16, 2022
What a spectacular duology! I can’t believe I don’t hear more hype about it! I absolutely loved reading about such villainous characters. It was so weird in the best way.
Profile Image for Frank Chillura (OhYouRead).
1,587 reviews66 followers
February 10, 2022
Into the Midnight Void leaves no stone unturned, no question unasked, and no character safe from a gruesome murder at the hands of Emanuela. And who wouldn’t want that to be the way they go: by the hand of one of the most incredible chaos lesbians ever written. I mean, not me, because spontaneous combustion via blood, veins and gore does not sound painless.

Verene and Emanuela are the ideal match and I am here for their love… if they hypothetically were to FINALLY get together, I wouldn’t be hating on it! I have been dying for this book for over a year, impatiently waiting to get my answers to those burning questions of will they or won’t they… and I am so happy to say that you’ll have to read it too to find out! 🤷🏻‍♂️

I will say that I feel like my little baby Ale had a bit of a personality flip that I didn’t love. He was so sweet in Ruby Veil and I wanted to protect him at all costs and in Midnight Void, he was the all powerful eye! (Which, side note, was HILARIOUS!! You know, because he only has 1 eye! No? You had to be there!) I wanted his happily ever after and I feel a little robbed.

Honestly, the ending left me feeling unsatisfied, BUT it would be Emanuela who gutted me, let her spiders crawl all over me, and then ask me if I wanted to know what happens next, but NEVER ANSWERS THE QUESTION! 😂 So, Thanks, Emanuela! For the good times, the not so good times, and for leaving me hanging in the end!
Profile Image for Avni.
155 reviews41 followers
September 28, 2023
It was equally bad as the first one, and I do not know what to write, because I have no words about how the plot escalated so badly and I was expecting it to be a little better than the first. Now with the protagonist, the story sucks. I wish we could get more on the other characters.

The only thing which I like is the covers and nothing else. The writing could do a lot better and I think the plot could also improve and more of character building.
Profile Image for Minna.
247 reviews
July 27, 2022
This was a fun, wild ride. I don’t know what I expected, but I certainly didn’t expect the wildly entertaining and tense chaos that ensued. I’m a bit iffy about the ending, though. This is supposed to be the last book, but it feels incomplete, leaving so many unanswered questions in its wake.
Profile Image for Isabelle Kolleth.
Author 1 book4 followers
June 19, 2025
Made me think about death a lot. I never resonated with the characters even though I realllllyyy wanted to. also, niche complaint but the audiobook narrator changed for Book 2 :( . hated that
Profile Image for michelle (magical reads).
1,051 reviews254 followers
January 10, 2022
3.75 stars

read on my blog

rep: lesbian protagonist and love interest, gay side character
cw: blood, eye gore, body horror

**I received an ARC from a giveaway from the author (thank you, Mara!). These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**


I unexpectedly loved Beyond the Ruby Veil when I read it last year, so I was really excited for the sequel! I couldn’t believe my luck when I won an ARC and picked it up to read way too early. Fast-paced and unapologetic, Into the Midnight Void uncovers more secrets about the blood magic and the veils shrouding the cities.

This review contains spoilers for book one.

A year after the events of the first book, Emanuela is ruling six of the eight cities with an iron fist. They fear her, and she finally has the power she’s always craved. Meanwhile, Verene plays the leader of the rebellions. She’s working with Emanuela, but this way, she gets the love of the people she’s always craved. Their hold over the cities soon fades, however, as they lose control of their blood magic.

It’s a bit difficult to talk about the plot because there’s a twist early on in the book. I can say that I found it as thrilling and intriguing as the first book; in terms of readability, I read this book in one sitting in a couple of hours. I just couldn’t put it down! It’s also short and a fast read, which I enjoyed.

The worldbuilding was expanded more from the first book. Emanuela and Verene also uncover more secrets about their blood magic, and lack thereof, as they begin to lose control of themselves. Their sheer will to survive is impressive, and I really enjoyed how the plot unraveled.

The characterizations were also so well-done. Emanuela remains the morally gray, unlikable female protagonist, whom you were oddly compelled to like as in the first book. Even after she’s presented with all her mistakes, she still knows who she wants to be and what she wants to do. It was also interesting seeing this reflected in Verene, although her characterization was slightly different because she really wanted to be loved, not adored like Emanuela.

We get to see the fruition of the enemies to lovers that was hinted at in the first book. I really liked Emanuela and Verene’s dynamic; even when they’re fighting, it’s very obvious that they do it for the familiarity. Again, they’re mirror images of themselves, so their rivalry exists, and continues to exist, because they know that they’re the only two people who really understand the other’s wants and desires.

Theo and Ale also come back into their lives. I found their dynamics with Verene and Emanuela, respectively, really fascinating. They’re both the two girls’ consciences, not that they bother to listen to them, but it’s clear that they love them even after the betrayals and the hurt. I really liked the ending and where the characters all ended up!

Into the Midnight Void was a thrilling sequel that I couldn’t put down. The ending wrapped up nicely, and I liked the characters and the romance. If you’re looking for an lesbian enemies-to-lovers romance and/or morally gray unlikable female protagonist, you should check out the Beyond the Ruby Veil duology!

original review:


fast-paced and unapologetic which is what I needed rn
Profile Image for Gretal.
980 reviews84 followers
October 30, 2022
I love this weird little duology about one of the worst girls to exist. I had no idea what to expect from this book, but I really liked it. I look forward to reading more from Mara Fitzgerald in the future.
Profile Image for Laura AP.
837 reviews
April 9, 2025
would love to see a fight between emanuela ragno and shauna shipman


plot is a mess and rushed but hot damn what a voice! anyone who claims to like "unlikable female characters" but can't stand emanuela is just a wimp, sorry. she's the best. shine ever on, lesbian lucifer
Profile Image for Kaitlin.
852 reviews81 followers
March 2, 2022
Chaos happened left and right. The ending of this duology was satisfying.

CW: Blood, Confinement, Death, Cannibalism
6 reviews1 follower
January 27, 2022
A wonderful continuation (and conclusion) to the Beyond the Ruby Veil series. Having received the book the day before I am posting this review, I can shamelessly say I was unable to put down this book from the beginning. The pacing was fast and thrilling until the very end, the twists and turns kept me wondering what would happen next!

The romance between Emmanuela and Verene was true to form, enemies to lovers, and deliciously tense throughout. The conclusion of their romance had left me empty, a husk of a person, my heart was broken! Nonetheless, this was very honest to their characters. Emmanuela would never be satisfied with her life without power and would never feel powerful enough, Verene wants to be adored but with Emmanuela beside her, it wouldn't be possible.

The end left me wondering what Emmanuela would do now, without the veil and the sudden appearance of rain. Knowing this is a duology left me a little sad since it is the end of Emmanuela's antics and the short-lived romance between her and Verene. I wish I could know what would happen next, regardless, it was an enthralling read. I wish I could experience reading it for the first time all over again!

Thank you Mara for these chaos lesbians and an experience I will never forget <3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Isabella Crews.
123 reviews1 follower
March 4, 2022
I thought that I did not like the main character. She is conniving, selfish, cruel, and greedy. But in the end, I still found myself hoping that she would get a win. The book has such a unique plot, and such great action. It’s gory and gruesome and frustrating, but the characters are compelling. The plot twists are so enjoyable and the book is impossible to put down. The ending is quite melancholy. So much was lost but it ends in a very appropriate way considering all that happens to the characters through the series. I find myself wanting more but understanding that there is not much further to go with the story. Readers are left with some decisions of their own which is both frustrating and wonderful.
Profile Image for holly.
592 reviews21 followers
January 4, 2022
Full review to come once I compose myself but in a nutshell I imagine Emanuela is beaming that this held me in an absolute chokehold for the past seven hours because I sat down and then could not stop until I was done.

Also, respectfully—WHAT THE FUCK!!!
Profile Image for Beckah White.
22 reviews6 followers
January 18, 2023
Out of all the characters I liked exactly zero of them
The main character is a menace but not in a good way.
I must have rated the first book before I stopped feeling bad about giving lower star reviews
Profile Image for Lexy.
364 reviews40 followers
January 1, 2023
DNF at 37%. Ugh, i loved Emmanuela before but now? She feels so… boring. On the first book, she was so wild, a force to be reckoned with! Now? Not so much.
Profile Image for Em Little.
40 reviews
April 13, 2022
An ambitious protagonist, a unique magic system, and a world that is as beautifully breathtaking as it is disturbing- everything about Beyond the Ruby Veil was a big love.



Absolutely recommend for anyone who loves a good horror-flavored fantasy and the darkest greys of moral compasses.
Profile Image for Steph Carr (LiteraryHypeWoman).
657 reviews66 followers
January 25, 2022
3.5

I messed this one up.... my phone skipped to the last 40 pages and it took me far to long to realize I'd missed 80... so I was a smidge confused due to being all over the place.

This duology is so strange and I am not sure why I enjoyed it. I mean, the eating of the eyeballs continues in this one, albeit with less description, but it's still a thing.

Emanuela is still a confidently selfish hot mess. I appreciate that her relationship with V didn't change her into being some sappy fake version of herself.

Idk. Such a strange couple books but I enjoyed them in their weirdness. 🤷‍♀️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.