Sword and Verse Audiobook Summary
In a sweeping fantasy that award-winning author Franny Billingsley calls “fascinating and unique,” debut author Kathy MacMillan weaves palace intrigue and epic world-building to craft a tale for fans of Rae Carson and Megan Whalen Turner.
Raisa was just a child when she was sold into slavery in the kingdom of Qilara. Before she was taken away, her father had been adamant that she learn to read and write. But where she now lives, literacy is a capital offense for all but the nobility. The written language is closely protected, and only the King, Prince, Tutor, and Tutor-in-training are allowed to learn its very highest form.
So when she is plucked from her menial labor and selected to replace the last Tutor-in-training who was executed, Raisa knows that betraying any hint of her past could mean death.
Keeping her secret guarded is hard enough, but the romance that’s been blossoming between her and Prince Mati isn’t helping matters. Then Raisa is approached by the Resistance–an underground rebel army–to help liberate the city’s slaves. She wants to free her people, but that would mean aiding a war against Mati.
As Raisa struggles with what to do, she discovers a secret that the Qilarites have been hiding for centuries–one that, if uncovered, could bring the kingdom to its knees.
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Sword and Verse Audiobook Narrator
Emily Rankin is the narrator of Sword and Verse audiobook that was written by Kathy MacMillan
Kathy MacMillan has been a librarian, American Sign Language interpreter, children’s performer, teacher, storyteller, and writer. Her previous work includes educator- and parent-resource books about promoting literacy through signing with all children. Sword and Verse and its sequel, Dagger and Coin, were inspired by her research into ancient libraries and her interest in exploring the power of language. Kathy lives near Baltimore, Maryland. To learn more about Kathy, visit www.kathymacmillan.com.
About the Author(s) of Sword and Verse
Kathy MacMillan is the author of Sword and Verse
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Sword and Verse Full Details
Narrator | Emily Rankin |
Length | 11 hours 34 minutes |
Author | Kathy MacMillan |
Publisher | HarperCollins |
Release date | January 19, 2016 |
ISBN | 9780062467553 |
Additional info
The publisher of the Sword and Verse is HarperCollins. The imprint is HarperCollins. It is supplied by HarperCollins. The ISBN-13 is 9780062467553.
Global Availability
This book is only available in the United States.
Goodreads Reviews
Alyssa
November 22, 2015
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillanPublisher: Harper Teen Publication Date: January 19, 2016Rating: 5 starsSource: eARC from EdelweissSummary (from Goodreads):Raisa was just a child when she was sold to work as a slave in the kingdom of Qilara. Despite her young age, her father was teaching her to read and write, grooming her to take his place as a Learned One. In Qilara, the Arnathim, like Raisa, are the lowest class, and literacy is a capital offense. What’s more, only the king, prince, tutor, and tutor-in-training are allowed to learn the very highest order language, the language of the gods. So when the tutor-in-training is executed for teaching slaves this sacred language, and Raisa is selected to replace her, Raisa knows any slipup on her part could mean death.Keeping her secret is hard enough, but the romance that’s been growing between her and Prince Mati isn’t helping matters. Then Raisa is approached by the Resistance—an underground army of slave rebels—to help liberate Arnath slaves. She wants to free her people, but that would mean aiding a war against Mati. As Raisa struggles with what to do, she discovers a secret that the Qilarites have been hiding for centuries—one that, if uncovered, could bring the kingdom to its knees.What I Liked:Sword and Verse was one of those books that I knew I would enjoy, upon reading only the synopsis. I remember seeing the title, and then the synopsis, and then the cover... I remember discovering that the author was a fellow Baltimorean, which is REALLY exciting. Of all of Harper's 2016 Winter and Spring debuts, Sword and Verse was the one I wanted to read the most. You probably already saw my top five reasons why I think you should read this book, but this will be a more in-depth and coherent log of my thoughts on the book - which was superb!Note: I will not do this book justice, with this review. I couldn't do it with my Top Five Reasons post (which you should check out, it's slightly more condensed), and I know I can't do it here. There are some books that are that great that I just want to say, "TRUST ME AND READ IT!" and be done with the review. Still, I hope I can write a nice review (and not spoil things).As a child, Raisa was chosen to be the next tutor, and so she began