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Song of the Far Isles
Oran lives on Little Drum, where music is everything. Every islander has a birth instrument and a life song - and the ancestors, called ghasts, linger to hear the music.
But when the Duchess arrives from the mainland bringing orders of silence, she threatens the ghasts' existence, the very soul of the community. When Oran hears of a mythical instrument with the power to manipulate hearts, she brings her ghast best friend, Alick, on a quest to find it, play it, and change the Duchess's mind ... From the author of the Costa Children's Book Award-shortlisted In the Shadow of the Heroes comes a thrilling Celtic-inspired fantasy adventure.
The adventure and magic of Neil Gaiman's Stardust with a Hebridean-inspired fantasy setting and lovable characters reminiscent of Pixar's Brave. A story about how music has the power to reveal, to inspire, and to bind people together.
But when the Duchess arrives from the mainland bringing orders of silence, she threatens the ghasts' existence, the very soul of the community. When Oran hears of a mythical instrument with the power to manipulate hearts, she brings her ghast best friend, Alick, on a quest to find it, play it, and change the Duchess's mind ... From the author of the Costa Children's Book Award-shortlisted In the Shadow of the Heroes comes a thrilling Celtic-inspired fantasy adventure.
The adventure and magic of Neil Gaiman's Stardust with a Hebridean-inspired fantasy setting and lovable characters reminiscent of Pixar's Brave. A story about how music has the power to reveal, to inspire, and to bind people together.
336 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2021
4 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Bowling
8 books62 followersNicholas Bowling is an author, stand-up comic, musician, and Latin teacher from London. He graduated from Oxford University in 2007 with a BA in Classics and English, and again in 2010 with a Masters in Greek and Latin Language and Literature, before moving to his first teaching job at Trinity School, Croydon. While writing Witchborn, he also performed a solo show at the Edinburgh festival, and has co-written, recorded and released an album and two EPs with soul-folk singer Mary Erskine, Me For Queen. Witchborn is his debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 19, 2023
The concept and worldbuilding behind this middle-grade fantasy novel is some of the finest I've ever seen, and I'm surprised that it has not yet been optioned for a Studio Ghibli movie. The magical land that serves as the setting for Song of the Far Isles is made entirely of music, so much so that everyone is born with a 'birth instrument'. Social life revolves around song and dance, and ghasts—spirits of citizens who have passed and made the journey back—live in harmony with the people, passing on ancestral knowledge of music in a tradition that goes all the way back to The Chorus, supervising annual pilgrimages sailing to the northern island known as The Tuning Fork, and guiding the living in all matters, from sowing their crops to deciding a course of action in times of crises.
It is here, on an island called The Little Drum, that our fourteen-year-old protagonist Oran lives with her family and her ghast friend Alick, entertaining the town with her singular talent for the cithara and ocassionally defying her maw to adventure around the islands neighbouring islands in the boat her da made for her. But when a new ruling from the Red Duchess decrees a ban on all music that threatens the very soul of the island, Oran must find a way to save her ghast friends from disappearing. Taking the advice of her secretive mentor she sets sail to the Headlands, hoping to convince the Duchess to change her mind.
Deceptively simple on the face of it, Song of the Far Isles is a beautifully layered narrative about tradition, ambition, community, and power that is bound to leave a mark on children and adults alike. Amongst its many twists and turns and a steady, dream-like pace nest three-dimensional characters who may be fantastical but whose arcs speak to issues of currency in our own world. Between Oran's attempts to establish a relationship of trusting independence with her parents and the book's cautionary tale about pride and power lie observations on the power of music, the danger of rumours, and a subtly brilliant undoing of gender roles. There are more overtly fun bits, too: a band of pirate musicians known as The Opera aboard a ship known as The Overture are crucial to the plot, and the beginning offers readers a chance to find out which of the nine birth instruments would best suit their personality.
