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Myths of the Empyrieos #1
Songbird of the Sorrows
Not yet published
Expected 3 Feb 26Win a free print copy of this book!
7 days and 19:30:05
25 copies available
U.S. only
An outcast princess turned spy embarks on a mission to infiltrate a rival kingdom, but the secrets she uncovers force her to decide whether to follow orders or defy them.
Ask no questions. Obey your orders. Respect your masters. But most of all, love no one.
Spy. Thief. Princess. Songbird.
Princess Aella was ousted from the Palace of Sorrows as a child, shattering her world and forcing her to abandon the truth of her royal lineage. Instead, she was raised in The Aviary, which disguises itself as a school for orphaned children but is actually a secret order designed to train its students as spies for an intelligence network embedded throughout the Empyrieos.
Now twenty-three years old and having completed her final tests, Aella is summoned to join Alpha Flight, the Aviary’s elite team of assassins that’s led by none other than her former flame, Raven. Everything about him calls to her—he’s brave, loyal, and lethal. But is Raven worth breaking the rules and risking everything she’s worked so hard to achieve?
Before she can decide, the Alpha Flight team is sent on a dangerous mission that tests Aella’s resolve in every way. Her role is crucial and she must assume her former title of Princess of the Sorrows, the identity she once had to forsake, to compete in the bridal trials held by the Prince of Eretria. As old sparks reignite and the harsh realities of the realm reveal themselves, the mission begins to unravel, and Aella must decide if she is brave enough to disobey her superiors in order to do what she believes is right.
Songbird of the Sorrows is the first book in Myths of the Empyrieos, an epic romantic fantasy series that follows a feisty heroine through trials, a perilous heist, court intrigue, kingdom politics, and a journey of self-discovery, true love, and redemption.
Ask no questions. Obey your orders. Respect your masters. But most of all, love no one.
Spy. Thief. Princess. Songbird.
Princess Aella was ousted from the Palace of Sorrows as a child, shattering her world and forcing her to abandon the truth of her royal lineage. Instead, she was raised in The Aviary, which disguises itself as a school for orphaned children but is actually a secret order designed to train its students as spies for an intelligence network embedded throughout the Empyrieos.
Now twenty-three years old and having completed her final tests, Aella is summoned to join Alpha Flight, the Aviary’s elite team of assassins that’s led by none other than her former flame, Raven. Everything about him calls to her—he’s brave, loyal, and lethal. But is Raven worth breaking the rules and risking everything she’s worked so hard to achieve?
Before she can decide, the Alpha Flight team is sent on a dangerous mission that tests Aella’s resolve in every way. Her role is crucial and she must assume her former title of Princess of the Sorrows, the identity she once had to forsake, to compete in the bridal trials held by the Prince of Eretria. As old sparks reignite and the harsh realities of the realm reveal themselves, the mission begins to unravel, and Aella must decide if she is brave enough to disobey her superiors in order to do what she believes is right.
Songbird of the Sorrows is the first book in Myths of the Empyrieos, an epic romantic fantasy series that follows a feisty heroine through trials, a perilous heist, court intrigue, kingdom politics, and a journey of self-discovery, true love, and redemption.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published June 18, 2024
47567 people want to read
About the author
Braidee Otto
5 books344 followersA self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, Braidee Otto combines her academic background in Literary Studies with a deep passion for storytelling to create heartfelt, immersive narratives. Songbird of the Sorrows is the first installment in her debut adult romantic fantasy series, Myths of the Empyrieos. She lives in Adelaide, South Australia with her partner, two beloved dogs, and a cat that appeared in her backyard on the winter solstice.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 812 reviews
March 14, 2025
╭ ✦ •
│ ⊹ 𝟹 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜, 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚘𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐! ⊹
╰ ✦ •
────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────
wait that's how it ended? will there be a second book??
slightly underwhelming, the whole book felt very rushed
It’s unique in a way and a great debut but I felt like I was reading and not processing the words, or maybe I just didn't connect with the characters since there were so many. There were so many things happening plot-wise that it was all crammed into 378 pages.
⪼I was disappointed when it came to the Trials part of the book. They weren’t as high stakes as they seemed to be, our FMC breezed through them almost without a thought. I feel like they could have gone differently. They were entertaining enough but not as incredibly dangerous as they were meant to be.
IM SORRY BUT IN THE BOOK DESCRIPTION WHERE SAYS "her struggles through high-stakes trials" is literally false advertising 😭😭
⪼I didn't care for Aella and Raven's relationship because there wasn't enough build-up. Although it mentions they 'knew each other' from before, I would have liked to see more of them getting to know each other better. Their 'romance' lacked real tension or chemistry, despite the forbidden love angle.
⪼Every time I read the MMC's name-Raven, I don't know why but I kept thinking of Raven from The 100(<333 I lovvee her sm). But anyway, HE was... strange; gave weird vibes at times, like he was about to betray Aella or something.
Also, as the MMC he lacked character development; we don’t get to know anything about him, he has no backstory, and we don't even get to know his real name(only his given Songbird name). It felt like his only purpose in the book was to serve as Aella's stress relief because those were mainly the only times we got to see him.
His character was very mysterious, and I WISH we had his POV. That would have made him so much more interesting and we would have gotten to know him more.
⪼smut scenes felt awkward between them? Aella kept having to repeat herself 'It's just sex nothing more'... probably why they lacked chemistry because their relationship was more of a Friends-with-benefits
⪼I feel like I constantly had to keep referring to the glossary to even remember what things were:
Eagle: the leader of the Aviary and advisor to the King of the Sorrows
Tycheroi: fortunate ones – the common race in the Empyrieos. They are long-lived and blessed with soul magic by the gods.
Goiteía: an alphabet of marks used to tap into soul magic. The more one uses goiteía, the shorter their lifespan.
Goiteían: a person who sells the service of mark carving, or is in servitude to carve goiteía for another.
these are just a few, there were so many more words/names/Kingdoms/pronunciations in the glossary, and honestly, at one point I just stopped going back and forth accepting that I probably won't remember what the heck was being talked about.
⪼Xan, is an interesting character that I want to know more about, but his appearance felt rushed in a way.
THE CLIFFHANGER WAS SHOCKING AND SLIGHTLY CONFUSING. If there is a second book, I'll probably read it, because WHAT THE HECK XAN???!!
Overall, I'm not going to say I completely disliked this, but it was very underwhelming, and I feel like I need to read it again.
────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────
⊹ 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽 ⊹
❥Spies
❥assassins & royals
❥a perilous heist
❥'high stakes' trials
❥forbidden romance
❥forced proximity
❥court intrigue
❥kingdom politics
❥Greek mythology
Thank you for the ARC, Braidee!
_________________________________
Blog ಇ StoryGraph ಇ Instagram ಇ Twitter ಇ Facebook
│ ⊹ 𝟹 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜, 𝚏𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚘𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐! ⊹
╰ ✦ •
«𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓎 𝓂𝒶𝓎 𝒷𝑒 𝓈𝑒𝓇𝓅𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒸𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓉, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝐼 𝒶𝓂 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒿𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝒶 𝓈𝑜𝓃𝑔𝒷𝒾𝓇𝒹. 𝐼’𝓂 𝒶 𝒷𝒾𝓇𝒹 𝑜𝒻 𝓅𝓇𝑒𝓎.»
────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────
wait that's how it ended? will there be a second book??
slightly underwhelming, the whole book felt very rushed
It’s unique in a way and a great debut but I felt like I was reading and not processing the words, or maybe I just didn't connect with the characters since there were so many. There were so many things happening plot-wise that it was all crammed into 378 pages.
⪼I was disappointed when it came to the Trials part of the book. They weren’t as high stakes as they seemed to be, our FMC breezed through them almost without a thought. I feel like they could have gone differently. They were entertaining enough but not as incredibly dangerous as they were meant to be.
IM SORRY BUT IN THE BOOK DESCRIPTION WHERE SAYS "her struggles through high-stakes trials" is literally false advertising 😭😭
⪼I didn't care for Aella and Raven's relationship because there wasn't enough build-up. Although it mentions they 'knew each other' from before, I would have liked to see more of them getting to know each other better. Their 'romance' lacked real tension or chemistry, despite the forbidden love angle.
⪼Every time I read the MMC's name-Raven, I don't know why but I kept thinking of Raven from The 100(<333 I lovvee her sm). But anyway, HE was... strange; gave weird vibes at times, like he was about to betray Aella or something.
Also, as the MMC he lacked character development; we don’t get to know anything about him, he has no backstory, and we don't even get to know his real name(only his given Songbird name). It felt like his only purpose in the book was to serve as Aella's stress relief because those were mainly the only times we got to see him.
His character was very mysterious, and I WISH we had his POV. That would have made him so much more interesting and we would have gotten to know him more.
⪼smut scenes felt awkward between them? Aella kept having to repeat herself 'It's just sex nothing more'... probably why they lacked chemistry because their relationship was more of a Friends-with-benefits
⪼I feel like I constantly had to keep referring to the glossary to even remember what things were:
Eagle: the leader of the Aviary and advisor to the King of the Sorrows
Tycheroi: fortunate ones – the common race in the Empyrieos. They are long-lived and blessed with soul magic by the gods.
Goiteía: an alphabet of marks used to tap into soul magic. The more one uses goiteía, the shorter their lifespan.
Goiteían: a person who sells the service of mark carving, or is in servitude to carve goiteía for another.
these are just a few, there were so many more words/names/Kingdoms/pronunciations in the glossary, and honestly, at one point I just stopped going back and forth accepting that I probably won't remember what the heck was being talked about.
⪼Xan, is an interesting character that I want to know more about, but his appearance felt rushed in a way.
THE CLIFFHANGER WAS SHOCKING AND SLIGHTLY CONFUSING. If there is a second book, I'll probably read it, because WHAT THE HECK XAN???!!
Overall, I'm not going to say I completely disliked this, but it was very underwhelming, and I feel like I need to read it again.
────── ✧ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ♡ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ✧ ──────
⊹ 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽 ⊹
❥Spies
❥assassins & royals
❥a perilous heist
❥'high stakes' trials
❥forbidden romance
❥forced proximity
❥court intrigue
❥kingdom politics
❥Greek mythology
Thank you for the ARC, Braidee!
_________________________________
Blog ಇ StoryGraph ಇ Instagram ಇ Twitter ಇ Facebook
April 20, 2024
No notes.
Utter perfection.
Y’all actually aren’t ready to read this book 😂
Utter perfection.
Y’all actually aren’t ready to read this book 😂
April 20, 2024
I had the absolute pleasure to read this before almost everyone else. And honestly, get ready for this book to be the next big hit.
Braidee’s writing is lyrical, her prose whimsical, the plot thick, and the world building sharp.
You’re going to be screaming at your book because Aella is an absolute menace, but then crying as your heart breaks for her.
