A big thanks to Netgalley and Tundra Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn't pass on the cover, but then you mentioned the magic of Bardugo's Shadow and Bone, and I was instantly sold.

The Kiss of the Nightingale by Adi Denner is a YA fantasy novel about a stolen gem that transforms an orphan's destiny. 1890, Lutèce: In this city, Talents are everything: precious gems that gift unrivalled skills to their owners. The most coveted, Elite Talents, are claimed by the aristocracy, passed through generations by blood magic. Cleodora dreamed of inheriting her father’s Tailoring Talent, but when he died, the magic died with him. Now she’s left with empty promises, a dress shop she can’t keep afloat, and her bed-ridden younger sister. But everything changes when she meets the dark-eyed Lady Dahlia Sibille. Dahlia offers Cleodora a Singing Talent – a chance to save her beloved sister and rewrite her own fate. From the first instant, Cleodora is bewitched… There’s just one catch: she needs to steal an Elite Talent from the prestigious Lenoir family. As Lutèce’s nightingale, Cleodora is the star of the opera’s galas and balls, worlds away from the darkness and dust of home. But the handsome yet infuriating Vicomte Lenoir is nothing like she expected. Soon, the Vicomte’s teasing smiles win her over, even as Dahlia’s seductive whispers linger in her ears. Torn between Dahlia, who gave her everything, and the Vicomte, who holds the price of her freedom, is Cleodora in danger of losing it all? Or can she prove that magic isn’t the only gift that counts?

First things first, I LOVED the general vibes of this book. I knew going into this novel, I was going to swoon and be swept off my feet with magical descriptions and a unique magic system based on gems. All whilst Denner paid close to attention to their details, and general plucks of their prose. I just *Chef's kiss* I can't wait to read more from Denner.

One thing I did keep getting hung up, was the general world building. Or the real lack thereof. Now don't get me wrong, the magic system was cool and intriguing. But I felt a little lost at times, due to the general grounding details that fantasy books often need, history based or not. While the pacing was a bit teeter-totter at times. But I feel like those were compensated with the general atmosphere Denner put forth.

In closing, this is a wonderful book that is perfect for all the booktok girlies looking for a magical fantasy that isn't too dependent on spice or hardcore fantasy worldbuilding. It's a magnificent first step into what fantasy can be.

4.25/5 <3
WOW THIS WAS REALLY GOOD OMG. The details were out of this world, I truly felt enveloped into the story and universe. This book really should be more popular aaaaa 😭🩷

I was really interested in the premise here, especially with the Talents being able to be stolen and transferred. However, between the uneven pacing, the lack of character development, and the lackluster love triangle, I was left without any real connection to the story or a reason to keep reading. I finished the book because I never recommend a book to my students (many of whom I believe would like this one, if they can stick it out through the sometimes-slow, sometimes abrupt pacing), but I wouldn't have had the motivation to do so without that.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review.

I loved the concept of gems giving people magical talents and I really liked set things of what seemed liked an alternate 19th century Paris.
But unfortunately it didn’t really work for me. I struggled to connect with the characters especially the MC. The story also includes a live triangle bit for some reason I didn’t feel any chemistry with either of them.

Great concept but I don’t think the story was for me.

2.5 stars bumping up to 3 for the originality.

This book was so interesting, with a magic system I had not seen before and was absolutely captivated by! Magic Talents put into different gemstones can be passed down to someone else, biologically related or not, through the transfer of blood. Cleodora’s father passes away before he can give her his Tailor Talent, but through an incident of happenstance (so she thinks), she is given the chance of a lifetime: to take on a prophetic Opera Talent, making her the nightingale of Lutèce–but at what cost?

There were ups and downs in the novel, though they were minor enough not to ruin my experience. Cleo seemed a bit too naive, and though she made her deal with the seductive Lady Sybille early in the novel, she doesn’t seem to actually understand what is happening (or have any sense of doubt or critical thinking) until nearly the end of the book. I also was just generally confused if this book counts of queer, questioning, or baiting, given that Cleo describes this ongoing infatuation and borderline obsession with Sybille that never goes anywhere, especially since she ends up with a man who I cannot recall a single detail of and did not find intriguing or interesting in the slightest.

That being said, I think the novel is innovative for an urban fantasy, and I did actually love the ending a lot. On the whole, I give it 4⭐

*Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

I saw later that this book was supposed to give Bridgerton vibes with some added Phantom of the Opera feeling. I didn’t pick up on either of those while reading it, but if you like those elements of opera, intrigue, and romance, then this book may appeal to you.

