THE HARP OF KINGS - Juliet Marillier
Warrior Bards - Book 1
Ace
ISBN-13: 978-0451492784 (paperback)
ISBN-13: 978-0451492791 (ebook)
September 2019
Fantasy

Medieval Erin (Ireland)

Swan Island is where warrior spies are trained, some of whom possess other talents to assist their investigation and cover as spies. Liobhan (Lee-vaun) and her brother Brocc, along with another late-teen young man, Dau, go through training and testing for positions, each determined to be among the top three trainees selected to stay as permanent Swan Island warriors. Archu is the group’s combat trainer. Something unexpected happens. The island leader takes Liobhan and Brocc, who are both good musicians and singers, from their training and sends them on a special mission with Archu. Another island warrior, Illann, along with Dau, will form a backup team. They will leave all identifiable belongings behind, including their names. It seems the King of Breifne’s (Bref-neh) coronation is always confirmed on midsummer’s day by the playing of the Harp of Kings, an ancient instrument kept safely protected and hidden in a cave of a nearby Druid sanctuary. But the harp has disappeared. The regent of Breifne has asked the Swan Island spy-warriors to come to court and find the harp before the coronation takes place and to find out who took it and why. Each of the team members will take on a new name and position for the mission. Liobhan becomes Ciara, her brother Brocc becomes Donal. They will become minstrels with their leader Archu, who becomes Art. The backup team is Illann, who become Eoan, a farrier, with Dau, now called Nesson, as an assistant farrier and stable hand for the regent’s stable.

Forthright Liobhan, a very capable woman fighter and musician, finds her mission hampered by her dislike of the soon to be king, Prince Rodan, who is a bully and never thinks of the consequences of his actions.

Her brother Brocc is an excellent harpist musician and singer who also writes songs. He is a good fighter, but he is a dreamer with a vivid imagination and a curiosity that leads him into trouble.

At first, Dau is a difficult character to like as he seems driven to achieve his goal no matter the cost. He becomes an important part on the team as a protector, and his love of horses and dogs will sway most readers opinion to approval. During this mission his leaders have commanded he must not speak, only observe. Slowly the reader learns Dau’s compassion and the reasons behind his reactions.

While on the journey to Breifne, a wise woman saves Dau’s life when a demonic crow-like being attacks him. Both the wise woman and the crow-like beings play important roles in the story. Each chapter is told through either the viewpoints of Liobhan, Brocc, or Dau. Although the belief in Fair Folk has diminished, they are a significant factor in maintaining the safety of their Faery realm and that of Breifne. While the story was slow to engage me, ensnare me it did, making it an excellent read and good start to a series.

Robin Lee

This was an interesting read!I find the story brilliant and I was intrigued!The characters were complex and original.The romance wasn't a lot but I didn't mind because I loved the rest. The beginning was a little bit slow for my taste.The writing style was great and I was hooked!

Overall, it was a great read, I cannot wait for the next!

Very promising start to a new series by the wondrous Juliet Marillier. Siblings Liobhan and Broc are vying for a coveted spot as warriors on Swan Island along with chieftain's son Dau, when all three young adults are sent on a mission to recover a legendary harp that must be played at the upcoming coronation of the new king of Breifne. Liobhan and Broc, both skilled musicians, are to pretend to be members of a traveling entertainment troupe, and Dau is to be a mute stable boy. While the three are struggling to adapt to their roles (especially Liobhan, who has to refrain from punching men who annoy or harass her), they discover that something is not quite right with Breifne and its would-be king. And they start to wonder if fulfilling their mission and doing what's right are two very different goals.

As usual, Marillier sets her story in medieval Ireland, with worlds of magic and other creatures not far from the surface. Swan Island will be familiar to readers of her spectacular Sevenwaters series (Daughter of the Forest et al) and Liobhan and Broc are the next generation of the Blackthorn & Grim series, but this book can easily stand alone.

The chapter narration rotates among the three main characters, and I have to admit my least favorite were the ones from Liobhan's POV. I know, Girl Power and all that, but she annoyed me with her insistence that she knew what was best and her refusal to follow the orders given to her by the Swan Island warriors who were leading the mission. Her best scenes were those in which she is given a chance to develop a relationship with one of Breifne's more vulnerable residents; it gives her the opportunity to be both fiercely protective and surprisingly gentle.

Broc is one of those characters who just breaks your heart. He's not a bad fighter, but his true love is music, and he has an unusual background that leaves him torn between two worlds. Dau, too, tugged at my heartstrings for different reasons. He starts the book seemingly tough and invulnerable (Liobhan calls him a supercilious bastard), but as the story progresses we learn about the traumas he experienced growing up that scarred him emotionally and realize that his pride is covering up a lot of loneliness.

