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Nine Kingdoms #7
Dreamspinner
New York Times bestselling author Lynn Kurland’s enthralling Nine Kingdoms saga brings together a weaver’s apprentice and the son of a mage, both fighting to save the Nine Kingdoms from peril. Aisling of Bruadair has lived a provincial life, heedless of the evil creeping over her land. That ordinary existence changes forever, though, when she is sent to the opposite end of the world to find a master swordsman. If she fails, her life--and her country's safety--will be forfeit. She just never expected that swordsman to be a wounded elven prince masquerading as a simple soldier. Powerless and scarred from a long-ago conflict, Rùnach of Ceangail has spent years in obscurity, ignoing battles he can no longer fight. And although he has been drawn back into the world, he fully intends to live an unremarkable life far away from events he knows he cannot change... Until Rùnach meets Aisling and realizes that she is far more than what she seems, that their alliance has attracted unwelcome notice, and that some battles must be fought.
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 31, 2012
62 people are currently reading
1287 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Kurland
66 books1,568 followersLynn began her writing career at the tender age of five with a series of illustrated novellas entitled Clinton’s Troubles in which the compelling hero found himself in all sorts of . . . well, trouble. She was living in Hawaii at the time and the scope for her imagination (poisoned fish, tropical cliffs, large spiders) was great and poor Clinton bore the brunt of it. After returning to the mainland, her writing gave way to training in classical music and Clinton, who had been felled with arrows, eaten by fish and sent tumbling off cars, was put aside for operatic heroes in tights.
Somehow during high school, in between bouts of Verdi and Rossini, she managed to find time to submerge herself in equal parts Tolkien, Barbara Cartland and Mad Magazine. During college, a chance encounter with a large library stack of romances left her hooked, gave her the courage to put pen to paper herself, and finally satisfied that need for a little bit of fantasy with a whole lot of romance!
Somehow during high school, in between bouts of Verdi and Rossini, she managed to find time to submerge herself in equal parts Tolkien, Barbara Cartland and Mad Magazine. During college, a chance encounter with a large library stack of romances left her hooked, gave her the courage to put pen to paper herself, and finally satisfied that need for a little bit of fantasy with a whole lot of romance!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
January 1, 2013
DreamSpinner, written by Lynn Kurland; is the first installment of the third trilogy of the Nine Kingdoms series. It is the long awaited beginning of Runach of Ceingail’s story. The oldest of only three survivors of a long ago tragedy, that had been thought to wipe out an entire family. Runach is the only one who crawled away from this terrifying day, with more than emotional scars….
Horribly crippled with the use of his hands, and rendered ungifted due to the thievery of his very own father, Runach has spent the years of his adult life; walking the library of the most prestigeous magic academy in all of the Nine Kingdoms. He spent his time sticking to the shadows, hidden within the hood of his cloak, avoiding those that would do him harm if they learned he was alive–and soaking up all the information he could read. Until one day, a chance meeting with the archmage of Tor Neroche, and a Shieldmaiden from Melksham turned Runach’s entire world upside down…for the second time in his life.
Miraculously, his beloved little sister, the youngest of 6 original children, was not killed at the Dark well with his mother, father and the rest of his siblings as he had feared. It was this unexpected happenstance that also led Runach to the discovery of the survival of his youngest brother. After much mystery surrounding Runach in the first trilogy, he truly comes to life in the second trilogy of the Nine Kingdoms. Since he first stepped onto the page; readers have waited, and wondered if this solitary soul would discover a purpose to his altered life, as well as happiness.
DreamSpinner opens just after Runach has spent weeks with his newly rediscovered siblings, and witnessed the weddings of his sister and brother. He feels an unsettledness stirring within his soul, being surrounded by loving, well meaning family who has repeatedly taxed themselves and their magical gifts by healing his hands. He lacks the vanity to allow them to attempt to heal his face. Runach may have been born an eleven prince of one of the most polished, and well known bloodlines–but that part of himself died forever; on the day he witnessed the true power of his father’s evil as a youth.
Now a man lacking the magic of his birthright, the civility, and polish expected of a Prince of his status…Runach feels the only choices left to him upon the restoration of his hands (although they still pain him greatly) is either to remain with his family, living off from their hard work, and hospitality–or once again taking up the swordsplay of which he was once so skilled. Feeling as if the first in no choice at all, he makes preperations to travel to a place few would ever venture, for there is no better to help him relearn this skill; than the most notorious Sword Master in the Nine Kingdoms. Scrimgeyour Weger. Runach is at peace with the simple life of obscurity he will lead with this choice. After all, there are worst fates than living the life of a soldier…and surely destiny would have nothing more grand in store for a library hermit…right?
It is at this point the book shifts POV, and we meet our heroine, Aisling. A woman of no consequence, from a place as insignificant as nowhere…or so is the readers first perception. Aisling has lived out her life in a village quite unknown to outsiders, and of which is believed by its citizens; to cast a horrible curse upon its inhabitants. Keep your mouth shut, and stay–you live, cross the border, or speak of this place to anyone–and you die by this curse. Life is not grand at Brudair, and Aisling knows this better than some. Having been sold into slavery by her very own parents, in exchange for money for they, and her siblings to live an expensive lifestyle.
Since the age of 8; Aisling has spent her life at the Guild; weaving fabric, day after day. During one of her rare moments she gets to herself, she receives the shock of seeing her parents across a crowded travel way. Have they come to pay off their debt? Will she finally receive her freedom? Her heart sinks however, when they disappear once more into the carriage…and she knows that they must have negotiated a renewal of her contract. Desperation and hopelessness sets in, knowing she does not reach the age of 28–when her parents can no longer “rent” her labor–for several more months.
This is the point in the story where we see a previous character known for his visions of the future, break all rules and interfere in the destiny of another. A man so rigidly bound by the duty his gift demands–he would not even allow himself to try and prevent the death of the woman he loved. Readers are left wondering what importance this man could have seen, that he would tweak the strands of fate. It is here the adventure begins. With our hero and heroine both traveling towards a place rarely saught. One driven by choice…one driven by desperation…both driven by destiny. Upon this unlikely meeting of souls, our hero and heroine begin a fight for physical, and emotional survival. Locked in an inner and outter struggle to keep their secrets from coming to light. All while feeling the fragile bloom of friendship and trust; morphing into the bombardment of an attraction neither can afford.
For me, DreamSpinner was the most enjoyable novel of the Nine Kingdoms to date. Although I have adored every single novel in this series, book 7 offers long time fans, and newly arriving readers so much. Around every corner, there are unexpected dangers threatening the world, and people of the Nine Kingdom’s. There are many reunion’s between a whole cast of previous main, and side characters. Some heartwarming, and humorous–while others are shocking, and intense. I found myself laughing out loud with DreamSpinner more than with any other previous installment. And yet, in the next instant, I could feel the palpable tension building for the action to come.
As always, I felt completely transported by Lynn Kurland‘s lyrical writing, brilliant mental imagery, richly descriptive magic, and larger than life characterization. Although DreamSpinner did not end with as large of a cliff hanger as some of the other novels, this coming year will be no less painful of a wait. Runach grabbed ahold of my heart within the first ten pages, and I anxiously anticipate the next chapter of he and Aisling’s journey. Well done Ms. Kurland, and may you write within the world of the Nine Kingdom’s for many years to come.
Please. :)
Review also available at www.thereadingcafe.com
Horribly crippled with the use of his hands, and rendered ungifted due to the thievery of his very own father, Runach has spent the years of his adult life; walking the library of the most prestigeous magic academy in all of the Nine Kingdoms. He spent his time sticking to the shadows, hidden within the hood of his cloak, avoiding those that would do him harm if they learned he was alive–and soaking up all the information he could read. Until one day, a chance meeting with the archmage of Tor Neroche, and a Shieldmaiden from Melksham turned Runach’s entire world upside down…for the second time in his life.
Miraculously, his beloved little sister, the youngest of 6 original children, was not killed at the Dark well with his mother, father and the rest of his siblings as he had feared. It was this unexpected happenstance that also led Runach to the discovery of the survival of his youngest brother. After much mystery surrounding Runach in the first trilogy, he truly comes to life in the second trilogy of the Nine Kingdoms. Since he first stepped onto the page; readers have waited, and wondered if this solitary soul would discover a purpose to his altered life, as well as happiness.
DreamSpinner opens just after Runach has spent weeks with his newly rediscovered siblings, and witnessed the weddings of his sister and brother. He feels an unsettledness stirring within his soul, being surrounded by loving, well meaning family who has repeatedly taxed themselves and their magical gifts by healing his hands. He lacks the vanity to allow them to attempt to heal his face. Runach may have been born an eleven prince of one of the most polished, and well known bloodlines–but that part of himself died forever; on the day he witnessed the true power of his father’s evil as a youth.
Now a man lacking the magic of his birthright, the civility, and polish expected of a Prince of his status…Runach feels the only choices left to him upon the restoration of his hands (although they still pain him greatly) is either to remain with his family, living off from their hard work, and hospitality–or once again taking up the swordsplay of which he was once so skilled. Feeling as if the first in no choice at all, he makes preperations to travel to a place few would ever venture, for there is no better to help him relearn this skill; than the most notorious Sword Master in the Nine Kingdoms. Scrimgeyour Weger. Runach is at peace with the simple life of obscurity he will lead with this choice. After all, there are worst fates than living the life of a soldier…and surely destiny would have nothing more grand in store for a library hermit…right?
It is at this point the book shifts POV, and we meet our heroine, Aisling. A woman of no consequence, from a place as insignificant as nowhere…or so is the readers first perception. Aisling has lived out her life in a village quite unknown to outsiders, and of which is believed by its citizens; to cast a horrible curse upon its inhabitants. Keep your mouth shut, and stay–you live, cross the border, or speak of this place to anyone–and you die by this curse. Life is not grand at Brudair, and Aisling knows this better than some. Having been sold into slavery by her very own parents, in exchange for money for they, and her siblings to live an expensive lifestyle.
