Ask no questions. Obey your orders. Respect your masters. But most of all… Love no one.
Born without breath, Aella’s 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. 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 kingdom’s 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 quadrology by debut writer Braidee Otto. The saga continues in book two, publishing in Spring 2025
As a self-described hopeless romantic, Braidee Otto’s 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, and works full-time in the events and arts industries. It has been her lifelong dream to become a published author, and she’s nothing if not a dreamer.
Five-star reader reviews are flocking in:
🪶**5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing debut!**🪶
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 I’ve read, and the unique way she writes makes it so easy to picture (and it’s beautiful!). There’s 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 they’re creating, and wants to make the story as easy as possible for readers to understand.
The book was fast-paced, and the ending - well, I’ll 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.
🪶5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible debut with beautiful writing🪶
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:
🪶**5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing world building - 5 star read!**🪶
Phenomenal Fantasy book with a lot of world building but boy did I fall in love.
I’m not going to compared with any other fantasy book because that’s not fair but I know that this is a true contender to become one of the best fantasy series I’ve 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 can’t 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 I’ll be sitting here /kinda/ patiently until I get more!
🪶**5.0 out of 5 stars **An Enchanting Tale, Action Packed, Spicy & Full of Suspense - A Must-Read!****🪶
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 you’ve 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! 😍 (Keeping everything crossed for the second book release!)
Extent: 433 pages
UK publisher: KDP, June 2024
US publisher: Dial Press
ANZ publisher: PRH Australia
Primary Agent: Christabel McKinley
Film/ TV agent: DHA (Georgie Smith)
Co-agents: Chinese Bardon Chinese Media; Japanese Japan Uni
Rights sold: Italian Mondadori; Polish Wyndawnicwo Niezwykle; Russian Under offer; Spanish V&R Editoras
Chilli factor: 🌶🌶