Nightbirds

By: Kate J. Armstrong

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

AN INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • In a dazzling new fantasy world full of whispered secrets and political intrigue, the magic of women is outlawed but four girls with unusual powers have the chance to change it all.

Magic is illegal in Simta, but for the right price, the wealthy can always partake. They need only procure a visit with a Nightbird, girls who can gift their rare powers with a kiss. Usually a tight-knit group, this Season’s Nightbirds couldn’t be more different. Matilde, the group’s veteran, relishes the feeling of power and freedom she thinks her Nightbird status affords, but rebels against her family’s growing expectation that she finally choose a suitor and pass her magic on to the next generation; fiery orphan Sayer, resigned to this life as a means to support herself, resents each transaction and the world Matilde so reveres; and novice Æsa, fears her own magic and thinks her very existence is a sin.

But when the Nightbirds find themselves at the heart of a deadly political scheme that shakes the world as they know it, they must put their differences aside and band together to fend off those who would exploit them. In doing so, they discover their magic is more powerful than they could have ever imagined, and they see the Nightbirds system for what it is: a gilded cage. United, they are a potent force that could upend the patriarchal system that would hunt them as witches. But wielding their power could cost them more than they are prepared to lose. They must make a choice: to remain kept birds or take control, remaking the city that dared to clip their wings.

Fiercely feminist and set in a thrilling, intoxicating world evoking the Jazz Age—full of speakeasies with magic cocktails, sharp-edged, duplicitous glamour, and handsome rogue alchemists—Nightbirds is an exciting debut fantasy that dazzles as powerful girls emerge from the shadows to determine their own fates.

©2023 Kate J. Armstrong (P)2023 Listening Library

Critic reviews

An Amazon Best Book of the Month–March 2023

“In this sumptuous fantasy, the magic wielded by girls is outlawed, but the “Nightbirds” share it secretly—through kissing. A lush adventure.”—People

★ “Lush settings, careful worldbuilding, and taut exposition [make for] . . . an electrifying, high-stakes series opener grounded in feminist themes.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ “In this dazzling, fiercely feminist novel . . . debut author Armstrong uses lush, seamlessly incorporated worldbuilding, kaleidoscopic third-person-present narration told via realistically rendered characters, and fraught queer and straight romantic subplots to explore issues of classism and misogyny. With a pace that never flags and a harrowing, high-stakes plot, this distinguished read boasts texture, heft, and heart."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

Fantastic!!!

The book was amazing. Can’t wait for the sequel and the narrator brought this story to life like I have never heard. I’m finding more of her books to listen to immediately!

absolutely wonderful

I'm pretty far from a young adult and I could not get enough of this incredible story and absolutely enthralling vocal performance. Kate and Saskia have captured my heart. I cannot recommend this audible book strongly enough and I absolutely cannot wait for the sequel

20's Prohibition inspired Fantasy

The writing is fantastic, the characters are flawed but easy to root for, and the fantasy world is easy to fall into.

Loved!

It took about 30-40% of the book to get into but I'm looking forward to the sequel!

Great book

I enjoy her podcast and now I’m so excited for the next book. The story is compelling and fun.

Great captivating Story

Great characters and descriptions of the scenes. Can’t wait to hear where the story goes.

love her podcast, love her book

I have followed Kate Armstrong since she began her podcast, The Exploress. the story telling is easy to get lost in, strong willed women with flaws gives this book a rightness. Can't wait for the sequel 😍

Fun listen

Very good story , keeps you interested, but the end is a very big clifhanger. I cant wait for the next book but wish there was some heads up that this will be a 2 part story.

Execution was not great

The bones of this story intrigued me, it needed to be fleshed out immensely as the execution was not great. The first two chapters I was all in, but then there were so many POVs and love interests it became hard to track. Once I got to the middle it was as if the story went at lightning speed. Then the hurdles or obstacles the girls had to overcome happened so quickly I felt like I was getting whiplash. Overall, for me personally, I needed more world building, perhaps the chapters could have been dedicated to one girl each and her storyline, or this story could have been spilt into a trilogy.