Book Two in the Warrior Bards series picks up a few months after the first book The Harp of Kings ended. Marillier proves yet again that building strong relationships between characters is her strength as Liobhan and Dau find themselves forced to return to Dau’s family home to face the trauma of his past. Meanwhile, Brocc struggles to reconcile his feelings about the Crow Folk as he searches for a solution to their ongoing attacks. His desire to find a peaceful resolution to the issue is amiable but ultimately causes friction between him and his new wife. Hope, courage and determination push the three main characters forward in this darker second instalment that will have you turning pages late into the night and eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.