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Nine Kingdoms #4
A Tapestry of Spells
Sarah's brother has embraced the dark arts, vowing to destroy the Nine Kingdoms, and she doesn't have the power to stop him. Now she must risk everything to thwart his plans, even though she fears the quest will reveal the secret she's kept all her life.
After seeing his entire family slain by magic, Ruithneadh swore never to use his power again. But when Sarah pleads for his help, he's thrust back into a life of enchantments and peril, and a quest capable of unraveling the entire fabric of the Nine Kingdoms.
After seeing his entire family slain by magic, Ruithneadh swore never to use his power again. But when Sarah pleads for his help, he's thrust back into a life of enchantments and peril, and a quest capable of unraveling the entire fabric of the Nine Kingdoms.
362 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2010
78 people are currently reading
1240 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Kurland
69 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 128 reviews
February 22, 2017
I was slightly disappointed when I started this and realized it wasn't a continuation of the third book and that there was not even a glimpse of Miach or Morgan. But I quickly began to enjoy this story and these characters just as much as the first three books and their characters. I was initially confused and thought this was about the same brother featured in the first books but after going back and realizing this is a different brother, I was so intrigued! It really adds a whole new spoke on the wheel of this series and I cannot wait to see where it leads! I also really loved how the timelines of this book and the first three were so closely intertwined and both groups narrowly missed each other multiple times. And now I'm dying to read the next book to see how it all plays out!
February 3, 2010
I was a little confused when I first started reading, thinking this was the brother I read about in Princess of the Sword (Runach), so I had to go back to re-read and discover that this story is about another brother (Ruith). I liked the revelations of Ruith's survival of the well and also the storyline of his "quest". I was disappointed in his interactions with Sarah, like, is it common for all guys to like to brush and braid a girl's hair? Miach did this for Morgan in the previous Nine Kingdoms book, so it felt like the same falling-in-love story with different characters, not to mention the whole I-can't-reveal-the-truth-about-who-I-really-am-until-it-comes-out-at-an-awkward-moment plot line. Also, if Ruith's story is concurrent with Morgan's (which it appears to be when they show up at Ceangail just after Keir escapes) how come the grandfather, Sgath, doesn't reveal to Morgan that Ruith is alive? and how come he doesn't show up at her wedding? Perhaps those questions and others will be answered in the next novel. I love the world of the Nine Kingdoms and I hope we get to see more of the characters from the previous books as well as learn more about the ones in Tapestry of Spells.
February 12, 2020
Fourth in the Nine Kingdoms fantasy series and revolving around Gair of Ceangail's dead children. The couple focus is on Sarah and Ruith of Ceangail.
My Take
I swear, I am so confused over which book actually starts this series. I'm not sure if it matters, for the first four or five books, if you read them in order.
A Tapestry of Spells is a bit soap opera-ish with its fairy tale style, and it and Sarah and Ruith's quest pulls me right in.
Sarah's burn is a plot voucher that must be resolved while those pages from Gair's books are plot coupons that must be recovered. It's Ruith who knows what to do with them, but it's Sarah who can find them, forcing them into a partnership as they track Daniel's journey.
It's quite the antagonistic partnership with each doing their best to hide the truth of themselves. One in which friendship slowly grows, as they travel, gathering broken mages, and suffering through rogues, cheats, and thieves.
Kurland teases us with what must have happened to that ten-year-old Ruith, as Ruith remembers that fateful day at the well, although I am confused as to why Ruith felt he had to hide out in this little house on the mountain for the past twenty years.
It's a grown up fairytale with lots of action and plenty of characters with a reasonable pace. It's the prose that frustrated me sometimes with its combination of the normal and the flowery.
The Story
Sarah may not have inherited her mother's abilities, but she has certainly been planning for a disappearance. One that isn't thwarted by the loss of everything she'd planned for her journey, for Daniel's actions force her to take to the road.
It may not be the road Sarah had planned, and it certainly isn't Ruith's choice. For he is determined to not become his father
The Characters
Sarah of Doire is a weaver and is considered the village witch. Castân is Sarah's faithful chestnut steed. At the very start, at least. Ned Crodh is a nervous boy whom Sarah inherited when her mother, Seleg, the witchwoman, died. Daniel is Sarah's evil brother.
Ruithneadh "Ruith" is the youngest son of the evil Prince Gair of Ceangail, who was unpredictable in temper and going mad. An extremely evil mage who had been so very full of himself. Osag will be Ruith's horse.
When Gair was 1,000 years old, he married Sarait of Torr Dòrainn, an elven princess. Ruith had had five older brothers who included Keir, Gille, and Eglach and one sister, Mhorghain, who had been but six that fateful day. Seanagarra had been his beautiful childhood home.
The wizardess Eulasaid of Camanaë lives near Gilean and is Ruith's grandmother. Sgath, the son of Ghèillear, is Ruith's paternal grandfather with a lovely Folly on a lake; Taigh-mòr is the big house. Sile of Torr Dòrainn is Ruith's maternal grandfather.
Master Franciscus is a brewer of fine ale.
Master Oban of Bruaih is the expensive mage. Seirceil of Coibhneas, the youngest son of a nobleman from Meith, is a decent, kind mage. The pretentious Connail of Iomadh was actually born of Peirigleach of Ainneamh and a tavern wench. Urchaid of an exhausting number of places is a dark horse.
Doire is...
...a village in the county of Shettlestoune. Lady Dorcas Higgleton, the alderman's wife, has a fat purse. Prunella is her plain, shy daughter. Lord Higgleton is thrilled with the results.
The Kingdom of Neroche
Miach is the kingdom's archmage and a bird shifter. Adhémar is Miach's older brother and the king. Queen Deşdhemar had been their mother and the archmage before she died rescuing Miach. I think Anghmar was their father??
The Kingdom of Ainneamh is...
...an elven one.
Lord Doílain, the eldest son and one of Gair's bastard sons, now lives at Gair's old keep of Ceangail with many of his bastard brothers, who include Táir and Amitán.
Lothar of Wychweald, Droch of Saothair, Wehr of Wrekin, and Gair are evil mages.
Treun of Angesand didn't allow Alan of Gilean to get away with his theft for long. Uachdaran of Léige had had a spell of concealment.
