Midnight Black

The theme of survival under duress pervades Midnight Black, with characters like Zoya, Denis, and Court pushed into extreme situations to test their mettle. An early clue about these hazardous conditions is the title of the novel itself, which refers to the darkest point of the night and the point at which the senses may be confounded. The title is also a reference to the bathypelagic zone, or midnight zone, of the ocean, a lightless, high-pressure, freezing cold environment. The novel’s weather and environment of Europe and Russia in the deep dark of winter reinforce the imagery evoked by the title, exemplified by images of Zoya perpetually coughing in her cold prison cell or Court making his way through icy waters. The extreme conditions in the novel exist to test the romantic ideals of the characters, as well as the human spirit, showing the determination and perseverance of humans even in the direst circumstances.

The novel’s greatest example of survival under duress is the character of Zoya, whose danger is most imminent and beyond her control. Though their choices are limited, Denis and Court have chosen their mission; Zoya, however, is incarcerated in a Russian penal colony and is at the mercy of ruthless and sadistic law-enforcement and intelligence officers.