A Choir of Lies

Starred review from June 3, 2019
Rowland unleashes formidable skills in this worthy follow-up to 2018’s A Conspiracy of Truths. Heartbroken and disillusioned by his master’s treachery and lies, young storyteller Ylfing wanders the world trying to find peace. Settling in the prosperous market town of Heyrland, Ylfing finds work as a translator for Sterre de Waeyer, one of the richest merchants in the region. When Sterre discovers her newest employee’s talent with crafting narratives, she asks him to help sell a strange flower known as the stars-in-the-marsh. Their efforts spark a buying frenzy that quickly grows out of control. Through his work, Ylfing discovers true love and rediscovers his chanting talents, just in time to use his stories to save the city he’s nearly destroyed. Rowland’s characters are consistently surprising and supremely empathetic, and the footnotes, worldbuilding details, and tales sprinkled throughout create a full and complex reality for readers to wander at will. This is a wise, moving, and captivating adventure.

Starred review from July 1, 2019

Three years after his master Chant shattered his world, young storyteller Ylfing is in Heyrland, working as a translator for wealthy merchant Sterre de Waeyer. Concerned about his master's lies, Ylfing is trying to put his skills behind him. But when Sterre discovers his talent, she commands him to begin telling his tales once more, hoping to sell an unusual commodity, a flower called stars-in-the-marsh. Yet as Ylfing's craft sends prices soaring with a buying spree, a destructive truth is shown and Yfling must decide if he is a Chant who walks away like his master, or whether he can use his gifts to save others instead. VERDICT A story of discovery and growth, interspersed with other short fables and creative footnote commentary that unfolds into a superbly crafted world of intriguing characters and lush setting, Rowland's follow-up to A Conspiracy of Truths reveals the author's stunning prose, beautiful worldbuilding, and emotional detail. Highly recommended.--Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton

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