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The Erland Saga #1
The Fury of Kings
In the shadow of Eryispek—a mountain said to have no summit—a dark power is stirring. Storms rage in the frozen heights. Unexplained disappearances shake the kingdom below. And old enemies are sharpening their swords....
Andrick the Barrelbreaker first led an army at 16.
His victories secured the throne of Erland for his brother and shattered the rebellious noble houses in the West. Decades later, a fragile peace still holds.
But when the king’s only son is murdered, Erland is plunged into crisis. The new heir will stop at nothing to secure his claim. The king, maddened by grief, stalks the halls and hidden passages of his keep, growing more unpredictable by the day.
As war and magical disaster loom, Andrick must decide between protecting his family and marching out to serve a brother he barely recognizes.
His children must also choose their destinies.
Training in the practice yard every day, Orsian dreams of fighting beside his father. Now, for the first time, he faces the brutal reality of battle.
And Pherri is haunted by very different dreams—of figures struggling up the mountain, of a voice more chilling than the wind, of blood on the snow. Only she can resist the darkness that waits on the slopes above....
Andrick the Barrelbreaker first led an army at 16.
His victories secured the throne of Erland for his brother and shattered the rebellious noble houses in the West. Decades later, a fragile peace still holds.
But when the king’s only son is murdered, Erland is plunged into crisis. The new heir will stop at nothing to secure his claim. The king, maddened by grief, stalks the halls and hidden passages of his keep, growing more unpredictable by the day.
As war and magical disaster loom, Andrick must decide between protecting his family and marching out to serve a brother he barely recognizes.
His children must also choose their destinies.
Training in the practice yard every day, Orsian dreams of fighting beside his father. Now, for the first time, he faces the brutal reality of battle.
And Pherri is haunted by very different dreams—of figures struggling up the mountain, of a voice more chilling than the wind, of blood on the snow. Only she can resist the darkness that waits on the slopes above....
17 pages, Audible Audio
First published May 12, 2023
672 people are currently reading
1884 people want to read
About the author
R.S. Moule
8 books45 followersR.S. Moule is the author of the Erland Saga. He has a passion for writing epic fantasy grounded by human flaws and desires, set in worlds inspired by a childhood divided between his home in the rolling hills of the Cotswolds and summers spent exploring the rugged coastline and deep glens of the Isle of Man. He now lives in South London with his wife, Eloise, and their cat, Tinks. When not reading or writing, he can often be found playing guitar, watching football, or looking for his keys.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
February 19, 2025
A lot of books claim to appeal to fans of George R. R. Martin, but not many of them can back it up with political manoeuvring, colourful characters, shocking moments, an intriguing history, an authentic feel and interwoven viewpoint chapters that flow. Where Martin sometimes achieves this through admittedly slower chapters, Moule is able to make sure that in every chapter, you are glued to the page. It’s a real skill and stands out especially given the fact this is a debut.
I didn’t actually look how many pages this was before I read it and I never checked, just being given the percentage progress on kindle. I’d have guessed this was 350 pages. It’s actually 548 pages, a sizeable book that felt like I’d absolutely flown through it in the blink of an eye.
So why in my opinion is this debut such a triumph?
The combination of plot and characters is the answer. It just doesn’t happen very often where one of these does not stand out over the other, giving an unbalanced feel. In The Fury of Kings, the warring kingdoms and factions are genuinely interesting and I became really invested in taking in all the information about their history and the political atmosphere. This is driven by some brilliant characters who by the end I was really attached to and leapt from the page.
Perhaps my favourite character was Strovac Sigac, which shows the quality of the author’s writing and characters. Sigac is a ruthless, cold-hearted and cruel killer with basically no redeeming qualities, yet he brings the pages to life, as do so many other characters. There is no such thing as plot armour; Moule acknowledges that war isn’t always fair and the handsome, chivalrous heroes don’t always overcome the odds in reality. There’s a gritty realism I really enjoyed and the battles are fantastically written, as are the cities he’s brought to life and the chess pieces being moved around the board.
I like that although there is magic in the book, it still feels like it could be real history and the author has brilliantly captured how things often played out in the middle ages when there were disputes over succession, as well as the tactics used to get ahead.
Erland is a patriarchal society but there is no shortage of strong women, many of whom fight against it (whether through small victories or hugely significant acts of defiance) and the female characters are definitely as colourful, interesting and engaging as the men, if not more so. They’re really well written, from small parts such as the religiously fanatical Elder Bride Sister Velna, to King Hessian’s daughter Helena, determined to have agency and control over her life rather than be married off to some old lord or other.
Pherri’s chapters are where we see most of the magical elements in this book and although I personally prefer more low fantasy elements usually, hers were some of my favourite chapters. For me as the first book in the series, Moule has the perfect blend of action, character development, magic and political intrigue. Magic doesn’t play a huge role in the story yet but you sense that when the next book comes along, it will play a much bigger role. The world at present is one in which Magi are a rare thing – they used to be much more populous. With one of the main characters showing the first signs of a natural ability for magic, you sense that this power will only grow as the story continues and I’m really looking forward to it. Of course, I also hope the awesome battles and political manoeuvres continue for that middle ages history brought to life feel!
This is not a hugely complicated book where you have a lot to learn before things get going; it starts well and continues throughout in the same fashion. That doesn’t mean that it won’t shock or surprise, and there are a couple of major events that happen towards the end that will probably leave you speechless. I’m impressed that the author had the balls to do them and subvert the expectations. That to me is the sign of a great book. I don’t want everything to go as I expect it to!
Since writing this review initially, the Erland Saga has a high overall rating and has shown to be a success with readers. Go check out book 2!
I didn’t actually look how many pages this was before I read it and I never checked, just being given the percentage progress on kindle. I’d have guessed this was 350 pages. It’s actually 548 pages, a sizeable book that felt like I’d absolutely flown through it in the blink of an eye.
So why in my opinion is this debut such a triumph?
The combination of plot and characters is the answer. It just doesn’t happen very often where one of these does not stand out over the other, giving an unbalanced feel. In The Fury of Kings, the warring kingdoms and factions are genuinely interesting and I became really invested in taking in all the information about their history and the political atmosphere. This is driven by some brilliant characters who by the end I was really attached to and leapt from the page.
Perhaps my favourite character was Strovac Sigac, which shows the quality of the author’s writing and characters. Sigac is a ruthless, cold-hearted and cruel killer with basically no redeeming qualities, yet he brings the pages to life, as do so many other characters. There is no such thing as plot armour; Moule acknowledges that war isn’t always fair and the handsome, chivalrous heroes don’t always overcome the odds in reality. There’s a gritty realism I really enjoyed and the battles are fantastically written, as are the cities he’s brought to life and the chess pieces being moved around the board.
I like that although there is magic in the book, it still feels like it could be real history and the author has brilliantly captured how things often played out in the middle ages when there were disputes over succession, as well as the tactics used to get ahead.
Erland is a patriarchal society but there is no shortage of strong women, many of whom fight against it (whether through small victories or hugely significant acts of defiance) and the female characters are definitely as colourful, interesting and engaging as the men, if not more so. They’re really well written, from small parts such as the religiously fanatical Elder Bride Sister Velna, to King Hessian’s daughter Helena, determined to have agency and control over her life rather than be married off to some old lord or other.
Pherri’s chapters are where we see most of the magical elements in this book and although I personally prefer more low fantasy elements usually, hers were some of my favourite chapters. For me as the first book in the series, Moule has the perfect blend of action, character development, magic and political intrigue. Magic doesn’t play a huge role in the story yet but you sense that when the next book comes along, it will play a much bigger role. The world at present is one in which Magi are a rare thing – they used to be much more populous. With one of the main characters showing the first signs of a natural ability for magic, you sense that this power will only grow as the story continues and I’m really looking forward to it. Of course, I also hope the awesome battles and political manoeuvres continue for that middle ages history brought to life feel!
This is not a hugely complicated book where you have a lot to learn before things get going; it starts well and continues throughout in the same fashion. That doesn’t mean that it won’t shock or surprise, and there are a couple of major events that happen towards the end that will probably leave you speechless. I’m impressed that the author had the balls to do them and subvert the expectations. That to me is the sign of a great book. I don’t want everything to go as I expect it to!
Since writing this review initially, the Erland Saga has a high overall rating and has shown to be a success with readers. Go check out book 2!
May 31, 2023
The Fury of Kings
I was given this by NetGalley for an honest review ..I give this 4.5stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 for its debut!
Takes awhile to get going, to set the tone , so, if you have patience, read it if you’re not that type of person with patience,, you’re missing out !!
the World , the secrets of the erland!
Multiple POVs,
The pacing finally gets its groove on. Great plot, his writing style reminds me of Kevin J Anderson ( Spine of the Dragon).
fighting scenes very reminiscent of John Gwynne in other words, very intense! Eager for book two
Part 2
Thanks also to Melissa @ secondsky
What a world, I went back Colin Mace was doing the audio 🎧🎧🎧🎧.5
His voice was perfect for this story! He have every character there own voice And a dash of Matthew Harffy again I thank NetGalley and the publisher for reaching out. Honest Review hell yea.
I have never read a book, then a week later get the audio and listen back to it again the world I love I love it !!!
I was given this by NetGalley for an honest review ..I give this 4.5stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 for its debut!
Takes awhile to get going, to set the tone , so, if you have patience, read it if you’re not that type of person with patience,, you’re missing out !!
the World , the secrets of the erland!
