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!

This is classic Juliet Marillier, with her beautiful prose and lush settings that make me want to pick wildflowers or follow a wisp down a wooded path. Her stories all have a touch of that fairytale quality I love so much.

Her characters are all well drawn and full fleshed out and I can’t believe how long I have to wait for the next one! If you love this author, you’re in for another treat! Highly recommend!

I loved this book, but I would have liked to see it as two books. The island, where the warrior training takes place, was interesting and overlooked! Unless I have missed a book, there is potential for another story there. However, the story of the first mission for the students was done well. I was enthralled by the characters, plot, and descriptive writing. The characters were well done, with each having just enough flaws to make them rounded. The plot was intricate, with some twists and turns, but not so many twists that I became tired of them. The descriptive writing was gorgeous, with landscapes that came alive in my mind. (By the way, I rarely mention covers, but what an amazing cover this book has!) Fantastic read.

The idea of an elite troupe of warrior musicians is something I've never seen before, and I wouldn't have believed it could be done. But it was, and it blew me away.

Liobhan has dreamed of joining the elite group of warriors from Swan Island since she was a little girl. She and her brother Brocc, both talented musicians, have gained places in the newest group of Swan Island trainees and she is determined to earn a permanent position there. Another trainee, Dau, seems by turns as determined as Liobhan to win a spot as he does to make sure she does not. When their trainers Innan and Archu decide that these three trainees will accompany them on an actual mission to the kingdom of Briefne to retrieve the magical Harp of Kings, required to coronate the new king Rodan, Liobhan learns the true meaning of what it will mean to become a Swan Island warrior.

I am always thrilled to get a new Juliet Marillier book and I enjoyed this one immensely. I did think the writing wasn’t as tight as many of her previous books, in particular Daughter of the Forest or the Blackthorn and Grim series. However, this was still a great story with interesting new characters and quite a few easter eggs for her long-time readers.

Each chapter is told from the first person point of view of one of the trainees. I’ve read other books that do this as well and they often become garbled or indistinguishable from one another. That was not the case here; each character was so well developed that readers can identify who is speaking even without the benefit of dialogue. Liobhan is the saltier of the two siblings and has a thread of impatience and recklessness running through each of her chapters. Brocc is a gentle soul who prefers music to fighting, even though he is adept at it, and his chapters seem almost dreamy at times. Dau has a lot of anger and bitterness in him, and it is clear he has a history he wants to keep hidden or tamped down. Seeing events through each of their eyes makes for an interesting read since each chapter switches from one to another. It gives a nice mix for readers and lets us get to know the characters closely as well as see their growth as people.

The secondary characters were often intriguing. I thought the best one was Mistress Juniper, though Aislinn came in a close second. I kind of want to be a mix of Mistress Juniper and the Aunts from Practical Magic when I grow up. I felt that a few details were left unanswered, such as who Juniper really was, whether Aislinn will get to leave or not, and why exactly Rodan was so monstrous and whether he’ll chill out since events panned out the way they did. I also wanted to know more about the Crow Folk. Speculation from the various characters was all well and good, but I wanted a more definitive answer than I got. In any case, it had an ending that was exciting enough and makes it easier to overlook the few minor quibbles I had with the plot. I am hopeful we will learn more about these things in subsequent books, at least about the Fair Folk and the Crow Folk.

Overall, a very enjoyable read, perfect for a weekend indulgence or fantasy break.

Harp of Kings is a well written story that would be great for lovers of medieval and Irish fantasy. The tone of this novel feels so ancient and grounded, making the story read smoothly and become engaging quickly. The plotting does feel slower, more character/internal feelings-heavy than any physical action. There is a ton of political scheming and layers upon layers of twists and reveals that are uncovered slowly and (mostly) successfully.
Harp of Kings is told in three different POVs: two siblings and a peer of theirs, all sent on the same mission - to recover the ancient harp that is played during a ritual in which the next king is crowned. This harp has gone missing and the coronation ceremony is quickly approaching. Our three POVs characters are all clearly drawn and experience a great amount of character development over the course of the story.
This is where I had a few quibbles. I didn’t love some of the character development and felt it came out of nowhere at a few certain times. Several of the plots didn’t receive enough set up for the ultimate reveal to pay off without some extra justification inside of the reader’s own mind (so, not totally successful). This plot was steady yet rather slow so I was able to put this book aside without needing to know what happens next quite a few times. These reasons are why I couldn’t give this book the full five star rating.
However, despite a few issues that I had, Harp of Kings is a very solid and engaging fantasy read that I would recommend to those interested in high fantasy and political subterfuge.

*ARC received from NetGalley in return for an honest review*

Juliet Marillier was an author I remember picking up as a teen and loving to this day. Her work has set some high standards that not many other authors have been able to live up to. This book started off a little slow but quickly got on a roll that kept me hooked until the end. Everything about it expanded on the magical world and I loved that this book featured children from another of Marillier's books. Yet, there was a moment when I ended the book that I felt like it was a little unfinished. Maybe it was due to the fact that one of the characters had a story arc that felt a little off. There was just a little too much information missing to fully understand why the character took that turn. Despite this fact, I loved the other two characters and their growth and can't wait to read more about them in the sequel.

Juliet Marillier is a rock star of the fantasy genre! Set in ancient Ireland, this novel follows the lives of three bard/warriors as they approach their first adventure together, solving the mystery of the vanished Harp of Kings. Characters were interesting and had strong back stories (if you have already read some of Marillier's books, you may recognize some of the characters). The plot moved fairly quickly, although I kept finding myself stopping to look around and enjoy the beauty of the scenes that Marillier created. Bonus points for the wonderful pronunciation guide provided at the beginning of the book (I find it so frustrating when I read an entire book not knowing how to say the characters' names!). Highly recommended!