The book ends with the mission's conclusion, but there are lots of loose ends left hanging, including several unresolved romance plots. I am more enthusiastic about this book than I was about the first Blackthorn and Grim novel, Dreamer's Pool, and I ended up a big fan of that series, so I am optimistic that this series will be even more rewarding.

P.S. Is it just my imagination or does the important secondary character with poor impulse control, aggressive sexual tendencies, grandiose but fallacious statements and no sense of personal responsibility resemble a certain American politician?

ARC provided by Net Galley in exchange for honest review.

Though it retains the cozily Celtic, epic flavor of her enduring Sevenwaters saga, Juliet Marillier’s new novel The Harp of Kings marks the promising beginning to an entirely new series focused on warrior bards in an ancient Ireland. Though some of the main characters have ties to her previous Blackthorn & Grim series, this one stands completely alone, and can be enjoyed on its own terms.

It tells the story of three young people coming to terms with who they are, and who they might become, against a backdrop of magic and music, risk-taking and king-making. They three go questing for one thing, but both the journey and the destination change along the way.

We are first introduced to Liobhan, Brocc, and Dau as they spar as students on Swan Island, home to a sort of monastic order of warriors and spies. Liobhan and Brocc are dissimilar siblings: she’s a tall, hasty sort, and he’s more musical and measured. Liobhan and the haughty Dau are locked in a schoolyard rivalry. He’s the son of an important man, and lords his education and his gender over her: no common girl will best me. (There is nothing common about Liobhan.) They are at a scary point in their training —their teachers will soon choose a lucky few to stay on to complete their educations—when all three are tapped for a covert mission alongside more seasoned Swan Island warriors.

In the small kingdom a couple days ride from the island, a sacred ceremonial harp has gone missing: the titular harp of kings, whose origin lies with the fair folk (it was guarded by druids before its theft). The kingdom has been in a regency for half a dozen years, and the late king’s son is now old enough to assume the throne—but without the harp, the coronation won’t be seen as legitimate, throwing the kingdom into political disarray. Liobhan and Brocc are to pose as musicians—an easy task for Brocc especially—in their quest to find the harp. Dau’s role is less suited to his upbringing: he’s to pose as a rough and mute farrier. They only have a month to establish their identities and locate this important relic.

All three struggle with their roles in one way or another. Liobhan has a hard time playing timid, and is more inclined to punch her way out of any given situation. She also has a hard time staying aloof, and is drawn into caring for a young girl—the sister of the king—who is neglected and abused. Dau’s mean situation keeps calling up his brutal childhood, when he was set upon by cruel older brothers. While he sometimes still clings to the arrogance he uses as a shield, working silently with the horses draws out the poison of his upbringing. Brocc walks easy in his role as the trio’s musician, first working with the druids with their lore, and later with the uncanny folk of the forest. So quickly does he adopt his role as bard that he sometimes forgets his role as brother and warrior of Swan Island.

As they live and work in the small kingdom before the coronation, they three begin to question their task. The crown prince is an unforgiving, incurious man, prone to sudden bouts of violence and disinclined to take sage advice. Finding the harp will legitimize his sovereignty; not finding it will ruin their lives. Liobhan especially gets in trouble with the prince, for she can never quite submerge her defiant self under the character she must play. All three have encounters with a wisewoman who lives just outside the city with her hound Storm, and all three face the otherworldly and malevolent crow creatures who haunt the wood. The young students try on and inhabit a myriad of different roles as they search for the harp: sister and rival, mute and musician, lover and friend. In the end, they will have to decide which fits them best, and learn to trust in both one another and themselves.

The first volume of the Warrior Bards series will please readers of deeply textured, character-based fantasy. If the action never quite registers on an epic scale, its exploration of its characters is still powerfully felt.

Liobhan and her brother Brocc are on Swan Island, candidates in training to be part of the elite forces on the island. Because of their musical talent, they are selected to be part of an undercover mission as traveling minstrels. They have to find the missing harp that was used in the crowning of kings; without it, the people would never accept the coronation as valid. Prince Rodan is hardly the kind of man that would place the concern for his people at the forefront and is afraid of the uncanny. Unfortunately for him, the uncanny is involved in this, as well as court intrigue, a storyteller that acts as a gatekeeper to the Otherworld, and a difficult decision that Liobhan has to make.

The Harp of Kings opens with a pronunciation guide for the Gaelic names, not to worry if you don't know how to pronounce them! The text is very clear as to who is who, as well as what their cover identities are. It's intricately done, starting with the training camps on Swan Island, then moving into the outer world and the kingdom beyond the island's borders. Everyone has their back story and reason for being there, and it's only revealed when important to the plot. The druids, an order with an extensive novitiate training process, keep the knowledge, history, and magic of the natural world. Often, it's secret, and the novitiates are expected to leave their prior lives behind.

