Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Exciting magical fantasy features a Black siren in disguise.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In SING ME TO SLEEP, the night before Saoirse's graduation as a fully fledged soldier, she sneaks out of the barracks, slips off the witch-crafted bead in her tooth that masks her true identity as a siren, and poisons a man at a bar for some quick cash. She doesn't ask her employer why, just takes the money home to her adoptive family so she can provide for her younger sister, Rain. She knows that once she graduates, she could be stationed anywhere and may not have the means to protect Rain, but she also knows she has a great chance at a well-positioned assignment. Saoirse is an accomplished fighter and proves it at the Ranking, where soldiers spar in front of a crowd to be the first to disarm three other soldiers. That wins the approval of the prince himself, who offers Saoirse a position in his personal guard. At first she turns him down: There's no more dangerous place for a siren to work than right under the noses of those who wish to kill her. But that's before a mysterious letter threatens to expose her and her family if she doesn't take the job.
Is It Any Good?
There's a lot to root for in this exciting fantasy debut, even the very flawed main character -- eventually. Saoirse loves her adoptive family and will do anything for her sister. She's also an assassin for hire. "He must be someone bad," she thinks to herself, until she kills someone close to the prince. Her awakening to compassion is far too slow, but it is in heavy competition with her bloodthirsty instincts. Until she grows closer to the prince, she's pretty lost to those instincts. The relationship that develops between Saoirse and Prince Hayes is a pleasant surprise. Here's a siren who's supposed to woo anyone without a thought, and instead she hides her identity with a fake face and some grumpy manners. And still, romance blossoms.
While Sing Me to Sleep is focused on relationships and Saoirse's internal struggles, the world that author Gabi Burton creates is engaging, too. Fae have all the power, and gradually readers find out what happened to all the other undesirables. Saoirse is pushed by an unknown blackmailer to learn more, and each discovery is just as unsettling as her many kills. Readers, like Saoirse, will have no idea who to trust or align with and will be just as torn about what she should do. It makes for an exciting ride to the end and lots to build on in the sequel.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about having a siren for a main character in Sing Me to Sleep. Saoirse is a killer who often says she can't fight her instincts. Does that make her hard to root for? Why, or why not?
All the characters in this story have Black and Brown skin, including the royals and the different kinds of fae. How many fantasy books have you read with all characters of color?
There's a different type of race problem in the book's world. How are humans treated? What happened to the other sirens? Why is there a barrier? How do you think this will be addressed in the sequel?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Animals ( Ocean Creatures )
- Character Strengths : Self-control
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Bloomsbury YA
- Publication date : June 27, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 17
- Number of pages : 432
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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