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Dragonbards #2
The Ivory Lyre
With the help of four shape-shifting dragons, dragonbards Tebriel and Kiri are instrumental in inciting an uprising against the Dark and in locating the magical ivory lyre.
250 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1987
3 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Rousseau Murphy
62 books523 followersShirley Rousseau Murphy is the author of over 40 books, including 24 novels for adults, the Dragonbards Trilogy and more for young adults, and many books for children. She is best known for her Joe Grey cat mystery series, consisting of 21 novels, the last of which was published when she was over 90. Now retired, she enjoys hearing from readers who write to her at her website www.srmurphy.com, where the reading order of the books in that series can be found.
Murphy grew up in southern California, riding and showing the horses her father trained. After attending the San Francisco Art institute she worked as an interior designer, and later exhibited paintings and welded metal sculpture in the West Coast juried shows. "When my husband Pat and I moved to Panama for a four-year tour in his position with the U. S . Courts, I put away the paints and welding torches, and began to write," she says. Later they lived in Oregon, then Georgia, before moving to California, where she now enjoys the sea and views of the Carmel hills.
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Murphy grew up in southern California, riding and showing the horses her father trained. After attending the San Francisco Art institute she worked as an interior designer, and later exhibited paintings and welded metal sculpture in the West Coast juried shows. "When my husband Pat and I moved to Panama for a four-year tour in his position with the U. S . Courts, I put away the paints and welding torches, and began to write," she says. Later they lived in Oregon, then Georgia, before moving to California, where she now enjoys the sea and views of the Carmel hills.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 15, 2025
Even better than the first, though I still would have liked to see more of Teb’s sister, Camery. I look forward to her being part of the main cast in the next book.
I appreciate that despite this book being about dragons and rebellion/war, it takes a more unique approach than other stories of its kind. The dragons are not used as weapons, but rather their magic is used to incite hope into the people through memories. Their songs show people how life was and could be—happy and peaceful. And so it is the people who must then decide whether they want to fight for that.
I really enjoyed the inclusion of the new POV character, Kiri. She was refreshing to read about, and her scenes made for a nice break from Teb bumbling about. The boy’s doing his best, but he’s leaning quite heavily on the dragons to figure stuff out for him. Meanwhile, Kiri’s spent most of her life putting in the work for the rebellion. She knows what’s up. That said, she still has faults, being a child and all that. Hers is probably the strongest plotline in this book, and I hope she plays just as big a role (or bigger) in the next.
I appreciate that despite this book being about dragons and rebellion/war, it takes a more unique approach than other stories of its kind. The dragons are not used as weapons, but rather their magic is used to incite hope into the people through memories. Their songs show people how life was and could be—happy and peaceful. And so it is the people who must then decide whether they want to fight for that.
I really enjoyed the inclusion of the new POV character, Kiri. She was refreshing to read about, and her scenes made for a nice break from Teb bumbling about. The boy’s doing his best, but he’s leaning quite heavily on the dragons to figure stuff out for him. Meanwhile, Kiri’s spent most of her life putting in the work for the rebellion. She knows what’s up. That said, she still has faults, being a child and all that. Hers is probably the strongest plotline in this book, and I hope she plays just as big a role (or bigger) in the next.
December 21, 2018
The typical "middle book of a trilogy" problems. I really like the new character we get some PoV from, Kiri, but in the meantime, Tebriel became less knowable. He had screen time but didn't really feel alive like he did in the last book.
It's beautifully written. When a dragon finds their bard, it made my heart soar and clench in the same way imprinting did in Anne McCaffrey novels.
I will definitely be getting the next one to finish off the series.
It's beautifully written. When a dragon finds their bard, it made my heart soar and clench in the same way imprinting did in Anne McCaffrey novels.
I will definitely be getting the next one to finish off the series.
September 6, 2017
The second half so gripped me that I read it in an hour and a half. It's been more than a decade, maybe a decade and a half, since I last read this book, but I remembered certain moments, and it was the anticipation of those moments that gripped me.
January 21, 2026
a hard book to follow
November 27, 2017
Second book of the Dragonbards trilogy
Prince Tebriel of Auric has regained his memory of why he is, and has learned the secret of his heritage: he is a dragonbard, and after a life of believing there were no more dragons on Tirror, he was glad to be proved wrong. Teamed with his dragon Seastrider, he and her siblings search the world for more bards and more dragons to fight against the darkness. He also means to find his sister Camery, who he also knows to be a bard.
After successfully freeing several small islands from darkness by the power of their song, Teb and the four dragons choose a larger target next: Dacia. They wonder why Dacia can court the dark forces, work with them and yet not be conquered by them. Teb goes undercover as a horse trader from far off Thedria, and the four dragons use their newly discovered shape-shifting powers to pose as horses for sale. His goal is to find out why the dark forces can't conquer Dacia and to make contact with the rebel underground.
