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The Sorcerer's Song #3
The Sword's Elegy
The Sword's Elegy is the third book in a new epic fantasy trilogy from successful self-published author Brian D. Anderson, perfect for fans of The Wheel of Time and The Sword of Truth.
The doom of humankind has at last been realized. Belkar's prison is broken and his army is on the move. The nations of Lamoria, unaware of the greater danger, look to repel the aggression of Ralmarstad.
Mariyah and Lem, certain that only the magic of the Bards can save them, desperately search for that lost knowledge. But friends and allies are what they need to complete their task. And they are in short supply. For, while peril often brings out the best in us, it also brings out the worst.
In the end, it is not great power, terrible armies, or mighty warriors who will influence the course of fate. But two lovers and the unbreakable bond they share. All questions are answered. All mysteries revealed. And even Belkar will learn that fate, once tempted, cannot be denied.
The doom of humankind has at last been realized. Belkar's prison is broken and his army is on the move. The nations of Lamoria, unaware of the greater danger, look to repel the aggression of Ralmarstad.
Mariyah and Lem, certain that only the magic of the Bards can save them, desperately search for that lost knowledge. But friends and allies are what they need to complete their task. And they are in short supply. For, while peril often brings out the best in us, it also brings out the worst.
In the end, it is not great power, terrible armies, or mighty warriors who will influence the course of fate. But two lovers and the unbreakable bond they share. All questions are answered. All mysteries revealed. And even Belkar will learn that fate, once tempted, cannot be denied.
416 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2022
7 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
About the author
Brian D. Anderson
47 books691 followersKnown as one of the O.G. independent authors of the 2010-2012 indie explosion, Brian D. Anderson gained massive popularity right out of the gate with his debut series, The Godling Chronicles. His follow-up series, Dragonvein, was just as popular, Book One becoming a Top Five Finalist on Audible.com for Fantasy Book of the Year in 2015 – becoming the very first independent to reach the finals. But Anderson was far from finished.
After co-authoring Akiri with Steven Savile (Warhammer, Pathfinder, Dr. Who, and Sherlock Holmes) Anderson became the first independent author in history to secure a six-figure audio only deal for his highly anticipated two-book sequel of The Godling Chronicles.
Anderson continued with his indie career with The Vale series. But even after twenty novels, he felt there was more to accomplish. So he secured a three-book deal with Tor Books for The Sorcerer’s Song series.
When not writing, Brian D. Anderson divides his time enjoying his friends and family at home in the sleepy little southern town of Fairhope, Alabama, and riding atop his Harley Davidson, dubbed The Mighty Puck, traveling the country from convention to convention, meeting fans and signing books.
After co-authoring Akiri with Steven Savile (Warhammer, Pathfinder, Dr. Who, and Sherlock Holmes) Anderson became the first independent author in history to secure a six-figure audio only deal for his highly anticipated two-book sequel of The Godling Chronicles.
Anderson continued with his indie career with The Vale series. But even after twenty novels, he felt there was more to accomplish. So he secured a three-book deal with Tor Books for The Sorcerer’s Song series.
When not writing, Brian D. Anderson divides his time enjoying his friends and family at home in the sleepy little southern town of Fairhope, Alabama, and riding atop his Harley Davidson, dubbed The Mighty Puck, traveling the country from convention to convention, meeting fans and signing books.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 3, 2022
I have absolutely dreaded writing this review. It pains me so much that I almost didn’t. But I have never shied away from honest reviews, as I believe that brings a measure of authenticity that is important to a reviewer. So, here goes:
I was incredibly disappointed with this book.
I loved the first two books in the series. They were adventurous and whimsical, well-plotted fantasy stories. A perfect blend of story aspects that make me fawn.
Somewhere along the way, though, that adventure got lost, the magic faded, and this book plodded along slowly with an unsatisfactory ending.
One redeeming factor was the growth of Lem and Mariyah’s relationship. It was joyful to see two people that are so dedicated to one another that they would do anything for them.
I did like the themes present in the book: friendship, love, devotion, cooperation, good versus evil. But those themes were already present, and the characters didn’t need to be nerfed to accentuate them.
As much as I hate to say it, I did not enjoy the ending to this series. It does have a 4+ score on Goodreads, though, so I may be the only one. If you have read it, I would be curious to know yours.
Oh, well. Can’t win them all. As Jay-Z said: it’s onto the next one…
I was incredibly disappointed with this book.
I loved the first two books in the series. They were adventurous and whimsical, well-plotted fantasy stories. A perfect blend of story aspects that make me fawn.
Somewhere along the way, though, that adventure got lost, the magic faded, and this book plodded along slowly with an unsatisfactory ending.
