Nightingale

By Deva Fagan

An orphan's heist leads to a magical destiny against ancient evil.

3.9/5 Goodreads · 851 ratings

304 pages· 70,559 words· Est. 10 hour read

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Bookroo's summary

Twelve-year-old Lark's escape plan from a dreary boarding house goes awry when she accidentally steals a magical sword. Chosen as the new Nightingale, she must confront an awakening ancient evil. With Prince Jasper on her trail and the sword's own will guiding her, Lark faces a daunting challenge. Can she trust her fellow orphans to help her save their world, or will her past betrayals hold her back? As the stakes rise, Lark must embrace her unexpected role and the power of friendship to overcome the darkness threatening everything she cherishes.

From the publisher

A plucky orphan girl stumbles into a conflict centuries in the making in this thrilling middle grade fantasy about unexpected heroes, the power of friendship, and one boisterous enchanted sword. Twelve-year-old Lark is determined to escape her squalid life at Miss Starvenger’s boarding house, but she needs to find the coin to do it. Her grand scheme? To steal her fortune from the Royal Museum. Unfortunately, her heist goes off the rails, and Lark ends up stealing a magical sword right out from under the nose of Prince Jasper, who’s none too happy to have his plans thwarted. Lark soon discovers that the Sword has a mind of its own, and has chosen her to be the next Nightingale, a fabled hero who must vanquish an ancient evil that is waking after centuries of sleep. Working alone has its limitations, but relying on others after a lifetime of disappointments feels impossible. Still, Lark will need the help of her boarding house roommates if she wants to defeat the villainous forces that threaten to dismantle everything she holds dear.

At a glance

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 304
Words: 70,559
Reading age: 8–12
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: 660L

Themes & topics

Books about friendship Books about magic Books about orphans Books about rebellion Books about industrialization

For the grown-ups

The parent guide

What families may want to know

Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.

LGBTQ

There is a reference suggesting a girl may be interested in a romantic way in another girl.

For readers who can't stop at one