Juliet Marillier is hands down my most loved author and even though the newest series doesn't capture me nearly as well as Blackthorn and Grim, I can't help but to adore the ability to wallow a little longer in the world that she created with them.

In the sequel to The Harp of Kings, Liobhan is given another mission. This mission involves being a servant to Dau’s family. I had been anticipating this sequel because I wanted to learn more about Dau’s character and background. This novel made me learn why Dau turned out to be a very brooding character, and it endeared me more to him. Dau is the strong and most intriguing character in this series.
However, I was very disappointed with Liobhan. She seemed like a strong female warrior on Swan Island. However, she was mostly a damsel-in-distress and a passive character. I did not like that she was bullied by Dau’s brothers and could not stand up to herself. She really did nothing to the plot but served as Dau’s love interest. If she was not Blackthorn and Grim’s daughter, I would not have wanted paired Dau to be paired with a weak heroine.
As for Brocc, he was my least favorite character. He was also very useless. I did not like reading about his marriage to Eirne, the fairy queen. They had no chemistry because Eirne is very unlikable. She seemed calculating and distant. She seemed like she married not out of love but duty. Brocc’s marriage to Eirne does not seem like a loving relationship. I liked it when he finally left the fairy realm to help his sister, but he did not serve the storyline. Therefore, Brocc’s chapter were my least favorite.
Overall, this novel is about family drama, inner strength, and courage. The characters were all one-dimensional. It was easy to make out who were the bad guys in the story. The storyline is simple and drawn out. Juliet Marrilier is my a very talented writer, and she made ancient Ireland come alive. She created an intricate world of faeries and mortals. Still, this is novel is weaker than her predecessor, and the Blackthorn and Grimm series. I hope that the third novel is the best out of the series. Read this if you are new to Juliet Marrillier, but for fans like me that have read her for years, it is best to reread her best work, The Sevenwaters series.

I loved this, it was more high-stakes than the first book and provided a lot more depth to the characters than we got in the first one since we were mostly being introduced to the plot and the world at that point.
Also, I don’t know how I never caught on in the first book that Liobhan is the daughter of the main characters of the Blackthorn and Grimm series.

Looks like today is the day for me to post my 5-star I-love-this author reviews.

I LOVE this author. She is so consistently good. Her books are fae-filled, magical, and captivating. But old school, Irish type fae … if you’re into folk tale fae this is good. If you’re into gothy fae this is probably not going to do it for you.

This is another solid series from Ms. Marillier. Excellent characters, in particular the main character Liobhan. She is the epitome of a strong female character in my opinion. Yes she is good at spying and fighting and such. She is strong and independent and intelligent, but she is also an artist. She is good at way more than beating people up. Also, she cries. That doesn’t sound like a big deal, but I was so surprised when she would just openly cry in front of people when she was truly hurt or sad, and I had to sit with that for a minute. I had trouble reconciling for a moment this kick ass girl with someone who could show emotion openly and without embarrassment … how feminist of me. (ha!)

Which really goes to show what a good job the author does of creating characters with realistic human characteristics. Add to that the excellent world building and storylines and her books are must reads for people who love epic fantasy. Please do yourselves a favor and pick up a book, any book by Ms. Marillier. Wouldn’t hurt if you started with these ones!

After a terrible accident, where Dau is blind and raging his circumstances, Liobhan becomes a bonded servant for one year to ensure Dau does no harm to himself. Dau is sent back to his family's estate. The evil brother we heard about in book one is front and center in this book and does, indeed, make Dau's and Liobhan's lives a living heal. But they are resilient, and with a little help from the Otherworld, Brocc, and some other unsuspecting quiet heroes, they do prevail.
Marillier is a master story teller and I eagerly await the next book in this series.

Was not able to read before the publish date, my library has purchased several copies of this book and it seems to be doing well.

In The Harp of Kings, only the most promising students qualify for the elite Swan Island school for assassins, warriors, and spies. Two such were Liobhan, a gifted singer and even more gifted fighter, and self-exiled prince, Dau. Sent together on a spy mission along with Liobhan’s bard brother, Brocc, it was hate at first sight and an ongoing challenge to work together for the success of the mission. Now Brocc has followed his fae heritage into the Otherworld, leaving Liobhan and Dau to continue honing their skills and an increasingly friendly rivalry. A freak training accident leaves Dau blind. Liobhan blames herself, since the two were sparring at the time, but so does Dau’s vicious, abusive older brother. Rather than expose the secrets of Swan Island, the elders strike a bargain with Dau’s family: he is to return home, where he will be cared for, and Liobhan will serve as an indentured bondswoman for a year. Dau’s brother has agreed not to harm her physically, but there is nothing to stop his cruelty.

The situation is a recipe for disaster. Dau is right to be fearful of being at the mercy of his older brother and heir to the estate, doubly so because of the extreme vulnerability due to his blindness. Old traumas haunt him, threatening to drag him into suicidal despair. It will take all Liobhan’s healing skills, empathy, and bloody-minded authority to keep him alive. Meanwhile, the violently aggressive Crow People launch ever-increasing attacks on both fae and human communities.

Engaging, dramatic, romantic, and thoughtful, A Dance with Fate is Marillier at her most addictive. Highly recommended.

I will live and die by the opinion that you can never go wrong with Juliet Marillier.

This has happened before, but with A Dance with Fate I totally requested an ARC without realizing it was the second book in a series. Whoops, my bad! Lucky for me, I got to go back and read The Harp of Kings (which was really freaking good) so I have no complaints.

Things I enjoyed:
-multiple POV done well (no suprise)
-the Crow-folk
-It's a slow read but for good reasons. There is a lot of attention to detail and story-telling that makes it worth it.

Complaints:
-less Brocc (waa)
-change in Liobhan (she just didn't seem as 100% badass in this book?)

I want to write a fuller review soon, so these opinions may be changed- but for now I bestow the rating of

4.2/5 stars

Last year I read and really enjoyed The Harp of Kings and was so curious to see where Marillier planned to take this story. I was not at all disappointed with A Dance with Fate--and in fact, if anything I think I liked it even more than the first book.

Some of Marillier's strongest points, in my opinion, are her characters and settings. We follow the three same characters of Liobhan, Dau, and Brocc in this book as we did in the first book, and I always appreciate POV consistency in fantasy series. This time, however, since Brocc has chosen to stay in the Otherworld it is only Liobhan and Dau that are together in the 'regular' world and Brocc is separated in his own. I have really enjoyed following these characters and watching Marillier focus on their evolution as characters through their carefully crafted development. We really get to dive deep into the thoughts and motivations of each characters, and in this installment especially we get to observe these characters through some emotionally intense events. Dau, for instance, faces more than a few incredibly difficult circumstances in this book that has must overcome, and his journey from being obstinate and refusing help to slowly opening himself up just enough is exciting to watch. Liobhan also has to learn more things about both herself and others in order to make the best of her situation. Although Brocc's circumstances are noticeably different from Dau's and Liobhan's, he too undergoes his own discoveries to become more at ease with his time in the Otherworld.

The world-building itself is strong in this book, but it's almost more the individual settings themselves that stand out to me. It's safe to say that Marillier has great talent for crafting a scene that feels both real and magical all at once. In the Otherworld, the magical aspect is subtle, yet always present in the way she describes both the people that inhabit it and the way in which the land works. In the regular world, the magic is in her descriptions of the lands and places that the characters inhabit. It's not necessarily that there is actually magic in these lands, but moreso that her creations of them have this effortless comfort to them that is both welcoming and mysterious all wrapped up into one, which is sometimes difficult to understand when some settings are not actually that welcoming.

One of my favorite things about this series and Marillier's writing is the sheer respect and sense of solemnity that permeates the tone of the book. It's both a comfort and a sign of her talent, as I find that this series has been one that I always know is going to be a good read, and that even if something horrible happens in the plot or to a character, I know it's going to be handled in a respectable manner. I'm not sure if I'm conveying what I mean by this accurately, but it basically just feels like a nice break from the relentless intensity of horrors that many other books I read tend to focus on. There's a nice bit of optimism and carefulness that goes into tackling some truly heartbreaking and horrifying things that occur in this book.

The pacing of A Dance with Fate is definitely on the slower side overall, but that's not to say it is without inciting events or a compelling narrative. In fact, I found myself far more captivated by this story than the first book, and I would argue that the first book technically had more large plot events and action. This book, however, had so much of it's intrigue in the smaller details and the overarching narrative that allowed it to follow a slightly slower pacing in order to highlight and fully cover the character development and journeys each character undertook for themselves.

Overall, it's 4.5 stars from me for A Dance with Fate! I really enjoyed this sequel and am now so excited for the third book.

Yes, wow, this book was so fantastic to read! I just love this world that Juliet Marillier has created with these 2 series, and I loved spending more time with these characters! I couldn't wait to see where the journey would take them, after that ending of the first book!

The whole idea that Liobhan would be a bond servant to Dau's family for a year, yeah, that enraged me. After all, it was an accident, and oh, yeah, he doesn't have a good relationship with his family. But we did get to see why, first hand!

While Liobhan's bond servant status really ticked me off at Dau's family, well, Dau's situation, man, it was pretty hard to read. He had a pretty big character arc in the first book, and again in this one, dealing with being blind, as well as being home, from where he'd run away from. So he has a lot of struggles with that which made for excellent reading. But at least they were together! Loved their relationship, and where it's developing towards!

Again, we were in Liobhan, Dau, and Brocc's heads, mainly. The main storyline was Liobhan and Dau in Oakhill, but Brocc's story was interesting to read, as well. And I'm really excited to see where it goes in the future, because that situation, is one that I personally find pretty daunting! But overall, that ending was pretty satisfying, if faced with loss, and I really enjoyed it!

This was such a great read, and I can't wait to continue the series!

Warrior Bards #2. Can be read separately, but would lose a great deal of depth without the first, is complete in itself (not a cliffhanger). After an accident in a match with Liobhan on Swan Island leaves Dau blind and delirious, his estranged family is contacted, and demands compensation for his care which includes Liobhan as bond-servant for one year. Dau left his family after years of abuse, so to return now blind is horror personified. But he is older now, with skills and Liobhan, and things have changed at "home" as well, changed greatly. At the same time Brocc is now with the Fae in the Otherworld, and even there the Crow people are wreaking havoc with only Brocc's voice to stop them, and even then one of his lieutenants is grievously injured and sends Brocc on a journey that proves long and costly. As with all Marillier's books, this one is psychologically intense and emotional, rich and dense. Dau's older brother is truly vile, and you will be chewing your knuckles waiting for the monster to strike. How a child grows up sane out of that all by himself is magic by itself, as much dark fantasy as the Crow people, and maybe so by some of the hints. I suspect it will all come together in the third volume. The plot is fairly straightforward, but the psychology is far more complex, and masterfully done. Highly recommended.

A Dance with fate takes place a year after the ending of the first book. Liobhan and Dau are the top students and through an accident Dau is blinded, Liobhan agrees to be a servant to Daus family in order to pay back her part in the accident. I liked Dau and Liobhans relationship grew in the second book and the mystery of Daus family. I also found that Daus reaction to his blindness was very believable and anyone in his position would react the same way. A Dance with fate is more of a character driven fantasy but the plot and pacing were smooth. Overall, A Dance With Fate is an excellent sequel to an interesting series.

Marillier is one of my favorite authors, so I was glad to get to watch Liobhan and Dau continue on their journey. Always looking forward to Marillier's next story.

This book was in every way a worthy sequel to The Harp of Kings. Blending a dreamy sense of fairy folklore with a very-real blend of politics and real-world struggles, the novel pushed deeper into the lives of Liobhan (my feisty warrior-musician hero!), Dau (the Sad Boi who just can't seem to catch a break), Brocc (the sensitive half-human, half-fae musician caught between worlds), and Eirne (Brocc's wife). By returning Dau to his childhood home, a place where he grew up abused by his brothers, Marillier was able to also explore the long-lasting effects of trauma and the strength of the human spirit in overcoming that pain. It pulled no punches when exploring both the horrors of a twisted mind and the shattering effects on those around it, but it didn't revel in its moments of darkness--it simply presented them as they were.

Trigger/content warnings: suicidal ideation, abuse (physical and psychological), torture (of both humans and animals), death of a pet, brief mention of intended rape

A full (and more eloquent) review of this book is forthcoming on my blog!

ARC received by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ever since I was a young teen I have been in love with Juliet Marillier's works. She has been one of my favorite go to authors. This book felt just like that. I really enjoyed two of the three main characters. There chapters are where this book shined. Where it felt a little lacking was with the brother's chapters. His felt like a story line that was just there to give him a reason to show up later in the book. Which is why I am going to give this four instead of five stars. I just wish his had been a stronger story instead of just a character there to help give the book a good ending. In the end, I would read this book again and, hopefully, whatever book might come next.