Aella is a character I think will resonate with a lot of people. She’s been told who and what to be her whole life and makes a point to rebel against it. But it’s when she realises who she truly is and decides for herself what she wants, that she shines… it just takes some pain to get there.
I can’t wait for you to meet her 🥹
Braidee, my love, congratulations.
Braidee’s writing is lyrical, her prose whimsical, the plot thick, and the world building sharp.
You’re going to be screaming at your book because Aella is an absolute menace, but then crying as your heart breaks for her.
Aella is a character I think will resonate with a lot of people. She’s been told who and what to be her whole life and makes a point to rebel against it. But it’s when she realises who she truly is and decides for herself what she wants, that she shines… it just takes some pain to get there.
I can’t wait for you to meet her 🥹
Braidee, my love, congratulations.
June 19, 2024
“I am not just a songbird. I’m a bird of prey”
Aella, denied princess turned spy, is tasked with her first mission that involves seducing an unhinged prince & 3 high stake trials ⚔️🦁
“He may think he’s winning, but the reality is that I’m playing an entirely different game”
Add in forbidden second chance love with all the tension🌶️ PLUS a secret weapon that could bring the kingdoms crumbling down 🔥 You will be hooked within the first chapter 🙌🏼
I’m counting down for book 2 after the huge cliffhanger 🤯 Thank you Braidee for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review , happy launch day!! 🎉
Aella, denied princess turned spy, is tasked with her first mission that involves seducing an unhinged prince & 3 high stake trials ⚔️🦁
“He may think he’s winning, but the reality is that I’m playing an entirely different game”
Add in forbidden second chance love with all the tension🌶️ PLUS a secret weapon that could bring the kingdoms crumbling down 🔥 You will be hooked within the first chapter 🙌🏼
I’m counting down for book 2 after the huge cliffhanger 🤯 Thank you Braidee for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review , happy launch day!! 🎉
May 11, 2024
3.5 STARS!
I had the pleasure of being an ARC reader for Songbird of the Sorrows and found it an enjoyable read! The world building was well written and I could imagine myself walking the streets of the Sorrows and Eretia - it was just a little too long for my liking but that’s ok!
I think this book paves the way for what could be an amazing series, where the majority of the world building needed to take place in the first instance so the rest of the story can flow as needed. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next! Especially with the ending!!! I need to know what happened 😂
3.5 stars from me on this one - a solid read with a sprinkle of spice, and I can’t wait to see how the story and world progresses! The book releases on the 18th June for anyone who would like to read ☺️🩷
I had the pleasure of being an ARC reader for Songbird of the Sorrows and found it an enjoyable read! The world building was well written and I could imagine myself walking the streets of the Sorrows and Eretia - it was just a little too long for my liking but that’s ok!
I think this book paves the way for what could be an amazing series, where the majority of the world building needed to take place in the first instance so the rest of the story can flow as needed. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next! Especially with the ending!!! I need to know what happened 😂
3.5 stars from me on this one - a solid read with a sprinkle of spice, and I can’t wait to see how the story and world progresses! The book releases on the 18th June for anyone who would like to read ☺️🩷
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh this was a nice one!!
What I've loved
1 This is an AWESOMELY WRITTEN debut book!
2 The romance wasn’t at all center focus, which was refreshing. The FMC owes the love interest nothing at all for her achievements or talents, she’s strong and she’s her own woman regardless.
3 The magic system is original enough, and I’m quite curious to see where it all is going, and how her forbidden power plays into the story.
4The MMC may not be very interesting, but the mystery around the villain power and relations sure is, and I’m curious to read more about that
(I don’t mean he’s in anyway MMC material, I hope in someone else entirely being introduced.)
What I didn't love
1The romance is the absolute weakest part of the story. Raven is the typical shadow daddy, but there is no real build up, and if you cut out the romance altogether nothing would change in the book. That’s kind of a good thing in its own way.
2 For the same reason, the spice did nothing for me and felt a bit awkward, cause I felt nothing for them as a couple. It could also be that a new love interest will be introduced next and the authors didn’t want us to be too attached to Raven (I hope so).
3 While it didn’t feel to drag at all, there were some overly described details, and I wish we could have had more depth on the character backstories and motivations instead. It doesn’t sound like a great life to pick. We know Aella didn’t choose, but what motivated the others?
Conclusions
Overall, this was an enjoyable read for me, made even better if I think this is a debut book and the author has room to grow.
Many of my qualms with the first book could be well addressed and fixed in the second instalment, if they haven’t already been planned for this kind of arc all along.
I hope we get more focus on the magic system going forward, as that could help make it more memorable than it currently is.
Pre-read
9 Dec 25: time to dive in!! I've seen that so many of you already have, but I'm going in blind! 👀💪🏻
17 Oct 25: I'm thrilled to have been pre-approved for this ARC by Penguin Random House! <3
What I've loved
1 This is an AWESOMELY WRITTEN debut book!
2 The romance wasn’t at all center focus, which was refreshing. The FMC owes the love interest nothing at all for her achievements or talents, she’s strong and she’s her own woman regardless.
3 The magic system is original enough, and I’m quite curious to see where it all is going, and how her forbidden power plays into the story.
4The MMC may not be very interesting, but the mystery around the villain power and relations sure is, and I’m curious to read more about that
(I don’t mean he’s in anyway MMC material, I hope in someone else entirely being introduced.)
What I didn't love
1The romance is the absolute weakest part of the story. Raven is the typical shadow daddy, but there is no real build up, and if you cut out the romance altogether nothing would change in the book. That’s kind of a good thing in its own way.
2 For the same reason, the spice did nothing for me and felt a bit awkward, cause I felt nothing for them as a couple. It could also be that a new love interest will be introduced next and the authors didn’t want us to be too attached to Raven (I hope so).
3 While it didn’t feel to drag at all, there were some overly described details, and I wish we could have had more depth on the character backstories and motivations instead. It doesn’t sound like a great life to pick. We know Aella didn’t choose, but what motivated the others?
Conclusions
Overall, this was an enjoyable read for me, made even better if I think this is a debut book and the author has room to grow.
Many of my qualms with the first book could be well addressed and fixed in the second instalment, if they haven’t already been planned for this kind of arc all along.
I hope we get more focus on the magic system going forward, as that could help make it more memorable than it currently is.
Pre-read
9 Dec 25: time to dive in!! I've seen that so many of you already have, but I'm going in blind! 👀💪🏻
17 Oct 25: I'm thrilled to have been pre-approved for this ARC by Penguin Random House! <3
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I fear a lot of people are about to be fooled with this one and honestly… I can’t wait, because if you think you know, you probably don’t. 👀
What’s hotter than an epic romantic fantasy? An epic romantic fantasy with two hilarious, soul bound, best friends and devoted side pieces 😮💨
This is an epic fantasy romance. The world is inspired by Greek mythology and is fully realised. The magic is easy to understand and well built into the world that relies heavily on the elements, seasons and life. This story follows Aella, a princess hated by her father and cast out to work for the Aviary - a spy/military unit within their country. She is under the foot of her land and is just a cog in the wheel of another unjust system.
The pace has significantly stepped up in the trad version. It’s faster, without losing character development or depth, it’s just as emotional… in fact more so this time because OH I CRIED?!
I love this story because it truly is unable to fit any particular trope. It breaks them all or flips them.
The writing is poetic, lyrical and lush. Think Sarah A Parker, VE Schwab or R Raeta style writing.
Let me tell you about the villain though because you know what we’re missing in the genre? A compelling villain! This villain rivals Joffrey Baratheon and Anakin Skywalker. I truly love how much I hate him and also why is he hot?
The FMC Aella is complex and raw. She is an oxymoron and truly ‘human’… by that I mean flawed. She is not perfect. She is at the mercy of the world and her emotions and her ways of coping aren’t perfect either. But her relationship with her best friend Nyssa? That’s the stuff that brings this book to a well rounded five star read.
ANYWAY
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
NOTE: I originally read this book as an ARC for the indie release and loved it. I have now read the trad pub edition of SOTS and it’s even better. I am also the authors PA now so I’m kind of totally biased but I assure you, I would not be her friend or her PA if her book was shit because that would be embarrassing for me, too.
What’s hotter than an epic romantic fantasy? An epic romantic fantasy with two hilarious, soul bound, best friends and devoted side pieces 😮💨
This is an epic fantasy romance. The world is inspired by Greek mythology and is fully realised. The magic is easy to understand and well built into the world that relies heavily on the elements, seasons and life. This story follows Aella, a princess hated by her father and cast out to work for the Aviary - a spy/military unit within their country. She is under the foot of her land and is just a cog in the wheel of another unjust system.
The pace has significantly stepped up in the trad version. It’s faster, without losing character development or depth, it’s just as emotional… in fact more so this time because OH I CRIED?!
I love this story because it truly is unable to fit any particular trope. It breaks them all or flips them.
The writing is poetic, lyrical and lush. Think Sarah A Parker, VE Schwab or R Raeta style writing.
Let me tell you about the villain though because you know what we’re missing in the genre? A compelling villain! This villain rivals Joffrey Baratheon and Anakin Skywalker. I truly love how much I hate him and also why is he hot?
The FMC Aella is complex and raw. She is an oxymoron and truly ‘human’… by that I mean flawed. She is not perfect. She is at the mercy of the world and her emotions and her ways of coping aren’t perfect either. But her relationship with her best friend Nyssa? That’s the stuff that brings this book to a well rounded five star read.
ANYWAY
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
NOTE: I originally read this book as an ARC for the indie release and loved it. I have now read the trad pub edition of SOTS and it’s even better. I am also the authors PA now so I’m kind of totally biased but I assure you, I would not be her friend or her PA if her book was shit because that would be embarrassing for me, too.
July 11, 2024
3 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
“My fear was so great I don’t know if I’m capable of dreaming anymore. Instead of adventure and dreams, I have poison in my blood and nightmares in my soul.”
Songbird of the Sorrows is a fantasy romance debut featuring a forbidden romance between former sweethearts, court drama and politics, a group of spies-under-disguise on a mission.
The author definitely put in a lot of work when it comes to the world-building which is loosely inspired by Greek Mythology.
Maybe I had different expectations a bit, however this book seems to set up what is a promising series and fans of the fantasy romance genre in general are likely to enjoy it.
I think I'll address only two points as to why I couldn't enjoy it more:
1. The romance was rushed. I was excited and intrigued by the forbidden romance aspect especially as the two characters were former sweethearts. I think it would've helped if the tension prolonged between them. It felt they quickly mingled with each other and it lost that tension and excitement of it's forbidden nature.
2. I think the story had a good pacing but the action or the stakes did not keep me on the edge of my seat except for one scene that had me nervous.
The romance and the action are key elements to enjoying a fantasy romance for me so maybe that explains my 3-star rating. The rating does not mean the book is bad or not worth reading, not at all! I can see why many readers loved it but I just expected some storylines to play out differently.