There are a slew of magics in Kurland's world, including Fadaire; Olc; Camanaë, which is best for healing; and, Wexham, which is favored by the rulers of Neroche.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a graphic with the blues of a mountainous region with low-lying cloud. In the middle is a golden castle of stone with turrets and towers blanketed in snow. Ruith is in the foreground in a green hooded cape, mail on his shoulders and arms, a sword in one hand and his bow in the other with a quiver of arrows on his back. At the very top is an info blurb in a pale blue with the author's name below but above Ruith's head in white outlined in a deep gray with a slight shadow effect. The title, in a pale orange also outlined in grey using a stylized serif font, crosses Ruith's legs. In very tiny black print, is the series information on the left and below the title.
The title refers to Sarah's skills, for she can weave one heck of A Tapestry of Spells.
My Take
I swear, I am so confused over which book actually starts this series. I'm not sure if it matters, for the first four or five books, if you read them in order.
A Tapestry of Spells is a bit soap opera-ish with its fairy tale style, and it and Sarah and Ruith's quest pulls me right in.
Sarah's burn is a plot voucher that must be resolved while those pages from Gair's books are plot coupons that must be recovered. It's Ruith who knows what to do with them, but it's Sarah who can find them, forcing them into a partnership as they track Daniel's journey.
It's quite the antagonistic partnership with each doing their best to hide the truth of themselves. One in which friendship slowly grows, as they travel, gathering broken mages, and suffering through rogues, cheats, and thieves.
It's a fantastical world with its magic and dreams."'Didn't we just have this conversation?'
'I didn't like the ending of it.'"
"Perhaps we'll eventually collect enough injured mages to make up a single, whole mage..."That Sarah, lol, she's a character and such a contrast with her evil brother. I love how determined she is at the start with her well-laid plans and then picks herself up even as she vacillates over her brother's plans.
Kurland teases us with what must have happened to that ten-year-old Ruith, as Ruith remembers that fateful day at the well, although I am confused as to why Ruith felt he had to hide out in this little house on the mountain for the past twenty years.
It's a grown up fairytale with lots of action and plenty of characters with a reasonable pace. It's the prose that frustrated me sometimes with its combination of the normal and the flowery.
The Story
Sarah may not have inherited her mother's abilities, but she has certainly been planning for a disappearance. One that isn't thwarted by the loss of everything she'd planned for her journey, for Daniel's actions force her to take to the road.
It may not be the road Sarah had planned, and it certainly isn't Ruith's choice. For he is determined to not become his father
The Characters
Sarah of Doire is a weaver and is considered the village witch. Castân is Sarah's faithful chestnut steed. At the very start, at least. Ned Crodh is a nervous boy whom Sarah inherited when her mother, Seleg, the witchwoman, died. Daniel is Sarah's evil brother.
Ruithneadh "Ruith" is the youngest son of the evil Prince Gair of Ceangail, who was unpredictable in temper and going mad. An extremely evil mage who had been so very full of himself. Osag will be Ruith's horse.
When Gair was 1,000 years old, he married Sarait of Torr Dòrainn, an elven princess. Ruith had had five older brothers who included Keir, Gille, and Eglach and one sister, Mhorghain, who had been but six that fateful day. Seanagarra had been his beautiful childhood home.
The wizardess Eulasaid of Camanaë lives near Gilean and is Ruith's grandmother. Sgath, the son of Ghèillear, is Ruith's paternal grandfather with a lovely Folly on a lake; Taigh-mòr is the big house. Sile of Torr Dòrainn is Ruith's maternal grandfather.
Master Franciscus is a brewer of fine ale.
Master Oban of Bruaih is the expensive mage. Seirceil of Coibhneas, the youngest son of a nobleman from Meith, is a decent, kind mage. The pretentious Connail of Iomadh was actually born of Peirigleach of Ainneamh and a tavern wench. Urchaid of an exhausting number of places is a dark horse.
Doire is...
...a village in the county of Shettlestoune. Lady Dorcas Higgleton, the alderman's wife, has a fat purse. Prunella is her plain, shy daughter. Lord Higgleton is thrilled with the results.
The Kingdom of Neroche
Miach is the kingdom's archmage and a bird shifter. Adhémar is Miach's older brother and the king. Queen Deşdhemar had been their mother and the archmage before she died rescuing Miach. I think Anghmar was their father??
The Kingdom of Ainneamh is...
...an elven one.
Lord Doílain, the eldest son and one of Gair's bastard sons, now lives at Gair's old keep of Ceangail with many of his bastard brothers, who include Táir and Amitán.
Lothar of Wychweald, Droch of Saothair, Wehr of Wrekin, and Gair are evil mages.
Treun of Angesand didn't allow Alan of Gilean to get away with his theft for long. Uachdaran of Léige had had a spell of concealment.
There are a slew of magics in Kurland's world, including Fadaire; Olc; Camanaë, which is best for healing; and, Wexham, which is favored by the rulers of Neroche.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a graphic with the blues of a mountainous region with low-lying cloud. In the middle is a golden castle of stone with turrets and towers blanketed in snow. Ruith is in the foreground in a green hooded cape, mail on his shoulders and arms, a sword in one hand and his bow in the other with a quiver of arrows on his back. At the very top is an info blurb in a pale blue with the author's name below but above Ruith's head in white outlined in a deep gray with a slight shadow effect. The title, in a pale orange also outlined in grey using a stylized serif font, crosses Ruith's legs. In very tiny black print, is the series information on the left and below the title.
The title refers to Sarah's skills, for she can weave one heck of A Tapestry of Spells.
January 5, 2012
I must start my review by saying I am a big fan of Kurland. I have read everything she has published. I like her writing styles and her characters and even the repetitive things she puts in all her books because I know exactly what to expect from her. I waited till all three books were out in this trilogy before I began it because I knew I would throw a huge temper tantrum if I didn't because she likes to leave you hanging at the end of her Nine Kingdoms books. I liked that this book went side by side with the other 1st book. Brother and sister were just starting there adventures at the same time. I loved when the book spoke of Miach and Morgan those were three of my favorite books of all time and I highly suggest reading them FIRST! It helps these three books make a lot more sense.I love the adventure and the romance and the tension between the characters. I love the magic and the two broken people finding themselves threw there journey and in each other. I LOVE that these books are clean and a very fun read. BUT< I was disappointed it wasn't a little more different from the first three. There are many similarities, but I am just going to enjoy them and not over analyze it! Thank you Kurland!