Since the age of 8; Aisling has spent her life at the Guild; weaving fabric, day after day. During one of her rare moments she gets to herself, she receives the shock of seeing her parents across a crowded travel way. Have they come to pay off their debt? Will she finally receive her freedom? Her heart sinks however, when they disappear once more into the carriage…and she knows that they must have negotiated a renewal of her contract. Desperation and hopelessness sets in, knowing she does not reach the age of 28–when her parents can no longer “rent” her labor–for several more months.
This is the point in the story where we see a previous character known for his visions of the future, break all rules and interfere in the destiny of another. A man so rigidly bound by the duty his gift demands–he would not even allow himself to try and prevent the death of the woman he loved. Readers are left wondering what importance this man could have seen, that he would tweak the strands of fate. It is here the adventure begins. With our hero and heroine both traveling towards a place rarely saught. One driven by choice…one driven by desperation…both driven by destiny. Upon this unlikely meeting of souls, our hero and heroine begin a fight for physical, and emotional survival. Locked in an inner and outter struggle to keep their secrets from coming to light. All while feeling the fragile bloom of friendship and trust; morphing into the bombardment of an attraction neither can afford.
For me, DreamSpinner was the most enjoyable novel of the Nine Kingdoms to date. Although I have adored every single novel in this series, book 7 offers long time fans, and newly arriving readers so much. Around every corner, there are unexpected dangers threatening the world, and people of the Nine Kingdom’s. There are many reunion’s between a whole cast of previous main, and side characters. Some heartwarming, and humorous–while others are shocking, and intense. I found myself laughing out loud with DreamSpinner more than with any other previous installment. And yet, in the next instant, I could feel the palpable tension building for the action to come.
As always, I felt completely transported by Lynn Kurland‘s lyrical writing, brilliant mental imagery, richly descriptive magic, and larger than life characterization. Although DreamSpinner did not end with as large of a cliff hanger as some of the other novels, this coming year will be no less painful of a wait. Runach grabbed ahold of my heart within the first ten pages, and I anxiously anticipate the next chapter of he and Aisling’s journey. Well done Ms. Kurland, and may you write within the world of the Nine Kingdom’s for many years to come.
Please. :)
Review also available at www.thereadingcafe.com
January 25, 2013
If you are familiar with Lynn Kurland you will understand this review. If not don't read this book. This is a series that will make very little sense if you don't start with Star of Morning which in my opinion is the best 3 books of this series. Kurland is a master story teller and she is amazing at making the same story fun to read. Unfortunately she doesn't have too many different story lines. She adds different elements but the characters are all very similar and their stories are too:{ I still love to read her books even tho it is the same story over and over. So this book reminded me a lot of the first three books and the second three books. And it didn't have a lot going on or much movement. But my gosh I enjoyed reading it and couldn't put it down:} Very clean. 16 and up.
March 18, 2017
After reading the first six books in this series and being quite sick of it since the fourth, I've elected to not continue with this series. Why put myself through the pain when there's so many other great books waiting for me?
December 18, 2012
This is the first time that I have read the first book in a Nine Kingdoms trilogy and not had the second one to jump into. This is tough for me to handle! This means there are TWO years til this story concludes and that is going to be a long time... I am already dreading it...
Rùnach, the third child of Gair to get the spotlight in a Nine Kingdoms tale, has been hiding away at the wizarding school of Buidseachd under the protection of Soilléir, the powerful mage from Cothromaiche. After his siblings Ruithneadh and Mhorghain showed themselves to be alive and well to the world, Rùnach feels that he can no longer hide away. He sets off on a journey to Gobhann to earn from Weger the swordsman the infamous mark and to earn the right to serve an obscure lord for the rest of his very long life as a guardsman.
For the full review, please go to http://www.thewindowseat13.com/2012/1...
Rùnach, the third child of Gair to get the spotlight in a Nine Kingdoms tale, has been hiding away at the wizarding school of Buidseachd under the protection of Soilléir, the powerful mage from Cothromaiche. After his siblings Ruithneadh and Mhorghain showed themselves to be alive and well to the world, Rùnach feels that he can no longer hide away. He sets off on a journey to Gobhann to earn from Weger the swordsman the infamous mark and to earn the right to serve an obscure lord for the rest of his very long life as a guardsman.
For the full review, please go to http://www.thewindowseat13.com/2012/1...
January 5, 2013
Book 7- with a new couple.
The formula is getting stale..
We rehash the events at the well, where Gair unleashed his magic killing Sarait, and injuring his children.
So far we have read about two his progeny- Morgahin and Ruath.
Now we get the story of their older brother Ruanach.
Just like with the last two series, the hero hides his true identity from the heroine.
Heroine is naive ( really almost dumb and stupid naive), and has a hidden magical power.
I think I am giving up on this series.
The formula is getting stale..
We rehash the events at the well, where Gair unleashed his magic killing Sarait, and injuring his children.
So far we have read about two his progeny- Morgahin and Ruath.
Now we get the story of their older brother Ruanach.
Just like with the last two series, the hero hides his true identity from the heroine.
Heroine is naive ( really almost dumb and stupid naive), and has a hidden magical power.
I think I am giving up on this series.
June 1, 2013
Dreamspinner is the seventh book of the Nine Kingdoms series and the first of the third trilogy. I loved it. I am totally into this fantasy world and the characters who inhabit it. This is definitely romantic fantasy with lots and lots of magic. Wonderful elves and mages (good and evil mages) sprinkled with some mortals in minor roles. The Nine Kingdoms are described so they are easy to "see" from the forests and mountains to the barren deserts. Most of the characters are related in some distant way, but as you progress through the books they center on the surviving children of the evil mage, Gair of Ceangail who released terrible evil from a well long ago. That magic destroyed him and his family and for years all were thought to be dead. The first trilogy is the story of his daughter who was a child and grew up not knowing who she was and the High Mage of Neroch, Miach. I have added Miach to my fairly small list of very favorite book heroes. The second trilogy is about Gair's son Ruith and Sarah who has a gift of sight. Which brings us to this book, Dreamspinner.
One other son survived the horror at the well, and that was Runach who we have met in the previous books. He is the one who suffered the most from his father's evil as his hands were terribly crippled from his mother's attempt to close the well, and even worse, his father stole all of his magic in an attempt to gain more power. Runach has decided now that Miach has healed his hands to become a solder and live a life away from the comfort of his family. When he encounters a waif of a girl pretending to be a boy he starts down a path that rather appears to have been laid out for him. Aisling comes from a small kingdom where the people are poor and oppressed, and she has spent her life as a weaver doing little but working and living in poverty. Her apparently wealthy parents sold her into this slavery as a young girl. She escapes the kingdom after being given a quest by a peddler and believing she has a curse on herself. As this story progressed I found myself again drawn into the lives of these mostly magical people, and I liked this story better so far than the second trilogy. Miach is in this one which added to it, and I love he and Morgan, who is now his wife, together. This author has created some characters I recognize and welcome as they come in and out of the story. There are some ties I did not pick up on until late in the story between Asling and Sarah from the last book - or rather ties from the relatively unknown kingdom they came from.
I may not have mentioned in my previous reviews of these books, but there are magical horses that not only fly - and shapeshift - but they communicate in a basic way with some of their riders. There is quite a bit of shapeshifting throughout these books - as I said, lots of magic. Now I have to wait for the next book...... I've lived in this world for way over a month now so will have to go on withdrawal.
I also should mention that I don't know if these are considered YA but the romance is clean and could be read by any age.
One other son survived the horror at the well, and that was Runach who we have met in the previous books. He is the one who suffered the most from his father's evil as his hands were terribly crippled from his mother's attempt to close the well, and even worse, his father stole all of his magic in an attempt to gain more power. Runach has decided now that Miach has healed his hands to become a solder and live a life away from the comfort of his family. When he encounters a waif of a girl pretending to be a boy he starts down a path that rather appears to have been laid out for him. Aisling comes from a small kingdom where the people are poor and oppressed, and she has spent her life as a weaver doing little but working and living in poverty. Her apparently wealthy parents sold her into this slavery as a young girl. She escapes the kingdom after being given a quest by a peddler and believing she has a curse on herself. As this story progressed I found myself again drawn into the lives of these mostly magical people, and I liked this story better so far than the second trilogy. Miach is in this one which added to it, and I love he and Morgan, who is now his wife, together. This author has created some characters I recognize and welcome as they come in and out of the story. There are some ties I did not pick up on until late in the story between Asling and Sarah from the last book - or rather ties from the relatively unknown kingdom they came from.
I may not have mentioned in my previous reviews of these books, but there are magical horses that not only fly - and shapeshift - but they communicate in a basic way with some of their riders. There is quite a bit of shapeshifting throughout these books - as I said, lots of magic. Now I have to wait for the next book...... I've lived in this world for way over a month now so will have to go on withdrawal.
I also should mention that I don't know if these are considered YA but the romance is clean and could be read by any age.
January 24, 2013
3 stars
I've caught on. I know now not to expect originality from this author. I know to expect the same characters and the same plot in the Nine Kingdoms books. As much as this grieves me, I still love this world and the characters, and I will keep reading.
If you've read the other six books starring Morgan/Miach and Sarah/Ruith, you've pretty much read this story. The main characters remain indistinguishable from each other, especially the men, as they share the same traits and mannerisms. The women sound pretty similar across the board as well, but I didn't have as much difficulty remembering that I was reading about Aisling and Runach as I had when I was reading about Sarah and Ruith. Having had to adjust my expectations in Sarah's and Ruith's books, I knew what not to expect in this one so I wasn't as disappointed and irritated when it slowly was revealed what Aisling was, especially since I guessed it since the beginning of the book.
There are many similarities with this book as with the previous Nine Kingdoms books, but at least the characters remain sweet and courtly, the witty banter is still there, and the world is still familiar - even if the rules seemed to have slightly changed for the famed Angestand steeds.
Given that it's the same story with different names, I wonder why I have to wait a year for the next one? Well, I'll be ready anyway.
I've caught on. I know now not to expect originality from this author. I know to expect the same characters and the same plot in the Nine Kingdoms books. As much as this grieves me, I still love this world and the characters, and I will keep reading.
If you've read the other six books starring Morgan/Miach and Sarah/Ruith, you've pretty much read this story. The main characters remain indistinguishable from each other, especially the men, as they share the same traits and mannerisms. The women sound pretty similar across the board as well, but I didn't have as much difficulty remembering that I was reading about Aisling and Runach as I had when I was reading about Sarah and Ruith. Having had to adjust my expectations in Sarah's and Ruith's books, I knew what not to expect in this one so I wasn't as disappointed and irritated when it slowly was revealed what Aisling was, especially since I guessed it since the beginning of the book.
There are many similarities with this book as with the previous Nine Kingdoms books, but at least the characters remain sweet and courtly, the witty banter is still there, and the world is still familiar - even if the rules seemed to have slightly changed for the famed Angestand steeds.
Given that it's the same story with different names, I wonder why I have to wait a year for the next one? Well, I'll be ready anyway.
June 28, 2013
Reading this book after The Alchemist of Souls and The Merchant of Dreams, both by Anne Lyle, was not one of my best ideas. It's not that those books were particularly exceptional, but they're a much much better read than this book. I found this horribly dull and vague, even duller than Shadowspell, which was mostly about walking. At least in Shadowspell the world was interesting, there's a double agent, and there's a promise of character growth in the MC for the next book. The main reason I got interested in this book was because I was reminded of Sandry from The Circle of Magic, whose magic was tied to weaving. I thought this would be somewhat like that.
Anyway, I saw that the author has also written romance books. Now, I knew why it was so dull. A lot of historical romances I've tried have been so...light on the historical detail. Actually, any subgenre of romance is boundbto have hoards of lightly researched titles. While I know that this is fantasy, this book is set in your run-of-the-mill medieval Europe fantasy counterpart. I expected more research, dammit. The Irish-sounding names may be attempts at uniqueness but they just annoyed the hell out of me.
Anyway, I saw that the author has also written romance books. Now, I knew why it was so dull. A lot of historical romances I've tried have been so...light on the historical detail. Actually, any subgenre of romance is boundbto have hoards of lightly researched titles. While I know that this is fantasy, this book is set in your run-of-the-mill medieval Europe fantasy counterpart. I expected more research, dammit. The Irish-sounding names may be attempts at uniqueness but they just annoyed the hell out of me.
August 28, 2013
Formula seriously getting old now. All lead male & female characters interchangeable. I would think some effort would be made so that all males:
1. Didn't tuck her hair behind her ear or brush/braid her hair
2. Call her "Love"
3. Hide his identity/power
4. Sleep next to her holding her hand near fire
5. Embrace her on horse/dragon
And all females:
1. Didn't have some mystery birth/genealogy/power
2. Hate/disbelieve magic
3. Request everyone not to discuss magic or reveal identity or truths
4. Get angry when they finally allow people to reveal, then get ticked at what was not revealed earlier
5. Both parents dead
6. Refuse to fall in love with amazingly handsome wonderful man
7. Have quests that morph & sometimes seem to dissolve altogether
Ok yeah, I'm tired of the series. I kind of want to know what Aisling can do or who she is but, is it worth 2 more books??? Lynn can write in an engaging manner for sure but all characters should not be basically the same person.
1. Didn't tuck her hair behind her ear or brush/braid her hair
2. Call her "Love"
3. Hide his identity/power
4. Sleep next to her holding her hand near fire
5. Embrace her on horse/dragon
And all females:
1. Didn't have some mystery birth/genealogy/power
2. Hate/disbelieve magic
3. Request everyone not to discuss magic or reveal identity or truths
4. Get angry when they finally allow people to reveal, then get ticked at what was not revealed earlier
5. Both parents dead
6. Refuse to fall in love with amazingly handsome wonderful man
7. Have quests that morph & sometimes seem to dissolve altogether
Ok yeah, I'm tired of the series. I kind of want to know what Aisling can do or who she is but, is it worth 2 more books??? Lynn can write in an engaging manner for sure but all characters should not be basically the same person.
January 12, 2013
I'm a loyal Lynn Kurland fan and I enjoyed reading her latest 9 Kingdoms installment about Runach. I was warned not to expect an original plot and I admit the repetitiveness was tedious at times. However, I still ejoyed the revisiting the characters and places. Lynn has such a wry sense of humor and her writing is always clean and heroes chivalrous. No one can ever top Miach, though. :)
March 24, 2020
Seventh in the Nine Kingdoms historical fantasy series and revolving around Gair of Ceangail’s dead children. The couple focus is on Aisling of Bruadair and Rùnach of Ceangail.
My Take
It's an interesting tale, but Rùnach has driven me nuts with his intention to take service as an anonymous soldier. I don't understand why. And what's the deal with Rùnach talking as if he has no skill at swordplay? Is he just whining because his hands are ruined? And if they're so damaged, what makes him think he can earn a living as a swordsman? Nope. This doesn't make sense.
It's that third person dual protagonist point-of-view that Kurland uses, allowing us to see/hear and experience events from Aisling's and Rùnach perspectives.
It's Aisling's tale that's much more interesting. Poor thing! She lives in the most horribly restrictive country and is incredibly naive. Then she's suddenly shoved out the door, metaphorically speaking where her naiveté gets her into such trouble. She has been, somewhat, prepared by Muinear with all those adventurous novels about heroes, but somehow those stories skipped reality.
Aisling isn't all that much for logic, either. It takes forever before she figures out that she can't send a hired assassin somewhere without telling him where he's to go. Nor does she believe in magic. Not like Morgan who simply hated magic and mages. Nope, Aisling doesn't believe in dragons, elves, trolls, or anything else that's magical. Wait'll she discovers she can spin anything!
What's the deal with Aisling's parents who are mentioned early in the story?
It's amazing that someone like Gair could have come from a homebody like Sgath who loves working with his hands and has a passion for fishing.
Gobhann is a nightmare of a place. Freezing cold, inhospitable, and filled with men and boys who do their best to kill you...including the cook who'll poison you for fun. I must say I don't think much of Weger's ability to hold someone prisoner.
Ooh, Rùnach has some nasty memories of his father. Why Sarait didn't take the children and leave him, I'll never understand. Of course, Rùnach also does quite a bit of reflecting about the him of today and the proud dandy he was in the past. He also regrets how fastidious he was. Another bit of the proud.
That Iteach is something else, lol. He's desperate for adventure and keeps going undercover at each stop Rùnach makes. The cook at Lismòr is certainly appreciative, *more laughter*. It is interesting that Nicholas prefers to be unknown. I have to wonder if he'll be "coming out" in a future tale?
Ah-ha! Another tidbit about Gair opening that well. It seems Sarait tripped on something and started to fall into the well when she started on her spells. That Gair was such an arrogant jerk!
Those Ceangail boys...the good ones...are a sneaky bunch. They're all too fascinated in collecting spells, no matter who they belong to.
Dreamspinner itself is an annoying story, as it feels so formulaic. Couple that with two protagonists who drove me nuts with Aisling's "mission" to find a savior for her country along with her stupid attitude and Rùnach's laissez-faire attitude whining on about his lack of magic making him useless, and I suspect you'll go nuts too.
The Story
Feeling stifled, Rùnach wants to run, and run far. And then he runs into the focused yet innocent Aisling of Bruadair on her terrifying mission.
There's a death sentence hanging over Aisling, one with a time limit, and Rùnach's chivalry compels him to guide her through their world.
The Characters
The Nine Kingdoms
There actually are more than nine kingdoms, for there are lands that consider themselves outside the bounds of the Council of Kings. Other lands include Durial, Meith, An Céin ruled by King Beusach, Wychweald is actually a tributary of Neroche, Melksham Island, and Camanaë among others. Penrhyn is one of the kingdoms on the council.
Aisling of Bruadair is one of hundreds of weavers in the Guild. Her parents' only interest in her is how much they can get for her use. Her most priceless possession is The Strictures of Scrymgeour Weger as written by Ochadius of Riamh, a cousin of Weger's. Quinn and Euan are her friends. Sort of.
Prince Rùnach of Ceangail is the second oldest of Gair's children and has no magic, no sight, ruined hands, and nothing but mortal abilities tied to elven years. Rùnach does still retain his ability to read something once and remember it. Sgath gives him Iteach, a shapechanging Angesand steed.
Keir had been the oldest brother ( Princess of the Sword , 3). Gille is one of Rùnach's brothers and a very inventive shapechanger. Mhorghain, a.k.a., Morgan, is his youngest sister now married to King Mochriadhemiach "Miach" of Neroche. Ruith is another brother; he's now married to Sarah, a Bruadairian royal in exile ( A Tapestry of Spells , 4; Spellweaver , 5; and, Gift of Magic , 6).
Neroche is...
...the kingdom next to Wychweald where Miach is their mage king and Morgan queen. His brothers include Cathar, the now-oldest, and Mansourah. Adhémar had been their oldest brother, the king, and an idiot. Their parents had been Desdhemar the Fair and Devious and Anghmar. Chagailt is a fairytale palace and the former seat of government in Neroche. Its gardens had been designed by Iolaire the Fair, a past queen of Neroche and daughter of Proìseil the Proud, a former king of Ainneamh. Sgoilear is the keeper of the king's private books.
Ceana is the master spinner at Tor Neroche (the current seat of government and where Miach and Morgan live), and she takes Aisling in hand to teach her. Feòcallan is special researcher to the king. Thomas is a page. Luath is one of the shapechanging horses gifted to Miach and Morgan in Princess of the Sword , 3.