Kiri of Dacia wonders if things will ever change. She and her father Colewolf are bards without dragons, as are their friends six-year-old Marshy and teenaged Summer. They work with the underground to try to rid their land of dark forces, but it's difficult work with no dragons and no hope of finding any.
I enjoyed watching Teb and the dragons sneak out at night to sing freedom to the smaller islands while Teb played the palace dandy by day. I enjoyed watching Kiri and her friendship with the great cats who are part of the underground, and her wondering what this "Tebmund of Thedria" was really about. I especially enjoyed them finding what power rests on Dacia that enables the king to court the darkness and still remain partially within the light.
Definitely a good read, and makes me want to finish the trilogy asap
Prince Tebriel of Auric has regained his memory of why he is, and has learned the secret of his heritage: he is a dragonbard, and after a life of believing there were no more dragons on Tirror, he was glad to be proved wrong. Teamed with his dragon Seastrider, he and her siblings search the world for more bards and more dragons to fight against the darkness. He also means to find his sister Camery, who he also knows to be a bard.
After successfully freeing several small islands from darkness by the power of their song, Teb and the four dragons choose a larger target next: Dacia. They wonder why Dacia can court the dark forces, work with them and yet not be conquered by them. Teb goes undercover as a horse trader from far off Thedria, and the four dragons use their newly discovered shape-shifting powers to pose as horses for sale. His goal is to find out why the dark forces can't conquer Dacia and to make contact with the rebel underground.
Kiri of Dacia wonders if things will ever change. She and her father Colewolf are bards without dragons, as are their friends six-year-old Marshy and teenaged Summer. They work with the underground to try to rid their land of dark forces, but it's difficult work with no dragons and no hope of finding any.
I enjoyed watching Teb and the dragons sneak out at night to sing freedom to the smaller islands while Teb played the palace dandy by day. I enjoyed watching Kiri and her friendship with the great cats who are part of the underground, and her wondering what this "Tebmund of Thedria" was really about. I especially enjoyed them finding what power rests on Dacia that enables the king to court the darkness and still remain partially within the light.
Definitely a good read, and makes me want to finish the trilogy asap
October 28, 2014
It's the sequel to Nightpool, but it was much better than its predecessor. There was still a lot of the pure good vs. pure evil thing going on, but it wasn't as annoying because the main character was actually put in situations where he didn't know what the right thing was, and had to struggle with it. I think the author is still very flat with how she characterizes good and evil, especially evil. Evil doesn't seem to have a subtle side in the present, just the bit that enslaves children and tortures people. Still Neutral, because although it's better, it's not quite worth recommending yet.
May 29, 2013
I cannot remember if I read this when I was younger. I think I may have only read Nightpool. This second book is very interesting but I think the parts with the hydrus were a little longer than I would have liked. I wanted to read more about dragons and their powers because I just can't get enough of them. The dragons that the author has imagined are fascinating and I love the powers that they have. Great book...but like any book I like, I wish it was longer.
June 8, 2021
Book 2 in the Dragonbards series
{now available in reprint! 07 June 2021}
Tebriel and Seastrider's powerful bond now allows them to use great magic. They are travelling around Tirror with other dragons to find their riders so they can help the Underground Resistance to free the land. They will have to go through an adventure to seek out a mysterious and powerful relic in Dacia in order to complete this part of their quest.
{now available in reprint! 07 June 2021}
Tebriel and Seastrider's powerful bond now allows them to use great magic. They are travelling around Tirror with other dragons to find their riders so they can help the Underground Resistance to free the land. They will have to go through an adventure to seek out a mysterious and powerful relic in Dacia in order to complete this part of their quest.
December 16, 2008
An okay fantasy with too many minor problems. Several times important things happened just offstage, and at least one of them baffled me while I was reading the chapter, which took me out of the story.
At times, things seemed to happen because the writer said they would, rather than seeming to flow naturally from the story.
At times, things seemed to happen because the writer said they would, rather than seeming to flow naturally from the story.
June 5, 2015
Fun! Quick read, mostly in two sittings.
More action than the first and more backstory revealed. I am about to start the third book in the series and hope to learn more about some of the characters we met in this book.
More action than the first and more backstory revealed. I am about to start the third book in the series and hope to learn more about some of the characters we met in this book.
October 11, 2008
Read this one in junior high, and really liked it.
March 31, 2011
Fast-paced trilogy, wonderfully rich imagery, classic hero's journey
September 21, 2011
This was my favorite book for years growing up. It inspired my love of dragons. I read this book first in the trilogy, even though it was second.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews