Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

Quests and Prophecies in The Bard’s Blade

The Bard’s Blade is the first in a brand new series called The Sorcerer’s Song by Brian D. Anderson. This new fantasy adventure has spun a fun concept – a bard and his prophecy – into an epic telling. One that is full of twists, turns, and other clever moments.

Lem and Mariyah are about to embark on a strange and dramatic series of events. But not together and not for the same reasons. Unless you count love and loyalty because they both have that in spades.

The Bard’s Blade is a novel that cleverly twists concepts such as prophecies and destiny. All while warping any expectations – say, a bard and his normal role in life. The unique nature of this series is already proving to be noteworthy and thus worth checking out.0

Writing

The Bard’s Blade is a novel full of enchanting descriptions alongside the full spectrum of humanity’s nature and everything it brings. This was not the sort of epic quest I expected, but it ended up being so much more fun than that.

The world that Brian D. Anderson created here is a fascinating one. Within ten minutes of reading, I was desperate to know and see more of it. I imagine, in that sense, I was more similar than not to certain characters. But I feel that speaks volumes about the world in itself.

This novel’s highlight must be the clever way Anderson has subverted expectations and tropes. This is not your typical bard story. Nor is this a bard from a classic campaign. Lem is unique through and through, and not just because of the path he has set himself on.

One core message appeared repeatedly: ‘Never allow the wickedness of others to dictate who you are.’ I love that message, and I feel like it also rang true in this novel. On more than one occasion, the plot could have gone differently without that poignant reminder. It’s interesting food for thought, don’t you believe?

Development

The Bard’s Blade is a fast-paced tale, with our characters running off and dealing with one series of events after another. Anderson knew how to keep the characters busy – and thus force the plot to move forward at a steady pace.

Looking back on it, three distinct assumptions/impressions were made about this book. The first was made when I read the description. I thought I knew what I was getting into then. The second was when I started reading; the book quickly showed how many surprises were in store.

The final was towards the second half of this novel, where I felt like all of my assumptions were again wiped clean. Not every day you get to read a novel that creates such an experience. And for that alone, I can promise that The Bard’s Blade will remain in my memory for quite some time.

Conclusion

The Bard’s Blade was a thrilling introduction to what is sure to be a memorable series. I love how unpredictable this novel proved to be, all while quashing any semblance of expectation or trope. It was a unique reading experience from start to finish.

This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.

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