Rodan is a spoiled brat with a quick temper and few that can rein him in, but there are few others willing to step up to be King. The magic of the Otherworld is close by, as is the magic of music and the ability to help people in need. They're not necessarily trickster figures, though it's certainly remarked on several times. Brocc's uncanny skill with the harp exists for a reason, and it carries far more significance as the novel progresses. I really loved Liobhan and the princess Aislinn as they struggled to maneuver through the situations they were placed in and still keep their sense of self. I'm so glad that this is the start of a series because I hope to meet them again!

Harp of Kings is a magical story, following three young people who have gone to Swan Island to train to be a warrior, but only a few will be selected to join the warriors. Liobhan and Brocc are siblings who are talented musicians and come from an area where magic is a part of their lives. Dau comes from a very different background, he does not trust anything magical; actually Dau doesn’t trust anyone and has built strong walls to protect himself. The three are selected to go on a secret mission. During this journey they meet fae folk, druids, hearth witches and some dangerous crow creatures, all tied up with a royal succession that requires a Harp of Kings that has gone missing.

The brother and sister bonds were so special, the way Liobhan and Brocc make beautiful music together and then are able to be talented fighters, each with different strengths. I felt like I knew Liobhan and Brocc from the moment I met them. Dau was the most surprising, learning of his background and watching as he grew and developed into an impressive young man.

I loved the way the story unfolded, the details of their world and their experiences, and the wonderful, if painful, ending. I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author, her world building is just so beautiful.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my review.

A young woman is both a bard–and a warrior–in this thrilling historical fantasy from the author of the Sevenwaters novels.

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)

I received an ARC of The Harp of Kings from Netgalley and from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.


The Harp of Kings needs trigger warnings for alcoholism, abusive siblings, child neglect, dead parents, on page attempted sexual assault, and on page victim blaming.

I have been a fan of Juliet Marillier’s work for more than a decade. I’ve read every single one of her books, which might be the reason I’ve had this problem with the last few that I’ve read, in which I feel like I’ve already read them and know exactly what’s going to happen. It happened for the entire Blackthorn & Grim series, and unfortunately, it colored my experience with The Harp of Kings.

One of Marillier’s strengths has always been her characters, and that was enough to keep me reading the last series, but they fell flat for me, here. Liobhan, Brocc, and Dau were interesting enough, but we barely got to scratch beneath the surface for any of them. The character I was most interested in was Mistress Juniper, which says something when I’ve fallen head over heels in love with Marillier’s main female characters in every single Sevenwaters book.

Despite this issue, I enjoyed the book. I don’t think I’ll be purchasing it, but it was an enjoyable read. You can pick up a copy from Amazon or IndieBound through my affiliate links.

Disclaimer: All links to Indiebound, The Book Depository, The Ripped Bodice and Amazon are affiliate links. If you buy through those links, I will make a small amount of money off of the sale.

I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review

Extremely hard to get through--I was strangely disappointed that I did not like this book. I loved the Sevenwater and Caller series but I should have known that my dislike for Blackthorn & Grim series would bleed into their children's book.

It was as if the characters were being muffled but the dull writing. It was devoid of life which is so surprising because I loved how whimsical and fairy-like her other books were.

The story was slow and the characters were thrown in without a build-up of their characterization.

It's very back-and-white:

Liobahn is a tomboy in a medieval setting aka she needs to suppress her "unfeminine" qualities and there is not much else to her. She is loyal to her family and strong (I just feel I described a pet--that's how undeveloped her character is) If she had more depth, she would be a complete badass.

Brocc is his sister's opposite--reluctant to be a fighter and would rather be a musician--whistling all day, singing, composing, a-la-di-daaaaaaaaaaaaaay. His chapters were so dull and boring I honestly skipped through them. He had no true voice to me; he was just there. Even when we learn more about him and his past, it does not seem like the perspective of a young man.

Dau--I wish they would have slowly introduced his sad past rather throw it in our face.

It's like: hey, I'm Dau and I am still suffering from childhood traumas.

Hiiiii Dau.

It felt like I was not ALLOWed to create my own opinions of the characters. It was Liobahn is a true warrior but damned by her gender, Brocc is a sensitive dreamer, and Dau is a wounded bad boy.

And the story line made little sense to me .You are going to send warriors, warriors who are carefully chosen and not just run in the mill farmers aka it takes $$$ and time to cultivate them, to find a harp. A harp with a story that they people do not really believe in it's magic powers anymore.

But overall, I cannot give Marillier anything lower than 3 stars because she puts time and patience into her writing,

Liobhan, Brocc, and Dau are trainees hoping to join the ranks of the Swan Island warriors. When they're, surprisingly, chosen to go on a mission, they learn it's because of the unique skills they possess, but hope to prove themselves worthy. Their mission, alongside two warriors, is to find and return the Harp of Kings in time for the new king's crowning. Straightforward enough, their search rapidly leads them into the royal household's politics and right into the Otherworld.

