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The Bird and the Sword (The Bird and the Sword Chronicles Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 13,612 ratings

Swallow, daughter, pull them in, those words that sit upon your lips. Lock them deep inside your soul, hide them ‘til they’ve time to grow. Close your mouth upon the power, curse not, cure not, ‘til the hour. You won’t speak and you won’t tell, you won’t call on heaven or hell. You will learn and you will thrive. Silence, daughter. Stay alive. The day my mother was killed, she told my father I wouldn’t speak again, and she told him if I died, he would die too. Then she predicted the king would sell his soul and lose his son to the sky. My father has a claim to the throne, and he is waiting in the shadows for all of my mother’s words to come to pass. He wants desperately to be king, and I just want to be free. But freedom will require escape, and I’m a prisoner of my mother’s curse and my father’s greed. I can’t speak or make a sound, and I can’t wield a sword or beguile a king. In a land purged of enchantment, love might be the only magic left, and who could ever love . . . a bird?

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Bird and The Sword overflowed with stunning, breath-taking moments of pure magic as Amy Harmon's world consumed us and her characters captivated us. We fell in love with absolutely everything in this flawless, thrilling and epic tale of cursed ones, greed and magic as well as the ultimate, love."
​-- Totally Booked Blog"Amy Harmon's books may have a reputation for being tame compared to what else is out there in the romance genre, but don't let anyone convince you that this isn't a sexy read. It's subtly sexy. Sneakily sexy." -- Slow Reader's Blog"A must-read, beautifully written, poignant page turner. The words will sweep you away, the romance will captivate you, and you'll find yourself utterly entranced by Amy Harmon's beautiful story."
-- Vilma Gonzalez, USA Today HEA columnist"Visually stunning and meticulously crafted, The Bird and the Sword is a fantastical romantic adventure unexpectedly peppered with moments of sensuality and humor."
-- Angie and Jessica's Dreamy Reads"Given that I am a true Romance reader at heart and often have a hard time stepping too far outside of my preferred genre, I was pleasantly surprised to see that this was a Fantasy novel that completely stayed true to the rules of Romance."
-- Aestas Book Blog"A mesmerizing tale set in a fantastical world that captivates us instantly and then gently fills our hearts with the kind of joy and wonder that can only be found in an Amy Harmon book."
-- Natasha Is A Book Junkie"This is not just a fantasy read. Interwoven between battles for supremacy, greed, and power is a beautiful love story that will have your heart beating a mile a minute."
-- The Romance Cover

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01FIT5ITU
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amazon Digital Services LLC (May 10, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 10, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2067 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 293 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 13,612 ratings

About the author

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Amy Harmon
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Amy Harmon is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and New York Times bestselling author. Her books have been translated into thirty languages around the world. Amy has written nineteen novels in multiple genres, including the bestsellers, WHAT THE WIND KNOWS and WHERE THE LOST WANDER. Her fantasy novel, THE BIRD AND THE SWORD was a Goodreads Best Book finalist. FROM SAND AND ASH was named the 2016 Whitney Award winner for Book of the Year. For more, follow Amy at www.authoramyharmon.com

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
13,612 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story captivating and relatable. They praise the author's magical writing style and poetic words. The characters are well-developed and believable. The pacing is fast but not tripping up on itself, keeping readers hooked from beginning to end. Readers appreciate the strong characterization and world-building. Overall, they describe the book as refreshingly unique and original.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

857 customers mention "Story quality"819 positive38 negative

Customers enjoy the story's storytelling and characterization. They find it relatable and believable, with memorable scenes. The book is described as an enchanting fantasy novel with plot twists and surprises that add depth to the story. Readers appreciate the emotional and introspective aspects of the story, while maintaining a straightforward plot.

"...I also loved the way everything came together at the end. I adored the Epilogue, and though it was short, it was perfect and left a huge smile on my..." Read more

"...I was overall quite satisfied with the story and will definitely be picking up another Amy Harmon book in the future!..." Read more

"...This book is full of so much wonder. The world that Amy creates is amazing. I felt so much while reading this book...." Read more

"...of fantasy and magic are there, the way they are woven into the story felt different and fresh. The writing was beautiful...." Read more

541 customers mention "Writing quality"525 positive16 negative

Customers enjoy the book's writing style. They praise the author's poetic words, beautiful setting, and unique characters. The story is all about words, and the dialogue is sharp, witty, and clear.

"...Her writing is exquisite and she continues to amaze me with her stories. Lark lives in a world with kings, noblemen, commoners, and magic...." Read more

"...In this particular story they have a magical quality, but we also see how Lark learns the value of words by learning to read and write...." Read more

"...For the word is quick and powerful Sharper than any two edged sword…” Amy created a Fantasy world, full of magic...." Read more

"...The writing was beautiful. The supporting characters were decent and helped enhance the story but Lark and Tiras were the best...." Read more

313 customers mention "Character development"281 positive32 negative

Customers appreciate the book's characters. They find the characters believable, intelligent, and artfully drawn. The protagonist is described as a brave and noble young man who wants to protect the people. The narration is also appreciated by readers.

