⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5 stars
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Sing Me to Sleep is a story about Saoirse, a siren in hiding, protecting her little sister by going to work for the crown prince.

<blockquote> “Sirens were made to kill. Our purpose is to lure, seduce, and destroy” </blockquote>

I have had this book on my radar for quite some time and was super excited when I got approved to read an early copy! The synopsis spoke to me a lot and I couldn’t wait to dive in!

The story starts of very strong, and that strong feeling remains during the whole time reading this book!
The writing and the pacing of this book were so good! It grabbed a hold of me and didn’t let me go. I believe I read the first 15% in two days and then the rest of the book in one sitting! The pacing was done very well, perfectly to keep me hooked. It was also a really nice balance between tension, action and character growth.

The world-building was done very well. I loved getting to know the creatures that live within the wall and the powers they have. The snippets of information about the outside are sparse, but that makes me only more curious to learn more about the world itself!

Saoirse was the best character in every way! She is morally grey, has a lot of loyalty for her family and I loved her driving force, but also her self-awareness. She knows she is a killer and doesn’t apologise for it. She doesn’t shield away from her own nature and desires and I really admired that! I was also a big fan of Hayes! He was dealt a bad hand in life and tries to live with it. I loved how he came out of his shell because of Saoirse.

The relationship between these two was everything! They were so different but the way they bounced of each other kept bringing both to a greater height. They both became better due to the other, which was pure and amazing. I loved how Hayes wanted to learn more about her, how Saoirse kept her walls up but Hayes chipped them away bit by bit. The progression felt so real and natural to these characters! I can’t wait to see more of this progression in the sequel!

The twists and reveals this book has, OMG! They took me by surprise! My mouth kept falling open so often and I was just shook at some events happening! It came completely out of the blue and it was done in the best way! The ending itself was a bit bittersweet to me, but at the same time it is a perfectly understandable ending to this story and a perfect stepping stone to the next book! Which I need ASAP!

Overall, <i>Sing Me to Sleep</i> is an amazing debut, with very strong characters, a unique world, interesting magic and a plot that kept me hooked.

This was such an interesting read! I found myself so engrossed in the story, the characters had such incredible arcs, and I can't wait to follow this author's journey!

I missed that this was a fae book; those are a hard sell for me. That said, it was a solid YA fantasy debut that I think lots will love! I really liked Saoirse's siren powers, which hooked me from page one; her deadly ability and willingness to use them, her tug against the water and how much she still cares for those she loves. Her ability to taste emotions was also really cool. It's definitely an expansive interesting world with a thread of mystery pulling on some classic creatures, and a fun grumpy/sunshine royal/bodyguard dynamic flipped from its usual genders.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the chance to read!

What a fantastic debut! This book does it all— fast paced, fantastic magic system, betrayal and angst and super cool sirens and other supernatural creatures. Despite not reading much YA lately I found myself completely caught up in the rich, twisty world Gabi Burton created.

When Saorise, a young siren with a background in military training, poses as a fae in order to take on the position of bodyguard for Prince Hayes, the last thing she expects is to be assigned as the lead investigator in the hunt for a murderer— who just so happens to be her. With a plot somewhat reminiscent of the hunger games, but with a supernatural bent, I really enjoyed the heartstopping, tropey story. Saorise’s concern for her sister and chemistry with the prince really came through and made this an unputdownable story. Although at times I found her a bit of a difficult, somewhat annoying head to be in, her scheming and chemistry with Hayes kept me interested. I really enjoyed the side characters as well and for a relatively short book found them well rounded and able to hold up on their own. I would have liked a few more descriptions overall, especially around the clothing, scenery and general world building, but that’s often my option when it comes to YA fantasy, so it may not be everyone’s! Overall, I think this will appeal to both younger and older audiences and think it’s absolutely fantastic to see such a great, diverse story leading the way in the 2023 YA fantasy debut sphere. I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel!

This book!!

I don't know where to begin honestly. This book caught me by surprise. I was expecting a fantasy novel with romance but this book had me hooked from start to finish!

This story follows Saoirse Sarkova, who is a siren in hiding. In a world where species are ranked from most important (fae) to everyone else, she is hiding her true identity to survive. But it falls to pieces when she's threatened by an unknown enemy, and forced to work for the royals, including the insufferably handsome and kind prince.

