4.5 Sing me a song my bard stars

Juliet Marillier builds fantastic fairytales with subtle magic, complicated characters and wondrous worlds. Harp of Kings is no exception to that. Set years after the Blackthorn and Grim stories, this tale follows some of the next generation including Liobhan and Brocc, two of the three children Blackthorn and Grimm raised.

Harp of Kings is the first book of a new series. It is set in the same world as the Blackthorn and Grimm series, but you don’t need to have read those to enjoy this book.

Liobhan, Brocc and Dau are trainees for Swan Island, an elite school for warriors. There is a fierce competition between Dau and Liobhan as each wants the top spot in the class. Brocc loves his sister dearly and is there for training but also to make sure she is safe. When a secret mission comes up Brocc and Liobhan are chosen due to their skill in instrumentation and singing. Dau is also chosen to be on the secondary team, partially as a test and partially because he has some skill with horses. Each person in the group will have to live as a different person for the extent of this mission and it will test them.

“Maybe,” my brother says, “what they told us was only half the truth. Maybe this is not so much a mission as a test.”
“Of what?”
“Whatever each of us most needs to learn.”

The Harp of Kings has gone missing, it has been used for the coronation of a new king for thousands of years and is steeped in lore. A new king is to be coronated in a month and the team is supposed to find the Harp and restore it to the druids before anyone realizes that it is missing. The only problem with that is that there do not seem to be any clues to where it has gone and the man who would be king is not suited for the position at all. The only thing making this even more complicated for the team is that the Fae seem to be involved and Liobhan and Brocc are given some very hard tasks to complete if they want to get the Harp in time.

Juliet Marillier has a timeless quality to her stories and I think she is for the patient reader that likes hints of magic and very character driven stories. She writes people well and I felt the change in both Liobhan and Dau’s attitude toward each other over time developed in a natural and understandable way. Dau didn’t know what to make of the dichotomy that is Liohban

“I do wonder why a woman would spend her days learning more effective ways to kill,” Dau says, “and her evenings singing love songs. Wouldn’t that mean she could not put her whole heart into either activity?”

I really like an adversary to friend to possibly lovers trope and I’m really hoping this is the direction the overall series will take.

There are fae folk, crow people, druids and hearth witches in this tale and I have a feeling we are only at the tip of the iceberg for the stories to come in this series. Another wonderful dream of a tale, told in a beautiful fashion but a fantastic storyteller.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley publishing for the ARC for review

I love Juliette Marillier so much!! Her writing is gorgeous, her characters complex. I'm only eating it down a little because I personally prefer fantasy that feels slightly more like recent past, and that doesn't focus so much on martial aspects, but that's just me.

I have been a long-time fan of Juliet Marillier's writing and the worlds she has created, but this effort felt a little flat to me. There was still action and adventure and spying, in the human world and among the fae, but we didn't spend enough time with the three main characters or their backstories to really care about them deeply. Instead, this felt like a sketch for what should have been a longer book. I was happy to revisit some of the places and people from previous Marillier books (and their descendants), but I found myself longing for the slower and more dreamy pacing of her earlier works.

This is the story of Liobhan, Brocc, and Dau who are all eighteen year old apprentice warriors from a band of warrior/mercenaries. They are given a mission to go undercover to the kingdom of Breifne where it is nearly time to crown the new king. Unfortunately, the coronation ceremony requires that a very special harp be played, and that harp has gone missing. It is the job of Liobhan, Brocc, and Dau to find out where it has gone and get it back. But there may be more than meets the eye going on in Breifne.

Firstly, going into this, I had no idea that Liobhan and Brocc were Blackthorn and Grim’s kids, so that was an awesome revelation. And yes, really I should have assumed that, considering that the Sevenwaters series follows the adventures of four or five generations of one family. I should also note that it is not at all necessary to have read the Blackthorn and Grim books to find enjoyment here. Their names are mentioned in passing, and nothing they achieved on their own adventures really influences the goings on here.

We see this story from the POV of all three main characters, in the first person. The POV switches from chapter to chapter, and I found this a good way to get the story from three different angles. Our three warriors start out in the same place, but end up either in an entirely different place, or in entirely unique roles compared to the others. Dau, for example, is undercover as a mute farrier’s apprentice, while Liobhan and Brocc are undercover as traveling musicians.

The prose was lovely, and the story moved along at a good pace. It’s not action-packed, but I wasn’t expecting it to be. This is a more character-driven story. We get each character’s backstory slowly, bits at a time, and I absolutely loved that about it. It kept me reading well into the wee hours of the morning, wanting to find out what happened next. I didn’t start out loving all three characters, especially Dau, who is not super lovable from the get-go. But before long he became my favorite character. My heart was jostled a few times for Dau, and I found myself cheering hard for him by the end. I also really enjoyed Brocc’s adventures, and wished for the best things for him, and for Liobhan. The blurb gives the impression that Liobhan is the main character here, but really all three POV characters are equally represented.

So, all told, I really enjoyed this one. Moreso, I think, than I enjoyed the Blackthorn and Grim series, which I binged over a week despite being on vacation, lol. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

So thank you to the author, as well as Ace via NetGalley for the review copy.

I've always thought that Juliet Marillier had a beautiful way of bringing to life Celtic lore (specifically Irish mythology). I love historical fantasy, and this book, like all her books, does well at reimagining real life historical themes alongside the mythology. I have started to enjoy multiple p.o.v books a lot more than single p.o.v books nowadays, so that aspect was also a nice treat. I enjoyed all the main protaganists, especially Liobhan. I thought she was a well written character. I thought Dau was probably the most intriguing out of the three, as I didn't know what his deal was. It made him mysterious. I felt like Brocc's point of view was the weakest in terms of how engaging it was but I still appreciated his insight.

After reading the Blackthorn and Grim series by Marillier, I just knew I had to read more of her work. While I’ve not yet made time for backlist books, this start to a new series was irresistible. It also had a double whammy for expectations. First, I loved her other books so much, that my standards for Marillier are pretty high. Second, I found the premise of this series a must read no matter who the author was.

The protagonist is a women who is both a warrior and a bard, a real a bad-ass female lead. Seriously? Can you fit all those things I love into one character? Yep. Marillier nailed it.

Liobhan and her brother are training and going through trials to become members of an elite warrior team, trained on Swan Island. From a physical standpoint, she is fierce. She will use any advantage she can when facing an opponent, which is probably a necessity when she’s fighting men who are much larger than she is. But she is also more than just a physical fighter

When her and her brother are chosen for a real mission before they have even completed their training, they find out it is not just their fighting ability, but also their musical ability that landed them the spots on the team. I love how their talent as musicians allows them to serve as spies. We get to see and learn more about them as people and their personalities during the mission.

The book really shows the characters grow and learn in the area of trust as well as realizing that they can’t take everything at face value. They learn to work with a team that includes at least one member that was not kind or likeable during their training. I enjoyed seeing the characters relationships grow as they were around each other more and learn to appreciate qualities in each other that they initially did not see.

In the way of romance, there’s not much. Yet. There does seem to be a very slow burn romance being set up for the series, but it is slow enough that there is nothing to speak of for the main characters from book one other than speculation and hints. I always find romances like this much more satisfying in the series as a whole, so I am really looking forward to finding out what happens for sure. There is another romance feature that comes on somewhat quickly, but it worked well and did not detract from the overall story. Honestly, that romance made sense to me.

So overall, this was another amazing book from Marillier. I really can’t recommend her books enough (and I can’t wait for the next installment in this series).

I love Juliet Marillier and this book did not disappoint! Liobhan and Brocc are complex and likeable characters that pull you through the narrative. Marillier's writing is rich and lyrical. I can't wait to recommend this to customers.

Eighteen-year-old Liobhan is a powerful singer and an expert whistle player. Her brother can play the harp and make it talk to the listeners. They both can sing beautifully. They could be bards but they want to be warriors and are training for that. Then they are chosen for a spy mission before they finish their training. Maybe this is a test...

Ace and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published September 3rd.

The ancient harp that must be played at the coronation of the new King has been stolen. Their assignment is to find it.

This is a magical fantasy read that flows well and makes you feel like you are part of the story.

Brocc is her brother but he's part fae. After staying with the druids for a while, he sneaks off to visit the witch lady in the woods. He thinks she might know where the harp is. She doesn't but she sets him off on another trail into the woods. He finds a wall there with no door but he hears someone singing on the other side. He begins finishing stanzas and soon he sees a crack in the wall he can get access through. When he enters he finds himself in fairy land.

This story is complex. There are unusual creatures, a dog that listens to the woman and does what she says, an enemy of Liobhan's becomes her friend, her brother finds love, and the chosen King is someone most people have forgotten about.

I enjoyed this read a lot more than I thought I would. If you like fantasy and magic, you'll like this book.

n the second half of 2014, I read Juliet Marillier for the first time. The book was Dreamer’s Pool and as soon as I closed the cover on the last page, I asked myself the question most readers ask themselves right after they finish an amazing read: Why have I waited so long to read this author? And inevitably, the next thought is: I must read more!

