What another cracking story from Sophie! A heartwarming tale with a powerful message that will appeal to readers new to Sophie and those well accustomed to the high quality of rich narrative worlds that she creates. I love the way she interweaves mystical folklore into stories that are modern and fresh with characters who are very real and have flaws. A story of friendship, betrayal, peace, kindness, overcoming fear, respect and destiny. This will definitely be a recommended read in my classroom and I hope that it will become a firm favourite when we read for pleasure!

I’ve read (and own, including this one) all of Sophie Anderson’s books and have loved them all. I enjoyed all of the characters and the storyline kept me reading until the end. I feel like the ending was quite quick and could’ve been a bit longer. That said, I recommend to anyone who likes the genre and I’m already looking forward to the next one.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Another belter from Sophie Anderson, her books never fail to deliver. A story of how differences are only a barrier if you let them be, and how we all need to look for the good in people abs celebrate and embrace difference.
Of course, no book of Sophie Anderson’s would be complete without a cheeky visit from the house with chicken legs, I’m so glad that the house made yet another appearance in such a well thought out way, long may this continue!

Linnet is an alkonost, a person of birdlike qualities with feathers in place of hair. She lives on the island of Morovia, an island that once lived in perfect harmony of both alkonists and humans alike. Until one day, disaster strikes, changing the course of Morovia's future forever.
The Thieft Who Sang Storms follows Linnet in present day who lives in hiding for fear of being captured by the humans who have now turned against her kind. With flashbacks into the past to give the reader an idea of how beautiful Morovia once was. Can Linnet, just a young alkonist without singing magic, live up to her name and bring back Morovia to a place of unity?

Sophie Anderson writes the most magical middle-grade stories. Stories that are deeply inspired by and read like fairy tales and The Thief Who Sang Storms is not an exception.

I was a bit upset that unlike the author's previous books, this one isn't inspired by Slavic mythology (or if it is, it's not a part that I'm familiar with which is not impossible - there are so many Slavic cultures and myths!). But it doesn't take away from the story's magic. The magic system and the world is unique and it tells a beautiful story of people and alkonosts (bird-like creatures) relearning to live in harmony, side by side, after a horrible accident that pits them against each other.

As usual in Anderson's books, we get strong familial and friendship bonds that are at the centre of the story. This time we also get two pet companions, Whiskers and Lumpy, a swamp rat and a toad.

My favourite part was definitely a cameo of certain characters from Anderson's another story. I love how her books correspond to one another, one way or another.

Overall, I definitely recommend this one to middle graders and older people who crave some fairy tales in their life.

This is simply the magic and wonder that I would come to expect from a Sophie Anderson book. It was beautifully written, the world was just stunning and the characters were wonderful. It was full of heartache and love and unintentionally relevant to the world we are currently living in. A masterclass of a middle grade book. Thank you so much for the ARC. I have already preordered the physical copy.

I love Sophie Anderson's books, so was delighted to be given the chance to read this ARC. The writing is beautiful: atmospheric and captivating - just as I would expect. I had to work quite hard for the first few chapters to work out what was going on and who the main characters were. I liked this as it really sucked me into the plot. The vocabulary is challenging and will certainly stretch even the most able reader - i had to look up alkonosts and thought this was a really interesting difference.

The characters are so individual and interesting: Linnet has some unique friends - especially Lumpy and Whiskers. I thought the relationship with Hero was cleverly plotted.

However, I found the nostalgic memory chapters a little clunky, which I am sure was deliberate by such a skilled storyteller as Anderson, but I didn't like it at all. The use of ellipses to take the reader elsewhere was repetitive and tiring. I understand they filled in the back story, but wished there was a less overt way to do this. It is a technique that we often try to teach children not to do.

A wonderful story with a powerful message - one to read - but I preferred other titles which I have read previously by this amazing author!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I’ve loved reading Sophie Anderson's previous books and was really looking forward to reading this one.

The book is centred on Russian folklore. An area where people and alokonasts(known as bird-people) are not able to live peacefully due to tragedy that occurred there.

Due to something that happened in the incident that occurred Linnet’s mother died. She lives with her father, but after he is arrested, she begins on a journey to save him.

A beautiful story of love, bravery and friendship. Even though the characters had their faults, you still hoped everything worked out their way.

Recommend this book.

The latest book from Sophie Anderson is a timely tale of division, courage and the power of love and friendship.
On the island of Morovia, the two groups of inhabitants the humans and the alkonosts (the bird-people) live separate lives following a terrible tragedy. The effects of prejudice, power and division are clear to see. The protagonist Linnet (who lost her mother in the tragedy) is exiled to the deepest swamps along with her father Nightingale and the other alkonosts where their singing magic is banned. Linnet longs for her singing powers to develop so that she can use them to work towards reconciliation for her homeland. However, an act of theft against the humans leads to consequences that mean Linnet is more alone than ever. With her father arrested, Linnet embarks upon a quest to save him before it is too late. Drawing upon her inner strength and with the help of friends (old and new) a dangerous and unpredictable mission is undertaken. Love, courage and hope are tested along the way as grief, betrayal, prejudice and fear make success seem impossible.
This magical adventure and the timeless messages within its pages will appeal to readers old and young. I will certainly be recommending it to my students!

