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malignantcactus's review against another edition
3.0
More like a 3.5 than a 4, but I wound up thoroughly enjoying The Bard's Blade by the end. That last quarter or so is wonderful to read. Lem and Mariyah come into their own wonderfully. Lem's voice in his final chapter is truly exhilarating, he's an entirely new character, and this new layer makes him more interesting in my eyes, and the same goes for Mariyah's final chapter.
The first three quarters of the book are fun, but not much more honestly. It was thrilling enough to see where the story goes, but the last few chapters were true page turners. I'm excited for August and the release of A Chorus of Fire.
The first three quarters of the book are fun, but not much more honestly. It was thrilling enough to see where the story goes, but the last few chapters were true page turners. I'm excited for August and the release of A Chorus of Fire.
dawn_marie's review against another edition
2.0
It was merely okay.
Brian D. Anderson’s writing style makes a comfortable read (like putting on a cozy sweater). The story starts quickly, forcing Lem and Mariyah into their “new” situations almost immediately. However, once Lem and Mariyah are forced to cross the barrier, the pacing starts to suffer; it is extremely uneven and devoid of tension. What made this merely a “meh” read for me is the fact that I was not terribly invested in either Lem or Mariyah; I thought they were flat and boring.
Although the concept is fine and Mr. Anderson’s prose is pleasing, and while I didn’t dislike the novel, it did not excite me enough to make me want to read the next volume.
Brian D. Anderson’s writing style makes
Although the concept is fine and Mr. Anderson’s prose is pleasing, and while I didn’t dislike the novel, it did not excite me enough to make me want to read the next volume.
mxsallybend's review against another edition
4.0
A decent read. Started out great, and did a fantastic job of making me furious with the Archbishop and the hatred he breeds, but the last 1/3 seemed somewhat rushed and formulaic.
Curious to see where the 2nd book picks up.
Curious to see where the 2nd book picks up.
kokannut's review against another edition
DNF. Too bland and lifeless for its own good.
chromatick's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really good start to this new series. The story follows a young 19'ish couple that are in love and innocent to the evils of the world because they grew up in a land that has a magical barrier around it preventing all access into or out of the outside world. Of course something happens that compels them to venture beyond that magical border.
In some ways this book is a bit old school. It's got the 'chosen one(s)' and a great evil that is rising and threatening all that we know and love. However it does offer a couple new things to shake it up and the love story part of the book is pretty well done. There is some nice world building and by the end of the novel I was definitely wanting to know more about where these two characters go from here now that their innocence has been shattered.
The audio narration was excellent for this one as well.
In some ways this book is a bit old school. It's got the 'chosen one(s)' and a great evil that is rising and threatening all that we know and love. However it does offer a couple new things to shake it up and the love story part of the book is pretty well done. There is some nice world building and by the end of the novel I was definitely wanting to know more about where these two characters go from here now that their innocence has been shattered.
The audio narration was excellent for this one as well.
annieb123's review against another edition
4.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Bard's Blade is the first book in a new fantasy series by Brian D. Anderson. Released 28th Jan 2020 from Macmillan on their Tor imprint, it's 432 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.
This is a coming of age fantasy set in two disparate worlds with enough page content to explore its themes against a much larger background of ethnicity, religion/zealotry, magic, xenophobia, propaganda, politics, and philosophy. If that seems like a very large (overwhelming) list, it is, and the characters do tend to get a little lost in the tumult.
The writing is nearly flawless. The scenes are technically well put together with a number of interwoven plot threads which are intertwining more and more as the book progresses toward a richly drawn central plot theme. The world building is exceptionally detailed with the almost Brigadoon-like Vylari being literally veiled magically from the Lamorians on the other side of the barrier.
The story is told from the two alternating storyline PoVs of the main characters whose lives take very different paths when they leave Vylaria and enter Lamoria. About 30% of the first book is used to segue into the second (and further) books. The plot is all about the long game. For fans of strictly battle based epic fantasy, this one might not fit the bill. There are no chapter-long war descriptions or campaigns as such, at least not in this first book.
Four stars. I was impressed with the plotting and writing. I'm looking forward to the next book(s) to find out what comes next.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
The Bard's Blade is the first book in a new fantasy series by Brian D. Anderson. Released 28th Jan 2020 from Macmillan on their Tor imprint, it's 432 pages and available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.
This is a coming of age fantasy set in two disparate worlds with enough page content to explore its themes against a much larger background of ethnicity, religion/zealotry, magic, xenophobia, propaganda, politics, and philosophy. If that seems like a very large (overwhelming) list, it is, and the characters do tend to get a little lost in the tumult.
The writing is nearly flawless. The scenes are technically well put together with a number of interwoven plot threads which are intertwining more and more as the book progresses toward a richly drawn central plot theme. The world building is exceptionally detailed with the almost Brigadoon-like Vylari being literally veiled magically from the Lamorians on the other side of the barrier.
The story is told from the two alternating storyline PoVs of the main characters whose lives take very different paths when they leave Vylaria and enter Lamoria. About 30% of the first book is used to segue into the second (and further) books. The plot is all about the long game. For fans of strictly battle based epic fantasy, this one might not fit the bill. There are no chapter-long war descriptions or campaigns as such, at least not in this first book.
