When three of your co-bloggers insist that you’ll love a book, you have to read it. Especially when those friends know your reading life incredibly well and understand your love for music, both in literature and reality. And while I didn’t fall as head-over-heels for the story as they did, they were right; I very much enjoyed it. The Bard’s Blade is a compelling introduction to a world that’s lovely at first glance but is teeming with dark forces and hypocritical religion and unforeseen magic below its surface.

There two main protagonists in Anderson’s story: Lem, an immensely talented and renowned musician who finds himself fleeing his homeland to protect everyone he loves; and Mariyah, the daughter of a wine maker who loves Lem too much keep herself from following him. The secondary character with the biggest role is Shemi, Lem’s elderly uncle who would do anything to protect his nephew and the woman Lem loves. But the world is far larger than either Lem or Mariyah could have guessed, and finding each other begins to seem wildly improbable. Both of these characters find themselves in crazy situations where they are no longer in control of their own fate. All they can do is keep moving forward in the hope if being reunited someday.

This was a compulsively readable book. I wanted to know what happened next, and and I wanted to know more about the strange new world Lem and Mariyah found themselves in. However, there was something about the prose and character development that struck me as overly simplistic, which resulted in my caring about the characters on a cerebral level because I wanted to see how the plot lines tied together, not because Lem and Mariyah felt tangible to me and evoked much of an emotional response. I admit that such opinions are incredibly subjective, and didn’t prove to be the case at all for Petrik, Haïfa, and Eon when they read this book. It’s quite possible that my views of the writing were the result of picking up the right book at the wrong time, as I just recently finished reading The Secret History, which delivered stunning prose and characters so tangibly real that I expected them to show up drunk on my doorstep. That being said, there was a twist to the whole prophecy element of this book that I really appreciated, and I can’t wait to see where said twist leads.

I love the worlds Anderson created in The Bard’s Blade. And yes, I mean worlds, because Lem and Mariyah’s home, Vylari, is magically separated from the world they find themselves in, Lamoria. The Kylorian faith, and the Arch Bishop and the Hedran that enforced its laws, reminded me very much of Judaism in the time of Jesus. (Hedran? Sanhedrin?) Because of this, I was greatly reminded of multiple Christian fantasy series I’ve read in the past, though Anderson took the tale somewhere completely different in the end. He did a great job of showing religious zeal taken too far, demonstrating the hypocrisy and fear that become prevalent when a belief system becomes the law of the land. I’m very interested to learn more about the religion and magic of Lamoria in the upcoming sequel, A Chorus of Fire. I also loved the musical element of the story; my only complaint is that it didn’t play a bigger role or enjoy as much time in the spotlight as I would have liked.

The Bard’s Blade is a strong first installment into what I hope will be a captivating trilogy. Anderson did a great job with his world building, and I’m excited to see what kind of character development Lem and Mariyah undergo in the next installment. I also really appreciate how clean this book was; I could give this to my fourteen-year-old nephew with a clear conscience. That’s not to say there was no tension but, like Brandon Sanderson and Rachel Aaron, Anderson understands how to convey tension without dwelling on gory details or throwing in a ton of profanity. If you’re looking for a fantasy that is clean and romantic and fairly bright and addictively readable, pick up The Bard’s Blade. You’re in for a treat.

This is a slow moving fantasy, but don't let the slow moving part put you off. It kept my interest from start to finish. I'm always excited to find a new fantasy series that isn't too dark. I'm not into grimdark and that does seem to be the trend nowadays, so I was very pleased that this one was in the traditional vein of fantasy.

I immediately liked both of the main characters. They were easy to like and ended up getting into some sticky situations that caused some nail biting on my part. There were a couple of times I was practically yelling at Lem to not do something. The poor guy just went from one bad situation to another. What I liked most was that the characters went from naive and sheltered to experiencing a lot of awful things that changed their world view drastically. You could see that wide eyed wonder change to wariness of the world. It was sad, but of course necessary for the plot.

Another thing I really loved about this book is that it included a Bard. I've said before that there aren't enough books that include Bards, and that's what drew me to this book in the first place. The author did a really good job of describing Lem's musical ability. It was easy to imagine what the music sounded like as Lem played his beloved balisari. I would definitely recommend this book and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor books for providing me with a copy of this book.

I requested this book based mostly on the super cool cover art. It’s walking some line between hokey 70s pulp fantasy art and the neat modern covers you see on some of Brandon Sanderson’s books. Either way, I love it. The book description itself sounded kind of meh and familiar. In some ways, it surpassed these expectations, and in other ways…the cover’s still cool.

