Nightbirds by Kate J. Armstrong
2023; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 76; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1353/bcc.2023.0059
ISSN1558-6766
Autores Tópico(s)Cultural, Linguistic, Economic Studies
ResumoReviewed by: Nightbirds by Kate J. Armstrong Aaren Tucker Armstrong, Kate J. Nightbirds. Paulsen/Penguin, 2023 [480p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780593463277 $19.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780593463284 $10.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 8-12 Magic is illegal in the city of Simta, so the Nightbirds ply their trade in secret, bestowing magic onto others with a kiss, even though the girls are unable to use magic themselves. The noble Great Houses protect the Nightbirds, keeping them from the Church’s zealot clutches in exchange for access to the girls’ powers. This is no trouble for bright young Matilde, herself a daughter of Great House Dinatris, but she’s having difficulty adjusting to her new Nightbird sisters. Rough and cunning Sayer grew up with the gangs in the slum quarter Griffin’s and chafes at sharing her magic with the nobles who abandoned her mother, while prim wallflower Æsa, newly arrived from the Illish isles, is homesick and secretly afraid of what her own magic can do. Unbeknownst to the girls, forces in Simta are shifting: some want to claim the Nightbirds’ power all for themselves, while others want to snuff it out for good. This richly developed world with Prohibition-era flair and a fast-paced, character-driven narrative make for a strong showing from debut author Armstrong, and the layered plot offers readers plenty of action, intrigues, romance, and betrayal. Just when it seems the heroines are finally overcoming their differences, the climactic ending separates them, each off to change the world according to her own agenda. A sequel to unite them in shared purpose will be eagerly anticipated. Give this book to readers who enjoy Leigh Bardugo or Maggie Tokuda-Hall’s The Mermaid, the Witch, & the Sea (BCCB 06/20). Copyright © 2022 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
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