Tuesday, July 01, 2025

#BookReview: The Kiss of the Nightingale by Adi Denner



A stolen magical gem transforms an orphan’s destiny… A stunning and completely unputdownable romantasy novel set in an alternative historical Paris, The Kiss of the Nightingale weaves together the seduction of Bridgerton and the magic of Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone series.




1890, Lutèce: In this city, Talents are everything: precious gems that gift unrivalled skills to their owners. The most coveted, Elite Talents, are claimed by the aristocracy, passed through generations by blood magic.

Cleodora dreamed of inheriting her father’s Tailoring Talent, but when he died, the magic died with him. Now she’s left with empty promises, a dress shop she can’t keep afloat, and her bed-ridden younger sister.

But everything changes when she meets the dark-eyed Lady Dahlia Sibille. Dahlia offers Cleodora a Singing Talent – a chance to save her beloved sister and rewrite her own fate. From the first instant, Cleodora is bewitched… There’s just one catch: she needs to steal an Elite Talent from the prestigious Lenoir family.

As Lutèce’s nightingale, Cleodora is the star of the opera’s galas and balls, worlds away from the darkness and dust of home. But the handsome yet infuriating Vicomte Lenoir is nothing like she expected.

Soon, the Vicomte’s teasing smiles win her over, even as Dahlia’s seductive whispers linger in her ears. Torn between Dahlia, who gave her everything, and the Vicomte, who holds the price of her freedom, is Cleodora in danger of losing it all? Or can she prove that magic isn’t the only gift that counts?






This was one of those books where, the moment I finished, I knew I wouldn’t remember a single thing about it a day later. From the start, I was completely lost—and not in a good way. The plot was so murky that by the time anything started making sense, I had already checked out emotionally. The whole “let’s steal powers or talents” concept had potential, but it just didn’t land. It felt half-baked and wasn’t strong enough to carry the story. There were hints of a Phantom of the Opera vibe, but even that fell flat and didn’t deliver the depth or drama needed for a solid retelling. Overall, this book lacked focus, energy, and honestly… it just wasn’t good.







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