Vylari is an idyllic land full of happy people going about simple lives. Here, Mariyah and Lem have grown up each able to focus on their own particular skills (Mariyah’s business savvy with her family’s wine business and Lem’s amazing musical talents) while focusing on the future they will soon have together as a married couple. All of this falls apart, however, when a stranger arrives and brings news of an evil that is coming, an evil that not even the magical barrier protecting Vylari can stave off, and somehow they are connected to it. Now, out in a dangerous new world, Lem and Mariyah must not only learn how to exist in a place so different than their peaceful home, but they must also discover the secrets in Lem’s past and how to prevent the evil that is coming.

This book was kind of hit and miss for me. While I did read it quickly and it was enjoyable enough, looking back on it, there’s not a lot that stands out as super unique. It checked all of the right boxes: world-building, strong characters, a good balance of action and reflection. But there was never much more given to any of these aspects to make the book really rise above the mediocre.

For me, the strongest aspect was its two main characters. Lem and Mariyah are both compelling and interesting, each approaching their time in the strange new world they find themselves in with bravery and cunning. It was particularly interesting seeing them come across aspects of life that we would take for granted but are clearly new to them. We spend only a limited amount of time in Vylari, only enough to get a general idea of how peaceful and simple it is. It’s only once we enter the greater world that readers begin to realize just how limited Vylari was. Yes, conflict and violence are almost unheard of there, but also, horses? As a reader, I just assumed things like that exist until we come across Lem, when first entering a village in the outside world, describing some strange beast with a long neck pulling a cart. From there, I always had my eyes open for other things that one would take for granted but might be new to our main characters.

I was also intrigued by the religious institution that forcibly runs much of the world outside of Vylari. Through the innocent eyes of Lem and Mariyah, we see how shocking some of the choices are that people who are ruled by ruthless leaders would make. The people in this world expect darkness and deceit. Lem and Mariyah are completely out of their element when first experiencing it.

However, while these aspects of the story were interesting enough, I was never able to become fully invested in the story. I wasn’t able to sink into it and instead was very aware of the process of reading it. It’s always hard to pin down in a review the quality in some books that leads to a reading experience like this. This makes it doubly unfortunate: I don’t have an exciting read and then I struggle to explain why the book was a bit of a miss for me. Like I mentioned earlier, I think much of the problem was simply that nothing felt super new. Lem and Mariyah, while strong enough characters, didn’t really stand out in any particular way. They weren’t annoying or problematic, they just were…people. And the idea of a world kept magically away from another was a concept I’ve run across several times in other fantasy works, and there wasn’t a whole lot here that differentiated this book from those. It’s a fine read. But not much more than that, unfortunately.

Rating 7: Nothing made me super excited. Nothing made me angry. Ultimately, nothing made me really care that much.

"One day, you'll start to understand that life comes in many hues, and that not all canvases are painted with the same brush."

This is a sweeping fantasy with a beautiful message on the unbridled joy of reclaiming a love you thought was lost forever. It's about a world divided and an ancient enemy is about to rise. This book had absolutely wonderful world building and fantastical elements. Some of the greatest elements was the magic and mystery of it all. It is heavily focused on religion, what is known as the Kylor in this world that affects many in good ways and bad ways which we see throughout the story.

We also have a very prominent romantic plot line that I wasn't expecting. This is an incredibly light read. A perfect read for people not used to the fantasy genre. It almost reads like a YA in fact so if you're looking for something quick, easy and addictive. I highly recommend! The pace is steady as the world building is done, but with just enough emphasis on the events occurring, as setting the stage for much, much more to come. I am finding, I am enjoying the anticipation, as much as the intensity of the character building. Quite promising as I will quickly begin book two once it releases. A promising start, on a promising series.

Magical and mesmerizing; The Bard's Blade is a note-perfect start to this promising new series.

I knew nothing about this book going into it, apart from the fact that a very good friend of mine loved it, and that it featured music as an inherent part of the story. Now, the music part is what first piqued my interest. Musicians? Few and far in between when it comes to them as protagonists in fantasy novels! I profess the only example I can currently think of, (although I am sure there are more) is one of my most beloved books, The Name of the Wind. Music and fantasy are not often paired it seems. And yet, music permeates every level of our existence. It is a direct line to our emotions and as old as time itself. Why then is it so scarce in fantasy? For the life of me, I have no idea, but Brian D. Anderson has once again made a very strong case for more musical fantasy and hopefully, there will be many more of these in our future.

Life is good for Lem. He is an exceptionally talented musician, drawing huge crowds when and wherever he plays, his sublime skills always in high demand. He is betrothed to the love of his life, Mariyah, a winemaker who produces some of the finest wines in the region, and his home is a beautiful, utopia-like place called Vylari. This perfect picture is shattered though when something unthinkable happens. For the first time in centuries, someone has managed to cross the magical barrier that protects Vylari from the outside world, and this dying stranger has brought grim tidings of an ancient evil that is awakening.

"What we feared for so long has come to pass. He is coming. Soon doom will be upon us all."

This stranger also warns that Lem has special gifts that will draw this malignant being to him like a beacon and that the barrier will be no obstacle. Shocked at this turn of events and the possibilities that the warning carries, Lem can think of only one way to protect his love, Mariyah, and everyone else in Vylari; removing himself from the threat he poses to their existence, he crosses the barrier into the alien land of Lamoria, leaving behind everything and everyone he knows without hope of return.

Of course, things don't work out exactly as planned, and why would we want them to as that would rob the story of excitement! Mariyah finds out that Lem left and she crosses the barrier herself in order to follow him. Fate has other plans though and forces them onto different paths as she searches for him while he keeps on the move to stay ahead of the ancient evil he was warned about. To reveal more detail though, will spoil some of the fun.
The story thus gives us two different pov's from start to finish, which was a lovely change-up from the usual five or more pov's that is so prevalent nowadays in fantasy. It made for a quick, delightful read, with the easily accessible writing style providing perfect pacing, and every chapter gets better and better, making this one of the most enjoyable books I have had the pleasure of reading this year. Both of the main characters arcs felt very realistic, with Lem and Mariyah written as distinct voices that evolved fittingly with the narrative, and both easily evoked empathy, making them a joy to root for. I can only say that I am exceedingly eager to see how far they will go along their respective paths, as very interesting times are ahead.

"Beware those who choose the shadows as their home."
Book of Kylor, Chapter Three, Verse Fifty-Nine.

The Bard's Blade delivers modern fantasy at its finest. While it has definite vibes of classical, chosen-one fantasy, (which, come on, though overused is popular for a reason) Brian D. Anderson has suffused the tale with his own fresh take on this well-loved staple, successfully composing an enthralling first entry in The Sorcerer's Song series. The second book is named A Chorus of Fire, and it has emphatically claimed its place as one of my most anticipated reads of 2020.

I had to DNF this title in the earlygoing, as I was having a difficult time connecting with the story and the writing in particular. This definitely feels like an exciting new series, but it turned out not to be for me and I will not be formally reviewing it online. It was shaping up to be a 2-star review at the point that I finished.

Mariyah and Lem are both interesting characters. They are thrown into a world of wolves when they both make the decision to step past a barrier that keeps their village safe. From the premise I thought they would be traveling together. Little did I know that their journeys are at different times and will lead them both down a different path that fate has in store for them.

Lem and Mariyah are practically one in the same when it comes to being kind and trusting others. These two attributes tend to lead them through some troubled times. They came from a village with little evil to being surrounded by intentions, most being bad. It was crazy to see everything unfold because when it came to the other characters, intentions/actions can be quite deceiving. I also found myself enjoying how morally grey Lem became throughout the book. He started off so innocent but his transition was impressive! Mariyah also had a well thought out journey but hers lead her down a much different path.

I enjoyed how Lem's music skills played a role in plot twists and it was part of his identity. Sometimes the skills of a bard sit on the back burner and it was nice to see that this wasn't the case. Yay for bards!

Although the plot was a bit slow at times and sometimes I just wanted more action, it still made the characters come to life and pave a path for the sequel to thrive. The great evil isn't introduced until close to the end but it has me curious to see what will come of it. The plot twists kept me on my toes because like I said above, not everyone's actions have great intentions. It made for an interesting read! I will say that I'm a little disappointed there wasn't really anything when it came to the relationship between Mariyah and Lem. I would have liked for more but maybe fate will be kinder to them in the next book.

Overall, I really liked this one and found myself intrigued by the world and the characters.

ARC provided by the author and publisher—Tor Books—in exchange for an honest review.

Simply exquisite, gripping, and tension-packed; The Bard’s Blade by Brian D. Anderson is an enthralling start to a series.

I’ll be honest and say that it wasn’t the premise of the book that got my attention; it was Felix Ortiz’s gorgeous cover artwork that grabbed me, and I’m truly grateful for it because the quality of the content in this book lived up to the exterior. I’m both blessed—because I get to read this early—and cursed—because I have to wait even longer for the next book—enough that the author and publisher sent me an early copy to review. Thank you and congratulations, Tor Books, you have found a winner here; consider giving The Bard’s Blade the same scale of promotion and advertisement you did for The Ruin of Kings.

