Review: A Memory of Song: First Verse of the Last Ballad by Scott Palmer

Blurb:

In a dying land, the armies of the dead hold sway. And those who rule them are more god than human.

James Culdaine, the last heir of the Northern Throne, was just a young man when the armies of the South murdered his parents and subjugated his lands. He has never forgotten those responsible, nor has he forgiven. He has spent the last ten years living in isolation with The Feldarra; a sacred Northern clan of fierce warriors, led by the fearless Wulfee who, still reeling from the loss of her own children, finds new meaning in protecting what only family she has left.

Now, an ancient order of warlocks has returned to the North, singing dark songs composed of blood magic that null the elements and threaten all that is living.

With nature depleted and the Southern armies returning to the North, James struggles to embrace the unique power he has long tried to repress; the ability to commune with the spirits of the dead. In the bitter heart of a growing war, with the world dying around them, James and Wulfee desperately seek answers, vengeance, and a way to save the ones they love... No matter the cost.

Fires refuse to burn. The skies are thirsty and breathless. The earth won’t eat its rot…

Welcome to Ardura.

Review:

A Memory of Song is an exceptional debut novel from Scott Palmer that blends elements of classic fantasy with gritty realism and the lingering souls of the dead to create a captivating start to The Last Ballad. This story begins in media res with James Culdaine running through the forest, being hunted by werewolf-like Hawka with the spirits of the dead crowding around him, supplicating him for help. The pace never really lets up as we follow two interesting POVs as they battle their way through the haunted forests of Mal Hallow in an effort to save the continent from ancient magics that have snuffed out the fires of the land. The fast pace of the novel is handled expertly by Palmer with a beauty of prose that is noteworthy in any book, but especially a debut novel.

Ardura is a land teeming with lore and history that much of the story is predicated upon, which is slowly fed to us via bards’ tales, Warlock reminiscing, and dangerous meetings with gods and haunted minions. Palmer has done a fantastic job building out a complex world that allows a reader to dive in and get lost amongst the people of the Hallow. I cannot wait to learn more about the events that led up to where we are now with the Ailaryan Order and the quieting of the songs.

The story is full of twists and turns and Palmer is not afraid to wreak havoc on his cast of characters, which as a reader is heartbreaking but also keeps the stakes high and exciting. I felt like all of his characters were three dimensional and had purpose within the story that allowed me to feel what they were feeling and empathize with the pain and hardship they were attempting to overcome. There were no wasted or wooden characters.

I particularly enjoyed the interactions between James, the last remaining heir of the Northern Kingdom, and the defunct warlock: Adeqor. The back-and-forth trickery and manipulation added a degree of tension that was palpable throughout the book. Palmer truly shines with his strong character work and rich worldbuilding.

I cannot recommend A Memory of Song enough! Palmer has managed to create a fascinating, dark world with an eerie underbelly that pulsates with life while all around it withers and dies. The mighty nytewood trees tower above the landscape as bastions of hope and magic that root this world in the old magics that are beginning to awaken. I am eagerly awaiting further books in this series. Scott Palmer is a rising indie star in the epic fantasy arena!