January 25, 2024
Was better then I thought it would be
November 24, 2011
I knew this wasn't a Morgan and Miach story, but hoped they would make an appearance. No luck there, but this started off promisingly. The witchwoman's daughter with no magic of her own, a brother with delusions of grandeur, and the horse turned dog. I thought she would have learned about potions, etc, even if she had no magic, which is fine since there was plenty of magic in the other books, but other than some teas, that doesn't seem to be the case. I knew Ruith wasn't going to be the scary old man, but hoped he was similarly disfigued to Runach, or lived up to the cranky hermit reputation. Unfortunately he was Miach 2.0...not so interesting, we've been told that story already. I liked the collecting of damaged mages at first, but then wondered how many there would be before they caught up to Daniel. I started getting a little confused about who was from where and what was wrong with them. The romance moves slowly along the exact same path as Miach and Morgan (what's with the men being obsessed with hair, knowing how to braid it, etc?) Ruith's random refusal to use magic against magic was a bit silly, and the end of the book got a little weird and I wasn't sure who I should care about among all the characters being introduced, some who I would have liked to reappear and didn't, others I was annoyed to see back without anything coming together. But I finished the book thinking that maybe all these elements would come together and make sense in the next book. So while they haven't eclipsed the Miach and Morgan trilogy and I still hope those two will make an appearance, Sarah and Ruith are at least keeping me entertained for now.
November 29, 2011
Ruith is the son of an evil mage and after witnessing the death of his family because of his father's arrogance, Ruith has vowed to never use magic again. He hides himself away in the mountains under the guise of an old mage. When Sarah's brother gets a hold of spells that could destroy the world, she seeks out Ruith in the hope that he will help stop her brother. Ruith initally refuses, but then he discovers that the spell Sarah's brother has gotten a hold of is one of his father's. Reluctantly he tries to help Sarah without using any of his magic, but Sarah's brother is just the beginning of a much larger problem.[return]This is the start of a companion trilogy to the other Nine Kingdom trilogy. The characters were engaging and the plot is little vague but has the potential to turn into a solid storyline as the larger bad guys appear. One scene refers to something that happened in the other trilogy with Morgan and we know a few things about what happened to his family that Ruith does not which helps link the series together. I am looking forward to the next book in the series already.
March 9, 2013
I was disappointed with this book. It had a terrible end, or rather a non end. It left the main characters in major trouble and just stopped. Ugh! So maybe I will look for whichever book takes it from here, but maybe not. I loved the last three books of the Nine Kingdoms, but then I had all three of them ,so I had an outcome. This is definitely not a stand alone book.
February 12, 2012
This review is more a culmination of my own personal navigation through the Nine Kingdoms series so far, rather than that of the novel Tapestry of Spells in general. That being said, I became an instant fan of Lynn Kurland upon discovering the first trilogy in this series a few months ago. Being a long time lover of the Fantasy genre, I picked up the works; Star of the Morning, Mage's Daughter, and Princess of Swords to add to my repitoire. I typically do extensive research before spending hard earned money on an author previously unknown to me. Yet I purchased these three books on a whim, because in every review I had seen, readers who had been unable to engage in any fantasy novel...loved them. I theorized that a fantasy buff like myself would have no problem connecting...how right I was.
Lynn Kurland has a phonetic style of pen that I have seen very rarely in literature, if ever. The beautiful love story woven within her novels, is just that. A love story. Not sex, but the soul deep connection forming between her couples. Consisting of tangible emotion, and a blazing bond of two hearts. It is both endearing and sweet in its chasteness, but with no less strength, or intensity. Within this world of the Nine Kingdoms, born of Ms. Kurland's very own, vividly bright imagination, this signature mix of lyrical ebb and flow, to that of the old world, clean romance—adds complete authenticity to the experience.
There is nothing I enjoy reading more, than a wholly original, character driven work of fantasy. These novels certainly are such, as well as being emotionally charged, brimming with the key elements of pulse pounding action, heartwarming romance, laughing out loud humor, and a plot that will keep you guessing with each page you turn. The many different natures of magic that exists within this realm, is vastly intriguing, and a different spin to the other depictions I have read in this genre. The Nine Kingdom's series truly has something for any type of reader to enjoy, and I highly recommend them to anyone who enjoys the tenderness of romance, mixed with a healthy amount of backbone.
Upon completion of Miach, and Morgan's journey, I found myself procrastinating in beginning the second trilogy of this series. There was not a single thing I disliked about the first three books. They were sheer literary perfection for me (albeit too short). I wondered what more there was for Kurland to offer, I wondered how I could possibly move on to the next couple, after becoming so emotionally invested with The Arch-mage of Tor Neroche, and the far from simple Shield-maiden.
Thus, one can imagine my utter shock, to find myself completely taken with the characters of Ruith and Sarah. I found myself loving the introduction of their harrowing journey in the novel Tapestry of Spells—even more than I loved Star of The Morning. The differences between the two male leads of the series; was not sharp, or glaring, yet were palpable all the same. Where Miach was certainly dangerous, and terrifying in all the power he wielded, my perception of him was one of goodness and light. While understanding he was capable of darkness, I truly felt that he was one of those rare hero's in fiction that were pure of heart, and beyond corruption. Ruith is a hero built upon the opposite side of the card.
Ruith is unquestionably honorable, and has an immense sense of duty...this is what compels him to help Sarah of Doire in her quest when she appears on his doorstep. Yet Ruith has suffered terrible gut wrenching loss. Because of this, he buried the vast well of magic within him as deeply as he could, and created a new home, and identity for himself. This shift in destiny was all realized at the tender age of ten. We readers are shown the horrors this man has suffered through the platform of his nightmares. We are made aware of the shadows lurking within his blood line, and it is apparent that at some point in his brutal life, Ruith could have gone either direction, good or evil. This nuance gives him that tortured hero feel. These contrasts provide a darker, edgier mood within the second trilogy when in comparison to the first—which in my perception was made up of magic, whimsy, and the wondrous discovery of self. I very much appreciated that both Miach, and Ruith are multidimensional characters, and fleshed out in their complexities. I always find it interesting that as a reader I can love both types of hero's equally, when an author does it right.
Kurland is also very clever in the construction of her two female leads. Morgan is not a damsel in distress, by any stretch of the imagination. Orphaned as a child, with no memory of where she came from, she grows into womanhood within the all male equivalent of a training academy. Later she becomes a mercenary trained by the notorious master swordsman Scrimgyour Weger. Any who gaze upon the tiny brand in the shape of a sword above her brow, would think twice before engaging with Morgan in swordplay. She is rough around the edges, unpolished, and irreverent...yet in no way, a harping, bitter hag, that a reader cannot relate too. She has a warrior's heart, and soul filled with light. Morgan's character is transformed completely by the end of the first trilogy, more so than many heroine's I have read about in literature. Despite this, Kurland is somehow able to retain the essence of the woman we were first introduced.