One redeeming factor was the growth of Lem and Mariyah’s relationship. It was joyful to see two people that are so dedicated to one another that they would do anything for them.
I did like the themes present in the book: friendship, love, devotion, cooperation, good versus evil. But those themes were already present, and the characters didn’t need to be nerfed to accentuate them.
As much as I hate to say it, I did not enjoy the ending to this series. It does have a 4+ score on Goodreads, though, so I may be the only one. If you have read it, I would be curious to know yours.
Oh, well. Can’t win them all. As Jay-Z said: it’s onto the next one…
November 14, 2022
A very well done capstone to end the epic and heart gripping trilogy that was The Sorcerer's Song! Some very interesting and genuinely intriguing twists and world building sprinkled throughout this one! I do think that the ending felt a bit rushed, with a few story threads coming to a rather abrupt halt, but overall I'm satisfied with the ending! I loved the series as a whole!
January 26, 2025
I enjoyed book 1 the most, and books 2 and 3 were alright. So I think 3.5 stars feels about right for the trilogy.
December 4, 2022
I can’t lie, I was a little bit disappointed by this book. That isn’t so much a knock on this one as it is a testament to how much I loved A Bard’s Blade and A Chorus of Fire.
Overall, I still love this world and the style of magic combined with music. I feel that something was lost now that the two leads were united. The political intrigue and cloak-and-dagger nature which made the first two books so compelling is not as prevalent in the finale.
I absolutely loved this series, but for me, the ending did not live up to the books that came before. The final chapter was a beautiful ending and send off for the characters that was at least partially satisfying
Overall, I still love this world and the style of magic combined with music. I feel that something was lost now that the two leads were united. The political intrigue and cloak-and-dagger nature which made the first two books so compelling is not as prevalent in the finale.
I absolutely loved this series, but for me, the ending did not live up to the books that came before. The final chapter was a beautiful ending and send off for the characters that was at least partially satisfying
June 14, 2023
From beginning to end, The Sorcerer's Song captivated me entirely. The initial book instilled a feeling of dread and hopelessness for our main characters, only to witness their remarkable transformation and personal growth in the middle. Finally, they emerged as true all-stars in the end.
The epilogue of The Sorcerer's Song surprised me with its dark and twisted turns. It had consequences that wrecked me emotionally. I wished for a clearer explanation on some of the complex lore. However, I still felt happy overall. The ending was satisfying, and i'm sad that this story had to come to an end!
The epilogue of The Sorcerer's Song surprised me with its dark and twisted turns. It had consequences that wrecked me emotionally. I wished for a clearer explanation on some of the complex lore. However, I still felt happy overall. The ending was satisfying, and i'm sad that this story had to come to an end!
January 12, 2024
After loving the first two books in this series I was excited to read this last one and find out how it all ends. Unfortunately, this one fell a little flat for me. While I enjoyed things about this book, it just didn't have the same feel as the other two. One thing that was missing was the danger and intrigue. I was never sure how things would end up when I was reading the other two books, but with this one I never really got that feeling. I also felt like the book took too much time focusing on side plots and characters. At this point I didn't want to be reading chapters about Shemi that didn't really feel like they needed to be there for the overarching story. I was also a bit disappointed in the way things were resolved. I had hoped that the music would play an even bigger role in this book and the way the magic worked through it, but I didn't get as much of that as I wanted.
Also, Mariyah’s behavior became very concerning to me, she was way too merciless, and didn't seem to have much of a conscience. That's not the way I remember the character from the other two books. The thing I loved about the first two books was how devoted Lem and Mariyah were to each other even through all the changes and hardships they went through. They loved each other and were determined to be together. They never lost focus of that. It was a beautiful thing, but somehow this last book kind of turned that beautiful thing into, doing whatever it took, at whatever cost, no matter who else had to die, in order for them to be together. I get that saving the word was also involved and those are really high stakes, but I feel like Mariyah just wasn't herself anymore and she went too far. On top of that she felt very overpowered, and I wanted the balance of power between Mariyah and Lem to be more even and interdependent to defeat the antagonist. In the end the final battle was too simple with nothing big really happening. It was clever, and I could appreciate that, but it wasn't what I was expecting.
https://writingsofareader.blogspot.co...
