I'm always drawn into Juliet Marillier's storytelling. The lead characters in The Harp of Kings are young warriors that are trying to prove their skills. Their assignment is to find and deliver a near mythical harp to an uncertain ruler. As we follow Liobhan and Brocc as they attempt their quest, their humor, determination and camaraderie shine through. If you are looking for an escapist adventure, The Harp of Kings delivers.

Maybe if I reread this at some point I might have liked it better? But right now, as is my mood, I just found it meh, and mostly because I would have rather read all about Liobhan and only Liobhan over the other two characters that this book shares the stories of. I know Dau is supposed to have some kind of redeeming quality to him, but the last time I encountered a Marillier-written chauvinist was in Wildwood Dancing, and I absolutely hated him at first introduction. And I continued to do so regardless of whatever redeeming quality there would have been. It was the same thing with Dau, unfortunately, and having to slog through his chapters just made me roll my eyes a lot.

This book had me gripped from the very start! I was beyond thrilled when I received an early look into the mind of Juliet Marillier. This was the first book of hers I read, and I can say it was a great starting point. I did my research and know you do not have to read her other books before beginning this series, so read away!

In this lush fantasy, we are introduced to a brother and sister duo, Liobhan and Brocc, who are trainees at an elite school for warriors. In this novel, you'll find a fierce competition for the top spot in the class, a secret mission, and the magical wonders of the singing siblings.

Too much would give it away, so I highly suggest people go check it out!

I enjoyed Juliet Marillier's Blackthorn and Grim trilogy, and even made the comment in my review of the final book, that I'd like to see more about the Swan Island Warriors--and here it is!

Marillier's prose is easy and elegant, and I was quickly caught up in the lives of the characters. Escapism? Yep. Warriors, bards, spies, a mission involving a missing harp required for the investment of a new king, myth, magic, and otherworldly creatures.

The story is told through the voices of the three main characters: Liobhan, Brocc, and Dau. The three are training and hoping for places with the Swan Island Warriors.

Although they have not completed their island training, the three are chosen for a mission because each has qualities that would be useful.

I love a good story and found myself entertained and involved in The Harp of Kings. Ready for the next book!

Purchased.
Fantasy. 2019. Print length: 464 pages.

A few months back, myself and my fellow co-bloggers decided to get organized. One of the first things I did was make a spreadsheet of all the ARCs (advanced reader copies) we had, sorted by date of release.

I felt terrible while making it.

Being granted ARCs is a privilege. We’re located in the U.S., which means that for some odd reason, publishers give us priority with digital and physical ARCs. The fact that we had such a large, unread backlog of them made me feel guilty AF and ungrateful to boot.

So, my goal going forward was to work through our backlog of them before either buying or requesting new books. The Harp of Kings is one of the first ones on the list, and lemme tell you, if I felt like an asshole before reading it, I feel even worse now. We got this ARC almost a year ago and I sort of hate myself for not immediately diving into it.

Because it was so freaking good.

This is a fantasy series with three main characters: Brocc, Liobhan, and Dau. Brocc and Liobhan are siblings, Dau is the son of a chieftan (kind of like a nobleman). All three of them are training to become elite soldiers in a place called Swan Island.

They’ve spent the past several years learning swordplay, hand-to-hand combat, spying, and deception. As they close in on their final trials, a chance comes along for them to put their fledgling skills to the test.

In the country of Breifne, kings are chosen based on an ancient ritual, one that was forged between mankind and the uncanny (a sort of fae-like folk that few people still believe in). During it, The Harp of Kings is played. If it’s not, no king can be chosen, which is why it’s such a big deal when it goes missing just before a new king is supposed to be crowned. The regeant of Breifne, terrified that it won’t be found in time, sends a desperate request to the warriors of Swan Island for aid.

Brocc and Liobhan are both musically talented. Their part of the mission is to slip into the high court as traveling minstrels and try to find the harp before the day of the ritual. Dau is there because of his skill. He’s a big sonofagun, and handsome to boot. He’s also prideful, so when he’s tasked with playing a mute stablehand, it’s understandable that he chafes at the role.

This book is told in three first-person POVs, through Brocc, Liobhan, and Dau, and it is done really well. Each have their own, unique voices. Even without the chapter headings, you’d know immediately whose perspective you were reading. What I especially enjoyed was that they all had their own storylines and demons to battle (both inner and outer), paired with the fact that each of them uncovered clues of their own as to what was really going on, and only by working together could they figure it out.

This is more than just a story about a missing harp. Woven beneath that is a subplot of good vs evil, magic vs fear, and humanity vs the uncanny. It’s also about personal growth, centered around that special time in our lives between youth and adulthood, when we realize that eventually we need to grow up, own our actions, and find our voices.

There are also two romantic subplots that I am really excited to read about as the series progresses, which is part of why I bought the next one the second I finished this.

If you’re into older YA fantasy that stands out from the pack, you should definitely add this one to your TBR.

[Previously published review]

Intrigue, plotting, secretive druids, an evil crown prince, bards, a possible slow burn romance, and a whole lot of magic. That’s just a bit of what you can expect from Juliet Marillier’s latest book, The Harp of Kings! This is the first in the Warrior Bards series, and the latest in a long list of other titles, but Marillier has once again crafted something magical.

Eighteen-year-old Liobhan has an amazing voice and she’s an expert whistle player, but more than anything else, she is a fighter. With a burning ambition to be one of the legendary warriors at Swan Island, Liobhan and her brother Brocc are training on the island in a competition to join their ranks, when they’re drafted into a mission while still candidates.

Their skill as bards and prowess as warriors makes them the perfect choice to send undercover as travelling minstrels. The mission, should they choose to accept it, is to find a mysterious harp, which needs to be played at the upcoming coronation or else risk a revolt. Faced with court politics, family ties, tight-lipped druids, and a crown prince with a dark streak, and the unsettling realisation that the Otherworld might be meddling in the affairs of the kingdom, Liobhan is all of a sudden torn between doing the job and doing what’s right… but when nothing is at it seems, who do you trust?

“Magic is real. It may not come in just the way you want, or exactly when you want it, because it’s tricky and unpredictable and… difficult. And sometimes it’s hard to believe it’s possible. But what about those old stories? And the songs we sing every night? They are full of magic.”

Marillier is a storyteller, I have no other way of describing the way she writes, or the magic she manages to imbue her words with. If I’m being honest, The Harp of Kings is not my favourite of her books (that accolade goes to Cybelle’s Secret) but it still holds up alongside all her other novels. The world is a familiar one, especially if you’ve read any of her other novels – a historical fantasy world set alongside the mystic of the Otherworld, the fae world that borders the human one.

It’s a very traditional fairy-tale world, one that feels almost nostalgic with its rules; fairies hate iron, they don’t eat or drink anything that isn’t from the human world, and be prepared… because anything you ask for comes at a price. It’s a world I really enjoy spending time in, and so, I was a little disappointed that in this book, we didn’t get to spend too much time in the Otherworld. Not that the ‘human’ world is a bad place to spend time in – in fact, I’d say just as much effort went into crafting the politics and rules of the kingdom Liobhan and the others are immersed in; Erin.

In particular, the mythology surrounding the Harp is intriguing; the harp must be played at the coronation of any new ruler, and if no music comes from the harp, or if it’s not played at all, the people of Erin will not accept the new ruler. So, this central part of the novel is spent with our spies trying to locate the Harp so it can be played at the coronation of the crown prince at midsummer.

However, underlying this are a couple of points, one is that the prince seems an unfitting choice of leader. Brutish and unkind, he’s an incredibly unlikable character. And even though it seems that in large part, his cruelty is a farce employed to hide the fear he has surrounding becoming king, in my mind it did nothing to diminish the severity of the things he does over the course of the novel. To be honest, I don’t even feel like the kind of character you like to dislike. I love unlikable characters, particularly as antagonists, as they provide a lot of depth to stories, but in this case, he just felt like a jerk and didn’t have enough dimension to make it count for anything.

Liobhan and Dau are without a doubt my favourite characters in The Harp of Kings, and the development of the relationship in particular was really fun to read. Dau, in the beginning, was infuriating. He’s a POV character and an inherently sexist (I mean, it is historical fantasy) one to boot. He’s very much of the mindset that women can’t be better at things like fighting, and so spends a lot of time being annoyed at how proficient Liobhan is. Watching his internal dialogue gradually change from “she’s good for a girl” to simply “she’s just good” was amazing, especially as he fought it for so long. He’s also in possession of “heroic good looks” and a tragic backstory – so really, he’s everything you want in a fictional character. In particular, the tragic backstory element was brutal. As a novel, The Harp of Kings is categorised as adult with strong YA crossover potential, and it comes into play with Dau’s backstory – it’s not a nice one.

