Darkening Song

by Delphine Seddon, Sara Goodman (Editor)

"Rarely does a debut novel shatter your heart like this." Dave Bayley, Glass Animals

"Dark, beautiful and razor-sharp." Bexy Cameron, author of Cult Following

TO BE ADAPTED INTO A MAJOR TV SERIES

Eva is 18 years old and interning at a record label when she discovers 16 year old Alora online. Never before has she heard a voice like Alora's, and when it's clear there isn't anyone at the label interested in hearing this phenomenal talent, Eva takes matters into her own hands and offers to be Alora's manager without knowing the first thing about artist management or what's about to happen to both of them.

It turns out Eva's instincts were right...Alora is catapulted into the spotlight of major superstardom, and as the two young women navigate the whirling vortex of fame - the parties, the paparazzi, the power - they form a close bond, becoming found family to each other.

But when Alora's dark and mysterious past begins to infiltrate her present, and Eva's ambition and success blind her to the obvious signs that her friend is in trouble, their lives unravel with disastrous consequences.

DARKENING SONG is a fiercely feminist story for fans of DAISY JONES & THE SIX and EUPHORIA. It's about friendship and betrayal. It's a love story and a story about trauma. But more than anything, it's a story about hope and about how dreams can come true in ways we least expect.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook, Music, Contemporary, Young Adult, Feminism, Friendship

370 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 20, 2026

About the author

DELPHINE SEDDON writes female-driven, new adult contemporary fiction. Originally from Staffordshire, England, she now lives by the sea in rural West Wales. For the past 20 years she has worked as an executive in the music industry. DARKENING SONG is her debut novel.

Connect with her on:

Website: www.delphineseddon.com
TikTok/Instagram: @delphineseddon
Substack: https://drivingblindlyintothemist.sub...

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

⭒❃.✮:▹ Eighteen-year-old Eva is interning at a record label when she comes across sixteen-year-old Alora online, and she has a voice that Eva has never heard before and knows will be a hit. However, when no one at the record label is interested in her discovery, Eva decides to be Alora’s manager, even though she has no experience in the industry whatsoever. But to her surprise, Alora agrees.

Alora is now a star, and both she and Eva have a lot of friends and a lot of money, becoming sisters as they navigate their sudden fame and wealth. But none of it can hide Alora’s mysterious and dark past as it seeps into her present, leaving her miserable and unhappy with her life. Although there are many signs about her friend’s progressing downfall, Eva’s drive for ambition and success blinds her, and both their lives begin to fall apart, seam by seam.


* . °•★|•°∵ ∵°•|☆•° . *


ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ: lovely by Billie Eilish, Khalid
1:47 ───ㅇ───── 3:20


⭒❃.✮:▹ Did this make me cry like I was hoping it would? No. However, it was still very good. Once I started getting into the flow, I was flying through this because I just had to know what was going to happen to Alora and Eva.

I liked Alora and Eva, and the friendship they had. It was heartwarming to see that they saw each other even when the world didn’t see them. But as time went on, I didn’t like Eva very much. They say that money and fame magnify who you really are, so it didn’t surprise me that Eva turned out to be…the way she was after success.

But good Lord, I felt so bad for Alora. 😭 I mean, granted, there were instances where she wasn’t being fair and made some questionable decisions, but she was literally a teenager, so I’m going to overlook that because that’s pretty realistic of what teenagers do. Ugh, whenever I read books about the movie and music industry, it makes me hate it more and more. Well, more like the disgusting and horrible people inside that don’t know the meaning of having a moral compass and deserve jail time, and not the industry itself. You know me. I just want characters to be happy, and if anything or anyone gets in the way of their happiness, I want it eliminated pronto, please. But I’m glad she made a friend who wanted the best for her. Vanessa’s the best.

Oh! What I also liked about the book was the QR code that directs you to Alora’s music. I never read a book that did that, so I thought that was super cool! And yes, I listened to the songs, and I like them. I am a big fan of songs that just crush my soul, so of course I was going to like them. 😏

Even though I did like the book, and yes, I went through it quickly, and yes, I thought the ending was satisfactory, it was an okay read for me. BUT WHY THOUGH??!! I’m just as confused as you are because I have no definitive reason as to why I think this book was just “okay.” But it was still good, and I honestly recommend it if you are a fan of Daisy Jones and the Six, Euphoria, and Luckiest Girl Alive. I haven’t seen and/or read any of those, so I would definitely check out other reviews for the book before making a decision. 😂☺

☾ Thank you to St. Martin’s Press | Saturday Books and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. This book is now available! ☽

❗Content Warnings❗
Suicide attempt, self-harm, sexual assault, death of a loved one, alcohol and drug use/abuse, & misogyny.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: Closed door/Fade-to-black (I think 😬) (🌶🌶/5??)

