The Harp of Kings, by Juliet Marillier (Ace)
The Swan Island
super-elite mercenaries/spies have figured in previous stories by Juliet
Marillier. This tale begins in the training school with three talented
students, Liobhan and her adopted brother, Brocc, and the gorgeous but
conceited young nobleman, Dau. The three are recruited as part of a party hired
to recover the missing Harp of Kings, essential for the coronation of the next
king of Breifne. Brocc and Liobhan, talented musicians both, go underground as
members of a performing troupe, while Dau masquerades as a mute farrier’s
assistant. Despite all their training and motivation, they each find it nigh
impossible to maintain their disguises. All is not well in Breifne; the crown
prince is arrogant, self-centered, and violently antagonistic to anything
eldritch, including the fae Overworld that has traditionally co-existed with
the human world to the peace and prosperity of both.
Marillier has grown
from a talented new voice to a consummately skillful pro with exquisite control
of narrative, character development, and plot. From the first page, I found
myself relaxing and immersing myself in the story. Along the way, I noticed
that instead of bashing me over the head with exposition, Marillier inserts
subtle clues about each character’s inner turmoil, hopes, and relationships, in
addition to important details in other characters and settings. This deepening
of the story is brilliantly handled, and adds to the emotional satisfaction of
every step of the journey. I’ve long been a fan of Marillier’s work, but The Harp of Kings clinches it!
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