Sing the Dark to Sleep

by Mycah Houser

Kiara’s music can alter any emotion… except her own anxiety.

17-year-old Kiara sings inspiration into the city of Pearl from her exile in an enchanted tower. Although everyone feels her magic, only the Chancellor, her stern guardian, can access the seaside tower. But when her song lures a vivacious explorer who bypasses the enchantment, Kiara breaks her isolation for a taste of adventure. As she explores decadent cafes and falls for an alluring laiko musician with ties to her troubled past, she learns to cope with her anxiety.

But magical rage is infecting Pearl, and only Kiara can stop it. Determined to protect her beloved city, she and her new friends launch an investigation to locate the source of madness.

While dodging the Chancellor’s attempts to force her back into the tower, Kiara discovers she is being blamed for the madness. To reclaim her freedom, she enacts a dangerous plan to expose the source’s identity. If she cannot master her tumultuous emotions and subdue the source before the Chancellor finds her, she will be condemned to permanent exile and forced to watch Pearl’s corruption.

329 pages, ebook

Published March 6, 2026

About the author

Mycah is the author of Sing the Dark to Sleep, her debut YA fantasy novel.

She lives in Michigan with her partner and Luna, their adorably anxious husky-lab mix. When not immersed in books, she daydreams about pastries and spends her Thursdays as a loveable Pathfinder barbarian.

Reviews

[The Nocturnal Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This felt like reading a cross of Tangled and Kpop Demon Hunters!
Even with madness spreading, this was surprisingly cozy to read. I really appreciated how anxiety and mental manipulation was handled in this book. As someone who deals with anxiety and had parents who used them like a toll for their own gain, I felt such a strong connecting to Kiara. She was such a good depiction of what people like me have to deal with mentally in various stages of our lives so far. I can tell that so much time and care went into crafting this story and it was so worth it.
I really enjoyed the diverse cast of people we got to see throughout the story and how none of them were made a big deal of because of their identities. They were treated like normal people which in today's climate was so refreshing. I actually had to reread where Yoshi said they were asexual because it was so natural and like "yeah I'm ace and it's not big deal". Do I love when queer rep is a big thing? Absolutely! But also having characters that are queer but also so many other things is also amazing. Especially when they're a bad ass earth weilder with amazing sense of style and can use their magic to change their mobility aids to fit their needs. (OK I'll get off my soapbox now 😂)
I really enjoyed this story and hope we see more of this shenanigan loving group!

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d like to first point out some of the physical features of the book that I liked. I appreciated the fact that the chapters had titles. I also liked the cover and the fact that the items depicted on it all had some significance to the mc/Kiara.

I enjoyed the book more than I expected to. I didn’t anticipate there to be as much technology as there was: an elevator, phones, social media, etc. But in my opinion, it blended technology and magic together well. I enjoyed the different powers the characters had and how they related to the characters personality and feelings- especially Amir’s and how it went with their storyline. I also appreciated the fact that no one had infinite powers and that their powers had stipulations/limitations.

The book has representation and in my opinion does it well. None of the characters had went through anything due to their orientation; it wasn’t a huge focal point in the book, simply there, and being on the lgbt..spectrum seemed to be considered normal.

I enjoyed how the book focused on friendship and found/chosen family rather than just romance. I think it was important the main character have these friendships before they entered a romantic relationship (which was a slowish burn, friends to lovers.) I appreciated how romance was not the main focal point of the book as well as the fact that the romance stayed truly YA.

To me, the book felt like a cozy fantasy that focuses on the mc’s growth but still had enough of a focus on the plot.

I throughly enjoyed the book and read it over the course of two days. I would rate it..

Setting/Word Building: 4.5/5
It has a unique setting different from most other books I’ve read.

Main Character: 3.75/5
She was a complex character and not a carbon copy of other fantasy heroines. Sometimes she felt a too honest and trusting (which might have been due to living in a tower for years) She gave me a bit of “second hand”anxiety/worry for her when she went into public places and also..Slight Spoiler: How did she forget to wear shoes?? I feel like that was unrealistic and if she spent so much time picking out her outfit and worrying about leaving the tower that she would have realized that she wasn’t wearing/ needed them. Other than that, she didn’t seem like a reckless character who made dumb decisions.

Ending: 3.5ish/5 (Not the climax but the resolution/actual ending)
It left me feeling fulfilled and didn’t leave any loose ends or big questions. SPOILERS: I liked Kiara’s growth and the fact that she attends therapy. My main critique with it was how the how the main character was so compassionate and quick to forgiveness, but that’s my opinion and might not be so for younger readers.

[Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sing the Dark to Sleep
Mycah Houser
4 stars

I’m a sucker for a fairytale retelling and this is a Rapunzel retelling that features a mix of fantasy and modern tech while addressing the strains of mental health - particularly anxiety - while maintaining a hopeful light.

I liked that there were fantasy elements in the different abilities people posed and that there was modern tech. This is a combination not often seen within the genre and I would have liked to see how the two elements interacted more and how that might have enhanced the story. Because of the existence of tech, it made some parts of the story harder to swallow like how Kiara was in the tower for so long without hardly anyone knowing and why there was not a greater concern for her as a minor.

The book has a heavy emphasis on mental health, particularly anxiety and how it interacts with the story. In almost every situation, mental health is addressed. This is done through most of the characters within the story with a heavy emphasis on the FMC Kiara. It is an important part of the story as is the resolution and how the characters grow and learn to understand and cope with their anxiety and mental health. While sometimes it felt like a bit much to the point where it was hindering the plot, I want to shout my appreciation for the ending and how Kiara comes to terms with how she was brought up and what that means for her now. Above every other anxiety rep within the story, this was the part I found most impactful and what needs to be shown more in literature. Her final interaction with Jionni was mature and I was relieved that that was how the story went. In terms of mental health rep, this book does a pretty good job!

