Nightbirds

I really enjoyed reading this book! I knew I would because the cover is gorgeous (yes, I do tend to judge books by their cover) and I love to read books that have magic in them. They are so much more interesting than the real world. Even if there are many issues in the fictional world, of which this one has so many. Magic is illegal and hunted down by the church but the rich get to have the Nightbirds who bestow magic with a kiss. There is much more to this though (secrets galore in fact) and I grew to really like Mathilde, Sayer, and Æsa, the current generation of Nightbirds as they learned of those secrets and took flight against the unjustness in the world. I did not feel like this was a debut book (which is really good) and I hope that the Fyrebirds can save the day and country and rely on each other, soul bound as they are. I am looking forward to the next book for sure!

Nightbirds is the start to an exciting new YA fantasy series. The story is set in the city of Simta in the Eudean Republic, where magic is prohibited, except for those who are wealthy and powerful, who partake of it behind closed doors. The Nightbirds follows a group of teenage girls who secretly and anonymously gift their magic to members of the Great Houses through a kiss. A series of events exposes their identities, and they are forced to go into hiding from an extreme religious sect, the leader of Simta and those who would use their magic for nefarious purposes. As they explore the full extent of their abilities and find other girls who can wield magic, they realize that they have been lied to, their powers used to benefit others. Nightbirds is a thrilling tale filled with forbidden magic, political intrigue, action, adventure and romance. I found it a fascinating allegory of how female power is suppressed by male dominated religions, political systems and financial structures. The story is told through multiple points of view which allows for character development, an intense, woven plot and detailed world building. I loved the maps! The sequel can't come a moment too soon. Thank you to BookishFirst for a copy to review.