Songbird of the Sorrows

An enticing blend of espionage, romance, and rebellion animates Otto’s debut and Myths of the Empyrieos series launch. The Palace of Sorrows fell when its princess, Aella, was a child. She has since been raised in the Aviary, a covert network that transforms orphans and outcasts into spies known as songbirds. When she’s chosen for the Aviary’s elite Alpha Flight team, led by her former lover, stoic and duty-bound Raven, Aella must navigate both rekindled feelings and a mission that forces her to reclaim her royal identity. Undercover as a potential bride competing in a tournament for the hand of the prince of neighboring kingdom Eretria, Aella uncovers secrets that pit loyalty against conscience and love against survival. With rich sensory descriptions, Otto crafts an immersive world of coded messages and whispered betrayals. The pacing occasionally feels too quick, rushing through some of the bride trials and romantic beats. Still, Aella’s growth from an obedient agent of the Aviary to a self-possessed leader anchors the story. Fans of Carissa Broadbent’s The Serpent and the Wings of Night will want to check this out. Agent: Christabel McKinley, David Higham Assoc. (Feb.)