ARC Review: The Dreamer's Song by Lynn Kurland

The Dreamer's Song by Lynn Kurland is the 11th book in her Nine Kingdoms series, but it is the 2nd in the trilogy starring Acair and Leirsinn. I was saddened by how much this book bored me.

The story line picks up right where The White Spell left off, and I don't really feel like the plot advanced at all in this book. As with I think all of these books (if my memory serves) the characters travel from place to place and hang out in libraries or different person's personal collections looking for more information. The two main characters continuously avoid thinking on subjects that make them uncomfortable (i.e. their feelings for each other), and the female character continues to struggle with the fact that magic is real.

Lerisinn has seen with her own eyes that magic exists. The proof is undeniable, and yet she continues to act like it isn't real and grasps on to naivety tight by "not thinking on it". When I read the first trilogy within this series, this plot line was great. A strong female character who grew up not believing in magic, and she has to come to terms with it's existence. She travels to many places learning more and meeting new people. But that plot line is now being overused in my opinion.

As I said in my review of The White Spell, I was excited to see the new aspects of having a reformed black mage as our hero. I have know determined that I am also disappointed in that aspect. It felt like Kurland was trying to make all of these dark situations be scary, but they ended up being absolutely fine. She overly dramatized different "bad" situations that weren't all that bad, and then when we do finally get to a scene with real danger, everything happens so fast, I had to reread it to figure out what happened.

Honestly, the story may have been decent had I not felt as though I had already read it multiple times in the previous books. However, I felt distrustful of Kurland after the many times the book claimed peril when there was none, and then when the danger was actually there it was downplayed. That partnered with the (to me) unrealistic reactions of her characters confrontations with magic took this book way down for me. This is beyond frustrating because I really used to love Lynn Kurland's storytelling. I am disappointed to say that this book has made me decide to stop reading this series.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: The White Spell by Lynn Kurland

A very good start to a new trilogy in the Nine Kingdoms. Despite my disappointment in the finale of Kurland's last Nine Kingdoms Trilogy, I was still excited to read The White Spell. I had read the synopsis and was intrigued to learn more about Acair (who is a villain in previous books) and I was just hoping to fall in love again with her writing like I did in the past. 

Acair has been a mischief making no good black mage for his entire life. He finds himself in a moment of weakness and agrees to a penance of sorts for the evil things he has done. He is not allowed to use his magic for a year, and he is to go to a unpleasant land and work as a stable hand. Being a man of his word (his one and only virtue) he heads to Saraichte to do his time. 

When he gets there he immediately begins working and becomes intrigued by Leirsinn who has quite a gift with handling horses. She is the local lord's niece and is working the stables so that her grandfather can be cared for. Her situation is dire but she is saving and trying to get herself and her grandfather out. She and Acair unfortunately run afoul of some dark magic and need to flee for their lives. 

I loved Acair! He is honest to everyone but himself it seems. He is waging an inner war of good versus evil. He curses at quite a many things, horses, and people. Yet he shows tenderness and gentlemanly qualities as well. He is the main reason I was pleased with this book. I definitely fell for him and his tortured self. Leirsinn on the other hand was way too similar to Aisling of the previous Nine Kingdoms Trilogy. I grew tired of her constant swooning and denial of the truth staring her in the face. But she still was sweet and courageous and bursting with potential. Great things may come from both of these characters in the future. 

Kurland's plots (at least for the Nine Kingdoms stories because I haven't read many of her others) are starting to get a little repetitive and predictable. That's why I was excited to see her make a previous villain into a hero. This was out of the box, and she completed the task spectacularly. There is a bit too much flying around from place to place seeking safety and searching for answers. I really hope Kurland has something unexpected up her sleeves for the next two books. I have all the faith in her and am as always impatient for the next book!

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: Stars in Your Eyes by Lynn Kurland

Unfortunately I made the decision to stop this book at about 15% or after chapter 4. I was very, very, very bored. I tried to get into it, but after five days of trying, I've given up.

I met both leads during the four chapters I read, and neither of them seemed interesting to me. Mostly, it was a lot of inner dialogue explaining their past, families, and their thoughts on the matters. I know back stories are necessary but these were way too much.

Physically not a lot happened. Imogen traveled on a train to get to some specific point in England and visited a local shop. Phillip was having conversations with his family and preparing to go to his fiance's home to better encourage her to marry him.

This had none of the great story writing I have felt from Kurland's Nine Kingdom fantasy series where I'm usually pulled in after the first chapter. I am pretty bummed I didn't get more into the book.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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Review: Dreamer's Daughter by Lynn Kurland

I was extremely disappointed in this book. At the end of River of Dreams, I had the feeling like the action was about to begin and I was pumped for it. What ended up happening was a whole lot of the slow, sameness from the previous two books.