Multiple POVs,
The pacing finally gets its groove on. Great plot, his writing style reminds me of Kevin J Anderson ( Spine of the Dragon).
fighting scenes very reminiscent of John Gwynne in other words, very intense! Eager for book two
Part 2
Thanks also to Melissa @ secondsky
What a world, I went back Colin Mace was doing the audio 🎧🎧🎧🎧.5
His voice was perfect for this story! He have every character there own voice And a dash of Matthew Harffy again I thank NetGalley and the publisher for reaching out. Honest Review hell yea.
I have never read a book, then a week later get the audio and listen back to it again the world I love I love it !!!
May 20, 2023
Thank you Netgalley for this amazing story! This may be the best Indie Fantasy I’ve ever read. Just outstanding. There is politics, there is murder, there are battles, there is love, and there is TREACHERY!
The story follows a bunch of characters. All of which are fun to love or fun to hate and the development of these characters are wonderful.
The King’s son has just been murdered and he has no heir. This creates major disputes throughout the kingdom and people are picking sides. His daughters are supposed to be married off but they have plans of their own.
The Hand of the King is the best warrior in the land but he’s getting old and tired of fighting a mad King’s battles. His sons desire to be just like him but may not be able to fill his shoes, but they better figure it out because war is brewing.
The characters and world just felt like Westeros to me which makes me feel warm and gushy inside. I loved this book and will absolutely be reading whatever this author puts out if he keeps the same level of writing!
The story follows a bunch of characters. All of which are fun to love or fun to hate and the development of these characters are wonderful.
The King’s son has just been murdered and he has no heir. This creates major disputes throughout the kingdom and people are picking sides. His daughters are supposed to be married off but they have plans of their own.
The Hand of the King is the best warrior in the land but he’s getting old and tired of fighting a mad King’s battles. His sons desire to be just like him but may not be able to fill his shoes, but they better figure it out because war is brewing.
The characters and world just felt like Westeros to me which makes me feel warm and gushy inside. I loved this book and will absolutely be reading whatever this author puts out if he keeps the same level of writing!
September 9, 2023
Format: audiobook ~ Narrator: Colin Mace
Content: 4.5 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars
Complete audiobook review
Andrick Barrelbraker led the army and secured the throne for his brother Hessian. Decades later, the Hessian is still king, and the throne is secured for now. But when the king's only son and heir to the throne is murdered, a new contender for the throne suddenly appears.
I didn't know what to expect when I started this audiobook. But I was pleasantly surprised. The Fury of Kings is a great epic fantasy novel with diverse, interesting, and complex characters. There are battles, political intrigues, magic, family history, and more.
I suggest including the character list and family tree at the beginning of this book and the accompanying PDF to the audiobook edition. There are many characters, and the reader may be confused at first.
The audiobook is masterfully narrated by Colin Mace. He made so many characters come to life. Even though the audiobook is over 16 hours long, I never felt it was too long. The story was interesting, and the narrator made listening a pleasant experience.
I wouldn't compare this novel to Game of Thrones because this story is unique and compelling on its own. But I would say that readers who liked Game of Thrones might give this novel a try.
The Fury of Kings is a first novel in The Erland Saga and it is a debut novel that doesn't feel like it. I will follow up on R.S. Moule's work.
Thanks to Bookouture Audio for the ALC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
Content: 4.5 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars
Complete audiobook review
Andrick Barrelbraker led the army and secured the throne for his brother Hessian. Decades later, the Hessian is still king, and the throne is secured for now. But when the king's only son and heir to the throne is murdered, a new contender for the throne suddenly appears.
I didn't know what to expect when I started this audiobook. But I was pleasantly surprised. The Fury of Kings is a great epic fantasy novel with diverse, interesting, and complex characters. There are battles, political intrigues, magic, family history, and more.
I suggest including the character list and family tree at the beginning of this book and the accompanying PDF to the audiobook edition. There are many characters, and the reader may be confused at first.
The audiobook is masterfully narrated by Colin Mace. He made so many characters come to life. Even though the audiobook is over 16 hours long, I never felt it was too long. The story was interesting, and the narrator made listening a pleasant experience.
I wouldn't compare this novel to Game of Thrones because this story is unique and compelling on its own. But I would say that readers who liked Game of Thrones might give this novel a try.
The Fury of Kings is a first novel in The Erland Saga and it is a debut novel that doesn't feel like it. I will follow up on R.S. Moule's work.
Thanks to Bookouture Audio for the ALC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
February 9, 2025
OVERVIEW:
Very representative of the medieval intrigue type of fantasy novel. Much in the vein of Game of Thrones.
There are kingdom struggles, a small bit of magic, warfare, exposure to various forms of government and peoples, strong soldiers, and beautiful ladies - all the things you would hope for and expect.
The character names, and kingdom names, are great - unique but with a familiar feel and easy to pronounce.
OF NOTE:
- About half of the character points of view are female. Even distribution, I suppose, but I would have preferred more male characters in this kind of world.
- A smattering of guttural locker-room talk (or shall we say tavern talk? Haha.)
- One female character, a warrior, is rumored to prefer the (sexual) company of other women.
- Definitely a trilogy book, as no real conclusion comes at the end, but on a positive note it feels like “Act I”, so appropriate I guess.
CONCLUSION:
Fans of the genre should love it. Recommended.
- Desiree Reads
The Bookish Birder
February 9, 2025
https://bookshop.org/shop/TheBookishB...
Very representative of the medieval intrigue type of fantasy novel. Much in the vein of Game of Thrones.
There are kingdom struggles, a small bit of magic, warfare, exposure to various forms of government and peoples, strong soldiers, and beautiful ladies - all the things you would hope for and expect.
The character names, and kingdom names, are great - unique but with a familiar feel and easy to pronounce.
OF NOTE:
- About half of the character points of view are female. Even distribution, I suppose, but I would have preferred more male characters in this kind of world.
- A smattering of guttural locker-room talk (or shall we say tavern talk? Haha.)
- One female character, a warrior, is rumored to prefer the (sexual) company of other women.
- Definitely a trilogy book, as no real conclusion comes at the end, but on a positive note it feels like “Act I”, so appropriate I guess.
CONCLUSION:
Fans of the genre should love it. Recommended.
- Desiree Reads
The Bookish Birder
February 9, 2025
https://bookshop.org/shop/TheBookishB...
Read
May 14, 2023Everyone's reading experience is different (said Captain Obvious); for me, this was a rough diamond. I really liked the characters, and what the author was attempting in the world building. However, it was a slow read for me mostly because the prose was so rough, and the editing done with perhaps too light a hand.
Numerous word choices tossed me out of the story, ditto certain world building choices that seem a bit overused. Finally, there were many summaries that really needed to be scenes.
That said, this was a debut book. The author's love of fantasy shone through, and with subsequent volumes surely the polish and assurance will happen. I will certainly be on the lookout for the next story in this sequence!
Numerous word choices tossed me out of the story, ditto certain world building choices that seem a bit overused. Finally, there were many summaries that really needed to be scenes.
That said, this was a debut book. The author's love of fantasy shone through, and with subsequent volumes surely the polish and assurance will happen. I will certainly be on the lookout for the next story in this sequence!
May 29, 2023
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
3.5 hearts
The Fury of Kings is a the first book in a new series The Erland Saga, a new debut fantasy set in a recognizable format of warring families and various PoVs that roll out the world around you. This is a staging book with a few epic battles and a question of what is happening in the mountains, with some disappearances and something ancient making its way back into the world. I would call this GRRM-lite, just because most people will be able to relate to that reference.
There is a large cast of characters and many PoVs so this story has some pacing issues that I think we see a lot with this set up, especially from newer authors. In the beginning, we get a nice prologue that will not make sense until much later in the book. The first chapters cover the death of the heir to the throne throwing the line of succession into disarray. After that it slows down and you will have to be a patient reader in between the action happening
The current king won his throne through the strength of his brother. He will have to call on him again if he has any chance of keeping it. A new generation will also need to decide if the King is a man of honor worth fighting for or if he is just a man obsessed with power. While we never see the world through the eyes of the king, we do see the king through the eyes of multiple PoVs and while the alternative to the throne doesn't seem much better. I do wonder if the current King will be able to keep the loyalty of all those surrounding him through the entire series.
The main plot is of the next player to sit on the throne, very GRRM in that respect, however the rest of the book is about magic and the awakening of something in the mountains. Some of the characters currently embroiled in the main plot will be pulled of into new adventures as the possibilities of what is happening high in the mountains makes itself know.
I read a lot of fantasy and I will say that RS Moule has done a good job of setting up the series. There could have been a little more editing to make the story flow a little better and possibly not having so many PoVs in the opening book. I think the series has a lot of potential and if you are an Epic Fantasy reader then you know how much patience can pay off in the end. I will say this is very Game of Thrones-lite. There is sex and some rape-ish features as the king beds his new unwilling bride, but it is all off page. There are some battles and even those while intense are not too gruesome. Overall I think it is much tamer than some of the other fantasy books out there in that regard.
With a nice little cliff hanger at the end, it will be interesting to see how the writing and the story are fleshed out in future books. I did enjoy the overall story even though I predicted quite a few of the twists before they happened (I read a lot, it is hard to trick me) but still enjoyable to go on the journey. I wish Mr. RS Moule luck in his completion of his series and hope he finds ways to bring even more of this world to life.
Narration:
Colin Mace is not new to this genre and I enjoyed his performance of The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne. He does really well with a complete cast of characters and multiple PoVs. He is also so versed in how to portray an epic tale. He was a great choice to be the voice for this series. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
3.5 hearts
The Fury of Kings is a the first book in a new series The Erland Saga, a new debut fantasy set in a recognizable format of warring families and various PoVs that roll out the world around you. This is a staging book with a few epic battles and a question of what is happening in the mountains, with some disappearances and something ancient making its way back into the world. I would call this GRRM-lite, just because most people will be able to relate to that reference.
There is a large cast of characters and many PoVs so this story has some pacing issues that I think we see a lot with this set up, especially from newer authors. In the beginning, we get a nice prologue that will not make sense until much later in the book. The first chapters cover the death of the heir to the throne throwing the line of succession into disarray. After that it slows down and you will have to be a patient reader in between the action happening
The current king won his throne through the strength of his brother. He will have to call on him again if he has any chance of keeping it. A new generation will also need to decide if the King is a man of honor worth fighting for or if he is just a man obsessed with power. While we never see the world through the eyes of the king, we do see the king through the eyes of multiple PoVs and while the alternative to the throne doesn't seem much better. I do wonder if the current King will be able to keep the loyalty of all those surrounding him through the entire series.
The main plot is of the next player to sit on the throne, very GRRM in that respect, however the rest of the book is about magic and the awakening of something in the mountains. Some of the characters currently embroiled in the main plot will be pulled of into new adventures as the possibilities of what is happening high in the mountains makes itself know.
I read a lot of fantasy and I will say that RS Moule has done a good job of setting up the series. There could have been a little more editing to make the story flow a little better and possibly not having so many PoVs in the opening book. I think the series has a lot of potential and if you are an Epic Fantasy reader then you know how much patience can pay off in the end. I will say this is very Game of Thrones-lite. There is sex and some rape-ish features as the king beds his new unwilling bride, but it is all off page. There are some battles and even those while intense are not too gruesome. Overall I think it is much tamer than some of the other fantasy books out there in that regard.
With a nice little cliff hanger at the end, it will be interesting to see how the writing and the story are fleshed out in future books. I did enjoy the overall story even though I predicted quite a few of the twists before they happened (I read a lot, it is hard to trick me) but still enjoyable to go on the journey. I wish Mr. RS Moule luck in his completion of his series and hope he finds ways to bring even more of this world to life.
Narration:
Colin Mace is not new to this genre and I enjoyed his performance of The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne. He does really well with a complete cast of characters and multiple PoVs. He is also so versed in how to portray an epic tale. He was a great choice to be the voice for this series. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
January 3, 2026
Battling factions, political schemes and a dark ominous stirring.
That is the recipe of The Fury of Kings.
The question of succession is always one to cause trouble. That is no different here. The realm tearing at its seams.
Lots of battles in this one. The magic definitely more on the low side which I prefer.
Very much a GRRM style. Knowing the true threat lies beyond.
Good start to the series with a nice hook at the end.
That is the recipe of The Fury of Kings.
The question of succession is always one to cause trouble. That is no different here. The realm tearing at its seams.
Lots of battles in this one. The magic definitely more on the low side which I prefer.
Very much a GRRM style. Knowing the true threat lies beyond.
Good start to the series with a nice hook at the end.
June 16, 2023
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.I must confess I am not a big epic fantasy reader. I can count one hand how many times I have read this genre. However, the trailer for The Fury of Kings compelled me to request a copy. The Fury of Kings is the first book in the Erland Saga, and the debut release for author R. S. Moule. He delivered a scintillating tale. One filled with interesting characters, nail biting action and sufficient drama to keep readers turning the pages.
The Fury of Kings started the Erland Saga on an exciting note. From the first page, I knew this would be an interesting read, and it did not disappoint. Moule transported readers to a fascinating, medieval, patriarchal, breathtaking world. A world where secrets, deceit, betrayal and greed prevail. As this is the first book in the series, the world developed at a steady pace. As a result, it gave the reader time to appreciate the culture, the scenery, the setting and the history.
The story features a wide range of characters of varying ages. Characters whose ages range from middle grade to adult. We see the younger characters slowly finding their footing when faced with the realization that the world isn’t all fun and games. It was interesting seeing their willingness to embrace the change. Whether it involved facing danger or discovering hidden magical talents.
In the first couple of pages, tragedy struck, placing the king of Erland’s throne in jeopardy and paving the way for war. Attempts were made to secure the king’s throne and avoid the fallout of war. Despite these attempts, war was inevitable. Now all the capable warriors, whether experienced or inexperienced, pick up arms to defend the king’s throne. The battle scenes were intense, with moments where I feared for characters who wormed their way into my heart. Moule’s description plunged me right into the middle of the battle.
At over 500 pages, one would not have expected a cliff-hangar, however, the unexpected occurred. Now I am eagerly awaiting the next book so I can continue the journey in this magnificent and epic world.
Colin Mace did an excellent job in bringing the story to life. Despite the challenge of narrating a story featuring a wide cast of characters of all genders, ages, classes, and personality, Mace knocked it out of the park. This was my first time experiencing his work, and he left a lasting impression. I’ll definitely listen in to more of his work.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
The Fury of Kings started the Erland Saga on an exciting note. From the first page, I knew this would be an interesting read, and it did not disappoint. Moule transported readers to a fascinating, medieval, patriarchal, breathtaking world. A world where secrets, deceit, betrayal and greed prevail. As this is the first book in the series, the world developed at a steady pace. As a result, it gave the reader time to appreciate the culture, the scenery, the setting and the history.
The story features a wide range of characters of varying ages. Characters whose ages range from middle grade to adult. We see the younger characters slowly finding their footing when faced with the realization that the world isn’t all fun and games. It was interesting seeing their willingness to embrace the change. Whether it involved facing danger or discovering hidden magical talents.
In the first couple of pages, tragedy struck, placing the king of Erland’s throne in jeopardy and paving the way for war. Attempts were made to secure the king’s throne and avoid the fallout of war. Despite these attempts, war was inevitable. Now all the capable warriors, whether experienced or inexperienced, pick up arms to defend the king’s throne. The battle scenes were intense, with moments where I feared for characters who wormed their way into my heart. Moule’s description plunged me right into the middle of the battle.
At over 500 pages, one would not have expected a cliff-hangar, however, the unexpected occurred. Now I am eagerly awaiting the next book so I can continue the journey in this magnificent and epic world.
Colin Mace did an excellent job in bringing the story to life. Despite the challenge of narrating a story featuring a wide cast of characters of all genders, ages, classes, and personality, Mace knocked it out of the park. This was my first time experiencing his work, and he left a lasting impression. I’ll definitely listen in to more of his work.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
May 24, 2023
Video review: https://youtu.be/bXClvFl7Vv4
I received an audio ARC via NetGalley.
Audio narration by Colin Mace: 5 stars
Book: 3.5 stars
The Fury of Kings opens with an intriguing prologue: a mysterious people in the mountains, something potentially mystical going on, and an interesting landscape. The story from there though mostly focuses on an interesting but not particularly fresh or unique story of succession wars, political plots, scheming, and a bit of magic thrown in. There isn't a lot of innovation here, but the audio performance really helped to pull me in. Colin Mace brought a lot of life to the characters and made each character feel unique. You could tell a lot about the characters just from the narration.
It's clear the author took inspiration from Martin, though this book is definitely written with a more modern style. If you enjoy that kind of story with a focus on furious kings and lords (pun intended), schemes on top of schemes and the like, you'll find something to enjoy here. This is paired with some coming of age elements as some of the younger characters are finding out who they want to be over the course of the book.
My main issue was that the structure of the POVs in the book felt pretty off to me. There were some characters we did not focus on a lot, but then would suddenly spend a lot of time with them, and some characters that seemed like they'd be important but ended up having very little screentime. There were some elements that I felt were focused on too much, while elements I would have loved to see more of (namely the events teased in the prologue) were largely left out of this entry.
Overall this is a solid book that just very much feels like a first novel from a debut author. The book is fairly well written, the story and characters just interesting enough, but some of the mechanics still need some improvement. This is perfectly understandable for a debut, and I have no doubt that Moule will improve as he continues to write.
I received an audio ARC via NetGalley.
Audio narration by Colin Mace: 5 stars
Book: 3.5 stars
The Fury of Kings opens with an intriguing prologue: a mysterious people in the mountains, something potentially mystical going on, and an interesting landscape. The story from there though mostly focuses on an interesting but not particularly fresh or unique story of succession wars, political plots, scheming, and a bit of magic thrown in. There isn't a lot of innovation here, but the audio performance really helped to pull me in. Colin Mace brought a lot of life to the characters and made each character feel unique. You could tell a lot about the characters just from the narration.
It's clear the author took inspiration from Martin, though this book is definitely written with a more modern style. If you enjoy that kind of story with a focus on furious kings and lords (pun intended), schemes on top of schemes and the like, you'll find something to enjoy here. This is paired with some coming of age elements as some of the younger characters are finding out who they want to be over the course of the book.
My main issue was that the structure of the POVs in the book felt pretty off to me. There were some characters we did not focus on a lot, but then would suddenly spend a lot of time with them, and some characters that seemed like they'd be important but ended up having very little screentime. There were some elements that I felt were focused on too much, while elements I would have loved to see more of (namely the events teased in the prologue) were largely left out of this entry.
