Series: Warrior Bards, Book 3
Publisher: Ace
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: September 21, 2021
Source: Publisher
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A young warrior who wields both the power of her music and the strength of her sword faces a grave threat in this enthralling historical fantasy.The Warrior Bards trilogy comes to a stunning conclusion with A Song of Flight. I was swept away from the very first page by Juliet Marillier’s writing and hated every interruption that pulled me away from Liobhan, Brocc, and Dau’s final adventure.
Bard and fighter Liobhan is always ready for a challenge. So when news arrives at Swan Island that the prince of Dalriada has gone missing after an assault by both masked men and the sinister Crow Folk, she's eager to act.
While Liobhan and her fellow Swan Island warriors seek answers to the prince's disappearance, the bard Brocc, Liobhan's brother, finds himself in dire trouble. His attempts to communicate with the Crow Folk have led him down a perilous path. When Liobhan and her comrades are sent to the rescue, it becomes clear the two missions are connected--and a great mystery unfolds.
What brought the Crow Folk to Erin? And who seeks to use them in an unscrupulous bid for power? As Liobhan and Brocc investigate, it will take all their strength and will to continue pursuing the truth. With the safety of their loved ones in the balance, the risks they must take may cost them everything.
The threat of the Crow Folk continues to grow both in the human realm and in the Otherworld. When Alou, the prince of Dalriada, disappears after an attack by masked humans and the Crow Folk, the Swan Island warriors are called in to find out what happened. Though the incident occurred in Winterfalls, Liobhan's home, she is prevented from going on the mission as it’s too close to home. Her brother, Galen, is Alou’s bodyguard and was injured in the fight. Forced to remain on Swan Island, Liobhan continues her work training a new warrior. Liobhan being forced to stay behind (before she is inevitably drawn into the search as the plot threads tie together) is interesting as it shows new sides to her. Training someone else, having to work to create a bond with someone, brings out the mature and understanding side of Liobhan and it was interesting to see her settle in and find her place on Swan Island when she’s not in action. Liobhan’s partner, Dau, is sent on the mission to find out what happened to Alou and it takes him to interesting new places. I adore Liobhan and Dau together but seeing them apart actually showed the strength of their bond.
Brocc, whom we last left in the Otherworld, faces the most challenging journey in this book. He’s at a crossroads with one foot in each world, not knowing what to do when it comes to his life, his family, the Crow Folk, and more. Brocc is a good man who always tries to do what’s right, even if it costs him. And it does cost him in this book. He has to make some hard choices and they may not always be the right ones. His tumultuous journey over the course of the story had me questioning what would happen next and though I won’t spoil anything I will say that Marillier gave him a satisfying ending.
A Song of Flight is the third book in the Warrior Bards trilogy and you should definitely read The Harp of Kings and A Dance with Fate before jumping into this book. Marillier brings everything together in this story and I loved the entire journey. I can’t give away anything other than the basics of the plot because it would spoil the journey for readers. This book is a puzzle and I enjoyed watching the various characters collect the pieces and ultimately see the whole picture. In addition to Liobhan, Brocc, and Dau, we get to see events from other points of view such as Galen and Alou, two characters I wish I had cause to see more of in this series. Characters big and small all have something to contribute to the overarching plot and the mystery of the Crow Folk, which was a delight. And speaking of delights, fans of the Blackthorn & Grim trilogy are sure to be thrilled to revisit their favorite characters. Blackthorn and Grim are Liobhan, Brocc, and Galen’s parents, so getting to see not only them but a few other characters from their trilogy pop up was such a treat (though you don’t have to have read that series to enjoy this one).
A Song of Flight is a spellbinding fantasy from start to finish. There’s action, mystery, character growth, and love, both romantic and familial. Add that to Marillier’s gorgeous prose and it’s easy to see why I found this book so compelling.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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