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g_c_geeks's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book is hella atmospheric. Love the 1920’s inspired setting and really enjoyed all the political machinations going on in this book. The magic and policing of magic, in combination with the girls from different classes gave this book plenty to discuss in terms of themes carried over into the real world.
Unfortunately the pacing wasn’t my favourite and I definitely found myself tuning in and out throughout the book. Some of the relationships between the characters also felt a bit forced to me too. BUT!!! Pining sapphics? Yes please, gimme more of that.
Anyways if it sounds intriguing to you defs pick it up, I think despite its issues I’m really glad I read it.
Unfortunately the pacing wasn’t my favourite and I definitely found myself tuning in and out throughout the book. Some of the relationships between the characters also felt a bit forced to me too. BUT!!! Pining sapphics? Yes please, gimme more of that.
Anyways if it sounds intriguing to you defs pick it up, I think despite its issues I’m really glad I read it.
beatrice_may's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review
3.0
3.5/5
Really enjoyed it but I felt confused at some places, I definitely plan on rereading it
Really enjoyed it but I felt confused at some places, I definitely plan on rereading it
cressida's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
thelibraryofklee's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
marieintheraw's review
2.0
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.
I received an ecopy of this through Netgalley; however, all opinions are my own.
I received an ecopy of this through Netgalley; however, all opinions are my own.
sdbrewst's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
annamickreads's review
3.0
3.5!
"Nightbirds" is a YA fantasy novel set in a 1920s Prohibition inspired setting where women possess magical gifts they can bestow with a kiss. As a way to push back against anti-magic sentiment from a religious cult, the women who possess magic are called "Nightbirds" and their identities are kept secret from the public, except for when they are essentially sold to the highest bidder to bestow their gifts upon a lucky person (they cannot use their magic for themselves). The story follows three protagonists/Nightbirds: Mathilde, Sayer, Æsa.
I really enjoyed the aesthetics and the world building the most because of how fresh and creative it was. The blend of 1920s Prohibition inspired style and slang meshed pretty perfectly with high fantasy political machinations found in this book. I also love that many fantasy novels specifically where women wield magic also often double as a commentary on how women are viewed by certain religions/churches (typically an allegory for Christianity) - this is the third book I've picked up in 2023 that attempts to unpack that theme and I hope that will spark some important societal conversations.
However, I will say that it is a slow story to get into, but once things picked up I was invested. There are a few moments where the feminism sort of hits you over the head, which can be typical of books about sisterhood, but I also appreciated that especially in Mathilde's case, there were lots of discussions about intersections of class and privilege between the three girls that were important. That also said, I did feel like the girls were a bit cliched: the spoiled princess, the girl from the wrong side of the tracks, the naive waif far from home.
I've also seen many people say that this book was "doing too much" and I would agree with that in that I was rocking with the magic system until the "Fyrebirds/elemental" concept bopped in and suddenly their unique, individual powers could be boiled down to the elements.
"Nightbirds" is a YA fantasy novel set in a 1920s Prohibition inspired setting where women possess magical gifts they can bestow with a kiss. As a way to push back against anti-magic sentiment from a religious cult, the women who possess magic are called "Nightbirds" and their identities are kept secret from the public, except for when they are essentially sold to the highest bidder to bestow their gifts upon a lucky person (they cannot use their magic for themselves). The story follows three protagonists/Nightbirds: Mathilde, Sayer, Æsa.
I really enjoyed the aesthetics and the world building the most because of how fresh and creative it was. The blend of 1920s Prohibition inspired style and slang meshed pretty perfectly with high fantasy political machinations found in this book. I also love that many fantasy novels specifically where women wield magic also often double as a commentary on how women are viewed by certain religions/churches (typically an allegory for Christianity) - this is the third book I've picked up in 2023 that attempts to unpack that theme and I hope that will spark some important societal conversations.
However, I will say that it is a slow story to get into, but once things picked up I was invested. There are a few moments where the feminism sort of hits you over the head, which can be typical of books about sisterhood, but I also appreciated that especially in Mathilde's case, there were lots of discussions about intersections of class and privilege between the three girls that were important. That also said, I did feel like the girls were a bit cliched: the spoiled princess, the girl from the wrong side of the tracks, the naive waif far from home.
I've also seen many people say that this book was "doing too much" and I would agree with that in that I was rocking with the magic system until the "Fyrebirds/elemental" concept bopped in and suddenly their unique, individual powers could be boiled down to the elements.