I'll be honest, the primary reason I wanted to read this book was because it involves a harp. As a harpist who doesn't get to read her chosen instrument very often in fantasy, especially one where it's so prominently placed, I couldn't resist. Fortunately, this book also has an interesting premise and was intriguing in its own right.

There's a very strong Celtic feel to this book, from the names to the setting to the Otherworld. Because of the Celtic influence, it makes it difficult sometimes to figure out how a name is pronounced, and to remember for the next time it's mentioned. There is a character list with handy pronunciations, though. As for the setting, it's heavily forested and the woods house otherworldly creatures with a mythical air hanging over it all. There are druids, hints of magic, and wee fae folk that I wish had been better described. This book kept making me think of ancient Ireland, and the music only added to that. While reading, I felt like the world came to life in my mind and it was easy to feel like I was walking in it.

The story is told by three main characters: Liobhan, Brocc, and Dau. While they were accompanied by two Swan Island warriors, the focus was on the three of them and the struggles they had to deal with as trainees hoping to be chosen to be warriors. They had clear cut roles on the mission, but it quickly became muddled as they needed to take on different personas, yet couldn't shake who they were, and became torn between duty to the kingdom and duty to Swan Island.

I loved that Liobhan was feisty and fierce, but had to play a completely opposite role. Though a strong female, she had many faults, and I really enjoyed the internal conflict between her wanting to be herself and the need to be her mission persona. But as much as I enjoyed Liobhan, my favorite was Dau, Liobhan's rival for much of the book. At the beginning, his seemed like an easy character to understand. He was a strong fighter and very set on doing what he was supposed to do, but, as the story went along, more of his past was revealed, turning him into a complex character that was more fascinating than Liobhan and Brocc. Reading the growth of his character was a great pleasure and made him feel more human. As for the harpist himself, Brocc felt a bit harder to pin down. Both musician and warrior, I couldn't help but enjoy the musician side of him more. Though he had a fascinating back story that was more hinted at than told, I felt like I didn't know him as much more than a musician.

The Harp of Kings tells a fascinating story of the tenuous balance between nature and the human footprint. On one hand we have a royal household where the crown prince has little regard for nature and the history of the land he's about to rule. On the other we have the Fair Folk who rely on nature, who make it their home, and need the land to be respected in order to thrive despite their dwindling numbers. It falls into the hands of the three trainees to both work out where the Harp of Kings vanished to, as well as how to get it back, and unravel the complicated history of the royal family. Though it could put their futures on Swan Island in jeopardy, I loved reading how they evolved as people as the experience brought their values into focus and as they worked out what was more important: the future of the kingdom or their own futures.

Overall, this was a fascinating Celtic-inspired fantasy, a great start to the Warrior Bards series. The characters were interesting, complex, and showed real growth as individuals and as a team. The setting was hauntingly beautiful and was the perfect backdrop for the questionable crowning of an unwilling prince. The story was interesting and well-told through the eyes of young adults who had seen much in their short lives, but still needed to see more. I loved the mystery aspect of what happened to the harp, but, in the end, this was more a story of making things right and working towards peace.



Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a free e-copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Link to post: https://thelilycafe.wordpress.com/2019/09/03/book-review-the-harp-of-kings-by-juliet-marillier/

This entire book is a four-hundred-page slow burn of a paternity test, essentially. There were many elements of the plotting and book architecture that I found thoughtful or admirable, but I must admit that the "overly competitive attractive jerk to misunderstood hero" subplot is a little threadbare for me at the moment. I originally wrote a long and convoluted argument about how becoming a jerk as an adult is not the only interesting (or even the most likely) consequence of childhood trauma, but I wasn't quite sure what I was saying, other than I don't like to spend time with jerks, inside of a book or out, redeemed by decent behavior by the end or not.

Of the three point of view characters in this book, only one really captured my interest as a <i>voice</i>: Liobhan, the woman warrior. But even she is constantly having to learn how to tamp down her individuality, her independence, and her warrior instincts in order to accomplish their mission. It's not a great feeling to watch a character who might be an iconic female hero to many readers be punished for a man sexually assaulting her, and for none of her companions to stand up for her. Yes, yes, mission comes first. But in 2019? We need to see women be listened to more than we need to see men putting their hands on them and being protected by the system, or the woman's need not to make further trouble. THAT is a narrative we've heard since time immemorial. Liobhan's voice is distinct and unique, and it was a constant frustration to watch her beat down and diminish herself. The other two point of view characters, Dau (Liobhan's main competitor and the redeemed jerk) and Brocc (Liobhan's brother, a dreamy bard who gets absconded away with into the land of Fae), each have interesting backgrounds but are ultimately not terribly specific in voice.