4 stars! This was slower than The Harp of Kings and very different in terms of plot. It was on the predictable side but a lot of building and fleshing out was done. I love Liobhan even more now and Dau was involved in the story a lot more which made me happy. Brocc, however, was absent for most of the book which is fine with me since I don't particularly care for his wife. I'm eager to see what happens with the Crow-Folk and Liobhan and Dau in the third book!

Thanks so much to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC of A Dance with Fate!

In this page-turner of a sequel to The Harp of Kings, we return to Swan Island just as warrior bard Liobhan and her friendly rival Dau are completing their training. During an exhibition fight between the two, a freak accident robs Dau of his sight, forcing him to return to Oakhill, the family stronghold now controlled by his psychopath brother. For her role in the accident, Liobhan must serve the family as a bond-servant for one year. As they dance around the perils of Oakhill and Dau's physical and emotional condition, another type of bond develops between the two warriors.

Even stronger than its predecessor, A Dance with Fate dives deeper into these characters, their relationships with one another and with their families. Dau's character development is especially rich and satisfying, as is the book's conclusion. I highly recommend this book to fans of low fantasy with a side of slow-burning romance. And it's worth readers' whiles to ground themselves in the ancient Ireland of the Warrior Bards world by first reading The Harp of Kings. I look forward to the third in Juliet Marillier's Warrior Bards series, due in 2021.

A Dance with Fate continues the story of the warrior-bard twins Liobhan and Brocc, and their special forces-esque companions on an island off the coast of Great Britain (Ireland? I'm not entirely sure). Their cohort mate, Dau, takes center stage as he's called back to his family home by his father and brother. Given that his family traumatized him, it's not a journey he's eager to make. Liobhan goes with him while Brocc is living in the Otherworld with his new companions. Their stories meet up in the end, but for once I didn't find a split narrative too cumbersome - both Liobhan's and Brocc's stories are interesting and suspenseful.

I liked this sequel better than the prequel, especially because of the reveal of Dau's personal history and the developing relationship between him and Liobhan. I found the pacing to be faster and more even than the prequel novel.

I'm looking forward to the next in the series.

3.5 Stars rounded up.

This book follows Liohban, Dau, and Brocc about a year after the events of Harp of Kings. A training accident makes Dau lose his vision, and after being forced to go back to his childhood home Liohban chooses/is forced to go with him. Brocc's story continues where it left off in the otherworld.

This story packed a huge emotional punch: TW for past child abuse and animal abuse. I really enjoyed getting to see the story from Liohban and Dau's POVs.

There was sadly not nearly as much music in this story as the first one, and I really really enjoyed the musical aspects of book 1. I also really did not like Brocc's POV. After finishing the story I can see why it is necessary, but I was tempted to skip past it for much the story.

I will continue to read this series. As I enjoy this universe, and I do plan on picking up books from Juliet Marillier's backlist when I have the chance. If you enjoyed book 1 you should absolutely pick this up.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

It hurts to give my queen, Juliet Marillier, anything less than five stars. Marillier is a master in her wheelhouse - healer heroine/slow burn romance/being tested by Fae Folk - which is probably why Warrior Bards isn't as strong.

Liobhan breaks the mold as a warrior, which is cool. However, as a character she's straddling what Marillier presumably wants her to be and what she's comfortable writing. The outcome is a character who is an amazing warrior, musician, and a healer to boot. This is a problem for me for four reasons.

1. Reading about characters who are good at everything never makes for good drama.

2. It doesn't make much sense why Liobhan is a bard to begin with? Her brother, Brocc, is a super, magical bard. When he uses his music, it's an intrinsic part of the plot. With Liobhan it's more like a nice party trick.

3. Outside of some training scenes, Liobhan rarely uses her fighting skills. Each book centers on one mission, and in each one Liobhan is required to not show her strength. It's just odd to write about a warrior and then weaken her in each book.

4. Liobhan is a fair healer, and Marillier loves a healer. Maybe it was brought to her attention that warrior teenagers make for more popular characters these days. Maybe she just wanted to try something different. However, Marillier's books have always been so strong because she's avoided the YA Tough Girl Who Fights Good + Big Bad formula. The Warrior Bards series feels a bit too much like mainstream YA fantasy, and it's stifling the series as a result.

The plot for this book was more interesting than The Harp of Kings, and I still plan on reading the next. Dau's chapters were my favorite, and he had the strongest arc. It's just a bummer reading a so-so book by the most capable of authors.