to learn to read and write alongside the crown prince of Qilara, Mati. Years later, Raisa's feelings for Mati have grown, and she has also become a very accomplished Tutor, mastering the language and symbols with ease. Raisa and Mati know they shouldn't feel anything towards each other... but they do. When war breaks out against Qilara, Raisa will help the Resistance or stay loyal to Qilara - there is no easy way out of her past, present, or future.This book is written from Raisa's POV, and it starts in the past, when Raisa is small. She wasn't always a distinguished tutor-in-training - she used to be a slave in the kingdom. As an Arnath child, she never felt welcome in Qilara anyway. Raisa is a different heroine from what we typically see in YA fantasy these days. She isn't bent on saving the world, or wielding swords, or defying royalty. She's loyal to Mati, and she doesn't forget her people, but she doesn't want to necessarily help the Resistance when it could mean hurting Mati (indirectly). Raisa is a mentally and emotionally strong young woman, which is just as important as being physically tough. She is intelligent and kind, and has to work through an incredible amount of emotional burden throughout the book.Mati is the male protagonist of the book, and a very important character in the story. He has to lead Qilara for various reasons, and the learning curve is steep. He never wanted to be a part of the conflict and war that Qilara is deeply entrenched in, but he takes steps to ensure Qilara's success. Mati is selfless and clever, which is one of the reasons why I think him and Raisa are a great pair.So much of this book revolves around language and writing and symbols. The Resistance is desperate to have Raisa helping them because she can read and write, and she is in the palace. Raisa's role as Tutor will be to teach Mati's children how to read and write, as well as train the next Tutor. So you see that Raisa and Mati's roles were clearly defined from that start... but it didn't stop either of them from falling for each from the start. We know that Raisa has feelings for Mati since she was little, and we find out that he has feelings for her too. The romance is a strange one; no love triangle, but it isn't like any romance I've read. There was a point in the book that broke my heart, and it was less than halfway through. This book takes place over a year (maybe a little over a year?), not including the prologue. A LOT happens during that time, in terms of the romance (and in terms of the entire story). This book is a fantasy novel through and through, so there are certain elements of the story that intersect with the romance that really only occur in fantasy novels... you'll have to read the book to know what I mean, but the romance in this book is very unconventional. And I say all of that and mean it in a GOOD way. I absolutely love how MacMillan constructed the romance, how it developed. The romance wraps up in a satisfying way, and there is no love triangle. NO LOVE TRIANGLE. None. The romance is one of my favorite aspects of this book. So. Good. Lots of swoon and fangirling from me, I will assure you.MacMillan also does a great job with the world-building. Sometimes high fantasy novels seem to blur together, in terms of the worlds. I didn't find it the case with this book; the emphasis on language and symbols made this book highly distinctive, as well as the structure of the court and kingdom, and the role of religion. The ending is stunning, in my opinion. The book takes it time for the most part, in terms of pacing, but the climax picks up speed and the ending is eye-opening. I love the pacing of the book overall, and I really liked how the ending felt. Everything comes together, and the ending wraps up all the loose threads. I was really happy with the ending, especially in the last few pages. This book is a standalone, and the ending is perfect for it. It's not as tightly wrapped as I would have hoped (there are one or two things that I thought were open-ended), but I have it on good authority that things will be addressed in the future - but not as a series. So. Standalone for the win!What I Did Not Like:This book was really satisfying for me, so I don't think I have complaints. One of the things that I mentioned above was that I found that there were a few things that were open-ended. Usually this would be a complaint of mine if the book is a standalone (which this one is), but if those elements will be addressed in future companion novels, then by all means!Would I Recommend It:I highly recommend this novel. Fantasy fan, YA fan, someone who enjoyed Kristin Cashore's books, or Alexandra Bracken's Brightly Woven, etc. It's a standalone with an incredible and totally unique romance, and high-stakes action, and unforgettable world-building. This stunning debut did not disappoint on any level!Rating:5 stars.
