The Bird and the Sword
By: Amy Harmon
Narrated by: Trina Nishimura
Series: The Bird and the Sword Chronicles, Book 1
Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 10-20-16
Language: English
Publisher: Novel Audio
Genre: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Romance
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall, Story and Narration
Publisher's Summary
Swallow, daughter, pull them in, those words that sit upon your lips. Lock them deep inside your soul, hide them 'til they've time to grow. Close your mouth upon the power, curse not, cure not, 'til the hour. You won't speak and you won't tell, you won't call on heaven or hell. You will learn and you will thrive. Silence, daughter. Stay alive.
The day my mother was killed, she told my father I wouldn't speak again, and she told him if I died, he would die too. Then she predicted the king would sell his soul and lose his son to the sky. My father has a claim to the throne, and he is waiting in the shadows for all of my mother's words to come to pass. He wants desperately to be king, and I just want to be free. But freedom will require escape, and I'm a prisoner of my mother's curse and my father's greed. I can't speak or make a sound, and I can't wield a sword or beguile a king. In a land purged of enchantment, love might be the only magic left, and who could ever love...a bird?
©2016 Amy Harmon (P)2016 Audiobooks.com Publishing.
By: Amy Harmon
Narrated by: Trina Nishimura
Series: The Bird and the Sword Chronicles, Book 1
Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 10-20-16
Language: English
Publisher: Novel Audio
Genre: Fairy Tales, Fantasy, Romance
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall, Story and Narration
Publisher's Summary
Swallow, daughter, pull them in, those words that sit upon your lips. Lock them deep inside your soul, hide them 'til they've time to grow. Close your mouth upon the power, curse not, cure not, 'til the hour. You won't speak and you won't tell, you won't call on heaven or hell. You will learn and you will thrive. Silence, daughter. Stay alive.
The day my mother was killed, she told my father I wouldn't speak again, and she told him if I died, he would die too. Then she predicted the king would sell his soul and lose his son to the sky. My father has a claim to the throne, and he is waiting in the shadows for all of my mother's words to come to pass. He wants desperately to be king, and I just want to be free. But freedom will require escape, and I'm a prisoner of my mother's curse and my father's greed. I can't speak or make a sound, and I can't wield a sword or beguile a king. In a land purged of enchantment, love might be the only magic left, and who could ever love...a bird?
©2016 Amy Harmon (P)2016 Audiobooks.com Publishing.
Review:
Lark is gifted in a kingdom that has banned the gifted. When she is only five years old the king executes her mother in front of Lark. Before she dies Lark’s mother, a Teller, instructs her to swallow ‘those words”, “…curse not, cure not.” Her mother speaks a future against the king and his son, then tells Lark’s father that his life is tied to Larks: if she dies, he dies. Her father wants nothing to do with Lark but keeps her under lock and key with no friends. Lark sneaks out to the surrounding forest usually shadowed by her only friend, and self-appointed protector, a troll by the name of Boojohni.
Lark, now a silent young lady of 17, is caught out in the road when the new king, King Tiras, finds her. He decides to capture and hold her as a form of ransom to make her father cooperate and commit his troops to a current threat. A massive army of Volgar, half-vulture and half deformed human, are attacking the border cities of the kingdom. King Tiras has called on the provinces to aid in the battles.
Lark isn’t happy being kidnapped by the son of her mother’s murderer. As they ride to return to the king’s city, the king’s entourage is attacked by the Volgar. They are all surprised when Lark is able to help repel the attack. Now King Tiras has even more reason to keep Lark at his side.
There are four types of gifted: Spinners who can manipulate inanimate objects; Tellers who can see and speak the future; Changers who can become other creatures; and Healers. The king has his own secrets, as do many other authorities and citizens. It appears that half of the king’s counsel are plotting to take over the throne. As Lark and Tiras grow closer the dangers hovering within the kingdom and in the skies above are increasing.
I was quickly drawn into this story by the lyrical writing, the distinctive characters, the solid world building and the magical plot. Lark is a lonely but lovely character. She has great power coupled with great compassion. Tiras is a strong leader dedicated to saving the kingdom no matter what it takes, including the possibility of sacrifices. There is wonderful mystery, suspense and danger as well as a gentle, deep romance.
This book is complete for the primary characters. I am glad there is a second book and also glad that it will tell the story of King Tiras’ stepbrother, Kjell. I will be getting book 2 soon and looking for more titles by Amy Harmon. I highly recommend this to readers who love fantasy romance.
Audio Notes: Trina Nishimura does an entrancing narration of this work. She captures the tone of the magic while providing good voices suiting the characters. I look forward to hearing more narration by this talented performer.
Source: June 2017 Audible Daily Deal $3.95. This qualifies for 2019TB and 2019Audiobook goals.
