Sing Me to Sleep by Gabi Burton

Synopsis

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.

Review

4,5 stars

“Sirens were made to kill. Our purpose is to lure, seduce and destroy. It’s wrong , and I know it’s wrong, but that knowledge does nothing to ease the feeling of euphoria – of complete and utter bliss- when I lead a man astray.”

Sing Me to Sleep is a fresh take on siren stories. One were the hero is a villain or at least a morally grey character. Happening in a kingdom sealed from surrounding kingdoms thanks to a king’s magic. The ruling race is the fae. They killed all other species living within their border, barely tolerating witches and keeping humans as slaves.

We follow Saoirse,a siren hiding in plain sight. She has attended a military academy for years and when she ended best of her class, she’ll come work as a bodyguard for prince Hayes, the sole heir of the cruel king.

Working for him is certainly not in her plans but someone is threatening to reveal secrets about her sister and she needs money to pay him off.

Prince Hayes is not at all what Saoirse imagined. He is kind, sweet, considerate and extremely  handsome. Of course the story will go as you expect as a enemies to lover trope. Even if Saoirse is doing everything to remain immune to his charm!

Honestly I didn’t expect to love that book so much! Probably thanks to the a main character being a killer. Think of it, Saoirse made her first kill at age12!

But what was so interesting was her constant battle against her nature. She avoided water so she wouldn’t be tempted to kill. She wanted to be good, to be in control, to be more than a monster depicted in stories.

“So I avoid mirrors and anything that might reflect my eerily perfect face. Not because I feel guilty but because I know I should. And because I now know that the sight of my face enchants all who see it, myself included.”

But Saoirse also loves fiercely! She’d die to protect her adopted sister. And I adored seeing that sisterly love. It showed a sweeter part of Saoirse, a balance to all the unyielding willpower and strength she demonstrates all the time.

“I remember holding her. A teensy finger banding around my own like a ring. My heart fluttering like pages in the wind in response. (…) We have no blood in common, no shared parentage, and we are completely different species, but from the moment I met her, she was my sister. Mine to care for, mine to love , and mine to protect.”

As the story progresses we become aware of how alone Saoirse feels. She has no one of her kind to teach her the way. And it’s grueling.

” Because hiding is not enough for me.” The words shoot out like a geyser, and once I start,  I can’t stop. “Pretending isn’t enough. From the moment I knew what I was, I was alone. More than alone, I had to hide everything that makes me feel like me.”

Saoirse and her sister Rain must constantly be on their guard, living in an environment hostile for their kind. It must be frightening, exhausting and enraging at the same time.

I loved following that story, wondering who threatened her, where this would all go. The relationship between Saoirse and princes Hayes progressed organically but don’t expect a whirlwind romance with lots of heat! At least not yet…
The pacing was perfect for the story, the world building just unique enough to have us see that new world. And…we end on a cliffhanger! Of course.
Now I’ll just have to wait for the sequel.

I totally recommend that new series for lovers of fantasy and siren stories. 

Thanks for reading.

Sophie