Song of Leira

The Songkeeper Chronicles #3

by Gillian Bronte Adams

The Song bids her rise to battle

Reeling from her disastrous foray into the Pit, Birdie, the young Songkeeper, retreats into the mountains. But in the war-torn north, kneeling on bloodstained battlefields to sing the souls of the dying to rest, her resolve to accept her calling is strengthened. Such evil cannot go unchallenged.

Torn between oaths to protect the Underground runners and rescue his friend from the slave camps, Ky Huntyr enlists Birdie’s aid. Their mission to free the captives unravels the horrifying thread connecting the legendary spring, Artair’s sword, and the slave camps. But the Takhran’s schemes are already in motion. Powerful singers have arisen to lead his army—singers who can shake the earth and master the sea—and monsters rampage across the land.

As Leira falters on the verge of defeat, the Song bids her rise to battle, and the Songkeeper must answer.

Genres: Fantasy, Christian Fiction, Christian Fantasy, Young Adult, Christian, Fiction, Adventure

416 pages, Paperback

Published June 15, 2018

About the author

Gillian Bronte Adams is a horse-riding, wander-loving fantasy author, rarely found without a coffee in hand and rumored to pack books before clothes when she hits the road. Working in youth ministry left her with a passion for journeying alongside children and teens. (It also enhanced her love of coffee.) Now, she writes novels that follow outcast characters down broken roads, through epic battles, and onward to adventure. And at the end of a long day of typing, she can be found saddling her wild thing and riding off into the sunset, seeking adventures of her own (and more coffee).

She loves to connect with readers and fellow wanderers online through her website, Facebook page, and Instagram.

Reviews

[deborah o'carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sweeping, epic conclusion to the Songkeeper Chronicles trilogy, SONG OF LEIRA far exceeded my expectations and does not disappoint! AAHH! My heart is so full. ^_^ *hugs book* I’m not using “epic” lightly—it really is that.

I haven’t read a book with such overwhelming hope in a long time. Yes, there’s darkness and war and death and sorrow, but in the midst of it, the light and the Song pour out hope and peace and strength. It’s full of those times when you feel like everything’s lost, but then there are moments of eucatastrophe and those good surprises (particularly near the end!) that make everything right.

After the darkness and shattering despair of the dark-before-the-dawn middle of the series, Songkeeper, I was worried this final installment wouldn’t live up to my hopes, but it rallied and brought me soaring through the conclusion on wings of exhilaration like a griffin. :D Twice, SONG OF LEIRA had tears pricking my eyes—at a certain death (still broken up over that one, though at least there was peace and purpose to it) and reading the beautiful final paragraphs of the novel. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful all at once, and still dark much of the time (there are a few side characters I could have wished survived), but the overall feeling I came away with was hope and joy. :) It just stirred my soul so much. <3

The book started out a little quietly but it soon pulled me in and swept me away on the adventure. We’re in the mountains in this one, with Ky and the runners of the Underground, Birdie and the griffin, and many other characters we meet along the way, both friends and enemies, new and old, and so many places... but I don’t want to give anything away! The world is so vivid and I love it. ^_^

I also loved following Birdie and Ky on their journeys, as they fall and get up again over and over—as they doubt and find their way, and make mistakes and grow and learn, and become so much more than they could have imagined. Becoming heroes worthy of legend and song. And Gundhrold the griffin and Amos and—gaah, I love them all! There are new characters too—I particularly love Frey, the beast from the cover!

All the characters are so HUMAN (I mean... except for the actual non-human characters. *cough* But you know what I mean!) and we bleed and struggle and triumph along with these broken but determined souls. I love them so much! ^_^ These are definitely some characters who’ve wrapped themselves around my heart. (Yes, including Cade. He may be arrogant at times, but I still love him! He wasn’t in it much, but I was so glad he got to come in near the end like that! :D He’s still one of my favorites despite everything, and I will not apologize. :P CADE.) Even the villains are written in such a compelling way that they seem human too. There was one in particular I hoped for a better ending for, but... ah well.

Another thing I found delightful was the Song and what the Songkeeper can do—it was such a unique thing and made me love this fantasy world even more! A unique “magic system” for lack of a better term (gift?) helps set apart a fantastic series from a merely good one. I just love all the stuff about the Song, and it was wonderful to see Birdie come into her own at last! Also her humility in not taking the credit to herself but pointing it back to the Master Singer. Christian fantasy done absolutely RIGHT. <3

Some of it can also be fun, too! The little moments of humor or wonder made my day. ^_^ The writing, too, is gorgeous—effortlessly drawing the reader along and painting everything so vividly, in soul-stirring moments of near-poetry at times. Gillian Bronte Adams is definitely a talented author, and this is her best book yet. (Sometimes I was reminded of another of my favorites, Lloyd Alexander, at his best—which is high praise from me. :))

The plot was exciting too! It brings so many threads together from throughout the trilogy and ties most of them together so that everything falls in place in an utterly right and satisfying way. I’m not going to spoil anything, but WOW. That ending! So epic and thrilling! (And I got a slight Arthurian vibe, which is always welcome. ;))

SONG OF LEIRA is a breathtaking, fulfilling, and so rewarding conclusion to what has been a beautiful journey of a fantasy trilogy, masterfully penned and threading its way through my heart. It brings you through the darkest shadows of night and on to the glorious rays of dawn. This—THIS—is what epic fantasy with echoes of truth is meant to be.

