by
The Scathlan elf Kieran journeys through mortal lands in search of new songs and tales to renew his people’s dying culture. His most cherished, most impossible hope is to rediscover the powers of bards from legend in order to wake the queen, in a stupor since the end of the war between his own people and the Leas elves.
Kieran accidentally wanders into Leas lands, and a fall from his horse leaves him injured and at the mercy of his enemies.
He discovers that the Leas are not entirely as he believed them to be. He develops a friendship with the Leas healer-prince, and the two work together to recreate an ancient technique for melding bardic and healing magic, a technique he secretly hopes will wake his queen.
As friendship deepens into love, will they find a way to heal the rift between Leas and Scathlan, or will the old enmity destroy them?
The author's debut novel, The Stolen Luck, won a silver medal in the Global Ebook Awards in the category of Other World Fantasy and an Eppie in the category of Fantasy Romance. The first book of her Ravensblood series won a gold medal in the Global Ebook Awards in the category of Contemporary Fantasy.
Genres:
Tropes: Enemy to Ally
Setting: Original Fantasy World
Languages Available: English
Tropes: Enemy to Ally
Setting: Original Fantasy World
Languages Available: English
Rachel E B Robinson on Amazon wrote:As a player of an Anglo-Saxon Lyre/Harp, I'm a sucker for books with harp players in them. I picked this book up for that, but I stayed to read it for the relationship between 'light' and 'shadow'. I really enjoy books about honour, friendship and love, and this one had them in spades!
K. Towle on Amazon wrote:A small tale of two factions of the same race split apart by hurt feelings and misinformation, brings romance into the fold. Song has always coincided with healing. Shawna sheds light on the subject, amplifying their place in that world and our own. It can cross barriers no matter how far. The dynamic between the two main characters may be cliche but it does not read that way, navigating their relationship like a seasoned sea captain. Where Alban is full of light and innocence yet strong in nature, Keiran is somewhat rough and jaded but deeply sensitive inside. You want everything to work out for them because of that strained bond.
Loyalty is a big issue brought up in many parts of the story. Which side is telling the truth? Both, but in any conflict it all depends on who you trust. Each character struggles with how to see where the lines should be drawn. It makes us think and goes for all of us even in modern times. If we open ourselves up to all ideas and al people, then maybe we can understand one another better. Heck, maybe find a bit of romance for ourselves? One can dream.
An engaging read, with enjoyable characters! The two protagonists Kieran the bard and Alban the healer both face trials and real tests of character as they try to balance first duty and friendship, and then love and loyalty to their opposing clans; all the while trying to rediscover and master a magic that had been lost to legend long before they were born. Romeo and Juliet were impetuous teenagers who just didn't think things through; Kieran and Alban aren't anywhere near that shallow, and their angst is far more engaging to the reader because of it. And the fantasy world is brought closer to reality with Reppert's skilled use of real-life medical issues and musical techniques. Her descriptions aren't so in-depth that they threaten to bore the reader with excessive detail; instead, just enough is said to assure you that the author knows what she's writing about. I wouldn't mind another visit to this world of magic and music!
