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Synopsis (from Goodreads):
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. . . .
Review:
I was really interested in this novel from the description I read on NetGalley: a brother and sister who are musicians AND warriors! I am so grateful for the approval because this is one of the most unique fantasy novels I have read in quite some time. It has wonderful characters, the intrigue of a spy novel, and Faeries! What more could you want???
What I liked:
Characters:
Liobhan and her brother Dau are training to become elite warriors, but they are also accomplished musicians who entertain their fellow cadets with strangely compelling music. I loved the many layers to their relationship. They supported each other but were very different. Liobhan lives for combat drills and punishing physical workouts. Dau is also an impressive fighter, but, secretely, he would rather play his harp and compose music.They are also keeping an intriguing secret from every one. I was really surprised by this plot twist, but in the best possible way.
Brocc is another cadet training to be a warrior. At first he seems like a misogynistic jerk, and seems to take joy in antagonizing Liobhan. But as the story progresses, we see the deep scars that form his personality. He has a story arc that will make you care deeply about him by the end of the novel.
Tropes Smashed:
As I was introduced to these characters, I instantly thought I knew what would happen based on so many popular tropes in YA (enemies who fall in love, royalty who plot for dominance). But I was happily proven wrong! I love that this author didn't feel the need to stick with predictable plot lines. This made the story really refreshing.
Story:
The story has all the fun elements of a crime novel. There is a mystery (where is the Harp of Kings, who took it, and why?), suspects with hidden agendas, and danger. You don't really know everything that's going on until the very end where all the different parts fall into place to show us what is happening.
And then there are the Faeries. They play an important role in the mystery. I really enjoyed this other world with unique characters, settings, and problems. I especially liked the emphasis on the natural world.
Trigger Warning:
This was a deep, and, at times, difficult book to read. There are graphic depictions of physical abuse, animal torture and sexual assault. These were necessary to the story, but please be warned.
Rating:
Release Date: September 3rd, 2019
Author: Juliet Marillier
Publisher: Ace Books
Genre: YA Fantasy
Page Length: 464 pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: This is a unique YA Fantasy. Very compelling with surprisingly deep themes.
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