4 stars – I liked it; it was good
I’m starting this book the day I’m going skiing all day with my family. Fingers crossed that I can finish it within the week and not get behind!
Read: February 19 – February 24, 2024
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
Book contains: running away, death, blood, injustice, accidental murder, threat of rape, animal cruelty, vomit
Purchase a copy from Pulpliterature.com
After discovering the duke isn’t actually her father on top of the fact that her nurse has secretly been her grandmother this whole time, Allaigna runs away from home in search of her true father (and to escape her impending betrothal). She finds something more along the way. Meanwhile, Lauresa and Irdaign recall the trials and tribulations of raising Allaigna and her siblings.
This book, again, included a few things that didn’t make me uncomfortable, per se, but felt strange to include (maybe because I’m not a mother?). In particular, there is a constant mentioning of either Lauresa or Irdaign’s breasts aching whenever they see babies feeding or whenever their own babies (Lauresa) are hungry. I did not understand the constant need to mention their breasts.
This book, like the first one, mainly takes place from Allaigna’s first person past tense perspective, with “choruses” from both Lauresa and Irdaign, Lauresa’s being in third person present and Irdaign’s being in first person present. It remains unclear why the story is laid out in this way.
As mentioned above, I started reading this book the day my family went skiing, so I pretty much missed a day of reading. This made things difficult, as this is another book I read the old-fashioned way. Luckily, it only took me one extra day to finish, and this weekend was more lax in my reading schedule.
Allaigna returns as our main character, still the hot-tempered girl we remember. She is searching for Einavar, her true father, but meets others along the way, making enemies and forging alliances. For Lauresa and Irdaign’s parts, there is no one new, as the scenes follow them through Allaigna’s early years, most of which we already know from Allaigna’s perspective in the first book (but with more context now). Glaignan also makes a brief appearance, though suspicion and recklessness remove him from the story shortly after – I’m eager to know what happens to him in future.
Allaigna’s journey to find her true father is what spurs the plot forward, and though her initial quest is not fulfilled, she makes plenty of new acquaintances and reunites with old acquaintances along the way. Her relationship with Rhoan in particular is that of between a father and daughter, and her relationships with her mother and grandmother become strained after her departure.
As with the first book, the writing is intricate and advanced. Some of the vocabulary was new to me, and the action scenes were immensely entertaining. It really draws you in. It was well edited and well designed.
A lot more happens in this book, with layers of subplots underneath the main plot. The chapters seemed to fly by, even with the vivid description.
This is definitely a series for women, especially mothers who can relate to Lauresa and Irdaign. It could also be a good pick for young women searching for independence who can relate to the hotheaded Allaigna.
Allaigna’s Song book 1: Overture by JM Landels
Allaigna’s Song book 2: Aria by JM Landels
Allaigna’s Song book 3: Chorale by JM Landels
Tigerpetal Press is a small book press dedicated to publishing local authors and poets.