I know I say that a lot and I don’t always follow through, at least not right away. But something about Marillier’s writing struck me in a way that I knew I didn’t want to wait. So I decided to jump into her Sevenwaters trilogy, which again, became an instant favorite.

So here we are with The Harp of Kings and to assume I loved this as well, you'd be right. That said, This is one of those freakishly unputdownable books, you know, when you can only make yourself stop reading when you desperately need food, a bathroom break, or when, sadly, it's so late that your eyes just give out. The thing is, there's always something happening in the story, something that makes you want to keep reading because you have to know what's going to happen next, and, in my case: I just couldn't abandon the characters, because that's what it felt like every time I had to stop reading, "Oh great, now Liobhan and Brocc is all alone in the dark, I'm the worst!!"

I’m not even going to say much about the plot--this way I won’t spoil it--just that it’s a mystery involving a missing Harp. A remarkable story, with extraordinary, unforgettable characters.

This is the first book by Marillier I have read since the first two Sevenwaters titles, so can only compare to the two of them. This was outstanding against any historical fantasy, fast moving, never dragged, emotionally captivating, original - yet with those necessary elements common to folklore, with well-rounded character who most definitely grow and develop in the story, as would characters their age.
The story follows the adventures of three characters, students vying to become part of the elite warrior group of Swan Island, and told through the eyes of each of the characters chapter by chapter. Liobhan is sister to Brocc, ambitious and born to be a warrior, yet with the musical skills of her family. Brocc's background is murkier, he is a brilliant musician and composer, with warrior skills enough to take him to Swan Island. Dau comes from a chieftain's family and appears to be proud and entitled, but appearances can be deceptive. The three are sent with two experienced spies on an emergency undercover mission to find an ancient harp that must be played for the new king to be crowned. This will not be an easy or straightforward task.
This was completely enjoyable from start to finish. It is listed as "Warrior Bards #1," but is quite complete in itself. If there is crossover with the other series, it is unnecessary to the story here. I enjoyed it more than the early Sevenwaters books (which I did like quite a bit) and I highly recommend this one.
My copy is an advance readers copy from NetGalley.

Liobhan is a singer and training to be part of an elite warrior group. She is given a task while still being a student to find a harp that is played to announce the new king. Along with her brother, they pretend to be a group of musicians and find themselves entangled in the politics of the kingdom.

I found the politics really interesting. Liobhan's compassion leads her to make friends with the future king's young sister who is an innocent caught in the game of politics.

Her brother, as interesting as his plot gets, I could never find interesting as a character. There was something bland about him that I couldn't find myself compelled when it was his plotline.

I thought there would never be another author to equal Douglas Nicholas' "Something Red" series, but I found it in this haunting and lovely tale by Juliet Marillier. There's a little bit of everything here but mostly a quest featuring a feisty young female warrior, a prickly male counterpart, an otherworldly bard, an island of warriors, a pain-in-the-ass king-to-be, lots of faery folk, and druids.

Liobhan, Dau & Brocc are the focus of this quest story, where each is selected to be part of a top-secret mission to recover the stolen Harp of Kings. However, as you progress through the story, it becomes clear that the real quests are for each of our young heroes. Liobhan will prove that she can control her temper, Dau will learn to trust, and Brocc will learn to follow his own path.

The story is tightly woven and beautifully told. The characters fairly leap off the pages, and their stories will envelop you. Highly recommended.

To be honest, I'm surprised I enjoyed this one so much. At the beginning of the Kindle edition is a list of names and their pronunciations, which threw me (I have no idea why but it sort of made me feel a little overwhelmed with all the different names and I knew approximately how they were pronounced anyway but there were SO MANY), and the opening few lines did not grab me at all. But I came on Goodreads to check out other reviews, and there were so many positive ones (that actually had some good info) that I decided to keep going. Good choice on my part.

The story is interesting, although not one that we haven't seen before. The main characters start off on an island where they're training to be secretive fighters who apparently also do spy duties. There is a little tension set up in the beginning between Liobhan and Dau, and a bit of apprehension on the part of Brocc, but otherwise not much is gained through such a brief look at their training.

I appreciated beyond belief that this was NOT a love story! There were no real hook-ups (outside of the ending, which made sense and I'm not going to spoil it), there was a little bit of attraction here and there but nothing overt. Instead we got an actual story free from the angsty teenage pining that tends to take over a lot of the fantasy I've read lately.

The magic was subtle and explained well. I liked how some of it was a tad bit unpredictable (although I did guess at just about all of the "twists" and was not usually wrong). The relationships between the characters were done thoughtfully, with definite character evolution throughout. I think Brocc was the most wet-noodle character, though. He just sort of goes with the flow, although that can sort of be explained by his back story which is revealed as we go along.

My favorite character though was Dau. He goes through such an emotional transformation that I was left feeling happy for him while still sad at all he had to endure to get there. He is definitely someone that I would like to read more about, maybe in book 2.

Speaking of book 2, it's already on my TBR list even though it doesn't have a title or plot yet. So I definitely recommend this book for all lovers of fantasy. Like I said, it's nothing new or revolutionary, but it is a great tale and I enjoyed reading it a lot.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Hello, I will be posting this review to my blog, Instagram, and Goodreads on August 22nd, 2019. The links to each review will be added when they are live. Thank you!

Title: The Harp of Kings (Warrior Bards #1)
Author: Juliet Marillier
Genre: Fantasy
Publication Date: September 3rd, 2019
eARC provided by publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.



Synopsis: "Eighteen-year-old Liobhan is a powerful singer and an expert whistle player. Her brother has a voice to melt the hardest heart, and a rare talent on the harp. But Liobhan's burning ambition is to join the elite warrior band on Swan Island. She and her brother train there to compete for places, and find themselves joining a mission while still candidates. Their unusual blend of skills makes them ideal for this particular job, which requires going undercover as traveling minstrels. For Swan Island trains both warriors and spies.

Their mission: to find and retrieve a precious harp, an ancient symbol of kingship, which has gone mysteriously missing. If the instrument is not played at the upcoming coronation, the candidate will not be accepted and the people could revolt. Faced with plotting courtiers and tight-lipped druids, an insightful storyteller, and a boorish Crown Prince, Liobhan soon realizes an Otherworld power may be meddling in the affairs of the kingdom. When ambition clashes with conscience, Liobhan must make a bold decision and is faced with a heartbreaking choice. . . ." (Goodreads)



My Review:
I absolutely adore this cover! One of the reasons I decided to read it and also because the synopsis has a way of drawing you in. Although I had a couple issues with the book, it didn't stop me from really enjoying everything this book had to offer.

The characters in this book are different from each other, flawed, and a couple have quite the character development! The three main characters each have their own point of view and so the chapters are broken up into those. I enjoyed reading through the eyes of Liobhan, Brocc, and Dau.

At the beginning we are introduced to all three as they are learning what it takes to become warriors on an island called Swan Island. Dau isn't really a fan of either, especially when it comes to Liobhan. He makes it pretty clear they are not equals because she is a woman. I didn't realize at first he would be give his own chapters and was pretty annoyed by his behavior. Honestly though, I am so glad I was open to his own story because as he shedded his layers he became my favorite of all. He has the most character development and also the hardest job of the mission as he has to pretend to be mute. I mean that takes skill! We learn about his feelings and eventually learn more about his background which is tragic. I felt for him. I would say more but I don't want to give anything away!

Liobhan and Brocc are brother and sister and that kind of makes them inseparable. Liobhan is strong willed and described as a woman with a big build. I did like that she was different in that aspect. For her role on the mission, she is to be a bard who is shy and intimidated by men of power. Clearly this becomes a problem for her because of her personality and also the fact that she is training to be a warrior. Her mouth and temper, at times, does cause some issues which adds to the plot and makes for some interesting outcomes! I enjoyed getting to know her throughout each chapter.

As for her brother Brocc, he does play a role for the mission but for some of the book he has gone to the Otherworld. If you are a fan of Fae then you would be happy to know that is where they leave. I will say no more than that! Brocc doesn't have much character development but he does help to finish the mission and is part of such a sad cliffhanger at the end.

When it came to the plot, it was a little slow at first and I would have liked more action but I like how this book was more character driven and you really get to understand the characters and feel for what they have to do. There may be signs of two relationships blooming but nothing ever happens and hopefully we will see more from each in the next book. I wouldn't say there is really a villain either. There are crow folk that are mentioned and seen a couple times and one guy that is not the greatest who you will dislike but other than that they aren't really a driving force for the plot. There are a couple plot twists that weren't surprising but I didn't mind. The world building was lacking but I found myself not caring so much as the characters really shined throughout each page.

Overall, I liked this book more the farther I got into it and then found it quite hard to put down. If you prefer more action then this book may not be for you but the characters are well written and I am looking forward to seeing where this series takes us!

This is a pretty standard start to an epic fantasy well-told by a master of the genre. It takes three young people - Liobhan, Brocc, and Dau - who are students at an elite academy where they are training in weaponry and other skills in the hopes of being chosen to join the company. Liobhan is a warrior who also has skills and a musician and singer. She is talented and tricky. Her brother Brocc is the more gifted musician but is also a smart and skilled warrior. Dau is their competitive rival who is determined to be the finest warrior so that he will be chosen to stay with the company.