Tòrr Dòrainn is…
…an elvish kingdom ruled by Sìle, Rùnach's maternal grandfather from his palace, Seanagarra. (He holds a seat on the Council of Kings.) Brèagha is his wife. Sarait was his youngest daughter who had married the evil Gair and was later murdered by him. Sosar is Sìle’s youngest son, and his magic was taken in Princess of the Sword , 3. Laìdir is Rùnach's uncle, the crown prince.
Ainneamh is...
...an elven kingdom. Lake Cladach is home to an elven prince, Sgath of Ainneamh, Rùnach's paternal grandfather and Gair's father. Eulasaid, the granddaughter of the wizardess Nimheil, is his grandmother.
Bruadair has...
...a bad reputation in the Nine Kingdoms. No one ever leaves, for to cross the border without leave is to die. Nor is just anyone allowed in to this country of dreamweavers. Beul is one of its cities. Sglaimir seems to be the usurping king. Muinear is the Mistress of Weaving. Athair and his lovely dreamweaver bride, Sorcha, are Aisling's real parents. Frèam is Bruadair's ousted king.
Istaur is...
...a port city where Captain Burke is found and where Paien of Allerdale does a good deed.
Buidseachd, Beinn òrain, is…
…a mages school built on a spring of magic. It's also where Rùnach has been in hiding since his father tried to open the well, as servant to Soilléir of Cothromaiche, a master mage of essence changing.
Gobhann is…
…a magic sink of a keep where Scrymgeour Weger is a master swordsman who runs a school. To earn his mark is to be the best. Odo is his gatekeeper. Paul is the novices’ mentor. Losh Harding (his uncle is the Harding) is a student. Baldric is the poisonous cook. Lothar of Wychweald, an evil, black mage and the son of Yngerame, is being held prisoner here; he also holds some of Sosar's power.
Angesand is...
...Lord Hearn's estate where he breeds highly regarded horses. Tùr is the youngest of Hearn's five sons and has an unparalleled passion for breeding.
Lismòr is…
…a university and an orphanage created by Nicholas, the former wizard king of Diarmailt and Rùnach’s uncle, in honor of his murdered wife and Sarait’s sister, Lismòrian. William is Nicholas' page. Master Dominicus is the crotchety librarian.
Diarmailt is...
...now but a duchy ruled by Simeon, Nicholas' nephew, absorbed into Wychweald under King Stefan, Miach's cousin. The city of Eòlas had been a seat of great learning and has an immense library.
Ceangail is...
...the land where Gair ruled at Aingidheachd, a.k.a., Doibhail. The keep has been destroyed and Rùnach's bastard brothers have sought refuge with their mother, the witchwoman of Fàs. Díolain is the powerful eldest. Gàrlach is the sixth brother. Acair is the seventh, final, and youngest bastard and dangerous.
Magic in the Nine Kingdoms includes Croxteth; Fadaire, a beautiful elven magic; and, Camanaë, which is one of caring, found by Friona.
The Cover and Title
The cover presents a snowy scene in blues and white. There are snow-topped mountains in the background with a light brown stone castle on the left, surrounded by evergreen trees. In the foreground is Aisling in profile, her long blonde hair blowing in the breeze, a pale golden satin gown scalloped in a rusty brown with a purple figured band tied at her side. A white shawl flutters behind her, as Aisling sights along her bow. At the very top is an info blurb in white with a purplish shadow. The author's name is below this but above Aisling's head in a blue-shadowed yellow. The title spans Aisling's lower legs in a pale blue shadowed in blue with the series info immediately beneath it in the same colors.
The title is all about Aisling, for she's a Dreamspinner.
My Take
It's an interesting tale, but Rùnach has driven me nuts with his intention to take service as an anonymous soldier. I don't understand why. And what's the deal with Rùnach talking as if he has no skill at swordplay? Is he just whining because his hands are ruined? And if they're so damaged, what makes him think he can earn a living as a swordsman? Nope. This doesn't make sense.
It's that third person dual protagonist point-of-view that Kurland uses, allowing us to see/hear and experience events from Aisling's and Rùnach perspectives.
It's Aisling's tale that's much more interesting. Poor thing! She lives in the most horribly restrictive country and is incredibly naive. Then she's suddenly shoved out the door, metaphorically speaking where her naiveté gets her into such trouble. She has been, somewhat, prepared by Muinear with all those adventurous novels about heroes, but somehow those stories skipped reality.
Aisling isn't all that much for logic, either. It takes forever before she figures out that she can't send a hired assassin somewhere without telling him where he's to go. Nor does she believe in magic. Not like Morgan who simply hated magic and mages. Nope, Aisling doesn't believe in dragons, elves, trolls, or anything else that's magical. Wait'll she discovers she can spin anything!
What's the deal with Aisling's parents who are mentioned early in the story?
It's amazing that someone like Gair could have come from a homebody like Sgath who loves working with his hands and has a passion for fishing.
Gobhann is a nightmare of a place. Freezing cold, inhospitable, and filled with men and boys who do their best to kill you...including the cook who'll poison you for fun. I must say I don't think much of Weger's ability to hold someone prisoner.
Ooh, Rùnach has some nasty memories of his father. Why Sarait didn't take the children and leave him, I'll never understand. Of course, Rùnach also does quite a bit of reflecting about the him of today and the proud dandy he was in the past. He also regrets how fastidious he was. Another bit of the proud.
That Iteach is something else, lol. He's desperate for adventure and keeps going undercover at each stop Rùnach makes. The cook at Lismòr is certainly appreciative, *more laughter*. It is interesting that Nicholas prefers to be unknown. I have to wonder if he'll be "coming out" in a future tale?
Ah-ha! Another tidbit about Gair opening that well. It seems Sarait tripped on something and started to fall into the well when she started on her spells. That Gair was such an arrogant jerk!
Those Ceangail boys...the good ones...are a sneaky bunch. They're all too fascinated in collecting spells, no matter who they belong to.
Dreamspinner itself is an annoying story, as it feels so formulaic. Couple that with two protagonists who drove me nuts with Aisling's "mission" to find a savior for her country along with her stupid attitude and Rùnach's laissez-faire attitude whining on about his lack of magic making him useless, and I suspect you'll go nuts too.
The Story
Feeling stifled, Rùnach wants to run, and run far. And then he runs into the focused yet innocent Aisling of Bruadair on her terrifying mission.
There's a death sentence hanging over Aisling, one with a time limit, and Rùnach's chivalry compels him to guide her through their world.
The Characters
The Nine Kingdoms
There actually are more than nine kingdoms, for there are lands that consider themselves outside the bounds of the Council of Kings. Other lands include Durial, Meith, An Céin ruled by King Beusach, Wychweald is actually a tributary of Neroche, Melksham Island, and Camanaë among others. Penrhyn is one of the kingdoms on the council.
Aisling of Bruadair is one of hundreds of weavers in the Guild. Her parents' only interest in her is how much they can get for her use. Her most priceless possession is The Strictures of Scrymgeour Weger as written by Ochadius of Riamh, a cousin of Weger's. Quinn and Euan are her friends. Sort of.
Prince Rùnach of Ceangail is the second oldest of Gair's children and has no magic, no sight, ruined hands, and nothing but mortal abilities tied to elven years. Rùnach does still retain his ability to read something once and remember it. Sgath gives him Iteach, a shapechanging Angesand steed.
Keir had been the oldest brother ( Princess of the Sword , 3). Gille is one of Rùnach's brothers and a very inventive shapechanger. Mhorghain, a.k.a., Morgan, is his youngest sister now married to King Mochriadhemiach "Miach" of Neroche. Ruith is another brother; he's now married to Sarah, a Bruadairian royal in exile ( A Tapestry of Spells , 4; Spellweaver , 5; and, Gift of Magic , 6).
Neroche is...
...the kingdom next to Wychweald where Miach is their mage king and Morgan queen. His brothers include Cathar, the now-oldest, and Mansourah. Adhémar had been their oldest brother, the king, and an idiot. Their parents had been Desdhemar the Fair and Devious and Anghmar. Chagailt is a fairytale palace and the former seat of government in Neroche. Its gardens had been designed by Iolaire the Fair, a past queen of Neroche and daughter of Proìseil the Proud, a former king of Ainneamh. Sgoilear is the keeper of the king's private books.
Ceana is the master spinner at Tor Neroche (the current seat of government and where Miach and Morgan live), and she takes Aisling in hand to teach her. Feòcallan is special researcher to the king. Thomas is a page. Luath is one of the shapechanging horses gifted to Miach and Morgan in Princess of the Sword , 3.
Tòrr Dòrainn is…
…an elvish kingdom ruled by Sìle, Rùnach's maternal grandfather from his palace, Seanagarra. (He holds a seat on the Council of Kings.) Brèagha is his wife. Sarait was his youngest daughter who had married the evil Gair and was later murdered by him. Sosar is Sìle’s youngest son, and his magic was taken in Princess of the Sword , 3. Laìdir is Rùnach's uncle, the crown prince.
Ainneamh is...
...an elven kingdom. Lake Cladach is home to an elven prince, Sgath of Ainneamh, Rùnach's paternal grandfather and Gair's father. Eulasaid, the granddaughter of the wizardess Nimheil, is his grandmother.
Bruadair has...
...a bad reputation in the Nine Kingdoms. No one ever leaves, for to cross the border without leave is to die. Nor is just anyone allowed in to this country of dreamweavers. Beul is one of its cities. Sglaimir seems to be the usurping king. Muinear is the Mistress of Weaving. Athair and his lovely dreamweaver bride, Sorcha, are Aisling's real parents. Frèam is Bruadair's ousted king.
Istaur is...
...a port city where Captain Burke is found and where Paien of Allerdale does a good deed.
