Il bacio dell'usignolo

by Adi Denner, Sara A. Benatti (Translator)

1890, Lutèce. In questa città, i Talenti sono gemme preziose che donano abilità straordinarie e si tramandano da una generazione all'altra attraverso la magia del sangue. Cleodora avrebbe dovuto ereditare dal padre il Talento per la Sartoria, ma quando l'uomo muore prematuramente in circostanze poco chiare, la magia scompare con lui. Cleodora si ritrova con un pugno di promesse infrante, una boutique sull'orlo del fallimento e una sorella malata che non può permettersi di curare. Tutto cambia quando incontra una donna misteriosa e affascinante, Lady Dahlia, che le offre un Talento per il Canto e l'opportunità di salvare sua sorella e di riscrivere il proprio destino. C'è un prezzo da pagare, però: per ottenere quel dono, Cleodora dovrà rubare un Talento elitario a un membro illustre dell'aristocrazia di Lutèce. Nei teatri dell'opera e ai balli scintillanti dell'alta società, l'Usignolo di Lutèce brilla come una vera e propria stella. Tuttavia la sua vittima designata, tanto affascinante quanto irritante, non è affatto come Cleodora si aspettava e i sorrisi maliziosi e l'intelligenza del giovane visconte fanno vacillare la sua determinazione. Divisa tra la seducente Dahlia, che le ha dato tutto, e un futuro diverso che non avrebbe mai neppure sognato per sé e che potrebbe renderla davvero libera, Cleodora rischia di perdere ogni cosa. Ma la magia è davvero l'unico dono che conta?

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction

441 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 17, 2024

About the author

Adi Denner was only 13 years old when the enchanted notes of the opera La Traviata by Verdi stole her heart. She is now a professionally trained opera singer with a specialization in contemporary operas. But having too much creative energy, Adi also discovered the joys of painting, sculpting, knitting, baking, theatre, 3D art, and her burning love for writing. Her books are heavily inspired by her constant aspiration to intertwine her passions and her firm belief that art is magic.

Reviews

[Sarah Noseinabook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives bridgerton vibes! Lots of twists and a unique magic system. Very easy read. So classy. Wonderful writing

[Natasha Leighton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sumptuously enchanting, historical romantasy that takes us into an opulent, Phantom of The Opera- esque world where magic, betrayal and sacrifice take centre stage.

I loved every second of this! Adi Denner’s atmospheric prose and lush attention to detail (especially when it came to the fashion) was utterly addictive. And, combined with the intriguing, gem based magic system; created an almost cinematic experience that had me glued to my seat.

The world-building wasn’t nearly as in depth as I would’ve liked, but I feel the characters more than made up for it in their a nuanced and depth filled portrayals. Cleodora, our morally grey protagonist and sole POV was probably my favourite as I really enjoyed her nuanced and emotional journey.

Struggling to keep her family’s dressmaking business going (and take care of her ill sister) leads her into the employ of the mysterious Lady Sibille (Dahlia)— who gifts her the (stolen) talent of singing in order to infiltrate the Opera, and steal the Talent of one of it’s most important Patrons. The Vicomte Lenoir.

The tragic complexity of Cleo’s circumstances and her conflicting feelings surrounding this new life really endeared me to her, especially her drive to protect her sister. But I did enjoy her more morally dubious choices, as it really highlighted how rigid class structures, inequality and widespread poverty can force literally anyone into unsavoury (or illegal) situations (in the desperate need to survive.)

The same for several of the other characters we meet (Lirone, Dahlia, Veronique) who’s actions, though not necessarily right, did raise some interesting thoughts around morality and ethics that I hadn’t really considered before.

I really enjoyed the emotionally intense, love triangle-esque romance we explore between Cleo, Dahlia and Nuriel (the Vicomte.) Which, like Phantom of the Opera has an underlying sense of danger, urgency (and lust) that I found incredibly intoxicating —there’s some incredible, chemistry laden scenes that romantasy fans will definitely appreciate too. But they don’t overpower the plot, so if you’re new to the genre (or aren’t as big a fan of romance) I think you’ll still enjoy it.

Overall, an immersive, magical and pacy debut that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page.

Also, a huge thank you to Emily over at Dialogue Books for the stunning proof.

[Maeghan 🦋 HIATUS on & off · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for granting me an access to this book!
I feel conflicted with this one. On one part - I liked the parallel with the phantom of the opera.
On the other - I did feel like the MC was a bit… incompetent and thus made the plot unimaginable.
The pacing of this book was a bit off in between chapters.
The relationships between the characters felt very bland.
Overall, this book had an interesting premise but needs editing/working through the execution.