Enjoyed this middle grade book about magic, songs, and grumpy yeti guardians. This is a beautiful story about prejudice, unity, and friendship. Linnet’s journey through wrecks, swamps and more makes her understand that being without magic might not mean that she is powerless.

3,5 stars

I've heard great things about Sophie Anderson's middle grade books so I was quite happy to pick up The Thief Who Sang Storms for review. I didn't love it as I hoped I would but that doesn't change that I can see what appeals others to her writing. And I will still pick up other books by her for sure.

The Thief Who Sang Storms follows 13 year old Linnet who has been living in the swamp for the last 3 years. Ever since the flood and the death of the queens the island has been divided. The alkonosts, the bird people, are being prosecuted for using their singing magic. When Linnet's father gets taken she is determined to free him.

This book has a wonderful setting of three islands that float over the ocean in different directions, sometimes coming close, sometimes moving away from one another. Each island has its own people. Morovia as the Alkonosts, bird people who can use singing magic. They took humans onto their island hundreds of years ago. It is a beautiful setting, whimsical in places. But it felt like not enough was done with it.

I wanted to really settle into this story but I was constantly yanked out by the many chapter memories we got thrown into every few chapters. Some where a good addition but others could have been trimmed down to a paragraph memory in the previous chapter. It felt too much like a formule. Two and three chapters with the ending with a set prelude to the memory. It ruined the flow of the story to me.

It was also very idealistic. The solution, the forgiveness, always seeing the good in others. I know this is middle grade and fantasy but a bit of realism would have been nice. Kids of this age, especially in this era, aren't stupid about repurcussions.

On the other hand I liked how it dealt with some themes. Like grief. How you can't rush grief and how everyone grieves in their own way. Or how important it is to talk with each other about feelings. That parents can sometimes close off from their kids with their grief and feelings but that it is important to talk with your kids about it. But there is also no judgement towards the parent. I loved that. Because there are the themes so many kids these days have to deal with.

So all in all I do think it is a good middle grade to recommend for its messages but a bit less for the execution of the story.

Having loved all of Sophie Anderson's previous books, I had high hopes for The Thief Who Sang Storms and I was not disappointed. Once again based on Russian folklore, this book tells of a land torn apart by a tragedy, where humans and alokonosts (bird-people) no longer live in harmony.

Linnet is a young alkonost who lost her mother in the tragedy. Along with her father, she tries to survive in the swamplands but when her father is arrested she must embark on a dangerous quest to save him.

This is a story of bravery and courage, friendship and love. Despite their flaws, the characters have you rooting for them and for everything to work out well. And an appearance from an old friend is always welcome.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

Sophie Anderson turns to Slavic folklore again in her latest, wonderful middle grade novel, The Thief Who Sang Storms.

Linnet, a young alkonost girl has her home on Morovia, one of a group of floating islands. For many generations humans and alkonosts, magical bird people, lived in unison, supporting each other.

After a terrible accident, during which Linnet lost her mother, blame is directed at the alkonosts for having caused the tragedy with their singing magic. And now on Morovia, this broken-heart shaped island, the alkonosts are exiled to the deepest swamps and singing magic is considered a crime.

The human leader exploits the humans’ fear and uncertainty to increase the divide and create a hateful atmosphere. Linnet is desperately waiting for her singing magic to come in, hoping that it can help bring the island and its two peoples together again. When her father, Nightingale, is taken prisoner by the human guards, Linnet must be brave and trust in her own abilities. With the help of friends, old and new, she embarks on a dangerous adventure in the hope of freeing Nightingale, and ultimately reaching her dream of a united Morovia.

Scaringly timely, Sophie Anderson’s beautiful and vividly imagined story deals with the danger of rule by the few, and the importance of unity, understanding and tolerance. Themes of humanity, grief, trust, love, and hope are thoughtfully developed throughout the book along with the epic adventure and will delight readers. Finally, a certain chicken-legged house surprise cameo is sure to delight Sophie Anderson’s many fans. Highly recommended.

A new Sophie Anderson book is always cause for celebration. I love the Russian folklore settings of all of her books, but the world of 'The Thief Who Sang Storms' is particularly otherworldly and vividly imagined:

"The Island of Morovia is shaped like a broken heart. The humans live on one side of the island, and the alkonosts - the bird-people - live on the other. But it wasn't always this way..."

