Reviews

Nightbirds by Kate J. Armstrong

mysticdreamer's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

jessicaseptember's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Cool magical system + world-building. Some parts felt a little too early-2010s girl boss fantasy for me, but mostly the journey was fun

emilymalonzo's review

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

inspector_glokta's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

sayster's review against another edition

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4.0

"just that revenge doesn't fix what's past. It doesn't heal what's broken. it just blinds you to what matters"

"It isn't posed as a question, but an answer, writing over any she might give. He sounds like Enis when he said they were meant for each other, Like the man in leta's ballroom when he commanded her to dance. All different men, but their words served the same purpose. To tell her who she is, What she is for. To drown her voice"

This was a good one, I'm looking forward to the next. Some might be disappointed that many things were sort of left half resolved, but pretty much all of them are working towards a goal but in different ways (nope, I'm not spoiling it)

Each of the girls is different and has very different feeling about things due to their backgrounds and upbringing. The story involves magic but in a prohibition era setting - in fact magic is mostly what's prohibited.

smrith_p's review against another edition

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adventurous slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

brbooks's review against another edition

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5.0

I got the ARC of Nightbirds at the 2022 Y’all Fest and I’m so glad I did. This book is definitely opening a series I know im gonna love. Part Shadow and Bone, part Bright Young Things, and all feminist.

I loved the story being told through 3 perspectives (predominantly) of Matilde, Æsa, and Sayer. It made the reader feel like they had all the information, while still there was the suspense for the future.

The reason the book is 4.5 stars for me is it sometimes feels like something is missing. It’s a plot point missed, or a too quick connection. I think this can be chalked up to debut novel. I can not wait to here the rest of this story, to see these characters grow, to watch alliances fall, and women step up.

kateoclaire's review against another edition

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5.0

Loved both the book and the experience of reading it. Lovely characters, world and magic building, and pacing.

kayjayjay's review against another edition

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adventurous dark inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

agigliotti758's review against another edition

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4.0

An immersive fantasy with appealing characters and commentary on patriarchal views of women with power. What starts as the story of three girls with magical gifts to share through kisses, grows to a rebellion, with more and more magic appearing and the girls working together to save each other and every girl with power. I liked that the girls were all distinctly different and had their one voice, power, and motivations. Matilde, the most outspoken, grows to be a leader of the magical girls while Aesa and Sayer learn to accept their gifts from their initial reluctance and embrace their ability to use their gifts for the good of others. The supporting cast is equally strong and features characters with duplicitous actions and shadowy motivations. I look forward to the next book exploring the true history of magic in Eudea and the Fyrebirds.