The Firebird Song

By: Arnée Flores

Narrated by: Gary Furlong

Bloomsbury presents The Firebird Song by Arnée Flores, read by Gary Furlong.

Debut author Arnée Flores spins an exciting and original tale about hope in even the darkest of places, perfect for fans of Shannon Hale.

The Kingdom of Lyrica was once warm and thriving, kept safe by the Firebird, whose feather and song was a blessing of peace and prosperity. But the Firebird disappeared, and Lyrica is now terrorized by the evil Spectress who wields her powers from within a volcano. All that remains is a mysterious message scrawled on the castle wall in the Queen’s own hand: Wind. Woman. Thief.

Young Prewitt has only known time without the Firebird, a life of constant cold, as his village is afraid to tempt the volcano monsters with even the feeblest fire. But he has heard whispers that the kingdom’s princess survived the attack . . . and he is certain that if he can find her, together they can save Lyrica.

Princess Calliope has no memories beyond living on her barge on the underground lake. But as she nears her twelfth birthday, she is certain there is more to life than the walls of a cave. When Prewitt finds her, he realizes that she is the missing princess: the only hope for Lyrica. Determined to decipher the meaning of her mother’s strange message and find the Firebird, Calliope and Prewitt set off on a quest that puts them in more danger than either of them ever anticipated.©2021 Arnée Flores (P)2021 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Good story aimed at young teens

the story started a bit slow for me, but by the middle I was fully invested. I had read reviews that it was predictable and while there were some parts of the story that didn't seem original I still really enjoyed some of the themes.

I wasn't thrilled with the narrator, he probably lost me at the start when he pronounced the author's name as "ArMee" instead of "ArNee" then he did it again at the very end. I know he has several books on audible that he's the narrator, but it didn't sound like a professional narration more of a parent badly doing the different voices.

I look forward to more from Arnee, just hopefully not with the same narrator.