I absolutely adored the world Adi Denner created with this book. It was glamorous, dark, and mysterious and the perfect setting for what was happening. I liked the idea of the talents and how that was part of the magic system. The fashion aspect was super cool as well. The beginning was a bit slow, so it took me a bit to get into the story. I did love the love triangle, though, especially with the LGBTQ representation. It was interesting to see how each character's story played out. Cleo was a strong character, and her development was good. It would have also been cool to have a chapter or two in Dahlia or Vicomte's perspective to help with pacing, but overall, this was a good read! Thank you to Tundra Books and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this book to read and review.

In 1890s Lutèce, magical Talents determine your place in society, with the most powerful ones kept by the aristocracy. After her father’s death, Cleodora is offered a Singing Talent by Lady Dahlia Sibille—but there’s a catch: she has to steal an Elite Talent from the Lenoir family. As Cleodora finds herself swept into high society, she’s torn between Dahlia’s tempting offer and her growing feelings for Vicomte Lenoir. In the end, she has to decide what really matters—power or something deeper.

I was really intrigued by the idea of this book—a mix of historical fiction and a unique magic system where talents are passed down through gemstones. It had great potential, but unfortunately, the execution fell short. The chapter transitions were abrupt, often jumping mid-action to time skips that left me feeling like I’d missed key parts of the plot. Cleodora, as a character, was frustrating—whiny, indecisive, and selfish—and the supporting characters and dialogue lacked depth. I got about halfway through before DNFing, and sadly, it left me in a reading slump.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for honest feedback.

This was a fun little historical romance. I found the pacing to be nice and as a Phantom fan I found the Operatic parts of the book compelling. This book is full of passion and deceit and some great spice!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
On Goodreads I’m giving it a 4 because a 3 isn’t quite fair
But there were a couple elements that prevented this from being a 4 or 5 star read

I loved the phantom of the opera similarities. Definitely had bridgerton vibes. I loved the idea and the ending. I loved certain elements that brought all the feelings.
But
I felt like the relationship between the MMC and the MFC lacked attention to make an attraction and relationship believable. There is a MFC on FC moment that made ZERO sense for the characters and felt thrown in. It was uncomfortable to read.
There are also moments in the book that just DRAGGED.
Great potential just needs some tweaks

The Kiss of the Nightingale
by Adi Denner

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada, Tundra Books, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

3.5 Stars

Read if you like: Shadow and Bone, Phantom of the Opera, Bridgerton

SUMMARY:
The Kiss of the Nightingale is set in an alternate-reality historical France, where Talents separate the upper-class from those experiencing poverty. Talents are magical gems that give their owner impressive skill in a specific ability: singing, art, etc. The only way to obtain a Talent is by inheriting one, which is passed down through blood magic. Cleo dreamed of inheriting her father's Tailoring Talent, but when he passed with his Talent on him, it was lost as well. Cleo, and her sister Anaella, are orphaned, poor, and desperate. When Anaella's falls ill, Cleo would be willing to do anything to save her - and accepts an offer. Lady Dahlia offers her a Singing Talent, but it comes at a cost. Cleo must help Dahlia steal a Talent from one of the more upper-class families. In order to do so, she needs to get close to Vicomte Lenoir. She is captivated by Dahlia, and is willing to do what she asks of her, but at what cost?

MY THOUGHTS:
This book gives readers a fantastic blend of historical fiction, romance, and fantasy. I enjoyed the sisterly relationship between Cleo and Anaella, and how they cared for each other. My rating would be higher if the action has started just a little bit sooner - I didn't find myself really getting into this until about the 80% mark. That's where the storyline really changes and the plot starts progressing. I think this was a solid read that I would recommend, but I personally prefer more action in my romantasy books. I would have loved to see a little more of the romance between Vicomte Lenoir and Cleo as well, I felt that we didn't really get to know him very well as a potential love interest.