Sarah of Doire, by all appearances is the polar opposite of Morgan. She is a true damsel in distress...without being a damsel, if that makes sense. She is the non-magical daughter of a village witch. Her brother is a blubbering villain true, but has tormented his sister at any given opportunity, throughout childhood. Sarah has lacked a means of escape from the darkness of her existence. Despite having never been shown kindness, warmth, or tenderness—she has a compassionate, fiercely honorable, and selflessly giving nature. It becomes clear rather quickly that Sarah is no wilting flower......I would liken her more to tempered steel. Somehow Sarah has an innate sense of what is right, and what is wrong. So when she discovers her brother's plan to destroy all of the Nine Kingdoms, she sets out to foil his nefarious ploy.
Kurland showcases her talent by interweaving the plot of the first trilogy, into the first installment of the second—choosing to have them occur simultaneously. The effect is superbly accomplished in my opinion, and it is an interesting facet to read the nearly subliminal references to the happenstance of the first trilogy. So far, this series has been a fast paced, and wonderful read since the very first word. I look greatly forward to continuing this journey, and discovering what lies ahead for Miach, Morgan, Ruith and Sarah in the next installment; Spell Weaver.
Review also available at The Reading Cafe
http://www.thereadingcafe.com
Lynn Kurland has a phonetic style of pen that I have seen very rarely in literature, if ever. The beautiful love story woven within her novels, is just that. A love story. Not sex, but the soul deep connection forming between her couples. Consisting of tangible emotion, and a blazing bond of two hearts. It is both endearing and sweet in its chasteness, but with no less strength, or intensity. Within this world of the Nine Kingdoms, born of Ms. Kurland's very own, vividly bright imagination, this signature mix of lyrical ebb and flow, to that of the old world, clean romance—adds complete authenticity to the experience.
There is nothing I enjoy reading more, than a wholly original, character driven work of fantasy. These novels certainly are such, as well as being emotionally charged, brimming with the key elements of pulse pounding action, heartwarming romance, laughing out loud humor, and a plot that will keep you guessing with each page you turn. The many different natures of magic that exists within this realm, is vastly intriguing, and a different spin to the other depictions I have read in this genre. The Nine Kingdom's series truly has something for any type of reader to enjoy, and I highly recommend them to anyone who enjoys the tenderness of romance, mixed with a healthy amount of backbone.
Upon completion of Miach, and Morgan's journey, I found myself procrastinating in beginning the second trilogy of this series. There was not a single thing I disliked about the first three books. They were sheer literary perfection for me (albeit too short). I wondered what more there was for Kurland to offer, I wondered how I could possibly move on to the next couple, after becoming so emotionally invested with The Arch-mage of Tor Neroche, and the far from simple Shield-maiden.
Thus, one can imagine my utter shock, to find myself completely taken with the characters of Ruith and Sarah. I found myself loving the introduction of their harrowing journey in the novel Tapestry of Spells—even more than I loved Star of The Morning. The differences between the two male leads of the series; was not sharp, or glaring, yet were palpable all the same. Where Miach was certainly dangerous, and terrifying in all the power he wielded, my perception of him was one of goodness and light. While understanding he was capable of darkness, I truly felt that he was one of those rare hero's in fiction that were pure of heart, and beyond corruption. Ruith is a hero built upon the opposite side of the card.
Ruith is unquestionably honorable, and has an immense sense of duty...this is what compels him to help Sarah of Doire in her quest when she appears on his doorstep. Yet Ruith has suffered terrible gut wrenching loss. Because of this, he buried the vast well of magic within him as deeply as he could, and created a new home, and identity for himself. This shift in destiny was all realized at the tender age of ten. We readers are shown the horrors this man has suffered through the platform of his nightmares. We are made aware of the shadows lurking within his blood line, and it is apparent that at some point in his brutal life, Ruith could have gone either direction, good or evil. This nuance gives him that tortured hero feel. These contrasts provide a darker, edgier mood within the second trilogy when in comparison to the first—which in my perception was made up of magic, whimsy, and the wondrous discovery of self. I very much appreciated that both Miach, and Ruith are multidimensional characters, and fleshed out in their complexities. I always find it interesting that as a reader I can love both types of hero's equally, when an author does it right.
Kurland is also very clever in the construction of her two female leads. Morgan is not a damsel in distress, by any stretch of the imagination. Orphaned as a child, with no memory of where she came from, she grows into womanhood within the all male equivalent of a training academy. Later she becomes a mercenary trained by the notorious master swordsman Scrimgyour Weger. Any who gaze upon the tiny brand in the shape of a sword above her brow, would think twice before engaging with Morgan in swordplay. She is rough around the edges, unpolished, and irreverent...yet in no way, a harping, bitter hag, that a reader cannot relate too. She has a warrior's heart, and soul filled with light. Morgan's character is transformed completely by the end of the first trilogy, more so than many heroine's I have read about in literature. Despite this, Kurland is somehow able to retain the essence of the woman we were first introduced.
Sarah of Doire, by all appearances is the polar opposite of Morgan. She is a true damsel in distress...without being a damsel, if that makes sense. She is the non-magical daughter of a village witch. Her brother is a blubbering villain true, but has tormented his sister at any given opportunity, throughout childhood. Sarah has lacked a means of escape from the darkness of her existence. Despite having never been shown kindness, warmth, or tenderness—she has a compassionate, fiercely honorable, and selflessly giving nature. It becomes clear rather quickly that Sarah is no wilting flower......I would liken her more to tempered steel. Somehow Sarah has an innate sense of what is right, and what is wrong. So when she discovers her brother's plan to destroy all of the Nine Kingdoms, she sets out to foil his nefarious ploy.
Kurland showcases her talent by interweaving the plot of the first trilogy, into the first installment of the second—choosing to have them occur simultaneously. The effect is superbly accomplished in my opinion, and it is an interesting facet to read the nearly subliminal references to the happenstance of the first trilogy. So far, this series has been a fast paced, and wonderful read since the very first word. I look greatly forward to continuing this journey, and discovering what lies ahead for Miach, Morgan, Ruith and Sarah in the next installment; Spell Weaver.
Review also available at The Reading Cafe
http://www.thereadingcafe.com
February 1, 2018
Since I hadn't read any of the other books in this series, I wasn't disappointed by the non-appearance of favourite characters, as other reviewers have been. The opening was a bit disjointed (I realise now it was getting me up to speed with other events in this universe) but, that aside, the only other grumble I have is that it ended on a cliffhanger.
