While I enjoyed the first book in this series, I no longer have an interest in continuing. I don't really remember what happened in the first book and would probably require a reread if I ever decided to continue.

A good yarn of music and magic. Fans of Assassins' Apprentice should find this series well worth their time.

Unfortunately my copy of this book expired before I was able to read it, so I'm unable to give feedback on it.

After reading and thoroughly enjoying The Bard's Blade earlier this year. I was SO thrilled to be able to continue this story. Yeah, I might've felt a bit of pressure since the author tends to comment on my YouTube videos every once in a while (Hi Brian!) but nonetheless! here we are.

I cannot believe how many plots and subplots were packed into this one amazing book. It almost felt like I was reading a few different books at once. The fact that Anderson was able to not only juggle these, but also to make them all come together to fit into one coherent story is in my estimation a wondrous accomplishment. It truly shows what a talented writer he is and the boundless imagination behind this incredible creation.

There were so many moments in this book that I didn't see coming at all. Soul-crushing moments, heartbreaking moments, and moments of stupendous inspiration that lifted me up while I was reading. Too often I read books that follow a specific flow or predictable theme. I am happy to say that A Chorus of Fire surprises at every turn and makes this book seem like the fastest read in the world. The layers upon layers that you get to peel back as the chapters unfold makes this one of the more rewarding reading experiences you will find in any book period, let alone any fantasy book.

Unique fantasy continues!

All that glowering heaviness, despair and foundering romance, cloaked in the shadows of good and evil splashed against the canvas of Lamoria.
In this second in the series of Sorcerer's Song fantasy Lem and Mariyah are journeying on their seperate pathways, even as fate, magic and music are Lem and Mariyah them closer to each other.
I look forward to where the resolution of their story lies.

A Macmillan-Tor/Forge ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

This was a great sequel to The Bard's Blade. Sometimes the second book in a trilogy can feel disappointing, like it's just a bridge from book 1 to book 3, but not this one. Anderson's writing is easy to read while at the same time, he has built complex characters. In a way it reminds me of Michael J. Sullivan's writing. I'll definitely be looking for other things written by this author.

There were a couple of things that I thought would probably happen that I was completely wrong about, and I'm glad I was wrong. I really don't like it when a book is predictable. Although the overall plot is nothing new, and in many ways it reminds me of classic high fantasy, it somehow still feels fresh.

Once again I loved the bards and music in this series, and was thrilled when Lem was shown the magical aspect of being a bard. I really like the way the bard's magic is being woven into this story, and the history of the world. I haven't read a fantasy series with music in it like this since I read the Kingkiller Chronicles books, and honestly, I like these better.

I also loved how true to each other Lem and Mariyah are, even though they are apart. Each of them has changed so much since they've been apart, I was wondering how things would be for them when they were finally reunited. They've both had to make some hard choices and are no longer the naive innocents they were in the beginning of their journey. It seemed like they were giving up the part of themselves that the other loved the most. Will they still love each other the same after all this is done? We do get an answer to this at the end of the book, but I'm not about the spoil it here.

Rating: 10/10

I struggle with reviewing the 2nd book of a series I really like – mostly because what more is there to say that I did not say the first time? I already told you about the characters, plot, setting, pacing, etc, for the most part. How do I address that again without repeating myself?

And that is basically where I am with The Sorcerer’s Song. Author Brian D. Anderson has an absolute gem on his hands with this series: The Bard’s Blade was marvelous, and A Chorus of Fire is just as good. Actually, I would say A Chorus of Fire is slightly better.

In Book 2 of the series, Lem and Mariyah are involved in the same events as they were in Book 1. Time has passed, though, and they are basically powered-up versions of themselves – both having found ways to get better at what they do. The rub here is that they are both still intent on getting back to the other. That is a plot point that oftentimes will get thrown away in Book 2 of series; it will start out with two people closely connected, they get separated for some reason, and in their newfound circumstances that longing for the other has faded. That is not the case, here. Lem and Mariyah both are still focusing on accomplishing their current task so they can get back to the other one. In this instance, distance has made the heart grow fonder, and I love that about this book.

