Week 3 Read Along: Songbird of the Sorrows by Braidee Otto

Songbird of the Sorrows Read Along Week 3 (Twist, Trials & Dark Fantasy Breakdown)

Welcome back to week three of our Songbird of the Sorrows read along by Braidee Otto and holy cow… Y’all.

Y’all.

We got a twist, didn’t we?

That Twist…and That Cliffhanger

Maybe not completely out of nowhere—but definitely not what we were promised in the book description.

And listen—this is not a complaint. I love a good twist.

What I didn’t expect? The torture. The way we’re left in another cliffhanger with her in serious peril.

The prince’s promise that he’ll break her?

Yeah…I don’t like how possible that feels right now.

I’m holding out hope—for her to survive, for Nyssa to step in, for the prince to not go as far as we all know he can.

At this point, it feels like anything could happen—and honestly? I’m here for it.

The Final Trial & The Escape Setup

Let’s backtrack a bit.

We’ve got one final trial—the performance—but also the crew and the prince’s cousin working behind the scenes.

Aella promises to release the sphinx, binds herself to the task, and actually succeeds.

At the same time, the crew steals the sword and escapes—leaving the princess behind with her two so-called handmaids.

And now?

We don’t know if they made it out.

I hope they did—which also means I’m expecting some kind of rescue or escape attempt coming soon.

That feels like where this story is heading.

The Trial Was Not Playing Fair

Of course, the final trial wasn’t just a performance.

They had to fight—until only two were left standing.

Lydia killed her friend.
Aella knocked her opponent unconscious.

So yeah…not exactly a talent show.

Cynna, Clues, and Chekhov’s Gun

We’re also getting hints that Cynna is more than she appears.

Trained. Capable. Similar to Aella.

So what’s her deal?

Where did she come from? Where did she go? And more importantly…is she coming back?

Because if not, we’re dangerously close to breaking the Chekhov’s gun rule.

Don’t show me something important and then not use it.

So I’m expecting her to return in a big way.

Raven & Aella: The Slow Burn Payoff

Okay…let’s talk about Raven and Aella.

The slow burn has been burning…but the payoff?

A little underwhelming for me.

The mechanics were there, but the emotional depth I personally look for in a scene like that felt like it was missing.

That said—it might just be personal preference.

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Final Thoughts (Week Three)

Overall, I’m really enjoying the darker, more violent turn this Songbird of the Sorrows read along is taking.

Now the question is—how does Aella survive this?

What are we about to learn in the final section…and what’s being saved for the next book?

Because something big is coming. I can feel it.

Tell me—what was your favorite moment in this section?

Drop your thoughts in the comments, and I’ll see you next week as we finish our Songbird of the Sorrows read along.

Until then, happy reading! ✨