[Brend · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Tina ♥ Bookaholic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Da mich der Klappentext und auch das Cover sehr angesprochen haben, war ich gespannt auf die Geschichte, die mit ihrem Magiesystem sehr eigenständig und speziell geklungen hat. Und das hat auch zugetroffen, denn es gibt hier Edelsteine, die Talente haben und somit dem Träger, der mit Blut an den Stein gebunden ist, mit einem besonderen Talent segnet. Künstlerische Talente wie Gesang, Malerei oder auch handwerkliche Geschicke wie Schneiderei, Mathematik, Architektur usw… gibt es.

Natürlich sind diese Talente/ Steine heiß begehrt und werden mit jeder Generation stärker, da sie meist innerhalb der Familie weiterverwerbt werden und der Stein so an Talent hinzugewinnt. Daher kommt es, wie schon immer, dass die Reichen immer reicher und talentierter werden und die Personen ohne Talent übersehen und ohne finanzielle Mittel ihr Leben irgendwie im Schatten meistern müssen.

Wie auch Cleodora, die eigentlich das Talent für Modeschneiderei ihres Vaters hätte bekommen sollen, doch nun um ihres und das Leben ihrer kranken Schwester sorgen muss…
Generell war die GrundIdee hinter der Geschichte nicht schlecht, aber ich muss gestehen, dass ich nicht glücklich mit der generellen Handlung war, da man daraus soo viel mehr hätte machen können. Vor allem hatte ich aber große, sehr große Probleme mit der Hauptfigur Cleodora, die ein morally grey Charakter war, was ansich ja nicht schlecht ist. Nur bei ihr war es einfach nicht gut gemacht, denn eigentlich mag ich solche Figuren. Das Problem ist nur: neben wir zb. Kaz Brekker aus Six of Crows - er ist der typische Morally Grey Charakter und dennoch lieben wir ihn. Weil er böse Dinge tut, er selbst weiß, dass er schlecht ist und sich dabei selbst am meisten peinigt, weil er weiß, dass er böse ist und mich sich selbst hart ins Gericht geht, er dennoch Mitgefühl und unter all der harten Schale ein gutes Herz verbirgt… Bei Cleo war das andersherum. Sie denkt und will eine gute Person sein, ist aber egoistisch und tut die schlechten Dinge nur für sich selbst, wobei sie sich einredet, es für ihre Schwester zu tun, während andere es ausbaden müssen oder gar umkommen… also nein, ich mochte ihre falsches Getue überhaupt nicht und ihre Zerissenheit gegenüber dem Viscount und Dhalia… das war alles echt fragwürdig.

Daher konnte es auch das Ende nicht mehr herausreißen, das nach allem zu kitschig rosarot war. Nein, leider nur 2,5 Punkte für die gute Grundidee und das schöne Cover… aber die Handlung und Cleo haben es mir wirklich schwer gemacht, am Ball zu bleiben. Tut mir leid :/

[Andi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me a chance at reading this book.

Was this originally a Phantom of the Opera alternate universe story? Because there was a lot of Phantom of the Opera nods.

You have a poor girl who works in a tailor shop (excuse me, lives, because she can't sew) and takes care of her ill sister. This is a world where apparently people are gifted 'talents'. The talents can be passed down through family trees by use of blood and trinkets. Our female lead didn't get her father's sewing talent - her ill sister did. Ill sister has ideas for dresses and what not she wants to make but can't because she is ill. Our female lead gets desperate after trying to sell her jewelry and tries to rob a rich house of someone with a talent, but ends up getting caught. Turns out the woman our female lead tried to rob from is actually a sham. You see, the woman was an opera singer and this night was her final night - woman is retiring. The people who caught our female lead agave her the talent by use of dirty magic and the singing talent is actually a stolen talent from someone else. The person who stole the talent is a female who makes an enterprise by stealing talents of others. She offers the opera singer's singing voice (making the female lead now gifted and with talent she will be able to care for here sister) in exchange for doing things for her - stealing talents. Our female lead agrees, and so begins the meat of the story.

While this story is interesting, there isn't anything there. The world building is lame, because if the female villain (or stealer of these talents) can just steal talents here and there, what prevents others for doing so if it's that easy. On top of that, there isn't much discussion about others with talents or the backstory about talents and how it is of use in the world. If everyone had a talent that was influential or used as a way of getting things, I feel like society would be rather corrupt. The author does mention that talents are hard to secure / come by because the gems are not being mined anymore (?? this wasn't really well explained, again, poor world building).

There is a 'lame / dull / I guess it's there romance going on between a man who the female villain wants her to steal the talent of - mind you, this is the ONLY person she is attempting to steal the talent of (you'd think that she'd be stealing more talents and etc). He is a brilliant mathematician and that's his talent. Girl spends most of the time getting aroused by him and failing to steal the talent while he verbally rips her a new one for being a 'fake'. When they finally start getting into the groove of a relationship, it's almost the end of the book and he didn't really show up that much or do anything of merit.

