Title: The Bird and the Sword
Author: Amy Harmon
Rating: ★★★★★

“You won’t speak and you won’t tell, you won’t call on heav’n or hell. You will learn and you will thrive. Silence, daughter. Stay alive.”

The Bird and the Sword is a captivating, enchanting, imaginative story. It’s a fantasy romance that reads like a dark fairytale: Amy Harmon’s writing is both poetic and simple, filling the story with magic. I was completely drawn in from the first page of the prologue and never wanted to stop reading.

There wasn’t a lot of detail when it come to the world building for a fantasy, but it actually works for this story and made me enjoy it more because it was easier to focus on the story and the characters. Harmon creates interesting, dynamic characters who had me rooting for them the entire time. I love the evolution of the relationship between Lark and Tiras. They shared passion, snark, tenderness, bickering, understanding, and a sense of harmony. 

“You were not supposed to love me, Lark. I did not set out to make you love me. And I was not supposed to love you. But I do. And it is terrible.”

“I have loved you every moment of every day, and I will love you until I cease to be. Bird, man, or king, I love you, and I will always love you.”

I really enjoyed the complexity of Kjell’s character, and I’m looking forward to learning more about it him in the sequel. I kept putting off reading because I didn’t want to finish the book; I was so convinced that the ending was going to emotionally destroy me, and not in a good way. I was mentally preparing myself for the inevitable heartbreak. Thankfully, the ending was just as wonderful and perfect as the rest of the story. 

I feel so fortunate that I happened upon this book. The Bird and the Sword has not only been one of my favorite reads of this year, but is now also one of my favorite books of all time. Amy Harmon has created an enchanting story that is everything I want in a fantasy novel. I can’t wait to check out more of her work in the future.