It's a debut book and not easy at all to write a whole book and create an imaginary world, so congrats to the author on publishing her first book and gifting the community a new fun read to devour.
What to expect?
— Romantic Fantasy
— Forbidden Romance
— Forced Proximity
— Trials and Heists
— Greek Mythology
— Kingdom Politics
— Court Intrigue
— Spies, Assassins and Royals
Content warning: the book features Abandonment, Abduction of an adult (implied), Battle, Blood and gore, Death and violence, Emotional abuse/manipulation, Explicit sex/sexual activities, Graphic language, Hallucinations, Mental health/PTSD, Non-consensual sex/sexual assault (non-graphic), Poisoning, Stillbirth (mentioned on page), Substance abuse, Torture.
“My fear was so great I don’t know if I’m capable of dreaming anymore. Instead of adventure and dreams, I have poison in my blood and nightmares in my soul.”
Songbird of the Sorrows is a fantasy romance debut featuring a forbidden romance between former sweethearts, court drama and politics, a group of spies-under-disguise on a mission.
The author definitely put in a lot of work when it comes to the world-building which is loosely inspired by Greek Mythology.
Maybe I had different expectations a bit, however this book seems to set up what is a promising series and fans of the fantasy romance genre in general are likely to enjoy it.
I think I'll address only two points as to why I couldn't enjoy it more:
1. The romance was rushed. I was excited and intrigued by the forbidden romance aspect especially as the two characters were former sweethearts. I think it would've helped if the tension prolonged between them. It felt they quickly mingled with each other and it lost that tension and excitement of it's forbidden nature.
2. I think the story had a good pacing but the action or the stakes did not keep me on the edge of my seat except for one scene that had me nervous.
The romance and the action are key elements to enjoying a fantasy romance for me so maybe that explains my 3-star rating. The rating does not mean the book is bad or not worth reading, not at all! I can see why many readers loved it but I just expected some storylines to play out differently.
It's a debut book and not easy at all to write a whole book and create an imaginary world, so congrats to the author on publishing her first book and gifting the community a new fun read to devour.
What to expect?
— Romantic Fantasy
— Forbidden Romance
— Forced Proximity
— Trials and Heists
— Greek Mythology
— Kingdom Politics
— Court Intrigue
— Spies, Assassins and Royals
Content warning: the book features Abandonment, Abduction of an adult (implied), Battle, Blood and gore, Death and violence, Emotional abuse/manipulation, Explicit sex/sexual activities, Graphic language, Hallucinations, Mental health/PTSD, Non-consensual sex/sexual assault (non-graphic), Poisoning, Stillbirth (mentioned on page), Substance abuse, Torture.
May 20, 2024
Overall I enjoyed the book. The ending REALLY hooked me in with the cliffhanger. This is book 1 so there is a lot of building and set up to what I hope is going to be a great series! I really like Aella as a character, she has so much room to grow and develop.
I really like the idea of this book. The Aviary of spies. It’s kind of cool everyone gets their own bird code name. Going on secret missions and doing dangerous tasks.
I thought Aella aka Starling was great in her role. She is pretending to not be who she was born to be only to be put on a mission to pretend to be who she was born as. It’s great! Our male love interest Raven didn’t really show up much except to be a spicy love interest. So I feel like I don’t really know much about him at all.
The trials that were had (not going to spoil what or why) were made out to be dangerous, yet they didn’t quite hit the mark, our FMC kind of breezed right through them. Which made it feel a bit lackluster.
The overall pacing for the first 70% was really slow. The last 30% definitely picked up but it made everything seem really cut short.
As always make sure you read the trigger warnings, there are some graphic depictions.
I really like the idea of this book. The Aviary of spies. It’s kind of cool everyone gets their own bird code name. Going on secret missions and doing dangerous tasks.
I thought Aella aka Starling was great in her role. She is pretending to not be who she was born to be only to be put on a mission to pretend to be who she was born as. It’s great! Our male love interest Raven didn’t really show up much except to be a spicy love interest. So I feel like I don’t really know much about him at all.
The trials that were had (not going to spoil what or why) were made out to be dangerous, yet they didn’t quite hit the mark, our FMC kind of breezed right through them. Which made it feel a bit lackluster.
The overall pacing for the first 70% was really slow. The last 30% definitely picked up but it made everything seem really cut short.
As always make sure you read the trigger warnings, there are some graphic depictions.
May 16, 2024
I loved this book, but need a minute to process it before reviewing. 😅
It took a few days, but I think I've finally recovered from reading Songbird of the Sorrows enough to articulate my thoughts and feelings. Here's my spoiler free review.
Including a map is always a great thing for me in fantasy books. And Braidee went so far as to include a pronunciation guide in the beginning, which I found super helpful and referred back to many times.
World building was great! I felt like I was there with the FMC, fully experiencing the world the author created. Lots of colorful details pulling in all of your senses (but not so many details that it was overwhelming and/or convoluted).
Prose was excellent. Flowed beautifully enough that I'm surprised that this is her debut novel. At times her writing feels poetic, or even lyrical. You know how some authors throw in huge, super uncommon words, but it feels contrived (I detest when they do this)? Braidee Otto does *not* do that. There are some bigger, less common words, but none that I would expect most readers w¹ouldn't know the meaning of. Use of metaphors was excellent, not too much and not too little.
Plot was great. A network of spies trained by their government (songbirds) from a young age. Most (maybe all, I can't recall right off) of those spies being unwanted, abandoned, or orphaned kids. All too often, yes even in 2024, kids that fit that category are labeled as "damaged" and/or "broken," but Braidee Otto did the opposite. I was an unwanted child who grew up in foster care, so Braidee doing this - it's been days and I still haven't been able to formulate the proper words.
Pacing was good. The first 20% felt a bit slow to me, but I'm 99.9% sure that's on me for starting an ebook when I have a lot of IRL stuff going on lol. I kept picking it up to only be able to read a page, or at times, only a sentence. Which meant I didn't have time to actually get into it. That's on me, but with a cover and blurb like that, who can really blame me for being unable to wait? 😅
Since I'm pretty confident the pacing for the first 20% is my own fault, I'm not taking away points for that. Past that point, the story goes quickly with small pockets to take a breath in spaced well. The author sets the scene, and then it's like a freight train barreling down the tracks.
I love that the FMC is strong (mentally and physically) and doesn't just wait around for a man to save her, or even help her. She gets shit done.
The mental health rep was great! Especially one character who deals with what sounds like PTSD, anxiety, and panic attacks. As someone who is diagnosed with all 3, I felt the rep was well done.
If you're looking for your next queer normative read - check this book out!
I love that Braidee didn't use foods to describe the various skin tones, and it felt inclusive of the full ethnicity gamut.
I would say it leaned a bit more on plot development than character. This is neither a pro nor a con, just my opinion.
The characters were well developed, dimensional, and I felt attached to them and what happened to them.
The banter was excellent, it felt natural. I chuckled out loud a few times. The friendship between the FMC and her bestie was perfection. And then, I cried at one point. I didn't think I was a crier, but maybe I'm becoming one.
There was some spice, 2-3 detailed scenes that were well done in my opinion. 1, maybe 2, scenes that were more alluding to spice than actual scenes. I didn't feel the spice was gratuitous, just well done and sprinkled in. The spice was detailed enough that I wouldn't recommend this book for a kid in middle school lol. I would say 18+ probably.
I would have liked to have more info on the trials the FMC has to go through in when she's on her mission. More details. I also feel like up until the end of her mission, the trials weren't difficult for her (but maybe that was intentional). I'm not exactly sure what I would've liked, or preferred, but I felt like the trials during her mission were glazed over a bit more than I would have liked.
The relationship between the FMC and the MMC - my feelings may be nearly as confused as theirs are towards one another lol. Part of me loves it and wishes them a happy, long life together. Another part feels the MMC was up to something shady, like in book 2 he's going to do something that the FMC and myself will really not like.
But hopefully then he'll have his redemption arc. OR the FMC moves on from him.
If you enjoy fantasy, romantacy and/or mythology, you would probably like this.
That ending. Ms. Otto, we need to talk. I both hate you and love you. I'm still not sure I'm OK, and it's been 3 days since I finished this book. I'm actually shocked I didn't damage the screen on my kindle with how aggressively I was swiping to get to the next chapter. Including that beautiful character art, especially where the author did, was perfect, but also kind of mean (in the best way possible). I need the next book yesterday, or sooner if possible. Please and thank you.
@braideeottobooks has some great pre-order incentives, as well as gorgeous character art, and more info on potential triggers (if that's a concern for you). Songbird of the Sorrows releases June 18, 2024.
While I am a member of Braidee's street team and was gifted an ebook of this ARC, this is my honest review.
It took a few days, but I think I've finally recovered from reading Songbird of the Sorrows enough to articulate my thoughts and feelings. Here's my spoiler free review.
Including a map is always a great thing for me in fantasy books. And Braidee went so far as to include a pronunciation guide in the beginning, which I found super helpful and referred back to many times.
World building was great! I felt like I was there with the FMC, fully experiencing the world the author created. Lots of colorful details pulling in all of your senses (but not so many details that it was overwhelming and/or convoluted).
Prose was excellent. Flowed beautifully enough that I'm surprised that this is her debut novel. At times her writing feels poetic, or even lyrical. You know how some authors throw in huge, super uncommon words, but it feels contrived (I detest when they do this)? Braidee Otto does *not* do that. There are some bigger, less common words, but none that I would expect most readers w¹ouldn't know the meaning of. Use of metaphors was excellent, not too much and not too little.
Plot was great. A network of spies trained by their government (songbirds) from a young age. Most (maybe all, I can't recall right off) of those spies being unwanted, abandoned, or orphaned kids. All too often, yes even in 2024, kids that fit that category are labeled as "damaged" and/or "broken," but Braidee Otto did the opposite. I was an unwanted child who grew up in foster care, so Braidee doing this - it's been days and I still haven't been able to formulate the proper words.
Pacing was good. The first 20% felt a bit slow to me, but I'm 99.9% sure that's on me for starting an ebook when I have a lot of IRL stuff going on lol. I kept picking it up to only be able to read a page, or at times, only a sentence. Which meant I didn't have time to actually get into it. That's on me, but with a cover and blurb like that, who can really blame me for being unable to wait? 😅
Since I'm pretty confident the pacing for the first 20% is my own fault, I'm not taking away points for that. Past that point, the story goes quickly with small pockets to take a breath in spaced well. The author sets the scene, and then it's like a freight train barreling down the tracks.
I love that the FMC is strong (mentally and physically) and doesn't just wait around for a man to save her, or even help her. She gets shit done.
The mental health rep was great! Especially one character who deals with what sounds like PTSD, anxiety, and panic attacks. As someone who is diagnosed with all 3, I felt the rep was well done.
