The Conquest of Kiynan

by Eric P. Caillibot, Eric Angelillo (Illustrator)

Peace reigns over the myriad peoples of Kiynan. A young King rules uneasily, while fishermen bring in their catches, a thief conducts his illicit business, nobles hunt and courtiers enjoy their entertainment.
But their peace will not last…

In the frigid land of Varice, a bloodthirsty warlord has risen to power, forcing the Iceborn peoples beneath his heel. His lust for conquest still burns hotly…

In the magical, war-torn land of Ornland, an ancient magician has found a way to escape from his prison in the spirit world…

The land of Kiynan, and indeed the very world, is in grave danger. Perhaps the only hope standing between the world and its doom is a young girl and the mysterious magical powers of a fallen House…

Genres: Fantasy

Nook

First published May 31, 2011

About the author

Eric P. Caillibot has spent decades writing fantasy and science fiction stories, inspired by the likes of Tolkien, George R.R. Martin, Robert Silverberg and Lloyd Alexander. He blends original concepts with the fundamental elements that draw readers to these engrossing genres, whether expressed in books, short stories, or role-playing games.

He was born and raised in Montreal, Canada, but he has also lived and attended university in Ottawa, Toronto and Strasbourg, France. He holds a bachelor and a master degree in aerospace engineering, as well as a certificate from the International Space University.

Reviews

[Heidi Ennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Conquest of Kiynan is an exceptional book. The world the author, Eric P. Caillibot, created is ambitious, detailed, and remarkable. This epic tale is set in the fantasy lands of Kiynan, Ornland, and Varice and is told through multiple perspectives: primarily Hendrik Stoneworth and Kayla Freeland (at least they are my favorite voices). Stoneworth is just a young king making mistakes and trying to find his way as a leader while his lands are filled with turmoil. Kayla has all kinds of fascinating magical potential, and without giving too much away, she is the one to watch. I am looking forward to more of her character development in Book Two. The bad guys, Masc Blackheart and Daiman the Conjurer are just that, full of black hearts and conjuring terrible mischief. But they are interesting and chilling villains. The book is well written and immensely detailed. I was thankful for a map in the preface and an explanation of the Houses of Ornland in the back. I referred back to these regularly to make sure I knew who people were and where the current plot was taking place. This is not a book to skim through, but the story moves forward and twists and turns in surprising ways. The monsters are creepy, and the battle scenes are just graphic enough to paint good pictures.

If you like epic fantasies with a strong female heroine, you will love the Conquest of Kiynan. If you enjoy books like Brandon Sanderson’s The Way of Kings or Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time, then you will also enjoy Caillibot’s epic fantasy world. And this is just his first book! Book Two is guaranteed to be even more exciting!

[Peter McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The saga begins with an invasion of a foreign Iceborn army advancing on the land of Kiynan, an attempt at reclaiming former land and glory, ultimately a conquest for power. Meanwhile, far from the battlefield, a young girl named Kayla is thrust into a realm of magic and spells long thought to have been lost to their world. When Kayla learns that an unstoppable army of undead, led by a Conjurer desperate for vengeance, is slowly creeping its way across the continent, hellbent on decimating everything in its path, it will take uniting every living thing, even the most bitter of enemies, to stop it. The whims of man seem foolish when you’re up against an army whose only goal is not land, nor power, nor prestige, but death.

“The Conquest of Kiynan” is the first book of the high fantasy series by Eric P. Caillibot and what an introduction it was. It felt very influenced by certain elements of “Game of Thrones” or “Lord of the Rings” and blended these together with some other original ideas to create something that felt entirely fresh. Caillibot created a very unique and intricate magic system that involves concentrating emotions internally and then projecting those emotions outward to effect. There were so many great characters and so much backstory that the world really felt completely full and immersive. This book truly has everything that you could ever ask for in a fantasy novel and I’ll definitely be checking out the sequel at some point in the near future.