I couldn't enjoy this book.
The story was interesting, but it never ended.
I like open endings when they lead me in a direction... There were too many open paths here.

I listened to the audio version of this, and enjoyed it. I felt as if I too were in Troy in the aftermath of battle, after the 'victors' had just left. I've read many books about the Trojan War and found this to be a very different viewpoint, that of a child who makes his way to the city looking for his sister, and thinking that he's the only one left in the world. Recommended.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.

Set in the aftermath of a war that eviscerates a whole population, Sing to Me follows 11-year-old Hani as he sets out alone to find his missing sister, Arinna, and father. With only his donkey, Ansa, for company, Hani navigates a world that's been shattered by conflict. The ruins of the world he knows surround him as he is forced to grow up quickly.

The storyline gives you a glimpse into the horrors of death and battle thorugh the eyes of a child. Innocence turning into grief, contemplation of what masculinity means, what causes war, and how we carry stories forward. It's powerful and moving.

"Children are afraid of monsters, women are afraid of men, but men mostly seem to be afraid of themselves"---the quote struck a nerve in me. It felt profound coming from the voice of a child the same age as one of my own children.

It sums up so much of the emotional undercurrent of the book. You really start to feel how Hani—this boy coming of age in the shadow of war—is trying to make sense of the fear, pain, and violence that the adults around him seem to have either caused or inherited.

The narrator of the audiobook did a great job, her voice gave a great pace and mood to the heaviness of the story. The ending left me with that kind of lingering thoughts that I love from a good book. I'll be mulling on this one for a while.

[5 stars]

I took zero notes while reading this book because I genuinely had no words. Don’t let the brevity of this review dissuade you from experiencing it.

Sing to Me follows Hani, an 11 year old boy living in a very small village in a valley a day or two’s walk from Troy. The Trojan War has been going on since he was too young to remember, the majority of the men in his village have been called to fight years ago, including two of his older brothers, and death is everywhere (typical Bronze Age living). His father, a farmer, has taken his six year old sister to Troy to sell what he can of his goods. It has been weeks with no return. Hani decides to venture to the city, along with his family’s donkey, to find his sister. Once there, he is met with the aftermath of the war in the broken and emptied city. Hani’s only company is his donkey and a dying soldier laying on the cobblestone.

This is a novel of solitude. It is very reminiscent of those books in the vein of I Who Have Never Known Men and the like. Though we meet some of those Hani knew from his village - mostly his family members - through his memories, we spend most of our time following Hani through the walls of Troy. Bodies litter the upper city, he finds tablets with writing on them (which he has only heard rumors about in his village), and he passes by a strange, broken open wooden horse within the city walls. The setting is wonderful and almost addictive. I love the Bronze Age and the stories around Wilusa, so every little detail of what the different parts of the city were like, what foods they ate, their past times, and more were great to read. The emptiness is palpable and wrong, but it’s kept wistful and adventurous through Hani’s POV.

We get a very unique and believable child’s perspective. Hani is a joy to follow, even in the more concerning moments. By nature of living in the Bronze Age, Hani is well acquainted with death and, though he doesn’t want to stay near them, does not retch at the bodies across the city. He loves to play knuckle-bones (similar to jacks) and shows it off to anyone he can. He loves his sister and created a made-up language with just her for the two of them to speak to each other. He creates grand ideas and stories in his head, such as starting to think he is the only person left alive in the world after a day or two of walking around the emptied Troy.

I really don’t know what else to say. This is a lyrical and beautifully written novel, but never dense or slow. We meander, but never linger too long anywhere. There are very few characters present, but each makes their mark strongly. The book explores the impact of ceaseless grief and war on a child without needing to break the story and outright explain it like other less skillfully written narratives might have. One of my top three books of the year so far and definitely one that I will revisit in the future.

Sing to Me is a story about a young boy who travels from his home to try and find his sister among the ruins of Troy. This is a very intelligent book. It is extremely atmospheric and beautifully written. It's one of those novels that doesn't have many things actually happening in the story but is full of introspection and metaphors below the surface. It has very touching themes of grief and how war affects the common person. Like I said the novel has an intelligence about it. I, personally, was just bored the entire time unfortunately. I can acknowledge that, objectively, this is a beautiful novel. I just do not think I am the target audience for this novel. I am very much a reader for pleasure. I take a story as it is, and I do not tend to try and dig deeper or analyze the themes of a story. I believe the type of reader that this story would appeal to would be one who annotates and highlights and tries to discern the themes of a story. I just think this is an intelligent novel for a certain audience that I just wasn't.