Ruith has witnessed the destruction of his family because of his father's arrogant use of magical power. Burying his own talent deep within himself and vowing not to use it, he hides himself in a house on a hill, building a reputation as an unpleasant and uncooperative mage to keep visitors at bay. Until the day that Sarah of Doire knocks on his door. Sarah is the daughter of a village witch; she has no talent herself - a fact she keeps secret - but her inept brother has an ambition to be evil enough to destroy the world. Somehow he has come into the possession of half a spell - a spell of Diminishing which enables him to steal the talent of other mages. Sarah's arm has been seriously damaged when she accidentally touched the piece of paper with the spell on it. Ruith realises the spell was one of his father's and has come from a dangerous book that was, supposedly, destroyed in a fire. Ruith chases Sarah away but then finds himself following her and fighting his own impulses to return home and have a sip of Master Franciscus' cider and leave Sarah to fight her own battles.
Ruith has witnessed the destruction of his family because of his father's arrogant use of magical power. Burying his own talent deep within himself and vowing not to use it, he hides himself in a house on a hill, building a reputation as an unpleasant and uncooperative mage to keep visitors at bay. Until the day that Sarah of Doire knocks on his door. Sarah is the daughter of a village witch; she has no talent herself - a fact she keeps secret - but her inept brother has an ambition to be evil enough to destroy the world. Somehow he has come into the possession of half a spell - a spell of Diminishing which enables him to steal the talent of other mages. Sarah's arm has been seriously damaged when she accidentally touched the piece of paper with the spell on it. Ruith realises the spell was one of his father's and has come from a dangerous book that was, supposedly, destroyed in a fire. Ruith chases Sarah away but then finds himself following her and fighting his own impulses to return home and have a sip of Master Franciscus' cider and leave Sarah to fight her own battles.
October 13, 2017
Kurland continues the excellent 9 Kingdoms series with this next installment. Kurland proves to be a rather skilled fantasy writer and her character development and dialog is quite engaging. The 9 Kingdoms is an interesting world and I found the book and the two following for this trilogy to be enjoyable.
Yes, Kurland is using a familiar formula here. Male protagonist meets female protagonist. They don't like each other at first, but eventually fall in love, etc. Same ol' same ol'! But it works and Kurland makes it just different enough that the tales are enjoyable.
The romance is light PG rated stuff. There is just enough action and battle to keep it firmly in the fantasy category while still being a romance. On the plus side, the covers of this series are well done and not awkwardly "Harlequin" and usually display the female or male protagonist in a fantasy setting.
Good stuff, though sometimes the courtships last a little too long and there is not enough action. Still, masterfully written and immersive enough of a world to be quite a good, quick read.
If only Kurland would spend more time on action and a bit less on the romance, these stories could be first rate. That said, for a fantasy-romance, these are quite brilliant.
Yes, Kurland is using a familiar formula here. Male protagonist meets female protagonist. They don't like each other at first, but eventually fall in love, etc. Same ol' same ol'! But it works and Kurland makes it just different enough that the tales are enjoyable.
The romance is light PG rated stuff. There is just enough action and battle to keep it firmly in the fantasy category while still being a romance. On the plus side, the covers of this series are well done and not awkwardly "Harlequin" and usually display the female or male protagonist in a fantasy setting.
Good stuff, though sometimes the courtships last a little too long and there is not enough action. Still, masterfully written and immersive enough of a world to be quite a good, quick read.
If only Kurland would spend more time on action and a bit less on the romance, these stories could be first rate. That said, for a fantasy-romance, these are quite brilliant.
February 7, 2025
Nine Kingdoms, Book Four...
I enjoyed this book more than the first three, though it is taking place within the same time frame and there are events that overlap, as it were.
The worst thing about this book, and the reason that I gave it 4 stars instead of 5, is that it has a very abrupt ending that leaves the reader with too many unanswered questions and too many plot lines that are unresolved.
Ruith & Sarah are more likeable than Miach & Morgan. Too much of the storyline revolves around the fact that Ruith hides his identity and elven magic, and she pretends to have magic and loathes elves.
The Nine Kingdom books make me question whether they have been written by the same person who wrote the de Piaget and MacLeod novels. The chemistry between characters isn’t there, nor the amazing supporting characters like the Fitzgerald twins, or Theo & Sam.
I enjoyed this book more than the first three, though it is taking place within the same time frame and there are events that overlap, as it were.
The worst thing about this book, and the reason that I gave it 4 stars instead of 5, is that it has a very abrupt ending that leaves the reader with too many unanswered questions and too many plot lines that are unresolved.
Ruith & Sarah are more likeable than Miach & Morgan. Too much of the storyline revolves around the fact that Ruith hides his identity and elven magic, and she pretends to have magic and loathes elves.
The Nine Kingdom books make me question whether they have been written by the same person who wrote the de Piaget and MacLeod novels. The chemistry between characters isn’t there, nor the amazing supporting characters like the Fitzgerald twins, or Theo & Sam.
December 27, 2017
First, since some confusion exists regarding the progression of the Nine Kingdom's books, here's a current list (as of 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 (this book)
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 (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 7)
8- River of Dreams (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 8)
9- Dreamer's Daughter (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 9)
Ruithneadh, or Ruith as he is called, is the youngest of Morgan's older brothers as well as the once-boyhood-friend of Miach. (Miach and Morgan being the heroes in the first trilogy.) In those books, Ruith was presumed dead, but there was no proof. A Tapestry of Spells is the first in a new trilogy telling his story.
After a prologue which describes the terrible events at the well, Ruith was so horrified by what his father did and so mistrustful of himself, his temper, and his own power that he buried all three near Diore, a village which "lay to the south in the county of Shettlestoune, which found itself comfortably to the south of anywhere else." And there they stayed buried...until the very pretty and fiery and mysterious Sarah comes along. To make things even more uncomfortable for him, the silvery ribbon of fate that accompanies her is colored with both the beautiful elvin colors and magic of his Fadairian heritage, but also the darkness embraced by his father, the infamous (and thankfully dead) Gair of Caingail.
Sarah has been carefully hiding both secrets and gold toward the day when she can escape Doire and make a life somewhere without thieves and thorns and everything else that Doire is filled with. She'd rather weave her patterns of beauty in the kingdom of Neroche, or possible Meith, and hopefully begin the trip there before her brother brings his evil magic home again. But Daniel arrives with more than she'd bargained for, forcing her to abandon her carefully laid plans and set out to stop him instead.
