Fabulous example of a fresh and intriguing YA book! It grabbed my attention and held it to the end. The setting was vivid and the vibes were perfect. Highly recommend to YA fans!

This was such a unique world and story and I absolutely fell in love with it. I was getting major Caraval vibes at the beginning and the book just got better and better. The world, the powers, and the underlying messages and meaning were fantastic. I loved the characters and the multiple povs. Brilliant story!

I loved this book so much and I cannot wait for the next one. What a different story that I could not put down.

In Simta there is a group of special girls with rare powers that are outlawed but for the right price can be bought. Matilde who comes from a good family, Sayer who has no family uses this to support herself, AEsa, who believes her magic is a sin. But these girls differ will also bond them into a sisterhood of a sort.
This is a fun book and while it was hard to pin down a time period I found it didn’t matter to me that much after a while, as I was transported into their world, and what a changing world that is. These three learn so much about themselves and others you can almost see them transforming right before you. I hope there are more in this series so I can see what happens with the girls next.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The Nightbirds by Kate J. Armstrong is a third person multi-POV YA fantasy inspired by Prohibition. The Nightbirds are young women who give the people they kiss the use of their powers for a brief period of time but cannot use their powers themselves. The current Nightbirds, Matilde, Æsa, and Sayer have their own romantic entanglements and reasons for being Nightbirds, but not everyone is alright with their activities.

The worldbuilding read very strongly to me of New York during Prohibition. Fen, Sayer's friend and love interest, leads a gang in the criminal underworld while a class of Great Houses, people with money and power, have access to the Nightbirds to keep increasing their fortunes. The use of masks, speakeasies servicing a kind of artificial magic, and strict rules as people preach against using magic only further serve to enhance the worldbuilding. I'm all for magical girls in Prohibition era New York, so I was a big fan.

Of the three, Matilde might have been my favorite Nightbird, but Sayer and Fen were my favorite relationship. The yearning Sayer has for Fen and how there's this constant push and pull of secrets and vulnerability were incredibly compelling. I absolutely want them to get together in the sequel.

For Matilde, what I liked about her POV was how we got a lot of worldbuilding details but it was juxtaposed to the world's that Æsa and Sayer came from. Matilde was born to one of the Great Houses and has a relationship with an alchemical shop owner, an old friend of her grandfather. Sayer and Æsa both grew up with very little and have Illish backgrounds, both don't have the privilege Matilde was born with but do have a privilege from having magic even if it's in secrecy.

The way the world is set up makes the magic system an allegory for sex work. Magic is not only bought and sold, it is delivered with a kiss and vulnerable young women are pushed into it and various factions are strongly against it. Magic is passed from mother's to daughters and eventually fades over time, putting pressure on these magical young women to get married and have children quickly, mirroring how much value is placed on youth in modern society.

Content warning for brief depictions of sexual assault

I would recommend this book to readers of YA fantasy who like an exploration of social commentary, fans of the magical girl genre, and those looking for a fantasy Prohibition book

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this free copy to read in preparation for book number two being released.

Nightbirds takes place in a world where magic is illegal, but much like prohibition in the United States, magic is still taking place behind the scenes particularly for those with wealth. Most magic, though, is made by alchemists and not innately found because it is believed to have been gotten rid of through time. However, three young women known as nightbirds have a special kind of magic that they were born with. This story follows the growth of these characters and the awakening of magic. Because maybe magic has just been sleeping and waiting for the right time to arise and help shape the future. I enjoyed this book and read it quite quickly. There is a little humor and surprise twists. There is a little bit of romantic interest building, but really no spice if you are looking for that. My only complaint would be that there were some typical tropes with a couple of the characters. It wouldn't stop me from recommending or reading it, but it's there. Grab this book, read it, and be ready for book two by the end of August!

I really like when books hook you right away and keep you the entire time. This book is exactly that. It is very fast paced and well written. I love reading YA stories because they add an extra layer of complexity into a younger person’s mind, which is very interesting to read about. Along with complexity, the world building was very immersive and unique. Thank you Penguin Young Readers Group for sending me this book.

Thanks Nancy Paulsen Books and NetGalley for the gifted DRC book.

In a world where magic is outlawed, four girls are kept hidden to avoid being burned by religious sects. Gifting their unique magic via a kiss to those willing to pay, they learn that there are other girls like them. Are they destined to always live in a cage or can they be set free?

NIGHTBIRDS was a fascinating fantasy that had me immediately swept up into the complex magical world. I loved the political intrigue and how the plot was skillfully paced. It kept me quickly turning pages, completely engrossed in what was happening. The world-building was excellent. The characters were interesting and I enjoyed the different types of magical aspects, though the character development was slightly lacking overall. I liked that the story was told from each girl’s point of view. There was some romance but it didn’t feel overbearing and there wasn’t the typical teenage angst seen in many YA books which was a nice change of pace. The included maps were gorgeous and a lovely bonus. The ending was not quite a full cliffhanger but not entirely satisfying. I’m definitely looking forward to reading the next book.

