This story was a fairly easy read with an interesting storyline and premise, but for me there was just something about it that was lacking. For some reason I just couldn’t get into the characters or their story, and by the end I had no real drive to continue on with the next book. Overall I found the characters to be pretty well rounded, the dialogue to flow appropriately, and the pace of the story to be spot on, it just lacked the spark that gets me enthralled with the characters and their story.

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions*

Sing Sweet Nightingale is a refreshing read. The world created within the pages is one I haven’t read before.

I adore Hudson. He’s got this need to save people. I think that’s really brave, even though sometimes it comes back to bite him in the butt. He’s a strong character that tries to make things right now matter how crazy it makes him look. Mari is a decent character. There were so many things she did that drove me nuts. She’s very naive, and doesn’t see how Orane is changing her. She kind of guesses, but not enough to change things.

There are a few tense moments, but a lot of it how the characters interact with each other. Because of the things that are happening there’s always a charge in the air whether they want there to be or not.

I’m ready to learn more about these beings in Paradise. Hopefully we get a more in depth look at them in the next book. I have so many questions about them.

GENRE: Paranormal
THEME: Romance, Mystery, and Demons
RECEIVED: Netgalley
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/

REVIEW:

This was definitely the most intense young adult paranormal fantasy that I’ve ever read. It was a roller coaster of suspense with bits or horror and romance, intertwined in a complex and original plot. The lead characters are wonderfully flawed, both connected to a Dreamworld with demons that take control over innocent humans. This was a one of a kind story that I’ll definitely be continuing.

Sing Sweet Nightingale follows Hudson after the death of his little brother. He trusted a demon, thinking she was someone whom would help him and maybe bring his brother back. But after realizing the truth he tries to destroy her and ends up taking some of her power within himself. Hudson begins to have dreams about two girls, but one stands out the most, a young blond girl Mariella who is burning. He becomes determined to save her, knowing that she too is being lead on by a demon like he was. But once he meets her, he discovers how much the demon has a hold of her and there is much time left.

Hudson was my favorite character, when the readers first meet him he’s hanging out with his little brother J.R. But something terrible happens and Hudson’s life it about to take a drastic turn. The beginning is always the most important to me, because if I’m not drawn into a story in the first chapter, I usually don’t continue. But Cameron really knows how to pull in her readers by creating a grippingly intense scene that breaks your heart at the same time. Hudson is a hero; his character is determined to help victims like himself. I adored his character, hated how his parents kicked him out and wanted him to find some happiness again. The readers get to enjoy his point of view as well as Mariella’s, which I normally don’t like but it was seriously important to see from both of their POVs.

Mariella is a girl who is trapped in a fantasy like world and doesn’t really know it. She has been stuck in a dreamworld controlled by a demon named Orane. She believes she’s in love with him and she ends up convinced to not speak to anyone. This has been going on for four years now, and it changed her and also ruined her friendship with her best friend K.T. Mari was a bit harder for me to connect too compared to Hudson and even K.T. I think it was mostly out of frustration of her not seeing how bad Orane really was. But in the end she really steps it up and becomes the girl that she once was before Orane took her in his grasp.

Overall a big thumbs up to Cameron for her creative and intricate plot that always kept me on my toes. There are a tons of twist and some points that may give some people the chills, imagine not knowing that your actually being controlled by someone? There is also some romance but its very light, not rushed and a perfect pace for a story with a heavy plot line. The world building was fantastic in the dreamworld, however at times I did have to sit back and process some pieces as I did get a little overwhelmed and confused with information. But nonetheless the main characters are what brought this story to life and the secondary characters K.T. and Horace, are vital to what is happening with Mari and helping Hudson. The ending was without a cliffhanger but prepped the readers for another suspenseful installment.

RECOMMENDATION:
This is a young adult novel with some dark elements and suspenseful storyline. Fans of the Blood of Eden series by Julie Jagawa and Jennifer Esteps Mythos series will enjoy Sing Sweet Nightingale by Erica Cameron.

I have to say, I was nervous reading this book. It's exciting to know an author, but it's scary to read their writing for the first time, not knowing if you'll connect with their book! So I was really happy when I started reading SING SWEET NIGHTINGALE and discovered that I liked it a lot!

This story is different than anything I've read before! It was described as Alice in Wonderland meets Beetlejuice and I thought that was a perfect description! It has a dark, cryptic, dreamy feel to it that leaves you unsettled, but wanting more.



The dreamworld that Erica Cameron created in SSN was so fascinating. For Mariella, it was filled with beautiful flowers, mountains, willow trees and music. It made me wonder what my dream world would look like. Every night she visits Orane there, where she plays games, sings in her own Opera House, and does lots of kissing. She's in love with Orane, and wants to spend the rest of her life with him, even though the price is that she isn't allowed to utter a word in her real life. This was completely fascinating. Can you imagine, not saying a word to anyone for four years? It was frustrating, watching Mari give up more and more of her life to Orane...but then, in walks Hudson.



I think Hudson was my favorite part of this book. I loved that Erica was able to write from both Mariella's and Hudson's point of view so well. They had completely distinctive voices (Hudson needs his mouth washed out with soap :P) and I never questioned who was narrating. I loved Hudson! He was so incredibly thoughtful, but at the same time, very practical and didn't put up with any crap from anyone. I loved that he was tough with Mari, but at the same time gentle. It was a perfect balance, and their relationship was such a slow burn, and developed really well. It definitely added a layer of tension to the already tension-filled story!

