Double-review today, for two awesome fantasy novels by Jenelle Schmidt, in the Minstrel’s Song series! š

Title: Kingās Warrior
Author: Jenelle Leanne Schmidt
- Date read: January 29, 2017
- Rating: 5 stars
- Genre: Fantasy
- Age: YA
- Year pub: 2011
- Pages: 411 (paperback)
- Series: The Minstrelās Song, #1
- Fave character: Brant and Kiernan Kane
- Source: Won in a giveaway from author — thanks! (I mean, I also bought an e-copy, but still. XD)
- Links: Goodreads ⢠Amazon ⢠Author’s Website



What an enjoyable fantasy adventure novel! I really, really liked this book. š Thereās a lot of the classic quest-and-journey stuff going on, but in new ways too, and I loved the world and characters, and just overall had a great time reading it! š
I confess that I actually read a sequel to this book, Yorienās Hand, before reading this one (which is book one in the series), so that was interesting. XD That meant it read more like a prequel for me, and I already knew how a lot of it would turn out. But this in no way reduced my enjoyment of the storyānot at all! And I was impressed and pleased that there were a couple of things that were still surprise twists! š
There may have been a few times (especially nearer the beginning of the book) when the early-days-of-this-author might have shown, or when there were plot holes or typos and what-have-you, or when the classic fantasy things which some might consider cliche or something popped up, but I elected to ignore those points in favor of simply enjoying the book as what it is: an extremely enjoyable fantasy novel, with a great adventure, an intriguing world, and a cast of lovable characters. š So good! ^_^
Speaking of charactersāI loved them! So many great ones. Brant, the warrior, whoās my favoriteāheās just epic. ^_^ Kiernan Kane, the amusing minstrel (but with more to him than he seems), who actually shares top-spot for favorite. š They are both so awesome!! ⤠Then Princess Kamarie is a good heroine, Oraeyn the squire is a FABULOUS hero, and other characters like young Yole, who was great, and various people they meet along the way such as the daughters of the Wizard Scelwhyn. I really liked Dylanna, for instance. š And oodles of great side-characters too, who are sometimes a little hard to keep straight (might be my fault for reading the whole series out of order… *cough*), but still fabulous. And dragons, of course. š Itās a well-populated fantasy world, and I loved the characters. ^_^
I loved this fantasy world, as well! It was just so neat to wander through it with these friends of mine, and Iām very attached to it. š I liked the dragons and other myth-folk, and the forests and mountains and bay and castle and cliffs, and all the different fascinating characters and happenings.
Thereās a tragic scenario in the first few chapters where a manās young family was killed, so that might be a little dark/rough emotionally, and of course thereās some action/battles throughout, but otherwise it was delightful and family-friendly, and I can imagine it being a fun book to read aloud, or for readers of all ages. š Thereās something for everyone in it. š
The book had me laughing hysterically a few times, like when Leila and Kiernan Kane were up to their antics (especially when he came knocking. XD) and when Oraeyn talked with the tree sprite person (I absolutely loved that bit. XD) and surely several times when Kiernan was doing his silly minstrel things. š
In a sense, I ended up liking Second Son more than this one, just for its originality and Brant-ness and writing quality, but this one is definitely more fun overall, and I especially loved Brantās mysterious self in this and the companions on their quest together, and just the classic feel of it, so… I canāt decided which of the three book out so far in the series is my favorite. I just love them all! ^_^ *hugs Kingās Warrior and my favorite characters*
Overall, I just loved this book and this series and canāt wait to finish reading it! ^_^ Definitely recommend for fantasy lovers! ā¤
~ ~ ~

Title: Second Son
Author: Jenelle Leanne Schmidt
- Date read: April 17, 2017
- Rating: 5 stars
- Genre: Epic Fantasy
- Age: YA
- Year pub: 2013
- Pages: 445 (paperback)
- Series: Book 2 in The Minstrelās Song (though chronologically a prequel to Book 1: Kingās Warrior)
- Fave character: Brant and Kiernan Kane
- Source: Won in a giveaway from author — thank you! (And had also bought an e-copy on Amazon, but paperbacks are the best, so. ;))
- Links: Goodreads ⢠Amazon ⢠Author’s Website