Before I started this book, someone else let me know that it "starts getting good" in the second half, but in an over-four-hundred-page book, halfway still requires serious commitment to get to. The plotting is slow throughout, frankly, and the end is always in sight. There are few surprises. And that's fine—really! It's probably an amazing fit for someone else who likes that consistency and pace; but honestly, this book <i>could</i> have edited out two hundred pages and I personally wouldn't have noticed much. I haven't read any other works by Marillier, but I have the feeling I'm either coming to her style and approach either too early or too late; the slow-burn of a spy-quest in a vaguely Medieval-ish world was deeply interesting to me as an older teenager, but as a nine-to-sixer now, with multiplying demands on my time, I struggle to get into those books now, when I either have to break up the reading experience into tiny chunks that fit around everything else, or skim them entire in the evenings between midnight and two in the morning—as I did with this one.

All of this is to say: I don't think I'm the ideal reader for this book, but someone else certainly might be.

When I saw that Juliet Marillier had a new book coming out, I was beyond surprised and excited, and I was even more surprised when I granted access to it on NetGalley!

The Harp of Kings is a magical story of three trainees aiming to become elite warrors on Swan Island as they embark on an unpredictable and adventurous undercover mission to obtain an important missing item that could potentially affect politics in the region in momentous ways.

This book had a really slow start for me. When I first started, I actually found myself slightly bored at the school/training setting and the life of the students training there. It felt very overdone and like something I'd read a thousand times before, so it left me wanting more. Fortunately, things quickly pick up once these three students are given a secret mission to undertake--something that is probably unprecedented for those who are not yet sworn warriors. The story still took some time to get its bearings, but once it did I finally found myself sucked into the narrative.

The story alternates POVs between Liobhan, Dau, and Brocc, all three of whom are currently competitively training in the hopes of one day becoming elite warriors. Of the three main characters, Liobhan was probably the hardest for me to connect with. Her attitude was frustrating and I found myself struggling with her constant stubbornness and risk-taking. I did, however, appreciate how all three managed to stay in their undercover characters so well and in so many different situations, but there were still moments that made me question her actions when she went back and forth between obedience and straying from the rule of the mission. Dau and Brocc were much more complex and engaging characters and I felt that they had more development than Liobhan overall, which contributed to their fleshed out natures. Dau starts out as a rather unlikable character who I thought I was going to have trouble connecting with and even reading his POV chapters, but fortunately he really develops into one of the most developed of the entire threesome and has an incredibly layered backstory that I enjoyed unraveling. Brocc is similarly layered, though for vastly different reasons than Dau, and his storyline takes an entirely different turn from the other two. I genuinely enjoyed following it and discovering things with him as discovered them himself.

Marillier's writing style is one that is surprisingly simple and easy to follow, yet at the same time has a subtle beauty to it that makes it hard to stop reading at times. The Harp of Kings has a bit of a folktale vibe about it that made this story feel very warm and comforting to lean into--it's truly a great fall read. There's plenty of intrigue--both political and otherwise--but also full of fairytale elements and magic and mysteries. For those wondering, there are indeed hints of romance, but romance is not at all one of the prominent plot points of this book.

The political intrigue and the secret mission were some of the more compelling components of this plot and I liked how Marillier incorporated them into a larger story. The background to some of the politics is a bit complex at times and there was random bouts of info-dumping throughout the story that did drag the plot down somewhat, but fortuately it was still interesting enough to keep me wanting to learn more.

Despite everything I enjoyed about this book, I've really struggled with how to rate it. The largest of these reasons is that there was constantly something missing from the narrative. I can't quite place my finger on it, but I always felt some level of disconnect between myself and both the plot and the characters. It almost felt as if Marillier wavered between a beautiful, emotional narrative style and one that was more cut-and-dry and lacked much engagement. I still really enjoyed this book and would absolutely read more in this series, but I just have to comment on this weird disconnect I felt with the story at times. If I really made my ratings detailed, it'd probably be around a 3.8 or 3.9, but since I don't tend to go that specific, I'm rounding it up to an even four stars because when I look back on it I can't really pick out that many things that were negative about it.

If you like fae folk, undercover missions, druids, myth and tradition, and politicla intrigue, then this is absolutely a book you should check out. Don't let the potentially slow start stop you, there's a lot more to this book than you might expect. Overall, as I mentioned, I've given The Harp of Kings four stars!

Put aside the training and the trials that tend to hold these stories back, take the mute POV of the least-likable protagonist with a grain of salt, and forgive the inclusion of a precocious child on whom so much comes to rest. What matters here is the setting, the supporting cast of characters, the intertwining of magic and music, and the inclusion of a kick-ass female protagonist who doesn’t need to scream “strong woman” because she lives and breathes it..