4.5 stars.
This is a clever book with interesting main characters whose points of view are different from each other in a way that never lets you forget whose POV chapter you’re on.

I loved "The Harp of Kings." Juliet Marillier, a new author to me, really impressed me with this book.

There’s always that number one rule that people always throw around about not judging a book by its cover. I refuse to acknowledge that rule and I always get taken in by covers. The Harp of Kings was no exception. I saw this cover from a mile away and knew I needed to get my hands on this book. That, and once I actually read the description of this book, I was 100% invested in knowing more about this story.

Starting off, this book is told through three different points of view. It's certainly not strange considering its a fantasy novel, what did through me for a loop however was that every point of view was in first person (which takes me a while to get into) but also, I expected the characters to be in different locations I guess. Not for all of them to be on the same island and following the same days. I tried very hard not to prejudge from that an honestly after the third chapter I didn’t even mind it anymore.

I really enjoyed Liobhans point of view, it was definitely my favorite voice out of all of them. Daus was a little slow in the beginning, but eventually his point of view picked up as well. It was definitely interesting reading these two characters because it usually went Liobhans then his. Lastly we had Brocc, and I don’t know if it was just me, but everytime his chapter came along I felt like I was reading his personal journal rather then seeing what was currently happening through his eyes. It unfortunately felt like it wasn’t meant to be the same story somehow?

Overall, the story was okay, and the writing was too. It was written in present tense and I think that just took me out of the story and I wished it wasn’t that way at all. I’m sure others will enjoy this book though!

Juliet Marillier is the queen of Irish folklore. The Harp of Kings is a delightful adventure set in the Ireland of yore. With warriors, musicians, and the fey, this is a rich tapestry of adventure and excitement.

4.5/5

This is the first book that I have read by Juliet Marillier, but it most definitely won’t be the last. Even though this story takes place in the same universe as some of her other books, it is not necessary to read those first.

This is the story of brother and sister Brocc and Liobhan who are training to be a part of the elite warriors of Swan Island. During their training Brocc and Liobhan are selected to be part of a secret mission along with a fellow trainee named Dau and a couple of adult warriors. Brocc and Liobhan are selected for the mission because they both are extremely talented musicians (especially Brocc) and are well suited for a spy mission. The mission they are sent on is to retrieve the missing Harp of Kings, an otherworldly object that must be played at the coronation of the new king of Breifne. However, things get difficult when it is discovered the future king is not the best option for king, the druids and politicians won't share information, the uncanny folk in the woods make themselves known, and Brocc, Liobhan, and Dau are left to make decisions that could lead to losing everything...

The story is told in alternating POVs by Brocc, Liobhan, and Dau. All three are tested in various ways during their quest, learning their strengths and weaknesses and finding out if it’s possible to work together as a team. Juliet Marillier does a great job of throwing these three together in a way that invests the reader in each character’s story individually, but also as a group.

I picked this book up because it was sold to me as a story of a woman who was part warrior and part bard. There is not enough music magic in the fantasy/sci-fi genre. This book helps to add a little bit more to a lacking genre. I really enjoyed reading about how Liobhan and Brocc used their musical abilities (especially Brocc later in the story).

This story has everything I love in my fantasy: political intrigue, an epic quest, music as magic, Otherworldly folk, strong willed young woman who sometimes make very bad decisions, and an unexpected ending. I was hooked the entire time, and I cannot wait to get my hands on another Juliet Marillier novel! I don’t know if this book will have a sequel, but if it does I will not be upset about it.

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

How have I only just discovered Juliet Marillier?! After reading this book I am compelled to read everything else she has ever written. I loved these characters. So well developed - flawed and beautiful at the same time. The world these characters live in is so well developed, it's like I was there. Even the secondary characters we well thought out and 3 dimensional. I enjoyed watching the 3 main characters grow and of course the adventure and mission they went on was engaging and enjoyable. Highly recommend!

Electronic ARC provided by NetGalley.

I've been waiting for this book for ages, so I was super excited to see it pop up for request on NetGalley. I'm happy to say that "The Harp of Kings" is pure Juliet Marillier. If you're familiar with her work then you'll recognize many of the story and character elements, but as always they are presented in a well written story steeped in Celtic mythology. This book takes place in the same continuity as the Blackthorn and Grim trilogy, but provides a completely new entry point for the series. The three main characters are all new, and no knowledge of previous books is required.

"The Harp of Kings" follow siblings Liobhan and Brocc in their training as they hope to become members of a band of elite warriors. Partway into the training a mission comes up that suits Liobhan and Brocc's particular talents (mainly their musical abilities), and so they are tapped to accompany the more seasoned warriors, along with fellow trainee and sometimes rival Dao. Most of the book takes place at a foreign court as the group works to recover the Harp of Kings before it is needed as part of the ceremony to crown a new King. The mission is designed to test each main character, forcing them to confront their own weaknesses and figure out where their loyalties lie.

I liked all three of the new main characters. The book is split relatively evenly between them in viewpoint, and all of them are more complicated then they seem at first. Like most of Marillier's works, this book tells a complete and satisfying story, while also leaving threads that can be followed in future books. I'm glad to see Juliet Marillier returning to her wonderful Celtic fantasies, and I'm looking forward to reading more about these characters.

A strong woman lead, with a fantastical plot. So enthralling, Marillier draws the reader in and casts her spell . I have read other books by this author, and I plan to read more! I loved the character development of Liobhan and Dau both.