One of the biggest draws to The Bard’s Blade, for me, was the video-game-like nature of the plot. This aspect of the story has not changed in A Chorus of Fire, and I am thankful for that. Adventure fantasy is my favorite, and not only is this story full of adventure many of the scenes gave me Zelda-like vibes. The plot for the characters feel like quests to me, and they discover people and items as they enter into new towns and areas of the map that give them new pieces of the story or interests to pursue. As the story continues, I can see myself pulling Lem along in Hyrule, fighting a million Octorok to level up, becoming strong enough to fight Ganondorf. Both the setting and narrative feel very nostalgic to me, and that is a great way to get me to like your book.

One big difference between A Chorus of Fire and a typical Book 2 is the amount of expansion. Typically, a second book in a series is an opportunity for the author to expand on the world of book 1. Both the protagonist and antagonists level up, and the reader typically gets to explore more of the setting. Anderson took that double-time in this book. A Chorus of Fire bring us a lot more than is typical: Lem and Mariyah are much stronger than I expected, as are their enemies. They get also get a lot deeper into the main, over-arching plot, as well. I like the fact that they also each have side-narratives going on while working toward their main goals, as well. The tension that brings to this story is one of the reasons it is such a page-turner.

Well, folks, Brian D. Anderson has done it again: A Chorus of Fire is a phenomenal, adventure-filled follow-up to The Bard’s Blade. I could not put it down, and I am guessing other fans of fantasy are going to feel the same way. This book gets my highest recommendation. Now the wait for the third installment begins.

A Chorus of Fire is the second installment in an epic fantasy series with a very classic feel. I enjoyed the first book, but did have some structural and pacing issues, so I was pleased to find this a definite step up. Despite an uneven start (Mariyah's perspective being less interesting at the beginning) this really picks up and completely sucked me in.

I imagine some critics might say that the bones of this plot are something we've seen a lot before. And while that may be true, for me this felt like a warm hug of an epic fantasy story. It's familiar with classic tropes, but also refreshingly current with openly queer side characters and a heroine with agency who can go to darker places and be powerful enough to save others, not just need saving herself. Lem and Mariyah are both walking lines of morality that they are uncertain they can come back from, but the fate of the world hangs in the balance. The series also explores religion as something that can be both corrupt and valuable.

Later in the book the action and intrigue ramp up and while one of my issues with book 1 was an awkwardly abrupt ending, this ending was pitch perfect. It is a satisfying conclusion to the arc of the book, while leaving open many unresolved threads for future books in the series. Not a perfect book altogether, but one I quite enjoyed my time with and plan to continue on in the series. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Content warnings include murder, kidnapping, being drugged.

I made the difficult decision to DNF this book, which is VERY disappointing considering I LOVED book one. I felt like this one just didn't have to romance and intrigue that the first book had. The tone of the first book was what really made it work for me, and I felt like there was a definite tone shift in this book that I did not enjoy.

After the events of The Bard's Blade, Lem believes he can save Mariyah from her captors. At least, that's what he thinks is going on. He's turned himself almost into a different person just to make it possible to find her. Hopefully she can be saved. Mariyah, meanwhile, misses Lem and thinks of him often, but her focus is on harnessing power that will allow both of them to live in peace. As both of them push to reach their similar yet disparate goals, war brews on the horizon as Belkar extends his tendrils across the land. When Lem and Mariyah finally find each other again, will they still be the same people who fell in love, or will they be changed unrecognizably by their journey to find each other again? What's more, will they even be able to live out their lives in peace, or will Belkar overrun their home?