I received a free ARC of this book from the publisher (thanks!) and was not required to write a positive review. These opinions are entirely my own.

[Sharon Loves to Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not have time to write a proper review, but wanted to let you all know that this book, and entire trilogy, are fabulous!! If you are looking for something epic and heart stirring with beautiful spiritual allusions, then snatch these up. The audiobook is wonderful as well!

[k.m.s. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic. Incredible. I cried. Though there were some technical elements I felt could have been stronger, the STORY was awesome. Full review to come soon :D

UPDATE: full review below

Truly the most powerful, epic Christian fantasy I've read in a long time. The cliffhanger ending of Songkeeper left me with high hopes for Song of Leira, and the story did not disappoint. It's definitely become of my favorite reads of 2018.

PLOT
The plot starts off a bit slow, but I've come to realize that epic fantasies tend to go that way. The story gained momentum more and more until the explosive third act and earthshaking climax arrived. It was epic, needless to say, and tied up everything in the entire trilogy very nicely.

A certain part of the plot was probably what bothered me the most about the entire story: it seemed to be "happening" at times, rather than being driven by the character's actions. Though it was exciting and entertaining, it wasn't until near the end that Birdie really took charge of the story. However, this didn't make me take stars off the book for one reason: it worked with the story. For the theme and the characters, the plot did exactly what it needed to do. It's an excellent example of how story trumps structure any day of the week.

CHARACTERS
Wow, where do I start? The characters stole my poor little heart so I felt like I was suffering with them :P

Though I failed to connect with Ky through any of the other books, he finally got to me in this story. His struggles for leadership were very relatable to me at this time, and his determination was awesome. The only thing I never understood about him was the significance that Paddy had played in his life. I felt like Paddy was supposed to represent something...but it was never revealed what that was.

Then birdie. Goodness, BIRDIE. Every book she grew on me, and in this book, I felt like I was looking at a mirror image of myself. Her pain was so real. Her struggles were so real. She was so. darn. real. Especially at a certain point in the book (*tears*), I nearly cried with her. Her journey and triumph were truly inspiring to me.

The other characters were wonderful as well...Slack, Gulhrould, Frey, the little critter whose name I keep forgetting but was so adorable...Sym...everyone. There were a few characters who arrived at the end that seemed a little out of place and I wish they'd gotten more attention, but in all, I loved them :)

AMOS THOUGH. That hurt. A lot. He seemed to be in the background for so long and I really struggled with knowing why, but I felt he made up for it in the end

THEME
Oh. My. Goodness. It is so rare for me to find a novel that leaves an impact on the way I see the world. Song of Leira is one of those novels for me. Freedom, slavery, peace, war, love...fear. And grace. The anthem of grace that sings in this novel is truly powerful. I look forward to rereading the book soon and experiencing the same feeling again.

ANYTHING ELSE?
- There's quite a bit of violence, similar to the previous book. I'd say 14+ for that reason. But there's no romance or anything, so it's clean in that regard.
- The story is quite heavy. Not depressing, but there's a lot of suffering and heartache. That made the light shine brighter, but this is just a warning that you have to walk through the sad parts before the bright parts come.
- the prose. I adored it. It brought the novel to life and painted beautiful pictures in my head.

In short, I'd recommend this novel to Christian fantasy readers looking for an epic tale of hope and love and how grace can free us from the bonds of fear.

***I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Tricia Mingerink · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! It ends just how the series needs to end!

A more detailed review will be coming, but for now, just know it is beautiful and you should go out and read this series right now.

More detailed, updated review:

After the heart-wrenching cliffhanger-y ending of Songkeeper, I wasn’t sure how this series could batter my heart more or how it would end. I just knew I wanted the ending to be epic.

And, it was. Ky and Birdie really come into their own in this book. They both become leaders in their own ways, but especially they learn to rely on the Master Singer and not on themselves. They learn strength through learning their own weaknesses and faults.

This book still rips the heart out. It heals some of the heart from the last book before tearing your heart again.

But that ending…so, so, so worth everything this series puts the reader through. I got tingles all over reading it.

The writing of this whole series is so beautiful, I can hear the songs even though I’m not musically inclined. I can taste the beauty of Leira in the prose.