Overall this is a solid book that just very much feels like a first novel from a debut author. The book is fairly well written, the story and characters just interesting enough, but some of the mechanics still need some improvement. This is perfectly understandable for a debut, and I have no doubt that Moule will improve as he continues to write.
February 21, 2023
ARC received from NetGalley.
Wow. My eyes are currently sore from the unblinking stare I've had upon my tablet screen, rushing to get to the end of this story. I loved it - it was gripping, with barely a dull moment, every chapter serving to move the characters and story onward. There was tension, drama and death. Oh, the death. There's even secret tunnels hidden behind bookcases!
I've knocked a star off because I felt that there were scenes skipped in the book that the reader could've been present for. For example, we read the wife's perspective after she's been told of her husband's death rather than be shown the scene where she is told. This could've been a great, emotive and powerful scene. (Please don't kill her or her daughter off!) There's another where a father and son deal with the news that the other son/brother has been kidnapped - again, we miss the immediate reaction from this character to the news.
I did have to remind myself how young some of the characters are because they behaved and spoke much older. There's a daughter who is just 11, with brothers who are teens. They face a lot of responsibility and come across very mature.
Characters were well-rounded, all with clear flaws and goals that progressed their story arc individually while impacting the whole. There's a lot of moving parts, games being played, schemes being formed but by the end, it's clear how they all fit in. The culmination of the individual parts is amazing.
I'm definitely hooked for book 2.
I need a lie down.
Wow. My eyes are currently sore from the unblinking stare I've had upon my tablet screen, rushing to get to the end of this story. I loved it - it was gripping, with barely a dull moment, every chapter serving to move the characters and story onward. There was tension, drama and death. Oh, the death. There's even secret tunnels hidden behind bookcases!
I've knocked a star off because I felt that there were scenes skipped in the book that the reader could've been present for. For example, we read the wife's perspective after she's been told of her husband's death rather than be shown the scene where she is told. This could've been a great, emotive and powerful scene. (Please don't kill her or her daughter off!) There's another where a father and son deal with the news that the other son/brother has been kidnapped - again, we miss the immediate reaction from this character to the news.
I did have to remind myself how young some of the characters are because they behaved and spoke much older. There's a daughter who is just 11, with brothers who are teens. They face a lot of responsibility and come across very mature.
Characters were well-rounded, all with clear flaws and goals that progressed their story arc individually while impacting the whole. There's a lot of moving parts, games being played, schemes being formed but by the end, it's clear how they all fit in. The culmination of the individual parts is amazing.
I'm definitely hooked for book 2.
I need a lie down.
February 25, 2025
4.5⭐️ this as super good! I’m surprised it doesn’t have more hype. There is a large cast of characters and lots of politics. Interesting magic system is incoming. I’ll definitely be picking up book two soon!
April 13, 2023
⭐️4.5 Stars⭐️
Thanks to SecondSky Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
🏔️⚔️🏔️⚔️🏔️
“There is a word in our language, without a direct translation: ealagny; a longing so deep that the pain in your heart wakes you in the night.”
Boy oh boy was this book good! I don’t want to post any spoilers, so I’ll just do a rundown of my impression though my read.
1: Setting/World
First, I would like to tell perspective readers to give this story 100 pages or so, as the world building takes some time. This will be a multi book series so the first book needs to set the scene and lore, which Moule does perfectly. He does not info dump you, but provides a steady history build while gradually feeding you major key pieces as it fits into the current setting of the story.
2: Characters
We have a wide age range of characters in this story. Some of these characters that are younger have a thought process of a untested child, because that’s what they are. Some POV’s in the book are through a child’s eyes and while some people think that’s “cringy”, I feel that it is refreshing. I’m tired of books portraying a 11-15 year old child as a mastermind criminal or leader. I like how through the book, some of our younger characters have these sobering realizations that the world isn’t going to play by a child’s rules, and that they lack experience in these real wild situations. It’s enjoying to see younger characters get put in their place, gain experience, succeed, and fail.
3: Battles
Battle scenes are pretty epic. If you are a fan of Gwynnes shield wall battles, you will like this authors. Moule’s battles are descriptive and intense.
4: Writing Style
(This is probably more of a personal preference)
The author gets straight to the point with their writing.
I have read many fantasy authors who take multiple pages to explain a simple scenery or characters point of view, and while some people enjoy that Steinbeck level of description, it’s not my cup of tea. Moule’s writing takes the reader straight to the point and advances the story. We aren’t left hanging, wondering when the plot will pick up. The filler details are just the right amount.
Book doesn’t have a world map, but author said it might be incorporated in the next book. It was difficult for me at first as I’m a visual learner, but after a very gracious convo with the author I have a better layout in my mind of what the world looks like.
I’ll be hiding under my rock waiting for book two. 👀
Thanks to SecondSky Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
🏔️⚔️🏔️⚔️🏔️
“There is a word in our language, without a direct translation: ealagny; a longing so deep that the pain in your heart wakes you in the night.”
Boy oh boy was this book good! I don’t want to post any spoilers, so I’ll just do a rundown of my impression though my read.
1: Setting/World
First, I would like to tell perspective readers to give this story 100 pages or so, as the world building takes some time. This will be a multi book series so the first book needs to set the scene and lore, which Moule does perfectly. He does not info dump you, but provides a steady history build while gradually feeding you major key pieces as it fits into the current setting of the story.
2: Characters
We have a wide age range of characters in this story. Some of these characters that are younger have a thought process of a untested child, because that’s what they are. Some POV’s in the book are through a child’s eyes and while some people think that’s “cringy”, I feel that it is refreshing. I’m tired of books portraying a 11-15 year old child as a mastermind criminal or leader. I like how through the book, some of our younger characters have these sobering realizations that the world isn’t going to play by a child’s rules, and that they lack experience in these real wild situations. It’s enjoying to see younger characters get put in their place, gain experience, succeed, and fail.
3: Battles
Battle scenes are pretty epic. If you are a fan of Gwynnes shield wall battles, you will like this authors. Moule’s battles are descriptive and intense.
4: Writing Style
(This is probably more of a personal preference)
The author gets straight to the point with their writing.
I have read many fantasy authors who take multiple pages to explain a simple scenery or characters point of view, and while some people enjoy that Steinbeck level of description, it’s not my cup of tea. Moule’s writing takes the reader straight to the point and advances the story. We aren’t left hanging, wondering when the plot will pick up. The filler details are just the right amount.
Book doesn’t have a world map, but author said it might be incorporated in the next book. It was difficult for me at first as I’m a visual learner, but after a very gracious convo with the author I have a better layout in my mind of what the world looks like.
I’ll be hiding under my rock waiting for book two. 👀
July 22, 2023
With strong characters, complicated political problems and loyalties, and mysterious magic - this book had all the things I like in an epic fantasy.
The magic is there, but we don't see a lot of it in this first book of the series. In fact, I'm not sure if we ever will. But it has a nice place, and I'm intrigued.
The battles were epic and well described. I thought of Cornwell's Saxon Stories with the descriptions of shield walls. The politics were also very well done and seeing the differences in the three primary cities was such a great way to see how leadership functioned. I was prepared to think of one kingdom as "good" and the others as "evil", but my mind changed several times during the course of the story. My favorite part of the book was the characters. There were some good women characters, some people that fooled me, and all are well described.
The book does end on a cliffhanger, and I'll certainly be looking for the next one.
The magic is there, but we don't see a lot of it in this first book of the series. In fact, I'm not sure if we ever will. But it has a nice place, and I'm intrigued.
The battles were epic and well described. I thought of Cornwell's Saxon Stories with the descriptions of shield walls. The politics were also very well done and seeing the differences in the three primary cities was such a great way to see how leadership functioned. I was prepared to think of one kingdom as "good" and the others as "evil", but my mind changed several times during the course of the story. My favorite part of the book was the characters. There were some good women characters, some people that fooled me, and all are well described.
The book does end on a cliffhanger, and I'll certainly be looking for the next one.
May 27, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Fury of Kings is a debut epic fantasy by RS Moule. It's got all the check boxes of epic fantasy: sprawling world, multiple povs, political intrigue, war, magic, etc. It did, however, feel very GRRM lite to me. Sometimes for good and sometimes to its detriment.
The book started really strong for me. Good pacing and building of the world and the plot. There's a mystery in the beginning and enough action while still maintaining that slow epic fantasy burn. We start off with multiple solid povs across the kingdom of Erland with characters ranging from the strong stoic warrior to thieving teens to a partying nobleman. The plot hits the ground running with a dead heir to the throne, an old king with no wife, and the new Heir coming from a rival family.
Unfortunately, it started to unravel a bit and didn't end on the strongest note for me. I think this had to do with how many POVs there are, and while I'm not saying each don't have purpose and value, they seemed to be a bit jumbled in order, maybe? Or some of them lacked direction at the moment but will be an important character later, so the author felt the need to include them now. This meant we would suddenly pick up with a characters viewpoint when they had been a side character till then in the book, then they would disappear again. I think it was also a struggle because so many of the character pov were taking place in the same city, which is a bit of the antithesis to epic fantasy. Usually, your characters are spread all over the world, lending scope to the narrative, and I think the reversal hurt this book. We started out spread over the kingdom, but so many characters traveled to the same city in no time at all. It almost felt like things began to be repeated from another unnecessary viewpoint.
