The First Girl Child

My thoughts are swirling all around as I sit here trying to write this review. First and foremost I loved this story. Amy has the most amazing way of crafting a story and pulling the reader headfirst into this world she creates every time she picks up her pen.

Having read her other fantasy books, The Bird and the Sword and The Queen and the Cure, I already knew she would be taking me on a journey that would be unlike anything I’ve experienced before. The characters, the scenery, the life and culture, the beliefs and customs, all of it was crafted so intricately that I lost myself in the pages of this book.

There were several characters that I absolutely fell in love with in this book and several that I despised, but that is the way of the world no matter if the story is told from a long ago past or current day. The life the characters lived in this time and place were often very unforgiving and I found myself wanting to wrap them up and keep them safe. As is often the case when reading Amy’s books, even when she is breaking your heart she does so in a way that helps you understand that this is exactly how this story has to be told and even through my tears I found myself smiling for all the things that made it such a beautifully woven tale.

I honestly would love to sit down with Amy and ask her how she comes up with these stories, not just the basic plot but ALL that comes with it like the scenery and the emotions and the pyschology of it. She writes some of the most complete tales I have ever read.

I have purposely been vague about the actual story and what occurs, and that is because you need to start this story with no preconceived notions or spoilers that could influence your opinion one way or another. Just go in blind and experience Amy’s magic roll across the pages.

Another amazing story! I so hope and pray that we will get more books from Amy and the land of Saylock!

Amy Harmon is one of my go to authors. In a reading slump read one of her books, need the comfort of a familiar book read one your favorite one, looking to read a new genre read one of her books. Amy has the ability to smoothly write whatever genre she wants and it will be fantastic, not only will you learn new things, but your mind will spend days working out all the details and nuances of the story.

In typical fashion, she spends time setting the stunning scene for the intense emotions that you are going to feel. I think she is being gracious, letting it all creep on you, before it suddenly hits you in the face! Yes, I cried thats all Im going to say about my emotions.

Set in Saylok, this rich land is filled with clans, magical runes and warriors, who for many years have been unable to produce daughters, causing chaos of all kinds! Bayr, who you cant help love, as his gentle nature balances out his out of this world strength. Alba is fierce, determined and very compassionate! Love is weaves its way through this story, touching all that are in its path – its slow build up is completely consuming!

Dagmar and Ghost, are much more than side characters, time and time again they show sacrificial love for those in their care, and their friendship is one to remember! And their pain and heartache cause so much of the beauty of this epic story to shine through. Because the beauty of the fall was worth the pain of landing.

This story hits all the spots warriors, magic, love, battles and salvation for a nation coming from likely and unlikely heroes! My frustration is that Im not sure if Im ready to leave Saylok – I love Bayr, Alba, Dagmar, Ghost and this gorgeous fantasy world, they have a piece of my heart!

3.5 stars for me.I’m going to first start my review with how much I adore this author’s extreme writing talent .Amy Harmon ‘s books are a gift and she is always in my top 5 favorite author list and always will be .Now that I’ve totally fan girled out I have to be completely honest, fantasy genre is not my favorite genre at all .But Amy Harmon had changed my view on fantasy reads with her 5 star reads The Bird and the Sword and then The Queen and the Cure , if you haven’t read those two amazing fantasy genre reads I have to say that you are missing out on two absolutely amazing reads. Okay so with this book I have to say I was at the 50 percent in mark and I had to stop and think and be honest with myself “am I loving this read ? Has anything happened yet that makes me feel like this is another 5 star amazing read ? And the answer was sadly no .It was okay but it wasn’t “Wow” like her other reads and I was bummed out because I really wanted and was hoping for “Wow” and with Amy Harmon you usually get that .So I kept on going and it did get better, not great but definitely better.The writing was excellent and flawless but the storyline and the emotional attachment to the characters were not gripping me personally like I had hoped in the first half .I think more back story was needed, more of the past relationships of these characters were needed to be cultivated and shown before the present day was given .I think knowing more about some important key characters alive and the dead ones especially the sister of Dagmar with their personalities and their relationships with each other would have helped me to understand how they all chose the path they took.Again fantasy genre is not my go to read but I did love and 5 starred The Bird and The Sword and The Queen and The Cure but this book just didn’t grab hold of me like that and I wished it did .If you love fantasy reads though then I think you are going to love this read,for me it was okay the first half , better the second half but never hit the “Amazing and Wow ” level for me personally.I was just looking for more emotional connections with each and many characters and less of a sweeping epic storytelling. So again good read just not 5 star worthy for me personally.

