The Songbird's Overture

The Malediction Trilogy #0.1

by Danielle L. Jensen

I wrote this story as a tool to help me with writing Hidden Huntress, and it turned out well enough that I decided it would be fun to share it with fans of Stolen Songbird rather than leaving it to languish on my computer's hard drive.

It takes place four years prior to the events of Stolen Songbird, and it will give a taste of what Cécile's life was like before the trolls.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Short Stories, Novella, Romance, Magic, Paranormal

26 pages, ebook

First published April 25, 2014

About the author

Join Danielle's mailing list for exclusive content, giveaways, and new release alerts: https://danielleljensen.com/newslette...

Danielle L. Jensen is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Fate Inked in Blood, A Curse Carved in Bone, and the Bridge Kingdom, Dark Shores, and Malediction series. Her novels are published internationally in twenty-one languages. She lives in Calgary, Alberta, with her family and guinea pigs.

Reviews

[Marcella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can we get a back story on Tristan too????

[fatima · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars!

This was okay. I appreciated this as a prequel because it really did give an insight into Cecile's life from before she went to Trollus, but at the same time it's everything that you could kind of guess for yourself. Like, her life before is exactly what I imagined it would be so this was kinda ??? pointless, in my opinion, but I love Cecile so it's okay!

[Ryan Snyder]

Only available here: http://issuu.com/angryrobot/docs/thes...

[Jessica {Litnoob} · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice 2.5 stars

This would have served better as a flashback someplace in book two, to avoid spoilers I won't say more then that. But it was nice to see Cecile again even if it wasn't as the fierce bad ass we know her to be later on in the timeline.

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little prequel sheds some very interesting light on Cécile's mother.

Very.

Interesting.

Call it a hunch, but I think the insight you get into Genevieve's character here is going to become rather important.

[Christina (A Reader of Fictions) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good novella. Though brief, the characters are engaging, and I'm intrigued to learn more about Cecile. However, I did laugh a lot about how these farmers with French names talk like they're from the American south.

[Isel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay... I gotta say... I kinda hate her mom. I mean she's cool and independent and all that but come on lady. She is not likable at all.
I also like Cecil much more in the main story not so much here. I feel sorry for her little sister and curious about her brother.

[Laurie –Read Between The Skylines– · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this prequel as much as I loved the first book.

[Nancy The book junkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5

Review coming soon!

[Avy ❄️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tristan

[Blaire Hammond · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
This was a very quick read and while I really really LOVE everything about the Malediction trilogy, this short story I guess seemed not entirely... necessary. I understand the purpose it was written for but it's definitely not required reading if you've already read all the other books, as it doesn't really add anything new to the existing story.

[Tushar Patel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its good short story about Cécile's childhood life. Its ok story.

[⋆Aree⋆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fine for what it was but I didn't find it necessary for the series.

[Kat Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very short story that takes place years before the events of Stolen Songbird. Cecile is young and a hard-working farm girl, but she has dreams of singing on stage like her mother.

In this story, we meet both siblings and the rest of her family, including her mother. Tensions are high within the family, as hints toward Frederic's obvious unhappiness with his mother and Joss's sad feelings that her mother has forgotten her. Plus the bitter feelings between her father and mother, who are separated for various reasons, but mostly because Genevieve can't bear to live away from the city and her spoiled life.

But we get the plan replayed for Cecile to head for her mother's when she turns seventeen. Which of course, is when and where the story begins.

[Melissa (thereaderandthechef) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great prequel story. It's so nice to learn a little bit more about Cécile, her mother and the rest of her family. It's a small taste for what we can expect in the next book, Hidden Huntress. I can't wait for her to visit Trianon and sing on a stage, and of course, to meet up with Tristan once again in Trollus. The key must be there in Trianon!

P.S. Tristan, Tristan, Tristan. <3

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is going to be one of my favorite series, and getting a glimpse of Cecile's early years, before the events of STOLEN SONGBIRD, was just what I needed. Although brief, Jensen is brilliant at setting up a scenario and nailing characterization in only a few pages. If you haven't started the series yet, this is the perfect place to begin!

[Lucia · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this short story we learn a bit about Cecily's life before Stolen Songbird takes place, and we see a bit of her mother. It wasn't especially great but it was ok as a companion to the novel.