Which brings me back to the Phantom of the Opera thing. Of course there is ~ drama ~ at the opera house and of course you have a diva and her leading man causing problems for the female lead. There is also some weird Madame Giry person who is training the female to sing, and she is always on edge when the male lead is around. Oh, and the guy hangs out in a box on the side of the theatre (which would probably be Box 5 if we go by Phantom / opera house box locations). Female lead becomes the prima donna causing the female lead to butt heads with her. There is also a 'thrown in for conflict' "I'm gonna marry the male lead because we're rich, so he's mine - back off" thing going on... I can go on.

I think there could have been a story here, but it's just really boring and poorly developed.

[SurakaJaneBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god! Are you ready to be completely enthralled and enchanted?

Then you need to read this book!

For me, reading The Kiss of the Nightingale was this insanely vivid, immersive expierience into a world where Talents define your destiny. I didn't feel like I was reading this book, I felt like I was there! Adi has crafted such a gorgeous and emotionally tense masterpiece that had me gasping and longing for more in the best way.

From the dark and dusty corners of Cleodora’s dress shop to the exotic and opulent balls of Lutèce’s opera, Adi painted each scene with this visual richness that made every single moment feel so incredibly real. The tension was palpable, the stakes heartbreakingly high, and every note of the novel resonated with me so very deeply.

We had heists, thieves and gangs which were weaved through the story, and created this tapestry of intrigue and danger. Cleodora’s journey to save her sister felt exciting and daring but also completely desperate and led to a series of encounters that felt just as sensual as they were suspenseful.

The love triangle element between Cleodora, Dahlia, and the Vicomte Lenoir added this complexity that felt both exhilarating tense, and utterly heartbreaking. The way that each romantic interaction felt different to each other but also felt equal was mind-blowing to me.

This world honestly felt like one of exotic beauty and emotional depth. The opera's, the galas and the balls felt so alive with music and magic, jumping off the page in a way that made me feel every aria and heartbeat. The characters were so vivid and real in my mind's eye, their struggles and their desires pulled me into their world quickly and left me utterly breathless.

The Kiss of the Nightingale is a standalone novel that has left me begging for more. If you’re looking for a book that is going to captivate your senses and touch your soul, this is it.

Thank you so much to Dialogue Books for the proof copy in exchange for an honest review and thank you Adi for writing a story that I will treasure forever.

[Lastblossom]

tl;dr
A sexy book packed with romance, opera drama, organized crime, and an interesting (albeit only somewhat fleshed out) magic system.

Thoughts
This is a very seductive book. Sexy, even? There's a lot going on in here, but the passages most tenderly and delicately written are dedicated to two very attractive humans and Cleo's feelings about them. The narrative is extremely clear about the differences between physical attraction and romantic attraction. Dahlia is alluring and seductive. She's fire and ice, power and danger, all wrapped in shadows. Cleo's yearning for her is instantaneous, a pulsing in her very body. Nuriel in contrast is withdrawn, standoffish, and it takes a lot longer for the two of them to warm up to each other as they crack through each other's outer defenses. Outside of that, we have a story that takes place largely in an opera house. It's an interesting gamble since the author clearly cares a lot about the opera, but the MC truly does not. This is baked into the plot and the character, not an oversight, and it pays off, but there are definitely spaces where I found myself wondering why I should care if Cleo didn't. The world building is done in broad strokes, with just enough detail to explain the magic system, but very little history beyond that. It was enough for me, but I could see lore lovers wanting some extra detail. This book is also a standalone, with a crack in the door juuuuust in case, but as a whole it wraps up everything very well.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tundra books for the advance copy. All thoughts in this review are my own!

[Vicky Sp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro che parla di magia e Talenti, gemme preziose in grado di donare a chi le possiede abilità straordinarie.
Cleodora era convinta che ne avrebbe ricevuto uno da suo padre che le avrebbe garantito il successo della sartoria. Ma le cose non andarono così e si ritrovò invece sull'orlo del fallimento.

Quando la seducente Lady Dahlia le offre una via d'uscita con oscure promesse, accetta di buon grado, ma il visconte a cui avrebbe dovuto sottrarre il talento elitario non si riveló come si aspettava.
E questo era un bel guiaio, soprattutto perché accadde l'imprevedibile, ossia si innamorò per davvero, e non solo di lui.

Un romanzo che racconta un'incantevole fiaba, un pó malinconica ma che profuma di speranza.
Ho amato l'ambientazione nel mondo dell'opera nella Parigi del 1800, che racconta segreti e ombre di una ragazza divisa tra luce e buio, e una belva che vuole ardentemente braccare la sua preda, seducendola, per trascinarla verso un abisso infinito.


