Rhapsody is Elizabeth Haydon's debut novel. It is the first book of a trilogy (the others are Prophecy and Requiem for the Sun). For a first novel, I think it is outstanding. The author is a herbalist, harpist and madrigal singer and "enjoys anthropology and folklore", which might give you an idea of the type of novel this is. It is not the archtypical "Dungeons and Dragons" book (although there IS a dragon, and a very unusual one). It is not swashbuckling, with a great hero out to save the world. There are no wizards, no thieves, none of that.
There are great characters. There is Rhapsody, half Liran, half human, suffering from the bad decisions she made, trying to put a life together, studying to be a Namer, which uses the "magic" of music and of knowing the true name of anything. There is the Brother, assassin, linked by blood to the heartbeat of anyone living on the island of Serendair, half Bolg, half Dhracian and unwilling held in bond by an evil even he can't tolerate. There is Grunthor, over 7 feet tall, half Bolg and half something else I can't remember
, who claims to be cannibal but protects and loves Rhapsody. These are the 3 protagonists, and this first book chronicles how they merge into a family, learn each other's pasts and personalities, and get past suspicion and fear to love.
The plot I found facinating. Fleeing from unexpected debris from her past, Rhapsody is more or less kidnapped by the other two and they descend into the roots of Saiga, the World Tree and emerge many years later into a new country and century. They must quickly get their bearings, geographically, politically and emotionally, for it seems the evil from their old world may be at work in the new.
I found the different races to be believable, the history and lore of this world to be consistent and plausible. This author is a true storyteller. I think if you try this book, you will want to continue on to the others in the trilogy. Trilogies are rare these days; everything seems to be 5 or more books, so enjoy while you can
There are great characters. There is Rhapsody, half Liran, half human, suffering from the bad decisions she made, trying to put a life together, studying to be a Namer, which uses the "magic" of music and of knowing the true name of anything. There is the Brother, assassin, linked by blood to the heartbeat of anyone living on the island of Serendair, half Bolg, half Dhracian and unwilling held in bond by an evil even he can't tolerate. There is Grunthor, over 7 feet tall, half Bolg and half something else I can't remember
The plot I found facinating. Fleeing from unexpected debris from her past, Rhapsody is more or less kidnapped by the other two and they descend into the roots of Saiga, the World Tree and emerge many years later into a new country and century. They must quickly get their bearings, geographically, politically and emotionally, for it seems the evil from their old world may be at work in the new.
I found the different races to be believable, the history and lore of this world to be consistent and plausible. This author is a true storyteller. I think if you try this book, you will want to continue on to the others in the trilogy. Trilogies are rare these days; everything seems to be 5 or more books, so enjoy while you can