What really makes A Chorus of Fire and The Sorceror's Song trilogy somewhat unique is the prominent usage of bards and music in parts of the story. There's even a bard school in this part of the tale! These characters are full of love for each other, but their struggles are changing them, and those changes can definitely cause shifts in a relationship. The story is told from multiple points of view, though Mariyah and Lem drive most of it. Shemi and Loria are great side characters, and really, the way all of the characters are portrayed in this series is quite affecting. A Chorus of Fire, like The Bard's Blade before it, is accessible high fantasy with plenty of grey morality and nuance thrown into the mix. I would have liked to see more time spent with the bards and musical aspect this go-around, but overall, this was a great second novel for a trilogy, and I'd like to see what happens next. This series marches to its own beat, and A Chorus of Fire was a great fantasy treat.

3.5 ⭐/5

A captivating continuation, A Chorus of fire expertly sets up the series for a climactic finish.

The Bard’s Blade was the first book I read by Brian D. Anderson and I loved it. As I stated in my review for that book, there are not many fantasy stories where music plays a major role. That does not seem to have changed much since I wrote that and I was eagerly looking forward to immersing myself back in this world. When I was given the chance to read the sequel early, I had zero hesitation in saying “YES, PLEASE!” Before I carry on though, I would like to give a shout out to Felix Ortiz for the gorgeous cover art he created for this book.

“A knife in the dark. A whisper in the mist. When death is nigh, a final prayer. To send your soul to loving arms on gentle shores. Eternal paradise awaits those who welcome my kiss.”

A Chorus of Fire picks up the threads of this story shortly after the events of the first book. Both Lem and Mariyah have followed paths they never expected to travel down in their wildest dreams. Countless, exciting new possibilities have been revealed to them, but there are two sides to a coin. They have also seen the uglier side of humanity and had to do many things they are not proud of, with dark deeds weighing particularly heavy on Lem’s mind.

“For these things, it is just that you suffer. If you did not, it would make you a monster.”

Where they once had perfect lives planned out, their new reality is one in which the machinations of a powerful, malevolent force is tainting every hope and dream once held. They never give up though and keep on fighting to hold onto the good people they were; their love for one another a constant, driving compass for their thoughts and deeds. And they will need this strength. Both of them will have to embrace the opportunities given to them to learn everything they can in preparation for the coming onslaught of this ancient enemy.

“The deadliest foe is one without hope”

I praised the characterizations of the first book in my review for that one, and the author has continued the good work in this sequel. Len and Mariyah are both such well written, realistic protagonists that I never felt disappointment when the POV shifted. That said, I felt I could shake them a few times, as they had moments in this book where I thought they were being particularly rude. This stood out for me, but only because they have up to now had an easy going way and excellent manners, possibly due to their sheltered upbringing. Perhaps a bit harsh on my part as it might be ascribed to the stress of their situation… *shrugs… I don’t like rudeness. As for the other characters, I’d like to give honorable mentions to two. I have developed a fondness for Loria who has not had an easy life, but has changed her fortunes through hard work and sheer will and is doing everything she can in the fight against the evil that seeks to destroy their world. As a mentor character she is hitting all the right notes for me. The second person is Shemi, who is just a warmhearted soul. I loved seeing more of him and thought his relationship with Travil was a nice added touch.

‘…the soul is like a silver cup. Neglected, it becomes tarnished and ugly, but all it takes is love to make it shine again.’

Concerning worldbuilding, Brain D Anderson has not rested on his laurels after setting the scene in the first book. Quite a bit of history and lore is revealed through the tale, with the truth about Kylor being the most fascinating, but there were lots of little aspects that added to the overall picture. Our protagonists traveled around a bit, revealing many new locations and interesting places, such as a…drumroll… Bard’s College! So Anderson mixed my love for music with my love for a fantasy school setting and I could not have been more pleased. Unfortunately, the whole school part lasted only a chapter or two (WOE IS ME) where I wouldn’t have minded spending the rest of the book with Lem training at the college. As I said, music in fantasy is quite a rarity and something I wish there was more of, even in this very book. Mariyah had a similar short spell at a school of magic (again, I’m also a sucker for fantasy schools) and I would have loved more of that too. I understand though that this is a trilogy and there was no time for these things, but damn, I savoured every minute of it and wanted another helping.