For my first reading of Juliet Marillier, Juliet Marillier was a solid fantasy and an easy read that was thoroughly entertaining. The series is called Warrior Bards for a reason, and while you don’t normally find those two roles within the same character, here it works – it really works. Liobhan and Brocc are siblings, one a whistle player and the other a harpist, both of whom can sing, and both of whom can fight. They are young enough and new enough to the elite warriors of Swan Island that they are the perfect choice to slip into court and find out what happened to the fabled Harp of the title.

There’s more than enough mystery here to keep the story moving forward, with the scenes involving the druids particular favorites of mine, although there are also enough fae and witches to give this all the flash and flare of a traditional high fantasy. Given that the Crown Prince is an unlikable individual and the first in a long line of rulers to distrust the druids, there’s ample reason to suspect him of being complicit, at the very least, in the situation.

The story itself is a slow-burn fantasy, nearly half-over before anything of real significance comes to the forefront. The alternating narrators, each of whom is telling their own story, is perhaps not my favorite narrative style, but I liked two of those voices enough to stick with it – and while I was tempted to skim the third, there were enough important things going on that I found I had to slow down and read. The tension and mystery do pay off, and there is genuine character growth, but it’s all very slow and subtle. I was hoping for a bit more action, more opportunities for Liobhan to take charge.

In the end, The Harp of Kings was a solid read, thoroughly enjoyable, with a writing style that has me eager to catch up with some of the older Marillier paperbacks I’ve picked up this summer.

Gee, this book is terrific! I couldn't wait to find out what came next so I stayed up way too late. I kept telling myself just one more chapter then I'll go to bed but then I would need to find out just one more thing, next thing I know it is getting light outside. That is the sign of a good book.

The Harp of Kings by Juliet Marillier is obviously well written as the dark circles under my eyes can attest. The characters are varied and interesting. The plot is engaging. I like the mixture of adventure, mystery, fantasy and mythological lore. There is a list of characters along with how to pronounce their names which is useful.

In a nutshell, the story begins on Swan Island, a training facility for warriors. Our focus is on a group of potential warriors which includes a brother and sister among other candidates. They are chosen along with another young man to join two teacher/warriors on a mission to find the missing Harp of Kings needed for a coronation. They will travel in two groups, in disguise, to locate the harp. If they do not complete their mission successfully the coronation will not happen and a king will not be crowned. During this mission we are given a fascinating peek into the otherwordly.

I recommend this book to those of us who enjoy reading of far off lands with strange and wonderful creatures, fey folk, druids, chieftains , etc. On the strength of this book, I plan on reading other books by this talented author.

Juliet Marillier is a new-to-me author. It's always intriguing to me to read fae stories, so I immediately dove right into The Harp of Kings.

The best parts of this book is when the action starts and the fae come into play. A beautiful fairytale involving the disappearance of a harp. A special harp protected by the druids, and used for the coronation of the new king. Three young elite warriors were assigned to find the harp. And this is their story.

The storyline is unique and is perfect for young adults. The violence is kept to a minimum, and the attractions are kept a very respectful level. I was not too engrossed in the story. The author's style of writing tends to be monotone and very repetitive. The story was told in 3 different POVs. I had a hard time distinguishing between characters in the beginnings of the story.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, so I could give an honest review.

Rating: 5 Caffeinated Stars
Trigger Warning: Childhood Abuse, Animal Abuse, Sexual Assault, & Sexual Harassment

When I first got approved for The Harp of Kings, I literally jumped for joy. Juliet Marillier is one of my all-time favorite fantasy authors, and I couldn't wait to read the beginning of a new series by her. What I love about her as an author is that she knows how to create vivid worlds where a reader can escape in. The Harp of Kings is no different.

The world in The Harp of Kings is crafted beautifully. Juliet Marillier writes in a way that puts you in the middle of the story. Her details make it so that you can almost smell the forest the characters are walking in. Not only is the detailing in-depth, but the characters are well crafted. Liobhan, Brocc, and Dau were three-dimensional characters who were incredibly relatable.

The plot was also complex but not hard to follow. I do warn you all to look at the trigger warnings that I posted above. Though all of those trigger warnings are present, they're well done. They do a decent job of capturing the horrific nature and show the complexities of healing as well.

All in all, I loved this book. The plot was quick-paced, and the story was enthralling. I especially loved all of the lore written into this book. I especially loved the mention of the fair folk & faes. I've always had an obsession with faeries, so I was happy to see them mentioned throughout the book. If you enjoy fairytales, the fair folk, and fantasy this is the book for you!