A compelling and twisty YA romantasy debut that has readers enthralled from the first chapter as we follow Cleodora who tries to save her sister by making a deal with the seductress, Dahlia who offers Cleo a coveted singing "Talent" in exchange for Cleo promising to steal another's "Talent." Cutthroat and filled with love triangles, betrayals and shocking twists, this was great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Stephanie Garber or Adalyn Grace. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

A book that ponders what would happen if Talents were inherited through blood and aided by gems but the gems are limited. How far would you go to gain the use of one?

Cleo should have inherited her father's Talent, but he died before he could pass it on and his gem was never found. Now she struggles to keep her sister and herself fed as her sister sinks deeper into illness. However, she falls into a more dangerous world when she attempts to steal jewelery from an old woman and accidentally ends up with the necklace containing her Talent. Now she's on the hook in a gilded world.

The world and characters were well-developed, and the idea of Talents was rather unique. I did suspect how some of the major plot points were going to go, but this was a fun little romp.

I absolutely loved this book! To be fair it would be hard to drop me into such a luscious and beautifully historical fantasy world, with a bisexual heroine who finds herself in the midst of a bi (panic) love triangle, AND with plot that bears a significant nod of inspiration to Phantom Of The Opera, and have me not fall in love with it. I’m pretty sure this book was a dish made specifically for me, cooked with all my favorite ingredients, and I loved it!

The prose is beautiful and the world is wonderfully described in every setting, from the shabby dress shop where our heroine begins her story, to the dark and alluring seedy underworld she finds herself drawn into, to the glittering opulence of her place center stage as Prima Donna of the Opera! The beautiful and clear vision of this historical aesthetic combined with an interesting and unique jewel based magic system that gives the world its own style and flavor, I greatly enjoyed the worldbuilding! I would have enjoyed the chance to get to know even more about this world and seen more of the layers of that world building, but that’s something I’ll have to hope to get the chance to explore in Cleo’s next adventure!

The characters are wonderfully dynamic, with our main character in particular facing her struggles and triumphs with a relatable rollercoaster of emotions and with a sense of gray morality that I truly enjoyed! The author’s clear deep knowledge and familiarity with the world of Opera and performance is made clear and gives Cleo’s journey a delightfully genuine quality I really enjoyed. From time to time the story falls into some fairly classic and somewhat predictable Romantasy tropes in terms of beats and romantic developments, but that didn’t make it one bit less enjoyable!

There was just something irresistibly delicious about this book, a Pâtisserie in written form, and I would heartily recommend it!

I had a lot of fun with this book, it was fun and exciting with the overarching theme of flirting with danger, speaking to those darker parts of ourselves that want to take what we think we deserve regardless of who it might hurt.
The romance was fun, the plot was exciting, but the only reason this is a four star is that I found the big twists to be predictable. Though that being said, the predictability didn't really hinder my reading experience. A solid book that I recommend folks to read if they enjoy heists, robin hood-esq ideologies, and a victorian setting.

3.5/5
I did enjoy this one, I was a little slow getting into this, but it picked up by the last half, making it easier to get through. This had a decent amount of Phantom of the Opera references, which made me love it even more! I really liked the magic system in this, the world building was also well done. It was unique and interesting. Sometimes I'm not a fan of love triangles, but this one was executed well. Overall a solid read!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Publishing for the ARC!

The Kiss of the Nightingale by Adi Denner was everything I was hoping it would be!

First, that cover is absolutely lovely and I can't wait to add it to my shelves. Now that I have that out of the way, Cleodora is our fmc and she lives in a world where if you don't have a Talent, you don't really have much. Lutece is a world where gems hold Talents that gift skills to their owners and the most coveted, Elite Talents are claimed by the aristocracy and passed through generations by blood magic. Unfortunately for Cleodora, she was supposed to inherit her father's Tailoring Talent but he died before he could pass the magic to her. Now, she is struggling to support herself and her sick sister. When she sinks so low that she attempts to steal something and comes face to face with Lady Dahlia Sibille, her lift takes a turn she never expected it to. Cleodora is offered an opportunity to take on a singing Talent which would offer her a chance to save her sister and give her an opportunity at a life she never dreamed of. The only catch is that she needs to steal an Elite Talent from one of the most prestigious families of the aristocracies, the Lenoir family and she doesn't have long to figure out how to do it.