If you're looking for your next queer normative read - check this book out!
I love that Braidee didn't use foods to describe the various skin tones, and it felt inclusive of the full ethnicity gamut.
I would say it leaned a bit more on plot development than character. This is neither a pro nor a con, just my opinion.
The characters were well developed, dimensional, and I felt attached to them and what happened to them.
The banter was excellent, it felt natural. I chuckled out loud a few times. The friendship between the FMC and her bestie was perfection. And then, I cried at one point. I didn't think I was a crier, but maybe I'm becoming one.
There was some spice, 2-3 detailed scenes that were well done in my opinion. 1, maybe 2, scenes that were more alluding to spice than actual scenes. I didn't feel the spice was gratuitous, just well done and sprinkled in. The spice was detailed enough that I wouldn't recommend this book for a kid in middle school lol. I would say 18+ probably.
I would have liked to have more info on the trials the FMC has to go through in when she's on her mission. More details. I also feel like up until the end of her mission, the trials weren't difficult for her (but maybe that was intentional). I'm not exactly sure what I would've liked, or preferred, but I felt like the trials during her mission were glazed over a bit more than I would have liked.
The relationship between the FMC and the MMC - my feelings may be nearly as confused as theirs are towards one another lol. Part of me loves it and wishes them a happy, long life together. Another part feels the MMC was up to something shady, like in book 2 he's going to do something that the FMC and myself will really not like.
But hopefully then he'll have his redemption arc. OR the FMC moves on from him.
If you enjoy fantasy, romantacy and/or mythology, you would probably like this.
That ending. Ms. Otto, we need to talk. I both hate you and love you. I'm still not sure I'm OK, and it's been 3 days since I finished this book. I'm actually shocked I didn't damage the screen on my kindle with how aggressively I was swiping to get to the next chapter. Including that beautiful character art, especially where the author did, was perfect, but also kind of mean (in the best way possible). I need the next book yesterday, or sooner if possible. Please and thank you.
@braideeottobooks has some great pre-order incentives, as well as gorgeous character art, and more info on potential triggers (if that's a concern for you). Songbird of the Sorrows releases June 18, 2024.
While I am a member of Braidee's street team and was gifted an ebook of this ARC, this is my honest review.
January 11, 2026
(3.5⭐)
A solid debut!! The ending has got me pretty excited for book 2, I will always eat up this trope if that's where this is headed (which is 99% likely tbh).
I wasn't really feeling too invested with the plot honestly, though the last 75% felt really engaging. I also couldn't really connect to any of the characters, but I did like the female friendships in this book! Probably my favourite part. Though they didn't appear enough for me to really love them, I did like Titaia, Nyssa, and Myna.
With the FMC, Aella, she was alright. I don't really have much of an opinion on her, though that one scene near the end made me feel so bad for her😭 I wanted to give her a hug!! And then the MMC, Raven... oh if he wasn't so BORING. Had there been flashback chapters (as they've been for friends for nearly 10 years and this had the second chance trope in marketing), I could've felt more for the romance but I didn't. I nearly considered DNF-ing at 45% because I didn't care too much for anything... but then I heard that it was suspected that he wasn't the real MMC and I have to say I love the author for this!! I see now it was intentional so if anyone isn't feel the romance, just wait until you get to around the end!!
I think I'll read the next book because I'm definitely curious about that ending.
Thank you Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
A solid debut!! The ending has got me pretty excited for book 2, I will always eat up this trope if that's where this is headed (which is 99% likely tbh).
I wasn't really feeling too invested with the plot honestly, though the last 75% felt really engaging. I also couldn't really connect to any of the characters, but I did like the female friendships in this book! Probably my favourite part. Though they didn't appear enough for me to really love them, I did like Titaia, Nyssa, and Myna.
With the FMC, Aella, she was alright. I don't really have much of an opinion on her, though that one scene near the end made me feel so bad for her😭 I wanted to give her a hug!! And then the MMC, Raven... oh if he wasn't so BORING. Had there been flashback chapters (as they've been for friends for nearly 10 years and this had the second chance trope in marketing), I could've felt more for the romance but I didn't. I nearly considered DNF-ing at 45% because I didn't care too much for anything... but then I heard that it was suspected that he wasn't the real MMC and I have to say I love the author for this!! I see now it was intentional so if anyone isn't feel the romance, just wait until you get to around the end!!
I think I'll read the next book because I'm definitely curious about that ending.
Thank you Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
November 21, 2025
thank you to netgalley and the Dial Press for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
first off — i need book two NOW. it's a shame i have to wait and i might cry.
second — i'm telling all my beloved fantasy readers, this book is about to be BIG. yall are not ready for it in anyway.
the world building is amazing. the plot is amazing. i have no problems with any of it besides that it just needs to be touched up on some grammar and during a scene, they said her true name when no one was suppose to know it.
i also believe in trying not to spoil anything in my reviews and i won't.
5 stars, beautiful. i cannot wait to hear when the next book is coming and can't wait to read more from this author.
first off — i need book two NOW. it's a shame i have to wait and i might cry.
second — i'm telling all my beloved fantasy readers, this book is about to be BIG. yall are not ready for it in anyway.
the world building is amazing. the plot is amazing. i have no problems with any of it besides that it just needs to be touched up on some grammar and during a scene, they said her true name when no one was suppose to know it.
i also believe in trying not to spoil anything in my reviews and i won't.
5 stars, beautiful. i cannot wait to hear when the next book is coming and can't wait to read more from this author.
November 3, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House, and Braidee Otto for the eARC.
Genre: Fantasy Romance (Romance Subplot)
⭐️ 4/5
🌶 1.5/5
🧠 5/10
Cliffhanger: 7/10
Noteworthy: Newly trad published! Book 1 of an incomplete series. Single first-person POV. Check content warnings. Publication date is 2/3/2026.
I love the premise of this book. An ostracized princess is given to an organization so she can be taught and used as a spy for her kingdom. It's a fun concept. The bird theme gave it an all most icky vibe to me. The whole thing had an air of discomfort to it. This book feels like it's mostly setting up the plot, the world, and character building. There are spots of action that will have you on the edge of your seat. Especially the last chapter!
I do like the FMC Aella, but feel like she is no where near who she will be at the end of the series. Her character arc is somewhat mapped out and I'm excited to see where she takes us. This is a rare instance where I struggled to fully invest in the MMC Raven. I understand the relationship has huge road blocks and he was bound to his duty, but I could not invest. He never gave me enough to feel like I could count of him to have our girl's back. I will try to keep an open mind since this book is single POV, but I'm holding out for a better option at this point. I need a ride or die MMC because Aella deserves no less! The side characters are really great and I hope we get more time with her brother later in the series.
The pacing in this book is a little slow at times but that tends to happen in a book 1 with heavy setup. I can tell this is going to be an amazing series and I for one can't wait to get my hands on book 2!
Genre: Fantasy Romance (Romance Subplot)
⭐️ 4/5
🌶 1.5/5
🧠 5/10
Cliffhanger: 7/10
Noteworthy: Newly trad published! Book 1 of an incomplete series. Single first-person POV. Check content warnings. Publication date is 2/3/2026.
I love the premise of this book. An ostracized princess is given to an organization so she can be taught and used as a spy for her kingdom. It's a fun concept. The bird theme gave it an all most icky vibe to me. The whole thing had an air of discomfort to it. This book feels like it's mostly setting up the plot, the world, and character building. There are spots of action that will have you on the edge of your seat. Especially the last chapter!
I do like the FMC Aella, but feel like she is no where near who she will be at the end of the series. Her character arc is somewhat mapped out and I'm excited to see where she takes us. This is a rare instance where I struggled to fully invest in the MMC Raven. I understand the relationship has huge road blocks and he was bound to his duty, but I could not invest. He never gave me enough to feel like I could count of him to have our girl's back. I will try to keep an open mind since this book is single POV, but I'm holding out for a better option at this point. I need a ride or die MMC because Aella deserves no less! The side characters are really great and I hope we get more time with her brother later in the series.
The pacing in this book is a little slow at times but that tends to happen in a book 1 with heavy setup. I can tell this is going to be an amazing series and I for one can't wait to get my hands on book 2!
September 13, 2024
Songbird of the sorrows: 3/5 ⭐️
"Instead of adventure and dreams, I have poison in my blood and nightmares in my soul."
*Arc review*
First can I just give a huge shout-out to the fact that she included not only a beautifully designed map, but also a glossary and pronunciation guide for the names?
I'll start off by saying I think this was a fantastic debut novel, and I'm very excited to see what braidee has in store for us next, I think she has a very bright future ahead for her and her books!
However, you know me, I'm honest, so I will go over what I liked and what I perhaps didn't like as much. I LOVED the setting, the world is inspired off of Greek mythology, and if I love anything, it's Greek mythology. I think how she went about the world building and creating the setting was wonderful. It never felt overwhelming or like she was info dumping, but the world also felt real, rich and very unique! It truly felt like its own.
Id say the last like 30% was my favorite, I really liked the bit of a plottwist and cliffhanger at the end however the ending still wasn’t a good enough for me to want to pick up the next one.
Now onto the things I didn’t like:
The trials were pretty disappointing, they were over so fast, and I felt no amount of urgency or fear for our fmc.
My other complaints I suppose, center around the fact that I honestly think it should had been a bit longer. 😂 I feel like with even just another 50 pgs, a few things in this book could have been done a bit better. The trials could have been longer, And I think it could have used a bit more character development. Everything felt so quick and go go go, which is good for a fast paced book, but I feel like because of that, it hindered my connection to the characters.
I found myself not particularly caring any of the characters, or for aella or raven's relationship, for two reasons. One: I just personally didn't get enough buildup, and I didn't really feel any tension or chemistry between them, even though their love was forbidden. And two: raven just didn't give me the best vibes. Something felt off about him. I found myself just waiting for him to betray aella, honestly he almost gave me tamlin vibes. 😂 BUT that could very well have been the authors goal and plan. Perhaps she was laying seeds and we'll see them bloom in the second book, with a big betrayal or something. So for all I know, this could have been her intention.
I honestly found myself liking and connecting to Xan the most, who you only meet near the end. But IMMEDIATELY I felt tension and chemistry between him and aella, so I'm really hoping that maybe she pulls an SJM, and the first love interest isn't the last? 😂
All in all though, I did think it was an ok book, with lots of things going for it. There were some quotes I really liked, her writing style was fine, and I decently enjoyed my time reading it. But I doubt I’ll get the sequel.
"Instead of adventure and dreams, I have poison in my blood and nightmares in my soul."
*Arc review*
First can I just give a huge shout-out to the fact that she included not only a beautifully designed map, but also a glossary and pronunciation guide for the names?
I'll start off by saying I think this was a fantastic debut novel, and I'm very excited to see what braidee has in store for us next, I think she has a very bright future ahead for her and her books!
