When I saw The Firebird Song was going to get a TBR and Beyond Tour I got very excited as this was already in my Amazon Wishlist ready to purchase so I knew that I really really wanted a place on this tour. The Firebird Song is I believe to be Arnee's debut which really surprised me and I was so glad that she had chosen Middle Grade. I can't wait to see what else Arnee writes next as I will be auto buying her books. This book is an incredible debut and Arnee not only creates a world which is very dark and unlike what I have seen in any other Middle Grade Books but she also has very strong characters even if they are playing a small role in the story Our main protagonists are Prewitt the son of the Barge Master and Calliope who is the Missing Princess and heir to the Lyrica Kingdom who both are set to be reach their twelfth birthday which is the age of hope. Unfortunately Lyrica is full of Darkness and there is no hope or light to be had. I found the story action packed and even though it was a Dark Middle Grade there was also so many light hearted scenes and it also was able to show the readers the importance of friendship and that there was always consequences to one's actions. But for me the overall message was that no matter how things get dark there is always hope and the symbol of hope is the Firebird. I truly believe both adults and children would enjoy this book . I know I will be getting my own Physical Copy when it releases in the UK and tell everyone just how darn good this book is. So I am giving this book 5 massive stars

“The Firebird Song” is a fun middle-grade fantasy novel filled with friendship and adventure and was hard to put down.

I thought the author did a great job with the book, considering it is her debut novel. The characters are charming, and the storyline is impressive that will immediately grab the reader’s attention. Although the book targets middle-graders, I feel a reader of any age would enjoy this fantasy adventure. The author does an excellent job with the storyline where you wonder how the characters will find the Firebird to sing the song.

Prewitt and Calliope hold firm in the lead, and I liked their friendship. I liked Prewitt’s backstory and the complex emotions he faces with his father while coping with the loss of Granny Arila. One of my favorite moments in the story is when they encounter the Wild Woman and go into the memories. Also, I enjoyed all the other supporting characters like Ardal and the Glade Girls. The Bookkeeper and Falconer also sound like fascinating characters, and I wished they had a more substantial presence in the tale.

However, my only minor criticism of the tale is that everything happens so fast. There is so much happening in each chapter that I felt the story was purely plot-driven instead of focusing on characters. For instance, Prewitt starts his quest for Calliope and immediately finds her. It would have been a brilliant idea to spread this story as a trilogy where we got to know the characters better.

Nevertheless, I loved reading “The Firebird Song,” and I look forward to reading many more novels by the author.

The Firebird Song is a wondrous adventure, filled with courage but most of all hope. There is so much packed into the story and so many elements to enjoy about the book but I liked the sense of hope it inspires all because a boy and a girl believed anything was possible. The story moved at a fast pace, and there were times I wished it would slow down just a bit so I could enjoy the magic of the adventure. A lot is going on but I enjoyed it immensely. With one of its themes that being "just a girl" actually means being able to do anything, I know my nieces will enjoy it as much as I did.

3.5/5 stars
I thought that this book was a really fun middle-grade read! I loved the relationships between Prewitt and Calliope- it was really nice to read a book that focused on platonic relationships rather than romantic ones. The author does a really good job with world building and I really liked her writing. The book also seemed to flow very well and I loved the characters in the novel. The book did cover some darker themes, which I enjoyed because it gave the book more depth.

The only critique I have is that everything seemed so fast-paced and I feel that some character development was lost because of it. I think that the book is extremely plot-driven, which for some people, that’s a good thing, but for me, I tend to be drawn to books that focus more on the characters. I also thought that the book was a little heavy-handed in the messages the author was trying to portray in the novel, but for The Firebird Song to be the author’s debut novel, it’s really good.

Other than that though, it was a good book and I think that it is perfect for middle-grade (and older of course!) readers who are looking for a fun, fast-paced fantasy novel!

The Firebird Song opens up with a glimpse of the past, and it really propels the reader into the Kingdom of Lyrica and this hopeless world that’s come to be.