Seriously, go out and read this book and this series!

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review. All opinions expressed in the review are my own.*

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This, my friends, is a book well worth waiting for.

Ok, so, two years isn't that long of a wait— not compared to how long some authors have taken to release new books. But with our favorite characters in dire straits, fans of the Songkeeper Chronicles have been anxiously waiting for this final installment to reassure us that, yes, the Takhran will be defeated, Amos, Birdie, Ky, and the rest will live, and the Song will be restored. And now that that book is here and those questions can be answered, I just have to say: Song of Leira is the best of Gillian's books yet. And trust me, you won't see the ending coming.

One of the things Gillian does best— always has done best— is theme, and Song of Leira is no exception. Powerful without being preachy, cheering without being cheesy, Gillian speaks her message clearly through the decisions of her characters and the results of those actions. Even in the midst of darkness, even when our characters are at their most beaten-down, they find hope, for the Master Singer is still in control. Even when it doesn't make sense, characters choose to follow His lead— and in that, they find triumph, though there is much heartbreak along the way. And even when evil is overwhelming, they seek to do the good set before them, for such is where the fight begins and ends. The road is hard and the path is long; Gillian doesn't try to pretend otherwise. But there is light at the end of it.

Besides the themes, one of my favorite things about the Songkeeper Chronicles is the characters themselves. It's amazing to see how they've grown and changed since Orphan's Song. Birdie, once pushed here and there by the decisions of those around her, steps forward to seek the Song and follow its lead for herself. Ky, once constantly at odds with the ways of the Underground, now finds his way as their leader. Even Cade has mellowed out some. And Amos . . . oh, poor Amos. The brokenness he once hid behind a bold mask has been compounded until he can hide it no more. They're all broken, these characters. At times it seems as if they're just fumbling and feeling their way along in the dark; they're lost in the storm of sorrow and trouble they face. Yet they stay strong and hold true to what they know, and even the most broken find healing in the end.

Yet it's not just the characters who've grown. It's the author as well. Orphan's Song, Gillian's first book, felt . . . safe. There was danger, there was fear, there was a cliffhanger ending, but very rarely did I doubt that the characters would make it through somehow. And there were parts in Orphan's Song, even in Songkeeper, where I read it and I thought, that, that could've been handled better. This seems off.

But Song of Leira is anything but safe. The pain, the darkness, the sorrow, they're as real as the joy and the hope and the peace. Beloved characters fall and fail and are lost and— not going to lie— some die. (One death in particular, midway through the book, just about tore my heart in two.) Gillian has clearly taken lessons from the masters in how to put readers' emotions through the wringer along with her characters. But none of the book, from the darkest sorrow to the brightest joy, is overdone or underwhelming. It's right. The prose, in many places, is beautiful— not something I say about many books. And the ending— oh, the ending! I don't think I can say much about it without giving spoilers, but it's magnificent. Just trust me and read it.

In conclusion: Song of Leira is an excellent ending to the Songkeeper Chronicles. The deep themes and beautifully broken characters will speak to readers' hearts, and the storyline itself will keep them constantly turning pages. If you're a fan of the Songkeeper Chronicles, you won't be disappointed— and if you haven't read the series yet, what are you waiting for?

[Bryn Shutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The swansong to The Songkeeper Chronicles played a tune of 411 measures (pages). The main melody and underlying harmonies shifted their moods over and and again from humorous and heartwarming to convicting and thought provoking then on to brutal and just plain savage. The heart pounding measure "moments" and most importantly the "saw that coming but still I'm gobsmacked" were the ones I turned back the "tune" to "replay" again and again.

Adams has definitely come on a long journey through this trilogy both in advancing her style and connection to her characters.

Fans of Birdie, Ky & Co. will not be disappointed.

[Jane Maree · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the finale of the trilogy, Song of Leira is overflowing, cover-to-cover, with glorious breathtaking awesomeness. I had high expectations for this book, and I wasn't let down at all.

The whole book is a bit of a blur because I just couldn't stop turning the pages. The first act was a little slow action-wise, but even through that the tension was strung taut beneath every scene. The mood and emotion grew more and more tense with each chapter.

The characters are still so amazing. Ky wins the award of being my favourite in the first, second, AND this third and final book. I really connected with him and how he was trying so hard, even though he kept making mistake after mistake.

All the other characters are just as realistic and memorable and each has their own beautiful melody to add to the story. Several new characters were introduced and they were all developed so well and realistically.

As I mentioned, the first act was a little on the slow side, but overall the novel was still action packed. There were several moments when I'm pretty sure I stopped breathing. The feels were all in there, and even in the most action-filled scenes, the characters are coming through beautifully.

The climax absolutely met my expectations. It was one of those tricky things that are balancing on the edge of being disappointing, but wonderfully aren't quite over. There are always going to be people who will say it wasn't good enough for them, but I am satisfied.

