Nightbirds

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Average customer rating 4.3 (7 comments)

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In a world where magic is outlawed, four girls are kept hidden to avoid being burned by religious sects. Gifting their unique magic via a kiss to those willing to pay, they learn that there are other girls like them. Are they destined to always live in a cage or can they be set free? NIGHTBIRDS was a fascinating fantasy that had me immediately swept up into the complex magical world. I loved the political intrigue and how the plot was skillfully paced. It kept me quickly turning pages, completely engrossed in what was happening. The world-building was excellent. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed the different types of magical aspects, though the character development was slightly lacking overall. I liked that the story was told from each girl’s point of view. There was some romance but it didn’t feel overbearing and there wasn’t the typical teenage angst seen in many YA books which was a nice change of pace. The included maps were gorgeous and a lovely bonus. The epigraphs leading into each chapter were a great addition. The ending was not quite a full cliffhanger but not entirely satisfying. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next book. NIGHTBIRDS is book one of Kate J. Armstrong’s Nightbirds series. I’d highly recommend it to fans of YA fantasy.

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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!

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3.5/5. I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. There were a lot of pros, but even more cons. Pros: -Cover art and maps are GORGEOUS, and set a really cool Roaring 20s mixed with Dutch old world vibe (yay for Delft ware!!) - Female voices were strong in this book, and other overarching themes like persecution of witches by churches and governments spoke a lot on humanity’s past - Magic! - The first 25% of the novel was FANTASTIC both with character development and world building Cons: - The last 75% was a bit of a mess for two major reasons: It was 100 pages too long and the characterizations started blending into one consistent personality. - Too many POVs and short chapters which added to the previous point. - Almost every male character was a BAD MAN! Feminist lit doesn’t have to do this to establish a point. - A ton of repetitive action sequences that lent nothing to the story and made me start skimming. - Lack of world building and magic development past the first 25%. I’m still not sure if we were supposed to be in a Roaring 20’s time or Victorian London. Was a bit back and forth on this and that really messed with immersion. I still have no idea what concept the magic is supposed to be. - Finally, the replacement of mothers and fathers with dames and sires. Just. Sigh. Over all, this WAS a decent edition to the YA fantasy genre and I’m happy I read it. However, overall disappoint means I’m unlikely to pick up the sequel.

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I thought this book did excellent world building and setting up for the next book(s). I think it was so in depth with world building that it was a little slow. I also didn’t think any of the characters really got fully developed so I hope in the next book (yes I enjoyed it enough to read the next one for sure) there is some deeper character development. I want to cheer these girls on but I had a hard time since I felt pretty indifferent to them in this one. I loved the idea of magic that can be gifted with a kiss but never stolen. Magic is mostly outlawed but the rich and powerful support a small flock of girls who share their magical talent for a price, The Nightbirds. But there is a lot about their powers that is kept from them and as the conservative religious faction cries louder for the death of all witches the Nighbirds will learn what they are truly capable of.

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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.

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A bit disappointing, but I was expecting a lot from this book. I love the premise so much, one which promised a world where a nonsecular government has banned magic because of their belief that only gods should be able to use it, and three magic girls whose abilities must remain hidden. It has those elements, but what it did with them didn't really impress me.

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How can you not become engrossed with a book about a bright, mystical underworld where young girls with inherited magic, power that comes from a sheldar, witches who, long ago, "shot does with magic-kissed arrows" and "rode bears with antlers" (among other things) assemble together to be called Nightbirds? A page turner that once started, can't be put down as we meet this group and are led into a majestic, vibrant, and closed society due to the illegality of their abilities (their magic). As the girls struggle to deal with all they must endure that comes from the different abilities they wield, I have never found a book that makes the statement "Great power comes with great expectations", more true. While the Nightbirds have an inherited strength, power, all anyone could desire, their powers are not their own to use as they will. Will the price others pay to use them, destroy the girls before they can be overtaken into marriage, by a husband who wants this power, for himself? And, what will happen if the paters, the followers of the Four Gods, find that women still work the holy power? Instead of having clients and husband's use the girls, will the paters hunt them down and take their lives? Or, will the Nightbirds be taken by the royal family, a close relation to a member, usurped for political purposes? Who will bring ruin to the girls while so many want to clip their wings and own them for themself? Happy reading!