There are parts of Nightbirds that I really enjoyed and parts that seemed convoluted and pulled away my attention.
Positive: I enjoyed the FMC. The concept behind the novel of magical prohibition and the setting were great ideas and probably what kept my attention the most. I look forward to seeing what comes next. I actually enjoyed it.
Negative: There are a lot of characters, many that aren't fleshed out, that readers should be keeping up with or caring about, but I really didn't. I am sure this a me thing. The magic system seems unclear, but this could be a plot point since it isn't something the MC really understands at this point.

Overall, fans of YA fantasy will find something to enjoy in reading this book.


Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

This is a nicely written, even if not uniquely outstanding story.

We learn about a fantasy world where once long ago there were Fyrebirds - girls who could wield magic - but what is left of that glorious past are only thoroughly protected Nightbirds, daughters of Simta's so-called Great Houses (old noble families). Nightbirds can't use their magic anymore but they can give it to others with a kiss, which costs a fortune - but then, only the super-wealthy Great House members can make a bid and even know about the possibility in the first place. That's how the Houses have been keeping their secret protected from the Church claiming that using magic is stealing from the gods and thus a sin.

So, we meet Matilda, Aesa, and Sayer who work as Nightbirds, well, at night, their identity carefully hidden, while living the lives of high society daughters by day.* They are supposed to spend a couple of years like that, before marrying a suitable Great-House-born fiance, who would be the sole recipient of their dwindling magic from then, and then giving birth to future magical girls. But something is about to change, as the Nightbirds end up entangled in the political games and targeted by the religious cult that aims to "hunt down the witches" for good.

* - (Many reviews have pointed to their establishment resembling a brothel and claimed how problematic that is. Come on, of course, it is problematic - but not on behalf of the author's writing, on behalf of the patriarchal system she exposes. The comparison has been made so many times in the novel itself, that I just can't see how it could be read as not being an intentional point.)

As I said above, it's a nicely written piece, presumably the first installment in a series. (If you hate those first installments that end up with a cliffhanger as much as I do, I would like to give praise to Nightbirds for not being one of those, as it leaves the reader at a moment of temporary respite, while laying out the further prospects.) I liked how the settings were introduced. And the characters are also all very different in their aspirations and life outlooks, even if not very three-dimensional or unique across the genre. All of the bird imagery? Loved it! And it extends beyond the Nightbirds themselves, for instance, the criminal bands in the city are "sandpipers."

The thing is, I felt like I had already read it all, somewhere. What comes to my mind most vividly is the Alamaxa duology by Hadeer Elsbai. Elemental magic that some people in the society can wield and that the Church opposes to strongly? Check. Getting better with your magic intertwined with female empowerment and defying patriarchy? Check. Getting so destructively powerful with your discovered magic that the reader cannot understand how could everybody not want to control and hush them? Check. Girls from different social backgrounds with so different personalities, who find themselves in it together, because it's their common struggle? Check. Very annoying protagonist from a privileged background that cannot grasp that her elite family origin won't protect her anymore once she dares to speak up against the system? Check. Very annoyingly stenciled cult members? Check. Political intrigues in the background? Check. Some sapphic motives? Check. (Less explicit here than in Elsbai, but then all romance is rather subtle here, no graphic nothing, including hetero-romance.) Nightbirds at least doesn't pretend not to be YA, which I would claim they both are.

So, if you liked the Alamaxa duology, I highly recommend this one too. If you haven't read the Alamaxa duology, but like these tropes from other books (by no means I am suggesting that they appear only in these two or that there has been a direct inspiration between these two), I recommend both of them. Just don't expect them to be unique twists on the formula.

3.5 stars.

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group and Nancy Paulsen Books for providing me with an eARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

I liked the book in the beginning but later on I was struggling with keeping up with the book. It felt like there was too much going on and couldn't focus.

What a fun and delicious story!
I was drawn in right away and HAD to know more about these girls and their magic!
I want more of this world immediately!!!

"After all, she is not a star made for if only wishes. She’s the kind of star that burns."

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

Thank you Netgalley and Nancy Paulsen Books for a copy of this book for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I believe I discovered Nightbirds solely from its beautiful cover while browsing on Netgalley, and was interested by the "dazzling new fantasy world full of whispered secrets and political intrigue". I also read this in a physical copy and with an audiobook.

Nightbirds, for the majority of the book, follows three Nightbirds, girls who are paid and protected by high society to give members of the noble families their magic in a world where magic is outlawed. Matilde, a member of high society herself, wants to remain in a magical world that is quickly narrowing down to being married off to the highest bidder. Sayer barely wants to be a part of this world at all, but has nowhere else to go and wants answers from her noble absentee father. Aesa, the newest Nightbird, wants to return home and is desperate to find a way to survive this brand-new world. Can the three of them all achieve their individual goals alone, or will they find there are far more dangerous threats they'll need each other to survive?

