I really enjoyed this as a middle grade fantasy novel, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of the fantasy element that I was wanting from this type of world. The characters were everything that I was looking for and enjoyed getting into this world well. Sarwat Chadda was able to weave a strong storyline and enjoyed the overall concept.

The Storm Singer by Sarwat Chadda is a fun fantastical adventure on another world divided into those who live on the earth, Earthbound, and those who live in the sky, the Garudas and the Roc. The tenuous “peace” is ready to break at any moment and it will be deadly. Nargis was five when her parents were murdered, now living with her maternal grandfather, she’s learned a bit of her ancestral magic, singing to the elements, which tends to lead her into trouble. And the biggest trouble yet, is the injured garuda, Mistral, who actually is the crown prince. Nargis is a fighter who hids a sweet heart and refuses to let any limitations, including a childhood injury, keep her from doing what’s right. Loveable, enjoyable, full of action, The Storm Singer was a definite pager turner for me and I wouldn’t mind another Nargis and Mistral adventure next year…

This is a fast-paced novel, mixing the garuda of mythology with a girl who has song-based powers. Garuda - humanoid beings with functional wings - live in the sky; the call humans "worms", and treat them as slaves, based on their inability to fly, and use them for cheap labor. But Nargis is different than most of the humans around her - she can perform magic when she sings. When Nargis and her friend Arjuna find a lost and injured garuda - and not just any garuda, but a member of the Raptor class, the rulers of all the garuda - they form an unlikely friendship as they try to help Mistral, the wounded garuda, return to his home and overthrow the rebel who killed his father and tried to kill him.

The three are unlikely companions; Mistral is a historical enemy, but he is wounded and alone, and all three are adolescents. Nargis is an outcast, both because of her deformity (caused by an injury when she fell out of a tree as a child and permanently damaged one leg) and because she and her grandfather are the only magic users anyone knows - feared for their gift, but needed for it as well, because their healing magic enables the few remaining crops to survive the ongoing drought. Together, the three youths set out to return Mistral to his home, and along the way, Nargis finds out things she never knew about her parents, and also that she can end the drought and save the world, but only if she's willing to destroy her society in the process. This novel is appropriate for, and will be enjoyed by, readers of all ages.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved Storm Singer! The story pulled me in right away. Nargis is such a strong, relatable character, and I loved following her journey. The mix of elemental magic, sky pirates, and epic adventure was so much fun, and the world felt fresh and exciting.

I loved that this book allowed for what at the start of the book were two different communities, to see each other in a light where they found value and appreciation for what each different culture had to offer. Nargis is a strong character who will do anything to fight for her people and Nargis while self-centered at the start of the book grows to see value in others and creates a friendship that allows him to see why his father wanted to give Nargis people power that previously they didn’t have in this dynamic world. I think that young readers will be swept away by this fantastic fantasy world.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Sarwat Chadda has such a gift for middle grade fantasy. The true fantasy maestros understand that kids need more than just pretty stories. They need imagination and danger.

Chadda's characters do, in fact, face dangers - but these characters, like the kids who read them, are brave & resilient.

Nargis is one of Chadda's best. Creative and brave but also carrying her fears and the weight of the world.

We jump into the world with Nargis experiencing one of her darkest moments: "Then Mommy screams. I've never heard her make a sound like that. It's the sound you might make when your world ends. She stops, just like that. The silence is more horrible than her scream."

And there's just enough magic and joy sprinkled in to make this story un-put-down-able! Did I mention pirates? (There's pirates!) And wings? Icarus?

"I had a million reasons why I shouldn't, and only one why I should. Mistral. Every now and then you had to do the right thing, no matter what."

Nargis is the hero you've been seeking. And Sarwat Chadda is the writer you've always wanted to share with your middle grade readers.

"Why do you cry, child? ... I offer you the world!"
"My tears were for them all."

12-year-old Nargis is a storm singer. Her parents were killed by garuda warriors. When she loses her powers at a critical moment, she gets exiled. While in the desert beyond her village, she meets eagle garuda warrior, Mistral. Mistral hails from the kingdom that floats above Earthbound citizens. Following a coup from fellow garuda warrior, Shamshir, Mistral is on a mission to reinstate his father. Nargis is reluctant to help until she finds out Shamshir wants to enslave all Earthbound citizens. Now, the two must work together to stop Shamshir and save both kingdoms. Will they succeed?

The adventure-filled plot is well developed and fast paced. The characters are well rounded, witty, and memorable. The world building is done well and draws the reader into the story. Readers who like Rick Riordan presents books, fantasy, adventure, and books like Skandar and the Unicorn Thief will want to pick this one up. Recommended for most library collections. 5 stars, Gr 5 to 9.

Nargis is a twelve year old orphan living in a time when there are land people and garudas, eagle warriors. Nargis can't fly, but she is able to sing to the elements and they will do what she asks. She has hated all garudas since they killed her parents, but finds herself helping one, a boy named Mistral. Through their adventure, their mistrust slowly becomes friendship.

I plan to purchase this title for my students to enjoy. I teach sixth grade and know I have several students this will appeal to. This is a good middle school fantasy read!

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Woah, this was awesome! There is so much tension between the poverty that Nargis experiences and the fear of the Garuda and the ways they oppress humans. I really loved the layering of various story elements, and the reveals about Nargis’ father as well as what’s going on with Mistral’s family and the Garuda kingdom. This is a really great story and I kind of hope there’ll be more, though this is definitely a complete story. I had a lot of fun with this once I got into it and got to a point where I couldn’t put it down cuz I needed to see how things would resolve. A wonderfully engaging story with interesting characters and complicated motivations.

Excellent and unique world building. Could be a series, but may not ultimately be so. Diverse cast of characters, each of whom seem unique and wholly developed.

This was a fantastic and beautiful adventure full of heart. I loved the characters and loved even more the underlying messages the story holds. It was really beautiful. And the cover is stunning!

Nargis is a young Earthbound girl, living with her grandfather in a desert wasteland. She is also a spirit singer, but she is often unable to control the spirits of wind, water, fire and earth. Losing control of the wind spirits results being cast out, finding an injured eagle garuda (oh, she hates him!), and multiple adventures until she is on a course to save her world.
Fantastic adventure by Sarwat Chadda. Nargis, Mistral and Arjuna are wonderful characters that suck you in whole heartedly. The history of the Earthbound, garudas and the floating city were enthralling and the adventure exciting!
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for this DRC.
#StormSinger #NetGalley

Sarwat Chadda is a master of sucking a reader in from the first page and allowing for a gradual set-up. This is a masterful talent, especially for middle-grade novels. Storm Singer is no exception.

Nargis is a spirit singer, one with a rare magical talent among the humans. Despite this, she is treated like dirt, and after an accident during a kite fight, is exiled from the village. When she finds Mistral, a garuda (bird people) prince, she decides to help him even though it will put her in danger. As they work to cross the desert and take back his kingdom, Nargis realizes that she may be able to bring rain back to her people.

This is a fantastic addition to libraries. It gives fantastic representation and is a fantastic adventure. I cannot wait to add it to mine.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and Net Galley for the DRC! All opinions are my own.