Skysong by C.A. Wright is a wonderful twist on Hans Christian Andersen's The Nightingale. Oriane, who can change into a bird and sings to make the sunrise, feels trapped in her quiet, ignorant life. When she runs away and is found in the royal gardens, she is taken to live in the palace, where people admire her like a goddess, but she is a prisoner. As Oriane deals with the tricky politics around her, she forms a special relationship with her maid, Andala, who may also be something more than she seems.

I listened to the audiobook version of this novel. Narrator Olivia Darnley brings the story to life, with a gentle voice and cadence that fits the dreamy vibe of this tale. The beautiful story makes it easy to get lost in this charming fantasy world. With lovable characters, magical moments, and lovely language, Skysong is a fantastic first audiobook that will delight fans of fairytales.

A wonderfully enchanting setting with endearing characters, a captivating plot and beautifully written prose. If this is C.A. Wright's debut, then I cannot wait to see what they do next! From the get-go Skysong sweeps you into its world and the gentle but consistent pacing ensures you stay riveted to every word.

I really enjoyed the development of the characters, particulary the conflicted Andala. The relationships formed feel well-earned and every character has a clear and unique voice. I would love to see more of this world and have an more in-depth dive into the political machinations. The foundations are definitely there for a whole series of novels.

The audiobook is also outstanding in terms of quality, narration and editing. Olivia Darnley did a fantastic job and I would love to hear more of her work too.