[Stacy40pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darkening Song by Delphine Seddon. Thanks to @stmartinspress for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Eva is only an intern at the record label when she discovers sixteen year old Alora, but that doesn’t stop her from catapulting Alora to fame, changing her own life in the process.

I’m not always a huge fan of music fiction but this one hooked me. I loved both Eva and Alora’s characters. I loved that they were almost the same age, but living two different stories that despite being similar on the outside, ended up with completely different roles and responsibilities to each other. There was a deep story to this one and it was heartbreaking knowing Alora’s past and learning what she went through. Don’t get frustrated if you feel you missed a few things. It is purposefully done and all will be revealed in time.. including song lyrics!

“And I’ve risen from the ashes on wings of flame. And their love means everything to me. And at the same time, it means nothing at all. Because none of it is real and all I’ve ever wanted was a family.”

Darkening Song comes out 3/10.

[readwithmichele · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOK: Darkening Song
AUTHOR: Delphine Seddon
PUB DATE: March 10, 2026 by @stmartins/@saturdaybooks
PAGES: 368 pages
RATING: 4.25 stars
GENRE: Contemporary Fiction

A big THANK YOU to @stmartinspress/@saturdaybooks for gifting me an advanced digital copy of this book! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

QUICK SYNOPSIS: Darkening Song follows two young women whose lives become intertwined by music & the intoxicating pull of fame. Eva is an 18 yr. old intern at a big recording company, desperate to prove herself in the competitive music industry. When she discovers Alora, (a 16 yr. old singer with a hauntingly powerful voice) performing online, Eva becomes convinced she’s found a future superstar. Acting on instinct, Eva offers to manage Alora despite having no real experience. The gamble pays off. Alora’s talent propels her into sudden global fame, launching both girls into a whirlwind world of record deals, sold-out shows, & relentless media attention. Along the way, they form a deep bond that blurs the line between friendship and business. But as Alora’s past begins to surface & the pressures of fame intensify, cracks start to appear beneath the glittering success. Eva’s growing ambition and the industry’s darker realities force both women to confront difficult choices about loyalty and the cost of chasing a dream.

THEMES EXPLORED:

· Ambition & the Cost of Success

· Friendship, Loyalty & Changing Power Dynamics

· Fame & Celebrity Reality

· Identity & Self-Discovery

· Ethics & Moral Compromise

· Trust & Betrayal

QUICK & SPOILER-FREE REVIEW: Listening to this as an audiobook was an unforgettable experience! While the story itself is compelling, the audiobook format added an extra emotional layer that made the novel even more powerful. I appreciated how it explored friendship, betrayal, & the complicated path to redemption in a world that can build idols just as quickly as it breaks them. One of my favorite parts was getting to actually hear the songs that appear throughout the story. The author writes lyrics that are beautiful, emotional, & sometimes heart-crushing, and hearing them performed brought them to life in a way that reading alone might not. The music helped deepen the emotional connection to the characters & made certain moments feel especially powerful. Beyond the songs, the narration does a great job capturing the intensity of the music industry & the complex relationship between the characters. This was a unique & immersive listening experience. If you enjoy stories about the music industry & appreciate emotional songwriting, the audiobook version is definitely worth listening to!

#DarkeningSong #DelphineSeddon #SaturdayBooks #StMartinsPress #NetGalley

[Jo Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems I really am becoming quite the hypocrite (kinda) I’ve complained often about music being randomly flung into my audiobooks. This time though it’s completely warranted, and quite brilliant, I note that the book is to be adapted for tv, and I can certainly say the original music was actually pretty good, I’m old, it’s a big compliment. Which brings me to my next little complaint, it’s a real shame to open with “for fans of Daisy Jones and The Six” because they really don’t compare, and that is completely ok, this is young and fresh and dark and sad but it’s entirely its own machine. Daisy Jones was a clear copy and paste of Fleetwood Mac’s story, which isn’t to say it wasn’t excellent, but you really need to be able to give it the kudos it deserves for its originality and comparisons don’t always help with that. My next gripe is, I hate the cover here on Goodreads, no doubt it’ll be the final edit but I much prefer the NetGalley version. And another thing, this is one of the rarity’s in its field as you know I’m solely an audio booker and I often wish I’d had text available to me, not this time, this time I’m so glad I only had the audiobook available, so if it’s an option the audiobook will be the winner.