The magic system in this book is likely to appeal to many YA fantasy readers. The blood magic and gift elements are reminiscent of other works, but it has uniqueness that makes the book as a whole feel fresh. The setting also had familiar elements, and the details of things like opera performers fighting for parts and fame made the side characters and setting come to life. There’s an almost dizzying amount of description of both opulence and desperation that make reading the book feel enchanting. I do wish there was more context on talents and how people survive without them since it’s such a major part of the story, but I only had those questions after I finished, not during it.

The main character, Cleo, is an interesting one, as she is somewhat naive and world-weary at the same time. She’s been used to loss and disappointment, and she’s desperate to change her life and her sister’s. Because of that, she doesn’t always fully think through the consequences of doing something or the emotional response she has to something. She makes several bad decisions and gets in with the wrong people. However, I liked how in the end, she’s given the chance to make things right and is allowed to change and grow. She doesn’t get off lightly, but there is an understanding of the nuance and complexity that she’s had to navigate.

Cleo’s frequent battles are both frustrating and endearing, making reading the book fun for me. They demonstrate how people in desperate circumstances sometimes make desperate decisions, but it’s never done in a way that makes me get too frustrated with her or the book to continue. In a nutshell, she feels very human.

There’s something of a love triangle, but this one didn’t feel annoying. The choices were so different, representing different wants, needs, and things Cleo is trying to discover about herself. It’s less of a love triangle for the sake of one and more a reflection on the complexity Cleo is facing in trying to determine who she wants to be and what she wants her life to look like. I did wish the lesbian side of the relationship read as a little less exotic and potentially stereotypical that way, but the fact that there are other LGBTQ characters in society helps take away some of the annoyance of that. I did REALLY want Cleo to take a second to think about something other than her female love interest's body for a change though, especially considering how little she seems to think about the male interest’s physical appearance. It occasionally seemed imbalanced, but it feels like it ends with the right mix and decision.

There’s a lot about this book that feels almost seductive. It’s full of wonder, glitz, glam, passion and romance, desperation, mystery, loyalty, friendship, enchanting characters, and enough ties to the real world to feel grounded. While not a perfect book, there’s a lot to enjoy here, and I can see romantasy readers and YA fiction lovers alike enjoying this.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for my honest review. The opinions are my own and were not influenced by receiving a copy.

This was one of my most anticipated reads for autumn, and I knew that the author is an opera singer. I was thrilled to start this one, but I think my expectations were a bit high and this wound up being just an okay read. Let me explain why this didn’t work well for me.

The start of the book was pretty slow. Normally I don’t mind when a fantasy book starts slow because it gives me time to adjust to the world and the magic system and characters, but this one was too slow-paced for me. I found my attention wandering, and had to restart this book multiple times. I wound up listening to it on audiobook to see if it would hold my attention better, and I was able to finish it that way, although I still had to stop and reread multiple chapters.

Magic systems tend to intrigue me, but this one was a little flat. The idea of Talents being inherited through family lines could have been so intriguing, but realizing that they’re reliant on a piece of jewelry and a stone set into it was a bit of a letdown. Cleodora was supposed to inherit her father’s stone so that she could become a tailor like her father, while her sister Anaella inherited their mother’s stone. But when their father passed suddenly, Cleodora is left without a Talent and thus a means of income to support herself and her sick younger sister. I was confused why in this alternate version of Paris, she wasn’t able to sew without the Talent—I mean, can no one sing if they don’t have a Singing Talent? However, Talents can be stolen quite easily, which made me wonder how people weren’t stealing them more often.

When Cleodora gets caught trying to steal a Talent, she is caught and put into a difficult situation by a beautiful and intriguing woman named Dahlia, who gives Cleodora a Singing Talent in exchange for Cleodora stealing Talents for her in the future. But Cleodora is only asked to steal one Talent—that of the Vicomte. What follows is a love triangle between Cleodora, manipulative and scheming yet beautiful Dahlia, and the Vicomte, but I never felt invested in the romance. It just felt like Dahlia was a walking red flag, while the romance between Cleodora and the Vicomte felt forced.

I love seeing character development in a book, and Cleodora really does grow over the course of the story. She decides what is most important to her, and I really appreciated seeing her change throughout the book. Yet somehow, the characters felt a little flat to me. Cleodora was a little bland, and none of the side characters felt multidimensional.

Although I didn’t really make this sound good, the plot was intriguing. I especially liked how it ended, and how Denner wrapped everything up. There was drama at the opera house, and it made it really fun to read. I even checked out some reviews from my friends and other readers, and they generally enjoyed the book, so take my review for what it is: my own personal experience while reading this book. I’d recommend this to readers who like romantasy, love triangles, opera, and the behind the scenes action.