Packed with morally grey characters, this book more than delivered. I loved Saoirse and her motivations to protect her family. Working for a mysterious employer, she can compel and kill men by singing, seducing them into doing whatever she wants. She's fierce and deadly, but there's also another side to her, the one that she shows her family, particularly her little sister who she would do anything to protect.

And the chemistry between her and Hayes?? I just wanted them to get together already! But the plot twists were so great, and it was quite unexpected, especially with that ending, I'm craving for more of these characters. Also, the friendships were so wholesome! I love this world and the history behind it, and I think the barriers and other species will be further explored in the sequel.

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc!

4.5 stars rounded up!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was so EXCITED to read this book, and I'm still ecstatic that I received an ARC! When you're so excited about a book, though, it can lead to disappointment if you do t like it enough. Well, it didn't happen with this one!!! I loved it so much!! It made me look forward to reading it, even when I had to multitask a lot in my private life, and to be honest, that says a lot about the awesomeness of the book. That it makes you look forward to how the author back into it even when your brain is in shambles. 😁

Sing me to Sleep has an undeniable and absolutely irresistible voice that makes you hungry for more.

Saoirse is such a firecracker. She tolerates nothing. No BS, no incompetence, no arrogance. I loved this about her. So many characters make excuses for others, but she just doesn't give a damn. Another thing I loved about her is that she's so incredibly self-aware. She knows she's beautiful and smart and capable. And she knows her weaknesses and her lack of innocence? High moral ground? Whatever you want to call it. Have I said that I love her? ☺️

Hayes, our sweet Prince, was an interesting character. I don't usually get intrigued by such characters, meaning the innocent, unhappy privileged kind. But something about Hayes made me like him instantly. It's partly thanks to the Hayes effect and partly the author's incredible writing. He also had a beautiful character development. He didn't lose his sweet demeanor, but he grew up (the hard way).

The world building was nicely developed. I haven't read about sirens before, so I thought it was cool and well done! I also like that the society has multiple species like witches and fae with affinities!! I loved these creatures, and how the author included them!

I give 4.5 stars because the plot could have been more original. There weren't really big surprises, in general, but it had plot twists!!!!!! And I didn't see them coming!!!!! I was actually impressed with the twists. They were unpredictable, especially given the fact that the book's overall arc wasn't. Having said that, I do feel that the book had a strong plot.

It was the author's voice and Saoirse that really shone in the book for me. Absolutely captivating!! Which suits a book about an irresistible siren! 😁

And what an ending!!! Can't wait for book two!! And I also can't wait to read more books from this author. She's an insta-buy for me. What a voice!!! 😍

If you ask me about my favorite mythological creature and the kind of creature I'd wanna be I will tell you without a doubt that it's a Siren. The kind where their voice is a literal murder weapon. The kind where their bite is as sharp as their bark. So, when I found this book on Netgalley I had to request a copy! Sirens, princes, a fantasy kingdom, what's not to like? Luckily Hodder & Stoughton accepted my request and granted me a digital copy of the book.

This book is quite fast paced and from the very first chapter it's showing us what kind of sirens we're talking about. There is a lot of action in the book and not all of it is pretty. I kinda liked how this book played with the lines between good and bad. We're reading from Saoirse's perspective and since we read her thoughts and since we know how she feels it's hard not to like her, but that doesn't mean that we can forgive her everything she does and has done.

It makes her quite an interesting character. Especially because we see how she tries to justify herself. Saoirse doesn't want to be a monster. She has just convinced herself that there is no other way and that to survive this is what she has to do. This book is mostly about the consequences of her actions and her slowly learning that maybe this is indeed not who she wants to be. I can't wait to see her grow and learn even more in the next books.

To make Saoirse's story even more dramatic we have this fantasy kingdom where Sirens are unwelcome. It's interesting to get to know this kingdom and its history, especially because that history and all the personal stories blur the lines between good and bad even more. Of course there is a lot wrong with this kingdom, but in a way I could understand where all those emotions and hatred originated.

The ending leaves the characters in a kind of happily for now place, but it also marks the start of an amazing new storyline. I can't wait to dive into the sequel.