"...I loved Lark and think she was a wonderful heroine. She was innocent, pure, and good, but also fiesty which I loved...." Read more

"...She is a wonderful narrator and we get plenty of insight through her internal dialogue...." Read more

"...that what I enjoyed the most is the fact that Lark was such a strong willed character. She never gave up, even when times got hard and tough for her...." Read more

"...The writing was beautiful. The supporting characters were decent and helped enhance the story but Lark and Tiras were the best...." Read more

76 customers mention "Pacing"62 positive14 negative

Customers find the book's pacing engaging and gripping from start to finish. They praise the smooth writing style and whimsical, charming narrative. The story is described as the perfect combination of genres for readers.

"...Harmon has excellent pacing and I enjoyed the story so much more due to the beautiful, lyrical writing...." Read more

"...I loved everything about it. It was sweet and gentle and kind. Not overbearing or overwhelming...." Read more

"For the most part, I was really pleased with this novel. Harmon's pacing is terrific, no complaints there...." Read more

"...So powerful, so masculine, so confident, so fair and just...and so full of his own secrets. Some I guessed, some I did not...." Read more

70 customers mention "Strength"70 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging with its strong characterization, world-building, and well-developed characters. They appreciate the heroine's bravery, resourcefulness, and headstrong character traits. While vulnerable, the heroine is also strong-willed.

"...She was innocent, pure, and good, but also fiesty which I loved. She showed her strength as she endured so much from the time she was little...." Read more

"...She always stood proud and strong and kept to what she believed. All in all, I absolutely loved this book...." Read more

"...It is THAT unique and well developed and thought out. Like so many people that read this book (I'm assuming), I'm not a big fantasy reader...." Read more

"...The world building was fantastic! I was all in with the gifts thing, and particularly with how Lark’s gift manifested itself...." Read more

64 customers mention "Creativity"64 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's creativity. They find it refreshingly unique, original, and innovative. The book is described as well-written and a standalone novel, though some readers would not complain if it became a series.

"...The story, while fantasy and oh so unique, is one where the world has been created so precisely and so lyrically, that I can envision it and see it...." Read more

"...The world was interesting and fun. The magic was different and creative. I loved Lark...." Read more

"...THIS is that book, the one that is so uniquely special it blows all other books out of the water...." Read more

"...Everything about this was original, poignant, and brilliant. And while there is very little sex, this story was oozing with sensuality and romance...." Read more

60 customers mention "Insight"55 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the book's fairytale-style weaving of human truths. They find it a morality tale about strong will, conviction, faith, and values like love, kinship, decency, and integrity. The story is described as innocent, pure, and good, but also fiesty. While some aspects of the story are violent, the overall message is uplifting.

"...I loved Lark and think she was a wonderful heroine. She was innocent, pure, and good, but also fiesty which I loved...." Read more

"...this is a huge BUT, this is not just a fantasy read, interwoven between battles for supremacy, greed and power is a beautiful love story that will..." Read more

"...It has wars fought, regional disquiet, an evil force, and the battle of good over evil. Total classic...." Read more

"...Amy Harmon delivers a beautiful story of love, kinship, decency, and strong values that we all want in our lives...." Read more

59 customers mention "Complexity"59 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's complexity. They find the world-building believable and unique, with a nice general concept. The characters and details are captivating, and readers find the writing style clean, simple, and uncomplicated.

"...The plot itself was multi-layered and complex. On the surface, Lark and Tiras face a very physical threat to the kingdom...." Read more

"...It was sweet and gentle and kind. Not overbearing or overwhelming...." Read more

"...story, while fantasy and oh so unique, is one where the world has been created so precisely and so lyrically, that I can envision it and see it...." Read more

"...message serves a strong warning to readers, but is also accompanied by an easy solution: acceptance...." Read more