Buidseachd, Beinn òrain, is…
…a mages school built on a spring of magic. It's also where Rùnach has been in hiding since his father tried to open the well, as servant to Soilléir of Cothromaiche, a master mage of essence changing.
Gobhann is…
…a magic sink of a keep where Scrymgeour Weger is a master swordsman who runs a school. To earn his mark is to be the best. Odo is his gatekeeper. Paul is the novices’ mentor. Losh Harding (his uncle is the Harding) is a student. Baldric is the poisonous cook. Lothar of Wychweald, an evil, black mage and the son of Yngerame, is being held prisoner here; he also holds some of Sosar's power.
Angesand is...
...Lord Hearn's estate where he breeds highly regarded horses. Tùr is the youngest of Hearn's five sons and has an unparalleled passion for breeding.
Lismòr is…
…a university and an orphanage created by Nicholas, the former wizard king of Diarmailt and Rùnach’s uncle, in honor of his murdered wife and Sarait’s sister, Lismòrian. William is Nicholas' page. Master Dominicus is the crotchety librarian.
Diarmailt is...
...now but a duchy ruled by Simeon, Nicholas' nephew, absorbed into Wychweald under King Stefan, Miach's cousin. The city of Eòlas had been a seat of great learning and has an immense library.
Ceangail is...
...the land where Gair ruled at Aingidheachd, a.k.a., Doibhail. The keep has been destroyed and Rùnach's bastard brothers have sought refuge with their mother, the witchwoman of Fàs. Díolain is the powerful eldest. Gàrlach is the sixth brother. Acair is the seventh, final, and youngest bastard and dangerous.
Magic in the Nine Kingdoms includes Croxteth; Fadaire, a beautiful elven magic; and, Camanaë, which is one of caring, found by Friona.
The Cover and Title
The cover presents a snowy scene in blues and white. There are snow-topped mountains in the background with a light brown stone castle on the left, surrounded by evergreen trees. In the foreground is Aisling in profile, her long blonde hair blowing in the breeze, a pale golden satin gown scalloped in a rusty brown with a purple figured band tied at her side. A white shawl flutters behind her, as Aisling sights along her bow. At the very top is an info blurb in white with a purplish shadow. The author's name is below this but above Aisling's head in a blue-shadowed yellow. The title spans Aisling's lower legs in a pale blue shadowed in blue with the series info immediately beneath it in the same colors.
The title is all about Aisling, for she's a Dreamspinner.
February 9, 2015
This book was so so frustrating. After researching the author and seeing that she has written romance books in the past this makes more sense to me, as when I expected an action packed fantasy/adventure novel I received a book where almost nothing is resolved or really happens, other than a slight and slow progression of a relationship. I read the first chapter and that was what hooked me in, Aisling's escape and everything seemed very promising, everything was set up and I was really looking forward to reading more, but after that initial excitement it was just almost nothing. What frustrated me most was that as the reader we all knew a lot more than Aisling, and I have never met anyone as wilfully ignorant as her. Her continual denial of magic amongst other topics, combined with her occasional promising thought processes where she aaalmost figures something out then decides "what would she know? She's just a simple spinner" before she gets there is so annoying. Then on top of this we have Runach determined not to tell her anything at all for no real reason at all, and a heap of other characters deciding to be mysterious and difficult, which altogether are a combination of characters who could easily figure stuff out for the plot to finally progress but don't because no one communicates in any way or wants to listen to the truth? Like seriously? Who could really be content not knowing any of this stuff that was relevant to them? I kept reading because I was sure at some point that some issues would be resolved, but I got close to the end and though "wow the last few pages must be action packed to fit all of this in", then discovered that no, there was nothing more there was just a sequel coming out sometime. So while the writing style was good, I was seriously unimpressed by the plot of this book, and I do not think I will be looking for the sequel anytime soon.
January 1, 2013
What do a scared elven prince that has had his magic stripped from him and a mortal girl sold into a factory at a young age have in common? Nothing, until the threads of fate pull them together. She is looking for a skilled swordsman and he is looking for anonymity. This tale is told in a quiet voice that manages to insinuate itself into our dreams.
After being pulled from the factory where she has spent most of her life laboring over the looms, Aisling is disguised as a boy and sent to find a swordsman to free her people. Terrible prices are paid to give her this opportunity, most of which she doesn’t know. Normally, just leaving the environs of the city would activate the death curse. So will talking about the city, or even telling the name of the city to any outsiders. Because of the life she led in the city, Aisling, most rationally, believes that elves, magic, dragons, dwarves and all manner of magic and wonder are just fantasies best left to small children.
While this is marketed as a romance, it is at such a low level that this would be safe to share with your teen reader. The romance aspect is handled with such a light hand that the story and characters stand on their own. Lynn has won awards (mostly romance) and has placed on the New York Times best sellers list with her previous work. I will have to check out some of her other work, but, if those measure up to this work, I will have a new go-to author for my reading pleasure. © Night Owl Reviews - http://www.NightOwlReviews.com
After being pulled from the factory where she has spent most of her life laboring over the looms, Aisling is disguised as a boy and sent to find a swordsman to free her people. Terrible prices are paid to give her this opportunity, most of which she doesn’t know. Normally, just leaving the environs of the city would activate the death curse. So will talking about the city, or even telling the name of the city to any outsiders. Because of the life she led in the city, Aisling, most rationally, believes that elves, magic, dragons, dwarves and all manner of magic and wonder are just fantasies best left to small children.
While this is marketed as a romance, it is at such a low level that this would be safe to share with your teen reader. The romance aspect is handled with such a light hand that the story and characters stand on their own. Lynn has won awards (mostly romance) and has placed on the New York Times best sellers list with her previous work. I will have to check out some of her other work, but, if those measure up to this work, I will have a new go-to author for my reading pleasure. © Night Owl Reviews - http://www.NightOwlReviews.com
January 5, 2013
There's a certain formula that goes into each trilogy of the Nine Kingdom series. Some might get bored with it. Others might find it comforting. My main gripe is the fact that the story is split into three which means I would have to wait two years for the ending. Aside from that Runach and Aisling is fast becoming my favourite couple of the series. Their story is much better than that of Ruith and Sarah.
August 11, 2016
Love Lynn Kurland books. They are clean and adventurous. The heroine thinks she is ordinary but obviously has a gift that she learns along the journey. Our hero has his own obstacles to overcome and doesn't want to get involved but continues to be drawn to her. Good story line. I am looking forward to the next book
January 7, 2013
Another good one. I like that we've met, and know a bit more, about our Hero as the story starts in this one.
May 27, 2021
Loved this! Devoured it. Aisling was sweet and easy to root for. And yes, tenderhearted elf prince Rùnach is actually everything. I loved him at least as much as I loved Miach in Star of the Morning (Kurland can write a soft boi), and I think I liked the story in this even more than in Star. Perfect dreamy escapism.
December 28, 2017
While I loved the first trilogy of the Nine Kingdoms series, I have to admit the rest of the trilogies are very repetitive (plot and characters). Yet I still enjoy them for a quick, fun, light-hearted read.
June 26, 2021
So it was really 3.5 but I got so annoyed by how long Aisling denied the existence of magic that I rounded down. By the end I liked her and Runach but it took a while. I do want to finish this trilogy, but I did not fly through this book
December 2, 2018
2.5, 2012
February 10, 2019
Man! I just love the first books in these two sequel trilogies. I love this world and I love the characters. 💕
June 2, 2019
I really enjoyed the first 6 books, but for some reason, I didn't enjoy this one as much.
December 27, 2017
I'm back to continue my reviews on this series.
First, since I've provided this on all my other reviews of the series and I know it's helpful to new readers, here are the current Nine Kingdoms books (updated Jan '15):
Two Prelude short stories, found in anthologies with other authors:
- The Queen in Winter ("A Whisper of Spring" when Symon, the first king of Neroche, woos and wins Iolaire, princess of Ainneamh)
- To Weave a Web of Magic ("The Tale of Two Swords" where Mehar of Angesand and Gilraehen, --th king of Neroche, fall in love and the legendary sword of Angesand is forged.)
Miach and Morgan's story is told in:
1- Star of the Morning (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 1)
2- The Mage's Daughter (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 2)
3- Princess of the Sword (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 3)
Ruith and Sarah's story (which OVERLAPS Miach and Morgan's story in the timeline) is told in:
4- A Tapestry of Spells (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 4)
5- Spellweaver (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 5)
6- Gift of Magic (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 6)
Runach and Aisling's story is being told in:
7- Dreamspinner (this book)
8- River of Dreams (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 8)
9- Dreamer's Daughter (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 9)
10- The White Spell (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 10)
Now about Dreamspinner (which beings after the final chapter in both of the first two trilogies but before the epilogue in Princess of the Sword).
I LOVED this start to the story! It has so much promise, so much more growth in the world of the Nine Kingdoms, and so much beautiful writing.
We got to meet Runach in both of the last trilogies as the disfigured servant of Sollier. All we knew of him was that he is Morgan's brother, Gair stole his magic at the well, and he spends his days in the library at Beausichd.
In this book, we get to discover the handsome and charming elvin prince that Runach used to be. He used to be a man who had remarkable skill with both spells and swords. Now, however, he has no magic and no ability to see and enjoy the beauties of the elvin kingdom. Now his face is disfigured by scars. That leaves him only one thing - sword skill that might still be worthwhile if only his hands can heal completely.
And so he decides to venture forth to the one man who might know how to work strength and flexibility into his hands... Weger.
Chapter One begins with Aisling, however. Aisling is a weaver who has grown up as little more than a slave, cut off from most of the world. One moment, she is enjoying the few hours of freedom she is granted each week by the weaver's guild. The next moment, she discovers that she is about to lose another seven years of her life to the guild... unless she risks death and runs away. But then the decision is taken out of her hands. Others marshal her along, drag her, pretend to arrest her, hide her, and shove her across the border before she can make sense of what is happening or who they all were. They send her off with the mysterious command to find an assassin within three weeks "or else." They add that she is the only one who can save the town.