Four stars. I was impressed with the plotting and writing. I'm looking forward to the next book(s) to find out what comes next.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
benehime's review against another edition
1.0
Word repetition, exposition over exposition. Oof okay.
This is why I don't usually buy books for a year after they come out. Because wow, I have read literally hundreds of fanfictions with better writing style than this.
If an author has the audacity to write lines like "I told my brother we'd meet him before the festival starts. Or did you forget?" - immediately after a phrase like "character X, their best friend since childhood" it will probably not get better.
Honestly, this reads like someone's very first steps in storytelling. It sounds like the stories I wrote when I was 14. Which in itself is not bad, everyone has to learn, but ffs why publish?
The author is constantly telling, not showing. Instead of showing us, that Maria does not like crowds, they tell. And it is so boring.
The writing style would be okay for young readers. But not for anyone else who doesn't like mind-numbing blandness.
This is why I don't usually buy books for a year after they come out. Because wow, I have read literally hundreds of fanfictions with better writing style than this.
If an author has the audacity to write lines like "I told my brother we'd meet him before the festival starts. Or did you forget?" - immediately after a phrase like "character X, their best friend since childhood" it will probably not get better.
Honestly, this reads like someone's very first steps in storytelling. It sounds like the stories I wrote when I was 14. Which in itself is not bad, everyone has to learn, but ffs why publish?
The author is constantly telling, not showing. Instead of showing us, that Maria does not like crowds, they tell. And it is so boring.
The writing style would be okay for young readers. But not for anyone else who doesn't like mind-numbing blandness.
jaysbookishthoughts's review against another edition
4.0
"The Bard's Blade" by Brian D. Anderson is a thrilling epic fantasy novel that takes readers on a journey through a richly crafted world filled with magic, action, and intrigue. The story follows the adventures of Mariyah, a young bard, and Lem, a swordsman, as they embark on a perilous quest to save their world from destruction.
Anderson's writing style is engaging and immersive, drawing readers in from the very first page. The world-building is detailed and vivid, with a fully realized setting that feels both ancient and mysterious. The characters are well-developed, each with their own distinct personality and backstory that adds depth and complexity to the story.
The plot is fast-paced and full of twists and turns, with plenty of action and suspense to keep readers on the edge of their seats. The magic system is unique and well thought out, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the story.
Overall, "The Bard's Blade" is a fantastic read that will appeal to fans of classic epic fantasy. Anderson has created a compelling world and cast of characters that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series. Highly recommended.
Anderson's writing style is engaging and immersive, drawing readers in from the very first page. The world-building is detailed and vivid, with a fully realized setting that feels both ancient and mysterious. The characters are well-developed, each with their own distinct personality and backstory that adds depth and complexity to the story.
The plot is fast-paced and full of twists and turns, with plenty of action and suspense to keep readers on the edge of their seats. The magic system is unique and well thought out, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the story.
Overall, "The Bard's Blade" is a fantastic read that will appeal to fans of classic epic fantasy. Anderson has created a compelling world and cast of characters that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series. Highly recommended.
brents's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really enjoyable book that I've heard almost no one talk about. The characters, world building, magic, and mysteries are the heart of this book and they are all really well done. We learn a lot about the world through the fish-out-of-water type scenarios our main povs are in so it never feels info dumpy. I think where the book lacks is in the action and excitement area. I don't need a lot of that in a fantasy book for it to be good, but there is quite a dearth of it here. In fact the book doesn't really even have much of a climax. That being said, I'm still super interested in the story of this world and our two characters. Also, both this book and the sequel are under 500 pages and have an accessible writing style so they are nice to fit in between bigger and denser books. I will certainly be reading A Chorus of Fire.
bethan's review against another edition
3.5
So......... I really wanted to *love* this book, unfortunately I ended up just *liking* it.
This whole book is just Lem agrees to anything anyone propositions to him while whining that he doesn't have any choice to say no.
Also this book is very much tell don't show... Lem goes from doing his first stabby stabby to literally the next chapter he's been doing it for months and now the whole world knows of him....
Also the world has very vague world building, the same with who is meant to be the big bad....
Lem is poor mans Kvothe and Mariyah is poor woman's Egwene.
Literally.
Ahhh I'm so mad cause this is exactly the kind of story I love so I'm really mad this book fell short of what I wanted... I will still continue on with the series as the books are relatively fast paces and quick to read through.
This whole book is just Lem agrees to anything anyone propositions to him while whining that he doesn't have any choice to say no.
Also this book is very much tell don't show... Lem goes from doing his first stabby stabby to literally the next chapter he's been doing it for months and now the whole world knows of him....
Also the world has very vague world building, the same with who is meant to be the big bad....
Lem is poor mans Kvothe and Mariyah is poor woman's Egwene.
Literally.
Ahhh I'm so mad cause this is exactly the kind of story I love so I'm really mad this book fell short of what I wanted... I will still continue on with the series as the books are relatively fast paces and quick to read through.