When RANDOM DUDE came to life again and took such a major role in the climax I was a little worried that Birdie would be pushed to the side and this RANDOM DUDE who I'd barely met was going to rule the climax, but thankfully Birdie still got enough notice and still played a major role and all was well. It could've easily been tipped too far the other way, and I'm very glad that it wasn't.

Overall: this series is absolutely worth your time, and I highly recommend it to all. (12+)

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Matthew Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Song of Leira was definitely one of my most anticipated reads for the year! I loved the other two books in the series: I said that Orphan’s Song “captures the quality of a song—melodious, lyrical, wrought with the loving care and concern of a master wordsmith” and, about Songkeeper, that “Adams hits the perfect pitch of emotions in this book and ends on a note of quiet awe and longing.” And so, musical puns quite aside, how could I say no when Gillian offered the readers on her email list a chance to read and review the book before it came out?

You realise, of course, that you’ll have to read my review with caution. After all, I did receive a free copy and I do have an interest in promoting this author’s work. However, please allow me to assure you that I was not obliged to give a positive review and that what I write here expresses only my most honest and genuine feelings and all that technical boggswoggle.

Song of Leira is a beautiful dichotomy. It’s brutal. There’s no denying the brutality. How heavy the burden of leadership can become. How much you can lose with an honest mistake. Brutality is the most common concern I’ve seen in reviews of the Songkeeper Chronicles. Brutality can certainly lead to the self-satisfied cynicism of grimdark: “This is the way the world is, and there’s nothing you can do to change it.” In these stories every wicked deed comes with a twisted smirk from the narrator, offered up as “proof” of the hard reality of life.

Song of Leira doesn’t do this.

In the consuming bitterness of grief and loss, we have the sense that darkness isn’t the sum of life. There’s rightness amid all the wrong. There’s divine truth among all the questions, all the very human questions. And while the world portrayed is certainly dark, there is always hope that soon the clouds may part. Dark stories aren’t for everyone, but the dark is handled so much better in Song of Leira than the world-weary adult fiction of today.

That is the other side of the dichotomy: innocence. Innocence and brutality, a dissonance that somehow—inexplicably—harmonises. This is all too vivid in the image that pierced me deepest: Birdie struggling to find her way forward as war rages all around her, a young girl with a bloodied axe. Symbols of innocence and of violence in an unforgettable combination. This image is perhaps the one I’ll remember best about Song of Leira, because of how it captures the very essence of the story.

As a writer and student of writing myself, I was struck by Song of Leira’s use of scope. For much of the story, we follow just one group of characters through their small-scale conflicts with each other and the outside world. As a result, these conflicts became exceptionally well developed rather than being wrapped up quickly. In high fantasy, there’s definitely the temptation to go big, to choose world-altering stories over small groups and their struggles with each other—and while there’s certainly nothing wrong with world-altering, I felt that Song of Leira needed and that it rejoiced in how small it started, in a time of uncertainty, of slippery ground underfoot, of a desperate need for rest and an equal and opposing need to persevere.

The small scope enabled each character to embody their own answer to the thematic question. Birdie’s struggle is what, what should she do—okay, I am a Songkeeper, but what are the practical steps I take, how do I live according to my calling? Each of her supporting characters lives out one answer to her question. Gundhrold believes that war is the only answer. Frey disdains anything to do with bloodshed. Quillan is a man of peace even when faced by evil. Gillian has written each character honestly, authentically, taking care to respect their driving beliefs, and I love that about her story. And yet, even when these characters fill the archetypal role of mentor, their way is never presented as the only way. This is their view of life, not a narratorial hammer dropped on our heads to drive the lesson deep. It’s up to Birdie, the story promises, to find her answer.

If Song of Leira has a weakness, it’s the final 30%. I was disappointed at how fast the story wrapped up. Half of that, no doubt, is because I love this series and I would love the story to continue in a fourth book!

The other half of my disappointment is because I really do think a fourth book would benefit the story. Song of Leira undergoes a distinct turning point when a group of characters meets up with Birdie, which causes the story’s scope to increase exponentially over a very short period of time. This rapid escalation results in the very antithesis of what I love about Song of Leira. Where the first 70% is deep and vivid, the last 30% is frantic. And the deepest consequence: that the thematic strengths of the story—the focusing questions Birdie and Ky ask, and each character’s heartfelt answer—become very nearly irrelevant as living, growing things.

I reacted so strongly to the (rushed) final push to victory because I paid so specific attention to the pace and scale and humanity of the long singing buildup. I really do think another book would have given Gillian a better opportunity to bring the essential conflicts set up in this story to a satisfying conclusion—and then, only then, to investigate the final push to victory again with the freedom and space of 25% of the series rather than 10%.