However, you know me, I'm honest, so I will go over what I liked and what I perhaps didn't like as much. I LOVED the setting, the world is inspired off of Greek mythology, and if I love anything, it's Greek mythology. I think how she went about the world building and creating the setting was wonderful. It never felt overwhelming or like she was info dumping, but the world also felt real, rich and very unique! It truly felt like its own.
Id say the last like 30% was my favorite, I really liked the bit of a plottwist and cliffhanger at the end however the ending still wasn’t a good enough for me to want to pick up the next one.
Now onto the things I didn’t like:
The trials were pretty disappointing, they were over so fast, and I felt no amount of urgency or fear for our fmc.
My other complaints I suppose, center around the fact that I honestly think it should had been a bit longer. 😂 I feel like with even just another 50 pgs, a few things in this book could have been done a bit better. The trials could have been longer, And I think it could have used a bit more character development. Everything felt so quick and go go go, which is good for a fast paced book, but I feel like because of that, it hindered my connection to the characters.
I found myself not particularly caring any of the characters, or for aella or raven's relationship, for two reasons. One: I just personally didn't get enough buildup, and I didn't really feel any tension or chemistry between them, even though their love was forbidden. And two: raven just didn't give me the best vibes. Something felt off about him. I found myself just waiting for him to betray aella, honestly he almost gave me tamlin vibes. 😂 BUT that could very well have been the authors goal and plan. Perhaps she was laying seeds and we'll see them bloom in the second book, with a big betrayal or something. So for all I know, this could have been her intention.
I honestly found myself liking and connecting to Xan the most, who you only meet near the end. But IMMEDIATELY I felt tension and chemistry between him and aella, so I'm really hoping that maybe she pulls an SJM, and the first love interest isn't the last? 😂
All in all though, I did think it was an ok book, with lots of things going for it. There were some quotes I really liked, her writing style was fine, and I decently enjoyed my time reading it. But I doubt I’ll get the sequel.
May 11, 2024
*This book was sent to me as an ARC in return for an honest review. I probably won’t be getting anymore😅)*
I was bored out of my mind and only gave two stars because the cover is pretty and I can admit that the author is a great writer, just not for me. And the cover is pretty lol.
I wanted to love this book so badly. It sounded like it was right up my alley and I tried so hard, but the writing was too descriptive for me. Don’t get me wrong, I completely understand why other readers would love this, but it was too much to take in and took away from the story (for me). It was also incredibly slow paced in my opinion. Very long lulls of nothing happening and long descriptions of the towns and the buildings and the colors of the fabrics of the dresses. There’s a reason I hate Tolkien.
I did read 68%, skipped that last 18ish percent and read the last chapter. Probably pointless cause I blocked out the rest of the book and remembered nothing.
That’s a week I’ll never get back🙂
I was bored out of my mind and only gave two stars because the cover is pretty and I can admit that the author is a great writer, just not for me. And the cover is pretty lol.
I wanted to love this book so badly. It sounded like it was right up my alley and I tried so hard, but the writing was too descriptive for me. Don’t get me wrong, I completely understand why other readers would love this, but it was too much to take in and took away from the story (for me). It was also incredibly slow paced in my opinion. Very long lulls of nothing happening and long descriptions of the towns and the buildings and the colors of the fabrics of the dresses. There’s a reason I hate Tolkien.
I did read 68%, skipped that last 18ish percent and read the last chapter. Probably pointless cause I blocked out the rest of the book and remembered nothing.
That’s a week I’ll never get back🙂
April 27, 2025
When I was asked to blurb Songbird of the Sorrows, I did not know how lucky I was?! Braidee's writing is gorgeous, her world building impeccable, and I swear there was never a dull moment in this book.
I love love loved the combo of heist & trials because it meant that tensions were *always* high. It also meant this book was extremely hard to put down.
Okay okay, here's the official blurb:
Songbird of the Sorrows is an addictive new romantic fantasy that combines beautiful world building, a thrilling combination of heist and trials, and a toe-curling forbidden romance. Between the romantic intrigue and the unravelling mysteries, it kept me guessing until the very last page!
I love love loved the combo of heist & trials because it meant that tensions were *always* high. It also meant this book was extremely hard to put down.
Okay okay, here's the official blurb:
Songbird of the Sorrows is an addictive new romantic fantasy that combines beautiful world building, a thrilling combination of heist and trials, and a toe-curling forbidden romance. Between the romantic intrigue and the unravelling mysteries, it kept me guessing until the very last page!
April 23, 2024
It’s been a few years since my reviewing days. Even a few lines is something I can barely manage anymore. But this book is utterly amazing.
Braidee has an incredible poetry to her writing, the words flow and string together so beautifully. It’s whimsical.
I found myself turning each page in anticipation needing to know instantly what was happening.
I definitely was left surprised along the way, plot twist I did not see coming at all and an absolutely epic cliffhanger.
I need book 2 and I need it now Braidee.
Braidee has an incredible poetry to her writing, the words flow and string together so beautifully. It’s whimsical.
I found myself turning each page in anticipation needing to know instantly what was happening.
I definitely was left surprised along the way, plot twist I did not see coming at all and an absolutely epic cliffhanger.
I need book 2 and I need it now Braidee.
May 9, 2024
⁸Wow! What an absolute stunning and breathtaking debut novel from Braidee Otto! I am utterly obsessed!
Braidees writing is so whimsical and magical, I was completely sucked in from the beginning. Written exceptionally well and super easy to read.
Songbird Of The Sorrows is entirely a breath of fresh air high fantasy, that is extremely fast paced but despite this, nothing has been sacrificed in doing so! I really would not turn the pages fast enough and the amount of theories I have is insane! I cannot wait for the next installment to get some answers!! Braidee has created a whole brand new world that was easy to understand despite the massive glossary at the beginning of the book! It was amazing reading something entirely new and different in a fantasy book from the usual.
Aella is an absolute amazing FMC and I was rooting for her the whole time. I'd seriously love to read a prequel about her growing up and time studying at the aviary and her beginning blossoming relationship before it was put to an end with raven and friendship with Nyssa.
CANT WAIT FOR BOOK 2!!! Cannot wait for everyone to be able to read this next month upon release. You'll want to do it ASAP!
ARC REVIEW
Braidees writing is so whimsical and magical, I was completely sucked in from the beginning. Written exceptionally well and super easy to read.
Songbird Of The Sorrows is entirely a breath of fresh air high fantasy, that is extremely fast paced but despite this, nothing has been sacrificed in doing so! I really would not turn the pages fast enough and the amount of theories I have is insane! I cannot wait for the next installment to get some answers!! Braidee has created a whole brand new world that was easy to understand despite the massive glossary at the beginning of the book! It was amazing reading something entirely new and different in a fantasy book from the usual.
Aella is an absolute amazing FMC and I was rooting for her the whole time. I'd seriously love to read a prequel about her growing up and time studying at the aviary and her beginning blossoming relationship before it was put to an end with raven and friendship with Nyssa.
CANT WAIT FOR BOOK 2!!! Cannot wait for everyone to be able to read this next month upon release. You'll want to do it ASAP!
ARC REVIEW
January 15, 2026
3.5/5
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the e-arc!
This was a decent fantasy debut! I feel like this was definitely acting as more of a prologue to the true story Braidee wants to tell. Because of this, I do think that the story itself is sort of average for a romantic fantasy. The world itself is very fascinating along with the magic system, but we don’t really get to explore the intricacies of either of these elements a lot. I am very excited for the sequel based off of the ending though!
Aella is a nice main character. She doesn’t really stand out among many other main characters of the genre but I definitely think there is a lot of room of growth for her. My biggest criticism is that a lot of her inner monologues come off as very unnatural. They have a melodramatic quality at times that I just don’t think real people use when thinking to themselves lol. We also don’t really see her do anything new in this book. All of her training happens in the past so she already is great at all things to do with being a spy, being a princess, etc. I hope that the end of the book means she has some things to learn and we can see what she’s like when she’s really trying to learn something.
Raven is just there. LOL. I think this is intentional but I can’t say he strikes me as a very interesting character in any capacity. I do think that when a book is trying to do a love interest switch (as I suspect this one is) there has to be some level of investment into the first relationship before it’s revealed to not work out for the characters, and here I felt Raven was more of a plot device of a stepping stone for Aella instead of a character in his own right.
The romance in this novel is therefore very surface level, which is probably the intention but it doesn’t make it very enjoyable to read their sex scenes. I do think the romance in book 2 has a lot of potential though.
The plot is kind of typical. The trials are good but don’t reinvent the wheel. I felt for a book so focused on court politics, we know nothing about the politics of any court. Not of the Sorrows or any other kingdom. I don’t know who else is in Keres’ court. I think you need to flesh out other players in politicking plots because power struggles just don’t happen in vacuums of 1 person being the mastermind and having zero input from others. Everyone was just unrealistically self sufficient in this book, which is sort of baffling. Like Keres is mistreated as a child and his parents didn’t think this would result in him gunning for the throne prematurely?? I hope book 2 really expands on that whole situation PLUS whatever is up with Aella’s dad.
Aella’s friendships are nice in this book but I feel we’re told she’s friends with people more than seeing the friendship on the page. Her most important relationship is with her best friend but I just didn’t fully feel the love they had for each other.
Despite the many issues I do have with this book, it’s solid. It doesn’t do anything new, but it doesn’t do anything terrible either. Reading this will give you an enjoyable experience. The end promises a much more explosive sequel, which I will for sure be picking up this fall!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the e-arc!
This was a decent fantasy debut! I feel like this was definitely acting as more of a prologue to the true story Braidee wants to tell. Because of this, I do think that the story itself is sort of average for a romantic fantasy. The world itself is very fascinating along with the magic system, but we don’t really get to explore the intricacies of either of these elements a lot. I am very excited for the sequel based off of the ending though!
Aella is a nice main character. She doesn’t really stand out among many other main characters of the genre but I definitely think there is a lot of room of growth for her. My biggest criticism is that a lot of her inner monologues come off as very unnatural. They have a melodramatic quality at times that I just don’t think real people use when thinking to themselves lol. We also don’t really see her do anything new in this book. All of her training happens in the past so she already is great at all things to do with being a spy, being a princess, etc. I hope that the end of the book means she has some things to learn and we can see what she’s like when she’s really trying to learn something.
Raven is just there. LOL. I think this is intentional but I can’t say he strikes me as a very interesting character in any capacity. I do think that when a book is trying to do a love interest switch (as I suspect this one is) there has to be some level of investment into the first relationship before it’s revealed to not work out for the characters, and here I felt Raven was more of a plot device of a stepping stone for Aella instead of a character in his own right.
The romance in this novel is therefore very surface level, which is probably the intention but it doesn’t make it very enjoyable to read their sex scenes. I do think the romance in book 2 has a lot of potential though.