All I keep reading about this book is that, as a big fan of To Kill a Kingdom, I would probably love it. And I guess that makes me pretty predictable, because I did enjoy it. I definitely got those TKAK vibes, but I don't think the characters really stood out for me in the same way. I don't feel like Saoirse and Hayes really jumped out at me all that much, but it was still a fun read.

Thank you netgalley and the publishers for letting me read this book. Unfortunately this book wasn't for me, I liked the premis of it but as I read on I decided it wasn't for me and so I ended up DNFing it, the was nothing wrong with the book it just wasn't for me at this moment in time, I may give it another try in the future but for now I will have to give it 2.5 stars

Saoirse is the last siren in a kingdom where it is illegal to be one. She hides in plain sight, as a Fae soldier-in-training during the day and at night she is an assassin, not only to make money but to feed her urge to kill. When a blackmailer threatens her sister, she becomes the prince's bodyguard to uncover who it is. In spite of her hate of the Royals, she starts to like Prince Hayes. Until he tasks her to find a killer and that killer is her!

In-your-face honesty and fierceness season the instantly appealing 1st person POV. Compassion, melancholy and a sense of justice are also mixed in. The narrative is intimate and in synch with what she is feeling and her thoughts. Her siren tendencies, the way she tastes emotions and her murderous inclination are described aptly. This is a passionate story of a protagonist we should consider a villain, a beautiful 'monster' to be afraid of, though we can't help but love her. Can she fight her nature?

The writing is evocative, sporting intense almost whimsical figurative speech, that delights us with unconventional but spot-on descriptions. Words brought together that you would not expect, but are perfect in each other's company. The author's imagination shines in this world she's built, the magic, creatures and etc she has 'conjured' for it, something to behold.

Saoirse's encounters with the prince are mostly chuckle-worthy, as are her sarcastic remarks/thoughts in general. The encounters become heart-squeezing as their relationship blossoms and your own fondness of the prince along with it. Don't judge a prince by his quips. And a warning: you will absolutely adore Rain.

Themes beautifully shared in this book are: prejudice, equality and acceptance, and the importance of loyalty and that it can signify family, not just blood. It is also about protecting your loved ones and reaching your potential.

"Is this an order?" should become this book's drinking game!

I loved how the mystery was more complex than expected and went into unexpected directions. This is an absolutely stunning beginning to a new series. With excellent weaving of the plot, its threads coming together to culminate in jaw-dropping revelations and reward us with a breathtaking finale. A more than clever ending that opens the door to an explosive sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve procrastinated with writing this review due to exams, so sadly it won’t be as in depth as I had hoped and as this book deserves. But it was one of the best YA books I’ve read this year and I cannot wait to see where the story goes. It’s a spectacular YA fantasy from a strong new voice in the genre (and a very refreshing one too).

In this YA fantasy, Saoirse is a siren, but her whole existence must be kept secret as her kind has been hunted into extinction. After completing her training as a soldier at the top of her class, Saoirse’s sister is threatened by someone from the palace, and so she takes a job as bodyguard to the prince to figure out just who.

We’ve got:
🧜‍♀️ Sirens, fae, witches and humans
🧜‍♀️ Assassin bodyguard to the prince
🧜‍♀️ Morally grey FMC
🧜‍♀️ Grumpy/ sunshine (she’s the grump, he’s the sunshine)
🧜‍♀️ Forbidden romance
🧜‍♀️ Political intrigue

I enjoyed this book. It started off fast-paced, dipped a little in the middle but ended on a strong note. Saoirse is kind of annoying at times, but she does have great character growth which I think is important to the story.

Hayes is dreamy and sweet, but I do wonder what he saw in Saoirse at times lol. He also has pretty great character growth, and honestly he was my fav part of this book.

While I really enjoyed the premise and the plot, the world and the story (even though it flagged in parts), I do think sometimes the characters seemed a little two dimensional, especially the romance aspect. The cliffhanger at the end was a great set up for book 2 and left me wanting more.

If you’re a fan of TO KILL A KINGDOM, this has similar vibes and you’ll probably enjoy it also.

Thanks to #netgalley and the publisher for giving my an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5⭐️

So this was a trope-y, but overall okay read, made worse by an insufferable main character.

Sing Me to Sleep follows Saoirse, a young siren posing as a Fae in a country that's outlawed any beings other than fae, humans, and witches. Graduating at the top of her class from military academy, she takes a job at the Royal Palace as Prince Hayes' bodyguard. Said Prince is searching for a serial killer who most recently killed his best friend. Hayes makes Saoirse head of the investigation. Only problem is, Saoirse is the killer.