Dau is probably the highlight of the character in this story for me, because of the development he goes through, which is something that the others are missing a bit of. I understand it’s the first book in a series, so you can’t expect that much character development, but I would have preferred more than what we got. Brocc especially seemed to just do things at times for the hell of it. There were a few times throughout the book where I was just so lost with what was happening to him, because it was as if he was experiencing random leaps of development or time, but nothing was being shown, and no time was passing. Even Liobhan, who I love as a portrayal of a badass feminist warrior spy, didn’t experience as much development as you’d expect from the title character. She has a lot of potential though, and the decisions she did make felt logical to her character, so I’m hoping we get a lot more of her growth in the next book.

One thing that’s an absolute standout to me is the role of music throughout the book. It was somewhat expected, given the title of the book and the fact that the main characters are bards, but it was still a beautiful addition. Marillier writes a lot of the lyrics in the body of the book, and the way she describes the different instruments and the cadence of the music is just so magical… the music actually links in quite heavily with the magic in the world as well, so it’s magic in that sense as well. It was just such a stand-out part of the story for me. I feel like it’s what transformed the book from good to great, and some of the songs just pull on the heartstrings in the best kind of way.

All in all, The Harp of Kings has a lot of potential as the first book in a series. There was enough intrigue and drama to keep you going as a reader, particularly if you’re already familiar with Marillier’s worlds (although not essential) – but it definitely felt like the beginning of a story, one that’s still finding its feet in how it’s characters plan on growing and interacting with one another. It’s steeped in all this beautiful mythology, and I feel as if it will grow into something wonderful, but if not for a few things; the lyrical writing, and the beauty of the music and the world… it would have fallen short of what I’ve come to expect from Marillier.

I still wholeheartedly believe it’s worth picking up though. Just because some of it wasn’t what I expected, doesn’t mean I didn’t adore my time spent in this world. And if nothing else, there’s a very intriguing twist on a traditional fairy-tale element that I absolutely loved, and I am very much looking forward to discovering the implications of a few of the decisions made in this book in the next one.

I love all of Juliet Marillier’s work and this one is no exception. The style is more similar to her more recent blackthorn and grim series than her others, but the places and characters are only a few generations removed from the sevenwater’s series crew. Its not necessary to have read the other series but it’s a fun nod for those that have. It’s an easy and engaging read. This book follows three apprentice warriors as they do their final mission to see if they are extended a invitation to the elite warrior spy group. Each of them has a weakness to overcome and of course the otherworld intercedes to make the path ahead even more complex and the stakes higher. I’m excited to see where this series goes!

I do love Juliet. I feel like I need to just sit down and read through every single thing she’s written. This book was a delight. Ready to read the next one!

This book was so fun! I'd only ever read one Marillier book before, so I didn't have too many expectations going in. I liked how old school fantasy this felt the whole time, though I do wish we'd gotten a little closer to the characters. Despite having multiple first person POVs, I still felt a little at arms length. I do appreciate that the story felt like a complete arc in and of itself even though this is a series - so many books rely on cliffhangers at the end that sometimes it's nice to not have that pressure, instead having a series that feels episodic. I'm definitely interested in more books in the series.

I've been a fan of Juliet Marillier for a very long time. Her stories are always filled with magic. The Harp of Kings is really a trip down memory lane, being set in the same universe as Blackthorn and Grim. It was lovely to have somewhat of a continuation of their story. The book immediately pulls you in to meet the characters but I found the pacing to be awkward and jumping character POV frequently distracted me from the story. Overall, though, it was still a nice read.

Here we are, once more returned to the generational epic that began with Daughter of the Forest.

Marillier has written this epic across two (now three) different series, weaving the lives of those from Sevenwaters, the Fair Folk, Swan Island, Dalriada, Winterfalls and now Breifne in Ireland. Long time readers of Marillier's will not only see the obvious signs of previous books, but be happily surprised by some moments casually spoken of that refer back to previous adventures.

Still the march of time is on and as one character remarks, humanity has begun to forget the Old Ways (by choice or fearful negligence), which places our three main characters in a bit of a bind.

There's Liobhan, fiery of hair and temperament. Determined to have everything she wants. Brocc, her more stoic and daydreaming brother. He leans on her support, but yearns for something Other. And then Dau, arrogant and hard chieftain's son. For him this is a matter or life or death.