Aisling is totally bewildered. She has no idea what's going on, what actually just happened, who orchestrated it, or why anyone would say that everything is up to her. But she does know three things. One - She is under sentence of death if she does nothing. Two - Weger trains the type of man that it seems is needed for her quest. And three - Magic, mages, elves, and dragons don't really exist.
What, then, are the mysterious threads and trails that she starts seeing everywhere? Who is Runach REALLY? Is anything like she has always believed? Or has everyone been lying to her?
And so begins a journey of discovery for two people who begin to learn that more is possible than they thought.
Enjoy! (Though I'll warn you... it'll leave you wishing you didn't have to wait another year for the next installation. In addition, this book, being only the first third of a romance from an author who keeps things PG rated, only progresses to the starting-to-fall-in-love stage.)
First, since I've provided this on all my other reviews of the series and I know it's helpful to new readers, here are the current Nine Kingdoms books (updated Jan '15):
Two Prelude short stories, found in anthologies with other authors:
- The Queen in Winter ("A Whisper of Spring" when Symon, the first king of Neroche, woos and wins Iolaire, princess of Ainneamh)
- To Weave a Web of Magic ("The Tale of Two Swords" where Mehar of Angesand and Gilraehen, --th king of Neroche, fall in love and the legendary sword of Angesand is forged.)
Miach and Morgan's story is told in:
1- Star of the Morning (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 1)
2- The Mage's Daughter (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 2)
3- Princess of the Sword (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 3)
Ruith and Sarah's story (which OVERLAPS Miach and Morgan's story in the timeline) is told in:
4- A Tapestry of Spells (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 4)
5- Spellweaver (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 5)
6- Gift of Magic (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 6)
Runach and Aisling's story is being told in:
7- Dreamspinner (this book)
8- River of Dreams (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 8)
9- Dreamer's Daughter (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 9)
10- The White Spell (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 10)
Now about Dreamspinner (which beings after the final chapter in both of the first two trilogies but before the epilogue in Princess of the Sword).
I LOVED this start to the story! It has so much promise, so much more growth in the world of the Nine Kingdoms, and so much beautiful writing.
We got to meet Runach in both of the last trilogies as the disfigured servant of Sollier. All we knew of him was that he is Morgan's brother, Gair stole his magic at the well, and he spends his days in the library at Beausichd.
In this book, we get to discover the handsome and charming elvin prince that Runach used to be. He used to be a man who had remarkable skill with both spells and swords. Now, however, he has no magic and no ability to see and enjoy the beauties of the elvin kingdom. Now his face is disfigured by scars. That leaves him only one thing - sword skill that might still be worthwhile if only his hands can heal completely.
And so he decides to venture forth to the one man who might know how to work strength and flexibility into his hands... Weger.
Chapter One begins with Aisling, however. Aisling is a weaver who has grown up as little more than a slave, cut off from most of the world. One moment, she is enjoying the few hours of freedom she is granted each week by the weaver's guild. The next moment, she discovers that she is about to lose another seven years of her life to the guild... unless she risks death and runs away. But then the decision is taken out of her hands. Others marshal her along, drag her, pretend to arrest her, hide her, and shove her across the border before she can make sense of what is happening or who they all were. They send her off with the mysterious command to find an assassin within three weeks "or else." They add that she is the only one who can save the town.
Aisling is totally bewildered. She has no idea what's going on, what actually just happened, who orchestrated it, or why anyone would say that everything is up to her. But she does know three things. One - She is under sentence of death if she does nothing. Two - Weger trains the type of man that it seems is needed for her quest. And three - Magic, mages, elves, and dragons don't really exist.
What, then, are the mysterious threads and trails that she starts seeing everywhere? Who is Runach REALLY? Is anything like she has always believed? Or has everyone been lying to her?
And so begins a journey of discovery for two people who begin to learn that more is possible than they thought.
Enjoy! (Though I'll warn you... it'll leave you wishing you didn't have to wait another year for the next installation. In addition, this book, being only the first third of a romance from an author who keeps things PG rated, only progresses to the starting-to-fall-in-love stage.)
October 15, 2015
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
http://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspo...
Dreamspinner starts the third subtrilogy of the Nine Kingdoms series. Our hero is Rùnach, a man who suffered a terrible tragedy twenty or so years in the past. It left him without his family, crippled, and drained of magic. Aisling is our heroine, and she hails from Bruadair where she's been a worker for a Weaver's Guild since she was eight. Her parents exchanged her labor for wealth.
Soon before Aisling's 28th birthday (which is when she will be considered an adult and be able to leave the Weaver's Guild), she sees her parents on the street in town. She panics, knowing that her parents' appearance can only mean they wish to exchange seven more years of labor for money, when she is so close to being free. Surprisingly, some acquaintances in town quickly spirit her out away and set her upon a quest to bring back a mercenary to free Bruadair. Aisling is given a timeline to do this, or a curse will kill her.
Rùnach has set out to go to Gobhann, in order to earn Weger's prestigious mark so that he can become a simple swordsman and live out the rest of his life in obscurity. Upon boarding the ship that will take him towards his destination he meets a young lad who has been robbed and is trying to acquire passage on the same ship. Rùnach generously pays the boy's fare. He is shocked to find out this boy is also en route to Godhann, then even more shocked to discover that the boy is actually a woman in disguise.
The two then begin a journey. Aisling is trying to fulfill her quest and learns the world and who she is were not as she'd thought. Rùnach is becoming more and more curious about this young woman and a desire to assist and protect her. In their journey to discover the mysteries surrounding them, they develop a friendship that scares them a bit as it seems to become more.
I really liked this book. Aisling is such an innocent girl who doesn't want to be lied to and taken advantage of. Rùnach is so troubled with his past and is such a chivalrous gentleman. The romance is PG, and as shown in the series' previous books, it will continue on for two more installments. Lynn Kurland has created such an enchanting world that you will want to to dive right in and live with her characters. It isn't necessary to read the previous six books to appreciate Dreamspinner. They mention the events from the previous books with enough information to understand how it affects this tale. This book was absolutely magical!
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Original Review:
This is the second time I've read this book. I needed to reread it so that I could read it's sequel so I could remember what was going on. This books was just as good the second time as it was for the first.
I absolutely love the world of the Nine Kingdoms. The history and the people are all just wonderful.
As for this particular book, Aisling is such a sweetie who is just ignorant of the world. At first she comes off annoying to me, but as she finds strength in herself, I find I love her more and more.
Runach is a very charming man once he remembers the manners his mother taught him! Eventhough he keeps telling himself that Aisling's troubles aren't his own, he continues to aid her in her quest. It's endearing because we know all he wants is a simple life away from his past, but he ends up putting others before himself.
The quest itself is a confusing one. Sometimes the characters reference to things and I don't follow exactly what's being talked about. Maybe these things will all piece together in the later books. There is a lot of excitement in this book, which I love because what's an adventure if there isn't some parts that make you bite your nails while reading about them?
Can't wait to start the sequel!
http://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspo...
Dreamspinner starts the third subtrilogy of the Nine Kingdoms series. Our hero is Rùnach, a man who suffered a terrible tragedy twenty or so years in the past. It left him without his family, crippled, and drained of magic. Aisling is our heroine, and she hails from Bruadair where she's been a worker for a Weaver's Guild since she was eight. Her parents exchanged her labor for wealth.
Soon before Aisling's 28th birthday (which is when she will be considered an adult and be able to leave the Weaver's Guild), she sees her parents on the street in town. She panics, knowing that her parents' appearance can only mean they wish to exchange seven more years of labor for money, when she is so close to being free. Surprisingly, some acquaintances in town quickly spirit her out away and set her upon a quest to bring back a mercenary to free Bruadair. Aisling is given a timeline to do this, or a curse will kill her.
Rùnach has set out to go to Gobhann, in order to earn Weger's prestigious mark so that he can become a simple swordsman and live out the rest of his life in obscurity. Upon boarding the ship that will take him towards his destination he meets a young lad who has been robbed and is trying to acquire passage on the same ship. Rùnach generously pays the boy's fare. He is shocked to find out this boy is also en route to Godhann, then even more shocked to discover that the boy is actually a woman in disguise.
The two then begin a journey. Aisling is trying to fulfill her quest and learns the world and who she is were not as she'd thought. Rùnach is becoming more and more curious about this young woman and a desire to assist and protect her. In their journey to discover the mysteries surrounding them, they develop a friendship that scares them a bit as it seems to become more.
I really liked this book. Aisling is such an innocent girl who doesn't want to be lied to and taken advantage of. Rùnach is so troubled with his past and is such a chivalrous gentleman. The romance is PG, and as shown in the series' previous books, it will continue on for two more installments. Lynn Kurland has created such an enchanting world that you will want to to dive right in and live with her characters. It isn't necessary to read the previous six books to appreciate Dreamspinner. They mention the events from the previous books with enough information to understand how it affects this tale. This book was absolutely magical!
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Original Review:
This is the second time I've read this book. I needed to reread it so that I could read it's sequel so I could remember what was going on. This books was just as good the second time as it was for the first.
I absolutely love the world of the Nine Kingdoms. The history and the people are all just wonderful.
As for this particular book, Aisling is such a sweetie who is just ignorant of the world. At first she comes off annoying to me, but as she finds strength in herself, I find I love her more and more.
Runach is a very charming man once he remembers the manners his mother taught him! Eventhough he keeps telling himself that Aisling's troubles aren't his own, he continues to aid her in her quest. It's endearing because we know all he wants is a simple life away from his past, but he ends up putting others before himself.
The quest itself is a confusing one. Sometimes the characters reference to things and I don't follow exactly what's being talked about. Maybe these things will all piece together in the later books. There is a lot of excitement in this book, which I love because what's an adventure if there isn't some parts that make you bite your nails while reading about them?
