The Bard's Blade

by Brian D. Anderson

Overview

The Bard's Blade is the start of the new Sorcerer's Song fantasy adventure series from Brian D. Anderson, bestselling author of The Godling Chronicles and Dragonvein.

Mariyah enjoys a simple life in Vylari, a land magically sealed off from the outside world, where fear and hatred are all but unknown. There she's a renowned wine maker and her betrothed, Lem, is a musician of rare talent. Their destiny has never been in question. Whatever life brings, they will face it together.

Then a stranger crosses the wards into Vylari for the first time in centuries, bringing a dark prophecy that forces Lem and Mariyah down separate paths. How far will they have to go to stop a rising darkness and save their home? And how much of themselves will they have to give up along the way?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250214645
Publisher:	Tor Publishing Group
Publication date:	01/28/2020
Series:	The Sorcerer's Song , #1
Pages:	432
Sales rank:	589,194
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

BRIAN D. ANDERSON is the indie-bestselling fantasy author of The Godling Chronicles, Dragonvein, and Akiri (with co-author Steven Savile) series. His books have sold more than 500,000 copies worldwide and his audiobooks are perennially popular. After a fifteen year long career in music, he rediscovered his boyhood love of writing. It was soon apparent that this was what he should have been pursuing all along. Currently, he lives in the sleepy southern town of Fairhope, Alabama with his wife and son, who inspire him daily.

Editorial Reviews

11/11/2019

Anderson (The Vale) opens The Sorcerer’s Song epic fantasy series with an ambitious, enjoyable tale. A dark prophecy announcing the return of an ancient evil spurs Mariyah, the daughter of a winemaking family, and her betrothed, Lem, a handsome, gifted young musician, to leave their magically protected home of Vylari and embark on a dangerous quest to protect their world. Though they are separated, both succeed in reaching Lamoria, a land riven by fundamentalist religious sects. There, Lem trains as a professional assassin while Mariyah learns magic in the employ of the powerful Lady Camdon. Surprising twists keep Anderson’s dual plot structure from becoming formulaic, but the central struggles between good and evil magic and trust in others vs. self-reliance occasionally feel stale and heavy-handed. Anderson’s leisurely pace and careful worldbuilding leave plenty to be explored in further installments. This solid first foray into the land of Lamoria offers enough intrigue to entice readers back. Agent: Laurie McLean, Fuse Literary (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

Magic, music, assassinations, and betrayal . . . a successful mix of some of the finest elements of James Islington's The Shadow of What Was Lost, Patrick Rothfuss's The Name of the Wind, and Anderson's own Behind the Vale . . . everything fans of epic fantasy will be looking for on their next big adventure. Highly recommended.”—Grimdark Magazine

“One of the best books I've read this year . . . a true page-turner that delivers on all fronts.”—BookNest

“Damn entertaining and engrossing . . . The alluring song that Anderson orchestrated with his words enchanted me, and I absolutely loved every second of reading The Bard's Blade.”—Novel Notions

“Filled with twists and turns, likable characters, and rich worldbuilding. Natural pacing provides an equal mix of colorful descriptions, character development, and exciting action scenes.”—Library Journal

“Ambitious, enjoyable . . . surprising twists [and] plenty to be explored in further installments.”—Publishers Weekly

“Fantasy tale with magic, music, and a looming evil starts a new series that fans of Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind will enjoy.”—Booklist

“Magical and mesmerizing. . . . The Bard’s Blade delivers modern fantasy at its finest. While it has definite vibes of classical, chosen-one fantasy, Brian D. Anderson has suffused the tale with his own fresh take on this well-loved staple, successfully composing an enthralling first entry in The Sorcerer's Song series. The second book is named A Chorus of Fire, and it has emphatically claimed its place as one of my most anticipated reads of 2020.”—Fantasy Book Review

“The Bard's Blade was great. The story begins simply enough—a sleepy village, a dark threat from the world beyond—and then grows into something compelling and complex . . . [I'm] looking forward to seeing where these once-innocent protagonists go from here.” —Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld

From the Publisher

12/01/2019

Mariyah, a famous winemaker, and Lem, a gifted musician, are betrothed, and live happily in Vylari, a land magically severed from the outside world. But when a stranger enters for the first time in centuries, a dark prophecy separates them and exiles them in foreign lands, where they must navigate among strange people, bewildering customs, and dangerous political/religious conflicts to learn magic and fight the evil Balkar. This lengthy tale is filled with twists and turns, likable characters, and rich worldbuilding. Natural pacing provides an equal mix of colorful descriptions, character development, and exciting action scenes. VERDICT Anderson's ("Godling Chronicles") first foray into traditional publishing is an engaging journey recommended for all readers of fantasy, both YA and adult.—Susan Echols, Troy Univ. Lib., Troy, AL

Library Journal