Unlike Sevenwaters, which was connected to one family essentially, The Harp of Kings series follows more like the Blackthorn & Grim trilogy, in that its connected by several very specific people across the books. Their growth. Their adventures.

And what an adventure. A simple seeming mystery becomes a world shattering quest. Sent on a mission to test their skills (and hopefully learn to improve their weaknesses), the three face a dispute man made, but not something easily solved by men.

At first I found myself liking Liobhan the most. She's much like her mother and not easily swayed from her purpose. Fiercely loyal, I appreciated the fact she that though she worried from her brother Brocc, she came to understand that there was some things she just could not understand no matter how close they were.

Dau though, eventually stole my heart. During their mission he struggled the most I believe as the situation was very similar to his own past ill experiences. He starts out arrogant and certain his mission is harder and thus he'll succeed because its so very different from who he is. Except its not as he finds out and watching ad he grappled with the past and present was engaging.

Brocc...i have a confession. I found it harder to connect with him. He seemed the most...grounded, the most assured perhaps. He was like a rock in the river - sometimes inconvenienced, but largely it washed over him peacefully. Even his doubts about his future seemed less important.

Overall I enjoyed this new tale in the Irish-Celtic time that Marillier has built for almost 2 decades and 10+ stories. Additionally the audiobook is BEAUTIFUL to listen to. While its a bit hard to imagine Dau's voice actor as an 18 year old man its not hard to envision the world Marillier wanted to create when you can hear the lilting voices so well created for each character by each narrator.

While I was familiar with Juliet's previous work, especially the exceptional Blackthorn and Grim series which ties into this series quite nicely. I truly feel that this new series will be bigger and better as she continues to explore and reveal more about the world and its peoples.

Would highly recommend.

The Harp of Kings checks many traditional Western European mythology boxes. The tale is of a reluctant male ruler who needs a specific and currently missing device to secure his crown. There are questing heroes who must complete time-bound tasks set by the Fae. The main characters — young adults — chafe at the restrictions and expectations of their elders.

Yet it also takes tentative steps toward breaking out of overdone motifs even if it doesn't quite make it far. While a strong female warrior is accepted and expected, it is a novel stance for this world. Characters experience difficulties including childhood abuse and healing that trauma. In addition, assault, and the challenge that "her word versus his" brings to judgment.

The rich character development and masterful worldbuilding combine to make The Harp of Kings a satisfying read despite its flaws. With that in mind, it is a slog until the last quarter of the book. While part of the ending is satisfying, the overall conclusion of this first book in the new series left this reader frustrated. The Harp of Kings is an enjoyable read, but it falls short of magical.

Juliet Marillier’s lyrical style shines through once again in her newest novel The Harp of King’s. This novel masterfully blends fantasy with historical fiction to create a world that is both an escape from and a reflection of ours. While entertained by this novel, I do wish that Marillier pushed the envelope more to include a more diverse and representative cast. I do also wish that the romance had a more prominent role in the novel, but that’s simply a personal preference. Marillier’s writing always reads like a fairy tale and fans old and new will be swept away in this new tale.

This may be my favorite Juliet Marillier book yet! I decided to do a reread, as I found myself getting the two male POV’s mixed up the first time around. Each character has a distinct voice, so perhaps I was just sleepy last read.

Lionhan is a fiery female warrior at a military camp that trains the fiercest and best. It’s highly competitive, and she’s an excellent fighter. While on a highly secretive mission, softer parts of her personality develop. She’s kind of the glue that holds everyone together.

Broc is Liobhan’s brother, and he’s also in training. He’s loyal to his sister, and she’s mostly the reason he’s doing the warrior thing. His passion is music and songwriting, and he’s truly a bard at heart. The mission requires them to travel undercover as a group of musicians to a kingdom that needs a mystery solved, so the brother and sister are a perfect fit.

Dau is initially just the competition. He doesn’t think a woman has what it takes to be a real warrior, and he is not warm and fuzzy. He had a dark and abusive childhood, and his only way forward is to become a Swan Island warrior. The role he plays in their undercover mission is that of a mute stable hand, and it’s tough for him to stay silent and get knocked around. Dau shows surprising depths, and becomes an earnest team player. He’s very serious compared to Broc’s dreamier viewpoint, so it’s easy to keep the characters separate.

