Nightbirds

In this dazzling, fiercely feminist novel, teen witches dubbed Nightbirds bestow temporary doses of their unique abilities via kiss on the wealthy, highborn men of Simta’s Great Houses in exchange for protection from puritanical, magic-banning powers-that-be. A madam strictly regulates access to the girls, hiding their identities until they retire to marry a Great House man and birth a new generation. Mathilde, a veteran Nightbird, believes what she’s always been told—that intrinsic magic is rare; that she must not wield her magic, only gift it; and that the system keeps her safe. Then, the first evening she works with two novice Nightbirds, street-savvy orphan Sayer and sheltered immigrant Æsa, a religious zealot launches a violent attack, sparking a chain of cataclysmic events both personal and political. Debut author Armstrong uses lush, seamlessly incorporated worldbuilding, kaleidoscopic third-person-present narration told via realistically rendered characters, and fraught queer and straight romantic subplots to explore issues of classism and misogyny. With a pace that never flags and a harrowing, high-stakes plot, this distinguished read boasts texture, heft, and heart. The protagonists cue as white; supporting characters have varying skin tones. Ages 12–up. (Feb.)