So, that’s the whining over.

Let’s review.

I really enjoyed the title, I can see it being perhaps a bigger hit when it lands on screens, it’s abundantly clear that the author has experience in “the biz” and thus has been able to provide us with a work of fiction that could so easily be reality for many young stars, and let’s face it, it probably is, what was equally interesting was that the story is told from two perspectives Alora the rising star, and Eva who first spots her talent. I think it’s important to note that Alora is only 16 but Eva herself is only 18 which gives her some grace in her failures to truly protect Eva from the stark reality of stardom and all its trappings. What unfolds for us readers is a truly remarkable yet devastating read. I’m quite loathed to spoiler but expect trauma……
The audio narration by Millie Oldfield is excellent!

My thanks to Victory Editing Coop books for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darkening Song by Delphine Seddon is a gritty, character driven exploration of fame, ambition, friendship, and the devastating cost of power. Following Eva, an 18 year old record label intern, and Alora, the 16 year old singer she discovers online, the story charts their meteoric rise and the deep bond that forms between them as they navigate the intoxicating chaos of superstardom. The comparisons to Daisy Jones, Euphoria and Luckiest Girl alive feel fitting, but this debut firmly establishes its own voice as fiercely feminist, unflinching, and emotionally raw.

I’ll be honest: the middle section felt slow and at times I worried it might lose me. The pacing lingers in the rise to fame whirlwind, and the tension simmers rather than explodes. But in hindsight, that deliberate build makes the final stretch hit much harder. Patience truly pays off here. As the emotional unraveling begins and the full weight of the industry’s exploitation comes into focus, the story sharpens into something powerful and devastating. Seddon doesn’t shy away from sexual assault, misogyny, consent, and the systemic ways young women are failed by those meant to protect them. Because both main characters are so young, parts are deeply unsettling, but intentionally so and the discomfort serves the story’s larger message.

The audiobook elevates the experience even further. Narrated by Cherise Silvestri, Mei Mei Macleod, and Milly Oldfield—three new to me narrators who absolutely impressed me—the production is immersive and emotionally layered. The inclusion of original songs makes this such a compelling listen; hearing the music woven directly into the narrative adds depth that feels essential to the story being told. While it may require some patience in the middle, the payoff is worth it. This is not an easy story, but it’s an important one—bold, disturbing at times, and ultimately deeply resonant.

[RoseDevoursBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eva is a young intern at a record label, who discovers 16-year-old Alora online and impulsively offers to manage her when her higher-ups refuse to listen. With no real experience, Eva helps launch Alora to rapid stardom. The premise promises an inside look at the music industry, friendship, betrayal, and redemption. Unfortunately, that’s not quite the book we get.

The story ultimately centers more on Alora, but the friendship meant to anchor it never feels fully developed. Because Eva and Alora share so few meaningful moments, their relationship lacked any sort of emotional weight. What begins as a music-industry drama gradually shifts into a slower exploration of addiction, depression, and self-destruction. While those themes have the potential to be powerful, the execution feels repetitive and emotionally flat. Even Alora’s struggles with predatory authority figures, alcohol, and abandonment issues don’t fully land, and the rehab scenes add little to the overall narrative. *Content warning for self-harm, which may be difficult for some readers.*

Overall, an okay debut with an interesting concept that didn’t quite deliver in execution. I struggled to connect with the characters and found it hard to stay engaged through the slower, repetitive middle. Best suited for readers who gravitate toward dark stories about troubled pop stars and coming-of-age themes.

2.5/5 ⭐️⭐️💫

Many thanks to Saturday books for an ARC of Darkening Song.

[Kendall Carroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars, rounded down)

I got this book as part of a Goodreads Giveaway, and when I received the book, the top of it wasn't cut properly. Like, I had to go in and individually cut the pages apart. This isn't the author's fault, and I'm not writing this to complain (ultimately, who cares, it's more funny than anything), but it was my first impression of the book and really didn't make it desirable. Again: I'm not going to, like, demote the book a star for it, but it was a real bummer to start with and that might've clouded my initial feelings.

Overall, though, I did like the book. The writing in particular really stood out to me. I liked how atmospheric it was; the style did a good job to encompass the tone and messages that the author was trying to portray. It wasn't a perfect book, and I thought it took a moment to find its groove, but I enjoyed reading it.