As Lutèce’s nightingale, Cleodora is the star of the opera’s galas and balls, but the Vicomte Lenoir is nothing like she expected. Soon, the Vicomte’s teasing smiles win her over, even as Dahlia’s seductive whispers linger in her ears. Torn between Dahlia, who gave her everything, and the Vicomte, who holds the price of her freedom, Cleodora has to choose who is really the right one for her and not only that, who is she willing to betray.

I thought the character development and relationship building was done really well here. Cleodora is out of her depth when she gets her singing Talent and I thought Denner did a great job of reflecting that in the story. The development of the relationship between Cleo and Nuriel was great and while I figured out what Dahlia's Talent was, it didn't make it any harder to hear her admit it in the end. I also loved the friendship between Lirone and Cleo - even though it was bumpy, when it mattered, they didn't give up on each other. And then there is Anaella - she pushes Cleo to not give up who she truly is and I appreciated that regardless of what Dahlia offered her, she didn't cave.

As I said, I enjoyed this book and found myself unable to put this one down. If you're looking for a Young Adult, Fantasy with some romance, definitely pick this one up. I don't think you will be disappointed.

This was unfortunately a DNF at 19% for me. Adi Denner is clearly talented at world building and descriptive language as I felt myself transported to her version of Belle Epoche France. However, while I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of gowns and locations I felt that it was taking too long for anything to happen plot wise which is why I chose not to continue with the book.

Well written with unique magic system. I noted a lot of Phantom of the Opera references and I believe they were well done. The story really focuses on learning to love yourself and embrace your own unique talents. A little darker than expected but in a good way! It took me a little bit of time to get into it but the last half of the book flowed very nicely. I found this to be a very interesting read!

First off, the cover of this book is hands down, one of the most beautiful that I have seen!

Are you into Love Triangles no problem, How about historical fiction with an interesting magic system? High stakes and organized crime.....CHECK!

This book gave very seductive, regency, Bridgerton vibes. It had a slow start for me and I almost DNF'd it, BOY I WOULD HAVE MISSED OUT IF I HAD! This book grabbed me and wouldn't let go.

The world-building, the magic system, oh my goodness. I felt like I was in the dress shop with Cleodora, and could see the beautiful Lutece Opera balls. I was pulled into this story with all of my senses, this is the kind of book that you look for in a 5-star read in my opinion.

I will be purchasing a physical copy of this book. I believe that holding the book in my hand and reading it will only heighten the experience. The Kiss Of The Nightingale is an experience! This is my first time reading from Adi Denner, it will not be my last!

GO OUT AND GET THIS BOOK!!

Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Random House Canada | Tundra Books, and Adi Denner for the ARC of this beautiful book. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

The Kiss of the Nightingale by Adi Denner isa fantastic romantasy novel set in an alternative historical Paris, The Kiss of the Nightingale weaves together the seduction of Bridgerton and the magic of Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone series.

The writing kept my attention from start to finish.
I thought the world-building was fantastic and really intriguing.
Hooked from the beginning. Intrigued and surprised!
Thought I had some points figured out that had me utterly surprised.

Thank You NetGalley and Tundra Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

In The Kiss of the Nightingale, Adi Denner has created an opulent world of theater and magic. Rare gems bestow Talents, which beget power and riches. When we meet Cleodora she has lost both her parents, her sister is gravely ill and they are struggling to make ends meet. And so Cleo makes a dangerous deal to save her sister. She will have to lie. She will have to steal. But the ends justify the means, don't they? 

YA Romantasy, a love triangle, organized crime, high stakes, classicism, friends and foes, this book has a lot to offer!

The book is dripping with creativity. I truly loved the setting, the magic system and even the setup of how Cleo ends up working for Dahlia. But the book dragged on for me. I spent a week trying to make it through the first 60%. I grew frustrated with Cleo's choices. And so, the enthusiasm I had from the strong start waned at some point. For that reason, I landed at 3 stars.