Aisling and Runach have decided to get married. So the love story really doesn’t progress from the end of the previous book. This book really focuses on getting into Bruadair and finding answers to their questions of Aisling’s past. They travel from place to place, talking to people who don’t usually give straight answers and reading in libraries. Aisling’s mood changes at the tip of a hat from terrified to determined constantly.

The villain that Kurland builds up throughout the entire trilogy had such a weird turn at the end. I felt supper choppy and it was not well done. AIsling’s magic still leaves me mystified. I really don’t like that its oddities were never explained, nor its root existence.

I’m sad to say that there really isn’t more for me to say. Not a whole lot really happened here. I am absolutely shocked because normally I really love Lynn Kurland’s work. I know she could have done much better. It is also sad for me to say that because of this ending, I would not recommend this series. Hopefully, Kurland will turn around from this.

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Review: River of Dreams by Lynn Kurland

River of Dreams is the second book for Rùnach and Aisling, and the eighth book of the Nine Kingdom series. It begins with the two inside the library at Diarmailt with swords pointed at them. They are both trying to find answers to the mysteries that surround them. Unfortunately, they don’t get to spend too much time researching at the library because one of Rùnach’s bastard brothers arrives.

The pair ends up travelling from place to place looking for answers and running from evil mages. This pretty much sums up the entire book. Not much progresses with the plot because answers are not abundant. There weren’t a whole lot of exciting moments with this part of the trilogy. I can think of only three things in this book that made my adrenaline start pumping.

Aisling did get a lot more interesting mostly because she started developing a backbone. She has turned out to not be so delicate, though she does continue to faint a little too often. She’s also not willing to let herself fall for Rùnach since he is a prince and she just a simple weaver. She doesn’t think she is worthy of him. Oh how I wish she would just put her prejudice against herself aside!

I believe Rùnach would agree with me if he knew what Aisling was feeling. However, he somewhat starts to believe she just isn’t interested. He ends up discovering that he has fallen in love with her, regardless of her seeming lack of interest. He even decides to take up her quest because of this love. He ends up acting a little jealous and protective, which I always find flattering and endearing for men. He continues to be charming and chivalrous as ever.

The book did end on an exciting note, so I am eager to continue the adventure. I know some of the most nail biting scenes are soon to come. The romance again is PG, which I love! If the story wasn’t so slow, I probably would have given it a higher rating, but it did drag a little too much for my taste.

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Review: The Dreamspinner by Lynn Kurland

Dreamspinner starts the third subtrilogy of the Nine Kingdoms series. Our hero is Rùnach, a man who suffered a terrible tragedy twenty or so years in the past. It left him without his family, crippled, and drained of magic. Aisling is our heroine, and she hails from Bruadair where she's been a worker for a Weaver's Guild since she was eight. Her parents exchanged her labor for wealth.

Soon before Aisling's 28th birthday (which is when she will be considered an adult and be able to leave the Weaver's Guild), she sees her parents on the street in town. She panics, knowing that her parents' appearance can only mean they wish to exchange seven more years of labor for money, when she is so close to being free. Surprisingly, some acquaintances in town quickly spirit her out away and set her upon a quest to bring back a mercenary to free Bruadair. Aisling is given a timeline to do this, or a curse will kill her.

Rùnach has set out to go to Gobhann, in order to earn Weger's prestigious mark so that he can become a simple swordsman and live out the rest of his life in obscurity. Upon boarding the ship that will take him towards his destination he meets a young lad who has been robbed and is trying to acquire passage on the same ship. Rùnach generously pays the boy's fare. He is shocked to find out this boy is also en route to Godhann, then even more shocked to discover that the boy is actually a woman in disguise.

The two then begin a journey. Aisling is trying to fulfill her quest and learns the world and who she is were not as she'd thought. Rùnach is becoming more and more curious about this young woman and a desire to assist and protect her. In their journey to discover the mysteries surrounding them, they develop a friendship that scares them a bit as it seems to become more.

I really liked this book. Aisling is such an innocent girl who doesn't want to be lied to and taken advantage of. Rùnach is so troubled with his past and is such a chivalrous gentleman. The romance is PG, and as shown in the series' previous books, it will continue on for two more installments. Lynn Kurland has created such an enchanting world that you will want to to dive right in and live with her characters. It isn't necessary to read the previous six books to appreciate Dreamspinner. They mention the events from the previous books with enough information to understand how it affects this tale. This book was absolutely magical!

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