Brittany
December 04, 2015
YOU GUYS.Since I was a teen, I've loved fantasy novels. The really epic ones, with fierce, smart, flawed female MCs, beautiful world-building, and complex challenges. More than anything else, I think fantasy novels (by Tamora Pierce and Mercedes Lackey and Marion Zimmer Bradley and now Kathryn Purdie and KATHY MACMILLAN) have taught me how to be a good person in a difficult world.But one issue I've had, one and off, is that I'm not particularly a physical person, and while I love fighting and girl-knights, I also love books that show us different ways for a heroine to be strong. Raisa, in SWORD AND VERSE, is one of those heroines. This story finds her using reading as a weapon, while she's enslaved in the ruling class's palace as the prince's tutor. She's the most realistic choice on the inside to be asked to lead a rebellion, and the person too who would be the most conflicted about it. Her life is comfortable. She's falling in love with the prince, who loves her back. The dudes in the rebellion are jerks when they reach out to you; they hate you for your privilege and your complicity. What do you do?The answer is given in a smart, well-paced plot, a complicated romance with power issues and believable misunderstandings, and a bunch of well-drawn supporting characters. My favorite was Jonis, Raisa's contact in the rebellion, who isn't very nice, or ethical, who's doing what he has to to survive. And (view spoiler)[isn't drawn into anything resembling a love triangle. No bad boy vs good boy cliches here. (hide spoiler)]This is lots of fun and so smart. Recommended.(I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.)
Jessica
November 01, 2015
I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.This will probably be one of my favorite debut fantasies of 2016. The world building on display is simply phenomenal. The system of slavery in this world felt both heart breaking and authentic, and the places and people felt fully fleshed out and realized. Raisa is an utterly compelling heroine. I loved that she took time to grow into her strength and courage, to experience both love and heartbreak. She's one of the most relatable YA protagonists I've come across. The writing itself is lyrical and breathtaking. I think my favorite aspect of this world is the mythology. Each chapter begins with a section of the gods' creation story, and it absolutely felt like something I could have learned in the antiquities department of a university. This book has some of the richest world building I've ever read, and I loved it.I massively recommend this book, and I'll keep recommending it come January.
Sarah
August 26, 2015
I was lucky enough to read an early version of this book and if you like YA high fantasy in the veins of Rae Carson, then you will LOVE this book.Raisa is raised as a slave in the palace, one of only two who are taught the language of the gods--writing--in order to tutor the prince and council him when he one day becomes king. But Raisa doesn't plan for falling in love with him, nor that he would return her love. Or that the slave resistance will pressure her to help them, even as it threatens the life and safety of both herself and the prince.When it all comes to a head, it seems only the gods will be able to save everyone.This story is filled with romance and wonderful, deeply realized characters. Raisa is sympathetic and believable, and Mati is swoon-worthy and kind, which I particularly love, since I'm kind of over the bad boy romance thing. The language and religion is fully developed and it's clear MacMillan spent a lot of time and energy getting it just right. And the ending explodes with action and drama and tension and moments that literally made me gasp in surprise. Which is really the best thing I can ever hope for when reading a book.
Melanie
November 02, 2015
Wow! This was a fantasy power read for me--meaning, I read half one day and half the next, stopping only to sleep because the time change made me feel like 6pm was actually midnight!SWORD AND VERSE is a richly-imagined fantasy set in a world where words are sacred, and writing is permitted only to Scholars. Raisa is an Arnath slave selected to study the written language as Tutor to the Qilarite royals, whom she comes to know and care for despite the deep, painful divide between their peoples. Raisa's story begins as that of a girl trying to find her place in between two worlds--slave and not slave, Tutor and not Qilarite--but over time, the veil between these worlds drops, and Raisa begins to question all that she knows to be true.Perhaps the richest part of this story is how Raisa's own journey to understanding and action mirrors that of the ancient gods in this world. At the start of each chapter, we are treated to a tiny snippet of the Gods' story, and these snippets are just as captivating as the central narrative. Readers will love understanding how the worlds of the Gods and mortals collide, even when the characters do not.There's something in SWORD AND VERSE for every reader: a true and fraught romance, secret alliances and risky choices, truth and lies. The literary qualities and complex world building will appeal to fans of FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK (Marchetta) and THE DEMON KING (Cinda Chima), while the themes speak strongly to issues facing us in today's modern world. Highly recommend!(I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review)