The inevitable GRRM comparison will probably hurt this book as there are a few things that were predictable because of it. I don't want to give any spoilers, and I'm in no way saying this book is a copy, but a couple of events felt very inspired by a Song of Ice and Fire.
But all that being said, I thought this was a solid epic fantasy debut. The beginning was a really strong start, and for a while, this book was reaching for unputdownable status. The writing is direct, and the characters are relatable and varied in their own ways. The battle scenes are another high point to the book. I haven't been that tense reading about a fantasy battle in a long time.
I recommend this book for anyone seeking an enjoyable epic fantasy read, and I look forward to seeing what book 2 brings.
The Fury of Kings is a debut epic fantasy by RS Moule. It's got all the check boxes of epic fantasy: sprawling world, multiple povs, political intrigue, war, magic, etc. It did, however, feel very GRRM lite to me. Sometimes for good and sometimes to its detriment.
The book started really strong for me. Good pacing and building of the world and the plot. There's a mystery in the beginning and enough action while still maintaining that slow epic fantasy burn. We start off with multiple solid povs across the kingdom of Erland with characters ranging from the strong stoic warrior to thieving teens to a partying nobleman. The plot hits the ground running with a dead heir to the throne, an old king with no wife, and the new Heir coming from a rival family.
Unfortunately, it started to unravel a bit and didn't end on the strongest note for me. I think this had to do with how many POVs there are, and while I'm not saying each don't have purpose and value, they seemed to be a bit jumbled in order, maybe? Or some of them lacked direction at the moment but will be an important character later, so the author felt the need to include them now. This meant we would suddenly pick up with a characters viewpoint when they had been a side character till then in the book, then they would disappear again. I think it was also a struggle because so many of the character pov were taking place in the same city, which is a bit of the antithesis to epic fantasy. Usually, your characters are spread all over the world, lending scope to the narrative, and I think the reversal hurt this book. We started out spread over the kingdom, but so many characters traveled to the same city in no time at all. It almost felt like things began to be repeated from another unnecessary viewpoint.
The inevitable GRRM comparison will probably hurt this book as there are a few things that were predictable because of it. I don't want to give any spoilers, and I'm in no way saying this book is a copy, but a couple of events felt very inspired by a Song of Ice and Fire.
But all that being said, I thought this was a solid epic fantasy debut. The beginning was a really strong start, and for a while, this book was reaching for unputdownable status. The writing is direct, and the characters are relatable and varied in their own ways. The battle scenes are another high point to the book. I haven't been that tense reading about a fantasy battle in a long time.
I recommend this book for anyone seeking an enjoyable epic fantasy read, and I look forward to seeing what book 2 brings.
September 26, 2024
Amazing debut to a trilogy. I feel these familiar moments and themes, plucked from several series that I love (looking at you, Faithful and the Fallen). That said, it had its own identity. It hit on things I like in fantasy - low magic, high action, multi POVs, shades of gray, the lower class having enough of the higher class
Things I liked -
- each POV felt unique and had their own personality
- the setting felt lived in and fleshed out (a pet peev of mine lately)
- grit for days
- multiple antagonists/plot points that still need to be overcome
Read this book. It's heckin' good.
Things I liked -
- each POV felt unique and had their own personality
- the setting felt lived in and fleshed out (a pet peev of mine lately)
- grit for days
- multiple antagonists/plot points that still need to be overcome
Read this book. It's heckin' good.
December 27, 2025
Content warning: this is a long book and it contains some hardcore swearing.
Now that’s out the way, this book stands head and shoulders above many of its peers. The dialogue is credible and earns its place, the plotting is superb, and while the cast of POV characters is a lot to manage for half the book, each one’s thread pays off big time.
It’s been a long time since I raced thru the final 1/3 of a fantasy novel in a couple of days and was left actually wanting to read the sequel.
Great work, Mr Moule. Epic fantasy as it was meant to be.
Now that’s out the way, this book stands head and shoulders above many of its peers. The dialogue is credible and earns its place, the plotting is superb, and while the cast of POV characters is a lot to manage for half the book, each one’s thread pays off big time.
It’s been a long time since I raced thru the final 1/3 of a fantasy novel in a couple of days and was left actually wanting to read the sequel.
Great work, Mr Moule. Epic fantasy as it was meant to be.
February 21, 2023
4.5/5 stars! This is the kind of book that fans of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time would enjoy. I say that because this is an epic fantasy with huge amounts of world-building and many characters developing throughout the story. This book is long, so if you don't enjoy settling in to be fully immersed in a story, you'll probably be frustrated. For those readers who are like 'heck yes' so far, this book was beautifully written. It has all the skills of most seasoned fantasy authors. My only little pokes are at the predictability of a couple of points in the story, but overall a great fantasy read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
March 23, 2023
Superb, epic fantasy. Gripping until the very end. Excellent character development, clever intertwining plots. Couldn't put it down and can't wait for Book 2. The book is set in the mythical land of Erland and describes warring factions between East & West along with other mystical forces beyond, focused mostly on one noble family's exploits. How the latter develops is so well described that you feel you know the individuals personally. The various strands left open at the end of the book leave you desperate to start the next book in the series. Best book I've read in a long time.
March 7, 2023
I absolutely loved this book! The general vibe is very Game Of Thrones minus the dragons and pages of boring descriptive landscape. The plot and characters are well thought out, unpredictable but also with very human reactions. A kingdom is being torn apart, the king is not doing well, magic seems to be failing and when a prince is killed leaving the king without a direct heir no one is safe
May 29, 2023
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Big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read an early copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Also want to mention that I listened to the audiobook so I'll probably spell some character names wrong.
This book has a very interesting premise about ancient magic and civil war as the heir to the throne dies and the line of succession becomes tenuous. However, it becomes quite apparent early on in the book what the influences were. I like A Game of Thrones, I just hadn't expected this book to draw so heavily from it.
There were a lot of POV's, maybe about 10, and I only liked half of them. But that's to be expected with multi POV. Some of the characters were really strong and definitely led the story and kept the plot moving forward. While some of them had so few chapters, I'm not even sure they were necessary.
On the one hand, I really like the world created here. This world is undoubtedly rich and full of culture and history and some very interesting ancient secrets. It's easy to see that a lot of thought has gone into it. But on the other hand, I don't enjoy it all that much. When you have to scope to create anything at all, why are men still writing books in which women have no rights? Its saving grace in this regard, however, is its awareness. The female characters themselves know it's unfair and unjust and are equally as frustrated by the dynamic.
The writing is very strong with just enough descriptors to paint the scene without bogging down the prose. The author is really fantastic at writing and conveying battle sequences on the page. It's brutal and bloody, and man, I love me a shield wall so damn much.
I really do feel this series has such potential to be something epic if it took a chance and stepped away from the crutch of its own influences.
Full Review
Plot
This is a difficult one for me. I'd been really enjoying listening to this book, but now I've finished it, I'm left feeling... a bit angry?
Throughout I kept thinking, Please don't just be a Game of Thrones knockoff. Be more than that. Hell, why not even strive to be better? This book has a very interesting premise about ancient magic and civil war as the heir to the throne dies and the line of succession becomes tenuous. It is generally a very good book in many regards and it was the blurb that drew me in. A dark power rising on top of a mountain with no summit? Cool. Sign me up.
However, it becomes quite apparent early on in the book what the influences were. I just want to say that there is nothing wrong with being influenced, in fact, I normally love when books feel like a mash-up of a bunch of different books I love. They offen feel like I'm getting the best of everything in one book. In this case, though, it feels a little bit too much like a remix than a mash-up. I like A Game of Thrones, don't get me wrong, I just hadn't expected this book to draw so heavily from it, and frankly, I really don't want to invest in another series that makes me form an attachment to certain characters only for them to be killed off quite brutally. It's a real shame because I genuinely liked this book a lot, despite the problems I had with it.
Based purely on the book's inspiration, I immediately guessed that And, unfortunately, I wasn't wrong. I had hoped the author would subvert expectations here a little and instead, just to pull the rug out from under us. I definitely wouldn't have seen that coming. But what did happen, I guessed from the very beginning. Just kind of made the ending a bit unsatisfying and uninspired. I was hoping for a bit of a twist. And the feels far too reminiscent, given the character's visible inspiration. The ending was just pretty miserable and a tad annoying. I wanted it to end with at least one hopefully plot thread to give readers something to hold onto, the chance of better things on the horizon for the characters if they can only make it through this rough patch. But again, it's going for that 'Martin-esque' everything is fucked outlook that I'm not personally here for at this time.
And the new threat of the rising undead in the frozen mountainous north is treading a little too closely to White Waller territory for my taste.
Characters
Andrik and his family are the main focus of the story and, as I mentioned above, Andrik is noticeably similar to Ned Stark. He's the honourable lord who'd do whatever his king commands of him. Loving husband, attentive father, and he even has a collection of large wolfhounds. (But honestly, they're not mentioned enough to ever really feel relevant.)
Pherri was another favourite and I loved how driven she was to be more than just someone's wife one day. I loved the reveal of her magus powers and watching her learn to use them, but again, after she started having visions, I began to realise, she's the Bran character. The powerful child destined for greatness who can see into distant lands and predict what the future holds. The white doe she keeps seeing also felt a lot like the three-eyed raven. I liked Pherri a lot, but I hated Bran. I can only hope Pherri doesn't follow Bran's story arc.