An unforgettable experience
5 out of 5 stars
An unforgettable experience
5 stars!“Silence, daughter. Stay alive.”Oh sweet Harmon feels! Amy Harmon is on my auto-buy list. I've only read 2 books of hers and the moment I heard she had a new book coming out, I was sold! She has a unique way with words that her books have stayed with me and I truly find it hard to review her books. They are just so precious and magical you have to just pick one and read it, no summary, no reviews, no nothing. Just pick one and let it take you on a journey. I just love the amazing experience that is Amy Harmon.“Swallow, Daughter, pull them in, those words that sit upon your lips. Lock them deep inside your soul, hide them ‘til they’ve time to grow. Close your mouth upon the power, curse not, cure not, ‘til the hour. 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.”This is a story about the power of words, in a setting that feels like Merlin, which I loved. It's difficult to categorize it since this is what Amy Harmon is best at, being unique and mixing genres together only to create some of the most unforgettable stories! I've said many many times that Fantasy is a genre I hardly ever read since I'm awfully picky but this year I've read some amazing Fantasy books and The Bird and the Sword is definitely one of those books!Lark has a special way with words. At a time where people have unique powers they have to keep a secret because they live in a land where magic is something people are afraid of and they literally hunt the Gifted ones down, young Lark can make objects fly and obey her just by saying the right words. That is until her mother advises her not to just before she is killed. For her safety, it is better to never use words again so as to never hurt anyone or find herself in danger. That is until the King of Jeru realizes what power she has, not just magical, but over her father as well.“I am not a weapon. I don’t want to be a weapon!”“You are what you are. I am what I am. It matters little what we want.”“I am not a weapon.” The words were a cry, mournful and resistant. I felt him draw closer, but still he didn’t touch me, and for that I was grateful. If he touched me I would break down.“I never wanted to be king. But it is what I am. It matters little what we want.”The King is a kind man, trying to be fair especially after his father's reign and seeing how cruel he was but it is not easy. People are scared of the Gifted ones. Those who have special gifts other do not understand. In their mind, that makes them dangerous. But the Kind is not one of them.“I think I will keep you.”King Tiras is such an interesting character, the way he deals with Lark, a woman who doesn't even use her words to speak, but he kindly takes time to teach her letters and words, to write her name and his. It's so beautiful and the flow of the story... just brilliant!“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.”Not going to spoil it, but it is honestly an unforgettable experience. The author's poetic words, the beautiful setting, unique characters that are so beautifully created, even if Fantasy is not your go to genre, this is beyond worth it!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2016
    5 “I think I will keep you” stars!

    Amy Harmon has once again proved what a wonderfully brilliant writer she is. She is an amazing story teller who grabs the reader's interest immediately and never lets go. In some of her books she has supernatural elements, but The Bird and the Sword is full on fantasy and it is fantastic! It’s a perfect blend of fantasy and romance, and is a clever and unique tale. It is so descriptive that I can see the story play out in my head like a movie. Her writing is exquisite and she continues to amaze me with her stories.

    Lark lives in a world with kings, noblemen, commoners, and magic. Some people are born Gifted and though they were once welcome, they are now feared and despised. Punished for using their gifts, the Gifted have been forced into hiding to avoid persecution.

    We meet Lark as a little girl and we quickly learn that she is among the Gifted. After witnessing a bit of magic, the King is unforgiving and he murders her mother, but not before she is able to tell her daughter one last thing.

    “Swallow Daughter, pull them in, those words that sit upon your lips. Lock them deep inside your soul, hide them ‘til they’ve time to grow. Close your mouth upon the power, curse not, cure not, ‘til the hour. 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.”

    Lark grows up a prisoner in her own home and without a voice. Her father has his reasons for denying Lark the knowledge of reading and writing, and she feels so alone, with only her servant, Boojahni, truly caring for her.

    When lark is 20 years old she is taken by King Tiras, son of the king who killed her mother. She soon finds that this new king is not like his horrible father. He is different with Lark, and he is very gentle with her. He shows her kindness, gives her anything she wants, and offers to teach her, something that means everything to Lark. Slowly Lark begins seeing Tiras as a friend and savior.

    Lark has constructed walls like ice around herself and does not let anyone in. But as Tiras and Lark grow closer we see their attraction and desire grow. Lark is feeling things she has never felt before and is trying to adjust to her new life.

    "Suddenly yearning had a flavor. It tasted like a king, a beautiful, frightening, infuriating man who flew into my life and began to free my words."

    The romance in this book is beautifully written. I loved seeing Lark explore her feelings and accepting them fully even if she did not want Tiras to know how he affected her. I enjoyed watching the fascination Tiras has for Lark and how intrigued they were with each other. Lark falls for Tiras but can they truly be together with everything that is going on around them?

    "You chose me because I am of use. But I chose you because I wanted you. All I ever wanted was for you to love me in return."

    Both Lark and Tiras were very unique characters. I loved Lark and think she was a wonderful heroine. She was innocent, pure, and good, but also fiesty which I loved. She showed her strength as she endured so much from the time she was little. I loved watching her develop her gift and enjoyed seeing the experience through her eyes.

    And Tiras… I absolutely loved Tiras. He was so sweet to Lark and acted completely different with her. I loved his protective nature and that he truly saw her. I was glad he was a better king from the beginning and nothing like his father. He really wanted to save his land and had his peoples best interest in mind. He was handsome and charming, but dangerous and mysterious. I loved him from the start and he made me fall right along with Lark!

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

    *swoon*

    Of course, this book is definitely not only about romance but adventure and magic. There is a war between beast and man and you don’t know who will come out on top or how it will all be resolved. I loved the fantasy elements in this book. The decriptions of the beasts were detailed and I loved hearing about the different types of magic that the Gifted had. I also loved the way everything came together at the end. I adored the Epilogue, and though it was short, it was perfect and left a huge smile on my face.

    The Bird and the Sword is entertaining from the very first word to the very last. There are twists I did not see coming and the whole book was well thought out. When I finished, I found myself searching back to parts for hints of what would transpire and kicking myself that I didn't see things sooner. I absolutely loved this book and can not wait to see what Amy has in store for us in the future. She definitely needs to continue writing fantasy because she nailed it with this book! It left me with a huge book hangover that days later I am still feeling!
    27 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2016
    This book got great reviews and I was excited to start reading it. Also, the cover is beautiful! I was not really sure what to expect other than it being a fantasy, as the synopsis does not give away much information. One of the first things I noticed about the book is that the writing is wonderful. Harmon has excellent pacing and I enjoyed the story so much more due to the beautiful, lyrical writing. I love how the story is framed with the idea of the power of words. In this particular story they have a magical quality, but we also see how Lark learns the value of words by learning to read and write. She sees power in words and that is an important theme throughout the story.

    Our main character is Lark, a mute narrator. Though she is quiet, she has no trouble communicating with those around her. She is a wonderful narrator and we get plenty of insight through her internal dialogue. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Lark’s character development throughout the story. She changes from someone who has been silent and caged for most of her life to someone who learns about herself and her gifts. She learns to use her words in a very powerful way.

    Another major character is the king, Tiras. He is a complicated character as well. He has an unwavering loyalty to his kingdom but is also dealing with an internal struggle that prevents him from protecting the people of Jeru. While I did enjoy Tiras and Lark’s interactions, I found their romance to be lacking. They definitely had their cute moments, but overall I felt as if the relationship was more strategic than anything else.

    Other than Tiras and Lark, there were not any other well-developed characters. While I enjoyed learning about other characters such as Kjell, Lark’s father and Boojohni, they were not developed enough and they came across as very two-dimensional.

    The plot itself was multi-layered and complex. On the surface, Lark and Tiras face a very physical threat to the kingdom. The story is also very much a coming of age/self-discovery story for both Lark and Tiras. I loved the symbolism of the title with the story, it has so many meanings! Both Lark and Tiras are caged (in a way) and are searching for a way to be free. Tiras wants to protect his kingdom, Lark’s father wants to be king and protects Lark’s life but also holds her back. I believe Harmon intended for there to be multiple meanings for the bird and the sword in the title. I also enjoyed the twists at the end as well as Lark’s revelations about herself and the power of her words.

    Finally, I really enjoyed some aspects of the world-building although I wish this too was developed more. Towards the beginning of the book we learn about the history of the changers, tellers, spinners and healers but that was all we learned about them. Why were the abilities so varied in different people? Why did some people seem to have multiple abilities? Why were some people stronger than others? Some of these questions were not fully explained, just accepted as fact in the story. There was a lot of beautiful dialogue about these gifts but nobody explained it further.

    I was overall quite satisfied with the story and will definitely be picking up another Amy Harmon book in the future! I do wish there was more development from the supporting characters and the world-building, but that is mostly because I was so interested in Lark’s world and I wanted to learn more. It is a lovely book and I would definitely recommend.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Lucero C.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hermoso
    Reviewed in Mexico on November 16, 2023
    Llegó en perfecto estado. No necesitas un alto nivel de inglés para leerlo.
    La historia es hermosa y amas a los protagonistas.
  • Dyanesm
    5.0 out of 5 stars Maravilhoso
    Reviewed in Brazil on November 30, 2022
    É incrível como Amy Harmon consegue passear entre gêneros e escrever todos com uma destreza e uma riqueza incomparável. Amy já se tornou uma autora preferida desde "What the wiind knows" e não tem decepcionado.

    The bird and the sword é uma fantasia maravilhosa. Leitura viciante, você não vai querer largar o livro. Recomendo muito.
  • ema2012
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful tale
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 29, 2024
    What a delightful novel, so well written. Characters are complex and magical, the world around them harsh yet poetic too. The reading flows as do the understated pure romance.
  • Amy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wunderschön zu lesen
    Reviewed in Germany on January 26, 2024
    Der Schreibstil ist einzigartig!
  • Cliente Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful
    Reviewed in Italy on September 2, 2022
    Well written, fast paced, the story has a beautiful structure and an alluring setting. I devoured it! If you start reading you never want to stop

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