We first meet Prewitt, a bargeboy who has just turned 12, and is told of his destiny to find the Lost Princess of Lyrica, amid a tragic death in his life. In this kingdom of hopelessness and fear, Prewitt decides no matter what to try and fulfill his destiny. He battles in his head and heart, with his mother’s sadness, and his father who has made him promise to focus on his duty rather than his destiny. Prewitt doesn’t understand the adults in his life and what drives their lack of action, but sets forth anyways to find the Lost Princess.

Calliope has also just turned 12, and is told by the only person she knows that she is the Lost Princess of Lyrica- but that she must remain hidden because she is “just a girl” and doesn’t understand the world outside of where she’s been hidden away. This just drives Calliope into action, and thus the adventure unfolds!

This book is full of action, and a very fast moving plot. At times it is mostly predictable as to what will happen next, and sometimes things seem to happen too easily for Prewitt and Calliope- but I still enjoyed the adventure regardless.

I loved that this tale focuses on friendship, and overcoming loneliness. I love that the children are the ones who bring hope to a hopeless kingdom. It’s the children in this story who defeat fear and an evil Spectress who has called upon “the demon”. I love that at the end of this story we find redemption and forgiveness, and a land filled with hope!

I would absolutely recommend this book to any 8-14 year old who loves a fairytale-esque story filled with evil henchmen, an evil Spectress, a good versus evil type balance, and an adventure filled quest between friends.

There are moments where evil seems to triumph: a child is thrown into a river and is assumed drowned, an older character is killed at the beginning of the book, Calliopes mother is killed by the Spectress when Calliope is an infant; but overall this is a heartwarming tale of overcoming loneliness, finding friendship, being brave, and choosing hope over fear and anger. There is a great lesson in this tale and I think many are going to love The Firebirds Song!

Thank you TBR and Beyond Tours and Netgalley for this review copy.

It is a middle-grade fantasy set in the kingdom of Lyrica. Once a warm and colourful kingdom is now history and only can find in books and songs. Books and songs that are not allowed to read and listen to anymore. The only hope for the revival is a firebird and only a fire queen can summon it by singing a song. Prewitt along with others grew up with firebirds stories and considered them fairytales. Until one day he came to know that the last lost princess is alive.

The magic system of the book was perfect for middle-graders. This is that type of book which is based on details for me the details were too much. I was loving the world so I had my expectations high. But the story kept switching from one place to another and from present to past to past present which can be a bit tricky to keep track of and in the process; I felt a few things were missing. Obviously, I am not the right audience for this book but I have read middle-grades that can hook people of every age. 

This book is an interesting read for middle-graders as the world-building is so unique and detailed.

The Firebird Song follows the adventurous journey of Prewitt and Calliope as they try to save the world from the Spectress. It is filled with twists and mysteries. The world-building is solid, but I found the history of the world a bit confusing. There are prophecies and a Chosen one trope, which I enjoyed. In the book, Prewitt starts by finding the princess Calliope, but he found her almost immediately. It was not what I expected. I thought there would be more obstacles in between. Additionally, I find the friendship and trust between Calliope and Prewitt to be too rushed.
Overall, I found this to be a fun book for young readers.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: Solid Book

This book was a very sweet Middle Grade fantasy set in the kingdom of Lyrica that has been plunged into a time of fear and darkness. The Firebird has disappeared, leaving the Demon free to terrorize the people of the kingdom through his champion, the Spectress. However, the lost princess, Calliope, reaches the Age of Hope (12) at the same time as the Bargeboy, Prewitt, and together they go on a quest to restore the Firebird Feather and summon the Firebird once more.

I think that this book is a good fairy tale type book that would be well-suited for young readers of Middle Grade. It has a lot of classic fairy tale tropes and themes. Reading it as an adult, I personally did not enjoy it as much as other Middle Grade. It felt a bit heavy handed at times, clearly articulating the themes it wanted to convey to readers rather than showing them through the action and character interaction. It honestly reminded me a bit of the Barbie movies, which I actually love, and I feel like the story may have been better suited to television or film rather than the page.