Honestly? After everything I've seen in this book and how much I hate King Hessian, I'm rooting for the other guy to win. He's starting to feel like the most decent character there.
I really liked Tanza and Kag. Tanza especially. She was sensible and resourceful and always put others before herself. But I didn't care much for Tam. Reckless and selfish and irresponsible, risking everyone's lives for a shag, basically. It may sound harsh but
There were a lot of POV's, maybe about 10, and I only liked half of them. But that's to be expected with multi POV. Some of the characters were really strong and definitely led the story and kept the plot moving forward. While some of them had so few chapters, I'm not even sure they were necessary. They were almost there purely to set up a coming conflict in book two rather than actually be active characters within this story. Feeling this, I wasn't able to invest in them at all. There was plenty enough happening in this book that we didn't need random POV's to start teasing book two.
Setting
On the one hand, I really like the world created here. This world is undoubtedly rich and full of culture and history and some very interesting ancient secrets. It's easy to see that a lot of thought has gone into it.
But on the other hand, I don't enjoy it all that much. I'll probably get an eye roll of two for even mentioning this, but it's something that niggled at me whilst reading so I'm going to mention it anyway. When you have to scope to create anything at all, when your imagination is the limit, why are men still writing books in which women have no rights, no voice, and no autonomy over their own bodies?
It can make it a little difficult to invest in anything a female character does, knowing that all her achievements and entire character arcs can be undone in a single word by any of the male characters. I'm not saying all women need to be written in positions of power. None of them have to be, but there are other subtler ways to even the playing field.
Its saving grace in this regard, however, is its awareness. The female characters themselves know it's unfair and unjust and are equally as frustrated by the dynamic. So I'll certainly give the author that. Despite this frustrating societal norm, he depicts the female characters very well.
Writing Style
The writing is very strong with just enough descriptors to paint the scene without bogging down the prose. The author is really fantastic at writing and conveying battle sequences on the page. It's brutal and bloody, and man, I love me a shield wall so damn much. Really great battles. Edge of the seat stuff. Bravo.
I have to say, though, the author does this really annoying thing right before the deaths of major characters when told in another character's POV. Right before it happens, there'll be a random line like looking back on it, so-and-so didn't know if they'd cried a warning / looking back, so-and-so couldn't remember if they'd screamed and so on.
This not only breaks the tense of the narrative by switching tenses (as if the story is being recalled by someone when it's clearly not) but also completely kills any tension or illusion that the character might survive. When worded like this, it's basically already telling me the character is dead before I even get to see the character die. Then when it happens, all shock and impact is lost. It was maddeningly frustrating.
Great performance from Colin Mace. Probably my favourite narrator. A broad range of voices and accents and great delivery as always. Just wish the audio quality was a little bit better. It's not bad at all, but maybe could've done with a bit more editing to lower the pitch and filter out the hard S sounds, but otherwise, fantastic narration. Colin Mace was actually the main reason I requested the book in the first place.
Final Impression
I know it sounds like I've been hard on this book, but honestly, I'm only hard on the ones I really like but wanted more from. There're so many fascinating avenues this series could go down and I really hope it finds its own way and explores some fresh new ideas cause I really do feel this has such potential to be something epic if it took a chance and stepped away from the crutch of its own influences.
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Big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read an early copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Also want to mention that I listened to the audiobook so I'll probably spell some character names wrong.
This book has a very interesting premise about ancient magic and civil war as the heir to the throne dies and the line of succession becomes tenuous. However, it becomes quite apparent early on in the book what the influences were. I like A Game of Thrones, I just hadn't expected this book to draw so heavily from it.
There were a lot of POV's, maybe about 10, and I only liked half of them. But that's to be expected with multi POV. Some of the characters were really strong and definitely led the story and kept the plot moving forward. While some of them had so few chapters, I'm not even sure they were necessary.
On the one hand, I really like the world created here. This world is undoubtedly rich and full of culture and history and some very interesting ancient secrets. It's easy to see that a lot of thought has gone into it. But on the other hand, I don't enjoy it all that much. When you have to scope to create anything at all, why are men still writing books in which women have no rights? Its saving grace in this regard, however, is its awareness. The female characters themselves know it's unfair and unjust and are equally as frustrated by the dynamic.
The writing is very strong with just enough descriptors to paint the scene without bogging down the prose. The author is really fantastic at writing and conveying battle sequences on the page. It's brutal and bloody, and man, I love me a shield wall so damn much.
I really do feel this series has such potential to be something epic if it took a chance and stepped away from the crutch of its own influences.
Full Review
Plot
This is a difficult one for me. I'd been really enjoying listening to this book, but now I've finished it, I'm left feeling... a bit angry?
Throughout I kept thinking, Please don't just be a Game of Thrones knockoff. Be more than that. Hell, why not even strive to be better? This book has a very interesting premise about ancient magic and civil war as the heir to the throne dies and the line of succession becomes tenuous. It is generally a very good book in many regards and it was the blurb that drew me in. A dark power rising on top of a mountain with no summit? Cool. Sign me up.
However, it becomes quite apparent early on in the book what the influences were. I just want to say that there is nothing wrong with being influenced, in fact, I normally love when books feel like a mash-up of a bunch of different books I love. They offen feel like I'm getting the best of everything in one book. In this case, though, it feels a little bit too much like a remix than a mash-up. I like A Game of Thrones, don't get me wrong, I just hadn't expected this book to draw so heavily from it, and frankly, I really don't want to invest in another series that makes me form an attachment to certain characters only for them to be killed off quite brutally. It's a real shame because I genuinely liked this book a lot, despite the problems I had with it.
Based purely on the book's inspiration, I immediately guessed that And, unfortunately, I wasn't wrong. I had hoped the author would subvert expectations here a little and instead, just to pull the rug out from under us. I definitely wouldn't have seen that coming. But what did happen, I guessed from the very beginning. Just kind of made the ending a bit unsatisfying and uninspired. I was hoping for a bit of a twist. And the feels far too reminiscent, given the character's visible inspiration. The ending was just pretty miserable and a tad annoying. I wanted it to end with at least one hopefully plot thread to give readers something to hold onto, the chance of better things on the horizon for the characters if they can only make it through this rough patch. But again, it's going for that 'Martin-esque' everything is fucked outlook that I'm not personally here for at this time.
And the new threat of the rising undead in the frozen mountainous north is treading a little too closely to White Waller territory for my taste.
Characters
Andrik and his family are the main focus of the story and, as I mentioned above, Andrik is noticeably similar to Ned Stark. He's the honourable lord who'd do whatever his king commands of him. Loving husband, attentive father, and he even has a collection of large wolfhounds. (But honestly, they're not mentioned enough to ever really feel relevant.)
Pherri was another favourite and I loved how driven she was to be more than just someone's wife one day. I loved the reveal of her magus powers and watching her learn to use them, but again, after she started having visions, I began to realise, she's the Bran character. The powerful child destined for greatness who can see into distant lands and predict what the future holds. The white doe she keeps seeing also felt a lot like the three-eyed raven. I liked Pherri a lot, but I hated Bran. I can only hope Pherri doesn't follow Bran's story arc.
Honestly? After everything I've seen in this book and how much I hate King Hessian, I'm rooting for the other guy to win. He's starting to feel like the most decent character there.
I really liked Tanza and Kag. Tanza especially. She was sensible and resourceful and always put others before herself. But I didn't care much for Tam. Reckless and selfish and irresponsible, risking everyone's lives for a shag, basically. It may sound harsh but
There were a lot of POV's, maybe about 10, and I only liked half of them. But that's to be expected with multi POV. Some of the characters were really strong and definitely led the story and kept the plot moving forward. While some of them had so few chapters, I'm not even sure they were necessary. They were almost there purely to set up a coming conflict in book two rather than actually be active characters within this story. Feeling this, I wasn't able to invest in them at all. There was plenty enough happening in this book that we didn't need random POV's to start teasing book two.
Setting
On the one hand, I really like the world created here. This world is undoubtedly rich and full of culture and history and some very interesting ancient secrets. It's easy to see that a lot of thought has gone into it.
But on the other hand, I don't enjoy it all that much. I'll probably get an eye roll of two for even mentioning this, but it's something that niggled at me whilst reading so I'm going to mention it anyway. When you have to scope to create anything at all, when your imagination is the limit, why are men still writing books in which women have no rights, no voice, and no autonomy over their own bodies?
It can make it a little difficult to invest in anything a female character does, knowing that all her achievements and entire character arcs can be undone in a single word by any of the male characters. I'm not saying all women need to be written in positions of power. None of them have to be, but there are other subtler ways to even the playing field.
Its saving grace in this regard, however, is its awareness. The female characters themselves know it's unfair and unjust and are equally as frustrated by the dynamic. So I'll certainly give the author that. Despite this frustrating societal norm, he depicts the female characters very well.
Writing Style
The writing is very strong with just enough descriptors to paint the scene without bogging down the prose. The author is really fantastic at writing and conveying battle sequences on the page. It's brutal and bloody, and man, I love me a shield wall so damn much. Really great battles. Edge of the seat stuff. Bravo.
I have to say, though, the author does this really annoying thing right before the deaths of major characters when told in another character's POV. Right before it happens, there'll be a random line like looking back on it, so-and-so didn't know if they'd cried a warning / looking back, so-and-so couldn't remember if they'd screamed and so on.
