Editorial Reviews Review Master of Music is the first book in this new series by Marla Himeda and I would recommend it to everyone. The book is filled with fantasy, music, wonderful characters, and deep emotions. I was very impressed with the writing and the tale. It is a completely captivating story that you will not be able to put down until you finish that final page. Marla Himeda has given readers a fantasy story that is wrapped around music and magic rather than fairies or dragons and it is completely amazing. I am a huge fan of fantasy books, and I must say that this is one of the best I have ever read. Ms. Himeda is a writer who seems to weave everything together in a completely effortless and perfect way to give us a story that is filled with stunning descriptions and wonderful details. In addition, the characters are so perfect, and they tug on your heart strings. Kaelin is an amazing character filled with emotion and as you are reading this story, you can see that he is written in such a way that he feels very real. Any reader will be able to relate to him, as well as all the other characters, and also connect with his problems and feelings. There is no way to follow this journey and not care about him. Master of Music is a superb first book in this new series. The story is incredible, the characters simply remarkable, the writing almost perfect. I cannot say enough about it, but I also do not want to say too much. To really understand, you will have to read the book for yourself. I assure all readers, those who are fans of fantasy and those who are just fans of a great book, you will not be disappointed. I am anxiously awaiting the next in the series because I am sure this author will not let us down and the next story will be as unbelievable as the first. 5 Stars!!! — Kathy Stickles for Reader Views Master of Music is a masterfully-written, powerful, refreshing epic fantasy read that brings wholesome, heart-warming values together in a rich, exciting world of magic, lore, and the love of found family. Himeda has woven her story every bit as vividly as Kaelin's music brings tales to life. The struggles that Kaelin, being so young, overcomes are heart-wrenching, but in an ever-inspiring way. He touches the lives of everyone around him, and in the end this is a story that (while leaving an opening for future works) left me with a feel-good glow and renewed faith in the potential of 'even the smallest person'. This story was one that was nearly impossible to put down. Readers who love Celtic mythology, adventure fantasy, and music in their tales, will find a strong read in Master of Music. — Katharine D. Graham for Reedsy Discovery I very much enjoyed this superbly written novel by author, Marla Himeda. Not only is there a gripping, cleverly plotted story, there's also a young and very memorable protagonist named Kaelin who I very much enjoy getting to know and rooting for. There's also, as the title suggests, a strong musical theme to the story which, as I'm a violinist myself, I found particularly thrilling. This novel is very much a journey of self-discovery. Although it's fantasy, it's not full of dragons and trolls; it's more a character-led novel, the author in no particular hurry to tell her story, keen to help the reader to get to know her protagonist and the other secondary characters. If you enjoy strong characterisation, a little cleverly interwoven mystery, and a richly described historical setting, you can't go too far wrong with Master of Music. I see from the title it's the first book of a set; I'm already looking forward to the sequel! —The Wishing Shelf Himeda builds a magical, musical fantasy world that's both beautiful and unique. A musical journey that encompasses both larger fantasy and myth while closely following one boy's path of discovery, Master of Music owes much of its originality to not only the tale—but also the telling. The author's prose is like music itself—lyrical, sweeping, and, at times, building toward an unknown crescendo as readers join Kaelin on an adventure of a lifetime. Himeda's love (and knowledge) of music shines through on every page, the writing's cadence making Master of Music a joy to read. Despite the grandeur of her musical world, Himeda does not lose focus, adeptly balancing individual character development within the larger story. Kaelin, while only a boy, has talent, courage, and ambition; however, it's clear that he has a long road ahead of him—a road that any reader will love to discover along with him. — BookLife Prize Himeda writes lush, engaging scenes of travel and music-making, in exacting and evocative prose. The novel picks up its pace once Kaelin is being tested by Bard Masters and also showcases another trait—connected to music, of course—that his Master has cultivated in him: compassion. This is a humane fantasy blissout of training and deepening relationships, with musicology as magic. — BookLife Reviews From the Author The question I'm asked the most often is how long I've been writing, and why. I don't remember a time I haven't written, and I could give all sorts of pat answers as to why I write, but the real reason is because I remember. I remember a little girl, who, in order to escape a home that could become a battleground at any moment without warning, would run across the street and up into the woods. She would climb a huge tree that had a large crack in its trunk halfway up, and a big convenient branch right next to it. From there she could see down to the lake and the driveway to her house, so she could see when her parents left, and know when it was safe to go back home again. She would pull a journal and pen out of the crack in the tree, settle herself comfortably against the trunk, and start writing ... story after story after story. All with a common theme of someone who, against all odds, survived. Someone who conquered all their fears, overcame all obstacles placed in their path, did whatever it took to survive and stay true to themselves. An hour or two later, when it was safe, she would put away the journal and go home again, the dark feelings inside her purged away. My books are what I want to leave behind me, something that will still be here when I'm not, something that will speak to others, purge away their own dark times and do whatever it takes to discover who they are and rest in the simple, yet powerful awareness of that. I wrote them for that little girl, and whatever success they enjoy will be because of her. She deserves that. About the Author Marla Himeda is an award-winning author and lifelong musician and composer who has taught piano and clarinet for eighteen years at Punahou Schools and for over half a century in her own studio. She teaches theory and composition courses, coaches ensemble groups, and is a prolific arranger of chamber music for winds. She has performed in the Seattle Opera House, the Seattle Art Museum, and many concert venues in Hawaii, where she has lived for the past fifty years near Mount Olomana, whose twin peaks sparked the birth of Bardic Mountain. She is a member of the National Music Teachers Association and Opus 5 Winds, and is principal clarinetist for the Honolulu Wind Ensemble. Master of Music, Book One of The Bardic Isles Series, was the 2024 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal Winner in Fiction Audiobooks, the 2024 IP Awards Outstanding Audiobook Winner, the 2023 IAN Fantasy Book of the Year Winner, a B.R.A.G. Medallion Winner, a Fiction and Audiobook Finalist in The Wishing Shelf Awards, and a Young Adult Finalist in the IAN Awards. The Bardic Isles Series is a merging of her two passions—music and writing—and portrays a world that she unabashedly admits loving to escape to. The Bardic Isles Series began 35 years ago as a bedtime story she told to her four children. It is now an epic fantasy series featuring music as the sole magical element, and the audiobooks include the music of the Bardic Isles, all of which was composed by the author. Read more