A Song of Flight

Starred review from July 19, 2021
Marillier returns to the fascinating, Irish myth–infused world of her Warrior Bards series where magic and music are inexorably linked with this rewarding parable of redemption (following A Dance with Fate). A vicious attack on Aolu, Prince of Dalriada, and his bodyguard, Galen, by the ominous Crow Folk leaves Galen severely wounded and Aolu vanished. Now the covert warriors of Swan Island are called in to search for the missing prince. Central are the spy-musician Liobhan, Galen’s sister, and her lover, Dau, who dominate in the dual quest that follows: finding Aolu and thwarting a vile plot to use the Crow Folk to overthrow the kingdom. Meanwhile, Liobhan’s half-fey adopted brother, Brocc, exiled from the faery Otherworld and separated from his wife for defending the Crow Folk, uses his bardic gifts to save himself and his baby daughter and liberate the Crow Folk from an ancient curse. Marillier’s lush world expands to include Norse myth through Elka, a mysterious Viking Swan Island recruit. The alluring plot feels like the literary equivalent of a bardic opera and makes a powerful case for how a people can move on from the disastrous errors of their past. This is a remarkable achievement. Agent: Russell Galen, Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary.

September 1, 2021

In the final installment of Marillier's medieval Ireland-set "Warrior Bards" trilogy, the prince of Dalriada goes missing when his bodyguard is assaulted by masked fighters and the Crow Folk. Liobhan, a bard and fighter, sets out to find the prince, with the help of her comrades and the Swan Island warriors. Meanwhile Brocc, Liobhan's brother in arms, is busy with his life in the Otherworld, but the Crow Folk attacks compel action and lead him to tragic decisions and consequences. As Liobhan's and Brocc's paths collide, they realize that there are more questions than answers, and a dark group is attempting to use the Crow Folk for their own scheme which may lead to utter loss and ruin. Marillier's emotive storytelling creates characters and settings that will grow roots in readers' hearts; fans of her "Blackthorn & Grim" series will be happy to see familiar faces show up again in this adventure. VERDICT A delightful fantasy full of folklore and strength that highlights the power of the individual, family, and comradeship.--Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 8, 2021
The Swan Island team is on an adventure again. Liobhan, Dau, Illann, Archu, Hrothgar, new teammate Elka, and Garbh must join Galen in helping find Prince Aolu after a dangerous and mysterious encounter on the way to see the local druid. They are attacked by the Crow Folk as well as a group of bandits wearing a buckle with the symbol of the Dobhar-chu, the half-otter-half-dog serpent of legend that eats unwelcome dreamers. Brocc, the brother of Liobhan and Galen, is still in the Otherworld, with his wife Eirne and a growing baby named Niaimeh. The Crow Folk make trouble for the small folk there as well. But unbeknown to their queen, Brocc has been working with Shadow, until Eirne finds out and kicks him out of the Otherworld. The high counselor to Lady Almha finds Brocc and gives him the horrible task of making an army of the Crow Folk for her nefarious purposes. Meanwhile, Dau and Garbh are playing the parts of high lord and servant to his father's house to see why Lady Almha has sent her counselor on missions so far from her holdings, and whether she is behind the kidnapping of Alou. The third novel of the Warrior Bards series picks up right where Dance of Fate (2020) left off. With a bit of romance between Dau and Liobhan now included with the inevitable fighting and singing, any lover of Dungeons and Dragons will be drawn to this series.

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