I think it’s easy to see the reasons I enjoy this so much, but I can add one more. Anderson writes in a way that makes reading feel effortless easy and has the pages flying by in flurries. While some people see lucid, accessible writing as a negative thing, I am not one of them. I love a Malazan style book as much as the next fantasy fan, but there is just as much to enjoy in clear, uncomplicated storytelling. It always reminds me of a quote by a beloved children’s author: Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

A Chorus of Fire is a delightful sequel that delivers on the promise of its predecessor. It’s a classical, feel good fantasy that is perfect for those both new and old to the genre looking for something quick and easy to read, and an easy recommendation. I can’t wait to see where the finale takes us.

I was looking forward to reading this after finishing the first book again not long before starting this one. The first book was very captivating and was still enjoyable the second time around. It's always difficult to know how a sequel will go. Sometimes they are even better than the first and other times they are just lackluster. A Chorus of Fire kind of landed in the middle for me. There are certainly things I liked that I didn't get in book one but there was also things thrown in that I didn't really see as necessary.

In this one, we actually get more POVs. In the first two book there was two: Lem and Mariyah. In this one we get those two plus a couple more. I wouldn't really say that the other two were necessary because one could have been done from the POV of Lem and the other just gave us unrequited love per say that didn't add much to the overall plot.

There is definitely some character development for Lem and Mariyah as they try to figure how to maneuver through the world that isn't like their home. They are learning and growing in power. I liked that we got more about the magic system and how it all started. Bards are underrated and I'm glad that more was learned for the ones in this story. It was probably my favorite part of the book. Mariyah does seem to grow in power with ease which is one thing I don't care much for. I like to see them struggle a bit.

Their relationship is non-existent until the end which is when they come together once again. After being away for quite some time, their relationship moves quite quickly. They do say that the heart grows fonder. 🤷‍♀️🤣 I did think for a moment that they would find themselves in other relationships since there were hints of it. One did seem quite insta-love so I'm glad that never panned out.

As stated in a couple of the paragraphs, the relationships in this book just kind of fizzled for me. Some just felt thrown in for the sake of plot twists since there wasn't much for it until the big twist. I just don't like things like that.

The plot was fine and there is action but it's definitely different action than the first book. I did prefer book one over this. There isn't anything wrong (besides what I have stated) but it just didn't grasp my attention like the first one. Some things did feel anticlimactic and maybe that's why I feel this way.

Overall, it was a fine read but it kind of fizzled as a sequel for me. I am still somewhat curious about the third book and I'm sure I'll read it for the sake of finishing this series.

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

A great page-turning sequel that's incredibly easy and comfortable to read.

“The scales of mortal hearts are tilted in favor of love. It is in this their virtue is made manifest.”


Similar to my review for The Bard’s Blade, I’m going to start this review by giving appreciation to the cover artist first. Felix Ortiz has truly done a spectacular job illustrating the cover arts of this series, and I can’t wait to see what he’ll come up with for the cover art of the next book. Content-wise, The Bard’s Blade was one of my favorite books of 2019; I’ll even go as far as saying that it’s one of my favorites first installment to a trilogy. A Chorus of Fire, the second book in The Sorcerer’s Song trilogy by Brian D. Anderson, lived up to its predecessor nicely; if you enjoyed reading The Bard’s Blade, I’m sure you’re going to enjoy reading this one.

“Forgiveness is the sustenance that feeds the soul. Even the darkest heart is not irredeemable in the eyes of Kylor.”


