The Cruel Prince meets To Kill a Kingdom in this seductive YA fantasy debut, in which 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 secrets. As the last siren in her kingdom, she can sing any man to an early grave - but her very existence is illegal, and if her true identity were ever discovered, it would be her life on the line.

By day, Saoirse disguises herself as a fae, pretending to be the perfect soldier-in-training. By night, she satisfies her darker urges working as an assassin for dangerous mercenaries. And all the while, she keeps the biggest secret of all: that she is not always in control of her Siren powers, or her desire to kill.

Then a blackmailer threatens her sister, and Saoirse's investigation takes her to the royal palace, and her most dangerous job yet: personal bodyguard to the Crown Prince.

Saoirse expects to despise Prince Hayes. But he is kind, thoughtful, and charming, and she finds herself increasingly drawn to him . . . until he tasks her with investigating a killer plaguing the kingdom. The problem: the killer is Saoirse.

Trapped by her deadly double life, Saoirse can't leave the palace until she saves her sister . . . but who will save her from herself?

 

Review

Everything about Burton's debut is razor-sharp: the writing, the tension, the twists, the action, the romance, and, of course, its heroine Saoirse herself. The magical yet treacherous Kingdom of Keirdre is an alluring backdrop for this story of deceit and deception, where no one and nothing is to be trusted - not even your own heart ― Natasha Ngan, New York Times bestselling author of Girls of Paper and Fire

A thoroughly enchanting debut. Once you pick this book up, there's no putting it down again. Saoirse's story will capture your heart and consume your imagination, every bit as captivating as the siren song inside its pages. Run, don't walk towards this one; Sing Me to Sleep is the perfect YA fantasy ― Kate Dylan, author of Mindwalker

A dark and sweeping fantasy, that--like a siren song--will pull you in from the very first page ― Alechia Dow, author of The Sound of Stars

Burton pens a darkly enchanting fantasy that brims with siren magic, political intrigue, and the most swoon-worthy romance that will, undoubtedly, leave you begging for the next book in the series. Perfect for readers who crave a compelling, high stakes plot from start to finish, sharp-witted characters you can't help but root for, and at its heart, a beautifully flawed, morally gray heroine willing to go to great lengths to save the people she loves. Sing Me To Sleep is as thrilling as it is seductive ― Deborah Falaye, author of Blood Scion

Snappy dialogue, unpredictable plot twists, skillful worldbuilding, strong characterization, and steamy, sensual tension between Saoirse and the prince create an immersive tale with an empowering social justice tone centering a predominantly Black and brown cast ― Kirkus Starred Review

Richly imagined and utterly immersive, Sing Me to Sleep will call to you like the sea. Saoirse is a deeply compelling character: vicious, frightened, and tender as she navigates mysteries, lies, and betrayal in the Kingdom of Keirdre. With an expansive cast of characters, a morally grey heroine, and a swoon-worthy prince, at its heart, this is a story about loyalty and will speak to anyone willing to go to great lengths for the people they love. Gabi Burton's debut is as captivating as the magic within its pages, and will leave you breathless until the final line ― Adrienne Tooley, author of The Third Daughter

Sing Me to Sleep is an enthralling read with complex and morally gray characters ― Booklist

A dark and sweeping fantasy, that - like a siren song - will pull you in from the very first page ― Alechia Dow, author of The Sound of Stars

Burton pens a darkly enchanting fantasy that brims with siren magic, political intrigue, and the most swoon-worthy romance that will, undoubtedly, leave you begging for the next book in the series. Perfect for readers who crave a compelling, high stakes plot from start to finish, sharp-witted characters you can't help but root for, and at its heart, a beautifully flawed, morally gray heroine willing to go to great lengths to save the people she loves. Sing Me To Sleep is as thrilling as it is seductive ― Deborah Falaye, author of Blood Scion

This remarkably fresh take on mythology, magic, and world-building, with all BIPOC characters, breathes new life into YA fantasy. Full of adventure, intrigue, and sizzling romance, Sing Me to Sleep is as alluring, fierce, and empowering as Saoirse's siren song ― Alyssa Raymond, Copper Dog Books