This not only breaks the tense of the narrative by switching tenses (as if the story is being recalled by someone when it's clearly not) but also completely kills any tension or illusion that the character might survive. When worded like this, it's basically already telling me the character is dead before I even get to see the character die. Then when it happens, all shock and impact is lost. It was maddeningly frustrating.
Great performance from Colin Mace. Probably my favourite narrator. A broad range of voices and accents and great delivery as always. Just wish the audio quality was a little bit better. It's not bad at all, but maybe could've done with a bit more editing to lower the pitch and filter out the hard S sounds, but otherwise, fantastic narration. Colin Mace was actually the main reason I requested the book in the first place.
Final Impression
I know it sounds like I've been hard on this book, but honestly, I'm only hard on the ones I really like but wanted more from. There're so many fascinating avenues this series could go down and I really hope it finds its own way and explores some fresh new ideas cause I really do feel this has such potential to be something epic if it took a chance and stepped away from the crutch of its own influences.
February 12, 2025
The Fury of Kings hat viele Elemente, die ich liebe. Ein High-Fantasy Setting, ein nordisch angehauchtes Land, viele Legenden und Mythen, mysteriöse Magie und eine explosive politische Ausgangssituation, da der König einen brüchigen Frieden verwaltet, der zu fallen droht. Eine perfekte Mischung, oder?
Vor Jahrzehnten wurde der Frieden mit den Nachbarn bitter erkämpft. Doch als der Trohnfolger ermordet wird, stürzt Erland in eine Tiefe Krise. Der alternde König zieht sich zurück und wird immer unberechenbarer. Krieg mit West-Erland droht, denn die Mutter des jungen Lord zieht an gefährlichen Fäden, um ihr Reich für ihren Sohn Raymund zu stärken. Gleichzeitig droht aus der ferne dunkle Magie …
Ich mochte das Setting wirklich sehr. Im Umschlag des Buches befindet sich eine Orientierungskarte, die wir auch rege im Laufe des Romans bereisen. Die unterschiedlichen Städte, Bräuche und Gewohnheiten habe ich sehr genossen und mich gefreut, wenn das Setting gewechselt hat und ein weiterer Teil der Karte aufgedeckt wurde. Ich mag es einfach, wenn die Figuren nicht nur statisch im Trohnsaal rumhocken.
Die Atmosphäre war düster und bedrohlich - natürlich, es droht Krieg, Schlachten werden geschlagen. Für mich war es nicht zu düster, sondern verstärkte für mich das ganze Bedrohungsgefühl, dass die Lage jederzeit kippen könnte. Das hat der Autor richtig gut dargestellt.
Es gibt viele PoVs, denen der Leser abwechselnd folgt. Fiel es mir schwer, diese auseinander zu halten? Nein, jeder war einzigartig und hatte seine eigenen Wünsche, Träume und Ziele. Ich mochte übrigens die weibliche Fraktion deutlich lieber als die männliche - ansonsten ist es bei mir andersherum. Besonders gern habe ich Pherrys Strang verfolgt - ihre aufgeweckte neugierige Art hat mich oft zum Lachen gebracht. Genauso Helana, die zwischen Freiheitsliebe und Pflichtgefühl hin und her geworfen wird. Genauso mochte ich eine Diebestruppe, die unerwartet zu Geld kommt.
Doch das sind noch lange nicht alle! Da gibt es noch Raymund, den jungen trunksüchtigen Lord, da gibt es noch Osian, der sich als Adelsspross beweisen will, da gibt es noch die junge Braut von König Hessian … ihr merkt was, oder? Trotz dessen, dass ich keine Schwierigkeiten hatte, die Charaktere zu definieren, konnte ich mich dennoch nicht wirklich an sie binden. Dafür waren es einfach zu viele, dafür waren sie mir nicht gut genug ausgearbeitet. Auf mich haben sie leider stereotypisch gewirkt - für tiefer gehende Charakterbildung war auch einfach keine Zeit, da sich der Autor um zu viele Figuren auf einmal kümmern musste. So schickte er sie immer wieder auf Aktionen, deren Ende ich mir schon ausmalen konnte und wofür ich sie manchmal hätte schütteln können. Wirklich …
Witzigerweise lässt der schale Geschmack von Genervtheit nach, je mehr Abstand ich von dem Buch bekomme. Es ist kein schlechtes Buch, es ist sogar eine gute Geschichte mit reichlich grauen Charakteren, bei denen man sich nicht sicher sein kann, auf welcher Seite sie gerade stehen. Der Autor wollte nur zu viel in das Buch hineinpacken - und dafür solche Sachen wie Charakterbuilding vernachlässigt - und das hat mich bei der Lektüre immer wieder rausgeworfen.
Ich empfehle es für jeden, der High-Fantasy und graue Charaktere mag. Gebt ihm eine Chance - vielleicht entfacht der Funke bei euch sein Feuer, der bei mir leider verglüht ist.
May 14, 2023
The Fury of Kings by R S Moule is a sci fi/fantasy novel and the first in the Erland Saga series. Ingeniously plotted this nerve jangling tale of suspicion and betrayal had me hooked from the beginning. The prologue opens dramatically in an atmospheric scene high in the all-encompassing Eryispek mountains. The scene is taut, I can feel the tension as the pages keep turning and I have numerous unanswered questions. There is an unspoken implication that I will be answered eventually, a credit to Moules’ writing flair. He then moves on to the plains of Erland and its savage politics as I was introduced to the different characters in his tapestry. Currently a fragile peace prevails in Erland.
Andrick the Barrelbreaker, King Hessians younger brother has three children Errian, Orsian and Pherri. Errian is old enough to be fighting alongside his father, while Orsian dreams of the day when he will be. At the moment he is practising his skills in the yard and is bored with mere repetitive exercise. The more I read about Pherri’s dreams or Orsian’s ambitions, the more I was glued to the novel. The murder of King Hessian’s only son threatens Erland’s fragile peace.
I felt there were multiple characters who could equally be the main protagonists. They were all skilfully interwoven into the plot producing a seamless storyline. There’s also a dystopian hint to this tale. Moule transports us to an ancient world before guns and modern ammunition were invented. A time when chivalry should prevail but as history informs us this is totally dependent on the individual characters and their conscience. Though it is a patriarchal society Moule cleverly but subtly throws in strong women who play an equally important role in the plot. I found this fascinating.
This being the first book in the Erland saga series we get to know all the characters and Moule is setting the scene with bewitching brilliance. He is devilishly clever as the plot unfolds to reveal a magical world taut with mystery and suspense. It veers from the breath taking to the sinister with its shady politics, secrets, dishonesty and deceit. Moule paints a vivid world, one that often caught me by surprise. It was peopled with characters that felt real and behaved unexpectedly. It left me astounded and kept me hooked. I discovered why Andrick is dubbed the Barrelbreaker and other astonishing revelations. There is also a Celtic feel to this tale in the characters and place names and a coming of age for the younger characters. Boy what a thrilling first book!
The extraordinary and fantastical world that Moule has built for us to enjoy makes the book such a riveting read. The jaw dropping ending was the cherry of surprises. Moules’ Erland series could well be my next craving. So glad there is more to come. I could live in this world which stayed with me long after the last page. I must add though that this book could be read as a standalone. However, I doubt any reader would not, like me succumb to the temptation of longing to know more. Bravo Moule for giving us a deliciously dark and twisty new series!
Andrick the Barrelbreaker, King Hessians younger brother has three children Errian, Orsian and Pherri. Errian is old enough to be fighting alongside his father, while Orsian dreams of the day when he will be. At the moment he is practising his skills in the yard and is bored with mere repetitive exercise. The more I read about Pherri’s dreams or Orsian’s ambitions, the more I was glued to the novel. The murder of King Hessian’s only son threatens Erland’s fragile peace.
I felt there were multiple characters who could equally be the main protagonists. They were all skilfully interwoven into the plot producing a seamless storyline. There’s also a dystopian hint to this tale. Moule transports us to an ancient world before guns and modern ammunition were invented. A time when chivalry should prevail but as history informs us this is totally dependent on the individual characters and their conscience. Though it is a patriarchal society Moule cleverly but subtly throws in strong women who play an equally important role in the plot. I found this fascinating.
This being the first book in the Erland saga series we get to know all the characters and Moule is setting the scene with bewitching brilliance. He is devilishly clever as the plot unfolds to reveal a magical world taut with mystery and suspense. It veers from the breath taking to the sinister with its shady politics, secrets, dishonesty and deceit. Moule paints a vivid world, one that often caught me by surprise. It was peopled with characters that felt real and behaved unexpectedly. It left me astounded and kept me hooked. I discovered why Andrick is dubbed the Barrelbreaker and other astonishing revelations. There is also a Celtic feel to this tale in the characters and place names and a coming of age for the younger characters. Boy what a thrilling first book!
The extraordinary and fantastical world that Moule has built for us to enjoy makes the book such a riveting read. The jaw dropping ending was the cherry of surprises. Moules’ Erland series could well be my next craving. So glad there is more to come. I could live in this world which stayed with me long after the last page. I must add though that this book could be read as a standalone. However, I doubt any reader would not, like me succumb to the temptation of longing to know more. Bravo Moule for giving us a deliciously dark and twisty new series!
February 2, 2025
“The Fury of Kings” ist eine Fantasy-Neuerscheinung, die mich richtig begeistern konnte!!! Nach ein paar Enttäuschungen in der letzten Zeit, habe ich mich riesig darüber gefreut!