I'm reading it about six months before it comes out, so I don't know how much — if at all — it will change, but there were a lot of moments where a lack of editing came out. There were many run-on sentences that were in desperate need of a comma or two. Also, sweet and sweat were mixed up at least once each.

While I was overall impressed by the writing, I did find the reliance on reveals to be a bit cheap. From the beginning, the book is dangling the idea of hidden information in front of the reader, and I don't know if that was really necessary. I'd say there are three main reveals, and two of them were only reveals because the author was outright holding back information, which I think is a lazy way to write. It's a shame, because the third of the Big Reveals was actually well done within the context of the story, so I know it could've been possible. None of the reveals were particularly earned, either; the characters didn't change or grow to justify why they were now telling me this information they had previously kept from me. I think the story would've been benefitted by not relying on these moments to surprise the reader and just trusting in the strength of the story itself.

The writing would also get a little corny sometimes. Right at the start, during an otherwise very emotional moment that opens the book, the author clarifies that the main social media platform is Gramzee, owned by Leon Tusk, which is just silly. The book immediately embraces its melancholy and serious tone, so naming the evil social media owner Leon Musk is about as off-putting as it would've been if we'd just gone with Elongated Muskrat. (It was also unnecessary since someone later uses the word "Instagrammable," but that's besides the point.) Also, for a book that otherwise did a good job of maintaining a writing voice that felt real and genuine, a lot of the dialogue near the end really lost it. It's not that it was bad or wrong in any way, but it became a lot more overt and aware, as if the author wanted to be certain that this point wasn't missed. While these moments did take me out of the story a little bit, it didn't happen too often.

The girls have alternating chapters from their own POVs, which I found distinct enough. My biggest issue was that they were so independent from one another. Alora's chapters would be The Plot, with Eva's chapters coloring in the context. After their initial meeting, they barely interacted. This wasn't actually much of a problem for me as far as the story goes, but it's not a book about friendship. In fact, had the author opted to explore the impact friendship more, it could've been interesting, but that just didn't happen.

The story follows Eva and Alora equally, but while the description makes it seem as though Eva is the main driving force, this is undeniably Alora's story. She is the favorite child. I felt like her perspective had a tendency to lull at the beginning, getting into a monotonous series of unfortunate events, but once it settled, her story was really engaging. At the end, though, the story as a whole totally lost its steam. It was like someone told the author, after she had written 300 pages, that she only had 50 more. The buildup took so long, and the payoff at the end was not worth it. The final revelations that each girl had was unearned, and Alora in particular did not have a satisfying ending (even though that's what the author was clearly going for).

It may be an unpopular opinion, but I liked Eva a lot. Sure, her character development took her to some dark places, but the author did a good job crafting an unlikable protagonist. But, at a certain point, she got entirely abandoned. That's when it became clear to me that this was Alora's story, not Eva's, which is a shame given the way it was written. I was disappointed that, instead of finding a way to write a solid conclusion for both characters, Eva was just forgotten about it in the background. The stuff she was dealing with (or at least her perspective on it) was a big deal, but the lack of proper ending for her made the impact feel inconsequential.

While I did like these two, the story was build by the plot, not by the characters. Whether or not this is a problem comes down to reader preference, though.

The only other thing I want to point out is really nitpicky, and it's important to me that I make it clear that I know it's not a big deal. But I'm very curious on if the author has ever actually been to Texas. Eventually we end up in Austin on a very isolated ranch, which you're just not going to find in actual Austin. This is a city with a big music scene, not a expansive country town. Also, you're not going to find people with vases of bluebonnets. But whatever, it's fine.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I was expecting to, even if it wasn't perfect. The author did a good job of tackling a tough story, and I found it to be overall well-told.

[cyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was a pretty good story about youth,fame,and power that I wish i loved a little more than I did. The premise of the story really interested me but everything felt very surface level and convenient. There are so many stories about the dark side of fame and hollywood that it really takes something new and different to make it stand out to me. This book tried to touch on so many different issues but none of them were really fleshed out that well. The book was very entertaining and I did enjoy reading it but it’s not something i would pick up again or implore others to read. Allegedly it is being made into a TV show and I honestly think a story like this would work better that way. I also hate when there are songs written in books because they almost always come across as corny but that’s just me nitpicking. I’m intrigued to see what other people think about this.

[♡Heather✩Brown♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

#ad much love for my advance copy @saturdaybooks #partner
& @macmillan.audio #partner for the ALC

Darkening Song
< @delphineseddon >
Releases: March

Sometimes you've just got to fake it 'til you make it…

It’s all glitz, lights, and glam. You’ve got the spotlight and everyone wants a piece of you. Pictures of you can make a nobody into a somebody.

