The Bird and the Sword (The Bird and the Sword Chronicles Book 1) Kindle Edition

One day three years ago, I was scrolling through my Goodreads homepage (it all comes back to Goodreads, doesn't it?), I saw a glowing review for a brand new book called “Making Faces” by Amy Harmon. I looked over the blurb, thought it sounded interesting even though it wasn't not what I usually read. I decided to try it. Thank God I did, and I truly mean that, because that book was such a masterpiece, I was floored. So I reviewed it, and I think I did a good job because I got a lot of responses – something I was not used to. So I thought, can she do it again? I read “A Different Blue”, and yes, oh yes she could. I read everything she had written up to that point. The following year, she published “Infinity + One” and figuratively killed me. She is able to take this gift from God, this gift, and spin it into as close to perfection in writing as many will ever see. Then came “The Law of Moses” (that is a tear tearjerker – they all pull tears, but if that one doesn't do it to you probably aren't alive) and “The Song of David”. All amazing.And then I read that she's coming out with a fantasy novel. A fantasy novel? Like Game of Thrones and Imagine Dragons (wait, that's a band I like) and Rings and Gollems and Hobbits? But I don't like fantasy. I never, ever read fantasy. I don't go to fantasy movies. Yes, I took my son to all 3 LOTR/Hobbit movies and I got the best sleep of my life. But because Amy Harmon wrote it I would read it. Probably a simple fairy tale for children, and I actually waited 2 weeks to read it.Big mistake. Because even if Amy Harmon wrote a simple fairy tale for children, it would probably be an instant classic. But this is not for children. Yes, in a way it reminds one of a fairy tale, but one for grown ups, along the lines of “Once Upon a Time”, but far more sophisticated. I can't tell you about the plot. Anything I say would ruin it. If this is the only review you read before picking up this book, stop here. Go into it with a completely open mind, and just let this incredible world open up for you. Amy Harmon's words create worlds, and when I reached the end of it, I was so sad. Because I loved this placce and I loved these characters, and if this were Oz, I wouldn't want to go home.I wanted to return, and about three quarters through the book, I did go back to the beginning. Because I'm gobbling up the book and suddenly Tiras, the male lead says to Lark, the female lead “Where I am going, you cannot come.” Now I'm Jewish, but I know the Christian bible rather well, and I know exactly when Jesus says that and what it means. And I just stopped and I thought: am I reading a parable? Is there another level to this book that I've missed? I thought of the prologue to the Gospel of John, about the Word, and the Word being with God and the Word being God. Lark, the narrator, is always saying that words come from the Creator and they possess immense power. So I went back and I re-read it. And sure enough the words that come from the Creator are powerful, so powerful that they literally give life. So was this a parable about the life of Jesus? Perhaps a bit. There certainly a character plays the role of a messiah. Definitely a parable about the gifts of God and the good we can do with them – as well as the bad.I don't know if I'll ever read another fantasy book – unless Ms. Harmon writes it, of course. I think I would always compare everything I read with this book. But I am so thankful that she wrote this book. I'm thankful that God gave us words, and that Amy knows exactly what to do with them. Read this, and you too can soar like an eagle.Hollywood, where are you? Stop wasting time on Nicholas Sparks when you have a library rich in everything a great movie needs. We love our Amy Harmons books, but we really need our Amy Harmon movies!

I love fantasy books, fantasy and romance are my main reason for reading. This was my first Amy Harmon book and I truly loved it.If you're a fantasy reader, I must warn you maybe it's not as complicated or dense as other books, is a standalone, not a series, but the writing, oh the writing.I find it hard these days to find a book with a truly beautiful romance that doesn't have explicit sex scenes, I must be the minority here because I know people love erotica in their stories, but I don't. I think a really good story doesn't need that.This author manages to create this land with a believable magic system, beautiful heartbreaking romance that develops and it's not insta love as in other fantasy books and even though things are kind of predictable it still left me wondering how things were going to turn out. I won't go into the story because you already have the book synopsis and other readers reviews.I also love that finally I got a glimpse of life in a marriage, most books end when the hero and heroine finally get together but what happens after? I'm married so I have to say both characters are really well written, I understood both of them, their actions and their insecurities.After this one I purchased 3 other books from Amy Harmon and I loved them too. I really hope she keeps writing fantasy. Her other books are really good but this one's my favourite. I think she has a gift and the fantasy world really likes it.

The Bird and the Sword is a beautiful fairytale full of magic, secrets, curses, and romance. Lark, even though she seeks to hide, is headstrong and doesn’t take to being dominated by men. Even without being able to speak, she makes her opinions known. It is that push and pull that is so wonderful in this tale. Everyone in her entire life dominated over her in one way or another, from her mother who cursed her, to her father who kept her locked away in his keep (who she still managed to defy by sneaking out into the neighboring forest), to the king who kidnaps her as his pawn against her father. The story is very loosely a take on the Beauty and the Beast tale as Lark finds herself kept prisoner in the castle as a key to unlock a curse over the king, while she finds herself quickly sympathizing with the king and falling down the slippery slope of blossoming attraction. Tiras himself, is the stoic, warm, handsome, regal, take-charge alpha book-boyfriend as he juggles his life between duty and an impossible situation, with always his father’s tyrannical reputation looming over him, and the power-hungry lords of the lands within his kingdom just waiting for something to happen to him, while trying to do things for the good of his kingdom. There are plenty of twists and surprises to this story that I certainly won’t give away with this review only to say that I spent quite a few late hours not being able to set it down and go to sleep at a proper time, and that I did reach for the box of tissues at quite a few scenes, and it does have a wonderful ending and made me sad to part with the characters at the end.