The result is a quest led by a woman who doesn't seem to have magic, though she does have the steadily-increasing ability to see magic that others have wrought...guarded by a mage hiding vast amounts of elvin power and his past behind a heavy cloak and every non-magical weapon available...and accompanied by the extremely odd assortment of companions they pick up along the way. Their aim at first is merely to stop Sarah's brother, but it isn't too long before we discover that Gair of Caingail's reach extends beyond the grave, and only Sarah's sight and Ruith's knowledge of his father are capable of stopping the evil that Gair's spells have planted.
Why do I love it? Well...though some might call it a bit slow in places, it is (as all of Lynn Kurland's books are) a beautiful unfolding of characters and relationships, as well as a careful weaving of a tale that must have all of its anchoring threads in place for the beauty and power of it to be shown. It's intriguing to discover that this story actually takes place WHILE Star of the Morning and The Mage's Daughter are happening.
A Tapestry of Spells is also nicely different from the first trilogy. Ruith is not just another Miach, Sosar, Turah, or whatever other mage or elvin prince you care to name. His fear of what he might do is very real, and his weaknesses and what holds him back are very justified. Not once did I feel that his character was contrived. Sarah is also quite different, possessing a gift that seems to be quite rare in the Nine Kingdoms...a gift that even mages with vast amounts of power do not have. Her past is still a mystery, and at this point in the story, we do not even know if she, herself, knows why she has the gift she does. She is fiery and independent without being irritatingly so, and she still has a soft heart.
The romance between Ruith and Sarah has only just begun in this story. They are falling for each other, but you will not find even so much as a kiss between these pages. You WILL, however, be swept into their hearts as those magical first moments of love keep weaving themselves into their quest.
I wish I could give the story 4 1/2 stars, but since that's not possible, I'm settling for 4. I don't want to give it a 5, because this trilogy does not compare to the first Nine Kingdoms trilogy. My only fault with this particular book is that it's a bit slow and repetitious in a few places. I think the story would have been stronger if extra words had been cut out, leaving the same plot told in a more concise way. The beginnings of romance, beautiful writing, and magic moments make up for that, though.
Finally, I'll warn that this book leaves off with a cliffhanger, just like Star of the Morning did. But like that one, this is the first in a trilogy (the next two are set to be released in January of '11 and '12). The story continues with Spellweaver and concludes with Gift of Magic.
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 (this book)
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 (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 7)
8- River of Dreams (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 8)
9- Dreamer's Daughter (The Nine Kingdoms, Book 9)
Ruithneadh, or Ruith as he is called, is the youngest of Morgan's older brothers as well as the once-boyhood-friend of Miach. (Miach and Morgan being the heroes in the first trilogy.) In those books, Ruith was presumed dead, but there was no proof. A Tapestry of Spells is the first in a new trilogy telling his story.
After a prologue which describes the terrible events at the well, Ruith was so horrified by what his father did and so mistrustful of himself, his temper, and his own power that he buried all three near Diore, a village which "lay to the south in the county of Shettlestoune, which found itself comfortably to the south of anywhere else." And there they stayed buried...until the very pretty and fiery and mysterious Sarah comes along. To make things even more uncomfortable for him, the silvery ribbon of fate that accompanies her is colored with both the beautiful elvin colors and magic of his Fadairian heritage, but also the darkness embraced by his father, the infamous (and thankfully dead) Gair of Caingail.
Sarah has been carefully hiding both secrets and gold toward the day when she can escape Doire and make a life somewhere without thieves and thorns and everything else that Doire is filled with. She'd rather weave her patterns of beauty in the kingdom of Neroche, or possible Meith, and hopefully begin the trip there before her brother brings his evil magic home again. But Daniel arrives with more than she'd bargained for, forcing her to abandon her carefully laid plans and set out to stop him instead.
The result is a quest led by a woman who doesn't seem to have magic, though she does have the steadily-increasing ability to see magic that others have wrought...guarded by a mage hiding vast amounts of elvin power and his past behind a heavy cloak and every non-magical weapon available...and accompanied by the extremely odd assortment of companions they pick up along the way. Their aim at first is merely to stop Sarah's brother, but it isn't too long before we discover that Gair of Caingail's reach extends beyond the grave, and only Sarah's sight and Ruith's knowledge of his father are capable of stopping the evil that Gair's spells have planted.
Why do I love it? Well...though some might call it a bit slow in places, it is (as all of Lynn Kurland's books are) a beautiful unfolding of characters and relationships, as well as a careful weaving of a tale that must have all of its anchoring threads in place for the beauty and power of it to be shown. It's intriguing to discover that this story actually takes place WHILE Star of the Morning and The Mage's Daughter are happening.
A Tapestry of Spells is also nicely different from the first trilogy. Ruith is not just another Miach, Sosar, Turah, or whatever other mage or elvin prince you care to name. His fear of what he might do is very real, and his weaknesses and what holds him back are very justified. Not once did I feel that his character was contrived. Sarah is also quite different, possessing a gift that seems to be quite rare in the Nine Kingdoms...a gift that even mages with vast amounts of power do not have. Her past is still a mystery, and at this point in the story, we do not even know if she, herself, knows why she has the gift she does. She is fiery and independent without being irritatingly so, and she still has a soft heart.
The romance between Ruith and Sarah has only just begun in this story. They are falling for each other, but you will not find even so much as a kiss between these pages. You WILL, however, be swept into their hearts as those magical first moments of love keep weaving themselves into their quest.
I wish I could give the story 4 1/2 stars, but since that's not possible, I'm settling for 4. I don't want to give it a 5, because this trilogy does not compare to the first Nine Kingdoms trilogy. My only fault with this particular book is that it's a bit slow and repetitious in a few places. I think the story would have been stronger if extra words had been cut out, leaving the same plot told in a more concise way. The beginnings of romance, beautiful writing, and magic moments make up for that, though.
Finally, I'll warn that this book leaves off with a cliffhanger, just like Star of the Morning did. But like that one, this is the first in a trilogy (the next two are set to be released in January of '11 and '12). The story continues with Spellweaver and concludes with Gift of Magic.
February 7, 2021
I loved the first “trilogy” in this series and I am super happy that the start of the second trilogy totally delivered for me! I connected with Sarah a bit better than I did Morgan and Ruith was just as swoon worthy as Miach in my book. This was a nicely paced start to the beginning of Sarah and Ruith’s story and after the cliff hangar at the end, I am super intrigued to see where things go from here. As always, I love the pairings in Lynn Kurland’s books and there is just enough magic + romance to make these books super satisfying reads.
