Ask no questions. Obey your orders. Respect your masters. But most of allā¦ Love no one.
Born without breath, Aellaās life began with a solemn promise etched in fate. Ousted from the Palace of Sorrows and gifted to the Aviary at a young age, she was shaped to fit the mold they made for her.
Spy. Thief. Princess.Ā Songbird.
After Aella completes her training and passes the Naming ceremony, she is assigned to the prestigious Alpha Flight, led by none other than her former flame. Everything about Raven calls to her. He is brave, loyal, and lethal. But love is forbidden within the Aviary.
When Alpha Flight is tasked with infiltrating the eastern kingdomās royal trials to seek a weapon hidden deep within its court, Aella struggles with the expectations placed on her.
As old sparks reignite and the harsh realities of the realm reveal themselves, she must decide whether to follow orders or defy them.
Songbird of the Sorrows is the first title in a luscious, vividly painted, Ancient Greece-inspired romantasy trilogy by debut writer Braidee Otto.
<aside> šŖ¶
āSongbird of the Sorrows is an addictive new romantic fantasy that combines beautiful world building, a thrilling combination of heist and trials, and a toe-curling forbidden romance. Between the romantic intrigue and the unravelling mysteries, it kept me guessing until the very last page!ā ā Demi Winters, bestselling author of the Ashen series
</aside>
Aella must learn to harness her powers and assemble allies to stop the cruel Prince Keresās rise to power in book two of the Songbird of the Sorrows trilogy.
Betrayed and abducted by the very man she sought to rescue; Aella finds herself bound for the northern kingdom of Arkhadia. After a disastrous confrontation reveals she has been branded a traitor by the Aviary, Aella and Lyxander forge a tenuous alliance. Together, they flee into the northern mountains, where Aella unearths secrets from her motherās past, begins to harness the potential of her own powers, and learns of a prophecy entangled with her own fate.
When news of Prince Keresā rise to power reaches her, Aella and Lyxander set out to gather allies amongst the political backdrop of the Empyrieos Games. But as the Games take a deadly turn, Aella makes a desperate bid to save her dearest friend, sparking the flame that sets fire to the fragile peace the kingdoms have maintained since the God War.
Daughter of the Tempest is the second title in the Myths of the Empyrieos trilogy, a luscious, vividly painted, Ancient Greece-inspired romantasy series by debut writer Braidee Otto.
As a self-described hopeless romantic, Braidee Ottoās writing style paints vivid imagery, bringing to life lush landscapes, complex characters, and intricate relationships to immerse readers in a world where love, loss, and redemption intertwine. Braidee lives in Adelaide, South Australia, with her partner, two dogs and a recently acquired rescue kitten.
šŖ¶**5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing debut!**šŖ¶
I was HOOKED as soon as I read the first line. Everything about this drew me in - the cover, the greek mythology, the tropes - and I was not disappointed.
The world Braidee has built is completely different to any other fantasy Iāve read, and the unique way she writes makes it so easy to picture (and itās beautiful!). Thereās also a pronunciation guide and a glossary (you best believe I was flicking back and forth to make sure I got those names and details right). I think little details like this show that the author really cares about the world and characters theyāre creating, and wants to make the story as easy as possible for readers to understand.
The book was fast-paced, and the ending - well, Iāll be constantly checking for updates on book 2 because I am not happy about it being left like that. There are so many directions this could be taken and so many things I have questions about!
This is up there with one of my favourite books of the year and I cannot wait to see what else is in store for Aella.
šŖ¶5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible debut with beautiful writingšŖ¶
What a book! Songbird of the Sorrows by Braidee Otto is absolutely fantastic, it has the most incredible writing. From the moment I started reading, I felt like I was transported directly into the story, the rich imagery and the vivid descriptions were written beautifully.
Braidee Otto's writing is like a song, it flows and has a lovely rhythm to it. The book starts with some world and character building, setting the scene for the thrills to come. The pacing was spot on, and I was enraptured from the moment I sat down to start it reading, to the very end.
Check out this book if you like the following:
US publisher: Dial Press, February 2026 (#1), Autumn 2026 (#2)
US editor: Katy Nishimoto
AUS publisher: PRH Australia, February 2026 (#1), Autumn 2026 (#2)
AUS editor: Christine Ebbs
Primary Agent: Christabel McKinley
Film/ TV agent: DHA (Georgie Smith)
Extent: 433 pages (#1), 165,000 words (#2 - non-final wordcount)
Illustrations: Black-and-white map and chapter headings
Chilli factor: š¶š¶
Co-agents: ChineseĀ Bardon Chinese Media; JapaneseĀ Japan Uni
Rights sold: German - CBJ; Italian Mondadori; Polish Wyndawnicwo Niezwykle; Spanish V&R Editoras
šŖ¶**5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing world building - 5 star read!**šŖ¶
Phenomenal Fantasy book with a lot of world building but boy did I fall in love.
Iām not going to compared with any other fantasy book because thatās not fair but I know that this is a true contender to become one of the best fantasy series Iāve ever come across! And to say this is a debut book? Braidee, take a bow!!
It was full of some of my favourite tropes: Magic, Forbidden Love, mystery, adventure, action and spicy, all of which were written so well.
The writing flowed so easily, words fitting perfectly with each other. I simply canāt explain how much I enjoyed this book and I cannot contain my excitement for the next book in the series. Because that cliffhanger?! whilst I loved the climax of the book, I NEED more and Iāll be sitting here /kinda/ patiently until I get more!
šŖ¶**5.0 out of 5 stars **An Enchanting Tale, Action Packed, Spicy & Full of Suspense - A Must-Read!****šŖ¶
Songbird of The Sorrows is a breathtaking and EPIC addition to the romantasy genre. A fantastically written & weaving of love, magic, kingdom politics and heartache that kept me wanting more.
Braidee's masterful storyline and rich world-building transported me to a Greek themed realm where every detail was vivid and alive.
Aella's journey of self-discovery and true resilience is inspiring. The romance element is twisty and beautifully developed throughout, with extra spicy moments that made my heart soar and ache in equal measure.
The supporting characters are equally compelling, each with their own unique contributions to the story's depth and intrigue. The plot is paced perfectly, with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning pages to uncover the next secret.
It's a book that resonates deeply, making it impossible to put down. If you loved the hunger games, throne of glass and spark of the everflame - this is your next read.
This upcoming book releasing on 18th June 2024 - is a must-read for fans of romantic fantasy. It is a story that will stay with you long after youāve finished, a true testament to the power of love and the resilience of the human spirit. I can't recommend it highly enough! Well done Braidee, it was an honor to read.
I can't wait to dive into number two of the Myths of the Empyrieos series! š (Keeping everything crossed for the second book release!)