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?
"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