This was compared to ACOTAR and although I hate that book, this was something I enjoyed. I love romance and magic and sirens. Yeah it was fun!

A great introduction to a new series.
I did really love the characters and especially Lira has already grown so much over the course of this first book, I can’t wait to see the other MCs do the same.
The romance between Neira and Elisa was great and very cute, I would have loved to see more of it. The romance between Sai and Lira was a bit harder to love as there are so many ups and downs, and to be honest, the whole “you betrayed me” was a bit much (and also not true?). honestly, I’m not sure if the two of them know what communication means. I’m still rooting for them, though.
The plot and world building were both interesting as well.
All in all, I enjoyed reading this a lot, but ultimately I don’t have much to say about it. We’ll see if I have more to say once I’ve read the sequels.

Songs of Vice is a fantasy story full of amazing characters and fun heist! This is a dangerous story full of friendship and romance. There is amazing imagery and descriptions to match the great world building. Lira and Sai especially had great chemistry and amazing individual arcs!

3 stars.

I enjoyed this book. I never knew I was a siren girl until giving this book a go. It took me a little while to get into, but once I did I flew through it.

I did find I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I would’ve liked, but there was good diversity which I appreciated.

Overall, I enjoyed.

First, I would like to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love fantasy books with fae and when I saw the cover of this book, I was curious to know more, so I read the synopsis. Well, the premise was so good that I wanted to read more of it.
This book has a lot of tropes that I love and it leaved me hooked since the beginning.

- One bed trope (I’m addicted to this trope)
- Faes (my favourite book series is Tog so I love books with faes)
- MAGIC (a fantasy with magic has my heart)
- Multiple POVs (for me it felt great because it is amazing to know more about the thoughts of other characters)

I can say it was interesting since the first chapter, and I loved the romance, the story line, the plot twists, the world building... It’s a book that will leave you addicted and wanting for more and more.

So yes, I recommend it if you, like me, love fantasy.

This was a super quick and easy Fantasy read.

It has a bit of everything, romance, intrigue, mystery, a heist, shady characters, a royal court, what's not to enjoy. When Lira picked her mark to help her escape the claws of her mother she never imagined she would fall so quickly and heavily for Sai, or that he held is own form of magic. And so begins their journey and Lira is swept up in the world of magic and fairies that she barely understands.

I'm not sure if this is marketed as a YA read or an adult read, the writing while super easy to fly through, seemed a little juvenile, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, there were just times I wished for a little more depth.

I loved all the characters, and there were a lot of them to try and keep up with, again, I just wish I could have learnt a bit more about all of them, would have loved a little more of a back-story to understand how they became who they were, especially the mysterious Sai.

I'm generally not a big fan of romance, but the insta-love in this one seemed to suit the storyline and added to the intrigue - it made you want to know more - again, this is where I wish we could have delved a bit deeper.

It ends on a cliffhanger - argh - but you kind of expect that when you know you are reading Book 1 of a series, there has to be a hook to make you want to pick up the next book, and I certainly what to find out what happens next.

A huge thank you for the opportunity to read Songs of Vice, would definitely recommend this one - it's a super quick read that's lots of fun and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series and hopefully finding out a bit more about this eclectic group of characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t for me. I might pick it back up later because I really loved the premise of it and it sounded so interesting but I could not get through the fist 50-ish pages. And that is not saying anything bad about this book, it’s just that I was not in the right state of mind to read this 🫶

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC.

When I saw the book had sirens in it, I was immediately interested. The summary as well for it being a heist type book had DnD vibes all over it. I loved the twist for the sirens they did. Typically I am used to them being involved with the sea and residing there or by it, so having a traveling troupe was a new and enjoyable perspective on the creatures, especially for Lira, who wanted nothing to do with her people. Her mother also seemed like a mother of nightmares - I'd have wanted to run away from her too! I can't say I liked the various pov back and forth the novel did - it got a bit confusing at times for me to change perspectives so often but I admit it did provide more insight to the various characters choices. Sai as the main male protagonist had some amusing moments when he was thinking of how to navigate sticky situations. I was laughing at his thoughts here and there. I also enjoyed the LGBT rep in the book and wouldn't mind some more side stories with those side characters being the focus. Overall, was a nice book and if anyone is looking for a fun, slow burn romance/found family type book, this would definitely be one to look into.

Title: A Captivating Fantasy with Some Reservations

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Review:
Song of Ice by Nicole Bailey presents a captivating fantasy world filled with siren enchantment, dark magic, and an ambitious heist. The story revolves around Lira, a siren longing to escape her mother's cruel troupe, and a mysterious con artist on a mission to retrieve stolen magic. As their paths intertwine, they find themselves entangled in a dangerous journey that tests their loyalty and exposes them to a realm of treacherous fairy courts and mystical creatures.

The author skillfully crafts a fast-paced narrative with multiple points of view, allowing readers to delve into the perspectives of various characters. While this technique provides depth and insight into the story's intricacies, I personally found the multiple POVs to be overwhelming at times. The constant shifts in perspective often created a sense of information overload, making it challenging to fully connect with individual characters and their personal journeys.

Despite this reservation, Song of Ice excels in its world-building and the creation of a fantastical realm brimming with dark magic and enchantment. The author's vivid descriptions immerse readers in a realm filled with danger, mystery, and unexpected twists. The relationships and romantic elements within the story are intriguing, adding layers of complexity to the narrative.

However, the plot occasionally feels rushed, with some obstacles and developments lacking the necessary depth and exploration. Certain aspects of the world and its magical systems could have been further developed, enhancing the overall understanding and engagement with the story.

In conclusion, Song of Ice is a captivating New Adult fantasy with a blend of romance, magic, and found family dynamics. While the multiple POVs and occasional rushed plot hindered my personal enjoyment, the imaginative world-building and the author's ability to create suspenseful twists kept me engaged. I give the book a solid 3-star rating, acknowledging its strengths while recognizing the reservations I had with the multiple perspectives. Readers who enjoy fast-paced fantasies with intricate magical worlds may find themselves enthralled by the tale Nicole Bailey weaves in Song of Ice.

I requested this book because I love a good heist book but unfortunately, this wasn’t a fast paced heist book. I DNFed it at 58% because the heist hadn’t even really started. This is good if you like slow paced character exploration but it wasn’t for me. I was very much indifferent about the characters but I did appreciate the sapphic relationship and non binary rep. I feel like nothing really happened and I would have just been forcing myself to continue reading it for the sake of it. This isn’t a bad book at all, just not my jam and way too slow for me.

Songs of Vice by Nicole Bailey is the first book in the fantasy series The Siren’s Call. It was released this year, and I was lucky to be able to read it through a free e-copy via Netgalley. I mean that honestly because I absolutely loved the book.

Once I got to the chapter 10 mark, I wasn’t able to stop reading till I reached the end. I definitely recommend this to you! It does have a side-plot of romance so keep that in mind and look up any possible triggers.

Reasons to read this book

Lira’s character??! I loved it. At first glance, I wasn’t sure if her character was someone I would enjoy reading about but you just have to read ahead to know that you’ll love her.

Lira and Sai. I really liked their dynamic. They’re completely unafraid of each other (very dangerous powers that everyone is afraid of and all that). I liked that they were just as powerful as each other.

This story is told through multiple POVs and I am very happy to report that though I did have favourite characters, I was never tempted to skim the other characters’ POVs. The writing and storylines were just that good.

Okay- the fact that one of the kingdoms in the story is Indian just makes me immeasurably happy (I’m Indian, in case you weren’t aware of that :)). I loved the representation. Not only of the Indian culture but there was a lot of LGBTQ+ representation as well and I loved that.

Lastly, the plot twist at the end. I’m sorry. I gasped out loud. Maybe I was too invested in the book to predict the twist but I honestly did NOT see that coming. It was great.

All these reasons just cement the fact that I’m going to be reading the sequel to this book the second it releases. Or maybe even earlier? Fingers crossed for an ARC.

If you like fantasy with a side-plot of romance, go read this book! My rating- 5 stars.

If you’re planning on purchasing this read, please consider using the following amazon affiliate link to purchase it. It would be at no extra cost to you and would really help me, thank you!

purchase this read: https://amzn.to/3MEmi9I (it’s on Kindle Unlimited)

No matter how hard I tried to like Bailey’s work i just can’t. I read the entire Apollo Ascending series and i agree and she has brilliant plot twist, but a lot if her characters just feel directionless aside from the main one which just makes it feel us-less that its multi-perspective. Along with this, her writing is very dry and almost juvenile, yet it doesn't match the New Adult topics being handled. I don't think Ill be able to finish this series like I did the Apollo series, however that doesn't mean this book is bad, just definitely not for me with the previously mentioned issues.

Nicole Bailey's fantasy follows siren Lira on her journey escaping home, running into a group of Fae, and deciding to join in on their heist. Bailey does a great job of writing a fantasy that is easy to understand and digest. She doesn't confuse readers but creates a simple world building of Sirens and Fae. I feel the book could have been longer, less point of views, and built the characters up more for the reader.