This is a hard thing to say, because I’ve been privileged to hear some of Gillian’s personal journey in writing this series and especially this book, and as a pre-release reader and reviewer, I have a stronger connection with the author than many. I wonder if I’m overstepping my privilege, whether I’m wielding sandpaper rather than gauze. But then I remember that even Gillian describes Song of Leira as her big, beautiful, and imperfect book.

Perhaps imperfection is all right. Perhaps that’s the very reverberation of the human heart.

In sum: While the story struggles in its final third, Gillian Bronte Adams’s final instalment of the Songkeeper Chronicles stands out among modern fantasy and even modern fiction for its rich themes and authentic characters. Song of Leira is a beautiful harmony of the steady beat of God’s voice twining through the broken notes of our frail humanity, a dichotomy of brutality and innocence, satisfaction and disappointment. I read late into the night. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

My most earnest thanks to the author for letting me read Song of Leira ahead of its release. You’ve given me an echo of the true master melody sung by the true Singer.


Rating: 4 stars (Good. I would certainly reread.)

[Claire Banschbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book!!

I will say the first half was a little slow and maybe a tad bit repetitive and it seemed like nothing much happened. But then everything started happening along with all of the emotions! Birdie really comes into her own in the second half, as does Ky.

Characters from the first two books come back for appearances in good and bad ways, leaving you biting your nails. ;) There was some really cool symbolism, and some epic action sequences. This book is just good, ok. It's basically a whole mess of emotions and I'm not sure how to put it all in words. Halp.

If you love Christian fantasy, read this. It's one of the best examples of the genre and I love how amazingly everything is woven in and not just so much in your face. So good. I hate how long it took me to read these books and just left them sitting on my shelf. lol!

[Rebekah Gyger · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the dark, gruesome ending of Songkeeper, I was not sure where Song of Leira would pick up. While the cover speaks of victory, the ending of the last book was so disheartened that I did not know what to hope for in this. From the beginning it seems that the characters feel the discouragement of the last book as well. Most of them are defeated and broken, unsure of how to go on.


Honestly, I was not a fan of those first few chapters. The characters wallowed for some time and, though I recognized that they had all lost much, I am used to characters who spring back with far more determination than these did. Ky, my favorite character from the last book, was particularly frustrating in that he seemed unable to put his foot down in regards to the Underground. He was unprepared for sudden leadership, unwilling to fight for it despite being unwilling to relinquish it. Though, in that regard, it was probably his challenger who bothered me more, insisting on taking over but then never going through with it.


However, somewhere around the hundred page mark, the characters changed. Finally, they picked themselves out of their fear and self pity, taking strides to learn from mistakes and forage on where there was no blazed trail. Neither Birdie or Ky knew where they were going, but they still pulled through and took up the roles they were meant to play.


The Song Keeper Chronicles is not the fantasy I am used to. The characters are not as dogged, or as apt to unwittingly fulfilling their purpose. Everything is a learning moment or a else a decision come to after much wavering. Though frustrating for a take action sort of person like myself, it is also more honest and in that way more encouraging. Perhaps a reminder that no matter how much we drag our heels, God's will will still be served. Which made the end all the more victorious.


I have provided an honest review after having received a copy of the book from the author.

[STARLA ROSE · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book!

[Sierra Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an epic conclusion! Love, love, love!

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not disappointed by this dramatic climax of the Songkeeper Chronicles.

People just kept turning up. Randoms from all through the series (that I had forgotten about) would turn up when you least expected them. Except Amos of course, I had not forgotten about him

I enjoyed the themes it brought up in the book. The struggle of how we can pursue peace even while at war.

There was hope even in the darkness. There was a purpose behind what happened. Someone was in control all along. There is hope for redemption and restoration even for those most broken.

“You are all broken, Songkeeper... But not beyond repair.”

I did not really have any issues with the content in the book. If you enjoyed the rest of the series, you should be fine with this one too.