Damaris (GoodChoiceReading)
December 31, 2015
Yesssssssss!!!! I got a little worried for a minute there, but in the end this book was everything I was hoping for and more!!!!!! The romance between the Prince & Raisa.... *sigh* my poor heart.... Awesome story! Full review to come!!! ----------------- FULL REVIEW 12/31/2015Sword and Verse takes readers on an unforgettable adventure. Not only is this book amazing from the first word to the very last, it is also unpredictable, and has the PERFECT romance.When I first saw the cover to this book I immediately knew I had to get my hands on it. Then I read the blurb and I was sold! I knew it would be one of those books that would keep me up all night reading, and would leave me with that craving for more. I honestly did not expect to be so into the story, and completely captivated with the characters like I was. It was all I thought about. Every single time I had to put the book down, I would get upset. I could not wait to dive back into Raisa’s story. It is THAT good.One of the biggest things I love most about this story is the way the author wrote it. The story starts with Raisa as a young girl, and ends with her as a grown smart woman. I did not get lost once with the timeline. The author did an excellent job piecing it all together. For some reason this was a huge plus for me. The way the characters grow, the romance between Raisa & the Prince, the suspense whenever Raisa and the rebels were together, it was just flawless!I will say that a little more than half of the story is romance. Of course, me being a romance junkie, this just made me fall in love with the book ten times more! I can’t describe the emotions I felt. Prince Mati & Raisa’s feelings for one another bled off the pages and I absorbed every bit of it! At one point, the author had me worried. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen to them as a couple, and was about ready to scream, but in the end I was happy with the outcome. Every detail, event, emotion, all happened at the right time, and all flowed together like putting the pieces to a puzzle together.SWORD AND VERSE is a GOOD CHOICE FOR READING! It’s a story that you will devour and never forget. At least it was for me. Kathy MacMillan is officially on my MUST-READ list. If her other books are written anything like this one, it will be a sure read!
Kelly
November 09, 2015
First, as you know, books about books and words and the love of same tend to be my favorites. As you can tell from the synopsis, this is a world where only a tiny handful of people are allowed to be literate. (We won't even talk about how terrifying that is for me.)Know what we can talk about? How awesome Raisa is. Her entire motivation is to help people, even when there's a major risk to herself and her own safety. (Well, that's her primary motivation. Her secondary motivation is to decode a message given to her by her father---who is now dead---when she was a child. And that is also incredibly dangerous because all writing must be burned.)So I loved Raisa and I loved Mati (the prince) and oh God, the two of them together. I ship it so hard, guys. So hard. I think I'm a complete sucker for love that cannot be, and is there anything more star-crossed than royalty and servants? Nope.Plus, best news ever? It's the first book in a series. I cannot wait for the sequel; you don't even know.Highly recommended.
Patry
October 24, 2017
Reseña completa -> http://thewordsofbooks.blogspot.com.e...«Pero lo que quiero hacer no es siempre lo que debo hacer.»25/07/2017Terminado. Me ha mantenido muy enganchada y me ha gustado mucho toda la historia tan relacionada con la escritura y los libros. Solo tengo una pega que ponerle y el el romance que tiene demasiado protagonismo al comienzo se hace un poco pasteloso, claro que todo eso cambia y el misterio toma protagonismo y hace de este libro una historia mucho mas interesante. Si os gustan los amores prohibidos con historias de dioses, os recomiendo que le deis una oportunidad. Además, la historia se cierra por completo a pesar de que sea parte de una saga, tengo entendido que el siguiente libro son otros protagonistas.
Parker
November 07, 2015
Should Raisa stay loyal to the prince she loves or help her enslaved people carry out a secret rebellion?I love what Kathy MacMillan does with the dilemma at the heart of this novel. Raisa's relationship with the prince isn't easy, and the leaders of the rebellion aren't always trustworthy. Raisa has to make a lot of difficult decisions, and the results didn't always play out as I expected them to.I've been recommending this to my friends who love books like Graceling, and they're eager to get a copy!I had a chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rosalyn
September 13, 2015
In her debut novel, Kathy MacMillan has created an intricately imagined fantasy world with a wonderful mythology, where slaves (and most of the populace) are forbidden literacy. But Raisa, a slave child, is given an unexpected gift when she's raised to the position of the prince's tutor, and taught to read alongside the prince. But just as a forbidden relationship with the prince blossoms, Raisa also gets drawn into an underground slave rebellion and is forced to figure out where her alliances lie. The book was beautiful, lyrical, heart-breaking and stirring all at once.