I did Also want to quickly touch on the audiobook. I think the overall quality of the audiobook was really well produced. I especially liked the narrator, and I felt that they did really breathe life into the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an Arc audiobook of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Sing to Me, narrated by Samara Naeymi, is absolutely beautiful.

This tells the story of Hani, a boy left on his family farm as his father and sister travel to Troy to sell what they can of the crop. After being gone too long, Hani sets out to find them.

I think, mostly, this is a story of grief and learning to accept the reality of change in our lives. Change can be brutal but always it is inevitable. It doesn't always have to be for the worse, though. Change can lead to new opportunity and new relationships. Those relationships will not replace the ones we've lost, but may be just as fulfilling.

“Maybe peace is just war taking a rest. Maybe war never ends”

Sing to Me, My Jesse Browning, is a touching story about 11 year Hani who sets out to find his lost sister in the ruins of Troy after the war. With his donkey, he journeys through a city that is now empty and filled with memories.

Hani is an unforgettable character whose unique views on life and history make the story special. As he walks through Troy, he learns about sadness, the shortness of life, and how memories can comfort us. The writing is captivating and pulls you straight into the young boys destroyed world, while Samara Naeymi’s gentle narration adds a nice touch, even if it feels a bit slow at times.

This is a heartfelt look at the pain of war and the importance of connections. In my opinion it deserves to be seen as a classic and I think it’s perfect for fans of thoughtful reads like The Life of Pi, Piranesi, and The Alchemist - it is full of deep themes in a truly beautiful way.

I listened to this advance copy via NetGalley and Hachett Audio.

This book was simply gorgeous.

Hani is walking through a world fully abandoned and decimated by war. After losing his last friend, his horse, he is finding nothing but the lost bodies of war- until he finds one enemy soldier who is not yet dead. Over the coming days, he returns again and again to this soldier, until he is well enough, and a sort of kinship grows between them.

I found the book to be incredibly well written and beautiful while writing about the tragedies of war and loss.

The narration by Samara Naeymi was beautifully done but slow paced.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this, I loved it.

Hani is a young boy from a valley not far from Troy (called only “the city.”) As the story begins, he is alone with his donkey. Hani sets off to find his father and sister but finds only destruction and desolation everywhere he looks. This book provides an unusual take on the aftermath of the Trojan War, told through the eyes of a lost child. Hani is young and naïve, so the reader will understand what Hani is viewing before he does. The book portrays the impact of war on innocent children. The heart of the story is provided by the relationship formed between Hani and a lone survivor who cannot speak. It is a lyrically written and moving novel that highlights both the worst and best traits of humankind. The beauty of this slim book is that it turns a sad and tragic tale into one of hope and the ability to transcend differences. Recommended to those who enjoy expressive writing and retellings from unusual perspectives. I listened to the audio book, which is wonderfully read by Samara Naeymi.

Sing to Me by Jesse Browner is an exquisitely written book about a boy who is separated from his sister after the fall of Troy and his journey to find her. Browner exquisitely emersed the reader in this world to experince the impacts and aftermath of war.

The narration by Samara Naeymi was exquisitely done, bring unique voices to each character and providing a visceral experience. I strongly recommend this book.

Than you Hachette Audio | Little, Brown & Company for the opportunity to listen to this ALC. All opinions are my own.

Rating 5 Stars
Pub Date: May 20 2025

#HachetteAudio
#LittleBrownandCompany
#SingtoMe
#JesseBrowner
#SamaraNaeymi
#Fiction
#yarisbooknook
#netgalley

Jesse Browner has delivered a beautifully crafted story that follows, eleven-year-old, Hani as he sets of on a quest to reunite with what's left of his family. From the very first pages, the narrative voice and Browner's writing style immediately immerses you within the Hani's world and refuses to let you go until you've completed his journey with him. Certain passages may be hard to sit with, but Browner is able to highlight the brutality of war and fickleness of peace without veering off into sensationalism.

This novella was a pleasure to listen to on audio. the narrator’s voice is smooth and truly lovely.