The story was cute particularly for the friends made throughout. There were parts I didn’t love and the actual mystery part felt like an afterthought at times, but overall it's an easy read with likable characters - shoutout to Yoshi and Anya who were my favorites - and satisfactory mental health rep.

[Isabel N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sing the Dark to Sleep by Mycah Houser is a cozy YA fantasy perfect for anyone who loves the vibes of Tangled with the found-family and food descriptions of Legends and Lattes. As magical madness threatens to tear apart the city Kiara loves, she and her new friends search for the source while fighting their own unique, emotional battles that teens and adults both will find relatable.

Complete with mouth-watering descriptions of food, awesome queer rep, and a very thoughtful depiction of mental illness, this book is pretty much my dream read! You’ll want to start this book with a snack in hand and end it with a box of tissues. The characters were vibrant and each brought their own insight to the story, and the romance was very sweet and appropriate for all ages. The setting is enchanting, and while the pacing at the start is a little slower than I usually prefer, the payoff is worth the wait!

TLDR: I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves a sweet fantasy adventure with a dash of romance and mystery. This is an absolute gem of a cozy fantasy!

[lily wann · Rating 5 out of 5]

"did the sea yearn to intermingle with the stars? all that kept them apart was the faintest divide, yet it was an impenetrable barrier. the stars could shine on them for eternity, but they could never truly touch."

sing the dark to sleep has been such a shining, shimmering light in my life! the best way i have found to describe this book is like a cold, refreshing glass of lemonade shared with friends on a hot summer day. it is sweet, fun, exciting, and touches the soul. i found a piece of myself in each of the characters, who are all so thought out and lovable! i have to admit, i was slightly hesitant going in only because i historically have not been drawn to YA books. with that being said, this blew me out of the water! if you are looking for a fun, light hearted read for these rather gloomy times, look no further! sing the dark to sleep is waiting for you with all of its magically delicious pastries!

and shout out to my girl miss dove <3

[Parker Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Right off the bat the normality of queer characters and interactions is great. I love how normal it is! If only it were like that in real life! I felt that Kiaras anxiety was really well written and realistic, and seeing her start to overcome that was really heartwarming. Amir is definitely my favorite character, I felt like I related to him the most. I enjoyed the story a lot. I feel like it was cozy fantasy vibes but with more adventure!! I can’t wait to see what other stuff Mycah puts out

[Christa Knott-Dufresne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent cozy story of a girl finding her way in a scary world. Plenty of queer and differently-abled representation. Strong themes of mental health and living with anxiety and PTSD.

I had a small amount of difficulty adjusting to the idea of modern world with technology like smart phones, cars, etc, that also has widespread magic. I’m not sure why, but I struggle with the idea of magic and modern technology coexisting, but Mycah’s excellent writing managed to convince me that this was a normal and real world.

[Lynz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story which is full of warmth and light with a few twists. I haven't read a book in a while that kept me up so late but I was still reading this one at 3am as I didn't want to leave the world. I really hope that Kiara goes on to have future adventures in some follow up books. Perfect read for young adults or just young at heart adults like myself 💕

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually do not read this type of storyline but from the start, I was hooked. It was an awesome story. From the beginning on, the character’s stories make you want to learn more! As a team, they overcome multiple obstacles and become close friends each with distinct “skills”. I highly recommend this book.

[Jessica Gomez · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good read. The story was interesting and engaging. It’s it good read for young adults. Many people suffer from anxiety and I feel that the author did a great job writing about it and showing how Kiara was making the steps to overcome it. I look fwd to reading about Kiara having some great adventures in future books. This is the beginning of a potentially great series.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the found family character dynamics (Yoshi is the best!!) and thought the plot was intriguing. I especially liked how the contemporary setting had both tech and magic - but not the kind of magic that instantly fixes every problem or health issue. The food descriptions made me sooo hungry lol and I teared up a little at the end. A solid debut from this author!

[Prezzley Buckhannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sing the Dark to Sleep was such a fun, deliciously tasty read! It's the first cozy fantasy book I've read, and I loved the friends Kiara made along the way, the unique powers and personalities, and the kind way Kiara chooses to view the world despite her circumstances and hardships. Plus, the prose was beautiful!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has such a cozy vibe, perfect for the optimistic teens of the world! The prose is well-written, and the characters feel real but with the right amount of quirk. If I'd had more time in my day, I probably would have breezed through this in one sitting, but I had to keep setting it down for a few days (because life). Even so, nothing got confusing or repetitive when I picked it back up again.

[Jerricka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC.

This book was amazing. I found myself lost in the world that was built and the characters. I loved how the characters reacted with each other. I definitely recommend this book.

[Owen Bellamy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Mycah Houser for allowing me to be an ARC reader for this book :)
I thought that this book was pretty good- I don't tend to gravitate toward things written in first person, but I think this was an example of a story where being so close with the main character works really well. If I had to compare it to something, I would say the movie Big Hero 6, a lot of the same found family dynamics, unlikely heroes, and working on coping with anxiety and grief. The plot moved along at a good pace, though I will say there were some spots that felt a tad repetitive, but not enough to make me want to put the book down. If you're the kind of reader that likes character driven stories more than plot, I think you'll really enjoy this. Not to say the plot was bad, again, it was decently paced and was full of good world building and kept me engaged, but the characters were definitely the heart of the story. Overall, a really strong debut novel, and I can't wait to see what Houser puts out next.