It's been a long time since I've read a book like this one; in that it fills all of the stipulations that I set for myself to define a 5 star book. Nothing is better than a book that can make me laugh out loud, cry, love or hate characters at different times while turning the pages of a single book. The Harp of Kings was that book.
I loved Liobhan from the beginning. She is a strong female character who knows what she wants and goes after it with all her heart, mind and strength. Her brother Brocc was equally likable, but there was something about him that made the reader wonder what exactly was it that made him different. Brocc added a check and balance to Liobhan's actions. They clearly love each other and it comes across in the book as such a strong bond that it can be felt while reading of their journey and it's ups and downs along the way. Dau starts off as someone not as likable. He gradually grew on me to the extent that I felt his pain as his life was laid out in bits and pieces throughout the story. I found myself cringing whenever little details of his past surfaced and I wanted only good things to happen to him. These three are sent on an assignment; one that will determine their fate, and the fates of so many others. But they can't be themselves. They must adopt personas that are nothing like who they really are, and therein lies the story. A quote from the book sums it up best, "Sometimes it's hard to make the right choice. You can be going along one path, quite sure it's the way you want, and then suddenly everything turns upside down, and although you were sure you could always tell right from wrong, you start to wonder." This story is about the paths they take and the choices they make along the way. It's going to make you laugh and cry. You will love some characters and hate others. And at the end you will be really glad that you read this book.

The Harp of Kings is an enchanting tale, matching three warriors with a secretive land and a straightforward mission that quickly becomes muddled. The expert storytelling reveals a deep magic running through the forests and a history that’s more fairy tale than fantasy. The three narrative streams are highlighted by masterful character growth and diverging personalities that all seek something vastly different. This is a series I’ll be following closely.

And now for a few of my favorite things (and there were many):

THREE VASTLY DIFFERENT NARRATORS

The Harp of Kings shines thanks to the author’s intricate character work. We follow three narrators, each unique in their own way. In Liobahn, we have a strong female warrior who fights every day to prove herself worthy of an order that mostly admits men. She’s strong, intelligent, and cares deeply for her brother. That familial bond drives much of what she does, adding a passion to her character. In Brocc, we get a man who has reluctantly joined this band of warriors and wants nothing more than the comforts of home. He’s more delicate than the others and a true artist when it comes to singing and playing the harp. His narrative voice is lyrical, showing a deeper understanding of the world around him. There’s more to him than meets the eye, with many of the biggest reveals aligning around him. In Dau, we get a bullheaded warrior who wants nothing more than to fight and win. As the story progresses, he shows the most character growth. Initially angry with his part in the plot, he quickly matures, taking his duties head-on and growing closer to the other characters. Combined, these three create an incredibly compelling story.

A MUSICAL PLOT

Music runs deep in the storytelling, featuring a number of beautifully written songs and ballads that both entertain and change the world. With Brocc’s gifts, we see the magic of music on those lucky enough to hear it. While music is often important in fantasy novels, it isn’t typically central to the plot. In The Harp of Kings, it’s what runs the world from behind the scenes. The King is coronated by the dulcet tones of a mystical harp that provides the primary connection between the human and fairy worlds. This aspect adds unexpected beauty to the plot and casts a kind of magic as you read.

SLOWLY BUILDING INTRIGUE

As the narrators become more invested in their mission, it becomes clear that much is wrong with this kingdom they find themselves in. Where once they expected to simply complete their duties and move on, they gradually realize they won’t be able to distance themselves from the future of those around them. Whether it’s due to their novice status or their genuine care for people in need, their paths begin to alter the further we get into the book. Intrigue pops up the more they diverge, leading to many a conflict and startling find.

MAGICAL REALM MEETS STUNNING HISTORY

Finally, I was enchanted by the magical realm. To be honest, I haven’t read much fairy fantasy of late, and this aspect took The Harp of Kings from warrior-turned-spy novel into a deeper story that spells the future for a world in peril. The creatures and secrets of the realm are beautiful to imagine and Brocc’s part in their future is exciting to read. Throw in the mysterious old woman living in a cottage at the start of the winding trail and some horrifying birdlike villains and you’ve got an epic fantasy-meets-fairy-tale.

Never has a fantasy story touched me so profoundly that I was brought to tears not once but twice. The Harp of Kings is a moving tale of love lost, the power of family, and the qualities needed to be a hero among men. The story takes you on a journey that never slows and never disappoints.

What I Like:

The Harp of Kings is story-driven but could easily have been character-driven as Liobhan, Dau, and Brocc touch our hearts with their individual stories, goals, and choices. The tale is masterfully written so that it pulls you in much as a night of live music does with its ability to lift hearts and bring forth memories that touch your soul.

The setting is historical from a time and place that spurs the imagination. Scottish and Irish mysticism is well documented, and the stories are numerous, such as the story of Merlin and King Arthur. This tale keeps that tradition alive and elicits similar feelings of it being “a land of myth and time of magic.” The descriptions are so detailed that I could imagine my own ancestors as they walked, lived, and played in Scotland and Ireland long ago.

Liobhan is a strong female character and, as always, I love a strong heroine. She has that spunk and fire that pulls me into a story. Dau starts out as the typical male lead but grows and changes along the way into a more profound and full-fledged hero - one that you end up rooting for by the end.