“Kjell is right. You are a dangerous little bird. But I think I will keep you.”I’ve never read a fantasy romance, and it’s not something I thought I’d be drawn to. But when my favourite author writes one, of course I’m going to read it! And I’m so glad I did.From the very beginning, Amy Harmon set an authentic scene. I could picture the details in my head; it had a Game of Thrones vibe (only in the aspect of the time period and landscape, not all the other crazy stuff!) and I was hooked immediately.I’ve only every branched out into PNR so I’m not all that clear on what defines the fantasy genre but I loved every detail we were given. Each character played an integral part and ultimately held a piece of the puzzle. It was executed impeccably.One of my favourite things about Amy’s writing is the way in which the characters fall in love. It’s never forced upon us as the reader, it’s never told but instead always shown. It’s in their actions, their nuances and their words that are left unsaid. It has a greater impact on me, rather than being overwhelmed, it’s slow building then hits me full force. I have no doubt I love the couple more for it.“I have loved you every moment of every day, and I will love you until I cease to be.”Amy excels at creating characters we love, but I must say, Amy’s heroines always seem to shine for me and Lark was no different. I loved her tenacity and the fact she always stayed true to herself no matter the consequences. These are the type of female characters you’d want your daughters to read about and admire!The hero of the story can’t go unmentioned. Considering my feelings towards him at the beginning of the story were ice cold and by the end they were molten hot only attests to the character develop and the journey he went on. His strength by the end (both physically and mentally) had me going PHWOARRRR!“Mine.I didn’t know if the word came from his kiss or from his thoughts, or maybe the word was mine alone, but I took it and swallowed it whole, planting it deep inside my belly where desire, need, and longing grew and flowered.”After I finished this book, I couldn’t stop smiling. It was intricate, it was clever and it was like nothing I had read before. I love when a book stays with me and I can’t wait for more from this world.And as a lover of epilogues, Amy, I thank you sincerely as it was just what I needed.

Set in the fantasy land of Jeru. As a child, Lark witnesses her mother's execution as those who possess magical powers are persecuted. Her mother's final words contain a stark warning for her daughter – Lark's power lies in her words and she must swallow then, hold them in, to stay alive. 15 years later the king comes for the strange mute girl, he has a use for her and she must adapt to a rapidly changing world.This is a very sweet adventure romance, albeit one with plenty gore and violence. It has a nice pace to it and good plot a few unexpected twists and turns. Lark is a feisty heroine, unafraid and more than able to stand her ground with anyone, despite her inability to talk. There is plenty thrilling action but the romance side of the story never really sizzles. The magic/fantasy/romance/adventure genre is a pretty crowded place at the moment but this tale manages to avoid many of clichés. It is a light read that won't leave you scratching your head. I really enjoyed it but never felt absolutely involved.

I've read this twice now - it came back, knocking at my brain about a month after I'd first read it. This is a decent story set in classic fantasyland - horses, swords, kings who actually rule, dastardly barons and dukes, and of course,magic. Maigc use is proscribed, and magic users (there are several very specific 'types" of user here) are hunted and killed, so if you've got it you hide it.Lark is small, unremarkable and mute - deprived of the spoken word by her mother's dying words, and of the written word by her father who's determined to keep her magic crushed and thwarted. The book is, I think, all from Lark's viewpoint - her thoughts, opinions, fears - so the whole book is filtered through her eyes.Tiras is the king who takes Lark as a hostage to her father's co-operation - and for other reasons that become clear as the book prgresses. He is, in the way of this genre, young, handsome, powerful and hale, no doubt with a full set of gleaming white teeth and no body odour (my inner realist is raising her head...)Trying to come up with a word to describe the book, I keep coming back to 'quiet', which seems silly as there's battles and nastiness aplenty, but a fair chunk is Lark on her own, stuck inside her head, learning to manage in her changed world.If the end is all a bit tidy then so what? This is a feel-good, stand-alone story that's a pleasure to read.

There are very few books that I fall in love with from the prologue and even fewer that I know will be an instant classic from the first chapter. Amy Harmon's The Bird and the Sword is one such rare find. It is fantasy at its best; the world building is so thoroughly and yet so unintrusively done that it seems completely reasonable to get on a boat yourself and head to Jeru and it will be there waiting for you. The prose is almost lyrical in its beauty, the story is unique and the characters so well fleshed out, the magic so believable, that I found myself enthralled with it all. I relished every last word in this book. I tried to give a spoiler free review so you can go in blind, but I hope I got across how much I loved this book!!

I adored this book. It was a great 'twist' on a classic fairy tale which did something new with it and took it further. The characters were interesting and the world-building was amazing and really took the story to the next level. I loved it so much that I read the sequel: The Queen and The Cure, which I loved too. I highly recommend both books. Amy Harmon is very talented and I hope that she has written more twists on fairy tales, which is a genre which I love and love even more when it is done well, like this. If you like this genre, I also recommend Daughter of the Forest and the other books in that series and the Blackthorn and Grimm series. They are not by Amy Harmon, I forget the authors' names but they are excellent as well.