"A fabulously fierce and thoughtful fantasy debut for older young adults, featuring murder, prejudice, friendship and romance."
A deeply dark, gloriously fantastical debut fantasy novel containing a beating heart of ‘will they, won’t they’ romance. 17 year old Saoirse leads a double life, hiding her true siren self to avoid execution she fights to top her class and is chosen to become one of Prince Hayes body guards. While billed as a YA novel, I would recommend Sing Me to Sleep is read by older young adults due to the main character being an assassin (and she assassinates with manipulative impunity). Saoirse is continuously fighting her natural instincts to kill, she has few friends, however cares for her family and lives in constant fear for her young sister. I flinched at choices she made, and found myself hovering between feelings for her. The fantasy location and flaws of the characters within, shine a spotlight on the failings of humanity. Author Gabi Burton has set this story within a realm of pain and segregation and gradually releases information to allow an understanding of the moral compass of this land, and main character, to grow alongside the setting. The prejudice within the plot is handled thoughtfully, encouraging an exploration of intolerance and discrimination. Provocative and enticingly different, Sing Me To Sleep challenges readers to think as they explore this new realm.
| Primary Genre | Young Adult Fiction |
| Other Genres: | |
| Recommendations: |
In this dark and seductive YA fantasy debut, a siren must choose between protecting her family and following her heart in a prejudiced kingdom where her existence is illegal.
Saoirse Sorkova survives on lies. As a soldier-in-training at the most prestigious barracks in the kingdom, she lies about being a siren to avoid execution. At night, working as an assassin for a dangerous group of mercenaries, Saoirse lies about her true identity. And to her family, Saoirse tells the biggest lie of all: that she can control her siren powers and doesn't struggle constantly against an impulse to kill.
As the top trainee in her class, Saoirse would be headed for a bright future if it weren't for the need to keep her secrets out of the spotlight. But when a mysterious blackmailer threatens her sister, Saoirse takes a dangerous job that will help her investigate: she becomes personal bodyguard to the crown prince.
Saoirse should hate Prince Hayes. After all, his father is the one who enforces the kingdom's brutal creature segregation laws. But when Hayes turns out to be kind, thoughtful, and charming, Saoirse finds herself increasingly drawn to him-especially when they're forced to work together to stop a deadly killer who's plaguing the city. There's only one problem: Saoirse is that deadly killer.
Featuring an all Black and Brown cast, a forbidden romance, and a compulsively dark plot full of twists, this thrilling YA fantasy is perfect for fans of A Song Below Water and To Kill a Kingdom.
Sing Me to Sleep features in the following genres: Young Adult Fiction, Debuts, Fantasy, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Fantasy, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Recommendations, Fiction, Liz Robinson's Picks of the Month, Sharing Diverse Voices, Narrative theme: Social issues, Narrative theme: Displacement, exile, migration, Narrative theme: Identity / belonging, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Prejudice and intolerance, Fiction: narrative themes, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Diversity, equality and inclusion, Children’s / Teenage: Personal and social topics
Sing Me to Sleep is available in Paperback, Hardback
Sing Me to Sleep was written by Gabi Burton and published by Bloomsbury YA
Sing Me to Sleep has 401 pages
Yes it is part of Sing Me To Sleep series
£8.99