Can't wait to start the sequel!
February 7, 2013
Lynn Kurland continues her adventures in the Nine Kingdoms with book 7. Or book 1 of the third trilogy.. It is a powerful saga of epic proportions.. Where trilogies 1 and 2 overlapped. Their stories taking place at the same time and seldom intersecting Dreamspinner begins at the end of the other two. We find that the great evil has been conquered, that things should be quiet for a while. Yeah, like that is going to happen.
Rùnach of Ceangail's entire family was destroyed when his father attempted to open a well of great evil and his mother tried to stop him. His powers had been stripped and he has been in hiding researching everything he could in order to correct the evil done. Fortunately for Runach, his sister and one brother also survived and twenty years later they were able to live their own destinies and have found their HEA's. Now it's his turn and all he wants is a normal unexciting life. He has no power and what is left to him is his amazing memory and his knowledge of swordfighting. His hands have been healed and only time will tell if he can once again become the swordmaster he was as a youth.
Aisling of Bruadair cracks me up. She lives in reality, total and complete reality. The legends and stories are just that stories. No way does magic exist. The only existence she can claim is the one where she was sold by her parents to the weavers guild. That she lived in drudgery and near slavery with no escape insight. Until a series of interesting coincidences changes all that. If you know anything at all about Ms Kurland you will know that NOTHING is ever a mere coincidence this woman's conspiracy theories have conspiracy theories. Her escape seems to come from these random events but they send her off to find an assassin . and where are the assassins found? At Weger's stronghold.. which by coincidence *grins* is just where Runach is headed.
It was great watching Aisling discover that well, um.. magic is real! Her reactions are very similar to what I firmly believe many of us would have. Well those of us with a logic based mind. I can so see some of my family members.. All in all, she does handle it well as her discovery comes in increments.
As these two battle their separate unbelief and lack of faith, together they form a quest. They travel from one end of the Nine Kingdoms to the other, discovering who and what they are battling and just what they have to work with. Finding both allies and enemies along the way. As we are reintroduced to old friends and new enemies it is hard to not be captivated once again by Ms Kurland's Nine Kingdoms..
I am so excited about this rich fantasy. Ms Kurland relies upon lush, intricate characters and scenes. This is a sensual rather than sexual delight. The promise of what if and what can be rather than immersion in sexual antics. This series is fantasy, pure fantasy.. a wonderful saga of epic proportions.. and I seriously do not want to have to wait an entire year for her next installment. *sigh* I tried, I really tried to hold off. To read the entire trilogy when they were all out. Yeah, like that was going to happen. This is one of my favorite series.. a delightful fantasy bringing back some of my major childhood favorites..
Enjoy this book, I know I did!!
Shauni
For more reviews by Shauni check out Tea and Book and
Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy
Rùnach of Ceangail's entire family was destroyed when his father attempted to open a well of great evil and his mother tried to stop him. His powers had been stripped and he has been in hiding researching everything he could in order to correct the evil done. Fortunately for Runach, his sister and one brother also survived and twenty years later they were able to live their own destinies and have found their HEA's. Now it's his turn and all he wants is a normal unexciting life. He has no power and what is left to him is his amazing memory and his knowledge of swordfighting. His hands have been healed and only time will tell if he can once again become the swordmaster he was as a youth.
Aisling of Bruadair cracks me up. She lives in reality, total and complete reality. The legends and stories are just that stories. No way does magic exist. The only existence she can claim is the one where she was sold by her parents to the weavers guild. That she lived in drudgery and near slavery with no escape insight. Until a series of interesting coincidences changes all that. If you know anything at all about Ms Kurland you will know that NOTHING is ever a mere coincidence this woman's conspiracy theories have conspiracy theories. Her escape seems to come from these random events but they send her off to find an assassin . and where are the assassins found? At Weger's stronghold.. which by coincidence *grins* is just where Runach is headed.
It was great watching Aisling discover that well, um.. magic is real! Her reactions are very similar to what I firmly believe many of us would have. Well those of us with a logic based mind. I can so see some of my family members.. All in all, she does handle it well as her discovery comes in increments.
As these two battle their separate unbelief and lack of faith, together they form a quest. They travel from one end of the Nine Kingdoms to the other, discovering who and what they are battling and just what they have to work with. Finding both allies and enemies along the way. As we are reintroduced to old friends and new enemies it is hard to not be captivated once again by Ms Kurland's Nine Kingdoms..
I am so excited about this rich fantasy. Ms Kurland relies upon lush, intricate characters and scenes. This is a sensual rather than sexual delight. The promise of what if and what can be rather than immersion in sexual antics. This series is fantasy, pure fantasy.. a wonderful saga of epic proportions.. and I seriously do not want to have to wait an entire year for her next installment. *sigh* I tried, I really tried to hold off. To read the entire trilogy when they were all out. Yeah, like that was going to happen. This is one of my favorite series.. a delightful fantasy bringing back some of my major childhood favorites..
Enjoy this book, I know I did!!
Shauni
For more reviews by Shauni check out Tea and Book and
Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy
August 12, 2013
Today’s post is on Dreamspinner by Lynn Kurland and is the seventh in her Nine Kingdoms Series; to understand much of what is going on you will need to have read at least one of the first two trilogies but not both. The cover has the main female character, Aisling, aiming a bow at the reader looking fierce. The intended reader is adult but young adults who love well written high fantasy will enjoy this series. There is no sex, no language, some violence but no gore; nothing to worry parents or weak stomachs. It is told from third person close going from Aisling to Rùnach’s point of view from one chapter to another. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the back of the book- Aisling of Bruadair has lived a provincial life, heedless of the evil creeping over her land. That ordinary existence changes forever, though, when she is sent to the opposite end of the world to find a master swordsman. If she fails, her life--and her country's safety--will be forfeit. She just never expected that swordsman to be a wounded elven prince masquerading as a simple soldier. Powerless and scarred from a long-ago conflict, Rùnach of Ceangail has spent years in obscurity, ignoring battles he can no longer fight. And although he has been drawn back into the world, he fully intends to live an unremarkable life far away from events he knows he cannot change... Until Rùnach meets Aisling and realizes that she is far more than what she seems, that their alliance has attracted unwelcome notice, and that some battles must be fought.
Review- Allow me to start this review by saying I love this series. When I discovered it two years ago I fell in love with it. I have read the first trilogy but not the second so there some things that I did not know coming in but things like spoilers do not annoy me. This series is on my To Buy List. (Edit I have now bought all the books released so far in this series 8/12/2013) It is well written, fun, and just plain good. There is just one problems and it is the same problem I had with the first book Star of the Morning and that is it takes about 100 pages before you are really hooked into the story. I do not know if Kurland just needs some time to get things going but I warn you about that. That said do not let that stop you from reading this book because it is wonderful. I cannot wait for the next and I am going to be buying them all from Amazon from here on out. I like both main characters and we see old ones from the other books and they just add to the story. Some romantic tropes are here but do not let that annoy you just part of the show. The plot has me guessing at the moment but I was in the same position at the end of the first book in the first trilogy too but I trust Kurland. This is a wonderful series with inventive magic, clever heroes, and evil villains; what fantasy lover would not love this? I know that I do.
I give this one Four and a Half stars because of the slow start. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.
From the back of the book- Aisling of Bruadair has lived a provincial life, heedless of the evil creeping over her land. That ordinary existence changes forever, though, when she is sent to the opposite end of the world to find a master swordsman. If she fails, her life--and her country's safety--will be forfeit. She just never expected that swordsman to be a wounded elven prince masquerading as a simple soldier. Powerless and scarred from a long-ago conflict, Rùnach of Ceangail has spent years in obscurity, ignoring battles he can no longer fight. And although he has been drawn back into the world, he fully intends to live an unremarkable life far away from events he knows he cannot change... Until Rùnach meets Aisling and realizes that she is far more than what she seems, that their alliance has attracted unwelcome notice, and that some battles must be fought.
Review- Allow me to start this review by saying I love this series. When I discovered it two years ago I fell in love with it. I have read the first trilogy but not the second so there some things that I did not know coming in but things like spoilers do not annoy me. This series is on my To Buy List. (Edit I have now bought all the books released so far in this series 8/12/2013) It is well written, fun, and just plain good. There is just one problems and it is the same problem I had with the first book Star of the Morning and that is it takes about 100 pages before you are really hooked into the story. I do not know if Kurland just needs some time to get things going but I warn you about that. That said do not let that stop you from reading this book because it is wonderful. I cannot wait for the next and I am going to be buying them all from Amazon from here on out. I like both main characters and we see old ones from the other books and they just add to the story. Some romantic tropes are here but do not let that annoy you just part of the show. The plot has me guessing at the moment but I was in the same position at the end of the first book in the first trilogy too but I trust Kurland. This is a wonderful series with inventive magic, clever heroes, and evil villains; what fantasy lover would not love this? I know that I do.
I give this one Four and a Half stars because of the slow start. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.
September 19, 2015
When I was looking for a new fantasy romance to read, I stumbled upon Lynn Kurland's Nine Kingdoms series and simply could not believe I hadn't heard of Dreamspinner sooner! In a world filled with elves, dwarves, powerful mages and more, how could I possibly not fall in love with the series? Dreamspinner is the first in a trilogy, but the seventh novel to be set within the Nine Kingdoms. You don't need to have read the previous books, but if you're already a fan of the series, then I'm sure you'll be happy to greet the familiar characters who appear.
Aisling has lived her life in the isolated kingdom of Bruadair, where no one can enter and no one can leave unless with a permit. Sold into the harsh Guild to become a weaver when she was a mere child, she suddenly manages to escape when she's thrust on an urgent quest to find an assassin to kill the usurper on her kingdom's throne. Once outside the borders of Bruadair, Aisling begins to discover a world she thought only to be from myth and legend... and that everything she's ever known has all been a lie.
