River of Dreams by Lynn Kurland

River of Dreams by Lynn Kurland

 

River of Dreams
Nine Kingdoms – Book #8

By Lynn Kurland
Release Date: January 7, 2014

River of Dreams
Links to order River of Dreams:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository

Description:
Aisling of Bruadair is frantic to find both the truth about her future and a mercenary to save her country. When an offer of aid comes from an unexpected direction, she is relieved her quest is almost complete. But she soon realizes her task is far from over . . . and will include perils she never dreamed she would ever face.

Rùnach of Ceangail has offered to help Aisling with her quest, then he fully intends to take up his life as a simple swordsman far from magic and evil mages. Unfortunately, a chance finding of a book of indecipherable spells tells him that an ordinary life is never going to be his–especially when he realizes that the book he has in his hands belongs to a black mage who will stop at nothing to have it back.

With time running out, Rùnach and Aisling must solve what seem to be unrelated mysteries before others find those answers first and plunge the Nine Kingdoms into a darkness it will never recover from . .

 

Review:

River of Dreams, written by Lynn Kurland, is the highly anticipated 8th installment into the fantastic Nine Kingdom’s series.  It is Book # 2 of the third trilogy; following the quest of Runach of Ceingail and Aisling of Bruadair.  If I could describe this caliber of writing in only one sentence, I would state that these books are like music…a rhapsody not for the ears, but for the eyes.  Lynn Kurland is perhaps the only author I have ever contemplated buying the audio version, over the written–simply so I can listen to her phonetic style of pen being read aloud.  I have never come across such lyricism before, and therefore cannot accurately describe.   It is a signature stamp of authenticity, if you will, for the old world feeling one receives upon visiting a series such as this, and something a reader must personally experience, in order to fully understand.

For anyone who has ever wondered at what the “romantic” side of the Fantasy genre has to offer, I urge you to pick up these books.  And furthermore, I dare you not to love every second you spend reading them.  As a long time patron of Fantasy…I cannot get enough of this series, and would recommend them to any, and all types of readers.   Although it could be said, that this novel differed from the non-stop action level found in some of the other work of this series, Ms. Kurland maintains a superb balance with intriguing mystery, heart rending emotion, and tenderness.  While I found myself laughing more so with the previous installment Dreamspinner, than with any other novel of the series…in contrast, this book took me in the complete opposite direction.

While River of Dreams held an abundance of humor filled banter between main, and secondary characters–it wouldn’t be a novel of the Nine Kingdoms without such moments after all–this newest addition tugged continuously, and mercilessly at my heartstrings.  It showcases what I find to be the most profoundly emotional scene since the second installment; Mage’s Daughter.  And may I just say, if books were to be nominated for categories like we see on the big screen…the award for first kiss, goes to Runach and Aisling–hands down.  Such a raw, endearing, beautifully romantic moment.  My toes curled a little, not gonna lie.  I have always been a reader that feels drawn to the emotion contained within a story, more so than with any other element.  The Nine Kingdom’s series is teeming with sentiment…one of the many, many reasons this particular series is amongst my most treasured. 

With each release, there is something new brought to the table, and River of Dreams was no exception.  It can best be defined as a journey to self awareness.  Our hero Runach–is a character readers have come to know since the first trilogy of this series.  Yet in this installment, we see a transformation, that not even he, himself thought was possible.  I must say…I suspected way back upon our first meeting with Runach, and yet this author cleverly derailed my theories at every turn.  How ironic to find my suspicions were correct all these books later…and yet the delivery of such, was done in a way I NEVER saw coming.   Like our Runach, there is nothing I love more than a good mystery.  Kudos for keeping me guessing Ms. Kurland–when I consider myself a veteran at following clues. *laughing* 

Which leads me to our female lead, Aisling–who is fast becoming my most favorite heroine of the series.  Admittedly, Morgan (from the first trilogy) is a tough character to overthrow.  However, Aisling is unique in a way I have come across very rarely in literature.  Our first impression of Aisling can be compared to the location with which we first meet her.  Like Buel, our heroine is bereft of color, light, and emotion…bereft of life.  She is essentially a blank canvas, with which Ms. Kurland gradually adds lines, shading, and contours.  Once her character begins to take shape, we glimpse subtle changes here, and there.  At first, seeing only minute sprinkles of color, until it morphs into bold, glittering splashes of paint.  With each page we turn, Aisling simply….comes to life before our very eyes. 

In closing, River of Dreams finally provides a culmination of answers, to many long running questions.  How will our hero protect himself, and the woman he has come to love, now that he lacks the magic that once ran within his veins?   Who was responsible for our heroine’s dire escape from a life of slavery…and why she was enslaved in the first place? What profound knowledge do Runach’s villainous half-brother’s believe they can filch from within his mind? Many more questions come upon the wake of these answers.  What roll could a simple weaver from Bruadair, and a self exiled, elven Prince–possibly play within the nefarious game of darkness that has begun in the Nine Kingdoms?  Perhaps most importantly, who…or what is Aisling herself?  Together, our hero’s will work towards unearthing the secrets of who they once were, and will define who they have presently become.  Both struggle to come to terms with what their places will be in the future.  And readers will bear witness…as the fresh bloom of their love is tested against such a cacophony.

Time after time, book after book, Lynn Kurland crafts a tale vividly alive with imagination.  Like the power with which her character’s wield, she weaves stories with a magic that could only be conjured from dreams.  I look forward to learning where the third and final installment of Aisling, and Runach’s harrowing journey will take us.  Thank you Ms. Kurland for sharing your phenomenal gift of story telling with the world, and I am emphatically grateful to the Reading Cafe, for allowing me to read, and review an ARC from one of my most favorite series in literature…twice now. 🙂

Reviewed by Miranda

Copy provided by Publisher

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Gift of Magic by Lynn Kurland – a Review

Gift of Magic by Lynn Kurland – a Review

 


Just to get myself, and other’s who are interested in reading this series up to speed with Ms. Kurland’s phenomenal writing, world building, magic, and characters–I am mixing in content from a review I wrote for a previous installment for this review of Gift of Magic by Lynn Kurland

To begin, I must reiterate that Lynn Kurland has a phonetic style of pen that I have seen very rarely in literature, if ever. As a reader coming strictly from the Epic Fantasy genre, having never read romance until about 11 years ago, I can appreciate the beautiful love story woven within Kurland’s fantasy novels. Not sex, but the soul deep connection forming between a couple. 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, and laughing out loud humor. Rich with twisting threads of plot, that will keep you guessing with each page you turn, and incredible chemistry charging between main and secondary characters. In addition, 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. Every nuance clicks into place perfectly, making the Nine Kingdom’s series one of those rare works in literature, that truly has something for any type of reader to enjoy.

In the previous installments, we learn that our hero 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 fact is learned upon discovery that Ruith is not a simple swordsman masquerading as an ancient hermit sorcerer; living amongst the mountains. He is actually Prince Ruithneadh of Ceangail, the youngest son of Gair–who’s reign of terror labels, as the most notorious and evil black mage in the history of the Nine Kingdoms. Despite the darkness he believes lies within him, Ruith is unquestionably honorable, and has an immense sense of duty. He takes the task upon himself; of collecting his father’s scattered spells, and destroying them. An effort to prevent these dark entities from falling into the wrong hands, and casting the Nine Kingdoms into eternal darkness. 

Since the journey began in Tapestry of Spells, Ruith has aided Sarah of Doire, in her quest to stop her brother’s nefarious ploy. Despite having never been shown kindness, warmth, or tenderness—our heroine has a compassionate, fiercely honorable, and selflessly giving nature. It is through Sarah’s point of view that the unique magic system of the Nine Kingdoms series comes to life. I was blown away by Kurland’s detailed descriptions of what spells “look like.” In example; readers can discern the beauty of Ruith’s magic, in contrast to the repugnant glimpses of some others–and this added a rare level of intrigue to the journey that was absent in the first trilogy. It is upon this discovery that Sarah can “see” spells, that she decides to return the favor granted to her. Helping Ruith find these terrible magic’s derived from a truly evil mind, so that they may be lain to rest forever. Both characters start out with their own sense of duty as the force which drives them….both characters continue on with the ulterior motive of simply wanting to remain close to the other.

As much as I utterly adored every novel of this fantastic series…Gift of Magic stood apart. Unlike the brilliant crescendo of Morgan and Miach’s journey, Ruith and Sarah’s journey began more slowly, gradually adding notes, until it was apparent something largely unexpected and profound was about to happen. Because of this slower build of action, the beginning of Gift of Magic had my heart pounding unlike any of the others. The highly anticipated meeting between Ruith and someone dear from his past (of whom had no inkling he was alive) was not how I imagined it would happen, but profound all the same. Likewise, where a reader could nearly predict how Princess of Swords would end, the ending of Gift of Magic had me reeling in surprise. It was this ending specifically, more than any others; that Ms. Kurland’s imagination blew me away.

Both completed trilogies of the Nine Kingdoms series end on a high note, and leave readers completely satisfied with the outcome…but it is the third trilogy that we see a beloved secondary character step into the spotlight. I cannot wait to see where Lynn Kurland transports us next within her newest release DreamSpinner.

ORDER LINKS: The Book Depository KOBO/ Barnes and Noble / Amazon

Reviewed by Miranda

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