The plot is kind of typical. The trials are good but don’t reinvent the wheel. I felt for a book so focused on court politics, we know nothing about the politics of any court. Not of the Sorrows or any other kingdom. I don’t know who else is in Keres’ court. I think you need to flesh out other players in politicking plots because power struggles just don’t happen in vacuums of 1 person being the mastermind and having zero input from others. Everyone was just unrealistically self sufficient in this book, which is sort of baffling. Like Keres is mistreated as a child and his parents didn’t think this would result in him gunning for the throne prematurely?? I hope book 2 really expands on that whole situation PLUS whatever is up with Aella’s dad.
Aella’s friendships are nice in this book but I feel we’re told she’s friends with people more than seeing the friendship on the page. Her most important relationship is with her best friend but I just didn’t fully feel the love they had for each other.
Despite the many issues I do have with this book, it’s solid. It doesn’t do anything new, but it doesn’t do anything terrible either. Reading this will give you an enjoyable experience. The end promises a much more explosive sequel, which I will for sure be picking up this fall!!
September 23, 2024
I received an ARC of Songbird of the Sorrows by Braidee Otto in exchange for an honest review.
The book is single POV told through the eyes of Aella. She is an enjoyable FMC to follow and her strength throughout the whole story was admirable. Following around Aella during her first mission was a compelling plot point, and I personally enjoyed the incredibly detailed world building.
Unfortunately I was a little letdown by a few things:
My issue with the MMC, Raven, was not having built enough character development for him. We needed more time exploring his backstory as he ended up a bit one-dimensional and mostly served as Aella's stress relief.
I thought the spice was just okay. I was having trouble feeling attached to the idea of Aella and Raven, due to my issue above, so it became difficult to enjoy the spicy scenes after a while.
The pacing picked up at the end and also whenever
The book is single POV told through the eyes of Aella. She is an enjoyable FMC to follow and her strength throughout the whole story was admirable. Following around Aella during her first mission was a compelling plot point, and I personally enjoyed the incredibly detailed world building.
Unfortunately I was a little letdown by a few things:
My issue with the MMC, Raven, was not having built enough character development for him. We needed more time exploring his backstory as he ended up a bit one-dimensional and mostly served as Aella's stress relief.
I thought the spice was just okay. I was having trouble feeling attached to the idea of Aella and Raven, due to my issue above, so it became difficult to enjoy the spicy scenes after a while.
The pacing picked up at the end and also whenever
November 25, 2025
I can't even with this book.
If this book doesn't become a sensation, I will be utterly shocked, it really was that good. That captivating, that hard to put down. That enthralling and that fantastical.
I think, it's going to be hard to top this read. One of my absolute favorites with all the things I love. Romance, a tough heroine, magic, mystery, danger, thrills, chills, it really does have a little bit of everything and a whole lot of what every person needs.
I'm calling it, this is going to be a hit.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
If this book doesn't become a sensation, I will be utterly shocked, it really was that good. That captivating, that hard to put down. That enthralling and that fantastical.
I think, it's going to be hard to top this read. One of my absolute favorites with all the things I love. Romance, a tough heroine, magic, mystery, danger, thrills, chills, it really does have a little bit of everything and a whole lot of what every person needs.
I'm calling it, this is going to be a hit.
*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
August 7, 2025
I received this as an arc and this is an honest review
From the first line, Braidee Otto had me hooked. I loved every word I read and every second I spent reading this.
Her writing is honestly poetry and reels you into the world she has spun with such delicacy and power. Pure and utter poetry. I have not read anything like this before, the way Braidee Otto weaves words together with such precision and delicacy keeping the reader entranced for the entire book.
The dedication gripped me by the heart and had me teary eyed 🥹
The range of emotions that I felt while reading was on par with every 5🌟 review. Braidee Otto had me giggling and kicking my feet, sitting upright with my eyes glued to the page in apprehension, tearing up to complete sobs, anger and wanting to physically smack some characters, fanning myself because things get a bit steamy to smiling and swooning.
The way Braidee describes The Sorrows and surrounding areas is just beautiful ✨
The character descriptions are phenomenal and you can instantly tell how Aella feels about whoever she is encountering by the descriptions.
The tiny details make this book … it is the little references to birds and the Aviary in statements and thoughts that add to this book and really draw you right in.
The way Greek myth and culture is interwoven into this story is glorious and creates such depth to the story and the world Braidee Otto has created in Songbird of the Sorrows
Aella 🕊️ rules are there to be bent and broken.
Nyssa the best friend we all need in our lives.
Raven is 🥵 🐦⬛ when you listen to how Aella describes him you just know.
The slow burn. The drama. The storyline. The world building. The Greek mythology elements. Assassins. Spies. Plotting. Trials. Someone just hand you a trophy because goddamn.
There is an obvious affinity here with riddles and I really enjoyed it !
That ending. I am not okay. I need more immediately!
Reread/ ARC read of Trad version
thoughts/review - infinite stars. The whole bloody sky. 🌌 like five stars is not sufficient to explain the depths of my love for this book.
My favourite read of 2024 has gotten an incredible update for Traditional Publishing and became my favourite read of 2025 (calling it now because nothing will top my love for this book)
No one hooks me quite like Braidee Otto, and you wouldn’t believe it but I am more captivated by this revamped edition than I thought humanly possible (I mean if you’ve met me you would know I don’t shut up about how much I love Songbird of the Sorrows and confidently say no book will top it for my favourite. Well Braidee, you topped it !!)
I still am in absolute awe of the poetic nature of Braidee Otto’s writing style. The way she writes immediately draws you in and keeps you glued to the page. Absolute poetry that I could read forever.
Being transported back into the Empyrieos is a magic in and of itself. It will never matter how many times I read the opening line, the writing immediately draws me in and I find myself wrapped up in the Empyrieos.
Braidee Otto’s magic system is woven with Greek Myth and lore, talks of Gods, nymphs, Anemoi, soul magic, intrinsic magic and magical trinkets. The mythology elements woven into every aspect of the story are just so beautiful.
There is such a magic in a reread where you are able to find all the little clues and crumbs left by the author that you overlooked or missed the first time round. Sometimes you just need to read deeper and you will understand the clues left out for you.
I love all the small details in this book, from the scenery to the bird references. I also feel like I am basically an ornithologist now.
Captain Nikolas will always be a favourite side character. He just brings such a beautiful and unique energy to the story.
Aella, Raven, Nyssa, Keres, Myna, Titaia. All the feelings from my first read are back and stronger than before. The love, the mistrust, the anger, the sadness and the shock.
This book has you falling in love with the friendships, both old and new. The unwavering love, loyalty, and trust. The bonds of friendship that cannot be severed. The friendship that holds you when the silence becomes too loud. A friendship where if you bleed, they bleed too.
The Sphinx ! the riddles and the myths and the allure!
Xan!! I don’t know who you are yet. But I know I love you and I am itching for more of you (fingers crossed for more Xan in book 2)
I have some strong feelings about this book and every character.
The way Braidee Otto has elevated Songbird of the Sorrows is absolutely incredible. The stakes are higher. The backstories of our favourites are deeper. My love for this universe has truly amplified during my rereads (yes, I said rereads).
The way Braidee Otto has woven Greek Myth into the storytelling is phenomenal.
The foreshadowing!!! Just WOW. Had to be said again because honestly WOW. MIND BLOWN.
Also you wouldn’t think that the same parts could make you sob again. You’d be dead wrong. I was sobbing again even when I knew what was happening.
I really enjoy how Braidee Otto writes and creates characters. The way a set of circumstances and upbringings can yield two very different results and traits.
The writing is honestly poetic. I swear it is like you are watching are painting the scenery of the Empyrieos unfold through poetry.
I must honestly have been blessed by the gods to have gotten to read this again extra early and I am beyond grateful 🥹✨
From the first line, Braidee Otto had me hooked. I loved every word I read and every second I spent reading this.
Her writing is honestly poetry and reels you into the world she has spun with such delicacy and power. Pure and utter poetry. I have not read anything like this before, the way Braidee Otto weaves words together with such precision and delicacy keeping the reader entranced for the entire book.
The dedication gripped me by the heart and had me teary eyed 🥹
The range of emotions that I felt while reading was on par with every 5🌟 review. Braidee Otto had me giggling and kicking my feet, sitting upright with my eyes glued to the page in apprehension, tearing up to complete sobs, anger and wanting to physically smack some characters, fanning myself because things get a bit steamy to smiling and swooning.
The way Braidee describes The Sorrows and surrounding areas is just beautiful ✨
The character descriptions are phenomenal and you can instantly tell how Aella feels about whoever she is encountering by the descriptions.
The tiny details make this book … it is the little references to birds and the Aviary in statements and thoughts that add to this book and really draw you right in.
The way Greek myth and culture is interwoven into this story is glorious and creates such depth to the story and the world Braidee Otto has created in Songbird of the Sorrows
Aella 🕊️ rules are there to be bent and broken.
Nyssa the best friend we all need in our lives.
Raven is 🥵 🐦⬛ when you listen to how Aella describes him you just know.
The slow burn. The drama. The storyline. The world building. The Greek mythology elements. Assassins. Spies. Plotting. Trials. Someone just hand you a trophy because goddamn.
There is an obvious affinity here with riddles and I really enjoyed it !
That ending. I am not okay. I need more immediately!
Reread/ ARC read of Trad version
thoughts/review - infinite stars. The whole bloody sky. 🌌 like five stars is not sufficient to explain the depths of my love for this book.
My favourite read of 2024 has gotten an incredible update for Traditional Publishing and became my favourite read of 2025 (calling it now because nothing will top my love for this book)
No one hooks me quite like Braidee Otto, and you wouldn’t believe it but I am more captivated by this revamped edition than I thought humanly possible (I mean if you’ve met me you would know I don’t shut up about how much I love Songbird of the Sorrows and confidently say no book will top it for my favourite. Well Braidee, you topped it !!)
I still am in absolute awe of the poetic nature of Braidee Otto’s writing style. The way she writes immediately draws you in and keeps you glued to the page. Absolute poetry that I could read forever.
Being transported back into the Empyrieos is a magic in and of itself. It will never matter how many times I read the opening line, the writing immediately draws me in and I find myself wrapped up in the Empyrieos.
Braidee Otto’s magic system is woven with Greek Myth and lore, talks of Gods, nymphs, Anemoi, soul magic, intrinsic magic and magical trinkets. The mythology elements woven into every aspect of the story are just so beautiful.
There is such a magic in a reread where you are able to find all the little clues and crumbs left by the author that you overlooked or missed the first time round. Sometimes you just need to read deeper and you will understand the clues left out for you.
I love all the small details in this book, from the scenery to the bird references. I also feel like I am basically an ornithologist now.
Captain Nikolas will always be a favourite side character. He just brings such a beautiful and unique energy to the story.
