Scan barcode
kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
Ninth in the Nine Kingdoms fantasy series (and the conclusion of this third sub-trilogy) revolving around Gair of Ceangail’s "dead" children. The focus is on Prince Rùnach and Aisling of Bruadair.
My Take
Whoa...lots of unexpected revelations in Dreamer's Daughter! Okay, okay, some of them are expected. But the bad guys' reasons for what they're doing will have you shaking your head in awe...
It did take some time to get through this third adventure of Rùnach and Aisling's and yet it's a pleasant read of some warmhearted characters...riding from library to library, seeking solutions or answers. Not necessarily the same thing!
Kurland does have some fun making the gardens of these kingdoms different. Tòrr Dòrainn's gardens love being of use to the king and queen while Durial's are sparkling harmonies for those who seek beneath the earth, Cothromaiche offers a simple peace, and Bruadair provides quite the interactive magic...at least when it comes to Aisling.
It's Kurland's use of third person dual protagonist point-of-view that allows us to listen to Rùnach continue to lament his egotistical past. Aisling of course continues to bemoan her past. Oopsies, Soilléir gets his own ego punched when Aisling poaches one of his spells out of a dream, lol. He's also been taking a, slightly, more active interest in events.
It was in River of Dreams, 8, that Rùnach and Aisling find a way to slip into Bruadair. Quite the useful little escape!
Riochdair is a surprising man in his observations. And part of me despises him while yet another part is withholding that judgment. I know. A conundrum.
Those are some excellent thoughts Muinear suggests that Rùnach consider about his family. No kidding!?!! And it certainly makes sense. Lord knows we have all some black sheep in our own families, and yet not all of the relatives are wicked.
For all it's coziness, the secondary characters are focused on the future and none too worried about how our main characters survive, let alone thrive. Mean bunch!
Poor Aisling has gone from believing neither magic nor elves exist to having to learn to use her magic on the fly as she falls in love with an elven prince.
Oh ho! Kurland is one sneaky woman! At the very end there's a bit that foreshadows events in the next upcoming sub-trilogy that begins with The White Spell.
The Story
Sent on a quest by a peddler for a mercenary to free her country, Aisling has been through a lot, discovering the lies that she's been told all her life. The queen's paintings that reveal how much magic Bruadair has lost over the years. It's enough to cast a gel into despair.
Worse are the expectations so many others have of her.
Luckily, Rùnach will do all he can to keep her safe.
The Characters
Aisling of Bruadair has always thought she was a simple weaver, sold into servitude to the Weavers Guild by her parents. Seannair gifts her, her own shapechanging horse, Orail, from a breed of rare fillies from the steppes of the Blàraidh Mountains.
Bruadair is...
...quite the secretive country taken over by a usurper, Sglaimir, the grandson of Carach of Mùig, a very evil mage, decades ago. A land where its magic is connected, even as it's being drained, where spinning is a capital offense. Beul is its grim, grimy capital.
The weaving mistress Muinear had died in Dreamspinner, 7; she'd been as old as Rùnach's father. Iochdmhor is the bullying Guildmistress and some sort of wizardess. Bristeadh, a.k.a., George, impersonated the Guildmistress' personal guardsman. And kept Aisling out of her sights as much as possible. Ochadius of Riamh is both peddler and a cousin of Weger's. Peter is Ochadius' son. Quinn and the now-imprisoned Euan had been friends of Aisling's before she fled. Alexandra is the deposed King Frèam's niece and a crown princess. Queen Leaghra is Frèam's wife.
Ciaradh is...
...the dreamspinners' palace where there is a copy of every book in existence. There are seven dreamspinners normally who provide the weavers with something to weave for more substantial intrusions into the world's events. The First Dreamspinner holds all the strands together and blends them as called for. Lord Freasdail is the First Dreamspinner's steward. Uabhann, a.k.a., Dread, gives people nightmares. Literally.
Aisling's parents are Riochdair (the mayor of Malcte) and his wife, the greedy, mean Dallag, with their five remaining children: David is the youngest.
Rùnach of Ceangail, a.k.a., Master Buck, is the second oldest son of a black mage and an elven princess whose magic has been restored and his scars lessened. Iteach is the shapechanging horse gifted to Rùnach by Grandfather Sgath. His sword was made by Ceardach of Léige.
