The unpeeling of both Gelya and Tavik’s past traumas and the poignant rendering of love and faith in conflict are compelling, as is the inexorably tragic yet cathartic conclusion. The intersection of fantasy and religion falls somewhere between Duncan’s Wicked Saints and Nix’s Angel Mage , while the focus on personal faith and bodily autonomy (to say nothing of the romance between the heroine and her hunky, competent protector) will appeal to fans of Carson’s Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Bannen hurls readers headlong into a harrowing yet ultimately hopeful fantasy rife with action and intrigue. The duo’s witty banter and burgeoning romance temper the tale’s weightier moments." — Publishers Weekly
“Bannen’s second stand-alone is deep, dark, and sweet; many teen readers question long-held beliefs, and they will appreciate seeing Gelya do the same. Recommended for all collections.” — ALA Booklist
“An examination of faith, doubt, and trust wrapped inside a stirring fantasy plot….This deeply moving and thought-provoking adventure enthralls on multiple levels.” — Kirkus Reviews
"With Soulswift , Megan Bannen once again proves her knack for writing unforgettable characters and a story that, despite the heartbreak, will make you long to read it again." — Tanaz Bhathena, author of HUNTED BY THE SKY
Praise for THE BIRD AND THE BLADE: “Lavish, sweeping, and powerful…. A must-read for fans of heart-wrenching, sob-your-heart-out YA.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“A rich, imaginative tale that delivers thrilling characters, heartstopping action, and exciting intrigue with every turn of the page.” — ALA Booklist
“Will leave readers in tears” — School Library Journal
“A magical and tragic romantic adventure.” — Publishers Weekly
“Clever twists and narrative devices will make this novel a favorite.” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
“The Bird and the Blade is a tale filled with magic and mystery. It will entrance you from the first page. Meticulously researched and beautifully executed, this story will linger long after you have finished reading.” — #1 NYT bestselling author Renèe Ahdieh
“At once haunting and compelling, this tale of love and loalty will wreck you. Exquisite from the first note to the last.” — Natalie C. Parker, author of Beware the Wild
“The Bird and the Blade has everything I want in a novel: vivid characters, sumptuous prose, romance, funny dialogue, and a sweeping storyline in an intricately researched world. This story will break your heart—but it will remake it, too.” — Rosalyn Eves, author of Blood Rose Rebellion
Bannen’s second stand-alone is deep, dark, and sweet; many teen readers question long-held beliefs, and they will appreciate seeing Gelya do the same. Recommended for all collections.
The unpeeling of both Gelya and Tavik’s past traumas and the poignant rendering of love and faith in conflict are compelling, as is the inexorably tragic yet cathartic conclusion. The intersection of fantasy and religion falls somewhere between Duncan’s Wicked Saints and Nix’s Angel Mage , while the focus on personal faith and bodily autonomy (to say nothing of the romance between the heroine and her hunky, competent protector) will appeal to fans of Carson’s Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy.”
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
Praise for THE BIRD AND THE BLADE: “The Bird and the Blade is a tale filled with magic and mystery. It will entrance you from the first page. Meticulously researched and beautifully executed, this story will linger long after you have finished reading.
#1 NYT bestselling author Renèe Ahdieh
10/01/2020
Gr 8 Up— In a vaguely European setting, where knights wear cloaks and travel is primarily by foot or horseback, orphaned Gelya has grown up in a convent, aware she is a Vessel: A Daughter with a special gift for singing the Father's Word. Gelya, freckled, tall, and blonde, as befits her Hedenski heritage, also has a gift for languages. Her services are required in interrogating Tavik, a dangerous Kantari prisoner. The interrogation turns into a massacre, and Gelya and Tavik, a Two-Swords fighter with green eyes and dark hair, must join forces to plot their escape. Gelya is a devout worshiper of the Father, while Tavik glorifies the Mother, giver of life. Now they are on the run together, carrying either a goddess or a demon, depending on the point of view. Modern terms and phrases occasionally jar the eye (bajillion, "smacks him upside the head"), but overall the setting is mud and forest, with tramping armies and tellegs emerging from tree trunks with murderous intent. A sham marriage to throw off pursuers offers awkward and sometimes humorous interactions, before the pair acknowledge feelings for each other. Skin tone is rarely mentioned, except to note those from the South tend to have darker skin. VERDICT Suggest this fantasy with religious elements to readers who appreciate gunpowder and bird-carried messages over high-tech explosives and instant communication.—Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley Sch., Fort Worth, TX
2020-08-14
Gelya is meant to serve the Father, an all-powerful deity, until she dies. When she does pass away, she will transform into a soulswift, an immortal bird tasked with carrying worthy souls to the afterlife. These beliefs have been instilled in her at the patriarchal Ovinist convent ever since leader Goodson Anskar rescued her as a child from her supposedly uncivilized place of birth. But when pale-skinned Gelya witnesses a knight of the faith murder her mentor in cold blood to cover up an ugly truth, she must run from the religion she holds most dear. Through her escape, she unwittingly becomes a vessel of an entity she’s been made to believe is a wrathful, apocalyptic demon. Now, she must team up with Tavik, a light-brown–skinned enemy soldier (and, in her world, a heathen), in order to survive. During Gelya and Tavik’s journey to find answers, a touching romance blossoms. Lilting prose carries along the story as both main characters examine the biases, truths, and complications present in their respective faiths and seek to return balance to a broken world. Though a little heavy on exposition in the beginning, thrilling plot developments quickly speed up the pace until the story reaches a heart-rending conclusion.
This deeply moving and thought-provoking adventure enthralls on multiple levels. (map) (Fantasy. 14-18)
Clever twists and narrative devices will make this novel a favorite.
Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
"With Soulswift , Megan Bannen once again proves her knack for writing unforgettable characters and a story that, despite the heartbreak, will make you long to read it again."
The Bird and the Blade is a tale filled with magic and mystery. It will entrance you from the first page. Meticulously researched and beautifully executed, this story will linger long after you have finished reading.
#1 NYT bestselling author Renèe Ahdieh
The Bird and the Blade has everything I want in a novel: vivid characters, sumptuous prose, romance, funny dialogue, and a sweeping storyline in an intricately researched world. This story will break your heart—but it will remake it, too.”
At once haunting and compelling, this tale of love and loalty will wreck you. Exquisite from the first note to the last.”
The unpeeling of both Gelya and Tavik’s past traumas and the poignant rendering of love and faith in conflict are compelling, as is the inexorably tragic yet cathartic conclusion. The intersection of fantasy and religion falls somewhere between Duncan’s Wicked Saints and Nix’s Angel Mage , while the focus on personal faith and bodily autonomy (to say nothing of the romance between the heroine and her hunky, competent protector) will appeal to fans of Carson’s Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy.”
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
The unpeeling of both Gelya and Tavik’s past traumas and the poignant rendering of love and faith in conflict are compelling, as is the inexorably tragic yet cathartic conclusion. The intersection of fantasy and religion falls somewhere between Duncan’s Wicked Saints and Nix’s Angel Mage , while the focus on personal faith and bodily autonomy (to say nothing of the romance between the heroine and her hunky, competent protector) will appeal to fans of Carson’s Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy.”
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
