The Nightbirds have the ability to gift their magic to others with a kiss - something the church in Simta would have them killed for. Matilde, Aesa, and Sayer spend their nights bestowing their unique brands of magic to well-paying clients. When they discover that their magic is far more than they were ever told, they see the carefully crafted Nightbird system for what it is: a gilded cage. Now they must make a choice - to remain kept birds or take control, remaking the city that dared to clip their wings.

This book had been on my radar for a while, so when the second one was out, I took it as a nudge to pick up the series.

The magic system was quite intriguing initially, with girls being ‘used’ as the vehicle for it to manifest. It ended up progressing to be the ‘standard’ elemental magic, but it didn’t bother me too much as it was easy to understand, and I enjoyed the story overall.

The highlight for me was the sisterhood bond between the girls. I’ve always loved a found-family story, and this was no exception. This first book was a good set up for something big, which I could feel coming in book two. I’m ready for it!