Bridget
February 09, 2016
An epic high fantasy! When I saw the gorgeous cover, with that prominent sword, I thought this might be one of those YAs with a lot of flashy blade-slashing and gory battle scenes that all become the same after a while. But I had hopes for something better.My hopes were fulfilled. This is an intriguing story, set in a world built so well that it feels truly historical, with a reluctant heroine who has to do a hell of a lot more than step up to some pre-arranged "Destiny".This heroine, Raisa, must first shake off the mental shackles and ingrained fears of being a captive slave for most of her life, before she can surprise herself--and everyone else--by what she becomes. (view spoiler)[.And she becomes an extraordinary, significant person through hard work and dedication as well as risk, entering the realm of mythology herself in an extraordinary finish to the book. (hide spoiler)]I was particularly impressed by the author's bold willingness to let Raisa have doubts, fears, and realistic caution, as well as a conflict that pulls her back at first from doing what she's not yet even sure is the right thing. She's not a cardboard cutout of a heroine (insert "Destiny" here; turn crank; spit out triumphant ending).I've read books before where a downtrodden character in a system of oppression is inexplicably untouched by years of grinding abuse. When you create an oppressed protagonist who is somehow superhuman, who can fearlessly fight the way to freedom just beause s/he is BRAVER THAN ANYONE ELSE...it's just one step away from blaming slaves for being slaves, as if being brutalized and losing your freedom is some kind of cowardly choice you make, or the inherent and understandable condition of simply not being badass. This doesn't happen in SWORD AND VERSE. Raisa has, at first, no notion whatsoever of trying to be free. In fact, she knows she's (relatively, for a slave) lucky to have gotten a post in the royal palace learning a secret writing system she's always wanted to know, and she's totally not going to jeopardize that, when the alternative is either doing the dangerous cleaning of temple ceilings, or...if she joins the Resistance...being burned alive. So she turns down opportunities to help the freedom fighters, who she's not even sure she can trust.There's also the little detail that she's being tutored in the royals-only writing system by the side of Prince Mati, the heir apparent to the throne of the really-not-nice-at-all King. (Why is she, a non-royal, being tutored in a royals-only writing system? You'll find out.) And they've fallen in love.Then a tragedy happens, and Raisa starts putting together clues from her past with strange tokens and omens in the present, to create a startling new version of reality that thrusts her into the middle of a battle. However, this battle must be won, not with the sword, but with the power of the words that have been jealously guarded by the kings of the land for so long. And Raisa happens to be an expert in them.You will not believe how it ends. It's intensely satisfying on every level. The overarching mythos and the separate storylines of the book are all brought to a mutual, breathtaking conclusion. It feels so right, because the characters earned what they won. But there's a current of magic flowing through the narrative as well, elevating it to a very special level of "yes".I loved this book! And if you love high fantasy, so will you.