[S.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a little biased, since I finished the trilogy last night and just want *more* of anything I can get. The Songbird's Overture is as well-written as any of the rest of the books, and it gave a very clear picture of Cecile's life prior to being dragged off to Trollus. I enjoyed it (and, ngl, I enjoyed hating her manipulative mother).

[Nidofito · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've forgotten the plot of the series so the novella didn't as much of an impact as it could have (not that it had any spoilers or earth-shattering secrets to reveal).

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

"La belleza puede ser creada, el conocimiento puede ser aprendido, pero el talento no puede ni comprarse ni enseñarse. Y tú tienes el talento, mi querida niña. Cuando te pares en el escenario y cantes, el mundo entero te amará."

Empecé a leer esta historia corta antes de leer la trilogía, así que me ha servido para conocer un poco o hacer una mini introducción de los personajes.
Al comienzo no soportaba a la madre, realmente no entraba en mi cabeza como alguien puede abandonar a su hija, o es lo que mencionan. Después cuando, sin ninguna explicación del porque hace eso (para mí que quiere trabajar lo encuentro excelente y me encanta que se quiera superar y no depender de alguien pero abandonar a tus hijos no lo justifica).
Aunque me gusto de que quiera hacer que Cecile sea alguien en la vida.

[Ragan's Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this short story a lot. However, that being said, it should have been the Prolong of the first book, Stolen Songbird. When I was reading Stolen Songbird I found myself wanting to know the exact tidbit of information on Cecile's home life and setting before she was whisked away on her great adventure. This short story was the puzzle piece that was missing from the first book and would have held great, sneaky foreshadowing. Yet, a reader only has to read the second book to understand this short story's information anyway. So did it really ever need to be published? Probably not. Or should've been in the first book the whole time! Regardless, I love the Malediction series and it's fun to have a final sip of the story. 4 stars because it's written well and is that missing piece. 1 star lost because it wasn't necessary.

[Ruthsic · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short prequel story about 13-year old Cecile, it gives a glimpse into her life before she was taken to the trolls. Her ambition and her desire to be a songstress like her mother war with her desire to stay with her father and be the dutiful daughter. And when her mother visits her on her birthday, you see how cold she is - for her, her daughter was akin to some apprentice she is taking under her wing, not her own flesh and blood. Short as a story, but still an effective insight into Cecile's background.

Received as part of an advance reader copy of The Broken Ones, in exchange for a fair review, from Angry Robot Books, via Netgalley.

[Sifa Poulton · Rating 3 out of 5]

That relationship between Cecile and her mother is one I never understood in the books. Her mother is, frankly, horrible, but Cecile craves her approval. While I'm not sure I fully get it yet, it was at least a stepping stone on the way, showing the childish awe of her glamourous mother and how absence only highlighted that. It was also interesting to see more of her life pre-STOLEN SONGBIRD and what the dynamic between her siblings was like when they were younger. Plus there's a nice little insight into the least-on-page sibling, Joss.

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was nice to get a glimpse of what Cécile’s life and family were like four years before she was forcefully taken to Trollus. I can’t say I liked her mother. Sure, she’s a successful woman in her own right but I can’t stand her arrogance. The rest of Cécile’s family were quite pleasant and I particularly liked her grandmother a lot. Anyways, this was a good short story. It’s not something that is required to read in the series, but I think it’s still worth reading.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first time I’ve read anything by this author before , and it was pretty good. Especially considering that this was something the author said they weren’t originally going to publish. After reading this I’m excited to read the series, only thing I would say is that this was a bit difficult to find. It only on like one site, it’s free but I only found it because someone else linked it in there review.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

For those who are finished with the trilogy this is just an addition really, but it's interest to know why the characters are acting the way they did.
Honestly, I just needed more of Joss and Céline's relationship on the series - not because they're perfect sisters, but because they think so differently.

[Amy Braun · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's not a lot here to review, since it's a super short story, but we did get an insight to the main character and her family, who I'm assuming will be important characters later in the books. Still, it was well written, which gives me lots of optimism for the main series!

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

a nice novella.
I only understood Cecile here was 13 on the very last page. but I actually didn't read the synopsis so...
it was an extra scene. it didn't add much since we already knew what happened.