Aella, Raven, Nyssa, Keres, Myna, Titaia. All the feelings from my first read are back and stronger than before. The love, the mistrust, the anger, the sadness and the shock.
This book has you falling in love with the friendships, both old and new. The unwavering love, loyalty, and trust. The bonds of friendship that cannot be severed. The friendship that holds you when the silence becomes too loud. A friendship where if you bleed, they bleed too.
The Sphinx ! the riddles and the myths and the allure!
Xan!! I don’t know who you are yet. But I know I love you and I am itching for more of you (fingers crossed for more Xan in book 2)
I have some strong feelings about this book and every character.
The way Braidee Otto has elevated Songbird of the Sorrows is absolutely incredible. The stakes are higher. The backstories of our favourites are deeper. My love for this universe has truly amplified during my rereads (yes, I said rereads).
The way Braidee Otto has woven Greek Myth into the storytelling is phenomenal.
The foreshadowing!!! Just WOW. Had to be said again because honestly WOW. MIND BLOWN.
Also you wouldn’t think that the same parts could make you sob again. You’d be dead wrong. I was sobbing again even when I knew what was happening.
I really enjoy how Braidee Otto writes and creates characters. The way a set of circumstances and upbringings can yield two very different results and traits.
The writing is honestly poetic. I swear it is like you are watching are painting the scenery of the Empyrieos unfold through poetry.
I must honestly have been blessed by the gods to have gotten to read this again extra early and I am beyond grateful 🥹✨
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2024
I had the absolute pleasure of reading this as an ARC team member, and I finished it in less than a day. The world building is standout, the storyline unique, and I have fallen in love with several of the characters. I absolutely cannot wait to see what the rest of the series brings (especially after the cliffhanger ending that made my jaw drop).
May 21, 2024
✨Songbird of Sorrows✨
Y’all, if you’re looking for an Assassin’s Creed meets Selection Romantasy, this is for you! The first in the series and debut novel by Braidee is so creative and fun.
In Songbird, we follow the first POV of Aella, a disowned princess who has been deposited in a guild of spymasters called The Aviary. She has worked for seven years to be promoted to Songbird and move past her former life in court. But as soon as she gets named, her first mission is exactly what she had been trying to forget. She must play the part of princess once again. Tasked with seducing the cruel prince so her fellow spies can extract a deadly weapon, Aella has to face not only trials to become the next queen but personal ones as well. One main one with the name Raven. The other with her morals and compassion.
Songbird was a wonderfully immersive story with a romance subplot. Aella is strong and hopeful despite her tragedies and her found family brings all the humor to her grumpy demeanor. I’m thoroughly entranced with the further development of this romance AND the newcomer we have at the end. The cliffhanger leaves me thirsting for more and I can’t wait! I have so many questions and theories!
Tropes you may find within the pages are forbidden love, second chance love, she says f*ck it, political intrigue, forced proximity, hidden identities, creative magics and lore, trials, espionage, morally grey MMC, moderate language, and spice 3/5.
I’m so thankful for this gifted arc from Braidee and ready to read everything else she releases!
Y’all, if you’re looking for an Assassin’s Creed meets Selection Romantasy, this is for you! The first in the series and debut novel by Braidee is so creative and fun.
In Songbird, we follow the first POV of Aella, a disowned princess who has been deposited in a guild of spymasters called The Aviary. She has worked for seven years to be promoted to Songbird and move past her former life in court. But as soon as she gets named, her first mission is exactly what she had been trying to forget. She must play the part of princess once again. Tasked with seducing the cruel prince so her fellow spies can extract a deadly weapon, Aella has to face not only trials to become the next queen but personal ones as well. One main one with the name Raven. The other with her morals and compassion.
Songbird was a wonderfully immersive story with a romance subplot. Aella is strong and hopeful despite her tragedies and her found family brings all the humor to her grumpy demeanor. I’m thoroughly entranced with the further development of this romance AND the newcomer we have at the end. The cliffhanger leaves me thirsting for more and I can’t wait! I have so many questions and theories!
Tropes you may find within the pages are forbidden love, second chance love, she says f*ck it, political intrigue, forced proximity, hidden identities, creative magics and lore, trials, espionage, morally grey MMC, moderate language, and spice 3/5.
I’m so thankful for this gifted arc from Braidee and ready to read everything else she releases!
June 30, 2024
An interesting world with a lot of promise but some writing decisions had me feeling really distant and disconnected from the characters.
First up, the world is interesting - an age old god war has split the land into parts, with each region claimed by an elemental god. There’s different magics - with one being directly attached to your soul and using it too much will kill you. There’s assassins and spies. A rejected princess and vile court politics. So all in all, it sounds like a fun time.
For me the characters felt a little flat and hard to connect with. I think it was a mix of introducing a whole cast quickly, 1 pov (which isn’t bad, but just didn’t help in this situation) and the plot itself. It meant we meet key characters like Raven and never get to know him beyond heated stares. Aella is also diluted in her interactions with him. Because of the secrecy of the order - which makes sense - we never get to meet characters properly, we’re just told their personality, their feelings, and that we should care about them. I feel the plot could have really benefited to have some joint missions or training in the aviary to help establish these relationships.
TRIGGERS: There’s also a pretty yucky sexual assault scene - it involves torture and drugs - the author mentions this in triggers but still, never fun to read personally and I just don’t feel like the plot or characterisation needed it.
The ending sets up for an interesting second instalment so although I’m sitting around 2 - 2.5 ⭐️ I may continue.
First up, the world is interesting - an age old god war has split the land into parts, with each region claimed by an elemental god. There’s different magics - with one being directly attached to your soul and using it too much will kill you. There’s assassins and spies. A rejected princess and vile court politics. So all in all, it sounds like a fun time.
For me the characters felt a little flat and hard to connect with. I think it was a mix of introducing a whole cast quickly, 1 pov (which isn’t bad, but just didn’t help in this situation) and the plot itself. It meant we meet key characters like Raven and never get to know him beyond heated stares. Aella is also diluted in her interactions with him. Because of the secrecy of the order - which makes sense - we never get to meet characters properly, we’re just told their personality, their feelings, and that we should care about them. I feel the plot could have really benefited to have some joint missions or training in the aviary to help establish these relationships.
TRIGGERS: There’s also a pretty yucky sexual assault scene - it involves torture and drugs - the author mentions this in triggers but still, never fun to read personally and I just don’t feel like the plot or characterisation needed it.
The ending sets up for an interesting second instalment so although I’m sitting around 2 - 2.5 ⭐️ I may continue.
June 6, 2024
First I would like to thank Braidee Otto for allowing me to read an e-arc of this! It was a huge honor to be able to read this before its publication.
Unfortunately, I DNF'd this story. To put it in plainly, this book was not for me. I read about 11 chapters of it and still did not feel too invested in the plotline. Nothing really stood out to me; it feels like your typical high fantasy story which is not a bad thing in itself, but reading it felt generic to me.
It does remind me a lot of the From Blood and Ash series by Jennifer Armentrout, but I like the writing of SOTS better. This might be something I can get back into another time, but it's not right now. Maybe right book, definitely wrong time.
Unfortunately, I DNF'd this story. To put it in plainly, this book was not for me. I read about 11 chapters of it and still did not feel too invested in the plotline. Nothing really stood out to me; it feels like your typical high fantasy story which is not a bad thing in itself, but reading it felt generic to me.
It does remind me a lot of the From Blood and Ash series by Jennifer Armentrout, but I like the writing of SOTS better. This might be something I can get back into another time, but it's not right now. Maybe right book, definitely wrong time.
May 9, 2024
Release Date: June 18th, 2024
Rating: 5⭐️
Spice: 2🌶️
Ummm…What?!?! You’re telling me that after reading this debute novel, I have to now wait for the second book in this amazing new romantasy series. OH MY GOODNESS! I absolutely ate this book up and have so many questions that need answers based on the ending. From the world building, to the magic, characters, and everything in between I really can say that I enjoyed every second of this book and will 100% be reading the next book.
***Honest ARC Review***
Rating: 5⭐️
Spice: 2🌶️
Ummm…What?!?! You’re telling me that after reading this debute novel, I have to now wait for the second book in this amazing new romantasy series. OH MY GOODNESS! I absolutely ate this book up and have so many questions that need answers based on the ending. From the world building, to the magic, characters, and everything in between I really can say that I enjoyed every second of this book and will 100% be reading the next book.
***Honest ARC Review***
June 26, 2024
womp womp womp
fantasy romance is my most beloved genre but the source of such disappointment.
the world building was actually very interesting, but the complete lack of chemistry between the fmc and love interest and the fact that we are plunged right in the middle of the love story contributes to a pretty disappointing romance plot.
also heard that the trials have no urgency, are very low stakes, and quite easy to breeze through.
in a world of sjm, carissa broadbent, and danielle l. jensen, I expect more.
✧ DNF 40%
fantasy romance is my most beloved genre but the source of such disappointment.
the world building was actually very interesting, but the complete lack of chemistry between the fmc and love interest and the fact that we are plunged right in the middle of the love story contributes to a pretty disappointing romance plot.
also heard that the trials have no urgency, are very low stakes, and quite easy to breeze through.
in a world of sjm, carissa broadbent, and danielle l. jensen, I expect more.
✧ DNF 40%
May 12, 2024
You can find this review of Songbird of the Sorrows on my blog, Heart's Content!
A really big shoutout and thank you to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy!
I came across Braidee Otto’s debut Songbird of the Sorrows through Rachel Fallon’s newsletter (authors supporting authors FTW!) and as soon as I saw the cover I was hooked! Then I read the blurb and could not think of a better decision than signing up for an ARC. I immediately followed the author and found out that there were above eight hundred sign ups for this baby! As happy as I was for Braidee, I highly doubted I would be getting an ARC.
*blows into handkerchief* But I did! *sniffles and points vaguely to this review* The biggest thank you to authors for trusting reviewers with something so precious. Thank you, Braidee 🥺🥺.
My biggest mistake when I started SotS, was presuming I knew what I was walking into. I was sure it was going to be an angst filled, fight-for-your-life kind of read. Maybe it’ll be like Hunger Games or Fourth Wing? Who knows?
Spoiler, but not a spoiler: I was wrong.
My experience with this book was like someone had taken hold of my hand and dragged me under water; and so the first half of the book, there was disorientation. Finding up from down, figuring out who’s safe and who’s not, do we swim or drown, explore or hide?
A large part of the first half is the author laying the foundation under everything you’re seeing on the surface. So, while the pace remains even, neither fast nor slow, you’re still somehow reading really swiftly. Before I knew it I was at 50%. Now there! There is where everything changes. After the book hits the halfway mark, everything about it soars and you’re jet-skiing through said water (whose metaphor, yes, we’re still using). There’s anticipation, an edge-of-the-seat sensation and you can just feel it build up to something. Something. So when that said something happens it was like a bomb going off in my head. I sat there reeling for a minute, realizing all the little bread crumbs Otto had left for us to follow to reach this very moment.