Also, Mariyah’s behavior became very concerning to me, she was way too merciless, and didn't seem to have much of a conscience. That's not the way I remember the character from the other two books. The thing I loved about the first two books was how devoted Lem and Mariyah were to each other even through all the changes and hardships they went through. They loved each other and were determined to be together. They never lost focus of that. It was a beautiful thing, but somehow this last book kind of turned that beautiful thing into, doing whatever it took, at whatever cost, no matter who else had to die, in order for them to be together. I get that saving the word was also involved and those are really high stakes, but I feel like Mariyah just wasn't herself anymore and she went too far. On top of that she felt very overpowered, and I wanted the balance of power between Mariyah and Lem to be more even and interdependent to defeat the antagonist. In the end the final battle was too simple with nothing big really happening. It was clever, and I could appreciate that, but it wasn't what I was expecting.
https://writingsofareader.blogspot.co...
March 14, 2023
2.5 Stars
Additionally, the characters just weren't super likeable. Lem was okay. I still struggle with the fact that he became an assassin out of nowhere with no training, then in this one, he just isn't an assassin anymore because "he left that life behind." That's not the strangest part. The weird part is that he really never struggled with the fact that he became a murderer. He just killed a handful of people then everything is fine once he's with Mariyah again.
Speaking of Mariyah, I really didn't like her in this book. She was ruthless, merciless, selfish and rash. Everything was about her and Lem, and innocent lives didn't even matter. She's supposed to be this wonderful person, but I just didn't buy it. Additionally, it bothered me how she became so extremely powerful so fast. It just felt odd.
Shemi is a likeable character, but honestly his whole point of view in this book was worthless. Nothing involving Shemi really moved the plot along at all.
Finally, the last "battle" was extremely anticlimactic. After three books, I was expecting more from the final climactic scene.
Overall I think the author is a good author, the writing style is accessible and he actually had a lot of great quotes in the series. I just don't think the plot, the character development and continuity was strong enough to warrant a higher rating.
"How could a soul not feel joy in the presence of creation?"Unfortunately the ending to this series was a letdown for me. The pace was very, very slow. It seemed like most of what happened in this book could've happened in about half the amount of pages. There were only a few parts that kept me engaged.
Additionally, the characters just weren't super likeable. Lem was okay. I still struggle with the fact that he became an assassin out of nowhere with no training, then in this one, he just isn't an assassin anymore because "he left that life behind." That's not the strangest part. The weird part is that he really never struggled with the fact that he became a murderer. He just killed a handful of people then everything is fine once he's with Mariyah again.
Speaking of Mariyah, I really didn't like her in this book. She was ruthless, merciless, selfish and rash. Everything was about her and Lem, and innocent lives didn't even matter. She's supposed to be this wonderful person, but I just didn't buy it. Additionally, it bothered me how she became so extremely powerful so fast. It just felt odd.
Shemi is a likeable character, but honestly his whole point of view in this book was worthless. Nothing involving Shemi really moved the plot along at all.
Finally, the last "battle" was extremely anticlimactic. After three books, I was expecting more from the final climactic scene.
Overall I think the author is a good author, the writing style is accessible and he actually had a lot of great quotes in the series. I just don't think the plot, the character development and continuity was strong enough to warrant a higher rating.
"I think it better to step boldly into everlasting night than to live devoid of the things that make every moment of life a precious gift."
December 7, 2022
2.5 stars
What a disappointing conclusion to this trilogy.
I honestly don't know what happened. I really enjoyed the first two books, but this one was a bit of a chore. Everything seemed to end in a rush just to get things over with and tie it off with a bow.
Endings are difficult, but it's always extra tough when you really enjoy the first two books in a series, only to be let down in the end.
What a disappointing conclusion to this trilogy.
I honestly don't know what happened. I really enjoyed the first two books, but this one was a bit of a chore. Everything seemed to end in a rush just to get things over with and tie it off with a bow.
Endings are difficult, but it's always extra tough when you really enjoy the first two books in a series, only to be let down in the end.
March 11, 2023
Not as good as the first two books. I thought they spent too much time on side stories and the ending was just to simple. The last battle could have been done better, seems like it just ended with no real battle.
June 5, 2024
Satisfying ending to a trilogy that started out weak, could have done without all suggestive side relationships that weren't story drivers and were clearly there to push agendas.
July 30, 2024
While I was looking forward to how the characters are grouped in this book, I found this to be the least enjoyable book in the series. There were jumps in actions from A to B which made no sense and some things we never really got a resolution to. Also, the ending was somewhat disappointing and there was a decision made and the way it was decided so quickly I found weird and personally did not like how without thought that was made.
December 27, 2022
This final book in the trilogy The Sorcerer's Song left much to be desired. While the main characters were still enjoyable, the story felt disjointed and a few threads were left unfinished. Partway the book the connection to the-story-till-then seemed to be lacking, and it felt as if the plot had either been rushed or stretched out unnecessarily.