L'Usignolo di Lutèce, un' abile modista e donna coraggiosa, rischiando la vita e mettendo di in discussione l'amore e la fedeltà verso Dahlia, dovrà smascherare un'organizzazione di traffico illegale.

Ho adorato il costume che ha realizzato per l'Incantatrice.

[♡ A ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Penguin Teen for the ARC!

The Kiss of the Nightingale follows Cleodora, a young dressmaker who dreamed of inheriting her father’s Tailoring Talent. But his magic died with him, leaving Cleodora and her younger sister with nothing. In Lutèce, an alternate 1890 Paris, the city runs on Talents—magical gems that provide incredible skills to their owners. As Cleodora has no Talent, and her sister is sick, she is desperate enough to accept a dangerous bargain. An intriguing, gorgeous woman named Dahlia offers Cleo a singing Talent that will give her money and status—and a way to save her sister—if Cleo steals a Talent from a prestigious family. As Cleo becomes the star of the opera house, she becomes closer to her handsome target, only to discover he’s just as intriguing as Dahlia. With a ticking deadline looming, Cleo has to decide who is more important to her, or risk losing everything—including her sister.

The magic system in this book is SO cool. I loved the concept of talents being connected to gems and infused with people’s blood. It’s so unique and fascinating. I’d love more time in this world and explore more of the magic. Cleo’s musical talent was so interesting and it was really cool to see her develop as a performer. The opera house setting was really entertaining with the in-fighting and jealousy and performances. I also loved the alternate Paris—it was so enchanting and charming. The world and magic are really well developed yet easy to understand.

The plot kept the book moving really well. I was so curious to see how everything would end. It’s one of those books you don’t want to put down! I really enjoyed the conclusion and where everyone ended up.

I thought Cleo was a great main characters. She starts off so defeated and becomes enamoured in the world Dahlia dropped her into. Her arc of discovering what’s really important to her was so lovely and I loved her decisions in the conclusion of the novel. Her love triangle romance with Dahlia and Nuriel was so good! I honestly had a hard time deciding who I liked more—which never happens to me. I personally still love both of them and would’ve loved either way the author decided to end it, so I’m happy! Dahlia is so dark and sinister at times while Nuriel is more closed off and snarky. Both are so fun to read about that you can’t help but root for them both.

Overall, if like alternate history, magic, or a very well done love triangle, this is definitely a book you’ll want to check out!

[Stephanie MacCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly this book in the beginning has a lot of build up. It was a little hard to get through at first but holy moly did it pick up! It was a very unique read with thr concept of magic gems and jewelry. Havent read a book like this. Wraps up quite nicely at the end. Interesting enemies to lovers to enemies to a different enemy almost to lover to enemy for raging sure, to lovers. I liked the main character after about halfway through the book, she was a bit woe is me look at how unfortunate my life is, but then it got bettet and I really liked the ending.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling and twisty YA light romantasy debut that has readers enthralled from the first chapter as we follow Cleodora who tries to save her sister by making a deal with the power-hungry seductress, Dahlia.

In exchange for Dahlia giving Cleo a coveted singing "Talent" Cleo promises to help steal other people’s gifts for her. Not realizing the high price she is going to have to pay.

Cutthroat and filled with love triangles, betrayals and shocking twists, this was great on audio narrated by Alexandra Boulton and perfect for fans of authors like Stephanie Garber or Adalyn Grace.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

[vezzaleggestorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐

“The Kiss of the Nightingale” is a ya fantasy romance standalone written by Adi Denner. An intriguing and dark book, embellished with bewitching, elegant and evocative prose. A novel that captivated me from the very premise (and also because of the gorgeous cover!) and in the end I enjoyed it a lot.

The story takes place in the seemingly glittering town of Lutèce, an alternative version of 19th-century Paris. A place dominated by the possession of magical gems, which bestow on their owners enchanted talents that include a huge variety of skills, such as sewing, singing, cooking, and more. These gems are passed from one generation to the next by the families who possess them, through blood magic, and are of enormous value since no new gems have been discovered in years. Those who possess a gem belong to the aristocracy, while those who do not possess them are called Talentless and destined for a more difficult life. I found this world building, the concept of gems and talents extremely interesting! Sure, I felt numerous gaps in the explanations, some things left me puzzled, but overall I found it really intriguing! The luxurious atmosphere between masquerade balls, opera performances, lavish estates and much more, won me over with its vivid and detailed descriptions!

The narration proceeds fast and briskly, amid deceptions, subterfuges, lies, secrets, manipulations, alliances, betrayals, attempted thefts, and much more. A captivating story that absorbed me completely, without moments of boredom or heaviness. I admit that I sensed several convenient situations, various plot holes and a general haste, besides having guessed the various plot twists in advance. In the end, however, it entertained me very much, so I am happy.