I loved this book! *hugs it*
Itās somehow a very unique fantasy novel! I mean, itās like a classic fantasy quest type of thing, and thereās dragons and other wonders and so on, but something about it felt… new. And different. And thereās not one particular quest, itās more following Brant through his life and a series of quests and adventures, which gave it an interesting and unique overall arc to the story. And itās quite well written, too! I was super impressed with how the authorās writing improved from book one (which I also enjoyed immensely! But the writing in this one is noticeably better, in the best way. :D) and just very easy to read. š
Brant himself is my favorite for the most partāheās just a great hero! š I love the interesting things that come of comparing his home country and training with other places, and adding to his mysterious and generally epic air. š He was a wonderful character in Kingās Warrior and Yorienās Hand, and just… I love getting his story! ^_^ I so enjoyed reading about his childhood up to being the Kingās Warrior. Fabulous.
Plus, in the second half, Brant and Arnaud being friends when they were younger IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST! ^_^ I also loved getting to see things about the past of some of the other Kingās Warrior characters, like how Princess Kamarieās mother and father met! SO GREAT! š And, of course, the minstrel Kiernan Kane makes a fabulous cameo! Love that minstrel fellow! ^_^
This is kind of like if Aragorn had a prequel about his youth, or if we saw Gwydion (from Prydain) out learning things when he was young. And I absolutely love that! š Getting to see Brant wander across all of the various lands in this delightful fantasy world, learning things and meeting friends old and new, and generally becoming the wise, epic warrior we know from Kingās Warrior. Heās one of my favorite characters of all time, and I just loved seeing his backstory! ^_^
Oh, oh! And when Brant talks with the Forest! I loved that part! š One of my faves! ^_^
I find it amusing how I actually read these in reverse chronological order. XD I started with Yorienās Hand, which takes place after Kingās Warrior; then I read Kingās Warrior; then I read Second Son, which is chronologically before Kingās Warrior. XD …Now I kind of want to read the other two again! :O
A funny thing about prequels… I can never decide if theyāre best read before or after the main Book One… because both ways are so enjoyable! Iām definitely glad that I read Kingās Warrior before this, since a lot of the sad things in Second Son I wasnāt AS sad about as I would have been if I hadnāt already known how certain things end up in Brantās life. Somehow, a lot of the sadness in this book is okay, simply because it IS a prequel and I know that a lot of the characters in it arenāt in later ones and therefore are probably dead later so I try not to get TOO attached to them… And so on. And something about it being the sad backstory of a hero, makes it easier to bear because itās PAST and not currently happening. (Kind of like the older myths of The Silmarillion are easier to bear because theyāre not NOW in the time of LOTR and The Hobbit.) If that makes any sense at all to anyone other than me. XD Some of it WAS sad, by its nature, but I didnāt actually mind. (The most heartbreaking thing of all, of course, was Brant and his brother. Which of course I knew about due to Kingās Warrior, but… yeah, Iāll just go over here and cry for a bit. Ahem.)
Thereās joy and heartbreak, humor and epic quests, and just everything a fantasy novel needs! š Overall, I just really, really, really enjoyed this book! ^_^ I definitely recommend it to anyone who loves epic fantasy or just a good adventure, because itās fabulous. š

(I love the backs of these covers. So epic and gorgeous. ⤠)
Have you read either of these? You should, because they’re awesome! š Have you read any good epic fantasies lately that you can recommend? I’m always on the lookout for those!
Also, the author is giving away a paperback of King’s Warrior on her blog this week, during fun Silmarillion Awards things going on currently, so be sure to check it out and enter!
Thanks for reading! š
Dream away in those pages . . .
~ The Page Dreamer