Following a young boy’s journey to find his sister after the fall of Troy, the story captures what I imagine the thoughts of a child might feel like during such chaos. It’s both creative and philosophical, at times reading like a commentary on war, its aftermath, and the innocent lives affected by it.

I did sometimes feel the themes or insights were a bit too spelled out for my taste. I usually prefer more subtlety, but I still appreciated the perspective. Overall, it’s a unique, reflective read that let me step into the shoes of someone from long ago and consider what life and loss might’ve looked like through the eyes of a child

Sing to me

Narrator: Samara Naeymi
Author: Jessie Browner

The narrator could tell me any type of story (even a boring news podcast) and I would love it. An absolute pleasure for listening ears.

I love any stories about Troy or that timeframe in our world. Which is why I requested this audiobook.
So glad I asked!

Important to the story is the boys journey away from home, which no longer exists because of the Trojan war.

He searches for his sister, as she defines his own feelings of home & family. He also brings his donkey companion who he feels much love and responsibility toward.

Closest to his own home, he finds ruined towns that are completely empty of people and dead bodies. As he gets closer to the larger city (Troy) he starts to find bodies and destruction everywhere he looks.

Although Troy is destroyed many things have been left behind for him to be captivated by. The art and architecture especially touch his soul. As he begins to understand his search isn’t likely to end happily, his curiosity changes to exploring instead of searching. When he finds a critically injured soldier he has to decide to help or ignore his life.

To me the ending was quick but honestly the entirety of this story was truly told. Of course I wanted more and still do. In my opinion the premise of journey to find his family was complete which is why it ended the way it did.

Thank you Jesse Browner for this beautiful journey told thru a boys eyes and heart! I have a special category set up called “Listen Again” where this will be added.

Many thanks to Hachette Audio/Little, Brown & Company for the free copy of this audiobook.
All opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #SingtoMe

The novella opens with eleven-year-old Hani hunting frogs; he survives by killing and roasting frogs. Hani comes across as a gentle soul, he doesn’t like killing harmless creatures, but he needs to eat. Hani wonders if he is the last person on Earth. His family and neighbours have all disappeared, either killed or dragged away to serve in the war.  War has been a constant throughout his life; he knows no other reality.

He has a special bond with his six-year-old sister, Arinna, she used to sing them both to sleep with songs that she’d heard from the gods—songs that would protect children from danger—and now she is gone. Hani sets out on a journey to find her and bring her home.

While the setting is not explicitly named, the details—such as bronze daggers and the remnants of a wooden horse—suggests that the tale might be set in the aftermath of the Trojan War - the publisher’s blurb is clearer about it stating that it is set “after the fall of Troy’. Regardless, it doesn’t have to be, though; this can easily be Gaza, Ukraine, Lebanon, Syria, or any of the awful pointlessness of all those wars—“fleeing refugees—attacked by their neighbors—not knowing what hit them.”

Hani travels with his loyal donkey, Ansa, his only comfort. He does wonder if the thousand or more gods on Mount Hazzi are real; if they were, “why would they destroy the world, then choose him, Hani, the most ignorant person alive, to be the only survivor?” He comes to a burned-out city with its “twisty tangle of human corpses,” almost every one of them an old person. This war has been explained to him his whole life, but he still knows nothing.

However, Hani believes in fate, which even the gods are powerless to stop. “No matter what choice you make, you have been fated to it since you were born.” His own fate is to search for Arinna.
“Anything worth finding is worth looking for. […] He can’t go home until the war is over. The war won’t be over until he finds Arinna. Finding Arinna is his war.”

He’s scared. But it is not fear that is holding him back. It ’s being judged for all the darkness - he thinks - he carries within that stops him—“he is not good and isn’t even sorry for it.” Wandering and wondering. Games are easier: “you know exactly when it is over and who has won it.” “War feels fuzzy around the edges”—you can never tell; the certain thing is that a home will never be but a shadow of what it used to be.

Meanwhile, through all the lifeless rubble, the first sign he sees of life is a dying soldier who opens his eyes. What has just happened? Hani has awakened a man that wasn’t dead yet! Is he the enemy, or is he on Hani’s side? How can you tell? Who knows what to believe in anymore? His actions will guide the rest of the plot in this remarkable Beckett-like adventure.

