Bardic Voices Series

Bardic Voices Series

Mercedes Lackey

So I started this series and then discovered I’m missing a book. Sadly, I can’t find it anywhere so I’m just going to skip that one today.

     The Lark and the Wren: This one is my favorite of the series. The main character is girl named Rune who wants nothing more than to be a musician but circumstances seem to be conspiring against her. It would be a very short book if she hadn’t run away on a dare to play for the murderous Skull Hill ghost and then impressed him with her skills. She then takes her reward to buy lessons and instruments and gets a chance to audition for the Bardic Guild. That’s the basics of the first half of the novel. I haven’t even mentioned the friendships she develops, the non-human races that are introduced or the politics of the world this book is set in. Mercedes Lackey has an ability to write rich and varied worlds for her stories and always does well in putting just enough background not to bore the reader or leave them utterly confused. By the second half of the book, Rune is old enough for romance and adventure. I don’t want to go into what exactly happens but it involves elves, evil kings, dispossessed princes, and gypsies. The second half of the book is fast paced with lots of intrigue and the awaking of “bardic magic.” Magic that most common folks refuse to admit exists and the ones who believe in it aren’t particularly fond of it. Every time I pick this book up, I can’t put it down until I’ve finished the whole thing.

     The Robin and the Kestrel: It takes place immediately after The Lark and the Wren. I should probably mention that while Rune is referred to she never actually shows up as a character again. This book is pretty good. It introduces and expands on more non-human races and politics of the Church. Gypsy Robin and her husband Kestrel find themselves up against a corrupt priest who wants to rid his city-state of any one who isn’t human, male, and devout. Sadly, this book contains a bunch of angst-y nonsense between husband and wife that didn’t really need to be written and in my opinion adds nothing to the story. Despite the husband/wife dynamic, the intrigue in this book makes it hard to put down.

     Cast of Corbies: This book was the third book written and chronologically is the third book but for some reason, on every list I’ve seen it is not included as part of this series. Some times it gets a sub-heading of it’s own. Some times it’s just left out and I haven’t any clue why. This book is actually better than the Robin and the Kestrel. It takes place the summer after The Robin and the Kestrel. Gypsy Raven is put in charge of finding out why non-guild musicians are being forced out of their jobs and to find a way around the rules that are stifling the common people. Despite what it sounds like there is not as much time spent concentrating on the intrigue and politics in this installment. It’s more character driven than the second book and while there are quite a few love stories running in the background of this book, it’s not nearly as contrived.

The Eagle and the Nightingales: This book reintroduces a few characters from the previous books. Several people are sent by the Non-human nations to figure out why the High King of the Twenty Human Kingdoms is neglecting his duties. Sadly, I think this book was the worst of the lot. Mercedes Lackey took too much time between writing the books in this series and forgot her own time line. The events in this book start the summer after Cast of Corbies ends but keeps referring to the events of the Robin and the Kestrel as “just last fall” despite the fact it would be almost 2 years later. The characters are written horribly and she contradicts herself at every turn. She leaves loose ends that are never answered and puts in throw away characters. They show up with no intro, no back story, no explanation, play a major part in the story (such as save the main characters ass) and are never mentioned again. If you want to finish the series, it’s readable but my pet peeves always get the best of me and I have to keep putting it down before I start yelling at the book.

     Four and Twenty Blackbirds: This is the one I’m missing and can’t find anywhere. After the Eagle and the Nightingale, I’m almost afraid that it will be as bad as that one.