April 29, 2020
Only 3 stars because I just couldn’t get into the story. However, I will say Lynn Kurland’s writing is superb. Her vocabulary is incredible and is a joy to read, even if the story is mediocre. I really love the first four books in the nine kingdoms series so I’m sad this one was a bit disappointing. I don’t like the character swap every few books.
This is a good, easy going bedtime story that doesn’t require much scrutiny. It’s lighthearted and easy to follow, so overall about average.
This is a good, easy going bedtime story that doesn’t require much scrutiny. It’s lighthearted and easy to follow, so overall about average.
June 27, 2017
Repetitive internal thoughts detracted from story's pace, but I still love the strong world-building. It took a few chapters for me to personally connect with the characters but then they matched what I was used to with this author's writing. The sudden ending left me seeking the next book immediately.
September 6, 2023
This was barely a three…. I don’t see the point in revisiting the same story from the first three books—that’s already been resolved mind you—from another point of view. The series is not keeping my interest.
March 9, 2018
I love this author, she writes beautifully and I can’t put the books down.
December 14, 2018
I absolutely loved this almost as much as the first series. I love how the stories are woven together and I can’t believe I waited this long to continue the series! 💕
December 21, 2020
This book felt a little slow and there were just a few too many secrets. It seemed a little like a retelling of Star of Morning, but with characters that were quite an enchanting.
March 8, 2021
Comfort food for the brain.
September 18, 2021
this book 4 in the 9 kingdoms series and the first book of a trilogy within the series.
May 18, 2023
I struggled to finish this; I enjoyed the first trilogy but this one just felt boring and very similar to the first.
July 20, 2024
Another excellent story! But it's a cliffhanger and my library doesn't have the other two! Ugh!
April 1, 2025
obsessed with ruith being like “i would describe my feelings for sarah as undying devotion but in a nonchalant way” and everyone clocking his sappiness immediately
March 15, 2017
I was a little disappointed that this storyline was before the other trilogy, but maybe there is a reason. Still a good read.
April 16, 2010
Sarah of Doire has been burying gold for months, hoping to leave the small, bland village of Doire behind. When her mother, who also happens to be the local witchwoman, dies, it's finally her chance. The visits from the aspiring nobles who will pay handsomely for her mother's last drops of beautifying potions or pages from her spellbook have become tedious, however beneficial. Then of course there's her brother Daniel, who has a little bit of magic himself and stays away from her for the most part. Sarah has none of her witch mother in her, and she's extremely glad of it. She prefers weaving as a hobby and a living and avoids magic and all its users like the plague. But all Sarah's attempts at ditching her home and witch upbringing fail when Daniel reveals just how much magic he possesses. Jetting off on his own dark quest to destroy the Nine Kingdoms, Sarah is forced to confront magic and consort with wizards head-on before Daniel does anymore damage.
Ruitneath of Ceangail has been hiding in the outskirts of Doire since he was the lone survivor of his family at the well. He, too, is wary of magic. Burying it deep inside himself, he lives a quiet, solitary, and magic-free existence until Sarah knocks on his door. In pursuit of her brother, he wants to but can't turn down her offer for aid. It will certainly make keeping his own secret harder than he imagined as he follows in Daniel's tracks, picking up damaged wizards and fighting foul creatures along the way, and realizing that Sarah may have some magic afterall.
I'm not quite sure how I feel about this latest installment in the Nine Kingdoms trilogy. It's still romantic fantasy, and some of the weeping, hair brushing, and relationship drama is cloying. Beyond Sarah and Ruith following in Daniel's wake of damaged wizards, stolen spells and a few troll attacks, very little action takes place. What made this all the more apparent was the conclusion, which leaves you hanging at the brink of a major plot reveal and with little closure. The most exciting moment is when one character's secret is revealed. That the reader was already party to that knowledge, though, lessens its effect. Despite the fact that Daniel seemed puny and pathetic at times rather than the threatening force he's intended to be, these new characters have potential. I sympathized and rooted for Ruith from the beginning with his all-too-familiar past. Understandably so, he is still haunted by that day at the well when his father, in a misguided use of his growing magic, released an evil into the kingdom that killed his entire family. Sarah, with her simple and humble ambitions, is harder to grasp but interesting in the mystery surrounding the part-dormant part-active powers she's seemed to inherit from her mother. I remain intrigued by the beguiling nature of magic in Neroche - denied, dormant, and in all its different guises. A Tapestry of Spells was both a promising setup for a new chapter in the series and a fun return to Neroche's world of wizards and witches, elves and humans, and royalty and commoners.
Ruitneath of Ceangail has been hiding in the outskirts of Doire since he was the lone survivor of his family at the well. He, too, is wary of magic. Burying it deep inside himself, he lives a quiet, solitary, and magic-free existence until Sarah knocks on his door. In pursuit of her brother, he wants to but can't turn down her offer for aid. It will certainly make keeping his own secret harder than he imagined as he follows in Daniel's tracks, picking up damaged wizards and fighting foul creatures along the way, and realizing that Sarah may have some magic afterall.
I'm not quite sure how I feel about this latest installment in the Nine Kingdoms trilogy. It's still romantic fantasy, and some of the weeping, hair brushing, and relationship drama is cloying. Beyond Sarah and Ruith following in Daniel's wake of damaged wizards, stolen spells and a few troll attacks, very little action takes place. What made this all the more apparent was the conclusion, which leaves you hanging at the brink of a major plot reveal and with little closure. The most exciting moment is when one character's secret is revealed. That the reader was already party to that knowledge, though, lessens its effect. Despite the fact that Daniel seemed puny and pathetic at times rather than the threatening force he's intended to be, these new characters have potential. I sympathized and rooted for Ruith from the beginning with his all-too-familiar past. Understandably so, he is still haunted by that day at the well when his father, in a misguided use of his growing magic, released an evil into the kingdom that killed his entire family. Sarah, with her simple and humble ambitions, is harder to grasp but interesting in the mystery surrounding the part-dormant part-active powers she's seemed to inherit from her mother. I remain intrigued by the beguiling nature of magic in Neroche - denied, dormant, and in all its different guises. A Tapestry of Spells was both a promising setup for a new chapter in the series and a fun return to Neroche's world of wizards and witches, elves and humans, and royalty and commoners.