One issue with The Sword's Elegy was the lack of intrigue. The first two books in the trilogy had kept me on the edge of my seat with their twists and turns, but this one seemed to lack that same level of excitement. It felt as if the plot had been flatlined, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged.
Overall, I was disappointed with the conclusion to the trilogy. While the main characters were still enjoyable, the plot and pacing of the book were not up to par with the previous two installments. It felt as if the content was oddly different, the plot really did not progress much to reach a conclusion, while the first two books were more captivating.
Still, the trilogy as a whole was great, and if you enjoyed the first two installments, this book is a must read, just a little less enjoyable.
One issue with The Sword's Elegy was the lack of intrigue. The first two books in the trilogy had kept me on the edge of my seat with their twists and turns, but this one seemed to lack that same level of excitement. It felt as if the plot had been flatlined, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged.
Overall, I was disappointed with the conclusion to the trilogy. While the main characters were still enjoyable, the plot and pacing of the book were not up to par with the previous two installments. It felt as if the content was oddly different, the plot really did not progress much to reach a conclusion, while the first two books were more captivating.
Still, the trilogy as a whole was great, and if you enjoyed the first two installments, this book is a must read, just a little less enjoyable.
March 19, 2023
(took me forever to read, nearly a month. depression is weird. lmao)
FIRST OFF.
yes i so agree whole heartedly that this book was not as good as TBB and ACOF (tbh ACOF is my fave and is just so great) but……. fuck man i still loved it so much!!!!!
the lil irks:
-loria!!!! fuckin!!!! being killed!!! while laying!!!! right next!!! to mariyah!!!!!! WTFFFF BROOOO!!!! this was an issue i had with the book. i took no issue with HOW she died. but i feel like it happened too quickly and… that was it? loria, my badass queen deserved more than that. i wish there would have been a mention of mariyah bringing the diamond casket thing back to vylari idk i just loved the whole loria/mariyah dynamic so much and man. ouchie.
-belkar really pulled a voldemort didnt he.. which kinda sucked but you know what??? he wasnt coddled by kylor and that slaps. die regretting everything belkar.
-the ending felt pretty rushed? dont get me wrong i enjoyed reading about lem going to face belkar on his own (king behavior btw) but i wish there had been certain parts of the book that were taken out and then supplemented with “””end content””” iykwim. anyway
the big goods:
-lem and mariyah. god theyre so fucking cute and amazing. i found their whole relationship to be really endearing and i loved loved loved watching them grow into themselves as SEPARATE people! really awesome
-loria and mariyah. the big sister/little sister duo that was ripped away from me too fucking soon. (is2g if lem and mariyah have a girl they better name her loria)
-shemi and travil. 1000/10 couple. thank you brian anderson for giving us good older gay rep and NOT having one of them die. thank you so much
-mariyah being ruthless and cold and kinda evil was??? really great like she slowly slipped into that mindset and it didnt feel rushed or out of place? which i really liked
-mariyah sinking the church of kylor was *chefs kiss*
-mariyah whooping belkar’s ass was so satisfying i cannot begin to explain
-LEM MAKING BELKAR FUCKING MORTAL!?!!?! BITCHHHH YOU BETTER BE JOKING HE IS SO FUCKING COOL AHHHHAHBSSBA
-mariyah calling lem the keeper of her heart at the end and surprising lem with a wedding ceremony. i cried lmao
-mariyah being mariyah🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼
OVERALL idk i really liked this book and yea yea ik it wasnt as good as the first two and it has it flaws but i still really enjoyed this book AND series as a whole!!! mariyah is hands down one of my fave female protags out there and i just. i love her a lot. and i love lem too ofc but im a mariyah simp at heart ok?
me🤝🏻lem
loving mariyah
FIRST OFF.
yes i so agree whole heartedly that this book was not as good as TBB and ACOF (tbh ACOF is my fave and is just so great) but……. fuck man i still loved it so much!!!!!
the lil irks:
-loria!!!! fuckin!!!! being killed!!! while laying!!!! right next!!! to mariyah!!!!!! WTFFFF BROOOO!!!! this was an issue i had with the book. i took no issue with HOW she died. but i feel like it happened too quickly and… that was it? loria, my badass queen deserved more than that. i wish there would have been a mention of mariyah bringing the diamond casket thing back to vylari idk i just loved the whole loria/mariyah dynamic so much and man. ouchie.
-belkar really pulled a voldemort didnt he.. which kinda sucked but you know what??? he wasnt coddled by kylor and that slaps. die regretting everything belkar.
