As a fan of Stephen Lawhead’s fiction, I don’t lightly use the word “bard” when speaking of a balladeer.
Have you read Lawhead? You might have trouble with a bit of his theology (he is a Christian), but I’m not even sure of that.
His “Byzantium” is, in my opinion, well worth the time for anyone to read.
You might have trouble with a bit of his theology (he is a Christian)
Trouble? As in he's an Arminian Christian or what?