Die Reihe wird vom Verlag mit „Game of Thrones“ verglichen - ich bin eigentlich kein Fan von solchen Vergleichen, hier muss ich aber mal ausnahmsweise komplett zustimmen. Mir hat das Buch extrem viele GoT-Vibes gegeben, was ich total gefeiert habe. Dabei ist es aber absolut KEIN Abklatsch von GoT, sondern eine völlig eigene und fesselnde Geschichte!
Erland ist durch den Bleichen Fluss in Ost-Erland und West-Erland geteilt, im Osten ist der Sitz des Königs. Als sein einziger Sohn bei einem Rebellenaufstand stirbt, führt dies zu Problemen mit der Thronfolge und die Fürsten im Westen sehen ihre Chance gekommen, den Kampf um die Krone wieder aufzunehmen. Angeführt von Breta Prindian, da ihr Sohn Rymund als Cousin des Königs nun der rechtmäßige Erbe ist. Im Osten probiert König Hessian die Thronfolge mit einer neuen Gattin zu retten und sein Halbbruder und Heerführer Lord Andrik Fassbrecher macht sich mit seinen Söhnen und Soldaten bereit. Neben der Bedrohung im Osten rebellieren auch die Stämme der Thrump und Lutum und der Frieden ist in größter Gefahr.
Und über Allem thront der Berg Eryispek, der noch eine ganz besondere und wichtige Bedeutung haben wird…
Die Geschichte wird aus mehreren Perspektiven erzählt, was super funktioniert.
Ich konnte sofort einen Zugang zu den Charakteren finden; mir hat ihre Vielschichtigkeit gefallen, dass es starke Motive für ihr Handeln gibt und Visionen, denen sie nacheifern. Dabei haben wir die richtig guten Helden mit dem Herz am rechten Fleck, die hassenswerten Schurken, starke Frauenfiguren, die ihre Überzeugungen haben und ihren Weg gehen und ein beeindruckendes Mädchen, das klüger ist als ihr guttut und das ihre magischen Fähigkeiten entdeckt.
In diesem Band geht es hart zur Sache und man muss sich auch schon von dem ein oder anderen lieb gewonnenen Charakter verabschieden… Mich hat der Verlauf der Geschichte komplett gefesselt, es gab WTF-Momente (was ich liebe) und ich bin total angefixt wie es hier weitergehen wird!
Zusätzlich möchte ich eine große Empfehlung für das Hörbuch aussprechen, das von Johannes Steck fantastisch eingelesen wird - seine Stimme und Interpretationen der Charaktere passen perfekt 👌
Durch das Verschwimmen von Epischer Fantasy und Romantasy auf dem Buchmarkt sei der Vollständigkeit halber gesagt; hier handelt es sich um pure Epische High-Fantasy - Applaus hierfür!
Band 2 ist für Herbst 2025 angekündigt, lieber dtv-Verlag bitte übersetzt auch den abschließenden dritten Band 🙏
Für alle Fans Epischer High-Fantasy und von GoT - LESEN !!!
Die Reihe wird vom Verlag mit „Game of Thrones“ verglichen - ich bin eigentlich kein Fan von solchen Vergleichen, hier muss ich aber mal ausnahmsweise komplett zustimmen. Mir hat das Buch extrem viele GoT-Vibes gegeben, was ich total gefeiert habe. Dabei ist es aber absolut KEIN Abklatsch von GoT, sondern eine völlig eigene und fesselnde Geschichte!
Erland ist durch den Bleichen Fluss in Ost-Erland und West-Erland geteilt, im Osten ist der Sitz des Königs. Als sein einziger Sohn bei einem Rebellenaufstand stirbt, führt dies zu Problemen mit der Thronfolge und die Fürsten im Westen sehen ihre Chance gekommen, den Kampf um die Krone wieder aufzunehmen. Angeführt von Breta Prindian, da ihr Sohn Rymund als Cousin des Königs nun der rechtmäßige Erbe ist. Im Osten probiert König Hessian die Thronfolge mit einer neuen Gattin zu retten und sein Halbbruder und Heerführer Lord Andrik Fassbrecher macht sich mit seinen Söhnen und Soldaten bereit. Neben der Bedrohung im Osten rebellieren auch die Stämme der Thrump und Lutum und der Frieden ist in größter Gefahr.
Und über Allem thront der Berg Eryispek, der noch eine ganz besondere und wichtige Bedeutung haben wird…
Die Geschichte wird aus mehreren Perspektiven erzählt, was super funktioniert.
Ich konnte sofort einen Zugang zu den Charakteren finden; mir hat ihre Vielschichtigkeit gefallen, dass es starke Motive für ihr Handeln gibt und Visionen, denen sie nacheifern. Dabei haben wir die richtig guten Helden mit dem Herz am rechten Fleck, die hassenswerten Schurken, starke Frauenfiguren, die ihre Überzeugungen haben und ihren Weg gehen und ein beeindruckendes Mädchen, das klüger ist als ihr guttut und das ihre magischen Fähigkeiten entdeckt.
In diesem Band geht es hart zur Sache und man muss sich auch schon von dem ein oder anderen lieb gewonnenen Charakter verabschieden… Mich hat der Verlauf der Geschichte komplett gefesselt, es gab WTF-Momente (was ich liebe) und ich bin total angefixt wie es hier weitergehen wird!
Zusätzlich möchte ich eine große Empfehlung für das Hörbuch aussprechen, das von Johannes Steck fantastisch eingelesen wird - seine Stimme und Interpretationen der Charaktere passen perfekt 👌
Durch das Verschwimmen von Epischer Fantasy und Romantasy auf dem Buchmarkt sei der Vollständigkeit halber gesagt; hier handelt es sich um pure Epische High-Fantasy - Applaus hierfür!
Band 2 ist für Herbst 2025 angekündigt, lieber dtv-Verlag bitte übersetzt auch den abschließenden dritten Band 🙏
Für alle Fans Epischer High-Fantasy und von GoT - LESEN !!!
August 31, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a review copy of this book in return for an honest review.
If you’re looking for a new, underrated epic fantasy series to sink your teeth into, The Fury of the Kings by R.S. Moule is a pretty great book to pick up. With an epic plot, great worldbuilding, and fantastic characters, the only thing that let this book down a bit was some of the writing, but much of this can be overlooked.
Don’t expect a fast-paced start to The Fury of Kings. Like many epic fantasy books, this begins slowly, gradually introducing you to the characters and the world, laying the foundations of the narrative so when things do explode, they are exciting and immersive.
Unlike some other series in this genre, you won’t find yourself struggling to keep loads of characters’ names or places in your head at once. The author does a great job of giving you enough information to enjoy the story and know what’s going on, without overwhelming you.
I have no doubt that future entries in this series, The Erland Saga, will improve upon some of the writing and editing issues I found, and continue to bring an epic saga that is exciting and engaging. This is a severely underrated debut epic fantasy book, so go check it out!
If you’re looking for a new, underrated epic fantasy series to sink your teeth into, The Fury of the Kings by R.S. Moule is a pretty great book to pick up. With an epic plot, great worldbuilding, and fantastic characters, the only thing that let this book down a bit was some of the writing, but much of this can be overlooked.
Don’t expect a fast-paced start to The Fury of Kings. Like many epic fantasy books, this begins slowly, gradually introducing you to the characters and the world, laying the foundations of the narrative so when things do explode, they are exciting and immersive.
Unlike some other series in this genre, you won’t find yourself struggling to keep loads of characters’ names or places in your head at once. The author does a great job of giving you enough information to enjoy the story and know what’s going on, without overwhelming you.
I have no doubt that future entries in this series, The Erland Saga, will improve upon some of the writing and editing issues I found, and continue to bring an epic saga that is exciting and engaging. This is a severely underrated debut epic fantasy book, so go check it out!
September 5, 2023
A fantastic read from the first word to the last. Some books take time to pull you in. Some never do. The Fury of Kings pulled in me right away and held me hostage until I'd consumed this book in its entirety. I absolutely enjoyed this book, which has earned its way into my top 10 books of the year. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series.
March 17, 2025
4.5*. This was a really good book. Very gritty, political, and gut wrenching. I hate to pile on to the ASOIAF comparisons, but if you love GRRM, this is the book for you!
I will be continuing to the next one immediately.
I will be continuing to the next one immediately.
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June 7, 2025This book deserves more attention! I really really liked it. It has a lot of POVs but there wasn't really any I did not like. I'm excited for the next book in the series
May 1, 2023
I really enjoyed reading "The Fury of Kings". It's written well and has great characters, but, for me, it felt like something was missing from the story... Almost like something was edited out to be included in the second book instead. Even so, I have no regrets about spending time with this book, and I'm eager to get my hands on the second in the series.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
May 31, 2024
Audio ARC received by the folks at Netgalley.
I had such little expectation coming into this, but R.S. Moule has done such a fantastic job here that I'll be reading more as they come out.
The worldbuilding is fantastic, and the relationships that are developed throughout the book steal the show. Which is impressive, considering how gripping the novel is.
This is a great debut. I'll be buying this, too. Well done, I look forward to more!
I had such little expectation coming into this, but R.S. Moule has done such a fantastic job here that I'll be reading more as they come out.
The worldbuilding is fantastic, and the relationships that are developed throughout the book steal the show. Which is impressive, considering how gripping the novel is.
This is a great debut. I'll be buying this, too. Well done, I look forward to more!
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