Alora is a singer-songwriter who has just been discovered by Eva, but fame can’t fix whats broken in you. And sometimes, it only compacts those issues. Alora songs Misery Pop songs about pain and anguish.

Eva goes from intern to manager, learning to navigate a male-dominated business.

🎧: This is one of those books you have to read via audiobook. The singing parts are a whole experience. Such a fun listen. But the narration is also just as fabulous - it might just take a few chapters to get used to the accent. One of the best narrations.

Dark, passionate, and compulsive I couldn’t put this book down. The story alternates between the past and present. With both Ava and Alora’s POV.

Explores the darker side to fame, the misogyny, being turned into a sex symbol and the music coming second to this but also before the artist. Consent. A deep type of read. Even when an artist is falling apart all they want from them is more albums, more singles, more more more.

Loved the darker side of this book - the mental health facility setting, the writing, the songs. 5 star read.

Mem
Dad’s tooth 🦷 😂

Lots of triggers

[Dona's Books]

I am unsure how I came to have this book in my queue, except I read pretty much anything from St. Martin's Press. They are so consistent and I know what they bring to the table. But still a few times I end up with one that isn't for me. Like this one. I love NA coming of age, but fame stories stress me out!

I'm sure this is a great read, but definitely not for me.

Also, it's interesting to me that this book has been optioned for streaming. I mean, I don't get streaming exec's decision on this at all.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the arc!📚

[Madison · Rating 2 out of 5]

On the surface, Darkening Song ticked a lot of boxes for me — it’s billed as a music story about friendship and redemption. Unfortunately, I didn’t like this one at all.

Eva is interning at a record label when she comes across Alora online, a 16-year-old singer with a haunting voice and vibe. Despite Eva’s best efforts, the record label won’t give her the time of day to pitch new talent, so she offers to represent Alora as her manager. Eva has no experience managing artists, let alone working in the music industry, but they team up and Alora rises quickly to stardom. As they become more successful, the line between friend and manager becomes blurry, leading to a betrayal.

I was intrigued to see Eva learn how to be a talent manager, watch the friendship develop between her and Alora, and follow the arc of their betrayal and redemption. Those aspects were almost nonexistent, however. The story focuses more on Alora, and I didn’t feel an authentic friendship between her and Eva. In fact, they rarely spent time together. By the end of the story, I still don't know what a talent manager does because I didn’t see Eva do anything to help Alora become successful. There was a lot of telling rather than showing.

Darkening Song relied heavily on tropes — the focus was on setting the scene with big name musicians, lavish settings, and stereotyped characters. When it came to the story itself, it was largely about addiction. There are other things going on behind the scenes, but you don’t find out about them until the end. I tend to avoid stories about addiction because they follow the same arc almost every time, so I wish there’d been a heads up about it.

I think Alora was supposed to be an edgy character, but she was angsty and sullen with very little nuance, and came across as obnoxious.

What really didn’t work for me though was the snarky tone. It reminded me of an early 2000s teen movie where we’re meant to judge characters based on their appearance (and in this case, taste in music). Because of that, I felt like I was told how to feel about each character rather than being trusted to form my own conclusions. Giving your reader that space and respect is a big deal for me.

I love a music story, but this one was a pass.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Saturday Books, and NetGalley for the advance copy.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. This kept me entertained for the most part but the tone was just a little young for me? It felt a little too teen angst for me. Eva is an 18 year old intern at a record label when she’s shown a video of 16 year old Alora singing online. She doesn’t know how but she knows she’s gonna make Alora a star. Eva contacts Alora and asks if she can be her manager knowing she’s just an intern and knows nothing about managing. It ends up working for the best but when Alora’s past starts catching up to her will fame push her over the edge? I don’t know I just didn’t exactly feel the bond between the two main characters and really just enjoyed their side stories and characters. As always, thank you St. Martin’s Press for the earc.

[Sheridan · Rating 2 out of 5]

shoutout to NetGalley for the ARC but… I really didn’t like this one 😭 I knew that the author was probably a certain generation because the writing reminded me of fanfictions I read as a preteen on wattpad and tumblr; just very juvenile.

also a winner amongst many annoying spoofs of real pop culture events/celebs was “Leon Tusk was last photographed climbing into his spacecraft, fleeing the planet”

I really wanted to like this but I just couldn’t 😭😭😭

[Starr ❇✌❇]

"a fiercely feminist novel about two girls; one a teen star failed by the industry which turned her into an idol, and the other her ambitious young manager, forced to make an impossible choice between friendship and power."