It will take contributions from all three to successfully find and return the stolen Harp of Kings before the coronation on midsummer day. They’ll have unsettling encounters with things that are not of this world. The way JM writes is lyrical and feels like an ancient tale. I’m anxiously awaiting the next installment, A Dance with Fate, which comes out September of 2020.

4.5 Stars ( I received an e-arc from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review)

Originally I started reading the e-book and I was liking it but then due to work and other things I put it down. Then recently I found the audiobook on Scribd and it had one of my favourite narrators, which made this such an immersive experience. Liobhan is a great female character with being strong and determined but also on shows her vulnerability and emotions at times. Brock is seems to be the least likely to be a Swan Island warrior being more of a musician, being in touch with his emotions but we see these qualities work in his favour throughout the novel. Dau is the trainee that has a very arrogant ego that is determined that Liobhan doesn’t belong among the Swan Island Warriors. Then a mission requires them to work together and rely on one another, over time changing perceptions and bonding them in strange circumstances. Throw in Druids, a wise woman, court intrigue, crazy crows, the uncanny and some idiotic men in power. Also we have side character that I love Ashlin a precious child and a very important part of the story. The character development is one of the stories strongest point, particularly in Dau’s case. Looking forward to book 2 and it’s gorgeous cover.

As a fan of Marillier’s Blackthorn and Grim books, I was thrilled when a sequel series was announced. The Harp of Kings takes place 20 years or so after Den of Wolves, and can be read independently (although, I would recommend Blackthorn and Grim anyway).

We follow three characters, through three first-person points of view: Liobhan, her brother Brocc, and a chieftain’s son, Dau. All three are part of an elite school that trains warrior-spies. Liobhan and Brocc are both talented musicians (hence the title of the series, “Warrior Bards”) and music is a crucial part of the story. They try to unravel the mystery of the disappearing harp of kings, undercover in a kingdom plagued by both an unsuitable future king and a dark, uncanny threat.

Marillier is truly the queen of slow-burn. If you expect a high-action plot, full of shenanigans, that’s not the right book for you. But slow doesn’t mean boring, far from it. The story is intricate and pieces of the puzzle are revealed at a steady pace, and, as usual with Marillier, Celtic-inspired mythology is never too far.

The pacing also allows for a fantastic character development work. Liobhan and Brocc are a joy to read about – siblings in fantasy? With a fierce badass warrior sister and a musician, “softer” brother? Yes, 100%, please and thank you. But Dau is the character who truly stole the show (and my heart, in the process).

A magical, slightly creepy atmosphere, a cool premise, a mystery, political schemes, endearing protagonists…Basically my book-catnip. I had one major issue with the story, though, but it’s a spoiler. To stay vague, it’s about impunity and consequences. It frustrated me enough to drop a star from my Goodreads rating… I do hope it’s going to be addressed in the sequels.

The story is pretty much self-contained but sets the groundwork for sequels. If it’s anything like Blackthorn and Grim, it will be a procedural-type series with a bigger, overreaching plot.

Received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I tried so hard to finish this book and I just. couldn't. I literally started it a year ago and it has sat on my currently reading shelf all this time. Shaming me.

I used to LOVE Marillier! LOVE! But this was mind-numbingly dull and every page felt like a chore. Hard to believe this is the same author who produced the Severwaters series and Heart's Blood, which are so transportive, while this feels rote.

I think it is time for Marillier and I to part ways. Too bad.

I've read several of Juliet Marillier's books and have always loved how she develops her characters and tells the story. This one did not disappoint! This book is the start of a new series with a strong female lead who is both a bard and warrior, and her and her brother are tasked with recovering a priceless harp. Really enjoyed this book and looking forward to reading more in the series!

I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.

This is the first book by Juliet Marillier that I have read. I must say, I’m impressed. It was a great read with lots of great characters, wonderful worlds and a strong tale. We are met with young mercenaries undergoing strict training with emphasis on morals and rules.

Told in the voice of each of the major characters we are taken along on their unexpected mission to retrieve a harp necessary for the confirmation of the coronation of a new king. Despite the fact that four members in training are not usually chosen for a mission of such importance, these members have special talents that lend to a capable completion. We journey with them while getting to know them. Their excitement, fears, hopes and dreams; their intimate thoughts and feelings are revealed.

The question is, “Can they find the Harp of Kings in time to complete the coronation?” I hope you will join them on the quest as you will not be disappointed. I know I look forward to reading more of this author.