I have tried to read this book five separate times, and no matter my mental state, orwhat books I read before it, I cannot get past the first 50 pages. I plan to come back to this title in a few months, and hopefully, I can break through this boundary then because this does sound right up my alley. For now, I just need to move on and give this book and I some space.

I'm going to rank it as a middle 3 stars because I do not have enough context to properly rate it anything higher or lower.

Thank you Penguin Teen and NetGalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

I really enjoyed this book. I won't give any spoilers here beyond the basic concept of the book, but the concept and the magic system were pretty interesting, and I liked the characters. I especially liked Sayer and Fen; they were a little more complex than some of the others and I'm looking forward to seeing where their storylines go in the next book.

I'm normally not a huge fan of plots where there's witch-hunter vibes but this was done well. The government/society was complicated enough that it kept the story interesting and it could go multiple ways.

I'll definitely read the next book when it comes out -- I'm curious to see what happens!

Thank you, NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, Nancy Paulsen Books, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

In Simta, the Nightbirds are four girls with unique powers and magic. Some wants them, some would crush them, the church itself would kill them, but they are protected by the Great Houses, seen as treasures. Matilde, Æsa, and Sayer are this season's Nightbirds, gifting powers to paying clients and once their season is over, they are expected to marry well and become mothers, sharing their gifts to the next generation until they will fade eventually. But this season is very different, when someone asks for their help, involving them into political schemes and dangers. Involved in it, they have to fight to protect themselves, their own secrets and powers from someone very willing to destroy them. When they discover that there are other girls like them and the magic is more spread and different from what they were told, they slowly realized the Nightbirds is another cage, if only a gilded one. Now they have to choose what to do: remain protected and precious birds or fight to be free in a city that wants them dead.

Nightbirds is a fascinating, brilliant new fantasy story, set in a world mixing political intrigues, magic and powers, in a world where the magic is outlawed, but four girls can change everything in their power.
This story is absolutely original. Be swept in a glittering world, made of lies and secrets, magic and power, by Nightbirds powerful, but lied to, in a lovely setting, fascinating and so well written. I loved reading this book. It was written skillfully and the characterization is absolutely fantastic. I loved these girls and their journey and how they slowly realize what they are and their own potential and power. It's absolutely empowering, brilliant and engaging from the political schemes, the very peculiar magic and everything is so well mixed.
Totally recommended. An empowering female fantasy! Go read it!

A debut YA fantasy that was really fun. I thought the writing was good but could use a bit of a tune up. However, I thought this one was so interesting and I loved all of the magic in it! I see a lot of potential for this author in the future, as this debut was really great!

Nightbirds is the fantasy that young adult audiences need! It follows three strong young women that discover more about their magical powers throughout the book. My favorite part would have to be how easily distinguishable the characters are from each other. Sometimes I do not enjoy multiple POVs because the characters can sound the same but these characters do not. I enjoyed the sapphic characters present because I think that representation is important!

🥧Book Review🐦
Nightbirds
Kate Armstrong
Publisher: Penguin Teen
Published: February 28, 2023
Rating: 3.5⭐️ (rounded to 4 for GR)

#qotd : Since it's Pi day, what's your favorite flavor of pie?

Thank you to @penguinteen and the author for my digital copy of the book.

Synopsis: "The Nightbirds are Simta’s best-kept secret: Girls with a unique and powerful magic they can gift with just a kiss. Some would kill to possess them; the church would kill them outright. But protected by the Great Houses, the Nightbirds are well-guarded treasures.
As this Season’s Nightbirds, Matilde, Æsa, and Sayer will spend their nights bestowing their gifts to well-paying clients. Once their season is through, they’re each expected to marry a Great House lord and become mothers to the next generation of Nightbirds before their powers fade away. But as they find themselves at the heart of a political scheme that threatens not only their secrets, but their very lives, their future suddenly becomes uncertain.
When they discover that there are other girls like them and that their magic is far more than they were told, they see the Nightbird system for what it is: a gilded cage. Now they must make a choice—to remain kept birds or take control, remaking the city that dared to clip their wings."