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do yourself a favor and get the audiobook! I truthfully was blown away and loved it! The songs are brought to life with music and singing! It was brilliant! I can’t recommend it enough! Once I finished, I almost restarted it again!

I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this book, but wow am I glad I picked it up! I enjoyed everything about this story and didn’t want it to end. The characters were great, the plot was great, I honestly was blown away.

This is a dual POV story that tells of the rise to fame from 2 different sides, as a manager and as the star. The stories are woven so seamlessly and handled with such care. Our 2 FMC’s feel so real in their brutal honesty. We follow them through each decision, seeing the full effect of their choices. I think it also helped that we got to see them grow from the ground up. Which I often enjoy with books like this, so we can really see how we end up where the author is trying to take us.

There is a lot of heavy subject material in this book. It could be hard to read at times because it shows all sides of fame and how it can affect people. I would recommend looking into trigger warnings before reading.

The author did an incredible job with this book. Everything about it honestly still has me blown away. That ending was incredible as well. As much as I didn’t want it to end, the wrap up was very well done.

**Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

[.✦ ݁˖ Kenzie .✦ ݁˖ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! An absolutely fabulous debut. This story was dark and emotional, yet beautiful. It follows Alora, a rising teenage pop star and Eva, her young manager. It shows the highs and lows of fame and the music industry. The characters have so many layers and I found myself drawn to Alora. I enjoyed the dark atmosphere of this story - almost a mystery/thriller tone. It may have seemed "childish" but these characters ARE young and navigating heavy trauma. This is one of those stories that sticks with you.

The audiobook production was amazing. The parts of Alora singing made the characters and story FEEL so real. You could truly hear her pain through the songs. 5/5 audio!

And this book will be made into a TV series! I cannot wait!!

[Stephanie Wilen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a solid debut, I inhaled it! I decided to do an immersive read because I heard the audio was stellar. Turns out, it absolutely was! The music was edgy and set the tone for what was to come. The vocals and narration were both excellent.

It’s easy to see why this book is already being adapted into a TV series. The writing is vivid and sharp, creating a sensory experience that felt cinematic.

Darkening Song pulls back the curtain on the music industry and doesn’t shy away from its darker realities. It explores how women are treated in entertainment. Focusing specifically on the pressure, exploitation and expectations placed on female artists.

Eva and Alora are both young, ambitious and impressionable. As their careers take off, they learn the hard way that chasing fame and success can come with real consequences. I found the evolution of their friendship fascinating. What begins as a kind of sisterhood shifts into something far more complicated and fundamentally imbalanced when Eva exerts her power and influence over Alora.

If this is what Delphine Seddon does for a debut, I’ll definitely be picking up whatever she writes next.

[Trina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. 3 if expecting TJR DJ&6, but as a feminist YA about the music industry and mental health I give it a solid 3.5 and would recommend the audiobook so you can hear the songs.

[Pennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Darkening Song” pulled me in from the very first chapter and never let me go. Delphine Seddon crafts a story laced with tension, shadowed emotion, and a steadily building sense of unease that made it impossible to step away. The pacing moves quickly, yet never feels rushed—something I usually worry about in tightly written books. In this case, Seddon’s use of a dual perspective keeps the characters grounded and layered, allowing each voice to reveal its own quiet depths.

What really stood out to me were the echoes and contrasts between the two narrators. Their parallels thread through the book in a way that makes the plot feel both intimate and inevitable, pulling their separate journeys into one haunting, cohesive arc. The story digs into the intersections of power, art, gender, and the relentless weight of the public eye, exploring each theme with a sharpness that lingers long after you close the book.

Overall, “Darkening Song” is a mesmerizing, unsettling, and surprisingly hopeful exploration of what it means to be seen—and what it costs. It’s a book I’d recommend to anyone who loves character-driven storytelling wrapped in atmospheric tension and emotional complexity.

I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. That did not reflect my review.

[Crush Critiques · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. Unfortunately it’s all so very stereotypical and really had nothing new to say. Everything felt slow and drawn out, and there was no real urgency or excitement that one should feel when reading about a musician who just hit it big. Especially a sixteen year old teenager. Combine all that with flat characters who are all basically there to check archetypal check boxes for stale and overused tropes, and you have Darkening Song. Alas, it was a miss for me.