Nightbirds feels like a mix of many things: think Serpent and Dove meets a little bit of Caraval/Hotel Magnifique, Six of Crows, and The Handmaid's Tale. The characters reminded me of Six of Crow, especially in the way they were all so different but had to work with one another in a found family sort of trope, along with multiple side characters who were just as vital to the story along the way. There was plenty of romantic subplots, but they weren't the focus of the characters or their story either.

The atmosphere was top tier!! I believe it was inspired by the 1920s Prohibition Era, and was full of masquerades, hidden identities, and high society-type vibes. This is the part that reminded me a bit of Caraval and Hotel Magnifique. The world is full of hidden magic, but in a way that mostly felt like part of the aesthetic.

I adored the writing in this book, too. There were too many quotes I liked that I struggled to even pick one for this review! I will certainly read book 2 of this series, but I think I would easily a try a book by Armstrong in any other genre with very little hesitation.

The plot was very reminiscent of Serpent & Dove with the witches versus the witch hunters. The magic system is different, but the FMC narrator was even the same in both books! I really enjoyed the narration here as well. It also had a dash of The Handmaid's Tale as the Nightbirds are mostly treated as property, expected to give their magic away to people who won't allow others to have magic (reminded me of the book/magazine scene in THT if you've read it) and are then expected to do nothing else but marry and provide heirs.

This could be due to misreading, but I found the weakest part of Nightbirds to be the logic of the magic system. I am really into elemental magic in fantasy, but felt as though I never had a full grasp on what abilities each person was capable of. I thought each character had a specific elemental power, but then I thought I read a character using a second element twice throughout the story with no explanation?

In total, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading Fyrebirds whenever it's released! I would recommend this book to readers who love atmospheric reads, hidden identities, high society type, complex relationship dynamics, and found families!

Nightbirds and its sequel, Fyrebirds, are a great pair of books for summer reading. A group of preternaturally gifted young women uncover secrets and lies about their gifts, learn of conspiracies to control them, and wreak fabulous political and civil havoc as they rise up against (or burrow beneath) a toxic patriarchy. The world-building is lovely and detailed, the characters evolve and develop, they're diverse, they're smart and true to themselves, and the adventure moves along at a good pace. Middle grades and u--and there's plenty for adult readers to enjoy too.

Loved that this book launches right into the tale and interweaves the magic system and world-building as the action is happening. It is a good read and I look forward to the next book as I am hoping to see character growth and less ambiguity on the magic system.

Before even beginning to get into the review of the book itself, it is so worth mentioning that for a debut novel the writing was fantastic. Debut across the fantasy genre, regardless of YA/adult/middle grade, can be seriously hit or miss, and the author absolutely nailed their entry with this with the clear world building and magic system of Simta.

Onto the book itself, I am a self-proclaimed sucker for anything centered around powerful women, and combining that with another love of mine - prohibition era - made this a win for me. The character development was strong for the most part, although I did find that the multiple POVs weakened it and did make threads hard to keep a hold of in places as the weighting towards each of the trio felt a bit unbalanced. It is really ambitious to try and convey multiple protagonists, and that is one thing that I'm hoping has been fine-tuned for the sequel. That being said, this was a really enjoyable and engaging read. I'd say it probably tilts slightly more towards the younger end of the YA spectrum, but the recommendation of 'for lovers of Leigh Bardugo' felt appropriate and I will recommend this to friends with similar reading interests. I'm going to be following Kate's publications because I have no doubt that each book will be stronger than the one before.

This is for the Gatsby lovers. The ones who love secrets and the forbidden. This was a fantasy version of the prohibition period which I thought was a fun spin! I also thought it was cool getting all the girls povs and not just one. I would have preferred if they were broken up over different chapters but that's just a me thing. It would probably make the chapters shorter too for a quicker read BUT that's just again a me preference. Overall, if you're someone who enjoys a lot of politics and a resistance, a fight the power, then you should pick this up!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a solid debut fantasy novel. World building and atmosphere were one of the best things about this book. There was a heavy Jazz Age influence, but it was executed very well. Simta as a whole was beautifully crafted, with no stone unturned when it came to the hidden magic and the forces trying to suppress it. Along with the main characters, we explored a world that felt genuinely delightful. In spite of this, the multiple points of view in this book made the reading experience slightly frustrating. In each chapter, I had trouble remembering which character I was focusing on. In terms of characters, I found them to be underdeveloped, so I did not feel much affinity for them. That being said, I can see the potential and am looking forward to seeing where this goes.

I found this book incredibly boring. Everything was all over the place too, making most of it not make sense. I wouldn’t recommend this book.

A mystical story of rebellion against a place run by church fanatics determined to destroy any forms of magic. Magic is a gross sin and must be expunged from society. In this place, reside three powerful witches whose power has been masked until it erupts into a powerful force. An exciting and engaging story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.