As a classicist and musician, Nick brings elements of what he knows best to the page, transporting the reader with his remarkable writing (he is as good a storyteller as Oran is a cithara player, and has previously been shortlisted for the Costa Award). I really can't recommend (t)his book enough. Music lovers, adventure seekers, rebels, and fans of Hebridean folklore — there is something in Song of the Far Isles for everyone.
It is here, on an island called The Little Drum, that our fourteen-year-old protagonist Oran lives with her family and her ghast friend Alick, entertaining the town with her singular talent for the cithara and ocassionally defying her maw to adventure around the islands neighbouring islands in the boat her da made for her. But when a new ruling from the Red Duchess decrees a ban on all music that threatens the very soul of the island, Oran must find a way to save her ghast friends from disappearing. Taking the advice of her secretive mentor she sets sail to the Headlands, hoping to convince the Duchess to change her mind.
Deceptively simple on the face of it, Song of the Far Isles is a beautifully layered narrative about tradition, ambition, community, and power that is bound to leave a mark on children and adults alike. Amongst its many twists and turns and a steady, dream-like pace nest three-dimensional characters who may be fantastical but whose arcs speak to issues of currency in our own world. Between Oran's attempts to establish a relationship of trusting independence with her parents and the book's cautionary tale about pride and power lie observations on the power of music, the danger of rumours, and a subtly brilliant undoing of gender roles. There are more overtly fun bits, too: a band of pirate musicians known as The Opera aboard a ship known as The Overture are crucial to the plot, and the beginning offers readers a chance to find out which of the nine birth instruments would best suit their personality.
As a classicist and musician, Nick brings elements of what he knows best to the page, transporting the reader with his remarkable writing (he is as good a storyteller as Oran is a cithara player, and has previously been shortlisted for the Costa Award). I really can't recommend (t)his book enough. Music lovers, adventure seekers, rebels, and fans of Hebridean folklore — there is something in Song of the Far Isles for everyone.
October 16, 2022
Heartwarming and adorable. A very interesting concept, and I think it was executed well.
July 11, 2021
Interesting concept.
September 13, 2021
Music is at the heart and soul of this adventure story, it is woven between every page, in every action, in every word. A beautifully written tale of the risks that somehow need to be taken despite the dangers that you may put yourself or others into.
July 15, 2021
In this Hebridean inspired fantasy adventure, set in a world where music is as much a part of life as breathing, a girl named Oran must sail across the stormy seas in order to find the whalebone cithara, after the ruling Red Duchess (who is rumoured to have murdered her whole family), decrees that everyone must cease playing music immediately. This mythical instrument has the power to influence people and convince them of things, and if she doesn’t find it then life as she knows it is over forever. The worldbuilding in this is just incredible, to put it simply.
Nicholas Bowling has created such an interesting and unique world, where music is so vitally important that everyone is born with a “birth instrument” and social lives revolve around music, and ghasts of the island’s deceased advise on matters ranging from crops to how to handle the crisis the book revolves around. I loved reading about Oran’s gift with her cithara, how much her ghostly friend Alick looked out for her, and the ensemble of the Opera were just the icing on the already excellent cake. The villains were so interesting and three dimensional that it was hard not to pity them as well as dislike them, and I loved the way the community of Little Drum came together and relied on each other. I also found Dugald an interesting character, although I can’t say much about him In terms of the plot, the quest is exciting, and there are some twists I really didn’t see coming, and some I did but hoped I was wrong about because I liked the character involved so much.
This is an enchanting fantasy that kept me enthralled throughout, and I’m definitely planning to pick up other books by Nicholas Bowling after how much I liked this.