This was 100% a cover pick for me, not even gonna lie about that. I mean, it's gorgeous, right? And I don't read much fantasy, so I wanted to branch out a little more. This ended up being a fun choice, even though it started off kind of slow. About halfway through, it picked up momentum and then gained speed at the end, thankfully. Sometimes, the number of characters could be hard to keep up with, but overall, I enjoyed the magical elements and world building.
As this is first in a series, I think I would read the second to find out what happens next.

#penguinteen #ya #yafantasy #newfantasy #nightbirds #katearmstrong #cover #coverlove #coverpick #judgeabookbyitscover #piday #favoritepie #netgalley #review #bookreview #Reviewer #penguinteenpartner

Thank you to NetGalley and PenguinTeen for an eARC of this book, all opinions are my own.

This book is so strong on so many fronts, but the strongest has to be the character development. In fantasies, I often get lost in the sea of new (and oftentimes strange) names, but this book creates such distinct personalities for each of the main characters that I never got confused. The way that each character played off each other, with Matilde being a stuck-up confident noble, Sayer being a tough, street-smart orphan, and Aesa being uncertain and easily swayed, was so easy to follow and exciting to see play out.

The worldbuilding of this book is also phenomenal. I was never lost at any point, even through the introduction to new terminology, geography, and cultures. I loved the snippets of “historical” texts that we got between chapters, because that really made it feel like Simta was a real place, and these people were real people that existed before this book was written. I’m always afraid in fantasies that the world will feel shallow, or will fly right over my head, but the world of Nightbirds was so digestible and coherent.

Another thing I loved was the romance elements, though they are a very minor part of the book. I was pleasantly surprised to see queer representation (Sayer, an MC, is sapphic), but even past that, I thought that each relationship was really well-founded. Though the romance is never the center-stage, the little glimpses and moments we get had me squealing.

TLDR: Read the Nightbirds for excellent characterization, world-building, and romance.

amazing world building with compelling and distinct characters! highly recommend to readers of fantasy. (also loveddd the queer rep throughout the book)

I feel like I am in the minority on this one. I enjoyed the setting and the magical elements well enough, but something caused it to struggle for them to blend well for me. I think I just was not the audience for this one sadly.

Nightbirds follows three young magical girls - Mathilde, Sayer, and Aesa - through a luscious, dark world as they seek to change the tides of their future.

The writing in this book is absolutely fantastic - the worldbuilding is exquisite, and our three main characters can hold their own, each with their own unique personalities and strengths. The magic system in this book wasn’t too convoluted or complex, and I really enjoyed learning more about it throughout the story - no info dumping here!

The plot twists are shocking, and the action throughout the story never falls flat. This story will have you on the edge of your seat, eagerly turning the page to see what comes next for our three Nightbirds.

Currently reading physical copy! Will review on Amazon Canada, GoodReads, Barnes & Noble, and my Instagram when done!

I absolutely loved this book! Armstrong creates such a beautiful world full of magic and life. Every character was so beautifully fleshed out and everyone was woven together in such brilliant ways. Sometimes in dual POV books, I find that they can be hard to follow, but that was not the case with this book. The world had such a unique magic system and it was so fun learning about it as the book went on. This book is filled with magic and intrigue and I highly recommend picking it up!

I really wanted to love this book. I mean honestly looking at that amazing cover and wonderful Synopsis. However, this story fell flat with me. At times I found the pacing to be a bit slow for me and the details to be a bit over done. I do realize this could certainly be due to my personal tastes within this genre.

Thank you Penguin Teen for my early copy of Nightbirds!

🪄🐦 🎭 💋 🏰

This book was 🙌🏻 and just so unexpected! It captured me from the start with its 1920s speakeasy, high-stakes, and ethereal vibes. The unique, elemental magic system. Shifting POVs. Fast paced storyline. Themes of sisterhood, found family, and independence. This book is beautiful inside and out. I loved it!

With the growing crusade against magic in Simta, Nightbirds (the city’s best kept secret—girls with a unique and powerful magic they can gift through a kiss), Matilde, Sayer, and Aesa must make a choice. Remain in their gilded cage or break free, owning their magic, remaking the city, and saving others like them.

The first in a new series, this is a young adult book and storyline with a grown up feel. There’s kissing. Chemistry. Forbidden Love. Friends to lovers. ‘Ships you’ll be rooting for! A cast of unforgettable characters.

If you loved the feel of These Violent Delights, the found family in Six of Crows, and generally unique magic systems like in Dreams Lie Beneath, definitely add this to your TBR!

WHAT YOU CAN ALSO EXPECT:
— alchemical x intrinsic magic
— underground societies
— secret meetings
— forbidden love x protector
— friends to lovers x sapphic rep
— love triangle
— magical prohibition
— 1920s feel x masquerade balls
— magic in a kiss
— rogue nobles x cutthroats x pirates
— sisterhood x found family
— an ancient elemental magic
— Great Houses x duty
— secrets, deceit, lies
— magical bonds

I had a hard time getting into this book. I think it’s just because I’m currently not in a fantasy mood. I did enjoy the descriptions of the balls and dresses and magic. I even enjoyed the relationships between characters. But for the actual plot I was just ok with it. I think if you’re a big fantasy fan though you’ll enjoy it!!

Overall really enjoyed this one. Some slower sections towards middle but loved the magic system, the political Intrigue and feminist undertones

You know those books where you finish them and immediately need everyone to read it so they can scream about them with you?? Nightbirds is definitely one of those books.

Two things I really love- like completely obsessed with- are the razzle and dazzle of the 1920s + the Prohibition policies at the time AND forbidden magic so imagine how happy I was to find out about this book.

A fantasy with layers of feminism expertly intertwined with undertones of political intrigue, magical girls trying to survive and live in a world that prohibits their very existence and those who wish to control them + secrets and destinies + an ode to not just the 1920s and all its beauty but also references to a period of time where witches burned for their magic- this book had it all!!

I loved this book for sooo many reasons (many listed above) but most of all for its composition, the way it unfolded into this beautiful, powerful story that has my whole heart. It started off with me being completely enamored with this world of Nightbirds and the magic they grant with their kisses to me relating to and feeling for our girls who yearned for a life not controlled by their circumstances. It soon became me being completely engrossed by the history and legends of the Nightbirds to me screaming at the top of my lungs with sorrow and rage for them.

To say the least this book consumed me. To say the most this book took a story of prohibition and magical girls to a level of fighting back in the most badass, ‘stick it to the patriarchy’, ‘girls rule the world’ way and I was living for it. This is without a doubt one of new fave books and one I will push for everyone to read 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

I absolutely adored the writing and the world of this book. I loved how it really focused on the three main girls and their journeys, without any slow sections, or unnecessary subplots. It was super interesting to read, especially as a lover of YA fantasy books with high stakes!

Thank you to Penguin for letting me get a copy of this book for my honest review. I love this story. The magic in this world is super cool and I love the world building. I also love all the girls love stories and just watching the story fall into place.

I'm not quite sure if this was the one for me, but that's okay. Sometimes in stories with ensemble casts I tend to get lost and everybody's povs mixes and muddles in my brain. That's exactly what happened with this story. The girls didn't quite stand out apart from each other for me.

What I did like about the book though was the theme of female empowerment. There were a couple quotes that I tagged about this.

I think I wanted to like this novel more than I did especially because I've seen so many raving reviews about it! But it just didn't do it for me.

I'd still recommend people check out this novel and make a decision for themselves if they like it or not! Vibes are roaring 20s, forbidden magic, found family and feminism.

Thank you Penguin Teen for an eARC of this novel. All thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.