Rùnach of Ceangail has experienced much more loss over the years than many could ever bear. Once a powerful elven prince, he still carries the physical scars after his magic was stolen from him long ago. Resigned and feeling that he no longer fits in with the rest of his illustrious family, Rùnach just wants to live out the rest of his life in obscurity as a simple soldier.
When Aisling and Rùnach first meet, it is not love at first sight; it's the seemingly inconsequential meeting of two strangers who are determined to follow their own paths. The more time Rùnach spends around Aisling, the more he is oddly captivated by her and finds himself reluctantly joining her quest. Everything about Aisling and her well-guarded secrets are a great mystery to Rùnach, one he just can't help resisting to try and solve.
The camaraderie that develops between Rùnach and Aisling is very sweet and quietly builds. Rùnach may grumble that he's hardly an elegant lord anymore, but he's actually very chivalrous and protective. I absolutely loved how he supported Aisling without feeling the need to control her actions; he gave her the chance to discover the answers she needed on her own.
If you're a high fantasy fan, I would whole-heartily recommend reading Lynn Kurland's Dreamspinner! The Nine Kingdoms series is technically for an adult audience, but it definitely has cross-over appeal for younger readers. Lynn Kurland has imagined a world that is rich and complex, with histories of its own that completely draw you in. I'm excited to see how Aisling and Rùnach's quest continues in River of Dreams!
Aisling has lived her life in the isolated kingdom of Bruadair, where no one can enter and no one can leave unless with a permit. Sold into the harsh Guild to become a weaver when she was a mere child, she suddenly manages to escape when she's thrust on an urgent quest to find an assassin to kill the usurper on her kingdom's throne. Once outside the borders of Bruadair, Aisling begins to discover a world she thought only to be from myth and legend... and that everything she's ever known has all been a lie.
Rùnach of Ceangail has experienced much more loss over the years than many could ever bear. Once a powerful elven prince, he still carries the physical scars after his magic was stolen from him long ago. Resigned and feeling that he no longer fits in with the rest of his illustrious family, Rùnach just wants to live out the rest of his life in obscurity as a simple soldier.
When Aisling and Rùnach first meet, it is not love at first sight; it's the seemingly inconsequential meeting of two strangers who are determined to follow their own paths. The more time Rùnach spends around Aisling, the more he is oddly captivated by her and finds himself reluctantly joining her quest. Everything about Aisling and her well-guarded secrets are a great mystery to Rùnach, one he just can't help resisting to try and solve.
The camaraderie that develops between Rùnach and Aisling is very sweet and quietly builds. Rùnach may grumble that he's hardly an elegant lord anymore, but he's actually very chivalrous and protective. I absolutely loved how he supported Aisling without feeling the need to control her actions; he gave her the chance to discover the answers she needed on her own.
If you're a high fantasy fan, I would whole-heartily recommend reading Lynn Kurland's Dreamspinner! The Nine Kingdoms series is technically for an adult audience, but it definitely has cross-over appeal for younger readers. Lynn Kurland has imagined a world that is rich and complex, with histories of its own that completely draw you in. I'm excited to see how Aisling and Rùnach's quest continues in River of Dreams!
July 31, 2014
At first I was like "Why do I have the seventh book of a series in my to read list and not the six before?" then I remembered Goodreads had suggested it, and it usually suggests only books that you can understand without needing to read another book.
So I read it.
And indeed, it was easy to understand. Or maybe I'm just not as curious as I thought I was...
Anyway. It is a good book, really. I loved it. The characters are interesting, the pace is odd at times but never in a bad way and I liked what we see of the world.
The only reason why I didn't give it four stars (five stars is for painfully beautiful/addictive books only) is because I didn't think I would have to read the rest of the series to know the end of that story. I mean, if I can understand the story without having read the previous books, why do I need to read the following books? And they might not be from Aisling and Rùnach's point of view, which would really disappoint me (though I imagine there are other good characters in these books, but I really like those two).
So... In reality, it deserves four stars, but I just don't like being misled. Maybe I will change it when I find the courage to read the other books and finally discover how it ends.
Now that we are done talking about how easily annoyed and how lazy I am, let's talk about the book in itself.
More accurately, let's talk about the characters.
I LOVE THEM. I do. I really love them. And what I like the most is the fact that I don't love them in that weird obsessive way I usually love characters (I have a shelf dedicated to those characters, actually.) Aisling and Rùnach's story is refreshing. Sure, there are secrets and threats, but they don't treat those like they're all that matters. No drama queen here.
The other characters are a bit shallow, in my view, but maybe they wouldn't be if I had been a good girl and had read the previous books...
I repeat myself, but it really amazes me how... easy the book is. The language, the characters, the way they act and the plot... Okay, it's not shallow or simple or anything, it just feels easy. God, I didn't know an easy book was a good thing. I'm not even sure you can say a book is easy but anyway...
Well done, Mrs Kurland, well done. I will indeed read the other books.
So I read it.
And indeed, it was easy to understand. Or maybe I'm just not as curious as I thought I was...
Anyway. It is a good book, really. I loved it. The characters are interesting, the pace is odd at times but never in a bad way and I liked what we see of the world.
The only reason why I didn't give it four stars (five stars is for painfully beautiful/addictive books only) is because I didn't think I would have to read the rest of the series to know the end of that story. I mean, if I can understand the story without having read the previous books, why do I need to read the following books? And they might not be from Aisling and Rùnach's point of view, which would really disappoint me (though I imagine there are other good characters in these books, but I really like those two).
So... In reality, it deserves four stars, but I just don't like being misled. Maybe I will change it when I find the courage to read the other books and finally discover how it ends.
Now that we are done talking about how easily annoyed and how lazy I am, let's talk about the book in itself.
More accurately, let's talk about the characters.
I LOVE THEM. I do. I really love them. And what I like the most is the fact that I don't love them in that weird obsessive way I usually love characters (I have a shelf dedicated to those characters, actually.) Aisling and Rùnach's story is refreshing. Sure, there are secrets and threats, but they don't treat those like they're all that matters. No drama queen here.
The other characters are a bit shallow, in my view, but maybe they wouldn't be if I had been a good girl and had read the previous books...
I repeat myself, but it really amazes me how... easy the book is. The language, the characters, the way they act and the plot... Okay, it's not shallow or simple or anything, it just feels easy. God, I didn't know an easy book was a good thing. I'm not even sure you can say a book is easy but anyway...
Well done, Mrs Kurland, well done. I will indeed read the other books.
May 18, 2014
Hey look, it's the same story as the previous two incarnations in this series, but starring protagonists who have different names! Oddly, I forgave this more than the second round of the story, hence the unexpected three stars. Maybe I took long enough away from the series to not care that it was the same plot rehashed a third time. I think the thing that made me laugh and feel more forgiving was that while reading the last book, I was annoyed by how many times the characters were astonished by one another's beauty. So they started off saying Aisling was plain, surely no beauty. Yet everyone we meet calls her lovely, and as it turns out she has the most astonishingly beautiful eyes. Of course she does. And the scars don't mar Runach's good looks for long either. I think Runach didn't annoy me too much, and while Aisling is ridiculous a lot of the time (how many times can she be robbed, before finding a new travelling strategy?), I tolerated her. I kind of wish she hadn't picked up on archery so easily, (is everyone a weapons expert of some sort? Of course they are...they are all hidden royalty and magicians and not dead when they are supposed to be, too), but they left that out for the most part. Lots of characters reappear, naturally. I liked having Morgan back, when she showed up. I don't know why I continue reading this series (well, the fact I'd already bought the book a long time ago was part of it). But this one was less obnoxious than the second time through, so I'll likely see what happens in the next book and hope she wraps it up after this trilogy.
January 14, 2013
I have always enjoyed Kurland's Nine Kingdom series. While none of them can compare to that of Morgan and Miach, I find myself delighted with the author's follow-up novels. I have to say, I wasn't particularly excited about Runach's story only because I never found him intriguing in my past encounters. So, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself in a state of delight while reading this.
Although my connection with Runach started out a little shaky (I'm still mourning the loss of Miach), he had definitely carved a place in my heart by the end. I loved that Kurland chose to portray him as the wounded warrior rather than the secluded scholar. I love me some warrior.
I had issues with Aisling in the beginning, too. Mostly, I thought her too trusting given the circumstances. I wanted more action with the bow and arrow. Hopefully, next time! Also, I thought her persistent disbelief of all things fantastical a little annoying. Otherwise, I quite enjoyed her character. Her predicament is a definite mystery.
Of course, I rejoiced in seeing Miach and Morgan again. I'm hoping for further interaction with these two, as well as something with Ruith/Sarah and Sile (he cracks me up!).
The whole concept of Bruadair, in general, intrigues me. I have no idea what will happen in the next installment and look forward to reading it. Kurland's writing has such an exquisite flow to it that I've yet to encounter in another writer's works. Just keep it coming, Kurland...
Although my connection with Runach started out a little shaky (I'm still mourning the loss of Miach), he had definitely carved a place in my heart by the end. I loved that Kurland chose to portray him as the wounded warrior rather than the secluded scholar. I love me some warrior.
I had issues with Aisling in the beginning, too. Mostly, I thought her too trusting given the circumstances. I wanted more action with the bow and arrow. Hopefully, next time! Also, I thought her persistent disbelief of all things fantastical a little annoying. Otherwise, I quite enjoyed her character. Her predicament is a definite mystery.
Of course, I rejoiced in seeing Miach and Morgan again. I'm hoping for further interaction with these two, as well as something with Ruith/Sarah and Sile (he cracks me up!).
The whole concept of Bruadair, in general, intrigues me. I have no idea what will happen in the next installment and look forward to reading it. Kurland's writing has such an exquisite flow to it that I've yet to encounter in another writer's works. Just keep it coming, Kurland...
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