Rùnach’s Family Background
Rùnach's mother was Princess Sarait of Tòrr Dòrainn with grand plans to stop her odious husband, Gair. Rùnach’s six siblings include Mhorghain “Morgan” who married Miach a few months ago (Dreamspinner). Ruithneadh “Ruith” is his youngest brother who married Sarah of Doire who can spin and See (A Tapestry of Spells, 4; Spellweaver, 5; and, Gift of Magic, 6; she's also Leaghra's niece). Keir was their oldest brother (Princess of the Sword, 3). Gille is another brother.
Lake Cladach is...
...where the fisherman prince Sgath of Ainneamh and Eulasaid of Camanaë who are Rùnach's maternal grandparents (Gair’s parents) prefer living. Eulasaid's battles against Lothar of Wychweald are legendary!
Tòrr Dòrainn is…
…the elven kingdom of Sìle, his paternal grandfather who is quite proud and arrogant; Brèagha is his easygoing, artistic grandmother who gave Aisling copies of her paintings of Bruadair in its magical heyday. The beautiful and lovely Seanagarra is the name of Sìle’s palace. Còir is Làidir’s second son who gave them a rune of opening.
Ainneamh is...
...is yet another elven kingdom where Rùnach has a possible claim.
Cothromaiche is...
...on the border with Bruadair and is the kingdom from which Léir Soilléir, Aisling's and Sarah's cousin, hails. He is a master mage who holds the spells of essence changing — as well as the fop from Dreamspinner! Inntrig is the palace and seat of power. The snooty Princess Annastashia had been betrothed to Rùnach twenty years ago. Astar is Annastashia's brother and his grandfather's best spy. Their father is the second son of the current king, Seannair.
Durial is…
…the kingdom of the dwarves and is ruled by King Uachdaran from the rock-solid city of Léige who helped Aisling restore Rùnach's magic.
Neroche is...
...a kingdom ruled by King Mochriadhemiach “Miach” of Neroche with his new queen, Morgan (Star of the Morning, 1; The Mage’s Daughter, 2; and, Princess of the Sword). Mansourah is one of Miach's brothers. Ceana is the king's spinner.
The University of Lismòr was…
…founded by Nicholas, the former wizard king of Diarmailt who had been married to one of Sìle’s daughters (and a sister to Sarait), which makes him Rùnach's uncle. He gave Rùnach a spell of clarity.
Goghann is...
...where Scrymgeour Weger has his school of swordsmanship.
Captain Burke and his ship carried Aisling and Rùnach to Melksham Island.
Buidseachd, Beinn òrain, is…
…an intimidating and solid-looking mages school where Rùnach had been in hiding, as Soilléir's servant.
Ruamharaiache's well is...
...where it all ended for Gair of Ceangail, an evil, black mage and Rùnach's father. Fionne, a.k.a., Mother Fàs or the witchwoman of Fàs had been Gair's mistress. Acair is her youngest son.
Magic in the Nine Kingdoms includes Croxteth, the elvish Fadaire, Camanaë, Wexham, and Sìorraidh, which is of Bruadair.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a dream in pastels from the deepish cornflower blue sky in the left upper corner gradating diagonally to a pale yellow sky in the lower right. It's Aisling in a sleeveless gown with a deep lilac top and a paler lilac scarf waving in the breeze behind her, for Aisling stands in profile, facing to the right although her head is turned towards us, her long blonde hair blowing in a stiff breeze. The skirt of her gown is a tri-colored affair with a grayish mint green to khaki to golden yellow panels. A sword hangs down her back while she clutches a bow in her right hand, hanging at her side. She stands atop rocks overlooking a riotous white river that crashes past the pennanted castle on the right, pale gray and white mountains in the background. At the very top is an info blurb in white shadowed in the blue with the author's name below this in a deeper gold also shadowed in blue. Starting at Aisling's knee is the title in a metallic fuchsia shadowed in white with the series info in white below that.
The title is what Aisling learns, that she's the Dreamer's Daughter.
My Take
Whoa...lots of unexpected revelations in Dreamer's Daughter! Okay, okay, some of them are expected. But the bad guys' reasons for what they're doing will have you shaking your head in awe...
It did take some time to get through this third adventure of Rùnach and Aisling's and yet it's a pleasant read of some warmhearted characters...riding from library to library, seeking solutions or answers. Not necessarily the same thing!
Kurland does have some fun making the gardens of these kingdoms different. Tòrr Dòrainn's gardens love being of use to the king and queen while Durial's are sparkling harmonies for those who seek beneath the earth, Cothromaiche offers a simple peace, and Bruadair provides quite the interactive magic...at least when it comes to Aisling.
It's Kurland's use of third person dual protagonist point-of-view that allows us to listen to Rùnach continue to lament his egotistical past. Aisling of course continues to bemoan her past. Oopsies, Soilléir gets his own ego punched when Aisling poaches one of his spells out of a dream, lol. He's also been taking a, slightly, more active interest in events.
It was in River of Dreams, 8, that Rùnach and Aisling find a way to slip into Bruadair. Quite the useful little escape!
Riochdair is a surprising man in his observations. And part of me despises him while yet another part is withholding that judgment. I know. A conundrum.
Those are some excellent thoughts Muinear suggests that Rùnach consider about his family. No kidding!?!! And it certainly makes sense. Lord knows we have all some black sheep in our own families, and yet not all of the relatives are wicked.
For all it's coziness, the secondary characters are focused on the future and none too worried about how our main characters survive, let alone thrive. Mean bunch!
Poor Aisling has gone from believing neither magic nor elves exist to having to learn to use her magic on the fly as she falls in love with an elven prince.
Oh ho! Kurland is one sneaky woman! At the very end there's a bit that foreshadows events in the next upcoming sub-trilogy that begins with The White Spell.
The Story
Sent on a quest by a peddler for a mercenary to free her country, Aisling has been through a lot, discovering the lies that she's been told all her life. The queen's paintings that reveal how much magic Bruadair has lost over the years. It's enough to cast a gel into despair.
Worse are the expectations so many others have of her.
Luckily, Rùnach will do all he can to keep her safe.
The Characters
Aisling of Bruadair has always thought she was a simple weaver, sold into servitude to the Weavers Guild by her parents. Seannair gifts her, her own shapechanging horse, Orail, from a breed of rare fillies from the steppes of the Blàraidh Mountains.
Bruadair is...
...quite the secretive country taken over by a usurper, Sglaimir, the grandson of Carach of Mùig, a very evil mage, decades ago. A land where its magic is connected, even as it's being drained, where spinning is a capital offense. Beul is its grim, grimy capital.
The weaving mistress Muinear had died in Dreamspinner, 7; she'd been as old as Rùnach's father. Iochdmhor is the bullying Guildmistress and some sort of wizardess. Bristeadh, a.k.a., George, impersonated the Guildmistress' personal guardsman. And kept Aisling out of her sights as much as possible. Ochadius of Riamh is both peddler and a cousin of Weger's. Peter is Ochadius' son. Quinn and the now-imprisoned Euan had been friends of Aisling's before she fled. Alexandra is the deposed King Frèam's niece and a crown princess. Queen Leaghra is Frèam's wife.
Ciaradh is...
...the dreamspinners' palace where there is a copy of every book in existence. There are seven dreamspinners normally who provide the weavers with something to weave for more substantial intrusions into the world's events. The First Dreamspinner holds all the strands together and blends them as called for. Lord Freasdail is the First Dreamspinner's steward. Uabhann, a.k.a., Dread, gives people nightmares. Literally.
Aisling's parents are Riochdair (the mayor of Malcte) and his wife, the greedy, mean Dallag, with their five remaining children: David is the youngest.
Rùnach of Ceangail, a.k.a., Master Buck, is the second oldest son of a black mage and an elven princess whose magic has been restored and his scars lessened. Iteach is the shapechanging horse gifted to Rùnach by Grandfather Sgath. His sword was made by Ceardach of Léige.
Rùnach’s Family Background
Rùnach's mother was Princess Sarait of Tòrr Dòrainn with grand plans to stop her odious husband, Gair. Rùnach’s six siblings include Mhorghain “Morgan” who married Miach a few months ago (Dreamspinner). Ruithneadh “Ruith” is his youngest brother who married Sarah of Doire who can spin and See (A Tapestry of Spells, 4; Spellweaver, 5; and, Gift of Magic, 6; she's also Leaghra's niece). Keir was their oldest brother (Princess of the Sword, 3). Gille is another brother.
Lake Cladach is...
...where the fisherman prince Sgath of Ainneamh and Eulasaid of Camanaë who are Rùnach's maternal grandparents (Gair’s parents) prefer living. Eulasaid's battles against Lothar of Wychweald are legendary!
Tòrr Dòrainn is…
…the elven kingdom of Sìle, his paternal grandfather who is quite proud and arrogant; Brèagha is his easygoing, artistic grandmother who gave Aisling copies of her paintings of Bruadair in its magical heyday. The beautiful and lovely Seanagarra is the name of Sìle’s palace. Còir is Làidir’s second son who gave them a rune of opening.
Ainneamh is...
...is yet another elven kingdom where Rùnach has a possible claim.
Cothromaiche is...
...on the border with Bruadair and is the kingdom from which Léir Soilléir, Aisling's and Sarah's cousin, hails. He is a master mage who holds the spells of essence changing — as well as the fop from Dreamspinner! Inntrig is the palace and seat of power. The snooty Princess Annastashia had been betrothed to Rùnach twenty years ago. Astar is Annastashia's brother and his grandfather's best spy. Their father is the second son of the current king, Seannair.
Durial is…
…the kingdom of the dwarves and is ruled by King Uachdaran from the rock-solid city of Léige who helped Aisling restore Rùnach's magic.
Neroche is...
...a kingdom ruled by King Mochriadhemiach “Miach” of Neroche with his new queen, Morgan (Star of the Morning, 1; The Mage’s Daughter, 2; and, Princess of the Sword). Mansourah is one of Miach's brothers. Ceana is the king's spinner.
The University of Lismòr was…
…founded by Nicholas, the former wizard king of Diarmailt who had been married to one of Sìle’s daughters (and a sister to Sarait), which makes him Rùnach's uncle. He gave Rùnach a spell of clarity.
Goghann is...
...where Scrymgeour Weger has his school of swordsmanship.
Captain Burke and his ship carried Aisling and Rùnach to Melksham Island.
Buidseachd, Beinn òrain, is…
…an intimidating and solid-looking mages school where Rùnach had been in hiding, as Soilléir's servant.
Ruamharaiache's well is...
...where it all ended for Gair of Ceangail, an evil, black mage and Rùnach's father. Fionne, a.k.a., Mother Fàs or the witchwoman of Fàs had been Gair's mistress. Acair is her youngest son.
Magic in the Nine Kingdoms includes Croxteth, the elvish Fadaire, Camanaë, Wexham, and Sìorraidh, which is of Bruadair.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a dream in pastels from the deepish cornflower blue sky in the left upper corner gradating diagonally to a pale yellow sky in the lower right. It's Aisling in a sleeveless gown with a deep lilac top and a paler lilac scarf waving in the breeze behind her, for Aisling stands in profile, facing to the right although her head is turned towards us, her long blonde hair blowing in a stiff breeze. The skirt of her gown is a tri-colored affair with a grayish mint green to khaki to golden yellow panels. A sword hangs down her back while she clutches a bow in her right hand, hanging at her side. She stands atop rocks overlooking a riotous white river that crashes past the pennanted castle on the right, pale gray and white mountains in the background. At the very top is an info blurb in white shadowed in the blue with the author's name below this in a deeper gold also shadowed in blue. Starting at Aisling's knee is the title in a metallic fuchsia shadowed in white with the series info in white below that.
The title is what Aisling learns, that she's the Dreamer's Daughter.
readbyashleyd's review against another edition
1.0
After reading the first six books in this series and being quite sick of it since the fourth, I've elected to not continue with this series. Why put myself through the pain when there's so many other great books waiting for me?
janessamann's review against another edition
4.0
Still love this series, but I'm getting a little tired of the people "not daring" things, and not wanting to know things. Really? How scary can the things be? The characters all seem so curious until they're asked if they want to know background stories... Why would you say no?
melaniebopp's review against another edition
4.0
Full review available on All About Romance - http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookReview.pl?BookReviewId=10440
Dreamer’s Daughter is the 9th book in the Nine Kingdom series, and the 3rd featuring Aisling of Bruadair and Rùnach of Ceangail. It is also a great reminder that not all series can be read out of order. I started out a bit confused, simply because I couldn’t remember what happened in previous novels, but by the time I finished I had fallen back into Kurland’s fantasy world.
First, though, a brief background on Aisling and Runach - Aisling is sent on a mission, one that's basically the set-up for an epic, old-school fantasy adventure, that leads her to Runach. Together, starting where the previous novels left off, they must travel into Bruadair (Aisling’s home) and find a way to save her country, by finding out what is happening to the magic. On top of this, Runach is still dealing with dark magic that may be a remnant of his father’s evil, and Aisling has to work at accepting that she has magic at all. And then there are the family members, a brief appearance from an ex-fiance (which is handled surprisingly quickly and mostly off-screen. Or off-page, as it were,) foster parents, real parents, and someone who should be dead but is waiting at the finish line for Aisling to show up. Whew. Basically: there’s a lot going on.
It’s actually kinda surprising - with everything going on, it feels like things are rushed and almost haphazard, but sitting back after reading the whole novel, I could see the very clear plot line and how everything wove itself around it. It’s a little ironic, as one of the main magic structures in the story centers around spinning and weaving. The romance here isn’t particularly strong, but this story isn’t about that - it’s more a coming-of-age type tale, one of Aisling learning to accept who she is and what she is capable of. The relationship between her and Runach is still a nice addition to the story - they balance each other well, and they definitely seem stronger as a team than individuals. Plus, they get bonus points for a healthy relationship. There’s no miscommunication, no power struggles, just the obvious caring and worry over a loved one in a dangerous situation. All the conflict comes from the outside, and they are both (Runach especially) committed to providing a solid front.
Dreamer’s Daughter is the 9th book in the Nine Kingdom series, and the 3rd featuring Aisling of Bruadair and Rùnach of Ceangail. It is also a great reminder that not all series can be read out of order. I started out a bit confused, simply because I couldn’t remember what happened in previous novels, but by the time I finished I had fallen back into Kurland’s fantasy world.
First, though, a brief background on Aisling and Runach - Aisling is sent on a mission, one that's basically the set-up for an epic, old-school fantasy adventure, that leads her to Runach. Together, starting where the previous novels left off, they must travel into Bruadair (Aisling’s home) and find a way to save her country, by finding out what is happening to the magic. On top of this, Runach is still dealing with dark magic that may be a remnant of his father’s evil, and Aisling has to work at accepting that she has magic at all. And then there are the family members, a brief appearance from an ex-fiance (which is handled surprisingly quickly and mostly off-screen. Or off-page, as it were,) foster parents, real parents, and someone who should be dead but is waiting at the finish line for Aisling to show up. Whew. Basically: there’s a lot going on.
It’s actually kinda surprising - with everything going on, it feels like things are rushed and almost haphazard, but sitting back after reading the whole novel, I could see the very clear plot line and how everything wove itself around it. It’s a little ironic, as one of the main magic structures in the story centers around spinning and weaving. The romance here isn’t particularly strong, but this story isn’t about that - it’s more a coming-of-age type tale, one of Aisling learning to accept who she is and what she is capable of. The relationship between her and Runach is still a nice addition to the story - they balance each other well, and they definitely seem stronger as a team than individuals. Plus, they get bonus points for a healthy relationship. There’s no miscommunication, no power struggles, just the obvious caring and worry over a loved one in a dangerous situation. All the conflict comes from the outside, and they are both (Runach especially) committed to providing a solid front.
hannahecarey's review
slow-paced
4.0
This was an exciting end to Aisling & Runach’s story. I enjoyed the faster pacing of this book as well as seeing Aisling come into her own more. The background information regarding dream spinners and dream weavers was interesting and a unique take on magic/world building. This book wrapped things up nicely with Runach and Aisling while leaving a fun few hints at what might be in Acair’s future; the ending made me curious about his books!
More...