Nicholas Bowling has created such an interesting and unique world, where music is so vitally important that everyone is born with a “birth instrument” and social lives revolve around music, and ghasts of the island’s deceased advise on matters ranging from crops to how to handle the crisis the book revolves around. I loved reading about Oran’s gift with her cithara, how much her ghostly friend Alick looked out for her, and the ensemble of the Opera were just the icing on the already excellent cake. The villains were so interesting and three dimensional that it was hard not to pity them as well as dislike them, and I loved the way the community of Little Drum came together and relied on each other. I also found Dugald an interesting character, although I can’t say much about him In terms of the plot, the quest is exciting, and there are some twists I really didn’t see coming, and some I did but hoped I was wrong about because I liked the character involved so much.
This is an enchanting fantasy that kept me enthralled throughout, and I’m definitely planning to pick up other books by Nicholas Bowling after how much I liked this.
July 3, 2021
From the moment you catch sight of the beautiful cover (illustrator: Olga Baumert) you know this is something special. The gloriously built world set in a mythical past time is infused with the sense of music, it’s pure expression of feelings and life. The story moves with a dream-like pace, ebbing and flowing with the seas surrounding the Far Isles and, suddenly jolting us back with a twist here, a turn there…all in the midst of song. The inclusion of a map to guide us and a page explaining the “Nine Instruments of the Chorus” help us to perceive and understand this world with Oran. And she is a fascinating character; bold, brave, determined; frustratingly defiant and whose impetuous nature leads to some nail-biting episodes of daring and danger. Best friend Alick, who died a few years previous and now keeps watch over Oran gives us a keen eye both into Orans’ true nature and the world of the ghasts. The Bard, Orans’ teacher and an elusive character is the epitome of the trickster witch; kind and supportive on the one hand and suddenly wicked as she turns Orans’ efforts to her own ends. The islanders, pirates, the court all weave around each other in a gripping telling of the tale. It is a story that builds a desire in the reader to find their own birth instrument, know their life song and fill their part of the world with music. A perfect book to read together; thrilling, glowing, unique…it literally sings.
August 8, 2021
Book Review to follow. www.mrripleysenchantedbooks.com
October 17, 2022
Couldn't put this book down. Absolutely love it!
February 17, 2023
This book was very good, i did get a bit bored in some sorts but I loved the plot-twist at the end!
August 28, 2024
Surprising
December 31, 2025
This middle-grade story is a magical tale about a gifted musician determined to change the ban on music on her island.
The folk on Oran's island rely on music to live. Music keeps their ancestors around, who in turn give advice on every aspect on the islanders' daily lives. But a new ruling from the Headlands bans music, and all their birth instruments are confiscated. Upon the advice of her mentor, who lives in the deserted nearby island, she sails to the Headlands to change the Duchess's mind.
I love the musical theme in this book. With a pirate crew called The Opera sailing in a ship named The Overture, where the community needs to sail annually to the northern island called The Tuning Fork to tune their birth instruments, how can one not love this creative concept? The pacing is good, the characters endearing and the descriptions perfect.
A must-read for all, especially music lovers. And there is a map in the front of the book.
The folk on Oran's island rely on music to live. Music keeps their ancestors around, who in turn give advice on every aspect on the islanders' daily lives. But a new ruling from the Headlands bans music, and all their birth instruments are confiscated. Upon the advice of her mentor, who lives in the deserted nearby island, she sails to the Headlands to change the Duchess's mind.
I love the musical theme in this book. With a pirate crew called The Opera sailing in a ship named The Overture, where the community needs to sail annually to the northern island called The Tuning Fork to tune their birth instruments, how can one not love this creative concept? The pacing is good, the characters endearing and the descriptions perfect.
A must-read for all, especially music lovers. And there is a map in the front of the book.
December 22, 2022
This definitely wasn't one of my favourite novels and I have read books that are a lot better than this. I really didn't like the storyline and how the book turned out; thsi nivel definitely wasn't wasn't one for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2021
Why its not available in ebook??? I would love to read it please
October 7, 2025
very heartwarming and magical. the concept of this book was so well-thought. the world building was one of the finest i've ever encountered in middle-grade fantasy books.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews