Thank you to the publisher, Penguin Teen Canada, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In Simta, magic is banned and any who use it – particularly women – are persecuted as witches by the city’s religious faction. But the Great Houses have long protected the Nightbirds, teenage girls born into these Houses who have magic and the ability to gift it to others with a kiss, and their identities are hidden from everyone, making them but a myth to any not of these circles. Matilde, Aesa and Sayer, are enjoying their Season by day and performing their Nightbird duties by night, but all of them seek a life beyond the confines and closely dictated future of a Nightbird who has finished her Season. A series of events leads to their identities being revealed, and the three girls are forced to flee their luxurious lives and go into hiding, now that the zealous religious group, various unscrupulous characters and even the ruler of Simta are after them for their own ends. When they discover that there are other girls out there with magic just like them, they begin to realize that the Nightbird system is build of lies to keep them in line and and they must decide if they will return to their gilded cages or use their powers to make a difference the way their ancestors of legend did.

The premise of this book reminded me a little of The Belles (a series for which the third book is finally coming this year), especially in terms of the magic, so that alone made me quite curious to know more. I’ve seen a good amount of hype for this book so I was excited to get an ARC of this. The concept of the Nightbirds was a truly fascinating one and I really liked the plot that the author has woven around them. The story has so many facets apart from just the magic with various parties grappling for political power, a sect of the religious faction somewhat resembling the witch hunts growing bolder in their tactics by the day, and the system that the Great Houses have invented for the Nightbirds, ostensibly to keep them safe and make sure the magic stays secret and within their circles, but is soon enough revealed to be something of a gilded cage.

The magic system was very clear right from the beginning and quite simplistic and easy to grasp. The world building on the other hand, felt rather lacking. With the book jumping right into things from the beginning, much of the information about the world was told rather than showed and I couldn’t visualize the setting or imagine a comparative time period to draw inspiration from either though I suppose 1920s would be a close fit. Given the map at the beginning, I’m curious to see if the story will shift focus to some of the other places depicted there and what the views on magic are in those parts

The pacing was decent, it did slow down in some parts and speed up drastically towards the end, but otherwise it was balanced enough to keep track of what was happening and what each character was up to. The writing style was pretty good and it was an engaging enough read that I didn’t feel the need to take breaks from it.

Narrated from the perspectives of the three Nightbirds, Matilde, Aesa and Sayer were all interesting characters, their voices distinct, and each of their arcs well developed. Not only was there a good amount of backstory for them all, each girl’s journey was depicted in a realistic manner. As girls from drastically different backgrounds and upbringings, they all had a lot to come to terms with as many shocking facts were revealed and they dealt with it in different ways as they learned to trust and rely on each other despite not starting off on the best foot.

Matilde, I feel, had the best arc, mainly because as the most naive of the three, she had the most adjustment to go through with her worldview basically turned on its head and so many key facts of her privileged life so far proven to be false. Sayer wasn’t the most likeable character and her quest to get revenge has already shown to have severe consequences as she tended to let it cloud her vision and make reckless choices. I wasn’t fond of Aesa either, having been raised with strict religious beliefs by a father who thinks magic is blasphemous, she is kind of scared of her magic and that it might corrupt her. For the majority of the book, she felt like a very passive character to me, too worried to actually do anything – though once the girls found the Underground and others like them, her arc started to move a little and by the end there was the potential of her growing into a much stronger character.

To be honest, all three of them made some reckless and unwise choices which led to their identities being revealed to various people both trustworthy and not, and basically set the ball rolling for the entire plot. Not all of them were avoidable, but the most damaging ones were and that was largely Matilde’s fault and to an extent Sayer’s – and these are going to have repercussions going forward, especially for Sayer. The romances were all right, but I didn’t enjoy those arcs as much because there was already so much going on that all my concentration was towards the plot and these just felt like interruptions.

The ending was quite packed with so much going on on so many different fronts, but it didn’t lack for action and left a lot of unanswered questions and a cliffhanger too. I’m really curious what Matilde’s plan is going forward as it’s clear she isn’t just going along with what’s being demanded of her – she has something up her sleeve. I’m hoping the next book will have more development relating to the original fyrebirds, their abilities, how that might affect the three girls and also perhaps introduce some of the previous Nightbirds as well.

Overall, this was an interesting read, and I believe this is a debut novel, so considering that, a rather good one too. It did feel a little unnecessarily long and could have been trimmed down a bit (But then again, I can say that for a large number of recent novels – they’re all inching towards and past the 500 page mark where the average length used to be around 350 pages a couple of years ago. I’m not sure I entirely like this trend, unless the plot is really so dense as to merit it, books should be as concise as possible). While I didn’t feel there was anything particularly stand out about this book, I’m looking forward to reading the sequel and finding out where this story goes next. If you’re a fan of fantasy novels, I would definitely recommend this book! It was a solid start to a new series and an entertaining read.

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Penguin Publishers for sending me this e-arc in return for an honest review.

This book took me by surprise, at first I thought I would not enjoy it as much when I read the synopsis, but as I began reading the book it quickly pulled me into its world of forbidden magic, high societies, and and dangerous dealings.

I loved reading the different povs of Matilde, Sayer, and Æsa. Æsa was I think the one I enjoyed the most, she feels so much for each of the Nightbirds and is the first to try and help them work together. I also love her story with her guard, I fell in love with his character and the way he helps.

It was intriguing to see a different spin on the Prohibition period, instead of it being alcohol, this time it being the use of magic. And with the use of magic we have those that are the Nightbirds who can use magic without having to use alchemy. I loved the dynamics of the alchemy, the Nightbirds, and the history of the magic. Seeing the differences of those that are born of the Great Houses, and those who are of lower class caught with alchemy.

I felt like I was stepping into this glamorous world lurking with danger behind the curtains, and lies seeping out from all the characters, as each plays a game.

I loved the ending of the book, and seeing how each character grew by the end. I can't wait for book 2.

"Perhaps courage is a thing you choose, like friendship, it means trusting the voice within"

1920's prohibition but with *magic*. Imagine the film noir vibes of speakeasys, forbidden magic, fanatical religious sects, and political parties.

Plot: 4/5
This story was really solid. I felt that the pacing was fairly good, it only lagged a bit around a quarter of the way through. The overall theme of women's rights was really compelling and topical.

Characters: 4/5
Matilde, Sayer and Æsa were great main characters, they all had really unique personalities. The found family aspect brought some much needed lightness to the story. I think there was a bit of a miss in some of the character development but that will probably come with later installments in the series.
Fairly solid side characters as well, most of them were used really well in the plot

Writing: 4/5
The chapters are fairly long so it took me a while to feel invested and with multi-povs, that is hard to avoid. Armstrong has a really good style. I'm excited to see how she does in future works.

Overall: 4/5

I loved this book and I cannot wait for the next one! What a different fantasy world, with characters that were so easy to fall for, and beautiful writing.

Wow. That was one heck of a LUSH world that I can’t wait to explore more of! It had so many of my favorite bookish locations from slums to palaces to ships.. this book had such a vivid world that I was in awe for most of it. Also the 1920’s prohibition theme but with MAGIC being the illegal substance.. like how freaking smart and creative?!

Nightbirds had me from the start, even though it started off with extremely long chapters (in my opinion) but they eventually evened out and stayed on the medium-short side. I’m a short chapter kind of girlie lol.

There’s some budding romance that I think will fully bloom in the next book, a beautiful growing sisterhood that brought some tiny tears to my eyes and the 1920’s theme with speakeasies?! I don’t know what’s not to love about this one. How could I forget to mention there are multiple POV’s that truly help us to learn about different backgrounds, struggles and help to get a more rounded out picture of this world.

Also, I need more of Willan please and thank you.

I don’t know, when I’m reviewing fantasies, my reviews tend to be hectic and all over the place but read if you like:

- the song All that Glitters by Earl
- 1920’s magic prohibition
- Speakeasies and Jazz
- Multiple POV’s
- Unique magic system/elemental magic
- Found family trope
- Black market shenanigans

I really enjoyed Nightbirds and everything the story brought to the table. I really fell in love with the characters and the roaring 20s vibe the entire story gives off. The story is lush and mysterious creating a wonderful atmosphere for the book. I felt the end of the story was a little slow and for that reason I struggled to want to finish it.

Thank you so much to Penguin Teen for my Physical ARC!

"Perhaps courage is a thing you choose, like friendship, it means trusting the voice within"

This new fantasy series definitely falls under unique stories because of its interesting take on the 1920's prohibition era where only women have magical abilities, at least that is what got my attention first. The world of Nightbirds where magic is forbidden but often bootlegged is glamorous yet dangerous, with a sect of religious faction constantly putting a tight leash on any magical activity and political parties using the secretive magic to serve their own purposes three girls Matilde, Aesa, Sayer are living a dangerous incognito lives by sharing their magic with kisses- yes! you heard it right, it's kissing magic ;)

It took me a while to get into the story because the initial chapters were longer with quite a bit of information, however once I understood the workings of the world I was able to read the rest of the book real fast. The multiple POV from all the three girls is actually one of the strong suits for the book, I loved how Matilde, Aesa and Sayer had begun the journey with their own prejudices and reservations and how they ended with a strong sisterhood bond that is going to save the world and bring out a new revolution

The story is intricate because we are navigating the lives of three different girls with three different backgrounds that are brought together by fate to be united on a mission that is larger than any of their own issues. I absolutely adored their backstories and their unflinching, albeit blinded beliefs at times and how they form a tentative alliance with each other after realizing there is something stronger when they use their magic together, we have a lot of ongoing questions and I loved how each of these answers played into the plot and made sense towards the end.Although it is a YA fantasy, it read like a NA/Adult high fantasy for me but in the most positive way, there is romance although it is not the focal point amidst of betrayals, revelations and self discoveries but I enjoyed it regardless

Overall I really enjoyed the story that has a strong female badass witches/ sisterhood energy, imagine the show Charmed but make it more dangerous because real people are worse than demons ;) So excited to read Feyrebirds!

<u>What to expect</u>
-1920's prohibition period but magic is prohibited instead of alcohol
-Flapper dress, glamorous Jazz parties and illicit speakeasies with magic
-Multiple POV's,Kissing magic where only woman possess magical abilities
-Strong Feminine warrior energy stomping patriarchy
-Legends,Betrayals and elemental magic
-Read if you liked The Witchlands series, Stories about witch trials, Charmed but more dangerous!

Reviews Posted: Feb. 11, 2023
Goodreads
Storygraph

Was a little unsure about this book at the start but by the end I just could not put it down. It was a magical world that enchanted me at every turn.

I am a sucker for multiple POVs. So I loved seeing each girl's journey and how they were all able to come together. It was interesting seeing them all come to terms with change and learning who in their life they could and could not trust. At times I loved all the girls and at others, I wanted to strangle them all, but that is what made me love them more. It was a great representation of how many can go through the same trails, yet react to them in completely different ways.

I felt that the romances were so cute and that the couples who were meant to be together complimented each other well. I just wish that they didn’t have to face so many bumps in the road. Each couple was so different from the next and I loved that.

I think there was also some interesting commentary on how religion can be used as a dangerous weapon in politics and create a mob mentality. I think it was pretty clear that the author drew inspiration from the witch trials, which just fit this book perfectly.

While I loved so many aspects of the book there were some downfalls. The beginning was choppy at times and it took me a while to feel fully invested in the story. I do also think that when it comes to the world-building that too much of it was told outright instead of figuring more out as the story went along.

The plot was slow at times, but I was actually okay with that because it allowed me as a reader and the characters to process what was happening to them. The only time I felt this was lacking was at the end. So much was going on that it was hard to process everything, but I am still excited to see what happens in future books.

Overall I loved this fantasy world that the author built. With a captivating world, an intriguing magic system, and beautifully written characters there is so much to love about this book.

This book was a pretty good novel that I think will resonate with teenage and young adult readers. The idea of young women with magical powers who could give them away with a kiss was an interesting premise. The story was well-written. Often when I read books with teen/YA female protagonists, I become annoyed with them, but I did not with this novel so that says a lot about the quality of writing.

I didn't love the ending being left open for another book, although I recognize that most fantasies are series. I just don't like to feel committed to another read. So this is not anything bad about the book; it is doing what most fantasies do.

I did get confused for quite a while with the wide range of characters. I'm not sure I ever figured out who Tenny Maylon was. By the end of the book, however, I felt like I had a fairly good grasp of everyone's characteristics.

This young adult fantasy has unique and lush worldbuilding that I enjoyed very much; in fact, this was my favorite part of this novel. The world felt so real and I could taste, smell, feel, hear, and see everything that was happening. I haven't found another book yet that offered such distinctly unique magic system that made complete sense to me at all times.

The point of view characters were well done, and although it took me a few chapters to understand their roles, I grew to love every single girl. The romance hinted within the story lines added another depth of mystery and trust in who was telling the truth and who was only using the Nightbirds' magic for selfish reasons.

I didn't realize going into this book that it was not a stand alone, but the ending left so many unanswered questions and a huge cliff hanger that I need book two.

The pacing about midway slowed and I found my mind wandering at times, but I'm happy I continued reading and didn't miss out on this wonderful world.

The world and magic in this book were so fascinating! The characters in the book were well-written and had good growth throughout. I found Matilde annoying initially, but she got significantly better as the book went on. I had a good time reading the book, which is what I think is important.

The cover and title really attracted me to this book. This was a wonderful discovery!! The character building was excellent and the writing was very well done.

I absolutely loved this book, and I'm happy to scream it from the rooftops! The worldbuilding is exquisite, the writing just as lovely, and the three distinct voices we have for our main characters, Mathilde, Sayer, and Æsa, are perfect because they each have their own, very different stories to tell. Just when you think you know where things are going, the author takes you on a wild ride and twists things around.

I love following these girls in this sumptuous world with their unique magic. The story that unfolds regarding their powers, the mystery of the Nightbirds, really has you turning the page for more. I liked how things were brought to a stark reality for Mathilde and her world comes shattering around her. She's loyal, yes, but also a bit naive, though she's very much willing to do whatever it takes to protect her fellow Nightbirds and her family. The revelations regarding her birth and the (maybe?) budding romance between her, Alec, and dare I say Dennen will be an interesting dynamic in the second book. I'll admit that Sayer was my least favorite of the Nightbirds, and I'm rather worried where her quest for revenge will take her. As for Æsa, if I could but give that girl a hug and let her know everything is going to be okay. She's incredibly insecure in the beginning of the work and the religion of Eudea really played with her head, causing her to be unsure of her powers. I'm glad, though, she has Mathilde and Sayer to fight with and for her.

One of the things I didn't really care for, however, is how we were introduced to the fourth girl. I desperately hope we get her POV in the next book because she seems just as vengeful as Sayer, and I'm eager to know more of her story to make it seem like she wasn't just thrown in at the last minute.

I'll admit I was a little frustrated at the entire religious, "girls are witches so we must hurt/kill them" thing that was prevalent, but I like how it seemed like a reflection of our past and even current times of women being vilified just because people are scared of them. I'm interested to see if the Pontifex will truly hold power or if he will be overshadowed by the suzerain. I also have a lot of questions about Epinine because the way Mathilde second guesses lot of things toward the end had me raising my eyebrows.

I was really excited for this one with the 20’s vibes and forbidden magic but it fell flat for me. The book was very slow at the beginning and honestly felt like it could have been shorter. I felt with the magic that it wasn’t really explained why the religion doesn’t like it and that it could have been a bit more developed in that part. I wasn’t a super big fan of the Victorian vibes either. All these things kind of dampened by enjoyment of the story.

I absolutely loved reading this book. I found it super interesting and I was super excited to get through it. I loved the 3 main characters, I think my favourite is probably Matilde but I thought the other two were great as well. Very interesting and I understood why they did what they each did and it made sense with their characters. The book did end on a "To be continued" so I am super excited for the next book and cannot wait to see how the stories continue. As someone who isn't really a fan of fantasy, I absolutely loved it, and it's probably one of my favourite fantasies. The pronunciation of some of the words kinda confused me but I think that's just always in fantasy. Sometimes it did confuse me whose perspective it was, so I would've loved to see more clear signs that it had changed, but I absolutely loved it, and have already recommended it to some of my friends.

I really enjoyed this book. It sucked me in right from the beginning. Forbidden magic, found family and powerful women and girls owning their magic and flaws. Magic especially the magic of women is outlawed in the city and the religious sects would see the women burned if they discovered them. This overall theme made this story not only an intriguing but empowering read.

I really enjoyed the characters Matilde, Sayer and Æsa. They were each very different and had unique voices and perspectives but they all worked wonderfully together. The found family aspects and sisterhood was heartwarming and brought a lighter touch to the story. There were many bonding moments that really made me as a reader connect with the girls. I did find it interesting that the POV’s switched in the middle of the chapters. I think I prefer when it’s by chapter just so it flows a bit easier for me personally.

The other relationships and side characters made this story well rounded. There was some romance included and hinted at. I did appreciate that the romance was there but it wasn’t the main focus of the story. It felt natural and not forced. The plot and pacing were done well but I did find the ending felt a little rushed but that is probably because I wanted more.

Overall this was wonderful debut. I am super interested in reading the next book and I highly recommend this. It’s perfect for fans of forbidden magic, secrets, and powerful badass girls who won’t be caged.

Thanks you PENGUIN GROUP /Penguin Young Readers Group, Nancy Paulsen Books and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC.

There was a lot I really enjoyed about this! I loved the setting and time period, as well as the sapphic romance. Gorgeous cover and wonderful writing!

An enchanting, engrossing fairytale that pulls the reader into a world of forbidden magic.

Matilde, Æsa, and Sayer are Nightbirds - girls whose identities are kept secret while they practice magic to benefit the Great Houses. But as power structures weaken, everyone wants to possess the Nightbirds, for both their beauty and their magic. When the girls discover that their magic may be powerful than they were ever led to believe, they begin to shape the destinies of those around them.

Matilde is a rich girl with a perfect family who longs to be friends with her fellow Nightbirds. Sayer's the daughter of a disgraced Nightbird with secrets of her own, and Æsa longs to return to her Island home and the family that sold her. The secrets unfurl as slowly as a rose, leading the girls into deeper and deeper waters. In a world where every man wants something from a Nightbird, who besides themselves can they trust?

I got lost in the world of this book. The glitz and power of the magic adds an interesting angle, and the book also has some important things to say about how often girls are marginalized and used by those around them.

This book kept me flipping pages as fast as I could. I cannot wait for the sequel!

Thank you to the publisher for the advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Nightbirds is quite the start to a thrilling new YA Fantasy series.
It's filled with action and adventure, forbidden magic, political intrigue, and strong female main characters.
Easily five stars! Incredibly unputdownable!

This story has so many little details about the magic system and the court hierarchy and Armstrong has woven it in such a way that it makes perfect sense as you traverse each page. I felt that the plot flowed quite smoothly. I was easily engrossed the entire time.

All the Nightbird ladies are fantastic in their own way...completely different from each other, but I think Matilde is my favorite with her sassy, sarcastic personality.
"He doesn't answer--just stands there like a handsome piece of driftwood."
I laughed out loud at some of her inner thoughts.

Being the first in a new series, Nightbirds does end on 'To Be Continued'. I do think the story wraps up nicely with a 'happy for now' type ending, but there was one loose end in particular that I am completely bummed didn't get wrapped up. That being said, I cannot wait for the next book as I need to know what happens next!

If you're looking for your next witchy read, I highly recommend this one!


HUGE thank you to PenguinTeen for the ARC to read, enjoy, and honestly review!

The cover of this book first drew me in, and then the story. I loved diving into this tense, magical world. Here are a few of my favorite things about this book:

- a growing sisterhood bond
- unique and mysterious magic
- politics that drive the tense plot
- multiple POV
- hints of romance
- a lush and vibrant world with ballrooms, slums, secret places, and jazz
- plot twists
- wonderful writing

There's so much potential for this series! I can't wait to see where the story goes and what happens to all the characters I've come to love. And I hope there's lots more romance in the books to come.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Thank you, Penguin Teen, for the arc!

Trigger/Content Warnings: fighting violence and death, near drowning, recounts of torture, poisoning, kisses