While it was not my favorite book that I've read, I think that it would be enjoyable for young readers of the Middle Grade age range, and I can see it being a good bedtime story for kiddos at night. I think that the author accomplished what she set out to do, and it is a fun adventure for kids. I don't rate less because of my enjoyment levels when I read so far outside my age range, as long as, it is a good story for that age range. Because it is, I go with solid book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Children's Books for providing me with an early eARC of The Firebird Song! This will be released in the US on June 8, 2021!

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this fun middle-grade fantasy!

The Firebird Song is a lovely middle-grade fantasy novel about the importance of hope and being brave even when you feel scared. It features some familiar tropes - a lost princess, a dark force that can be overcome by hope, and a quest to find a magical item that will save the world - but it has enough unique elements to make it enjoyable. The two main characters, Prewitt and Calliope, are endearing, and I enjoyed getting to know them as they embarked on their quest to free their world from the darkness of a mysterious figure called the Spectress. There was a nice twist at the end that I didn't see coming, and the entire plot was fast-paced and fun.

I would recommend this to any fan of middle-grade fantasy!

I thorough enjoyed this book about friendship, family, choices, and destiny. My biggest issue was with the ending; it seemed rushed. The majority of the book moved at a good pace, but the ending wrapped up too quickly.

I would read a sequel if this becomes a series.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Firebird Song

Author: Arnee Flores

Book Series: Standalone for now

Rating: 5/5

Recommended For...: MG readers, fantasy lovers

Publication Date: May 18, 2021

Genre: MG Fantasy

Recommended Age: 10+ (slight violence, some scary moments)

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Pages: 304

Synopsis: The Kingdom of Lyrica was once warm and thriving, kept safe by the Firebird, whose feather and song was a blessing of peace and prosperity. But the Firebird disappeared, and Lyrica is now terrorized by the evil Spectress who wields her powers from within a volcano. All that remains is a mysterious message scrawled on the castle wall in the Queen's own hand: Wind. Woman. Thief.

Young Prewitt has only known time without the Firebird, a life of constant cold, as his village is afraid to tempt the volcano monsters with even the feeblest fire. But he has heard whispers that the kingdom's princess survived the attack . . . and he is certain that if he can find her, together they can save Lyrica.

Princess Calliope has no memories beyond living on her barge on the underground lake. But as she nears her twelfth birthday, she is certain there is more to life than the walls of a cave. When Prewitt finds her, he realizes that she is the missing princess: the only hope for Lyrica. Determined to decipher the meaning of her mother's strange message and find the Firebird, Calliope and Prewitt set off on a quest that puts them in more danger than either of them ever anticipated.

Review: I really liked this one! The book has a fairybook feel to it but it never really felt stale at any point. The pacing was great, the world building was amazing, and the characters were well developed. I also liked the episodic feel to the read.

The only issue I had with the book is that the plot was a bit too predictable for me.

Verdict: Recommend!

While I overall enjoyed the story, I had a difficult time sometimes understanding what was happening. I felt like there were gaps in the world-building that left me with the suspicion that there was a backstory that I had somehow missed. The author's style of writing might be embraced by some readers who like to be immersed in the story fully from the beginning, but I felt disoriented, as if there needed to be more explanation of the setting and its history. As the story was revealed, I figured out parts of it that I hadn't been sure of, but I would be worried that younger readers might struggle with that. The mystery in the story was compelling, and I enjoyed the character's struggle to be brave in difficult circumstances, though. Cal's struggle with loneliness and missing a mother she never knew was well-written. Overall, I was rooting for the characters and wanted to see the story come to a solid ending, but I just felt like there were some gaps along the way.

I really liked this book and the way it was written. Prewitt and Calliope are such a good team and I loved the way that they worked together. I also really enjoyed the idea of the Spectress and the Firebird. This is a great read for kids ages 9-12.

The Firebird Song was a fantastic story. The realm of Lyrica is a horrible place to live, sadness, gloom and hopelessness have engulfed its people. But what about the prophesy, the lost princess, the inkling of hope in the princess summoning the firebird. Almost twelve year old Prewitt is determined to find the famed loss princess and thus fulfill a destiny that his beloved grandma had spoken of right before her death. Calliope hidden away from all of society, on just turning 12, the Age of Hope, finds the lost princess, she is in fact her. The shock on hearing the news mounts as she decides to fulfill her destiny and her surprise meeting of Prewitt starts them both on a memorable adventure. Could they, two 12 year old children, defeat the Spectress and demon and return Lyrica to the magical kingdom it once was?

This book was mesmerizing, lovely, lyrical and features an authentic tween boy and girl. I love the world of Lyrica and can't wait for another installement... (I hope?)

What a sweet story! I really enjoyed the messages about hope and that being brave doesn’t mean you aren’t scared. Lessons that both middle grade readers and people of all ages should know! Calliope and Prewitt were cute characters, but I never felt that connected to either of them.

A prophecy, a princess, and the Age of Hope ...

THE FIREBIRD SONG is a beautifully classic-feeling MG fantasy detailing the struggles of Prewitt, a bargeboy, and Calliope, a lost princess, as they attempt to restore a firebird feather and defeat the evil Spectress who has devastated their land. It's a fast-paced adventure that deals with genuine darkness - Flores often declines to sanitize the gruesomeness of certain elements, but never gratuitously - yet the story keeps circling around central themes of hope, friendship, and bravery.

My only caveat with the book is super subjective. Though there was nothing WRONG with it, or any of the characters, my experience reading it was very ... mild. Though I enjoyed my time in Lyrica, I was never itching to return to the pages; I never felt that "one-more-chapter" tug many of my favorite stories have. It's an absence I can't quite put my finger on, and so I'm interested to see what the consensus is once more people have a chance to read. Nevertheless, I can see this book being a hit with younger readers & fantasy lovers. 3.5/5, rounded up.

4/5 stars

I received an ARC of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

The Kingdom of Lyrica is no longer the place it used to be. Dark and depressing, the citizens have lost hope. The evil Spectress, who serves the Demon, rules over them with her monsters. Prewitt has grown up in this dark world, but he isn’t ready to give up. Following the words of an old prophecy, he decides to find the lost princess. She’s the only one who can call the Firebird, the magical creature that has the ability to fight the Demon. Meanwhile, Calliope has grown up all alone, completely isolated from society. She has no idea what state the world is in. But when she finds out that she’s the lost princess, she knows that she can’t stay locked up forever.

This is a fun and adventurous MG novel! Two kids are the only ones left with hope that the kingdom can be saved, and they take off to save the world on their own! Themes of friendship and hope are throughout the entire book. Younger readers will probably appreciate all the action and the fighting scenes between the main characters and the evil monsters that belong to the Spectress. This story is particularly relevant as the pandemic continues—these two children fighting to save the kingdom and trying to bring joy to the people are an excellent reminder not to lose hope in these dark times. There is no sexual content or language, but there are a few graphic descriptions (mostly of a cursed person) that might be a bit much for younger children.

Overall, this was an enjoyable MG novel with plenty of action and uplifting themes!

This was a fun middle-grade fantasy about the importance of hope and friendship. What made it stand out though, I thought, was the interesting mythical world the author created and the twist that I actually didn't see coming until right before it happened. I enjoyed watching Prewitt's growth throughout the story and I think Calliope was a well-done character - strong, yet kind. I don't know if the author plans to write more books with these characters (I get the feeling this is more of a standalone story), but I'd love to explore more facets of the world that were mentioned in this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with this eARC in exchange for my honest review.