My favorite part of the book was the unique magic system. The society and time frame gives some Bridgerton-vibes as well. I'm socked that there are not more scandals within the book regarding the gems as the mines are dried up with no new Talents produced. It also pays into the perception of value based on legacy rather than passion or inherit skill.
I feel like the pacing was a bit slow in the beginning, but it picks up and the storyline sucks you in. I think the book was well written with good nuances to the society/opera scene, as well as the gem magic.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this!

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.

In 1890s Lutèce, magical Talents determine your place in society, with the most powerful ones kept by the aristocracy. After her father’s death, Cleodora is offered a Singing Talent by Lady Dahlia Sibille—but there’s a catch: she has to steal an Elite Talent from the Lenoir family. As Cleodora finds herself swept into high society, she’s torn between Dahlia’s tempting offer and her growing feelings for Vicomte Lenoir. In the end, she has to decide what really matters—power or something deeper.

I was really intrigued by the idea of this book—a mix of historical fiction and a unique magic system where talents are passed down through gemstones. It had great potential, but unfortunately, the execution fell short. The chapter transitions were abrupt, often jumping mid-action to time skips that left me feeling like I’d missed key parts of the plot. Cleodora, as a character, was frustrating—whiny, indecisive, and selfish—and the supporting characters and dialogue lacked depth. I got about halfway through before DNFing, and sadly, it left me in a reading slump.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada.

Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for honest feedback.

This was a fun little historical romance. I found the pacing to be nice and as a Phantom fan I found the Operatic parts of the book compelling. This book is full of passion and deceit and some great spice!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
On Goodreads I’m giving it a 4 because a 3 isn’t quite fair
But there were a couple elements that prevented this from being a 4 or 5 star read

I loved the phantom of the opera similarities. Definitely had bridgerton vibes. I loved the idea and the ending. I loved certain elements that brought all the feelings.
But
I felt like the relationship between the MMC and the MFC lacked attention to make an attraction and relationship believable. There is a MFC on FC moment that made ZERO sense for the characters and felt thrown in. It was uncomfortable to read.
There are also moments in the book that just DRAGGED.
Great potential just needs some tweaks

The Kiss of the Nightingale
by Adi Denner

Thank you Penguin Random House Canada, Tundra Books, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

3.5 Stars

Read if you like: Shadow and Bone, Phantom of the Opera, Bridgerton

SUMMARY:
The Kiss of the Nightingale is set in an alternate-reality historical France, where Talents separate the upper-class from those experiencing poverty. Talents are magical gems that give their owner impressive skill in a specific ability: singing, art, etc. The only way to obtain a Talent is by inheriting one, which is passed down through blood magic. Cleo dreamed of inheriting her father's Tailoring Talent, but when he passed with his Talent on him, it was lost as well. Cleo, and her sister Anaella, are orphaned, poor, and desperate. When Anaella's falls ill, Cleo would be willing to do anything to save her - and accepts an offer. Lady Dahlia offers her a Singing Talent, but it comes at a cost. Cleo must help Dahlia steal a Talent from one of the more upper-class families. In order to do so, she needs to get close to Vicomte Lenoir. She is captivated by Dahlia, and is willing to do what she asks of her, but at what cost?

MY THOUGHTS:
This book gives readers a fantastic blend of historical fiction, romance, and fantasy. I enjoyed the sisterly relationship between Cleo and Anaella, and how they cared for each other. My rating would be higher if the action has started just a little bit sooner - I didn't find myself really getting into this until about the 80% mark. That's where the storyline really changes and the plot starts progressing. I think this was a solid read that I would recommend, but I personally prefer more action in my romantasy books. I would have loved to see a little more of the romance between Vicomte Lenoir and Cleo as well, I felt that we didn't really get to know him very well as a potential love interest.

A compelling and twisty YA 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 seductress, Dahlia who offers Cleo a coveted singing "Talent" in exchange for Cleo promising to steal another's "Talent." Cutthroat and filled with love triangles, betrayals and shocking twists, this was great on audio 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!

A book that ponders what would happen if Talents were inherited through blood and aided by gems but the gems are limited. How far would you go to gain the use of one?

Cleo should have inherited her father's Talent, but he died before he could pass it on and his gem was never found. Now she struggles to keep her sister and herself fed as her sister sinks deeper into illness. However, she falls into a more dangerous world when she attempts to steal jewelery from an old woman and accidentally ends up with the necklace containing her Talent. Now she's on the hook in a gilded world.

The world and characters were well-developed, and the idea of Talents was rather unique. I did suspect how some of the major plot points were going to go, but this was a fun little romp.