The First Girl Child by Amy Harmon is an epic and mesmerizing tale about love and loss, destiny and duty, sacrifice and redemption. It left me completely spellbound and in pure awe of this author’s incredible and out of this world talent. This historical fantasy novel is a mythical and mystical masterpiece of contemporary literature and belongs on every reader’s bookshelf. It is without a doubt my most favorite book of 2019! Amy Harmon always manages to paint vivid and vibrant pictures inside of my head with her lyric, poignant and captivating writing. I don’t marely read her stories. No, I experience them with every single fiber of my being. I was captivated by this story from the first page and couldn’t put it down until I’ve reached the end with tears in my eyes.

The First Girl Child is a masterfully crafted novel with excellent world building, an engaging plot, great dialogue and intriguing and well-developed characters. I love that Amy has mixed her wast knowledge about Norse mythology with her own ideas that arised from her creative imagination. I found the magical power and significance behind the runes very fascinating and how they could be used for good and evil equally and were therefore kept a secret. The fictional land of Saylok was devided among six different clans who answered to one king. I appreciated that the author took her time to explain to us readers how they were formed and what set them apart from each other.

Desdemona, scorned and abandoned by the man she once loved, cursed the land with her dying breath while delivering her son Bayr: from this day on, there will be no more daughters in Saylok. Bayr, who is raised by his uncle Dagmar among the keepers of the Temple Hill, is gifted with unparalleled strength but also a gentle heart and protective nature. His one purpose in life is to guard Alba, the first girl child born in nearly two decades and the long awaited salvation. But with time their bond and feelings will start to grow making his task more difficult and challenging. In order to defend their land and finally break the curse they will have to go against the corrupt king who built his throne on murder and lies…

Bayr of Saylok was such an amazing hero. He was honorable, loyal, kind, honest and caring. A fierce young man who protected the people he loved. Although blessed with great strength Bayr never showed any superiority or arrogance. He was admired and feared but many people didn’t let him forget that he is a bastard son unclaimed by a clan. I adored the way he took care of Alba. She was so very precious and important to him and he loved her with all of his innocent heart.

Alba was a wonderful heroine. She was smart, outspoken and strong-willed with a gentle nature. Alba was curious with a thirst for knowledge and she had a good hand for animals like her mother. She felt safe in Bayr’s presence from the moment she was placed in his strong arms as a little baby. He was her friend, her protector and in the end also her lover. Her heart has only ever loved Bayr. I was rooting hard for these two knowing that the king would never allow a union between them.

There were several secondary characters who have completely captured my heart, especially Bayr’s uncle. Dagmar is the most kind, selfless and compassionate person you can imagine. He is a wise and responsible keeper. His love for his nephew was deep and sincere. He was his pride and joy and Dagmar raised him to become the man he was always meant to be – Saylok’s savior. I admired Ghost so much for the huge sacrifice she made and for her courage and persistence. Some people might have been frightened by her unusual appearance but those with a pure heart and soul like Dagmar, Bayr and Alba only saw exceptional beauty when they looked at her.

There are not enough words of praise to do this outstanding book the justice it deserves. I can only strongly encourage you to read it. There is so much wisdom and knowledge in this author’s words, so much power and beauty. I can only applaud Amy Harmon on such an achievement. I sincerely hope that there are going to be more stories set in Saylok in the future! *6 stars!!!*

The First Girl Child is a historical fiction novel set on a Viking island who are cursed to have no more girl children. As a historical fiction novel, the book itself was fine, although I am not the biggest fan of this period as one to read about. Unfortunately, I came to this book believing it was a romance when it really was not. There is a little bit of romance but nowhere near the level that I was expecting. The synopsis seems to promise a romance between the first girl child, Alba, and the strongest warrior Bayr, but these characters are children for the majority of the book. This seems to be much more Dagmar and Ghost’s story than anyone else’s and it’s a shame that the synopsis does not prepare you for that. Despite my personal feelings, there were no incompetencies when it came to writing or plotting. It’s the sort of book where you need to manage your expectations before reading to gain the most enjoyment.

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