The Knight, the Harp, and the Maiden

I absolutely loved this book! it was totally unexpected and i never would have picked it up except for i was in the airport and the plane was delayed like 5 hours so i picked out a book to read and i LOVED IT!

this is one good read! the person who gave this a 1 rating was obviously having a bad PMS day... i thought this book was great. the plot moves along really fast--the character changes from a scared young girl into a mature woman, consistent with the time and place. it's NOT the earth, and it's NOT the 90's... read it and find out!

I loved this book. The author manages to put our heroine in an interesting position -- by way of a curse -- which forces her to find her inner resources and to grow up quickly. One of the strengths of the book is the way in which the main character evolves so that her love for the hero is satisfying and deep. Kelleher Bush creates a real and believable world with exciting foes and devastating perils. I hope she'll write a sequel... I want to find out more about these people.

I stumbled across this as I was in the science-fiction section. I'd never been a real fan of science-fiction, but I saw this book, read the back, and bought it. And when I started, I couldn't stop. The story is smooth, it keeps going without any pauses. It takes you along its way, all the way til you reach the end. I think it is a book worth reading!

Seven city states comprise the Syrian League, an association that has Thurges (sorcerers) and Thanes(the nobility) co-ruling, but vying for power. After a period of chaos, the balance between the magical forces has maintained a peaceful balance, but that abruptly ends. In the powerful city-state of Sylyria, Juilene, daughter of the Thane of Sarrasim, wants to become a songsayer at the festival. When the evil Thurge Lindos, a practitioner of the forbidden magic, abets an attack on her fiancé's sister, Juilene poses as a songsayer to bring the local aristocracy inside the castle. Their plan to kill Lindos fails and the evil magician holds Juilene prisoner. When she rejects his marriage proposal, he curses her by forbidding her to accept kindness or charity lest she causes them harm. Juilene flees her home, aimlessly wandering as a songsayer, praying that someone will appear who loves and cherishes her for herself. That and that alone is the only means to break the curse. However, the prophecy states that "only the knight who has never been born" can halt the curse that is about to befall the Syrian League, a legend that will affect Juilene as well. THE KNIGHT, THE HARP AND THE MAIDEN is an enthralling fantasy novel that genre readers will tremendously enjoy. The metamorphosis of the heroine from a young spoiled girl into a strong woman is marvelous, believable, and the underpinning of the stupendous story line. Anne Kelleher Bush creates a world that fans will want to know learn more about as they will clamor for a continuing series.Harriet Klausner