Rarely do I read a book that is so good at fleshing out supporting characters as this one was. I felt like I really knew each and every character in this book! I loved Horrace, Hudson's "adoptive" father, K.T., Mariella's best friend, and Dawn. They were so fun to read, and such amazing and supportive people. (Horrace made me think of Bobby Singer from Supernatural!)

All the little details make this book something even more special; the music, the stones, the descriptions of the dreamworld, the mysteries surrounding why these things were happening, the characters, the world-building, the intensity, Mariella's silence, HUDSON(!!) and on and on. I hope you'll pick up SING SWEET NIGHTINGALE and that you'll enjoy it as much as I did!

I loved Sing Sweet Nightingale and I can’t find one single critical thing to say about it. It was that good! I loved the characters, the imagery and the world building. I can’t wait for the series to continue and I hope to read more about Mari and Hudson.

Sing Sweet Nightingale hooked me from the beginning. The first chapter is set in Trenton (a very exciting detail for a Jersey girl who lives next to Trenton). Hudson captured my heart from the very first page and my heart broke for him when he lost his brother. He heads off on a revenge quest and it brings him into Mari’s life.

Mari was hard to get a read on at first and you could see how much Orane had entranced her to believe whatever he said. I enjoyed the scenes with Orane and Mari in the Dreamworld and loved the descriptive writing. It was fun to imagine being inside a world where anything is possible.

The romance was understated in Sing Sweet Nightingale, but I was still pleased with it. I found Hudson and Mari so likable and I loved their chemistry. The duo shared some really sweet moments especially when Hudson tries to protect Mari without freaking her out.

The pacing was excellent and I was anxious to see how everything would be resolved. There was such a strong sense of foreboding as I read and I couldn’t figure out how Hudson would be able to save Mari. The climax was exciting and I was glad the book concluded where it did.

It is a young adult novel, but definitely had crossover appeal. The novel is going on my favorites shelf and I can’t praise it enough.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

For some reason, this book was really challenging for me to become involved with; however, about halfway through, I felt like it picked up and held my interest.

The characters felt a little two-dimensional to me. While I was in love with the concept of demons controlling dreamworlds and infiltrating minds, I wasn't interested in the characters who were actually being captivated by these worlds.

The instalove also turned me off. The relationships within the book felt rather childish and based on loneliness or good lucks more than actual substance. My favourite character was probably KT, a friend, for actually having loyal attributes, but even then, I didn't know much about her other than her sister and her friends.

I had trouble suspending disbelief at points. There were too many coincidences for me to buy. I also wanted more details on the demons that would probably lead to these coincidences making more sense, but if something that's barely more likely as snow in Bali happens to three people in one town, then I don't buy it.

The ending felt a little bit like too much of a set up for a sequel and was rather unnatural. I'd probably pick up the next book if it came along, but I won't go out of my way looking for it--this was solid, but

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.825 RTC

Seventeen-year-old Mariella hasn't said a word in four years, and it's not because she can't: it's because she won't. She has nothing to say because no one would believe there's a world she can only visit in her dreams. And no one would understand why Mariella promised her silence to Orane, the man who introduced her to this world. Hudson is only eighteen, but he's survived a lot--including a run-in with creatures he calls the "dream demons", creatures he blames for the recent death of his four-year-old brother. Struggling to cope in the aftermath of this loss--and guided by signs even the practical Hudson can't ignore--he moves to a new town and comes face-to-face with the one thing he never thought he'd see: another victim of the demons. Mariella and Hudson have both been chosen by demons from a world that exists within ours, a world where beauty and magic mask cruelty and greed. Hudson has seen the gruesome reality of these beings, but Mariella is still in their thrall. She's in love with her captor, Orane, and is convinced she doesn't need saving. It's up to Hudson to show her the truth about the demons before she's lost in their world forever.

First thing I liked about Sing Sweet Nightingale, was that the story was based on dreams being an entry into another world. It has a lot of potential - and I felt that the author really used it well in the story. Mariella and Hudson were chosen by inhabitants of this dreamworld to train (separately) in return for a vow. While Hudson has already broken free of the grasp the dreamworld had on him, thanks to an eye-opening disaster, Mariella is still enthralled by the world and wants to be a part of it. She is in love with the person controlling her there and Hudson gets these strange prophetic dreams about her so he arrives in town to help her out. Okay, this part was wafer-thin in terms of plot considering he knew nothing and was only bent on revenge. What ensues is a struggle to get her to realize what demon she has been pledging herself to.

Plot-wise, it is a bit slow, since it gets rehashed everytime Mariella loses her memories - but the world-building was awesome. I, however, would have liked some more details on that world and hope the sequel delivers on that. It has a dual POV so we get the best of both worlds and the duality works too. As a character, Hudson is a hero-type, willing to save the world, etc etc. It sounds cheesy but that is what he was chosen for. Not a typical guy, and very smart - so props for that. He battles with feeling helpless throughout the story, and partly guilty of his fault to avert that aforementioned disaster. Mariella, on the other hand, comes off as selfish right from the start. She is bratty, and thinks it's okay to continue hurting her parents and friends for the sake of a vow. It also isn't explained what exactly the fake memories that led her to dissociate from her life, exactly were. Atypically, they thankfully have no 'love at first sight' (I was almost expecting it to happen and was glad it didn't) and moreover, there isn't much romance until near the end of the book, which means a lot of the story was actually devoted to the crisis at hand, that is, Mariella's stubbornness to see the truth.

The ending of the book was also, quite unexpected and I am very much interested what having those powers will do to Mariella's character development. Hudson is likeable but Mariella needs some work. Also, setting up the story with an open-ended climax - good one, by the way. Eager for the next installment. 3.5 stars

Received a copy from Spencer Hill Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review