November 10, 2014
Today’s post is on A Tapestry of Spells by Lynn Kurland. It is the first in a new Nine Kingdoms trilogy. It is 343 pages long and is published by Berkley. The cover has one of the main characters on it. There is no sex, some mild language, and action violence in this book. The intended reader is someone who likes high fantasy, sweeping storylines, and some romance in it. Adults will enjoy this book and series more because of the writing style but teenagers could read it and enjoy it. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the back of the book- The past will always find you…
Sarah of Doire, daughter of the village witchwoman, knows two things: Her brother has embraced the dark arts, vowing to destroy the Nine Kingdoms; and she doesn’t have the power to stop him. Now, even though she fears the quest will reveal the secret she’s kept all her life and spell her doom, she must risk everything to thwart his plans- unless she can find aid from a man who knows too well the power of magic, whether used for good… or ill.
No matter where you hide.
After seeing his entire family slain by his father’s arrogant misuse of magic, Ruithneadh of Ceangail buried his own power and swore to never to use it again. But when Sarah arrives at his door, desperate for his help he finds himself thrust back into a life of full enchantments and peril. He knows the quest will be dangerous, but he has no idea the journey, the woman who accompanies him on it, and the truths he uncovers are capable of shattering his soul and unraveling the entire fabric of the Nine Kingdoms…
Review- I love the Nine Kingdoms series. Everything about them. I love the magic, I love the character’s, I love the writing style, and I love exploring this world with Kurland. This novel takes place with or very soon after Princess of the Sword. This one follows Morgan’s closest brother in age. He believes that everyone from his family is dead. He remembers everything, unlike Morgan, and because of that he wants nothing to do with magic. Sarah just wants out. She wants to have a quiet life away from the ghost of her mother and somewhere her brother can never find her. I look forward to her brother getting his just rewards for the life he is living. Sarah is still a mystery to me. I know that she can see magic that no one else can but I get why she thinks that she does not have magic. I guess she has been holding herself up to other mages. The ending was good not too cliffhangery for me but that maybe because I have the next volume waiting for me to start next.
I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this book with my own money.
From the back of the book- The past will always find you…
Sarah of Doire, daughter of the village witchwoman, knows two things: Her brother has embraced the dark arts, vowing to destroy the Nine Kingdoms; and she doesn’t have the power to stop him. Now, even though she fears the quest will reveal the secret she’s kept all her life and spell her doom, she must risk everything to thwart his plans- unless she can find aid from a man who knows too well the power of magic, whether used for good… or ill.
No matter where you hide.
After seeing his entire family slain by his father’s arrogant misuse of magic, Ruithneadh of Ceangail buried his own power and swore to never to use it again. But when Sarah arrives at his door, desperate for his help he finds himself thrust back into a life of full enchantments and peril. He knows the quest will be dangerous, but he has no idea the journey, the woman who accompanies him on it, and the truths he uncovers are capable of shattering his soul and unraveling the entire fabric of the Nine Kingdoms…
Review- I love the Nine Kingdoms series. Everything about them. I love the magic, I love the character’s, I love the writing style, and I love exploring this world with Kurland. This novel takes place with or very soon after Princess of the Sword. This one follows Morgan’s closest brother in age. He believes that everyone from his family is dead. He remembers everything, unlike Morgan, and because of that he wants nothing to do with magic. Sarah just wants out. She wants to have a quiet life away from the ghost of her mother and somewhere her brother can never find her. I look forward to her brother getting his just rewards for the life he is living. Sarah is still a mystery to me. I know that she can see magic that no one else can but I get why she thinks that she does not have magic. I guess she has been holding herself up to other mages. The ending was good not too cliffhangery for me but that maybe because I have the next volume waiting for me to start next.
I give this book a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this book with my own money.
December 27, 2018
Lynn Kurland returns to the world of the Nine Kingdoms in this spin-off series. Sarah of Doire is a likeable new heroine, independent and ambitious, but oppressed by her brother, Daniel. Daniel manages to get his hands on half a page of Gair of Ceangall's book, containing a spell Gair created to strip magic away from other mages, thereby increasing his own formidable power. Daniel sets out with the spell, intent on stealing magic and becoming the most powerful magician the world has ever known. Feeling a sense of responsibility, Sarah seeks out the aid of a reclusive magician to help her stop Daniel. When she finally meets the recluse face to face, he's not the old wizened magic worker she supposed him to be: Ruith is young, handsome, and only wishes to be left alone. Sarah's persistence wins him over, and he agrees to help her. But Ruith has secrets of his own: he is one of Gair's children, presumed dead and in hiding, and he knows that the spell Daniel possesses has the power to undo the world.
This was quite a good story. I liked both Ruith and Sarah, and the ragtag collection of traveling companions they collected along the way. Ruith is very much like Miach was in the original series. He is kind, gentle, incredibly powerful, and finds himself undone by a woman! Although this is typical for a book in the romance genre, and the romance holds few surprises, I still enjoyed the series. Kurland's worldbuilding is excellent, and only gets richer as we continue to see more of the Nine Kingdoms.
The only thing that's not entirely clear in this second series is how the timeline compares to the Morgan/Miach series. (This is perhaps because I didn't read the Morgan/Miach series again before I reread this book. If I had, I might've been able to piece it together better.) Ruith keeps thinking about how they're going to have to go to the well, and I kept thinking, "Didn't Morgan and Miach take care of that in the last book of their series? They must not have done that yet." The timeline becomes slightly clearer in the next book, though, so all in all, this didn't bother me too badly once I got my hands on Spellweaver.
3 stars! The book was well done, and I enjoyed it, but I prefer Morgan and Miach to Sarah and Ruith.
This was quite a good story. I liked both Ruith and Sarah, and the ragtag collection of traveling companions they collected along the way. Ruith is very much like Miach was in the original series. He is kind, gentle, incredibly powerful, and finds himself undone by a woman! Although this is typical for a book in the romance genre, and the romance holds few surprises, I still enjoyed the series. Kurland's worldbuilding is excellent, and only gets richer as we continue to see more of the Nine Kingdoms.
The only thing that's not entirely clear in this second series is how the timeline compares to the Morgan/Miach series. (This is perhaps because I didn't read the Morgan/Miach series again before I reread this book. If I had, I might've been able to piece it together better.) Ruith keeps thinking about how they're going to have to go to the well, and I kept thinking, "Didn't Morgan and Miach take care of that in the last book of their series? They must not have done that yet." The timeline becomes slightly clearer in the next book, though, so all in all, this didn't bother me too badly once I got my hands on Spellweaver.
3 stars! The book was well done, and I enjoyed it, but I prefer Morgan and Miach to Sarah and Ruith.
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