Rating: 4.72 out of 5
Omg, okay, so I just finished reading Ballad of the Bard and I literally have so many feelings right now?? Like, I need to talk about this because it was actually such a journey.
First off, the vibe is totally Studio Ghibli meets high fantasy, and I am here for it. The whole concept of a world that shuns music under a "shattered moon" is so hauntingly beautiful, it gave me chills. Sen, the main character (our bard boy!), is honestly such a mood. He starts off with this quiet defiance, playing his fiddle even though he’s not supposed to, and you just instantly root for him. When he makes that impulsive vow—"we're pledged"—to save himself from the dryad? SCREAMING. It was so chaotic but also the start of the best slow-burn tension ever.
The storyline is super engaging. It’s not just about the romance (though, ugh, so cute); the year-long trial he has to go through kept me on the edge of my seat. There were moments where I seriously thought he wasn't going to make it. The suspense during the middle chapters when the "rising shadows" actually start becoming a major threat? Lowkey terrifying. I was scrolling so fast I think I almost broke my screen.
And can we talk about the emotional damage? In a good way! The relationship between Sen and the dryad isn't instant lovey-dovey stuff; it’s built on trust and survival, which makes it hit so much harder. There’s this one scene near the climax—I won't spoil it—but the way music is used to fight back against the darkness? I literally teared up. It was so wholesome and epic at the same time.
The ending wrapped things up really well, giving that satisfying, heartwarming feeling you get after a good anime movie. Yeah, the raw file formatting was kinda messy (no hate, I know how it is), but if you look past the wall of text, the story itself is a total gem. It’s raw, emotional, and just really, really pretty.
Definitely recommend if you want something that feels magical but also kinda hurts your heart a little bit (in the best way possible). 4.72/5 for sure!