I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Andrew Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Birdie longs for peace; but in a world torn by war, does peace have any place? Beaten by the Takhran, Birdie and Gundhrold have fled to the mountains in hopes of joining forces with the dwarves barricaded in Cadel-Gidhar, the chief dwarven stronghold of the Whyndburg Mountains. Birdie’s friend Ky is also making for the fortress, leading the remnants of the Underground, hoping for a safe haven from the Khelari. But little does either party realize that Cadel-Gidhar is already besieged by the Takhran’s forces. If the defenders of the north fall, what hope will remain for Birdie and her friends?
The third installment in the Songkeeper Chronicles, Song of Leira completes the trilogy well. One thing that can be said about Gillian is her writing is quite elegant; her descriptions of places and actions flow well through the scenes, painting a picture that the reader’s imagination has little trouble visualizing, all without detracting from the current of the story. This is certainly the best of the series, both in the technical and the story elements. The plot is more engaging than the previous two installments (that is not to say that they weren’t interesting; Song of Leira is merely more so); and as one would expect, the author’s craft has improved as well. As with any book, however, that does not mean the story is without issue. There are a few potential loose threads, depending on how much stock one reads into certain developments throughout the book. For example, Ky and a girl named Slack both want to lead what is left of the Underground after Cade’s abandonment; the conflict between them is a major point early on in the story. But as the scope of Ky’s plotline broadens, his conflict with Slack is pushed to the background, until it essentially disappears from the overarching plot; the author ends up tying it off rather messily. But that can and should be forgiven, as this is her first series; loose ends seem to be a common occurrence with a debut author.
On the philosophy of the book, there are also some interesting developments, one of which was quite a surprise. If one were to ask if this was a “Christian” series, as in, does it have a Jesus figure in the story; it would appear based on the first two books that there is not one. That does not make it un-Christian, but by some definitions it would not fall under that category. However, it turns out that there is one such character present in the story. They were certainly unlooked for as a character, though not unwelcome. Such a development is quite, for lack of a better term, sneaky; one reads the book, thinking, “Oh, what a lovely fantasy tale,” little knowing that they are ingesting the Gospel message.
Song of Leira is a hope-filled tale in a world of hopelessness (both the story-world and the real one). Darkness grows while those who choose good struggle to find their role in the battle against evil. But in the end, hope prevails, bringing refreshing and life to a broken land. In this, the book speaks to the deepest need of our world today. The fix for brokenness is not more laws, nor is it even the answer most people look to today, love. It is more than that; it is God’s love, shown us in the Person of Jesus Christ, God’s Son. Song of Leira echoes this in spectacular fashion as a River of melody flooding through a dry and thirsty land. And that, oh reader, is where a True Story gets its power.

[Jonny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a pre-release of this book, but had purchased the previous two books in the series on my own. I would love to go into the specifics, but also find it hard trying to not give away key plot twists and turns. It is a fitting conclusion to the story of Birdie (The Songkeeper) and Ky. There are some curveballs in the series I didn't see coming, but it finished with a great ending.

I feel like the story of the trilogy is really one of perseverance. Gillian Bronte Adams doesn't hold back from having the characters have to deal with adversity, through the death of friends and characters you might have grown fond of during the books. She doesn't hold your hand and doesn't hold back. Have to think that in some way she has real life experience with adversity or it just goes to tell how good of a story teller she is. I find few authors I can read entire series from and find sometimes female authors writing styles can be hard for me to relate to but from the first book the story telling Gillian Bronte Adams exhibited was captivating and she progressed from each book to the next.

If you have read the previous two books you need to pick up this final conclusion to the series. It is a must read and must buy. And if you haven't taken the dive into the series yet, take the dive and start with Orphan's Song, you won't regret it.

[Ella J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

This is an interesting conclusion to "The Songkeeper Chronicles," series.
"Song of Leira," is the darkest and most intense of the 3 books in this series. The stakes are super high and the tension is palpable. I have to give props to the writer for how atmospheric she made this book.
That being said, while I do enjoy heavy fantasy books, that deal with hard topics, I have to admit that I thought this book is just a bit too depressing and intense. There are a LOT of deaths and some of them are pretty graphic.
The main characters, Birdie, Ky, and Amos, go through a lot of turmoil and have very few happy moments. I wish we could have had more scenes where they were just interacting and sharing with each other.
I also wish the Song had played a bigger role in the whole story. I loved that Birdie was challenged and grew in her faith and I really wish that had happened for Ky and Amos. I don't think Ky ever even mentioned the Song and Amos only turned back to his faith at the very end.

While I didn't enjoy the aforementioned things above, I did like the twists and turns "Song of Leira," takes. I had a really hard time predicting any of the events that happened and didn't see many of the twists that came. The author did a great job of taking the heroes journey format and making it her own.

Overall, this series isn't my favorite. I do think, though, that it is worth reading for anyone who is a fan of fantasy series that have a more serious tone.

[Michael Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book final one in The Songkeeper Chronicles Trilogy. Where the characters involved were Birdie, Ky and Amos finally get back together and there is a surprise resurrection. Who could it be? Find out in this exciting conclusion of which I could not put the book down until I got to the end.

[M.C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an ending! All the setup of the previous books is finally paid off in this epic conclusion to the series. Birdie and Ky have grown up so much. I was especially proud of Ky and how he handled his new staggering responsibilities.
This is a beautiful story illustrating how taking matters into our own hands instead of trusting God for the outcome leads only to more disaster. I loved it and the whole series and would highly recommend to fantasy fans aged 13+.

[Mechelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending was really awesome but a little hard to get there for me. I really wanted a little more of the awesome ending thru out the whole book with a final bang. It did end with my three favorite characters and that was a plus.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Takhran's forces are growing stronger and spreading across more of Leira. Birdie's allies have either fallen or dispersed, and more and more it feels like she's trying to save the land all on her own. People expect her to save them as the Songkeeper, but even the song seems distant.
Ky feels like he is barely holding the Underground together, and constantly feels like he should be off rescuing one of those he promised to look after.
Things aren't looking good for those who dare to stand against the Takhran. Is there any power in the Song? Does Emhran care? Is there any hope left in Leria?

Things don't look good for a huge chunk of this book. I thought after the first third things might pick up a tiny bit, but the author lets the characters sludge along in dire circumstances until the very end of this book. It definitely helps you feel the desperation and despair that people in long, ongoing, seemingly hopeless circumstances would feel. It's bleak. But eventually it does get better. Adams weaves in a fair bit of biblical allegories and the story has clear reflections of Christian good vs evil themes. Adams has built an intricate imagined world with multiple cultures, mythical creatures, and conflicts both large and interpersonal. There's a lot going on and sometimes it is heavy, so even though the main character feels like she is 12 or so, I'm definitely shelving this series in YA (especially for the realistic battle scenes). Having read this series and the start of Adams' newest series, I can tell from reading both that she's grown a lot as a writer since this series. Not that this series is bad, but her newer one is amazing. Hand this to epic fantasy fans and Christian allegory fans.

Notes on content:
Language: None (unless you count Amos' very creative swears)
Sexual content: None
Violence: As mentioned, there are realistically depicted battle scenes including somewhat described injuries and deaths (including beheadings). The bad guy has a torture chamber where he likes to keep people magically alive longer than they should be...it's a bit disturbing.
Ethnic diversity: Made up cultures, some are described as being people of color.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: The Takhran's forces enslave and brainwash captives.

[Lou Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10. It was good to read the final installment in this Christian Fantasy trilogy. I particularly enjoyed the last quarter of the book and how it ended.
I found earlier parts of the book slow at times. There was more internal conflict and less travel around the world than the first two books.
Nevertheless, the last part gave me the ending that I had been waiting for since reading the end of book two.

[Phoenix Loxley · Rating 5 out of 5]

YAAAAAASSSS. I'VE WAITED WAY TOO LONG FOR THIS!!!!!!!!

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a surprising delight of a read. Not having read the first two in the series I had expected to struggle to get into the story so quickly but that wasn’t the case at all. I found it very easy to pick up and Adams did a good job of explaining the ‘missing pieces’ from the previous two novels.

The story begins with Birdie and Ky grappling to keep their people alive. They’ve clearly been on the receiving end of brutal treatment by the Takhran, which has robbed them of their leaders so it’s left to these two to sort out a clear future path. The story had a Lord of the Rings feel to me, with the darkness surrounding the evil Takhran whose fortress we later discover is in the Pit, and underground hideaway that can be accessed by a series of joining tunnels.

The Takhran are gradually assuming all the good tribes and enslaving their peoples to hardship, essentially making weapons for their armies. Birdie and Ky really don’t stand a chance but like LOTR an unlikely alliance of tribes comes together to battle the Takhran, which involves striking a number of key camps before a final conflict in the Pit to determine who will rule the land.

Birdie. Oh my. What a fabulous character. She has a unique calling, possessing the ability to hear all the melodies playing in everyone’s spirits. But most significantly she has a connection with the Master Singer who equips her with the power of song to defeat all manner of dark opposition. The analogy to the Holy Spirit was breathtaking and the undercurrent of the song’s power and influence throughout the story was wonderful. It is one of the best analogies I’ve read in Christian fiction.

But like the Holy Spirit, we’ve got to step into the power with humility and obedience allowing ourselves to be the vessel by which the song is released to bring glory to the Master Singer. Birdie grapples with her obedience and weakness throughout the story but through encouragement from others she, in her weakness and desire for good, is able to act as the saving vessel.

Ky is an intriguing character, full of immature bravado that cause him to make a number of decisions which put others at risk. I’m not sure he ever succeeds in being able to look beyond his passionate pursuit to find his long lost friend and make decisions for the best of the ever-growing tribe. Admittedly his willingness to rescue other slaves in the process is a noble one plus invite them without duress to join his ‘army’.

And the otherworldly creatures are fantastic. Gundhrold, the griffin, steals the how for much of the first half of the story. The deadly mythical beasts the Takhran have at their disposal, the 3-headed chimera for example, are frightening. I loved how Adams weaved these creatures throughout the story. There is much brutality which could challenge some readers but like LOTR its not gratuitous rather reflecting the evil of the times.

But it’s the theme of hope that captured my heart. There is much evil in this world but we have a Master Singer who is full of goodness, love and hope. He equips us all with those same attributes if we choose to follow His lead and allow His song to transform us in order for His glory.

I look forward to what Adams has in store next.

Go buy this book.

