So my two big loves when it comes to my hobbies are reading and D&D. I tried to do this series on my old blog when I was first getting into Dungeons and Dragons. But I didn’t know enough at the time to really do justice to the topic.
I’m going over the 12 main classes in D&D and putting lists of books that relate to each class. The classes include Barbarian, Druid, Paladin, Bard, Fighter, Ranger, Cleric, Monk, Rouge, Sorcerer, Wizard and Warlock. I’m also adding on Artificer because it’s a fan favorite. The first in this series will be Bard. Not only because its so well known but because it’s one of my favorite classes.
So how do I decide which class a book is in? I’m going to consider the popular elements of the class. For example, bards are stereo-typically know for high charisma and an extroverted personality. They are also known for their expertise with music and speaking. In this class I’m going to address musical themes in literature. I’m going to focus on books where the characters have musical powers or are actual bards/musicians themselves.
1) The Bardic Voices Quartet by Mercedes Lackey.
A classic on the topic of music and bards by fantasy mega-star Mercedes Lackey. Book 1 The Lark and the Wren tells the story of a young adventuress who is seeks to learn more about music. While she is learning her trade though so learns more about life itself.
Fourteen year old Rune is a child born out of wedlock. Rune has been condemned to be the butt of local gossip. Despite her background she has dreams of joining the Bardic Guild. Members of the Bardic Guild enjoy all the things she wants in life, such as high status, wealth and security.
But first she must escape from her lowly village and risk it all to become a famous bard. She has some success but soon realizes that becoming a star isn’t exactly the easy life she was expecting. She soon discovers an alternative path and meets with different beings who share her love for music.
Amazon: The Lark and The Wren
Mercedes Lackey is the acclaimed author of over 145 novels and many works of short fiction. In her “spare” time she is also a skilled needleworker, jewelry maker, and collector and costumer of asian ball-jointed dolls. Many of her works go to charity auctions for good causes. She has also been known to play City of Heroes MMORPG and D and D with a close group of friends. Mercedes lives in Oklahoma with her husband and frequent collaborator, artist Larry Dixon, and their flock of parrots. Over half of their parrots are rescues. Her website is http://www.mercedeslackey.com.
2) Mystwick School of Musicraft
Amelia Jones has always wanted to attend Mystwick School for Musicraft like her mother. At Mystwick musicians learn to craft pieces become magic spells. Amelia thinks her hopes are dashed though when she botches her audition. But the school agrees to give her a trial period much to her surprise.
Amelia vows to prove herself and do whatever it takes to become a perfect musician. She’ll even pretend to be someone she isn’t. Her identity isn’t the only problem though. There is a storm brewing that not even the maestros at Mystwick are prepared to contain.
Can Ameila be true to herself in time to save her school from certain destruction?
Amazon: Mystwick School of Musicraft
Jessica Khoury is the author of many books for teens and young readers. Her stories have been translated into over a dozen languages and have been finalists for awards like the South Carolina Junior Book Award, the Ignyte Award, the Maine Student Book Award, the Oklahoma Sequoyah Masterlist, the Amelia Bloomer Project, and many more. Her bestselling middle grade debut The Mystwick School of Musicraft was named one of the Best Audiobooks of 2019 by Audible and is one of the Top 20 Most Listened-To children’s books of all time.
3) Seraphina
In the kingdom of Goredd dragon and humans work together side by side. While things seem peaceful on the surface, there are underlying tensions.
The tension isn’t only in the kingdom though. Seraphina, the newest muscian of the royal court, has a deep secret of her own. Her mother was a dragon, who tricked her father with her shapeshifting abilities.
Now her father and new family don’t know what to do with the half dragon Seraphina. Their solution was to send her to court. Where she is an apprentice to a cranky music master who also happens to be a dragon. While she works on keeping both her secret and her boss’ she uncovers a royal mystery.
A murder has occurred within the royal family Seraphina is drawn into the investigation. Helping her along with the investigation is Prince Lucien, a perceptive and dashing man. The two of them quickly uncover a sinister plot that will threaten the uneasy peace in the kingdom.