The characters are perhaps the element that convinced me the least. I don't know, with the exception of Cleodora, the main character, they seemed a bit superficial, a bit detached, and this prevented me from fully bonding with them. The romance as a result suffered negatively and the love triangle didn't help. Basically, I'm not a fan of the love triangle, at least not unless it's really well developed, and in this case, unfortunately didn't satisfy me.

All in all, “The Kiss of the Nightingale” is a ya romantasy that, despite its flaws, I enjoyed a lot!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[annikasplatzindieserwelt · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ so wholesome and magical, pulled me out of my reading slump! 🥹

[kaffeezeilen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,75/5

[Imogen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god, I ADORED this book.

It had me hooked from the first page; I couldn't put it down and ended up reading it in it's entirety in a day.

For me, it read like a happy fusion of A Fragile Enchantment and The Crimson Moth (which I am NOT complaining about, as I loved both of those stories. So this one is like an even happier medium for me). I liked this alternative take on magic in a YA fantasy; I thought the concept of magic , or "Talents", being fused into stones was really creative and fun. I also thought it worked really well. Yes, the magic wasn't fully conceptualised, but I would forgive that as it's: a YA romantasy novel, and is also not an epic fantasy. Therefore, I think it can be excused for the magic system not being fully fleshed out. It didn't hold me back from enjoying the story; I understood enough for the story to sweep me along.

I also, to my utter surprise, enjoyed the love triangle aspect. I am usually not one for love triangles; my delicate heart can't take all of the split romantic focus, I need ONE person to root for - I can't take any more! But, I really enjoyed it in this book. I liked that she fell for both the mark and the marker (is that a word, in this sense?); I do like, sometimes, when the protagonist falls for the villain. It just makes it exciting.

Something that I very much enjoyed about this book is that there is a lot going on. That might sound silly, but the story doesn't just stick to one theme; there's romance book, a heist, regency/manners, action and adventure, magic, opera. There are a lot of different elements that work really well together to create a magical story.

This book also underlines for me the fact that I really enjoy heist books - who knew?!

I really, really hope that this develops into a series, I would truly love for the story to continue!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you so much to Penguin and Netgalley for this ARC!!

holyyyyyy what a book🤭🤭

when i started this book, my initial thoughts were that it was slightly slow and the writing was slightly too simple, but one thing that i’ll always prioritize over those is an incredible plot.

kiss of the nightingale follows two down-on-their-luck sisters who have lost their social standing in the aftermath of their father’s death. as they struggle to keep their tailoring business afloat, it is impossible for cleodora, the FMC, to both care for her work and her sick sister. so, in desperation, cleodora becomes intertwined in lady dahlia sibille’s black market, tasked with stealing a precious and magical gem from the rich compte nuriel lenoir. as a result, cleodora then must work undercover to gain his favour and love without losing track of her mission…

i absolutely loveddddd the concept of Talents and magical gemstones, and i thought that the addition of the underground market was an incredibly refreshing plot point. there were many scenes in the story that i appreciated solely because of their innovation (especially the seeming love triangle and manipulation between dahlia, nuriel, and cleodora).

the only other thing i could possibly point out as criticism was that i felt the relationship between nuriel and cleodora was abrupt. while i adore nuriel and found his character incredibly well fleshed-out, i felt like more of the book could have been spent building up the attraction between the two. on the contrary, i found there was a lot of effort focused on the opera description and the side characters in those scenes, which i believe could’ve been to further the more important development of the story.

overall, however, this book was great. there were countless times where my jaw dropped open or where i slapped a hand across my mouth out of pure shock. the entertainment factor was quite strong here!!

[Edensbooktoklife · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kiss Of The Knightingale is a YA Fantasy Romance written by Adi Denner

Synopsis: This book follows Cleo a nineteen-year-old who was believed to inherit her father’s tailoring talent, however when he passed the magic went with him. Set in a world where talents are detrimental and are gifted from generation to generation through blood magic. Magic, love and betrayal hold more than one knows.

Firstly the cover is very captivating, and certainly made me curious. The storyline has similarities to Phantom Of The Opera and Powerless. I really enjoyed the operatic side of this book, I have never read a book like this and it made the whole storyline even more compelling. The description of the characters costumes and outfits is incredibly deserving of all the praise, in my eyes Denner beautifully detailed the outfits within this book with elegance.

Main Characters:
Cleo - Strong willed and willing to do what is best for her sister.
Nuriel - Arrogant yet charming in his own way
Dahlia - Seductive temptress of darkness

One thing I will say is that I would have liked to have seen more interactions between Nuriel and Cleo and deepen their connection and seen their feelings develop further. There are elements of a love triangle which adds tension between characters.

I feel as though with the ending, there could be potential of another book. It leaves you feeling captivated and in awe of what could be, yearning for the story to continue.

Heavily influenced by opera and music, A Kiss Of A Nightingale takes you on a journey of passion, desperation, deceit and betrayal.

3.75 ⭐️
Thank you to the Publisher & NetGalley for allowing me to read this as my first ARC for an honest review.

[Akilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed The Kiss of the Nightingale from start to finish, devouring it in less than 48 hours. Heart racing along with Cleodora’s, I anxiously awaited every decision she made and its consequences. I enjoyed stepping into the life of the elite with her as well as exploring the romance. Denner’s writing kept me enthralled from start to finish

**I received an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley and the publishers**

[Liberi Leggendo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lutèce, 1890. Una città elegante e crudele, dove la magia non è solo potere: è identità, destino, sopravvivenza. In questo mondo raffinato e spietato ci muoviamo accanto a Cleodora, una protagonista che conquista sin da subito grazie alla sua forza silenziosa e alla sua vulnerabilità spesso taciuta.

Cleo avrebbe dovuto ereditare dal padre il Talento della Sartoria, una magia preziosa che poteva trasformare i tessuti in opere vive. Ma alla morte del genitore, in circostanze tutt’altro che chiare, la magia svanisce con lui, lasciandola senza guida, senza risorse e con una sorella malata da proteggere.
Lutèce non perdona chi non ha un Talento, e Cleodora si ritrova a combattere da sola contro debiti, promesse infrante e un mondo che la ignora.

È qui che entra in scena Lady Dahlia, affascinante e pericolosa come un fiore avvelenato. Le offre ciò che nessuno oserebbe: un Talento completamente nuovo, quello del Canto. Non solo un dono, ma un’ancora di salvezza.
Il prezzo? Rubare un Talento aristocratico.
Una richiesta impossibile, che trascina Cleodora in un vortice di balli incantati, teatri dorati e segreti sussurrati alle ombre.

Quando incontra la sua vittima designata, il giovane visconte, brillante, arguto e sorprendentemente umano, tutto cambia. L’ironia nei suoi occhi, i sorrisi maliziosi, la gentilezza nascosta dietro la sua maschera aristocratica, incrinano lentamente la risolutezza di Cleo.
Rubargli il Talento significa condannarlo. Lasciarlo andare significa perdere ogni possibilità di salvare sua sorella.

Adi Denner tesse una storia intensa, vibrante e abilmente orchestrata, in cui la magia è solo la superficie di un mondo che parla di scelte morali, desiderio di riscatto, identità, amore e libertà.
Il conflitto interiore di Cleodora è palpabile: tra la devozione verso la sorella, l’attrazione per un futuro impossibile e il legame ambiguo con Lady Dahlia — una figura che regala quanto pretende, senza mai mostrare il vero volto.

L’autrice eccelle nel creare un’atmosfera elegante, misteriosa e seducente, dove ogni scena vibra di tensione emotiva. Il ritmo è perfetto: una lenta discesa in una ragnatela di inganni che però porta a una risalita potente, intensa, catartica.

“Il bacio dell’usignolo” è una storia di magia, sì, ma soprattutto una storia di cuore.
Di coraggio.
E del prezzo che siamo disposti a pagare per salvarci.

Un romanzo che incanta, emoziona e lascia addosso quella dolce malinconia delle storie che ci entrano dentro e ci cambiano un po’.

[Ruby · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 *

Set in 1890's Paris, some people are blessed with "talents," while those who aren't, suffer. A very hierarchal system, those who have talents are at the top. Talents are essentially gifted through gems, and are tied to a person via their gem and their blood offering. Therefor someone with zero talent, can learn to be great artist by basically wearing a gem that has been offered their blood. This begs us to question, what if you don't want to do what your gifted talent is? And if you don't have a talent, how do you survive?

Our MC, Cleo, has no talent. Her father passed away before being able to pass on his talent, therefor she is left with nothing. Her sister is ill, and Cleo cannot help her because she has no means of providing an income. Enter Dahlia, who offers Cleo, a deal she cannot refuse. Cleo is gifted a talent, and as payment must basically work with the devil, but at what cost?

I think the magic system was SUPER interesting. I would love to learn more about other people's talents, and enjoyed learning about Cleo's. The opera house setting was fantastic, the jealousy, the performances, oh the drama! AND THE DRESSES, I liveeee!

Filled with betrayal, twists, and a love TRIANGLE. Honestly, this trope dominated the 2000s, and I miss it, so I was happy to see it again. There is a bit of everything in this book!