Linnet is an alkonost and lives in the swamp with her father, Nightingale, and the rest of the alkonosts - banished from their homes by the humans after a terrible tragedy caused a bitter divide in their society. Linnet dreams of one day using her singing magic to heal the broken heart of Morovia and bring the humans and the alkonosts back together, and she especially longs to be reunited with her best friend, Hero. But her magic hasn't arrived yet and Linnet is worried that it never will.

But when Linnet steals a trinket from the humans, her father is arrested for her crime, and Linnet must find a way to rescue him from the fortified human keep before he is sentenced and sent to the quarry - forever out of her reach. Even though she has no magic, Linnet discovers that she is not powerless and there are other kinds of magic in the world.

'The Thief Who Sang Storms' is a timely story of division and reconciliation - another beautifully lyrical and poignant tale from a master storyteller.

Morovia is a floating island shaped like a heart and its inhabitants are divided. The humans live on one side, whilst the alkonosts (bird people) live on the other. Linnet and her father live in the swamp and she has had to leave behind her best friends Hero and Silver. Nightingale, Linnet’s father, is captured and this leads Linnet on a desperate quest to heal the island and save her father from his fate.

Sophie Anderson has done it again. She writes in a lyrical style that makes her novels feel instantly classic, as if they are folktales that have been passed down from generation to generation. I loved the glorious and vivid world building that made Morovia feel so real. Sophie’s writing is compelling and once I picked up The Thief Who Sang Storms I felt it incredibly hard to put it down as I wanted to learn more about Linnet and her plight and revel in the glorious emotive writing. I particularly enjoyed the way that the present and past were interweaved through Linnet’s flashbacks that revealed elements of the plot so neatly.

Main character Linnet is likeable with her easy going friendly nature and desire for justice above all else. She holds no prejudices and it’s easy to see why she is frustrated that nothing seems to be happening to bring the humans and alkonosts together. The juxtaposition between her steadfast desire to do good and Hero’s descent into fear after the incident brings important parallels and leads to a tale of learning to work together and have the courage to forgive one another. I also liked Silver and the human family and the two boys Linnet met in the swamp. All the characters feel real, especially the villain whose motives are easily understandable though clearly misguided.

Simply gorgeous and certainly a must read if you liked Sophie Anderson’s other stories. 5 out of 5 stars.

On the island of Morovia, humans and alkonosts (birdlike people) used to live together, but after a disaster at sea in which the island's leaders were killed, for which the alkonosts were blamed, the two communities have been divided. Most of the alkonosts have singing magic within them; however, Linnet (the main protagonist) has yet to discover hers (much to her frustration).

Linnet's mother was amongst those killed during the disaster and now she and her father, Nightingale, have been forced to live in the swamps, stealing from human travellers in order to scrape by. But when her father is captured and imprisoned by the humans, it's up to Linnet to try to save him.

Sophie Anderson is one of those writers whose books are always wonderful to read; written with a timeless quality and a folktale style, she manages to weave gripping plots in a unique way that captures the imagination and looks at important themes in a way that engages readers of all ages, and The Thief Who Sang Storms is no exception.

Linnet is struggling to come to terms with her mother's death and her father's grief, whilst also coming to terms with the fact that she has been thrown out of her home. Her entire life has changed and she needs to be strong for herself as well as her father. From living a peaceful life, her world has been shattered and she is determined to find a way to bring harmony back to the island she calls home - a theme that I can imagine will resonate with many at the moment. Her strength and determination whilst she also battles her fears make her a relatable character.

Set on the fictional island of Morovia, the world-building is vivid and believable, and I was completely captivated. I also love that characters from Sophie's previous books make cameos in her other books and this one is no exception - Baba Yaga felt like an old friend I was happy to see when she appeared.

With powerful messages about friendship, kindness, accepting yourself and understanding difference, The Thief Who Sang Songs is guaranteed to be another hit for Sophie.

I Really love how Sophie Anderson writes. Her books just sing to me.
There is nothing this lady can write that i would not enjoy.
When the island is a heart and its broken hearted it is not a good sign!
This wonderful story of finding truth and love in the bitterness of a feud is compelling to read and the imagination is amazing.
This should be on every bookshelf!

The Thief Who Sang Storms was such a lovely book with a really powerful message. Sophie Anderson's writing was really powerful and vivid. She created an amazing and very unique world. Linnet was very brave and kind and chose friendship and love over obstacles. I love reading animal companions in books and Whiskers and Lumpy were adorable to read. This book was my first Sophie Anderson read but I'll definitely check her other books too.

Who can resist a story set on a floating island? The descriptions of the swamp were so evocative and atmospheric and the big twist worked really well, I thought. I always enjoy the cameo appearance by characters from Sophie's previous books too.

Oh this was such a beautiful story. My daughter and I have read it together and it’s probably a little to old for her but she really did enjoyed the description and characters.

A great story for girls