Sing Me to Sleep by Gabi Burton
(Hodder & Stoughton, 2023)
Reviewed by Steven French
Saoirse Sorkova is the best of the best, the top of her graduating class who wins the brutal hand-to-hand combat that is the ‘Ranking’, to be offered a coveted place as a member of Prince Hayes’ personal guard. She is also a Siren, the last of her race who were exterminated by Keirdre’s fae rulers, who allowed only witches and humans to remain—the former for their magical abilities and the latter for their role as servants. As such she also works a side-gig as an assassin, luring ‘marks’ to their doom on the orders of her employer. However, one of her targets turns out to be a personal friend of the prince and when he takes over the investigation into the murders, Saoirse, with her true identity magically hidden, finds herself aiding the very fae who are hunting her.
This is an entertaining Young Adult novel that entwines mystery with romance as Saoirse tries to uncover who really ordered the killings while struggling with her emotions towards Prince Hayes. When the fate of her younger sister, Rain, is put on the line and Saoirse is blackmailed into revealing secret details about the royal family, and the prince’s movements in particular, she realises that not only her own situation, but that of Keirdre as a whole, is even more precarious than she had appreciated. There are forces at work seeking to overthrow the harsh rule of the fae but the consequences of that could be devastating, and not just for the royals. Revelations and betrayals come thick and fast as Saoirse tries to find a way to save not only her little sister but also the prince, while also preserving her secret identity as an assassin and a Siren. With politics and personal feelings thrown into the mix, it all looks set for a dramatic conclusion…which is less explosive than might be anticipated as the ending has obviously been left open to allow for a sequel.
As fantasy stories go, this is all straightforward stuff. A significant info-dump at the beginning helps to set the stage and Saoirse has an array of more or less ad hoc magical devices to hand by which she can, for example, disguise herself (using a ‘keil’ bead, which sits behind her teeth), communicate over long distances (via a ‘freya’ candle whose flame produces ash that forms into messages) and even teleport (by means of a ‘bloodstone’ that allows her to ‘dreamweave’ into the consciousness of another and from there into their reality). What complexity there is lies in the character of Saoirse herself who at first presents as a bit of psychopath, to be blunt, enjoying the kill and feeling no emotion over the lives she takes. As things progress, however, she comes to understand that these are people with loved ones and that her murderous actions have an impact beyond the immediate victim. By the finale she has clearly matured and grown as a person, not least when it comes to her relationship with her sister who, she realises, she was trying to shield and protect as much for her, Saoirse’s benefit, as for Rain’s.
As might be guessed from the names, there is something of a ‘pick ’n mix’ quality to this fantasy world as elements are taken from different cultures and blended together, much as is Saoirse’s own family. At times this can be a little frustrating, as when I wondered why a Siren’s ability to manipulate water should outstrip that of a water-fae but in the end I accepted it was better to just go along with the ride and enjoy it for what it is—a vibrant tale of a young woman struggling to understand herself and find her place in the world.
Review from BSFA Review 22 - Download your copy here.