[Clare S-B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is beautiful, a very satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. I did get worried at one point when a new character looked like he might take over the climax, but he didn't quite. The use of the song power is in some ways impersonal compared to some magic systems, but this one is obviously meant to be an analogy of faith, and not just a magic system so it works in quite a different way. It is such a beautiful magic too, when Birdie uses it. How she hears the music flowing through everything really makes the book feel so fairytale-ish and beautiful

There were still epic battle scenes. Tragic battle scenes, and hopeful battle scenes. A lot of them quite violent. The bag guy was very creepy and some of the scenes could be quite disturbing for younger readers. But otherwise there are no issues content wise.

It was not very fast paced at the start but towards the end it certainty was. The characters were as good as always, or as bad. The rich themes are what really make it a most beautiful book that I can highly recommend.

I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. So naturally that is what this is.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why, but I struggled with the second and third books in this series. I think that it was so packed with things happening that I sometimes felt lost. I wanted the SongKeeper to be stronger. I wish she had had someone to come alongside her and teach her rather than speaking to her in cryptic phrases that neither of us understood. I think she could have been far more effective and confident if someone had taught her about God (I can't remember what He was called in the story) and how to look to Him long before she ended up doing that. It was like she had to figure out who He was by the infrequent times that He spoke to her and encouraged her. She would be afraid and cowering and then the Song would come and she would suddenly remember who she was and that she did have power from on high. That was frustrating to me - people who have God should be stronger than those who are in the darkness, and this story just felt like those who knew God were being overpowered by the darkness, until the very end. Despite that, I enjoyed this series and have enjoyed everything I've read by Gillian Adams!

This was a clean read.

[Carol R Gehringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Song of Leira, the young Songkeeper Birdie retreats into the mountainside after her journey into the Pit and the battle that ensued. The casualty count was high, and she sang many to their final rest. This strengthened her resolve to fight evil, despite the cost and rebuilds hope in many. Former street thief Ky enlists Birdie’s aid to free the captives from the slave camps, but Takhtan has singers of his own leading his army. When all looks darkest, Birdie answers the call.

Adams pens a tightly-written conclusion to her epic fantasy, complete with a final battle between good and evil. In the previous book, the main characters were devastated after their battle with Takhtan (the evil), causing them reconsider whether to press on in a fight they’d most likely lose or surrender in despair. The Song calls to Birdie, the Songkeeper, to rise above the heartbreak around her and to sing hope to those around her. Birdie plays a pivotal role and becomes confident (but not cocky). She has grown tremendously since the first book, as has Adams’ writing.

[Jason Joyner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been amazed at the first two books in the Songkeeper series. Beautiful writing pared with heartbreaking adventure and deep characters fighting to keep above the evil plans of the Khelari.

Song of Leira continues the strong storytelling and leads to an explosive conclusion. There's a lovely melancholy as characters must battle their doubts and demons along with the plot of the antagonists. The author's eye for detail and lush description keeps a reader pulled along.

This is a very strong finish for this series. I recommend the whole set for fans of fantasy. I have a feeling there are even bigger things for this author in the future. I am a fan and will look forward to new books from her in the future.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I jumped right into this story expecting to be a bit confused (I grabbed book three instead of book one), but decided to press on anyone. I felt like the author did a good job of introducing me to what was going on (even coming into the trilogy late), though it would have been nice to have a list of characters or something like that. Even without it, I was able to follow.

That said, I think the book could have been significantly shorter. Nothing really happens for the first 100 pages, and even after that there were some beautiful descriptions with some plot summaries thrown in. I wanted to be sucked in and expected the third book in the series to be really intense, but I found it easy to skim. It really picked up when I got to sections 4&5.

[Jessica Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written story full of realistic characters and fantastical creatures. There is an undertone of faith and the Creator (Songmaster), but it does not have an overt Christian message. I do love how Birdie is simply a vessel to the Songmaster and cannot control the song of her own accord, only submit and yield to it.

The series is clean in language (though one character gets creative and humorous in alternative expressions :-) and contains no romance of any kind. There is violence to some extent (plenty of battle scenes) but an overall message emphasizing the value of life.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the series and highly recommend it to those who enjoy clean fantasy. I look forward to reading more of Gillian’s books.

[A.M. Reynwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweeping conclusion to the trilogy, to be sure! This book had such depth of despair and hope, desolation and renewal, portraying the tumultuous and confliction emotions of savage war and slavery, awash with monsters, mayhem, and magic - all carried on the threads of a song slowly building to a wild and triumphant crescendo.

I could appreciate how much Birdie struggled with compassion in the face of so much evil, and Ky with grace and rage as he battled Slack's animosity and his own sufficiency as a leader. And Amos . . . his story of hopeless emptiness into truth and restoration is a picture of salvation itself. Indeed, there is power in the water and the blood.