The plot was ... fine, I guess. With the main character being a serial killer and her love interest searching for her, I expected the book to be very dark and gritty and atmospheric. Let me tell you, it wasn't. There were lots of popular tropes, to the point where I felt like the author was trying to cram as many into the book as possible. We had enemies-to-lovers where one doesn't know they're enemies, grumpy/sunshine, bodyguard romance, a tyrannical monarchy and a rebellion working against it. But nothing of it elicited any real feelings in me. If you enjoy any of these tropes, and are a diehard fan of YA fantasy, I'm sure you will like the book. For me, it was a bit too formulaic.

The very beginning of the book was so reminiscent of The Hunger Games, it took me out of the story. We have a prickly MC who only cares about saving her sister, people are divided into districts - sorry, sectors - and there's a fight in an arena where only one comes out on top. Luckily, after Saoirse enters the Palace and the murder investigation starts, the plot becomes its own thing, but it was still similar enough to be jarring. The murder investigation plot was honestly not bad. and by the middle of the book, I was having fun. Sadly, the conflict at the end of the book was far too easily resolved.

What absolutely killed my enjoyment of the book, however, was the main character. Saoirse is rude, arrogant, and quick to anger. Which is not a bad thing in itself. Lord knows there are plenty male characters like that which people lose their midns over. Usually, I enjoy reading about 'unlikeable' female characters, but Saoirse was so conceited, I couldn't deal. Throughout the book, we are constantly reminded by the other characters, and Saoirse herself, that she is the most beautiful person and good at basically everything. She is the best graduate at military school, she is the best guard at the Palace (despite other guards working there for years), she is unbelievably powerful and also an expert martial artist. The Prince, otherworldly beautiful himself, is of course instantly fascinated by her (for no tangible reason). Moreover, she is so beautiful that anyone who sees her is struck dumb. Including herself if she looks in a mirror, so she has to glamour her face magically. No joke. There is an entire paragraph detailing how Saoirse would sit hours in front of a mirror staring at her own reflection. It's giving Narcissus and I couldn't take it seriously.

In fact, Saoirse's entire inner monologue consisted about: a) thinking about how beautiful she is, b) worrying about her sister and c) obsessing about killing people. Which brings me to her siren powers: she has the power to compel people into doing anything she wants by singing at them. Trouble is, any source of water around her compels her to drown or otherwise kill them. Even with that in mind, Saoirse doesn't hesitate to go to rivers or the ocean, because she enjoys killing and can't help herself. Which made her POV read like that of a psychopath at times. Her main conflict is about not being able to control her powers and thus killing lots of people, resulting in her pitying and torturing herself over being a monster. Just a few chapters in, her POV was already getting repetitive. Have I mentioned yet that Saoirse is beautiful? And good at everything all the time? I feel the need to remind you just as often as the author does. I kept waiting for her to be brought down a peg, but it never happened.

As for the love interest, Hayes, I liked him quite a lot. In fact, he was one of my main reasons for continuing the book. He was funny and charming and his grumpy/sunshine dynamic with Saoirse worked surprisingly well. He was also quite naive which worked in Saoirse's favor because he never suspects her of anything. By the end, the relationship between him and Saoirse developed a little fast in my opinion. There was just a sudden shift from Saoirse hating Hayes because of his family and upbringing to thinking he's an amazing guy. Apart from that, the romance wasn't giving me butterflies, exactly, but it wasn't badly done.

I wish I could say that for the side characters. All of them were very two-dimensional, especially so the antagonists. This trend also extended to other characters, like Saoirse's aunt Drina and her fellow guard Jeune, who were pretty much just there to help Saoirse when she needed them. Which was also how Saoirse treated everyone around her: as a means to an end. Yet everyone loved her. Make it make sense.

The writing overall was fine, but the descriptions were extremely sparse. There were mentions of West African clothing and food, but otherwise, I couldn't pinpoint what the world looked like at all. There was zero description about clothing, architecture, or geography, apart from bodies of water, which are needed for the plot.

Overall, the plot was enjoyable enough for me to keep reading but I will likely not pick up the sequel.