Honestly, I could practically repeat everything positive I elaborated in my review of The Bard’s Blade and it would still be applicable here. Please pardon me if this review sounded repetitive. The story in A Chorus of Fire takes place soon after what happened at the end of the previous book, and it’s an installment that mainly revolves around the most vital aspect of this series: the characterizations and the genuine character’s developments. Lem and Mariyah are characters that felt so real, and I loved reading about them so much. Struggles and hardships have completely robbed them of their innocence, and witnessing them trying their best to retain every sense of goodness while having to do relatively bad things to survive was utterly captivating. A longing for peace, a longing for a different life, trying to love and stay loyal to each other despite myriad temptations; the characterizations for these two, above everything else in the series, are what made The Sorcerer’s Song so far worked so well for me.

“To slay so many for the benefit of one, even one you love dearly, exacts a heavy price.”


It’s also worth noting that this series is very easy to breeze through due to Anderson’s writing style. I personally think that Anderson’s prose is commendable. Yes, it is very simplistic and accessible, some have argued that the writing felt YA, but I think this is a very subjective interpretation. I think there’s the tendency to immediately classify an author’s prose as being YA writing style—like it immediately means it’s a bad thing when it’s not—when the author uses simplistic vocabulary that’s accessible by both teenagers and adult audience. I loved reading Anderson’s writing; it was so easy and engaging to read; I was in the right mood for a high fantasy that’s easier to devour, and Anderson delivers once again. Plus, the epigraphs in A Chorus of Fire was so imminently quotable. I’m not kidding; I actually highlighted almost every epigraph in this book. Here are a few of my favorite epigraphs:

“A painful truth is far better than a soothing lie. A seed cannot grow buried in the soil of deception.”


“Do not allow your pride to make you a fool. It is the humble soul who reaches the loftiest peaks—where true bliss resides.”


“Heed the call from a friend in peril, for salvation is earned through deeds of fidelity and courage.”


“Through music, a bard extends their soul to heal the woes of Lamoria. They are a salve to soothe the burn, a blanket to combat the cold.”


Speaking of music, I’ve mentioned several times that I wish more fantasy books would include bards and music in their stories. The rarity is frankly insane, ever since I finished The Bard’s Blade last year, all the fantasy books I read since then didn’t have any bard or music playing a prominent role. The inclusion of music in the first book of this trilogy was one of the reasons why I loved the first book so much; it’s also where, in my opinion, Anderson’s writing excels the most. It is unfortunate—and understandable due to story purposes—that the focus on music is mostly missing in this installment. This and the end sections of the book that flew too quickly to my liking is why I slightly loved the first book more. On the bright side, though, it’s enlightening to know the revelations behind Kylor, Belkar, and the role of the Bards in the series.

“Occasionally he feared he would lose the ability to experience the joy music gave him. To lose his love for music would be like having an arm or a leg hacked off.”


A Chorus of Fire is a wonderful compelling sequel overflowing with excellent characterizations. There’s nothing revolutionary about this series, but if you want to read an easy-to-read high fantasy with characters that spark every sense of your empathy, you can’t go wrong with reading this series. I also love the contrast usage of music versus weapon/magic used in the respective titles of this series. First, we have The Bard’s Blade, then A Chorus of Fire, and lastly, The Sword’s Elegy, in a series called The Sorcerer’s Song; this is a lovely touch because music, assassinations, and magic are integral parts of the series. I can’t wait to find out how the series concludes in The Sword’s Elegy. I know I have spammed this review with so many quotes from the book; I can't help it, there's so many gems here. Here's one more to close this review:

“A good meal can make you feel safe, happy, excited. Or it can remind you of people you’ve lost, or good times long past. A fine meal is more than something to fill your belly. It fills your soul.”


Official release date: 4th August 2020

You can 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

A young woman is forced to face the magic inside of her to try and defeat a powerful evil being who wants to use her for his desire. Her true love has become everything opposite of what he thinks she wants to save her.

This is another book that stands above the rest. Very well written, and extremely entertaining. This story had me sucked in from the very beginning. Look forward to the next in this series.

The plot was intriguing, which is what pulled me to request this novel. I enjoyed the character arcs. There were moments when the characters weren't doing too much. However, I still really enjoyed the story. There was character development.