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Marla Himeda is an award-winning author and lifelong musician who has taught piano and clarinet for eighteen years at Punahou Schools and for over half a century in her own studio. She teaches theory and composition courses, coaches ensemble groups, and is a prolific arranger of chamber music for winds. She has performed in the Seattle Opera House, the Seattle Art Museum, and many concert venues in Hawaii, where she has lived for the past fifty years near Mount Olomana, whose twin peaks sparked the birth of Bardic Mountain. She is a member of the National Music Teachers Association, Opus 5 Winds, and is principal clarinetist for the Honolulu Wind Ensemble.
Master of Music, Book One of The Bardic Isles Series, was the 2024 Readers’ Favorite Audiobook Gold Medal Winner, the 2024 IP Awards Outstanding Audiobook Winner, the 2023 IAN Fantasy Book of the Year Winner, a B.R.A.G. Medallion Winner, a Fiction and Audiobook Finalist in The Wishing Shelf Awards, and a Young Adult Finalist in the IAN Awards. The Bardic Isles Series is a merging of her two passions—music and writing—and portrays a world that she unabashedly admits loving to escape to. The Bardic Isles Series began 35 years ago as a bedtime story she told to her four children. It is now an epic fantasy series featuring music as the sole magical element, and the audiobooks include the music of the Bardic Isles, all of which was composed by the author.
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
Master of Music by Marla Himeda unfolds the tale of Kaelin, an orphan possessing a remarkable yet dangerous musical talent. He hides this talent, playing only when alone due to fear that his music can harm others. The plot takes a turn when a Master Bard, intrigued by Kaelin's flute music, decides to mentor him. Over time, a deep, fatherly bond develops between them as Master Bard imparts life and musical lessons to Kaelin, regardless of the risks involved. Together, they confront Kaelin's fears and strive to unlock the music buried deep within him, facing skepticism from those around them. The narrative compellingly portrays the journey of mentorship, the struggles with a rare gift, and the transformative power of music.
Master of Music by Marla Himeda is the first book in The Bardic Isles Series, and I'm quite pleased by that as Himeda has certainly set up what is sure to be a wonderful series. I love that it is a classic, old-world-style fantasy tale that intertwines the realms of music and magic, providing a fresh and new reading experience for mid-grade readers who are likely to have a novel like this as one of their firsts. Himeda's storytelling is an excellent example of how to show a reader what is happening with visual descriptions and immerse us in a world that feels relatable and, therefore, authentic. Kaelin is the kid I just want to hug and tell him that everything will be ok. That's the mom in me, and proof that those of us “of a certain age” will also love Himeda's tale. Very highly recommended.
