CW: blood, loss of parents, addiction, abuse

This is the sequel to Nightbirds which I really loved last year. The characters are definitely the best part although I feel like they focused the most on Matilda more than Sayer, Fen, and Æsa. Matilde's POV can be a bit dragging on at time and I wish there was a bit more from the other girls. The first half of the book dragged and I feel like most of the action happened in the second half. It's still a good sequel, but it's not great.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Great sequel, really enjoyed it. Same great world and characters and writing.

I read an arc of Nightbirds in Sep of 2022, so I re-read the first book before reading this one. This follows our main four characters from the last book, Ae, Sayer, Matilde and Fen. My favorite thing about this sequel was Sayer and Fen's relationship, but it's a small part of the book. Matilde plays the biggest role, with Ale sort of on the sidelines at the start. There's also a ton of side male characters to remember. I like the different POV's of the girls and the little interludes from the perspectives of others. This was a good sequel with new threats and new powers to stop it, as well as themes of women sticking together and fighting back against those that want their power for themselves.

I received a copy through NetGalley for review.

I was very excited to receive a copy of Fyrebirds, because I loved Nightbirds so much.

And it was fantastic to see all the growth in these strong, young magical women. To see them breakaway from the things that previously caged them in. I really enjoyed this! Seeing them all come into their own and embrace one another and push their limits for change.

Magical women have always existed in Simta, but the church has longed worked to paint them a dangerous witches in need of control, and a prohibition has existed for hundreds of years pushing them either underground or in hiding. The only way for them to gain a little power for themselves was through the Nightbird system. Marrying powerful houses and bestowing bits of their powers to well paying clients through a kiss, anonymously.

But this last season of Nightbirds rebelled against the system uniting their powers and making themselves known. Now they're left to uncover just how much about their powers has been stripped from them and what they can really do. Hundreds of years ago four powerful nightbirds united as Fyrebirds and saved the city from disaster and the church has hidden the truth from everyone.
Their powers have a link together, and it strengthens the powers of other Nightbirds around them
Matilde, Sayer, Fenlin and Aesa have a strong connection to one another they are stronger together.

But the church fears them more than ever, and powerful men want to control them and their powers, and the other Fyrebirds. Each one has a decision to make about claiming their own power, facing their past, and decide how they want to live in the future. Are they strong enough to meet the future they want and then grasp it. It's time for the Nightbirds to step into the light of day.

Nightbirds was one of my favourite books last year so I was super excited to dive into this one. I love the author's writing. She probably has one of the easiest action scenes to read cause I can visualize it all in my mind. I do think that AEsa didn't get as much attention (she's my fave) so I personally wanted to see more of her. This book didn't captivate me as much as the first one did, but it was still engaging and the ending wrapped up nicely.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. Fyrebirds was SUCH an amazing follow up to Nightbirds. I reread the last 25% of Nightbirds first before starting this one so I could really just dive right in, and they flow together SO well. Ms. Armstrong's way of writing is flawless, and really keeps you invested the entire time. I can't wait to add these to my physical shelf, and will certainly be recommending them!

This is such an immersive universe. I absolutely love love loved these characters and this journey. I actually hadn't realized it's a sequel and read this one without reading the first (I know, not something I'd usually recommend), Even though I plan to read the first one, I still was able to be wholly invested in the story and enjoy it thoroughly. The prose was sparkly and fun, the story was full of magic and really fun moments, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

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Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this title. This review contains my honest thoughts.

Ya'll don't even know how long i have been WAITING for this sequel!!! I am on the floor. This was absolutely incredible and getting to dive back into the Nightbirds world has been the highlight of my month. I was ready to find out where the girls were headed in this one, and how their powers would grow and it did not disappoint. Mathilde continued to be my favorite fire lady of them all, and I am glad to say that it was just as magical, intense, and glittery as the first one! The nods yet again to religion and classism hit hard, and the addition of the political takeover and rebellion just really pulled it all together. I simply cannot recommend this series enough if you love 20s-style fantasy, a group of bad ass women, and the overall theme of gaining strength and believing in yourself.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.