I absolutely loved this book! To be fair it would be hard to drop me into such a luscious and beautifully historical fantasy world, with a bisexual heroine who finds herself in the midst of a bi (panic) love triangle, AND with plot that bears a significant nod of inspiration to Phantom Of The Opera, and have me not fall in love with it. I’m pretty sure this book was a dish made specifically for me, cooked with all my favorite ingredients, and I loved it!

The prose is beautiful and the world is wonderfully described in every setting, from the shabby dress shop where our heroine begins her story, to the dark and alluring seedy underworld she finds herself drawn into, to the glittering opulence of her place center stage as Prima Donna of the Opera! The beautiful and clear vision of this historical aesthetic combined with an interesting and unique jewel based magic system that gives the world its own style and flavor, I greatly enjoyed the worldbuilding! I would have enjoyed the chance to get to know even more about this world and seen more of the layers of that world building, but that’s something I’ll have to hope to get the chance to explore in Cleo’s next adventure!

The characters are wonderfully dynamic, with our main character in particular facing her struggles and triumphs with a relatable rollercoaster of emotions and with a sense of gray morality that I truly enjoyed! The author’s clear deep knowledge and familiarity with the world of Opera and performance is made clear and gives Cleo’s journey a delightfully genuine quality I really enjoyed. From time to time the story falls into some fairly classic and somewhat predictable Romantasy tropes in terms of beats and romantic developments, but that didn’t make it one bit less enjoyable!

There was just something irresistibly delicious about this book, a Pâtisserie in written form, and I would heartily recommend it!

I had a lot of fun with this book, it was fun and exciting with the overarching theme of flirting with danger, speaking to those darker parts of ourselves that want to take what we think we deserve regardless of who it might hurt.
The romance was fun, the plot was exciting, but the only reason this is a four star is that I found the big twists to be predictable. Though that being said, the predictability didn't really hinder my reading experience. A solid book that I recommend folks to read if they enjoy heists, robin hood-esq ideologies, and a victorian setting.

3.5/5
I did enjoy this one, I was a little slow getting into this, but it picked up by the last half, making it easier to get through. This had a decent amount of Phantom of the Opera references, which made me love it even more! I really liked the magic system in this, the world building was also well done. It was unique and interesting. Sometimes I'm not a fan of love triangles, but this one was executed well. Overall a solid read!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Publishing for the ARC!

The Kiss of the Nightingale by Adi Denner was everything I was hoping it would be!

First, that cover is absolutely lovely and I can't wait to add it to my shelves. Now that I have that out of the way, Cleodora is our fmc and she lives in a world where if you don't have a Talent, you don't really have much. Lutece is a world where gems hold Talents that gift skills to their owners and the most coveted, Elite Talents are claimed by the aristocracy and passed through generations by blood magic. Unfortunately for Cleodora, she was supposed to inherit her father's Tailoring Talent but he died before he could pass the magic to her. Now, she is struggling to support herself and her sick sister. When she sinks so low that she attempts to steal something and comes face to face with Lady Dahlia Sibille, her lift takes a turn she never expected it to. Cleodora is offered an opportunity to take on a singing Talent which would offer her a chance to save her sister and give her an opportunity at a life she never dreamed of. The only catch is that she needs to steal an Elite Talent from one of the most prestigious families of the aristocracies, the Lenoir family and she doesn't have long to figure out how to do it.

As Lutèce’s nightingale, Cleodora is the star of the opera’s galas and balls, but the Vicomte Lenoir is nothing like she expected. Soon, the Vicomte’s teasing smiles win her over, even as Dahlia’s seductive whispers linger in her ears. Torn between Dahlia, who gave her everything, and the Vicomte, who holds the price of her freedom, Cleodora has to choose who is really the right one for her and not only that, who is she willing to betray.

I thought the character development and relationship building was done really well here. Cleodora is out of her depth when she gets her singing Talent and I thought Denner did a great job of reflecting that in the story. The development of the relationship between Cleo and Nuriel was great and while I figured out what Dahlia's Talent was, it didn't make it any harder to hear her admit it in the end. I also loved the friendship between Lirone and Cleo - even though it was bumpy, when it mattered, they didn't give up on each other. And then there is Anaella - she pushes Cleo to not give up who she truly is and I appreciated that regardless of what Dahlia offered her, she didn't cave.

As I said, I enjoyed this book and found myself unable to put this one down. If you're looking for a Young Adult, Fantasy with some romance, definitely pick this one up. I don't think you will be disappointed.

This was unfortunately a DNF at 19% for me. Adi Denner is clearly talented at world building and descriptive language as I felt myself transported to her version of Belle Epoche France. However, while I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of gowns and locations I felt that it was taking too long for anything to happen plot wise which is why I chose not to continue with the book.