The writing I think is SotS’ strongest aspect. I say this, because while the first half lays the foundation, it’s easy as a reader to want to look away. But something about Otto’s writing keeps you right with Aella. The author was weaving threads of a story right under our noses and around our reader-minds. Make note of anything, A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G that you think of during the course of reading the book; because like me, you will find the reason for it later into the second half. Did you feel like “mmm, how come there isn’t more of this?” Or “wait, why did this even happen?” “Why was that mentioned exactly?” “How strange that I’m feeling… differently?” “Something isn’t right.” Believe me, everything you feel is for a reason. I feel played 😭😭😭😭, but I’m so happy because in the end it was an orchestra and not a game.
Tying into the writing style, I would define SotS as a heavily character driven story. The story unfolds through a single person perspective of the heroine Aella; and works perfectly for the book (I also prefer it greatly over dual/multiple POVs, so yay for me). Remember I mentioned the drowning metaphor? Well, here’s the thing. The character is written to draw you deeper and deeper into her story and there was one very very poignant moment for me that told me just how much the character had her fingers wrapped around my heart. Because when she says, at one point, the dialogue “I can’t breathe.”, it was like I was right there with her suddenly feeling the weight of all that metaphorical water sucking all the air out of me.
Aella was such an interesting character to read. She was the perfect blend of a naïveté that holds, strangely, the wisdom of an older soul. She was one of the bravest characters with a heartbreaking circumstance. Her journey is a very emotional, painful and personal experience with so many stumbles and turns and I cannot wait to watch her through the rest of this series.
I love so many of the secondary characters in this story, as much as I despised some of them. Otto has written each and every one of them really well, by ensuring they make some kind of mark in your mind about their personality at their very introduction. At no point did I struggle with their identities, character or role. They were wonderfully NOT plot props/devices—I mean it’s fine when they are but it’s great when that’s not all they are.
The world building takes a seat, front and center, through most of the first half and it is on the heavier side. There’s a lot Otto needs to fill us in about and you can tell the author has carved a whole world of her own with how much she’s thought about everything that goes on in this book. But I swear, it all comes together at the end of this book. However, I feel there’s more to unravel with each book.
The plot is very very concealed. There’s of course a very visible purpose to what’s happening on scene through every page, BUT I don’t think that’s what we should be seeing. I think that’s the distraction not the main act. I think the main act *waits for a dramatic pause* has just begun.
My only advice to you while entering this book: Trust everyone. Trust no one.
Five stars! I don’t know what I’m going to do until the next book comes. It’s like the author promises us the possibility of us having wings and pushes us right off the cliff and we’re falling and suddenly time freezes. So do we fly or do we fall? I CAN’T WAIT TO FIND OUT.
Songbird of the Sorrows releases on the 18th of June and will be available for free for KU subscribers, so check trigger warnings and dive right in!
A really big shoutout and thank you to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy!
I came across Braidee Otto’s debut Songbird of the Sorrows through Rachel Fallon’s newsletter (authors supporting authors FTW!) and as soon as I saw the cover I was hooked! Then I read the blurb and could not think of a better decision than signing up for an ARC. I immediately followed the author and found out that there were above eight hundred sign ups for this baby! As happy as I was for Braidee, I highly doubted I would be getting an ARC.
*blows into handkerchief* But I did! *sniffles and points vaguely to this review* The biggest thank you to authors for trusting reviewers with something so precious. Thank you, Braidee 🥺🥺.
My biggest mistake when I started SotS, was presuming I knew what I was walking into. I was sure it was going to be an angst filled, fight-for-your-life kind of read. Maybe it’ll be like Hunger Games or Fourth Wing? Who knows?
Spoiler, but not a spoiler: I was wrong.
My experience with this book was like someone had taken hold of my hand and dragged me under water; and so the first half of the book, there was disorientation. Finding up from down, figuring out who’s safe and who’s not, do we swim or drown, explore or hide?
A large part of the first half is the author laying the foundation under everything you’re seeing on the surface. So, while the pace remains even, neither fast nor slow, you’re still somehow reading really swiftly. Before I knew it I was at 50%. Now there! There is where everything changes. After the book hits the halfway mark, everything about it soars and you’re jet-skiing through said water (whose metaphor, yes, we’re still using). There’s anticipation, an edge-of-the-seat sensation and you can just feel it build up to something. Something. So when that said something happens it was like a bomb going off in my head. I sat there reeling for a minute, realizing all the little bread crumbs Otto had left for us to follow to reach this very moment.
The writing I think is SotS’ strongest aspect. I say this, because while the first half lays the foundation, it’s easy as a reader to want to look away. But something about Otto’s writing keeps you right with Aella. The author was weaving threads of a story right under our noses and around our reader-minds. Make note of anything, A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G that you think of during the course of reading the book; because like me, you will find the reason for it later into the second half. Did you feel like “mmm, how come there isn’t more of this?” Or “wait, why did this even happen?” “Why was that mentioned exactly?” “How strange that I’m feeling… differently?” “Something isn’t right.” Believe me, everything you feel is for a reason. I feel played 😭😭😭😭, but I’m so happy because in the end it was an orchestra and not a game.
Tying into the writing style, I would define SotS as a heavily character driven story. The story unfolds through a single person perspective of the heroine Aella; and works perfectly for the book (I also prefer it greatly over dual/multiple POVs, so yay for me). Remember I mentioned the drowning metaphor? Well, here’s the thing. The character is written to draw you deeper and deeper into her story and there was one very very poignant moment for me that told me just how much the character had her fingers wrapped around my heart. Because when she says, at one point, the dialogue “I can’t breathe.”, it was like I was right there with her suddenly feeling the weight of all that metaphorical water sucking all the air out of me.
Aella was such an interesting character to read. She was the perfect blend of a naïveté that holds, strangely, the wisdom of an older soul. She was one of the bravest characters with a heartbreaking circumstance. Her journey is a very emotional, painful and personal experience with so many stumbles and turns and I cannot wait to watch her through the rest of this series.
I love so many of the secondary characters in this story, as much as I despised some of them. Otto has written each and every one of them really well, by ensuring they make some kind of mark in your mind about their personality at their very introduction. At no point did I struggle with their identities, character or role. They were wonderfully NOT plot props/devices—I mean it’s fine when they are but it’s great when that’s not all they are.
The world building takes a seat, front and center, through most of the first half and it is on the heavier side. There’s a lot Otto needs to fill us in about and you can tell the author has carved a whole world of her own with how much she’s thought about everything that goes on in this book. But I swear, it all comes together at the end of this book. However, I feel there’s more to unravel with each book.
The plot is very very concealed. There’s of course a very visible purpose to what’s happening on scene through every page, BUT I don’t think that’s what we should be seeing. I think that’s the distraction not the main act. I think the main act *waits for a dramatic pause* has just begun.
My only advice to you while entering this book: Trust everyone. Trust no one.
Five stars! I don’t know what I’m going to do until the next book comes. It’s like the author promises us the possibility of us having wings and pushes us right off the cliff and we’re falling and suddenly time freezes. So do we fly or do we fall? I CAN’T WAIT TO FIND OUT.
Songbird of the Sorrows releases on the 18th of June and will be available for free for KU subscribers, so check trigger warnings and dive right in!
June 17, 2024
Aella, a princess whose mother made the ultimate sacrifice for her child, is blamed and abandoned by her father. She is secretly trained from a young age as a member of the Aviary, an order of spies and assassins that protect her kingdom from threats.
Aella is a strong, relatable character with trauma and a complex family. Abandoned by her father and shaped into a tool of the Aviary, she grapples with her identity and the conflicting demands placed on her. Her internal struggle and growth are compelling, and it's satisfying to see her evolve as she navigates the treacherous waters of espionage and her own morality.
The world-building is imaginative. I love the bird-themed spies so much and that the characters poke fun at running out of bird names. The Aviary's hierarchical structure creates an intriguing backdrop for the beginning of Aella's story and shows how controlled she's been her entire life.
The narrative's pacing, particularly in the last 25% of the book, picks up significantly (sometimes TOO much), building momentum and setting the stage for the future. This portion of the book is packed with plot developments and revelations that made me want the next book immediately.
However, the pacing is inconsistent and things happen for plot reasons alone without any real logic behind them at times. I also did not particularly love Raven and he felt a little flat compared to some of the other characters. He is strict about rules but also ends up sneaking around despite the Aviary's strict rules, which feels a bit contradictory at times. He seems like a first love interest—a stepping stone in Aella's journey towards finding her true path and perhaps a more fitting partner in the future. Or perhaps he'll grow as a character in the future - both acceptable options.
The secondary characters, while really interesting, could benefit from more development. Their roles and backstories are hinted at but not fully explored. I did really like Nyssa in particular. It would be great to see these characters fleshed out more in future books, as they have the potential to add even more depth to the story.
This is an entertaining and promising debut with unique world-building. This book sets the stage for an exciting series. I am so excited for the next one and I'm looking forward to seeing how Aella's story unfolds and what future adventures lie ahead. I need to know more about this weapon! Keep an eye on this debut author—there's great potential here.
Aella is a strong, relatable character with trauma and a complex family. Abandoned by her father and shaped into a tool of the Aviary, she grapples with her identity and the conflicting demands placed on her. Her internal struggle and growth are compelling, and it's satisfying to see her evolve as she navigates the treacherous waters of espionage and her own morality.
The world-building is imaginative. I love the bird-themed spies so much and that the characters poke fun at running out of bird names. The Aviary's hierarchical structure creates an intriguing backdrop for the beginning of Aella's story and shows how controlled she's been her entire life.
The narrative's pacing, particularly in the last 25% of the book, picks up significantly (sometimes TOO much), building momentum and setting the stage for the future. This portion of the book is packed with plot developments and revelations that made me want the next book immediately.
However, the pacing is inconsistent and things happen for plot reasons alone without any real logic behind them at times. I also did not particularly love Raven and he felt a little flat compared to some of the other characters. He is strict about rules but also ends up sneaking around despite the Aviary's strict rules, which feels a bit contradictory at times. He seems like a first love interest—a stepping stone in Aella's journey towards finding her true path and perhaps a more fitting partner in the future. Or perhaps he'll grow as a character in the future - both acceptable options.
The secondary characters, while really interesting, could benefit from more development. Their roles and backstories are hinted at but not fully explored. I did really like Nyssa in particular. It would be great to see these characters fleshed out more in future books, as they have the potential to add even more depth to the story.
This is an entertaining and promising debut with unique world-building. This book sets the stage for an exciting series. I am so excited for the next one and I'm looking forward to seeing how Aella's story unfolds and what future adventures lie ahead. I need to know more about this weapon! Keep an eye on this debut author—there's great potential here.
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