Lisa
February 11, 2016
This was beautiful. I don't even have words right now. I need to let everything sink down, but I'll write a review as soon as I can. --------------------------------------Okay, I'm not gonna lie, I finished this book on August 29, and since then I've forgotten a lot of details I wanted to talk about. I just forgot I hadn't written my review yet, sometimes I really don't like myself.Let me start of with saying that I won an Advanced Reader's Copy over on twitter by Harper 360 UK and I am so, so grateful that I got the chance to read this book early. I absolutely loved this book.First of all, this is a YA fantasy standalone. Doesn't that alone sell you? I know I was very intrigued when I heard it was a fantasy standalone. That very rarely happens. It worked perfectly as a standalone. There are almost no loose ends and the ending was perfect. There is one very little thing I was a little confused about, but that might have just been me. Sometimes I miss little things, mainly because English isn't my mother tongue. Something that plays a big part in this story is religion. I know a lot people sometimes have a hard time reading fantasy books that deals a lot with religion (I must say I'm not one of those people), but I think not many people will have that problem with this book. The religion ties in very well with the world building and the story overall. When I read the first chapter, I was afraid the story would be too juvenile for me because the main character, Raisa, was only fourteen. That was not true at all. The story takes place over a couple of years, and in the end Raisa was, I believe, eightteen. I loved that it takes place over such a time span because people really chance during the course of a couple of years, so you could really see some character development, by multiple characters. Because this book covers multiple years, the timespan of events and things that happen in this book is in my eyes very realistic. Sometimes you see in books that suddenly all hell breaks loose in just a few weeks or however long the timespan is in a book.I really hope this book will get a map. I always love seeing maps in fantasy books, but I think it,ll fit this story. It isn't persé neccessary to understand, but it would be nice. Raisa and her people are enslaved and takes to this land where the story takes place, but I'd like to see where her homeland would be compared to where she lives now etcetera. All with all, I really, really recommend this book. One of the best ones I've read this year. I think it's a very unique story. Definitely keep your eyes open in January, when it comes out :)
Melissa
September 08, 2015
I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.The premise of this book is so unique and will appeal to teen who loves books, words and an unlikely love story. Kathy MacMillan has woven a wonderful story that demonstrates the power of language and communication, and the danger of limiting those within our world.Add Sword and Verse to your to-be read list!
Wendy
January 28, 2016
Wow! Talk about storytelling and world-building! From the very first page I was sucked into Raisa's world and never stopped rooting for her. When she falls in love with the Prince Mati, your heart breaks for her, for it seems like the age-old story of slave girl falling in love with the one thing she cannot have, but as is the case with every aspect of this book, there are layers within layers that lead to a surprise in every chapter and this is a page-turner to the very end. Besides the fully constructed characters, I loved the detail Kathy has put into this book - the mythology, the rules, and most of all, the written language. It was breathtaking and so impressive! The imagination and discipline to do this is mind-blogging and this book will be beloved not only by those of us who love a wonderful story, but by those who love language and linguistics. This is a special book and I will definitely be recommending it to everyone!
Nicola
August 22, 2015
Absolutely amazing. One to watch, that's for sure! Review coming later on!
Kim at Divergent Gryffindor
December 31, 2015
Actual rating: 4.5 starsWhen I first started to read Sword and Verse I thought, “Oh, this is just another fantasy novel.” In fact, I was even a little bored at the beginning of the novel. But my gosh, the story just kept building up to be better and better, and by the end of novel, I just fell in love with it! In the kingdom of Qilara, only the King, Prince and Tutors could learn to read and write the higher order writing, and only the Scholars could learn the lower order writings. Raisa is an Arnathim - a slave - but she has a deep desire for learning it because her father was a Learned One. Then one day Raisa got chosen to become the tutor-in-training. Now she studies the language with Prince Mati, and they just can’t deny the connection between them.In the beginning of the story, I was really annoyed. I just felt like the Raisa and Prince Mati and even the story were all juvenile, and I hated it. I thought that this would be a pointless world. I thought, the author did a great job with the world building, but why is everything just centered on romance? Would this world just go to waste discussing this naive romance? Because by 20% of the book, Prince Mati and Raisa already confessed their love for each other, and so far that’s all that there is to the story. There was no foundation, no build-up, and that just sucked.Then as I read on, the story just became better and better. The world building was incredible, the character development was phenomenal, and the plot became more and more exciting and climatic! The progression of everything was just amazing, and I couldn’t help but fall in love with the story, despite my earlier complaints. Oh my gosh, just, the feels of this book! And the feels is not even because of the romance, but because of how the story turned out to be; because of all the excitement! Gah, this book just makes me feel giddy! Up until now I still can't believe just how amazing this story turned out to be because I don't usually encounter books that end with a bang! The ending wrapped up so nicely, and I really commend the author for that because I feel like it's usually hard to end fantasy books with just one novel. Just, wow, this novel is amazing!For those of you who are having a hard time with this book, just push through. I can't promise anything really because our preferences might be different, but for me, the story just got better and better. And I was also close to giving up on this book in the beginning because of how childish it all started out to be, but it just ended so fantastically! In fact this is one of the best endings I've ever read! Gosh, I just loved this book! I can't wait for the companion novel!
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