A Dance with Fate

CW: flashbacks to violent death of a dog belonging to one of the main characters, references to another dog being beaten by his owner (although the dog is rescued and lives). Masterful. One of the best books I've read by one of my favorite authors. Takes everything good about the first book in the series, [b:The Harp of Kings 43316755 The Harp of Kings (Warrior Bards, #1) Juliet Marillier https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1552128464l/43316755.SY75.jpg 57888974], and kicks it up a notch. The things that annoyed me about Liobhan in Harp are gone; she's a true warrior now, strong without being foolhardy. Not only can she kick butt in a fight, she can also sing a haunting melody and concoct a healing brew. The journey that Dau goes through - blinded in a freak accident, forced to return to the home where he was tormented by his older brothers and ignored by his father - is absolutely heartbreaking, but through his trials his remaining arrogance is humbled and replaced by true leadership. He and Liobhan demonstrate their never-wavering loyalty to each other, and their relationship finally evolves to the point we all knew was coming, despite its antagonistic beginning in the first book. The scenes with Liobhan's half-fey brother Brocc that take place in the Otherworld are interesting but unsettling. There's something about his wife Eirne that doesn't sit right with me, and I don't know if the development at the end of the book is a good omen or a foreboding one. The creepy Crow Folk appear in both the human and Otherworlds, and the reason for their violent behavior is obviously going to play a key role in the final book of the trilogy (god willing the world is still turning by the time it is published). I suppose this book could stand alone but you really need to read [b:The Harp of Kings 43316755 The Harp of Kings (Warrior Bards, #1) Juliet Marillier https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1552128464l/43316755.SY75.jpg 57888974] to fully appreciate the complicated dynamics among Liobhan, Dau and Brocc. Marillier's books are dense and long but completely engaging; I read the 500 page novel in a long weekend.