Well written story of a FMC who will do anything for her sister and an irresistible proposal . Dangerous and alluring heist-style historical fantasy in a society with a unique magic system, a target, and a seductress with FMF love triangle. I loved the ornate beauty of the world and the time.
The question is: Did she find a savior or sell her soul to the devil?

The Kiss of the Nightingale by Adi Denner is very much a teen novel, but with a cool magic system and intriguing plot. This one gets 3⭐️ from me.

Cleo is a taylor, and has trained for it all her life - but when she was set to inherit her father's magical Talent for tailoring, he died before passing it to her. As a Talentless, she struggles to keep her family business afloat and treat her sister's illness - so one day she desperately follows a wealthy lady home and attempts to rob her. Cleo is caught - but not by the owner of the gem she didn't realise was a rare opera singing Talent, but by a mysterious character she knows as Dahlia. Dahlia gives Cleo a chance to save her sister - all she has to do is pretend to be the new inheritor of the singing Talent, and use her position to help steal the Talents of the rich. Cleo has to learn to use her new Talent, keep her origins hidden, and try to steal the intriguing Vicomte's Talent - and the clock is ticking.

There were elements of this book I really, really liked. The magic system of magical Talent stored in gems that could be passed between people using blood - this was incredibly cool and very imaginative, and had a lot to say then about inherited positions in society and expectations versus passions. The action also proceeded fairly quickly, and the pace stayed fairly quick throughout which helped keep attention well.

However, I found Cleo as a character quite difficult to root for, which did affect my enjoyment. She is constantly lamenting her situation, and getting frustrated or angry with other people, but doesn't actually try very hard. Even on of the minor characters comments on it. She feels very spoiled, even though we know she's not - maybe it's just bitterness? Either way hard to root for.

Cleo is also pretty immature, which might fly better with a teen audience - but I did notice that all of her character development and decision making stems from other characters around her, rather than her gaining her own agency. All in all, not my favourite protagonist.

The opera theatre setting is really vibrant, and as someone who likes the opera I enjoyed that aspect a lot. It was just a shame Cleo knew so little and didn't seem to absorb much of her lessons in music - but I appreciate this was forced on her. But either more time spent here, or more time spent on her love of tailoring was needed to show where her true interests really lay.

Cleo's relationship with Dahlia was really toxic, and gave me the ick. Now obviously she's an antagonist, and I have some other theories that seemed to be supported by the text as to what was going on there, but Cleo's really intense physical desire for her and emotional draw that overrode her other wants was disturbing. I think this was painted negatively enough, but I didn't enjoy reading it.

The Vicomte in contrasted started as a really interesting character and I could see the dnamic Denner was going for - but he seemed to switch and become much flatter of a character with unclear motivations later in the story.

Overall, this is a quick paced story with a cool premise and vibrant setting, let down a bit by the characterisation - but one a teen might enjoy purely for the plot and setting.

This book is for you if like French/Italian culture, opera, deception and magic, and enjoyed City of Masks by Mary Hoffman, House of Beating Wings by Olivia Wildenstein, or The Phantom of the Opera.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher (Penguin Random House Canada) for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review - the current release date at the time of writing is TODAY, 1st October 2024.

4/5 Stars
It took some time for it to build up but wow did it pick up. I really loved the magic jewelry concept, I find it so unique and well done. I also fine it very nice and refreshing to read a YA romantasy with characters that aren't 15, but still not spice focused.
This is an enjoyable, bisexual love triangle, fantasy, with good characters and decent pacing.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a little slow to start. HOWEVER. I felt the plot was interesting and kept me on my toes. There was a lot of twist I didn’t see coming. I felt the love triangle in a way was interesting and was definitely rooting for a certain pair of green eyes. 😉 I really loved the ending as well and I thought it had a good message behind it all. I thought the magic aspect was interesting and definitely put a different take on it. Overall I really enjoyed the book! I can’t thank Netgalley enough for allowing me to read this as an Arc.