Sing me forgotten

Jessica S. Olson, Sing me forgotten, HarperCollins Publishers, June 2023, 336 pp., RRP $19.99 (pbk), ISBN: 9780008592530

Jessica S. Olson’s novel, Sing me forgotten, is a wonderfully crafted narrative featuring distinctive characters and abilities that evoke both excitement and a sense of unease. Simply turn the pages and enter a world where memories are melodies, and one girl’s extraordinary gift becomes both her salvation and her curse.

Sing me forgotten is a mesmerizing novel centered around a young girl gifted with extraordinary abilities. Isda is a gravoir. She can manipulate memories through song and will never forget a single moment in her life, unfortunately, that includes the moment soon after her birth when her own mother leaves her in a well to die. Isda’s salvation comes in the form of Cyril, the opera house’s owner, who offers her sanctuary from a world fraught with danger. In return, she’s tasked with using her unique gift to ensure the opera house’s success while keeping herself hidden from those who would seek her demise. She cannot exist.

Isda’s solitary existence however is disrupted when she encounters Emeric Rodin, a charismatic boy whose voice resonates unlike any other. As their connection grows, so does Isda’s realization that within Emeric’s memories lies a glimmer of hope for freedom from her gilded prison. Driven by this newfound possibility, Isda embarks on a journey through Emeric’s music and past, despite the steep cost of pursuing her liberation. As she grapples with her burgeoning feelings for Emeric, she faces the stark truth that to seize control of her destiny, she must embrace the very darkness the world once sought to erase.

Sing me forgotten is a captivating exploration of identity, sacrifice, and the daunting choices one must make to claim their autonomy. This enchanting tale weaves a narrative of love, danger, and the profound cost of breaking free from the shackles of one’s past.

Recommended for readers seeking a blend of magic and emotional depth, this novel grips the heart with its haunting tune of resilience and self-discovery.

Reviewed by India Boon

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