I understand that pop-star/rockstar books are very big at the moment, however it seems like quite a lot are being written with just a vague Hollywood notion of what the music industry is actually like and it’s creating these bland cookie cutter novels.

There have also been a lot of books being marketed as one thing when it’s a tenuous plot point at best. Darkening Song falls into both of these popular trappings. Maybe I wouldn’t have minded so much if there was more showing and much less telling, as well as more of an emotional ride through what should be an exciting and wild period of time, but I’m not so sure.

I didn’t find either of the two main characters to be likable, and I struggled to see where this is a story about their friendship as they really didn’t come across as good friends. Plus Eva would have never been able to be Alora’s manager in the real world. She simply doesn’t have the personality, and more importantly, the backbone needed to be even mildly successful in what is still a male dominated industry.

Alora retains her angsty and obnoxious attitude pretty much all throughout the book, with Eva likening it early on to “the inner torment and anguish of Amy Winehouse or Kurt Cobain”, despite the fact that both Amy and Kurt were infinitely more complex. I think Seddon assumed if she planted the comparisons to them and other famous musicians that we would automatically believe Alora was the same without her having to do much in the way of character development. It also assumes the reader can’t make their own opinions and comparisons and need to be explicitly told.

The book wasn’t awful by any means and I think that someone much younger and/or who knows very little about the music industry would really enjoy it. To me it was lacking and just “meh.” I’m interested to see if the television adaptation will be any better.
2.5 stars but rounding up to 3 since I do feel like this will find its audience.

I received an ARC copy courtesy of
St. Martin's Press | Saturday Books and NetGalley, however my review is my own unbiased personal opinion, left of my own volition.

[Susan J. Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delphine Seddon’s debut (which reminded me a little of The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits) lifts up the drains of the music industry and sends in Dynorod.
Eva and Alora are two young women swept up in the overnight fame that one viral video causes. Alora’s future and talent is seized by the rich and powerful and ruthlessly exploited to keep the money-making machine churning out the dollars. Eva, Alora’s manager - only two years older than her client and an industry newcomer - gets caught up in the momentum to the detriment of herself and those around her.
The whirlwind of fame picks the girls up and catapults them into a life of extravagant hotels, all-night parties and private jets, with scant regard for their past traumas and personal wellbeing. It’s not long before the cracks begin to show.
I can understand why it’s been optioned for TV - it’s going to make a great series. I listened to the audiobook, narrated (seamlessly) by Milly Oldfield, Mei Mei Macleod and Cherise Silvestri. This added a wonderful additional aspect - an original score music soundtrack, so we get to hear Alora’s music.
This is a fast-paced character-driven novel with a solid plot and some difficult themes, including self-harm, drug and alcohol abuse, grooming and exploitation. Do read the trigger warnings.
Alora is a beautiful soul who’ll you’ll want to wrap up in a duvet and hand her a cup of warm cocoa. I also loved Vanessa, a character who appears later in the story exactly when she’s needed and brings just the right amount of tough love.
Grab an early copy and get in before the hype. Five big beautiful ones from me. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 With thanks to MacMillan Audio Saturday books and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ALC. Darkening Song releases on 20 April.

[MrsHarvieReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Darkening Song by Delphine Seddon is a debut novel that takes a harsh look at the price of fame and the difficulty young women face in the male-dominated music industry. The story is told from the alternating points of view of 16-year old singing sensation, Alora, and her 18-year old wannabe manager, Eva.

I was quickly sucked into the drama surrounding these two young women attempting to break into music’s “boys club”. Alora, who gives off Amy Winehouse vibes, dreams of becoming an icon, and places her trust in inexperienced Eva. I enjoyed the first half of the novel which shows Alora as wonderfully self possessed and Eva faking it until she makes it. I grew frustrated during the second half when Alora slides rather predictably into addiction and self harm, and also becomes a victim of grooming and abuse. Meanwhile Eva gets caught up in the success and glamorous lifestyle at the expense of her personal life and Alora’s wellbeing. I would consider this a quietly feminist novel, and would have preferred a different ending for these young women.

For fans of gritty, music industry drama with a side of feminism, I would recommend the audio version. The engaging audio production is enhanced by dual narrators and interspersed with original music and media clips. 3/5⭐️

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for this gifted ALC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
#macaudio2026

[Hailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Darkening Song' is a story of coming to age in the public eye. Set in a dual POV, Alora, a 16 year old who has quickly risen to stardom, battles with the reality of her past while being thrown into the limelight. Eva, her 18 year old amature manager, tries to hold Alora's career together while her own life falls apart.