What I Wish

This is usually the place where I gently complain when a book is written in shifting perspectives. As a reader, I find that often this device breaks up the flow of a story to a point where it negatively impacts my enjoyment of reading it, but that is NOT the case with The Harp of Kings. The device was used in such a way that it enhanced the story. The reader would have lost out had it not been used.

To Read or Not to Read

If you want a fantasy tale that will touch your heart and entertain your mind, The Harp of Kings is the right choice for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Enter a world of warriors and bards, of mortal kings and uncanny creatures in The Harp of Kings. Juliet Marillier’s writing has a lyricism to it that never fails to draw me in and I found myself spellbound by this story.

Since childhood Liobhan has wanted to become one of the elite Swan Island warriors. Now she and her brother Brocc have that opportunity. As trainees, they wouldn’t normally be sent out on missions, but their skills as bards make them the perfect spies when the mystical Harp of Kings is stolen. Alongside two senior warriors and a fellow trainee, Dau, Liobhan and Brocc make their way to the kingdom of Breifne. There they must suss out secrets from courtiers and druids, fend off royal bullies, and uncover the machinations of Otherworld beings, all while learning to become a team and strengthen their weak spots.

Liobhan is a heroine who is easy to like. She’s vibrant, skilled, loyal, kindhearted, and hardworking. She’s also young, vocal, and sometimes reckless when she follows her heart, but I liked that she wasn’t perfect and I could see how she will continue to grow over the course of the series. Brocc too is an endearing character. He’s quieter than his sister, more aware of his fears, but his talent as a bard is unparalleled. Brocc is unknowingly on a journey to come into his own and his path is one I’m still thinking on days after finishing this book (for reasons I won’t spoil). As for the third main character, Dau isn’t immediately loveable. He comes off as arrogant and is determined to win a spot on Swan Island at all costs. I knew there had to be more to him, and Ms. Marillier did not disappoint. I loved peeling back the layers of Dau’s character. He’s the most complex and wounded of the three and there were times his story brought tears to my eyes. Though each of the three main characters has a satisfying story arc in The Harp of Kings, I look forward to seeing how they mature and progress and how their relationships change in the next book.

The Harp of Kings is the first book in the Warrior Bards series and can easily be read as a standalone, but if you like Ms. Marillier’s Blackthorn & Grim trilogy you’ll be delighted to find out this series is set in the same world. I’m a huge Blackthorn & Grim fan, so I must confess that as soon as I read the character list in the beginning of the book and discovered that Liobhan and Brocc were Blackthorn and Grim’s children I was automatically invested in their fates. I loved the nods to the prior trilogy and even though I enjoyed The Harp of Kings on its own merits I still desperately hope we travel to Winterfalls in future Warrior Bards books.

The Harp of Kings has intrigue, fights, magical quests, and otherworldly action aplenty. The pages of the book practically flew by and I hated it whenever I had to put it down. I finished this story a well-satisfied reader, but there is a bittersweet quality to it that makes me hope the wait for the next book won’t be too long.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review by Netgalley.

The Harp of Kings by Juliet Marillier is a historical fantasy novel set in medieval Ireland. It's set in the same world as two of Marillier’s other popular series, Sevenwaters and Blackthorn and Grim.

I have to be honest and say I adore this author. I’ve numerous of her books. This one is a winner too. Marillier has a wonderful way crafting stories. Her works are full of historical detail, rich environment, interesting characters and also are incredibly readable. Her books read like you’re reading some new fairytale. The reader gets swept into the story and always enjoys the ride. This book is no exception.

The book has three main protagonists Liobhan, Brocc and Dau. They each have their own pov in the story. Liobhan and Brocc are siblings who have travelled because they want to be warriors on Swan Island. Liobhan feels constrained by being a woman in her society. She longs to be a warrior and strong. She’s dreamed of going to Swan Island her whole life. I really enjoyed her. I do feel at times she was a bit judgy towards other women and could be more empathic, but she’s young. Brocc is her brother who would probably rather be a bard than a warrior but goes to compete at Swan Island as well. He is surprisingly good at while there.He’s a bit of a dreamer. Dau is a chieftain's son who feels like he has a lot to prove. He is very unlikable at first, but as the story progresses he becomes more multilayered and interesting.

The story definitely went in a place I didn’t think it was going to, but that ended up being a good thing. I loved watching the trio basically set out on a mission and try to solve a mystery. That may seem like a simple plot but its not. There is politics, magic, secrets and big reveals in this book. I’d recommend it for anyone who has enjoyed the other two series I’ve mentioned before. I loved that we got little glimpses about a previous series that I was sad ended. It can also be read as a standalone. It's a good dip in the toes for someone wanting to find out if they like Marillier’s style. It’s also a really strong ya historical fantasy. I know I’ll be lined up for the preorder of book two.

4 Stars.