Everything I could have wanted in a siren fantasy, but with so much I didn't expect! Saoirse is one of the most complex, morally gray heroines in YA; the rest of the cast is fully-formed and memorable, and the writing itself sings. This book is absolutely stunning ― Joanna Szabo, Annie Bloom’s Books

Dark, stunning, and truly enchanting, Gabi Burton's Sing Me to Sleep is a book every fantasy lover needs on their shelves. For a moment, you're Saoirse, feeling the cool spray of mist on your cheek or the dangerous melody of a siren song on your tongue. This is the kind of book you accidentally stay up until four a.m. reading because you kept telling yourself "one more chapter". I have never been so floored by a plot twist before in my life, and can't begin to recommend this book enough! ― Emma Butler, The Briar Patch

Drop what you're doing and RUN to get a copy of this book. From the first sentence to the last this book is non-stop action, with the most morally grey, murdery main character you will ever root for. Complete with unique magic, insane plot twists and an all Black cast of characters, this book is guaranteed to be your next fantasy obsession ― Carrie Deming, The Dog Eared Book

This book was one of my most anticipated reads for 2023 and it was phenomenal. This has easily become one of my all-time favorite books. Burton's writing was stunning, her characters, especially Saoirse and Hayes, were outstanding, and the word building was impeccable. Slow burn, siren lore, a compelling mystery, and more. This book has it all. I could literally not put this book down because Burton captivated me until the very end. It is so very special ― Megan Field, Brain Lair Books

Sing Me to Sleep is a dark YA fantasy debut about a siren named Saorsie who must hide her powers to protect herself and her family. By day, she's a soldier-in-training and by night an assassin. This was everything you would want in a YA fantasy and more ― Quinnell Flanagan, Annie Bloom’s Books

A thrilling YA utilizing the siren folklore myth but giving it a different interpretation. In a world of bipoc characters, a siren assassin named Saoirse is torn between her natural killer instinct and her feelings toward the prince of the kingdom. As supernatural segregation, internal politics, and a plotted insurrection bubbles to the surface, the protagonist is forced to choose sides. Literary fantasy meets black amplified voices in this unique teen novel that incorporates POC characters ― Gerard Villegas

Sing Me to Sleep by Gabi Burton is a fantasy novel you can sink into and finish in a day. The will-they-won't -they banter and chemistry between Saoirse and the Prince will give you goosebumps (but in a good way). Not to mention the non-stop fight to overthrow a corrupt kingdom is sure to have you frantically turning the pages and gasping at the twists and turns along the way. This is the perfect book for any fantasy reader who enjoys fierce and charming characters with political intrigue and a kingdom that needs to be overthrown ― Bookseller, Mostly Books

Burton spins an unforgettable debut that boasts impeccable characterizations and fresh takes on well-trod tropes that promise an amorous adventure centering a devoted, rag-tag family, stirring mythos, and sweetly budding romance ― Publishers Weekly

The premise of Gabi Burton's Sing Me To Sleep reads like a wishlist of everything I love in YA fantasy: forbidden romance, diverse characters and a siren protagonist who isn't afraid to embrace her murderous impulses ― The Bookseller

Compelling and chilling ― The Sun

The perfect combination for an immersive, gripping story ― Glamour.co.uk

Darkly compelling and tense throughout - in no small part down to its prickly protagonist, the sizzling chemistry between the siren and the prince, and the sisterly bond that forms the very heart of the book ― Culturefly

Compelling, immersive and impossibly gripping, Gabi Burton's debut novel, Sing Me to Sleep, is undoubtedly one of the most exciting new YA fantasies to have come out of 2023 thus far ― United by Pop

 

About the Author

Gabi Burton grew up reading and writing in St. Louis, Missouri before moving to Maine where she graduated from Bowdoin College. She now works as a paralegal and author on the East Coast. When she's not working, writing, or reading, she's probably watching Netflix, scrolling Twitter, or finding beautiful places to walk - preferably near a body of water. schovat popis