Title: Sing, Nightingale
Author: Marie Hélène Poitras
Type: Fiction
Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Horror
Publisher: Coach House Books
Published: February 14, 2023
A complimentary physical copy of this book was kindly provided by Tor.com in exchange for an honest review.
Beneath the bright sky of Noirax lies a long tradition of secrets. Generations of men on the Malmaison estate have fathered countless children, both legitimate and not. The women all meet tragic ends or live in the shadows of the estate, and the illegitimate offspring are cared for by nursemaids or sent off to orphanages.
Right now the estate is quiet. But the son is returning home, and the father, worried that the land has been less generous with its sumptuous offerings, decides to bring in a whisperer to make the plants and animals grow. But this whisperer awakens the past. The generations of silenced women will begin to make their voices heard, and the violence lurking under the lush perfumes of the forest will make itself known. The hunters will be hunted and the wolves will howl an announcement of a new reign.
⤖ My Review ⬻
Sing, Nightingale by Marie Hélène Poitras is a unique and dark book that will surely leave an impression on readers. From the very beginning, I knew it would be a weird read…but I hadn’t predicted exactly how weird it would be. Sing, Nightingale gave me Grimm fairytales and Angela Carter vibes with a mix of French countryside.
I also wanted to note that for a good chunk of the book, I had no idea which time period I was in. And I think this might have been done on purpose…which I find to be a unique tactic. Despite this confusion, I appreciated the unique and weird aspects of the book because I like experiencing new things, and those portions were also quite dark (which I’m a fan of as well)
It is worth noting that Sing, Nightingale was originally written in French and then translated into English. While the translation was well-done, I couldn’t help but wonder if some things went over my head due to my limited knowledge of the culture and its idioms. I also wondered if some things were lost in translation since some words just aren’t translatable from one language to another.
Overall, reading this book was an interesting experience. I recommend it to those looking for something different in their reading, especially for fans of Grimm fairytales and/or Angela Carter or those looking for something unconventional and dark.
I appreciate your review after reading it and wondering what I just read