Hani wisely muses that “love is what holds the world together; even a child knows it, a donkey knows it, a trapped frog knows it.” Forebodingly Hani thinks: “Maybe peace is just war taking a rest.” and “Talk of peace is talk of a King’s banquet.” And questions if kings and warriors knew about war’s destruction, would they still start wars? 𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘰 𝘔𝘦 is a tragic, lyrical, and timeless tale about the futility of conflict.

This is the first time I have read Browner’s work, and I’m pretty impressed. I’ll look forward to reading more from this author and certainly will look out for more audiobooks narrated by Samara Naeymi.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Audio for this beautifully crafted experience!

This is a sprawling and atmospheric adventure from the perspective of a lost but precocious boy after the fall of Troy. I can't really say very much goes on. Hani (sounds like Honey) wanders around the landscape having minor adventures. Yet, they were rather precious and heartmoving. I couldn't get the image of a donkey with a bone shard stuck in its hoof out of my head. I also couldn't tell if Hani is alive or dead. I don't think one needs to be a fan of Roman myth to enjoy this one. At the same time, I'm not really sure what I was meant to get out of it.

The narration by Samara Naeymi was well done, but a bit slow.

I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

Hoo boy! I really didn't need any other reason to cry today, but this book got me sobbing those emotional tears that only a good book can.

Sing to Me is the story of an 11-year old boy on a remote farm and his travel across the wasteland with his donkey to the fallen city of Troy, but that doesn't do anything to describe the poetry and metaphysical wonder and despair explored in Browner's exquisite prose.

I'm absolutely blown away.

I feel like I could never shut up about this book and also am left so breathless that I can't find any.

In a world oversaturated with historical fiction, especially Hellenistic historical fiction, this little book is humble and soft spoken, but every word is filled with beauty and pain.

In a year filled with a succession of my favourite books of the year and all time, this easily enters the pantheon.

This book was beautifully written. The language draws you in, and the setting is immersive and atmospheric.

But I found it somewhat lacking in substance.

The author has this gorgeous, lyrical style of prose that I always envy. Unfortunately, the plot was thin, and there was very little action. I felt the story mirrored the main character in that they both were very .... slow (of pace, not mind) and meandering.

If you enjoy stories that are all about the journey and the descriptions, you might appreciate it more than I did. As for the narration elements, I enjoyed those very much. No complaints there.

I’ve read plenty of retellings of the Trojan War, from the women inside the city to the women outside, the Greeks and the Trojans, and I thought I’d read every viewpoint. This, however, was something entirely new. This book is the story of Hani, a young boy from near Troy. Following the fall of the city, and the end of the war, Hani sets out to find his father and sister. Everyone is gone, and alone with his donkey, Hani passes through the desolation and ruins following the long siege. This is beautifully written, and very poetic. Everything is seen through Hani’s eyes, which means that sometimes it takes a while to work out what he is describing his naïveté sometimes means he doesn’t instantly recognise the horror before him. The story is bleak, and brings to life the aftermath of war and the impact on bystanders, for once skirting around the glory of the Greek heroes and focusing on the losses of an ordinary child. This was a very unique perspective on the most famous of wars.

The narrator did a fantastic job - she really brought to life Hani’s thoughts and feelings, and spun the beautiful writing brilliantly. I really enjoyed her narration, and will definitely look for other audiobooks she has voiced!

“… war is not about the killing. It seems to him that it must be about fear more than anything.”

When I heard Samara Naeymi mention this book during a (hilarious) live, I knew it would be right up my alley. I was extremely lucky go get an advance listener copy. I was not prepared to be as emotional over this book as I was. I am an active member of the black heart club so it takes a lot to make me cry. While I didn’t actually shed a tear, this book tugged on all my heart strings.

If you like retellings, pick this up. Jesse Browner knows how to turn a phrase. The writing was stunning. I highly encourage you to do the audio because Sam absolutely nailed this one.

Beautifully written- Hani’s insights, trying to survive after the war while looking for his family… All of it was so sad. Esp for someone his age, my goodness. After nursing an enemy soldier back to health, showing that small bit of humane compassion in a place so bleak & riddled w/ death. I would’ve thought their bond was strong, but I guess you really don’t know somebody even after the fact…
Overall, the story was well written. I also felt like I needed a bit more from it, the emotions were there, but they didn’t stick around neither.

“Maybe peace is just war taking a rest. Maybe war never ends.”
Will the world truly ever know peace…