Title: Songbird of the Sorrows
Author: Braidee Otto
Series: Myths of the Empyrieos #1
Page Length: 400
Pub. Date: Feb. 3, 2026
Synopsis: An outcast princess turned spy embarks on a mission to infiltrate a rival kingdom, but the secrets she uncovers force her to decide whether to follow orders or defy them.
Ask no questions. Obey your orders. Respect your masters. But most of all, love no one.
Spy. Thief. Princess. Songbird.
Princess Aella was ousted from the Palace of Sorrows as a child, shattering her world and forcing her to abandon the truth of her royal lineage. Instead, she was raised in The Aviary, which disguises itself as a school for orphaned children but is actually a secret order designed to train its students as spies for an intelligence network embedded throughout the Empyrieos.
Now twenty-three years old and having completed her final tests, Aella is summoned to join Alpha Flight, the Aviary’s elite team of assassins that’s led by none other than her former flame, Raven. Everything about him calls to her—he’s brave, loyal, and lethal. But is Raven worth breaking the rules and risking everything she’s worked so hard to achieve?
Before she can decide, the Alpha Flight team is sent on a dangerous mission that tests Aella’s resolve in every way. Her role is crucial and she must assume her former title of Princess of the Sorrows, the identity she once had to forsake, to compete in the bridal trials held by the Prince of Eretria. As old sparks reignite and the harsh realities of the realm reveal themselves, the mission begins to unravel, and Aella must decide if she is brave enough to disobey her superiors in order to do what she believes is right.
I went into Songbird of the Sorrows expecting a classic princess-turned-spy setup, and that’s exactly what I got, but with darker, twistier vibes. The story follows Aella, an outcast princess raised in the Aviary, which is essentially a covert spy school disguised as an orphanage. When she’s assigned to Alpha Flight, led by her ex, Raven, she’s thrown into a mission that forces her to reclaim the royal identity she had to abandon. Between dangerous court games and bridal trials, Aella must decide whether she’ll obey her orders or finally break them.
The worldbuilding is rich and intriguing, but there are points early on that feel a little like an info dump, especially towards the beginning. That being said, I like that some of it and the plot is influenced by Greek mythology. The pacing is a bit uneven, too, with a slower start and the story not picking up the pace until much later in the book. That being said, there’s a lot of political intrigue, mystery, and danger around every corner. The final chapters pick up fast and end with a cliffhanger that definitely left me wanting to see where Aella goes next.
I liked following Aella through her first mission, watching her try to follow through with her duty while struggling with her lack of autonomy and freedom. The story is told solely from her point of view, so you definitely get to understand her thoughts, feelings, and motivations. I do wish that the characters as a whole felt a little more dynamically developed, though. A lot of the characters are not as layered as Aella, which is frustrating at times, but I get the sense we’ll see much more depth as the series continues.
The romance between Aella and Raven is complicated. They definitely have chemistry, and it’s clear there are unresolved feelings between them, but without Raven’s backstory or POV, he was hard to root for. There was something about him that didn’t sit well with me. I think it’s because his job was always his first priority, not Aella. I love MMCs who will burn the world down for the FMC, and I didn’t get those vibes.
This is a darker fantasy, and there are some scenes that could be difficult to read, so I would definitely recommend checking out the content warnings before starting the book. Aella really goes through it, and after that cliffhanger ending, I’m really curious to see what happens next.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Trust is a double-edged blade, and I’ve learned to keep it sheathed.
Never focus on what’s behind you, Starling. The future holds too much promise to be ignored.
Anger is often disappointed hope.
- forbidden romance
- heist
- high stakes trials
- court intrigue
Never heard of this one before and I’m not sure that it sounds like it’d be for me BUT that cover is stunning 😍 I would’ve definitely picked it up based on that alone, lol. Great review, Julie!