The three are chosen to go along with two elders to find a missing harp that is needed for the coronation of the new king of Breifne. They will be going undercover, complete with new, fabricated identities, to locate the harp and restore it before midsummer when the coronation will be held. All of the roles are difficult but Liobhan, who has to become shy and diffident, and Dau, who has to play the role of a mute stable hand, have the hardest time.

They learn rather quickly that the presumed heir - Rodan - is a cowardly bully who feels entitled to whatever he wants when he wants it. He has been abusive to his younger sister and his sister's nursemaid. When his attempted assault on Liobhan is thwarted, she is the one who is forced to make a public apology. Worst of all, Rodan will make a terrible king because he doesn't have any respect for the Fair Folk who also inhabit his land. In fact, he doesn't believe in them.

Each chapter is the story is told from the viewpoint of one of the three young people. In each we not only advance the plot but learn about each one's past and the reasons for their behavior. It was an enjoyable story that is the first in a new series.

The description of this book has everything I could possibly want- female warriors, bards, fantasy settings, historical fantasy- yet I always forget that Juliet Marillier books just don't work for me. I think the writing style just doesn't work for me and the history often gets in the way of the fantasy. I just can't separate the two! I didn't finish the book, but I think if you're an avid fan of historical fantasy this will probably work for you!

I have enjoyed all of Juliet Marillier's books that I have read so far and I love her world building. Liobhan and her brother Brocc are training on Swan Island to be warriors and spies. When they are called to help on a mission even though they haven't finished training, it will take all their wits and skills just to survive, and Liobhan will have to make a heartbreaking choice. This is great book showing how they learn and grow as they try to save a kingdom. Fun book.

I was so excited for the opportunity and I’m very much looking forward to seeing this on shelves later this year! Thank you for sharing this!
In this new fantasy—laced with the uncanny, the Fair Folk, music, and Marillier’s natural ability to dive into the complicated layers of characters’ psyches, history, and motivations—Liobhan is training to be a Swan Island warrior with her brother Brocc when they are sent on a mission: to find the missing Harp of Kings and restore it to the druids before Midsummer’s ceremony to crown the next king. They travel with their competitor Dau under disguise and infiltrate the prince’s household—but the prince is...not the best choice to lead these people. [TW: assault, animal cruelty]
Each of our three warriors have their own story and motivations, and I identified most strongly with Dau and Liobhan. Brocc’s narrative reminded me so much of SHADOWFELL, and Liobhan felt like a warrior-like Sorcha in DAUGHTER OF THE FOREST. They’re all strong-willed and determined to complete their mission, but because Prince Rodan is a threat to his people, they need the Fair Folk’s assistance to shine light on the true leader of the kingdom. Music, action, druids, courtly intrigue, and Irish faeries as they should be—what more could you want from a Marillier novel?

An enjoyable read with compelling characters! The Harp of Kings is the first in a new series by Juliet Marillier. I’m a huge fan of Marillier’s Sevenwaters series, and I was so excited to see this title was coming out! This book did not disappoint. We are thrust back into the world of Ancient Ireland, bards and druids, fey and wise women, warriors and kings.
While the official synopsis just talks about Liobhan, The Harp of Kings is actually told from three different point of view characters. We’ve got Liobhan, an opinionated warrior in training, Brocc, Liobhan’s brother who plays the harp very well and is also in warrior training, and Dau, a strong and quiet trainee who joins their mission to recover a lost harp.
I loved all three of the main characters. I loved Liobhan’s strength and cleverness, Brocc’s kindness and pull between two worlds, and Dau’s silence and journey. All three voices were unique, and I was easily able to tell whose narrative I was reading. I also loved the relationships between the three main characters. Brocc and Liobhan are brother and sister, and Dau becomes their friend. I enjoyed the hint at romance between Dau and Liobhan, and I loved how when Dau first starts to really notice Liobhan it’s because of her strength and capability. Not because of how she looks. He’s drawn to who she is as a person.
While the beginning and middle of the book was all about plot, the ending felt to me all about the characters. So, it lost a bit of steam towards the end, as the main mystery of the book (Where did the harp go?) was solved and we had to deal with the fallout and the characters. This felt like a setup for future books in the series, and I’m content to let a bit of slowness at the end slide, as this will be a series that will continue to get better as it goes along, and we get to spend more time with the characters. The Harp of Kings has a lovely, magical setting and characters that come to life on the page! I can’t wait for the next book!

Bottom Line: Transporting historical fantasy with great characters!

Excellent 1st book! There better be more forthcoming, as I want to know what happens to these characters! Enjoyed it immensely!