All the while Seraphina tries to protect her secret, but this secret could cost her her life.
Amazon: Seraphina
Rachel Hartman is the author of the acclaimed YA fantasy novel SERAPHINA, a New York Times bestseller and winner of the 2013 Morris Award, and its sequel SHADOW SCALE. Rachel lives with her family in Vancouver, Canada. In her free time she sings with a madrigal choir (the QuasiModals), walks her whippet in the rain, and is learning to fence. You can visit her blog at http://rachelhartmanbooks.com or follow her on Twitter at @_rachelhartman
4) The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings
Nola is a city full of wonders. It has everything from sky trollies and death cabs to Wise Women who keep order. To those who are not from the city, it seems strange. But to Perilous Graves it is simply home.
Perilous or Perry knows Nola’s rhythm as well as his own heartbeat. When the city’s Great Magician starts appearing in odd places and songs are forgotten, Perry knows trouble is afoot.
Nine songs of power have escaped from the piano that maintains the city’s beat. Without the songs Nola will fail. Perry is unwilling to watch his home be destroyed. He will try and save the city, and will give it everything has. But there is a storm brewing and the mysterious Haint of All Haints is awake. Nola’s time might be coming to an end.
Amazon: The Ballad of Perilous Graves
Alex Jennings was born on Wiesbaden AFB in Germany, in 1979. Since then, he has lived with his diplomat father and the rest of his family in Gaborone, Botswana, Paramaribo, Surinam, Tunis, Tunisia, and the D.C. area.
After a stint at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA, Jennings attended the Clarion West Writers Workshop in 2003. Since 2006, he’s lived in New Orleans, working as a nonprofit fundraiser, entertainment journalist, and teacher, in addition to his writing work. He probably drinks too much cold brew coffee, and he definitely spends too much time surfing the internet for bizarre news stories.
Along with his friends, Jennings has acted as MC and co-producer of the Dogfish Readings series, a monthly literary reading and open mic in St. Roch, New Orleans. The readings series has run for nearly four years, and Jennings calls it his “pride and joy.”
Some of his preoccupations include Afrofuturism, comic books, horror media, and standup comedy. Influences include Octavia E. Butler, Nisi Shawl, Victor Lavalle, Junot Diaz, and Jazz. He is currently finishing a novel set in an alternate New Orleans where music and magic are the same. You can find him on twitter or instagram as @magicknegro
5) Sofi and the Bone Song by Adrienne Tooley
Music has always been a constant in Sofi’s life. Her father is a Musik, one of only five musicians in their country licensed to compose and perform original songs. In their home, the Kingdom Aell, there is endless winter and magic is accessible to all. Except for musical magic which is surrounded by strict anti-magic laws, making it the last untouched art.
Sofi has spent her entire life training to inherit her father’s title. On the day of the auditions though Sofi gets some unexpected competition, from a girl named Lara. Lara has never played the lute, however she puts on a performance that enchants the judges.
Her talent is so great it almost seems like magic.
The same day that Lara wins the title of Musik. Sofi’s father dies. This sets Sofi out on a grief filled journey to prove that Lara is using illegal magic to enhance her performances.
After spending more time with Lara, Sofi begins to question everything she knows about her family her music and the world around her.
As Sofi works to reclaim her title of Musik. She must face dark secrets of her past as well as magic she was trained to avoid. There is also one more hitch in the process she must gain her title back all while trying to avoid falling for Lara.
Amazon: Sofi and the Bone Song
Adrienne Tooley grew up in Southern California, majored in musical theater in Pittsburgh, and now lives in Brooklyn with her wife, their puppy Biscuit, eight guitars, and a banjo. She’s the author of The Third Daughter; the Kids’ Indie Next Pick Sofi and the Bone Song; and Sweet & Bitter Magic. In addition to writing novels, she is a singer/songwriter who has released four indie-folk EPs. She invites you to visit her online at adriennetooley.com.
I hope this post gave you some insight into the books that have elements of the bard class. If you play D&D what is your favorite class to play? Do you agree with my picks about these books? Let me know in the comments.
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