A fantastic Young Adult adventure. I really liked the morally grey female lead. Some definitely unexpected twists. This would be a great read for tweens and younger teens.

I loved this! With the recent release of The Little Mermaid, it seems appropriate for a YA fantasy about sirens to be one of the best reads of the summer! Think Cruel Prince, but mix it with Under the Sea!

A brilliant YA fantasy debut.
Great tropes of slow burn forbidden romance, morally grey characters and a badass FMC.
I loved how sirens are portrayed and the internal struggle our main FMC goes through.
The pacing is well done and the world-building vivid.
An addictive read that you will likely want to do in one sitting.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an E-ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

* Actual rating is 3.75 stars *

The premise for this book sounded amazingly wicked, a story about a siren trying to tread the thin line of giving into her natural instinct and protecting everything she holds dear. I love books about mermaids, and as such I’m always excited to read one about sirens. It also helped that Sing Me to Sleep had some unique aspects to it, mainly the darker tone of Saoirse's character.

I liked the characters, and the relationship between Saoirse and Prince Hayes as well. But the story was a bit of a bumpy ride for me. Because it’s told in first person from Saoirse, but many of the things that she knows aren't explained or shared with the reader until near the end. Something that makes her actions, like her desperate need to protect her little sister, not carry the intensity it really should - just because we don’t know why she does this. There was also some parts that just felt repetitive. But the ending really picks up the pace, and ends up being the most engaging part of the whole story. I could just feel how my attention got glued to the pages.

Overall this book just didn’t hit the right spot for me. I read it and the story had me keep reading, but I wasn’t involved in reading until near the end. I’m curious about the sequel, and will probably pick it up.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Burton did a great job of world-building in this novel - the variety of different races living together were all fairly well explored, and I felt you did get a real feel for the context of the events explored. Saoirse is a solid protagonist, and though I am getting a little fed up of the 'lone woman with no friends but a heart of gold' trope, this was explained by her circumstances. And the romance was done well. A solid start to a fantasy series.

"Forgiveness isn't selfish"

Saiorse, a siren who is driven by her need to protect her family at all costs but has to fight against every fibre in her being that pulls her to do what comes naturally to her kind. Her kind which have been hunted to extinction by the rulers of Kierdre when the magical border sealing the kingdom came into existence.

Saiorse is determined to gain a position as Vanihail's enforcer , the highest position in Kierdre's army and put an end to the financial troubles her family face however when Prince Hayes decides to award a position as his guard to the best Delta graduate, she is shaken and declines in an attempt to keep her secret, that she uses her siren abilities to kill targets sent to her by her unknown employer. Later her employer forces to accept the position by threatening her younger sister and Saoirse is desperate to find a way to keep her safe.

The more time that she spends with Prince Hayes, the more she comes to realise that he isn't as evil as his father and Hayes truly wants to make a difference to Kierdre. They become closer as Saiorse discovers the horrifying truth about who had employed her and what they want to do. How does she keep her family safe without endangering Prince Hayes?

This was such an entertaining read that features a strong female and a swoon worthy, considerate male character. I love the relationship between Saiorse and her sister Rain, as it is so pure and true born only of their love for each other. The story is well paced, keeping you reading into the late hours of the night needing to know how Saiorse manages the challenges she is forced to face. How do she and Hayes handle their attraction to each other?

Pick this up if you are a fan of well-written stories with a twist of mystery, as you scramble with Saoirse to put the pieces of the puzzle together. I cannot wait until the sequel is released to find out what happens next!

Thankyou to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape for a free e-arc in exchange of an honest review.

I really liked this book;
-Strong main character that you cant help but like and root for despite being very morally grey!
-Love interest that falls first and he's an absolute babe inside and out!
-Found family with strong relation bonds
-Mystery elements and betrayal
-Well explained and thought out world building that isn't too much to handle
-Short chapters which made it very fast paced!
-Leads really well into future books which I'm definitely going to continue to read

Only gripe would be that i think the ending tied up too easily for the main character and she got away with far more than she should have with a particular character. All throughout the story when the main character was acting particularly morally grey, it gave me an ick feeling because i really didn't think she could come back from her actions with people around her, however i shouldn't have worried because she was forgiven VERY easily it seems...

4.5 stars for this reason (plus i tend to prefer adult fantasy more these days)