A Song of Shadow

Bard from Barliona, Book 2

By: Vasily Mahanenko, Eugenia Dmitrieva, Boris Smirnov - translator

Narrated by: Andrea Emmes

Every player in Barliona has heard of the Gray Lands - the land of the dead. Few have managed to travel there and speak with the heroes and villains of old. And of this minuscule number, only one bard has managed to bring the souls of the dead back to the world of the living: the Bard of Shadow. Now, it is up to her to determine the future of her race.

Shall the Biota race become full-fledged members of Barliona, or will they oppose all that lives?

©2018 Eugenia Dmitrieva and Vasily Mahanenko; English translation copyright 2018 by Boris Smirnov (P)2019 Tantor

Bards will always be booooorring

These books are a little slow and tedious. I love Vasily's other books. If it were not set in Barliona, leaving me interested in the tie into Mahan's story line, then I would not have continued this series.

Relates to other stories in world

I enjoy that it follows the progression of the other stories in this universe. I think she is getting cheated on some better rewards, but great story.

Rocking in the USSR!!!

I’m truly enjoying the entire series of both Mahen and now Kira. This little cabbage patch rocker has been not only a delight to follow but has sparked the faded memories of songs that I had forgotten and had to get.

Vasily created a wonderful world and story line that has blossomed a new series that I eagerly await for with the help of Eugenia.

So much better than the first of the Bard series

Where the first book was painful due to being a hard-to-follow, continuous stream of one-liners, this one was MUCH more refined. The narrative and plot flowed without being an ode to the author's knowledge of quotes and cultural references. *This* book was what I was hoping for out of the Bard series, and I greatly look forward to more.

I forgot why I gave up on the last book

I'm a big fan of The Way of the Shaman series and hoped to return to Barliona with this new side series. Unfortunately, both books failed to capture the magic of the original series. Worse, this second book in the new series is just boring with very little occurring that would matter outside this small forest setting, much less the greater world of Barliona.

About 2 hours in I switched to 1.5 speed to ensure I finish the story, but I would not be returning for book 3, which seems like it won't be coming out anyway as it's now 4 years from book 2's publishing date and nothings available. A for effort, but 2 stars overall.