I had so much fun reading this book! The world was so compelling and I enjoyed reading about his group of thieves on a mission to steal a magical object back from the enemy court. If you liked Six of crows, you will probably like this one. The world is very different, I’d actually compare it to ACOTAR but the pacing is pretty similar and this novel also features the found family trope which I had so much fun with. I must admit, I found the plot a little weak at time: they got away with things really easily and I was disappointed that the heist went off so easily. For the characters, I liked all of our crew and how diverse the cast was, for example, one of the POVs is a queer woman in a relationship with another woman (I loved their couple, 1) because GAYS, 2) because they were freaking adorable) as well as a non-binary character using they/them pronouns. Another side character is also a gay man :). The plot twists at the end did have me gasping and I’m REALLY excited for the rest of the series which compensated for the betrayal I was promised and fell flat in my opinion. Honestly, I had a lot of fun reading this book, I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, quick and entertaining. This totally deserves a 4 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nicole Bailey has a talent for story-telling. Songs of Vice, is no exception. I thoroughly enjoyed this read. From the characters, the found family, the plot, and the world-building, Bailey builds something exceptional here that will keep me coming back for more. While the beginning has a slow build-up, Bailey always does something powerful with her endings and this one will keep me coming back for the second book!

This supernatural story focusing on the Siren was captivating however I found myself being able to put this down and not gravitate to it for other books. This has one of my favorite troupes which is found family and this was what drew me to the book. I think it was to do with the writing style and had there some small change to the language and more links to the lore then I would have not been able to put this down. There are some positives for this and for this I would be recommending this to people who have read Into the Drowning Deep as it has the same type of story. Unfortunately this was not for me and this however will not stop me from recommending to friends and family

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc!!


I loved, loved, loved the premise but the execution wasn’t for me.
The story was good, but I had some issues getting into it. Usually I don’t have to force myself to keep reading, but at times it felt like I had to.
Still, the queer rep was much much appreciated because it’s still so rare to see it.
Overall, not a bad book in the least but maybe not that interesting for seasoned readers.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974


A diverse, queer cast full of magic. This story features a made family which is similar to reality for many LGBTA persons. Some of the story takes part in the human world and others in the land of fae. Where they have to navigate politics and a demanding mother. It seemed to end far too soon so I look forward to the next installment.

This book really struggled in the beginning but towards the end it picked up enough for me to give book 2 a try.
It suffers from underdevelopment of its backstory and characters. Also, our main characters lack chemistry.

This may not have been the most perfect book but the end was enjoyable enough that it is not a total miss. Hopefully Bailey can redeem the story in book two.

5/5⭐️

I’d like to start by saying I LOVED THIS BOOK. A queer, fantasy, found family, heist/adventure story with lots of romance and friendship sprinkled in? Sign me tf up.

A cross between YA and NA, this is a story set in the fae world and following Lira, a powerful but shy siren, as she attempts to escape the clutches of her controlling mother while navigating the new crew (and their handsome leader) she’s found herself intertwined with. Oh, and there’s a heist and damn it all, I love a good heist.

This book had such a diverse range of characters, especially queer characters whose queerness is so natural it’s barely a part of the plot, and I loved every single one of them. Sometimes the side characters, specifically their depth, are sacrificed for the development of the main characters but I felt that all the side characters (even the smaller ones like Lennox and Margo) were very well developed and complex. For once in my life, there wasn’t a single POV in a multiple POV book I wanted to skip.

Sai and Lira, the main couple in the series, are cute, don’t get me wrong. I love a Ross-and-Rachel, will-they-won’t-they romance. But Neia and Elisa????? LOVE THEM. We love to see a thriving healthy sapphic relationship. I’m a sucker for fated mates and this book is ripe with them.

The plot is also so gripping. The world building is interesting but not so complicated I got lost and lose interest. I never found myself bored, always eager to find out what happens next. I think that the multiple POV aspect of the book does it a huge favour as any possible boring moments meant we just switched to another character’s storyline. Did I mention there’s a heist? GODDAMN I LOVE A HEIST.

My only problem with this book is that I don’t have the next one yet!!!! I need to know what happens next or I might die. Do Lira and Sai work it out? What will Lennox do, especially now that we know what we know about Lira? What about Margo? Will we get another heist? Will the team stay together to continue on the mission? INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW (me, I want to know).

Anyways, this book is great for fans of Six of Crows (I might’ve mentioned something about a heist) and A Court of Thorns and Roses (#foundfamily4lyfe) and I highly recommend it to any fans of the genre.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed within it are my own.