“Never allow the wickedness of others to dictate who you are.”

The Bard’s Blade is the first book in The Sorcerer’s Song series by Brian Anderson. We follow the perspective of two main characters: Mariyah and Lem. Mariyah is a wine maker that loves her simple and casual life in Vylari, a land magically sealed with an impenetrable barrier from the outside world. Mariyah is betrothed to Lem, a super talented musician (bard) and they’re enamored with each other, believing that whatever comes their way, they’ll get through it if they face it together. A dangerous truth from Lamoria—the world outside Vylari—somehow managed to came through and it ended up changing their lives; dire circumstances force them to live in Lamoria and it’s a vastly different world compared to Vylari in almost every possible way. In a way, The Bard’s Blade sits in the middle of the classic—destiny, rumors of ancient evil resurfacing—and modern fantasy genres; it’s certainly comfortable and familiar territory that somehow also felt refreshing to read for me. Among many aspects, the factor that made reading this book so damn entertaining and engrossing were the incredible characterizations given to the characters in both main and supporting roles.

“Those in power in this age have fought and killed over nothing more important than to whom they offer their prayers.”

The narrative in The Bard’s Blade is told in multi third-person limited narration. Anderson spectacularly nailed each character’s voice from each respective character’s first appearance, and these voices plus their characterizations gradually developed and grew on me. The characterizations were so utterly well-written that even without their name being mentioned in the text, I would still have known whose perspective I was reading. More than anything else, I have always loved reading character-driven books; once the vital characterizations clicked for me, every other aspect of a story became a backdrop for the characters to shine against and that’s what I’m looking for in my reading criteria. That’s exactly what happened in The Bard’s Blade. Both Lem and Mariyah are such kind-hearted and inherently good characters that are living in a harsh world, and my empathy for them was magnificently lit. Also, the side characters, especially Farley and Lady Camdon, help bring colors and various intrigues to the main characters’ journeys and struggles.

“If I can imagine a fate worse than death it would be to live alone. People need one another as much as they need food and drink.”

The Bard’s Blade doesn’t have many descriptive battle scenes, but this doesn’t mean that it’s lacking in breathtaking sequences; the last few chapters, especially, were very intense even though there weren’t any battle scenes in it. Compared to Vylari, Lamoria is a much dangerous environment that’s heavily ridden with fanaticism and different cultures that the main characters have never encountered before. The torrent of pain that the characters endured and the tenacity they had to accumulate to survive their misfortune made the scenes in the book emotionally palpable. I also found Anderson’s prose to be incredibly engaging and accessible, but it was his descriptions of music that elevated the writing from great to being noteworthy—pun fully intended, I have no shame.

“It was partially the reason he loved music: the way it connected with people, creating joy, sorrow, mirth, and every other emotion the heart could possibly hold. When he played, he was the shepherd and the people, his flock.”

I’ve been thinking about this for a long time now. As of this moment, I’ve read more or less three hundred fantasy books, and it’s insane how few musician main characters are in the genre. This isn’t an exaggeration; excluding The Bard’s Blade, the only fantasy series I’ve read that has bard or musicians as the main character were The Kingkiller Chronicle series by Patrick Rothfuss, The Demon Cycle by Peter V. Brett, and Bloody Rose by Nicholas Eames. That’s it. The Bard’s Blade included, that makes it four series! Only FOUR! Music is such an integral part of many people’s lives and I truly believe that there’s still tons of unexplored potential for it to gleam in fantasy. Anderson’s portrayal of music in The Bard’s Blade was executed wonderfully, serving as a balance to tone down the severity and violence that the characters suffered; its role as a moment of respite felt like finding yourself in a bonfire or a save point after hours of difficult dungeon raiding in a video game.

“Toil without intent holds no virtue. Do not waste your labors on frivolous pursuits. Time ill spent cannot be recovered.”

To counter the aforementioned quote, reading this book was time wisely spent: the tranquil moments transitioned to heart-pounding events seamlessly; the superb characterizations made the empathetic main characters linger in my mind after I closed the last page of the book; the pacing was imbued with an ebb and flow tempo that made me beg for an encore when the final note had played. The alluring song that Anderson orchestrated with his words enchanted me, and I absolutely loved every second of reading The Bard’s Blade. There’s still half a year before this book is officially released, make the smart decision by pre-ordering it so you can read this riveting book as soon as it's released.

Official release date: 28th January 2020

You can pre-order the book from: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Book Depository (Free shipping)

The quotes in this review were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions