Dreamspinner by Lynn Kurland – a Review

Dreamspinner by Lynn Kurland – a Review

 

dream spinner

DreamSpinner, written by Lynn Kurland; is the first installment of the third trilogy of the Nine Kingdoms series. It is the long awaited beginning of Runach of Ceingail’s story. The oldest of only three survivors of a long ago tragedy, that had been thought to wipe out an entire family. Runach is the only one who crawled away from this terrifying day, with more than emotional scars….

Horribly crippled with the use of his hands, and rendered ungifted due to the thievery of his very own father, Runach has spent the years of his adult life; walking the library of the most prestigeous magic academy in all of the Nine Kingdoms. He spent his time sticking to the shadows, hidden within the hood of his cloak, avoiding those that would do him harm if they learned he was alive–and soaking up all the information he could read. Until one day, a chance meeting with the archmage of Tor Neroche, and a Shieldmaiden from Melksham turned Runach’s entire world upside down…for the second time in his life.

Miraculously, his beloved little sister, the youngest of 6 original children, was not killed at the Dark well with his mother, father and the rest of his siblings as he had feared. It was this unexpected happenstance that also led Runach to the discovery of the survival of his youngest brother. After much mystery surrounding Runach in the first trilogy, he truly comes to life in the second trilogy of the Nine Kingdoms. Since he first stepped onto the page; readers have waited, and wondered if this solitary soul would discover a purpose to his altered life, as well as happiness.

DreamSpinner opens just after Runach has spent weeks with his newly rediscovered siblings, and witnessed the weddings of his sister and brother. He feels an unsettledness stirring within his soul, being surrounded by loving, well meaning family who has repeatedly taxed themselves and their magical gifts by healing his hands. He lacks the vanity to allow them to attempt to heal his face. Runach may have been born an eleven prince of one of the most polished, and well known bloodlines–but that part of himself died forever; on the day he witnessed the true power of his father’s evil as a youth.

Now a man lacking the magic of his birthright, the civility, and polish expected of a Prince of his status…Runach feels the only choices left to him upon the restoration of his hands (although they still pain him greatly) is either to remain with his family, living off from their hard work, and hospitality–or once again taking up the swordsplay of which he was once so skilled. Feeling as if the first in no choice at all, he makes preperations to travel to a place few would ever venture, for there is no better to help him relearn this skill; than the most notorious Sword Master in the Nine Kingdoms. Scrimgeyour Weger. Runach is at peace with the simple life of obscurity he will lead with this choice. After all, there are worst fates than living the life of a soldier…and surely destiny would have nothing more grand in store for a library hermit…right?

It is at this point the book shifts POV, and we meet our heroine, Aisling. A woman of no consequence, from a place as insignificant as nowhere…or so is the readers first perception. Aisling has lived out her life in a village quite unknown to outsiders, and of which is believed by its citizens; to cast a horrible curse upon its inhabitants. Keep your mouth shut, and stay–you live, cross the border, or speak of this place to anyone–and you die by this curse. Life is not grand at Brudair, and Aisling knows this better than some. Having been sold into slavery by her very own parents, in exchange for money for they, and her siblings to live an expensive lifestyle.

Since the age of 8; Aisling has spent her life at the Guild; weaving fabric, day after day. During one of her rare moments she gets to herself, she receives the shock of seeing her parents across a crowded travel way. Have they come to pay off their debt? Will she finally receive her freedom? Her heart sinks however, when they disappear once more into the carriage…and she knows that they must have negotiated a renewal of her contract. Desperation and hopelessness sets in, knowing she does not reach the age of 28–when her parents can no longer “rent” her labor–for several more months.

This is the point in the story where we see a previous character known for his visions of the future, break all rules and interfere in the destiny of another. A man so rigidly bound by the duty his gift demands–he would not even allow himself to try and prevent the death of the woman he loved. Readers are left wondering what importance this man could have seen, that he would tweak the strands of fate. It is here the adventure begins. With our hero and heroine both traveling towards a place rarely saught. One driven by choice…one driven by desperation…both driven by destiny. Upon this unlikely meeting of souls, our hero and heroine begin a fight for physical, and emotional survival. Locked in an inner and outter struggle to keep their secrets from coming to light. All while feeling the fragile bloom of friendship and trust; morphing into the bombardment of an attraction neither can afford.

For me, DreamSpinner was the most enjoyable novel of the Nine Kingdoms to date. Although I have adored every single novel in this series, book 7 offers long time fans, and newly arriving readers so much. Around every corner, there are unexpected dangers threatening the world, and people of the Nine Kingdom’s. There are many reunion’s between a whole cast of previous main, and side characters. Some heartwarming, and humorous–while others are shocking, and intense. I found myself laughing out loud with DreamSpinner more than with any other previous installment. And yet, in the next instant, I could feel the palpable tension building for the action to come.

As always, I felt completely transported by Lynn Kurland‘s lyrical writing, brilliant mental imagery, richly descriptive magic, and larger than life characterization. Although DreamSpinner did not end with as large of a cliff hanger as some of the other novels, this coming year will be no less painful of a wait. Runach grabbed ahold of my heart within the first ten pages, and I anxiously anticipate the next chapter of he and Aisling’s journey. Well done Ms. Kurland, and may you write within the world of the Nine Kingdom’s for many years to come.
Please. 🙂

Reviewed by Miranda

Copy provided by Author

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The Nine Kingdoms by Lynn Kurland- a Synopsis

The Nine Kingdoms by Lynn Kurland- a Synopsis

Since we are  big fans of Lynn Kurland, we thought we would introduce you to this wonderful series, if you have not read it.  The synopsis below is based on the 7 novels of The Nine Kingdoms.  The first two books above are novellas, within anthologies.

Star of the Morning: Nine Kingdoms # 1.

GoodReads description:
From the USA Today bestselling author comes the first in a magical romantic fantasy trilogy.

Darkness covers the north, since the black mage has begun his assault on the kingdom of Neroche. Legend has it that only the two magical swords held by Neroche’s king can defeat the mage. Now the fate of the Nine Kingdoms rests in the hands of a woman destined to wield one of those blades…

In this land of dragons and mages, warrior maids and magical swords, nothing is as it seems. And Morgan will find that the magic in her blood brings her troubles she cannot face with a sword-and a love more powerful than she has ever imagined.

Description from Amazon.com:
Neroche’s kingdom is threatened by the darkness of an evil Black Mage- and all hope lies in the legend of two magical swords. Miach, the arch mage of Neroche, carries one. And he’s found a Wielder for the other in Morgan, a young woman and feared mercenary herself. Now, Miach must choose between endangering the woman who has captured his heart, and defending the kingdom he’s sworn to protect.

The Mage’s Daughter: Nine Kingdoms # 2.

 GoodReads description:
In the kingdom of Neroche, nightmarish creatures have been unleashed as weapons in a war of evil. Morgan the mercenary, daughter of a treacherous black mage, must fight against them-as well as for her very life. Miach of Neroche would risk his own life to save Morgan’s, but he must do so at the peril of the realm, forcing dangerous choices in the deadliest of quests.

Description from Amazon.com:
Lynn Kurland’s trilogy of love, intrigue, and fantastic destiny continues as a female mercenary fights for her life, her future, and the one man who can save her…

Darkness in the kingdom…

Neroche is under assault by a magic that has stripped its king of his powers and unleashed nightmarish creatures in a war of evil in which Morgan of Melksham is fighting for her life. Recovering from a near-fatal attack, Morgan realizes that she must decide between two fates: that of being a simple shield maiden or accepting her heritage as an elven princess. If only she could ignore that she was the daughter of the perilous black mage of Ceangail…

Magic in the blood…

Duty bound to aid his king, Miach of Neroche is torn between what his responsibilities demand and what his heart desires. He is willing to risk his life to rescue Morgan from the darkness that haunts her, but he must do so at the peril of his realm. Forced to choose between love and the burden of his mantle, Miach sets out on his most deadly quest ever.

Princess of the Sword: Nine Kingdoms # 3

Description from GoodReads:
The stirring conclusion to the “superb romantic fantasy trilogy”(Midwest Book Review) from the USA Today bestselling author of The Mage’s Daughter

Born out of “a fantasy world…too wonderful to miss” (Paranormal Romance) the Nine Kingdoms Trilogy now explodes in the fiercest battle yet as the fate of a kingdom lies with a man and woman bound by love, magic, and a legendary-and perilous-sword.

A Tapestry of Spells: Nine Kingdoms # 4.

Description from GoodReads: 

The compelling start of a new fantasy romance trilogy set in the world of the Nine Kingdoms, from New York Times bestselling author Lynn Kurland

Return to the world of the Nine Kingdoms with New York Times bestselling author Lynn Kurland as a new evil, and a new passion, emerges:

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.

Spellweaver: Nine Kingdoms # 5

Description from GoodReads:
The New York Times bestselling author returns to the Nine Kingdoms for another spellbinding story of magical romance.

Ruith had long managed to ignore the magic in his veins, until aiding Sarah with her ill-fated quest forced him into places where his heritage was impossible to deny. Faced with an ever-increasing number of enemies who covet his power, Ruith must accept his birthright and gather his father’s spells together so he can destroy them-or turn away and allow his father’s evil to overcome the Nine Kingdoms.

Now, Ruith and Sarah must rely on each other more than ever-for everything they value is at risk: the Nine Kingdoms, their lives…and their hearts.

Gift of Magic: Nine Kingdoms # 6.

Description from GoodReads:
The latest installment in New York Times bestselling author Lynn Kurland’s breathtaking Nine Kingdoms saga, which follows the daughter of a dreamweaver and the son of a mage as they struggle to save the realm from a magic as dark as it is powerful.

Sarah of Doìre knows the pattern of spells is no accident. With each page, each powerful rune, she and Ruith are being led somewhere, to someone-but by whom, she cannot tell. Sarah’s gift of sight only allows her to see the spells themselves, not the person behind them.

A reluctant sorcerer still learning to trust his own magic, Ruithneadh of Ceangail knows he’s woefully unprepared for the adversaries they’ll face. But he and Sarah must collect and destroy his father Gair’s spells soon. Many mages seek their power, and in the wrong hands, Gair’s magic would plunge the Nine Kingdoms into an eternity of darkness.

But as they pursue the final spells-acquiring strange companions, welcome allies, and unexpected foes along the way-Sarah and Ruith realize that their true quest has only just begun. The real enemy is closer, darker, and more power hungry than they ever imagined; and until he is defeated, the fate of the Nine Kingdoms hangs in dire peril.

Dreamspinner: Nine Kingdoms # 7

Description from GoodReads:
New York Times
bestselling author Lynn Kurland’s enthralling Nine Kingdoms saga brings together a weaver’s apprentice and the son of a mage, both fighting to save the Nine Kingdoms from peril.

Aisling of Bruadair has lived a provincial life, heedless of the evil creeping over her land. That ordinary existence changes forever, though, when she is sent to the opposite end of the world to find a master swordsman. If she fails, her life–and her country’s safety–will be forfeit. She just never expected that swordsman to be a wounded elven prince masquerading as a simple soldier.

Powerless and scarred from a long-ago conflict, RĂąnach of Ceangail has spent years in obscurity, ignoing battles he can no longer fight. And although he has been drawn back into the world, he fully intends to live an unremarkable life far away from events he knows he cannot change… Until RĂąnach meets Aisling and realizes that she is far more than what she seems, that their alliance has attracted unwelcome notice, and that some battles must be fought.

Synopsis compiled by Miranda

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