What really sticks with me, and what I enjoyed the most, was how skills interplay with class and belonging in society. There are many important themes at play, especially how far would you go for someone you love?

Thank you to Penguin Teen, Tundra Books, Tandem Collective and Adi Denner for the gifted book.

[EMMA (booksorcooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it! It’s a YA romantasy that felt like Bridgerton with the historical fiction mixed with The Mortal Instruments in its magical elements. So I’d recommend this to those who enjoy either books, those who like book genres of YA, Romantasy and those who period pieces, the opera, masquerades, music, singing!

I love the rich colours chosen for the book cover, it’s beautiful to look at and the cover art ties into the story well. I thought the writing was well done. I’d be open to reading more books by this author as I enjoyed the writing style!

I liked the aspect of the love triangle. I think I wanted more lead up scenes with Cleo/Vicomte Lenoir to get to know him, his personality better in order to feel further connected and invested in them together. I was wanting more time with that. I thought the scenes written between Cleo and Dahlia were great and you can feel Cleo’s inner conflicts throughout the book.

I liked reading the authors bio on the back sleeve of the book. They tied in their own real-life passions into the story and you can sense that in reading the novel. There was care and attention put into the opera, theatre and the hobby, art aspects which helped to make it a stronger story! It was a good balance. It gave credibility to me as a reader without it going overboard into “spewing out knowledge for the sake of it”.

Thank you Tandem Global Collective, Penguin Teen Canada, Tundra Books for an advanced physical copy to review!!

[Daphne Sharpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleodora is the narrator of this truly magical and inventive story. It is a story of Talents, magical jewels that transfer gifts between generations, via a blood ceremony.
Anaella is the younger sister of Chloe, her mother transferred her Talent for design to her before her death, Chloe was not so lucky, their father died before she could be gifted his precious gem. Now times are hard in their dress shop, customers go elsewhere for their rich clothes, both girls are broke and Ana is in poor health.
In desperation, Chloe breaks into a rich mansion to steal something to sell to pay for medicines for her sister. She is caught, but offered an opportunity to have all her dreams come true, a fresh start for them both, but this offer comes with a heavy price to be paid.
What would you do? Accept a happier and richer lifestyle, or would your conscience and reason prevail about the cost of such a deal?
If it’s too good to be true, then stay well clear!
I loved this story with its two romantic themes, the story twists and turns in a most unusual and satisfying way. Love the characters, Lirone and Nuriel, they are likeable, frustrating, yet very supportive when it counts. I do love a happy ending, this book ticks all the boxes.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Dialogue Books for my advance copy, freely given in exchange for my honest review. Five star rating, it’s perfect.
I will leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK on publication.

[Lexi Messenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cybils Nominated Review —

“A Kiss of the Nightingale” is my top YA read of 2024—hands down.

This book is enchanting from start to finish, with a charming yet mysterious story that weaves magical elements seamlessly into a rich, atmospheric world. Think Phantom of the Opera vibes, but with thrilling hints of necromancy that add an irresistibly dark edge.

The themes of family and power are woven beautifully throughout the story, forcing readers to ask thought-provoking questions: Does money buy happiness? What sacrifices are worth making for those we love?

I couldn’t put this book down, and even after the last page, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The characters are unforgettable, and the exquisite writing captures every moment with vivid detail and emotion. If you’re looking for a story that will sweep you off your feet and haunt your thoughts in the best way possible, “A Kiss of the Nightingale” is it.

[Lovebooksandpixiedust · Rating 4 out of 5]

Auf „Kiss of the Nightingale“ war ich so gespannt, allein wegen dem Klappentext. Es klang so interessant, so neu und ich kann mich nicht erinnern, schon einmal sowas ähnliches gelesen zu haben. Auch die Aufmachung des Buches ist wunderschön und ein echter Blickfang im Regal. Adi Denner hat einen tollen Schreibstil. Dieser ist flüssig zu lesen, absolut magisch, detailliert und emotional. Mich hat das Buch von Beginn an gepackt und ich konnte es nicht zur Seite legen. Die Idee mit den magischen Talenten, die Welt der Oper und der opulente Flair… All das war schön miteinander verwoben, sodass ich beim lesen das Gefühl hatte mittendrin dabei zu sein.

Die Charaktere waren alle schön ausgearbeitet und Cleodora habe ich direkt in mein Herz geschlossen. Ihr Gefühle, ihre Ängste und besonders ihre innere Zerrissenheit waren greifbar und man konnte alles auch sehr gut nachvollziehen. Ich bin selten ein Fan von Liebesdreiecken aber hier finde ich, wurde es gut umgesetzt. Die Entwicklung war nachvollziehbar und plausibel. Auch die Emotionen konnte man regelrecht zwischen den Zeilen spüren. Die Nebencharaktere mochte ich auch gerne und sie haben die Handlung gut abgerundet. Zwar ist immer eine gewisse Grundspannung vorhanden aber am Ende legt die Autorin noch ein bisschen was drauf und das war dann auch meins liebster Teil des Buches. Das Ende hat mir wirklich gut gefallen und es hat perfekt zur ganzen Geschichte gepasst.

„Kiss of the Nightingale“ war wirklich mal etwas komplett anderes und ich hatte hier ein paar tolle Lesestunden. Eine wunderschöne Atmosphäre, Opulenz und Spannung. Wer das mag, sollte sich das Buch nicht entgehen lassen. Von mir gibt es eine klare Leseempfehlung.

[Jacqueline Firkins]

An immersive and entertaining read, Nightingale follows a young heroine coerced to join an organized crime ring in order to provide care for her ailing sister. Her charge: to steal a magical Talent from a handsome nobleman. Her reward: her sister returned to health and a Talent of her own, the voice of an opera star. The story draws inspiration from Phantom of the Opera, and the setting from late 19th century Paris, with its carriages, cobblestones, and of course, ball gowns, which are center stage here as the heroine’s late father was a gifted dressmaker and designer, and the story touches on the legacy of artistic passion he leaves to his daughters. Ambitions run high, which means jealousies do, too, with Talents in short supply and the Talent-less consigned to poverty and obscurity. Meanwhile, Denner has provided her heroine with two sexy love interests, the flirtatious nobleman she’s meant to steal from and the seductive villainess who lures her into a life of crime. And there’s plenty of intrigue afoot with spies around every corner and more than one kind of masquerade unfolding. Action-packed, with a determined but conflicted heroine at its center, and a sparkling world that’ll take readers away to the opera houses and couturiers of their dreams.

[Courtney Shapiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I absolutely adored the world Adi Denner created with this book. It was glamorous, dark, and mysterious and the perfect setting for what was happening. I liked the idea of the talents and how that was part of the magic system. The fashion aspect was super cool as well. The beginning was a bit slow, so it took me a bit to get into the story. I did love the love triangle, though, especially with the LGBTQ representation. It was interesting to see how each character's story played out. Cleo was a strong character, and her development was good. It would have also been cool to have a chapter or two in Dahlia or Vicomte's perspective to help with pacing, but overall, this was a good read! Thank you to Tundra Books and Netgalley for an e-ARC of this book to read and review.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel that if I had been either younger or less far along in my foray into historical fantasy, I would have enjoyed this more. There was less depth to the story, the characters and even the contextual details. I read it without being particularly engaged with the material. Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Each chapter made me more curious and helped me appreciate different aspects of the story.
The main character is the oldest daughter who is trying to protect her younger sister in a strict and divided society.
The bi panic is real.
I enjoyed every character, even the ones I didn't like.
The magic in the story is interesting and was explained clearly, making it easy to understand. The author clearly did a lot of research and wrote with great enthusiasm. The plot was exciting and well thought out, with no gaps or predictable moments.
I would definitely read this book again to catch details I missed the first time.
Thank you Penguin Random House Canada via NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide a honest and authentic review of this ARC

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives major Bridgerton and Red Queen vibes!

Before I give my review, I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this wonderful ARC!

Synopsis: Cleodora Finley, a nineteen-year-old girl trying to provide for her sickly sister, will do anything to change her life. She stumbles upon a gem that will change her life in a very unexpected way. She is caught up in a love triangle, betrayals, regrets, and homesickness.

4.7 ⭐️
This book is magnificent! It’s so magical and unique, with excellent world-building and characters. I love that Cleodora was driven to questionable morals all for the sake of Anaella. In the end, she did it to keep her sister safe and to let her thrive among the elites.

Vicomte Lenoir is my favorite character in the book. He is a very complex character who seems to only have eyes for Cleo. I only wish they had more interactions with each other. He seems perfect for her, with his talent complementing Cleo’s ability to sow. He is guaranteed to be the new favorite book boyfriend of the year!

“We are quite the pair, aren’t we?” - Vicomte Lenoir

Dahlia Sibille is a very manipulative character that had a special place in her heart for Cleodora. She was protective and showed Cleo a side of herself she never showed anyone else. She played with her heartstrings and used her against her own morals. Cleo would do anything to please Dahlia, even as far as killing for her. She would lose sense of right and wrong when she was with her. Perhaps I don’t remember, but I wonder what Dahlia’s talent was and if she used it against Cleo.

I love all the friends she made along the way, such as Madame, Lirone, Renée, and José. I always love books that include masquerades, love triangles, plot twists, and false identities. This book is perfect for any Shadow and Bone, Powerless, and Heartless fans! It’s a very fast-paced book, and is guaranteed to get you out of a book slump!