-the ending felt pretty rushed? dont get me wrong i enjoyed reading about lem going to face belkar on his own (king behavior btw) but i wish there had been certain parts of the book that were taken out and then supplemented with “””end content””” iykwim. anyway
the big goods:
-lem and mariyah. god theyre so fucking cute and amazing. i found their whole relationship to be really endearing and i loved loved loved watching them grow into themselves as SEPARATE people! really awesome
-loria and mariyah. the big sister/little sister duo that was ripped away from me too fucking soon. (is2g if lem and mariyah have a girl they better name her loria)
-shemi and travil. 1000/10 couple. thank you brian anderson for giving us good older gay rep and NOT having one of them die. thank you so much
-mariyah being ruthless and cold and kinda evil was??? really great like she slowly slipped into that mindset and it didnt feel rushed or out of place? which i really liked
-mariyah sinking the church of kylor was *chefs kiss*
-mariyah whooping belkar’s ass was so satisfying i cannot begin to explain
-LEM MAKING BELKAR FUCKING MORTAL!?!!?! BITCHHHH YOU BETTER BE JOKING HE IS SO FUCKING COOL AHHHHAHBSSBA
-mariyah calling lem the keeper of her heart at the end and surprising lem with a wedding ceremony. i cried lmao
-mariyah being mariyah🫶🏼🫶🏼🫶🏼
OVERALL idk i really liked this book and yea yea ik it wasnt as good as the first two and it has it flaws but i still really enjoyed this book AND series as a whole!!! mariyah is hands down one of my fave female protags out there and i just. i love her a lot. and i love lem too ofc but im a mariyah simp at heart ok?
me🤝🏻lem
loving mariyah
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2023
To be honest, I almost didn't finish this book. I loved the previous two, but felt this one slogged on. It was gory and dense with the characters traipsing across the map.
But then the love got me. Even through the carnage and bloodfests, there was love to be had. The author made a fantastic decision including Shemi's POV in this book, as it added to the weight of the world that Mariyah and Lem's could not. Shemi's fierce determination to hold tight to what he had, even when that was nothing but the longing to see his loved ones again, really centered the story.
And I am so glad I kept reading. The ending really got me. It had me happy stimming so hard I couldn't read until I calmed down enough to stop (only to go back after two sentences to happy stimming). It was a much deserved ending where the climax focused on the emotions over the battle, and it well paid off.
I can't wait to read more of this author's work.
But then the love got me. Even through the carnage and bloodfests, there was love to be had. The author made a fantastic decision including Shemi's POV in this book, as it added to the weight of the world that Mariyah and Lem's could not. Shemi's fierce determination to hold tight to what he had, even when that was nothing but the longing to see his loved ones again, really centered the story.
And I am so glad I kept reading. The ending really got me. It had me happy stimming so hard I couldn't read until I calmed down enough to stop (only to go back after two sentences to happy stimming). It was a much deserved ending where the climax focused on the emotions over the battle, and it well paid off.
I can't wait to read more of this author's work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2024
This was a fun final book with lots of exciting moments. Mariah really developed her powers and that was fun. Lem also developed his powers and that part was my favorite. Ultimately I think this series didn't get enough time. I think we needed more books. Or at least a novella. I especially wanted more time with the love between Belkar and Kylor. I needed to feel more sympathy for Belkar, because I had no doubt that Mariah would defeat him. Overall the series was great!
December 9, 2024
What more can I say here that I already haven't said about this series: SO UTTERLY AVERAGE. Every good element was immediately brought down by a bad one to level out the book (and series) to true mediocrity . The worldbuiliding was uninspired, the climax anticlamactic, some characters enjoyable and others annoying, the plot full of holes but also I didn't care enough to think deeper about it. I did enjoy my time reading but overall just completely FINE
July 9, 2023
This book felt rushed. It left me with questions at the end. Honestly, I think all the books in this series felt that way. I would be happier to have the books be 700 pages each to get the world flushed out and the questions answered. This was still a good series to read. I wish the ending was longer.
November 22, 2022
Great and epic read
Great characters. World building was exceptional. Read the three book series non stop. Got a week to kill? I highly recommend diving into Brian's exciting and captivating world.
Great characters. World building was exceptional. Read the three book series non stop. Got a week to kill? I highly recommend diving into Brian's exciting and captivating world.
November 7, 2024
After three months ploughing through a book in portuguese, it was nice to burn through this one. Pure fun adventure, a real page turner like the first two.
December 29, 2024
Great series. Shitty ending
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2022
It is hard to put my finger on why I am giving this 4 stars instead of five. It was a good end to a great series, and i enjoyed reading this book. Yet there was something lacking in this book that wasn't lacking in the other two Sorcerer's Song books. I think it was the overall flow, I felt like there was something lacking in Bard Magic. Still a great book and a fitting end to the series!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews