// I received a free copy of this book through LibraryThing's Members Giveaway program. //


In the next few moments, it is my job to convince you to spend your hard earned money and spare time purchasing and reading this book. So, I will simply say that Muse is a well written, adventure fantasy with likable characters and a captivating plot.

Need more prodding? Okay.

Quillinan's attention to detail is commendable, especially when it comes to the characters' names. Google Fiachra after you've finished reading, and you'll see what I mean.

It was refreshing to read a fantasy novel where the main character wasn't a thief, soldier, or member of a royal family. Diarmuid is actually a pretty awful bard, considering he was destined for the profession, because his pretentious nature keeps him from connecting to his audience. That same trait also makes him an awfully annoying person. All of that being said, I actually found myself liking him. He definitely has faults, but they made him feel more realistic, which made him easier to relate to.

There are a few grammatical errors here and there but only a few, and they were definitely not indicative of the writing in the rest of the book. I only point this out because it can take you out of the story and was one of the reasons I didn't give the book the full five stars.

Bottom line, Muse is an entertaining Celtic, adventure fantasy that I will definitely be recommending to friends. I look forward to reading the next books in the Silver Downs series and anything else Mrs. Quillinan should choose to write.


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I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

I can't say I disliked this book. I actually liked a lot of the ideas and I felt it would be good. However, overall Muse feels like an early draft of what could be a great novel.

There are several ideas that seem scattered and some I feel should be scrapped altogether as they did little for the story. The natural progression of the book seemed to be there until the climax. After that, we did not get our gradual release and resolution. We got more dragged out plot points that could have waited for another book and overall just more scattered ideas.

I felt Rhiwallon was an unneeded character and contributed little to the story (I'm sure she is far more relevant in the next book, but here, I just wanted to give up reading when I saw her come back up in the story. I've just seen her archetype so much, I dislike reading about them). I see why she was added, but it felt like a half-finished thought and she is an overall unlikable character.

I very much like the idea of a bard who tells darker stories and finds out his tales come to life (as well as his Muse). I liked the overall premise. I felt Brigit and Diarmuid's emotions and enjoyed reading from their perspective. I enjoyed Ida. I actually enjoyed how the POV switching was handled (which if you know me, I actually very much hate that form of storytelling). I just don't feel like it came together and it just really needs to be worked on.

I did catch a few spots where phrases repeated several times within a single paragraph where it was unneeded and I found a sentence or two like, "What would Mother would say when I finally arrived home?" Just some extra editing would help a lot.

I am likely to pick up the second book to see how the story continues. ( )

A fantastical world of fey curses and family powers passed down through generations gives rise to an intriguing coming-of-age story. As the 7th son of a 7th son, Diarmuid learns that not only is his calling to be a bard preordained, but he must also be careful as the stories he tells have the tendency to come true. When a story bring to life something that was created through his own depression and jealousy, he realizes it is up to him to stop his creation.

The premise of the book is interesting at first glance, and lives up to expectations. The journey is well paced, with a strong narrative switching between the perspectives of three major characters. The main company of characters are likable and compelling characters, with the most frustrating actually being Diarmuid. As an intelligent and educated bard,many instances shows off his cunning, while his complete lack of intuition ranges from humorous to cringe-worthy. Diarmuid is reliant on the help of his friends and brothers for nearly every task, and fails to correctly understand even the most obvious of clues. As the story progresses, his stubbornness and refusal to admit he was wrong leads to the expected drama with in the company. The conclusion gratefully shows Diarmuid maturing in many ways, in a satisfying ending for the stories characters.

The author, Kylie Quillinan, creates a very interesting world and plot, yet leaves many mysteries to be delved into with further installments. With multiple different groups appearing omniscient, it is a wonder the world ever has trouble. Further installments promise more focus on these groups, while "Muse" leaves them as background figures, vital to the story but not explained.

Overall, "Muse" is a thought provoking fantasy, asking the reader to examine how they view the world and treat it. Do your melancholy thoughts cloud the world, distorting and ruining your perception of reality? Or will you find the good and see the beauty of the world, and act accordingly ( )