I binged this in a little under two days. The quickly paced chapters and dual POV pulls you into the story quickly. I loved the Daisy Jones vibes of this story, although found "Gramzee" and "Leon Tusk" to be a little too on the nose. Although modern media plays a major role in this story, I think it could've been even more interesting if it took place in the 90's - magazines and news headlines replacing social media. As someone who lives in the social media age, I prefer to escape it when I pick up a book. The ending took me by surprise and felt a bit rushed / unrealistic, but it did give me a great sense of closure for the character. Overall I enjoyed reading this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Josh Deena · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an eARC for an honest review!

Darkening Song is a book that kept me hooked consistently. Delphine Seddon delivers a tense narrative at a relatively brisk pace throughout, which usually is something that I feel makes some of the characters played down or feel underdeveloped, however Seddon's choice of a dual perspective allows for this to be less of a problem. I think that the parallels between the two are very apparent throughout, which helps tie the story and character arcs together. It provides a fascinating look at the interplay of power, art, gender, and public attention, and is well worth a read for anyone looking to enjoy a bleakly optimistic look at those subjects.

[Lauren | Wordsbetweenlines · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

This is dark, dramatic and also a dive into fame. With short chapters, dual timelines and dual POVs you get a lot of story. It’s compulsive and pulls you into the darkness quickly.

At times it felt disjointed as you go between multiples timelines without clear indications of what’s current vs a memory.

It’s a reminder of the price of fame.

This has a lot of darker themes, particularly around self h*rm, so one to check TWs instead of going in blind.

Pub date: March 10

Thank you @stmartinspress for the arc 🤍

[Kate Hergott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darkening Song is an engaging look at tenuous female friendships, the underside of fame, and overcoming mental health struggles. I enjoyed the alternating POVs between Alora and Eva, and the way their relationship dynamic morphed over time. The narration is fantastic, and the songs Alora writes throughout are actually produced as music, which adds an even more immersive layer to this audiobook production.

Fans of The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead, The Encore by Juliet Izon, and of course Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid will love this one!

[Grace (and Fern) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’ve been enjoying the rise of “music industry fiction,” I have a perfect book for you! Darkening Song follows a teen girl who goes viral for a singing video. She and her almost 20-year-old agent fight their way to the top of the charts, finding the fame and fortune they’ve dreamed of. Alora, the singing sensation, deals with complicated relationships, substance abuse, and mental health issues, while Eva, the manager, finds herself drowning in her boss babe persona.
I really loved the narration of this book, which created a level of immersive complexity that I was not expecting. The two young women are complex and incredibly realistic, dealing with issues from FOMO to body image issues to bartering with 60-year-old men for career advancements. Alora’s artist spirit and Eva’s entrepreneurial determination create a unique dynamic between two teenage girls that’s addictingly melancholic.
For all the darker moments, Darkening Song has a bright and alluring storyline. The fame and fortune is so wild and chaotic, disguising some of the seedier moments until they’re too distracting to ignore. The overall story is about feminism, friendship, redemption, and how life never turns out exactly like you’d expect. I really enjoyed this audiobook, and I’d highly recommend it!
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the free advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

[Sherri Thacker]

I think I’m an outlier opinion here but I just can’t connect with teenage upcoming singing stars. I wanted to like the book but I found myself skipping parts of it because I just couldn’t care about what was happening at the time. It’s a dark story about a girl becoming a singer, told in different point of views, I thought it was just ok. Again, outlier opinion here .. you may love it! Thanks to NetGalley for this advance copy. Out in publication now.

[Martina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Saturday Books for the gifted ARC!

3.5 stars rounded up. First, I want to say the audiobook is the way to go, the songs in the book are real and fully played throughout the story. This is a me problem and a warning to fellow audiobook listeners though, make sure you slow your speed down when the song starts playing. There’s nothing like listening to a full production of a song at 2.25x speed. It was well done though, and I did enjoy that aspect.

Overall, the story was less Daisy Jones & the Six (which is what I was hoping for) and more about the cost of fame, especially at a very young age, and the music industry as a whole. I felt like there were just a few too many things trying to be accomplished by the author and everything just came across a little flat. I didn’t really connect with the characters all the much. I definitely liked what the story was trying to do, it just didn’t feel completely fleshed out to me. I wasn’t quite sure about the ending, I liked it but it felt like we were missing some context to feel fully satisfied.

[Jane Perron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read, sad to see the life of a star.