The Copper Bard – Richard Parry

*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author.  The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*

Blurb: The ancients don’t want to stay dead. Evanne will make them.

Evanne’s a half-Vhemin bard with melodies flowing in her veins. Chaos falls on her home of Imshir when the ancient mountain fortress Heaven’s Gate erupts, reawakened by a cult set on destroying all Evanne knows and loves.

In the charred shadow of the mountain’s wrath, she learns her parents are dead. Her allies turn against her. Shadowy foes from a far off land ruled by the Raven Queen hunt her. The only person more lost than her is Tarragon, a fairy warrior set on killing all Vhemin in the name of justice.

Evanne’s after justice of her own. The true culprit behind Heaven’s Gate’s devastation must be stopped, or more lands will fall to ruin. Trust is a luxury she can’t afford, especially with Tarragon, whose past is as mysterious as the fairy herself.

Haunted by the blame of Imshir’s survivors and the looming threat of the Raven Queen’s foes, Evanne’s path is fraught with danger. Failure means not only her demise but the potential downfall of two realms. Allies are as uncertain as the shifting winds. Evanne’s only certainty is her resolve.

Will her journey lead to redemption, or will it end as a mere whisper in the saga of a splintered land?

The Copper Bard feels like The Splintered Land: Next Generation, as old favourites Vertiline, Armitage and Sight of Day return, as Mama, Papa and Uncle Day respectively, because the focus is on half-human, half-Vhemin bard, daughter and niece Evanne this time round.

The story picks up years after Requiem’s Justice ended, with Geneve and Meriweather still AWOL and the remainder of the companions stuck in a holding pattern, hoping but not hopeful for their return, but determined to keep old promises. Until disaster strikes and Evanne finds herself on a quest to find out why Heaven’s Gate erupted and who was to blame, for her own personal vengeance at first, but with the option of saving the world always open to those willing to take it.

As this is a Richard Parry epic fantasy novel, of course she picks up some quirky and awesome companions to travel with, including but not limited to an amnesiac ghost, a fairy spy, the Raven Queen necromancer, a Vhemin warrior, a loyal Queensguard and a vanishing tiger. And also as usual, it is the comradeship and banter between the group of odd companions that form the heart and soul of the story and keep you wanting more.

That’s not to say that there isn’t plenty of action – from battles to barfights – along the way… Evanne IS half-Vhemin after all, and they aren’t generally known for their peaceful diplomacy skills. But there are always exceptions to every rule and Evanne begins to learn during this adventure that there is more to her than just the genetic materials of her unusual birth.

Don’t expect the story to neatly resolve by the end of this book, but rest assured you won’t need to wait long for the rest of the story either – the next book, Heartsong, released in February 2024 (review to follow soon!) and the grand finale, The Hymn of All, releases on 19th March 2024. So you might just have time to catch up, if you hurry!

The miracle arrived in the usual way.
The world didn’t notice. Not immediately, and not before it was too late.
Sixteen summers passed in Imshir. The long days grew fat and heavy as the people who came to test themselves against the Platinum Warrior decided to settle down instead. This wasn’t because they failed against her; it was because Vertiline was completely uninterested in cutting down imbeciles.
Imshir welcomed all who came. How could it not? Its streets were haunted and empty. It’s no wonder, then, that the miracle favoured death.
They called her Evanne, and this is her story.

– Richard Parry, The Copper Bard

Check out Richard Parry’s website, or follow him on Goodreads.

The Copper Bard is available on Amazon right now, and you can check out my reviews of other stories by the author here, here, here, here, here and here. Or pop here to find Richard’s thoughts on writing continuity and here for an interview with the man himself!