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Maria Giakoumatos has been interested in all things spooky since she was too small to ride the fun roller coasters in amusement parks. She probably would have become a paranormal investigator if she wasn't afraid of the dark, so she settled for just writing about spirits. Her family often took her to church as a child, so that may explain some things.
When she isn't writing her wacky stories, Maria spends her free time playing piano, video games, watching horror movies, and exploring spooky locations. She currently lives in Renton, Washington, with her partner and little parrot named Rowley.
Reviewed by Jennifer Donovan for Readers' Favorite
After Anthony is rejected by Olivia, one of the most popular girls in school, his friends take him on a night excursion to cheer him up. Mavro Manor is rumored to house the ghost of a young girl who died decades ago. When they enter the abandoned mansion, Anthony discovers the body of Emily Mavro and is shocked when she comes to life. Telling him she requires small amounts of his soul to remain alive, he allows her to leave the mansion with him. Meanwhile, Eden–a group of paranormal investigators who use white magic to defeat demons–must locate Emily and protect her from falling into the hands of Lucifer’s Disciples. As Anthony is thrust into the world of supernatural beings, sinister plots, and corruption, he must protect his found family at all costs. Midnight Waltz by Maria Giakoumatos is the first book in The Infernal Symphony, a young adult urban fantasy series.
Fast-paced and full of adventure, Midnight Waltz also addresses deeper themes such as toxic family relationships. Anthony, Olivia, and Emily all struggle with unhealthy family dynamics and betrayal. Readers who love themes such as found family and love triangles will appreciate the multi-layered characters Maria Giakoumatos has created. Although there is mild violence, brief mentions of teen marijuana use, and scenes involving cutting, Midnight Waltz is appropriate for most young adult readers. Told through multiple points of view, sometimes the shifts from character to character were abrupt, but, given the fast pace, I did not find it to be disruptive. This novel was fun to read, and I am interested to find out how the series evolves.
