FIVE STARS
This novella was absolutely incredible. Performances of a Death Metal Bard follows Ozzymandias, or Mandy for short, a bard who can’t quite get any traction in the land as a performer who produces a music of the most brutal sound. When he comes into possession of a cursed lute, his life is changed and the adventures begin.
The story is reminiscent of a TTRPG campaign with magic, intense characters and wild adventures. But there’s more to it.
Mandy’s tale brings to light the loneliness and anger that can accompany feeling different. Because Mandy prefers the sound of death Metal, he finds himself a pariah in the land, unable to find work and those who share his interest.
Being a metal head can feel isolating. Someone who is interested in the darker, grittier side of life can often be classified as different and an outcast. Mandy gets this. And instead of conforming, he embraces it even if it means he does so alone.
This novella brings to light the beauty of Metal, the catharsis of expelling one’s anger in a scream, and that pain shouldn’t push people away but bring them together.
I enjoyed every moment of Mandy’s journey, cheering him on and loving the friends he made along the way.
Read 11.07.2024 to 11.11.2024