Kingdom of Trash

by Robert Macrae

Kingdom of Trash, a comic-fantasy novel, centers around a trash golem—a being constructed for the sole purpose of hauling trash—who has spent his entire life isolated from the world with a collection of discarded books as his only company. The story develops through the eyes of an ensemble cast of diverse characters, including an ambitious Master-Sergeant with dreams of captaining her own ship, a young orphan hell-bent on avenging his people, and an infinitely curious gnome conducting field research on human society. When the aptly named Trashy is recruited to the kingdom's peacekeeping force, the Greywatch, his distinctly un-golem-like desire to become more than a tool for waste disposal drives him to set out on an eye-opening journey into the heart of a decades long power struggle. The death of the king some twenty years prior threw the kingdom into a state of chaos—held together through the valiant efforts of Garius Grey—and set the stage for the sort of heroic adventure Trashy had only read about.

Genres: Fantasy, Comedy

481 pages, Paperback

Published July 7, 2023

Reviews

[Liz Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the surface this book is a comedic fantasy novel, but presents a great deal of heart in the story and characters. The writing is very funny and the footnotes are a highlight (don’t read ahead they are funnier to come across as you read!). Within the humor there are some touching story moments that are supported by the author’s well developed lore, politics, and history.

The highlight of the story for me lies with the characters. Each are interesting, unique, and lovable. I kept thinking “well this will be my favorite character” and ended up liking them all by the end of the book. The complexity and growth of the relationships in the story also deepened the connection with each character.

This was a fantastic, well developed, fun book and I can’t wait to read more!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy fantasy, but haven’t read much in the genre, and I really enjoyed it. Sometimes I am apprehensive when beginning a fantasy book if it’s going to be primarily focused on an elaborate world, and the characters are two-dimensional by comparison, but I’m glad I took the risk because that wasn’t the case with this! The world felt vast, yet detailed, AND the characters were nuanced and interesting. I found myself attached, and struggling to pick a favorite, laughing and crying with and for them along the way. Their backstories, journey, and character challenges they faced kept me hooked throughout.

After reading, I gave a copy to my brother-in-law who is a huge fantasy reader, and is constantly reading (in a variety of genres) and is particular when it comes to what he likes, and he loved it. He said he loved the world, he felt it was fully developed, yet left room for imagination. He also said he loved the lore that was introduced; that elements were comfortingly familiar, yet satisfyingly unique, but I’ll let him write his own review!

Also, as an audiobook lover and someone who reads a lot of plays, I enjoy reading books and being able to hear distinct characters’ voices and the voice of the narrator based on how it’s written, and I had that experience with this. Also, I love the humor and the use of footnotes.

I recommend for fantasy aficionados and newbies alike!

[Lucas Southworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm familiar with some of the author's earlier work, so I was ready for his mastery of the comedically absurd. What I wasn't ready for was how he spun the web of absurdity that is this book into something deeply meaningful, something that didn't end up feeling so absurd after all.

The characters are incredibly funny and endearing, but still carry weight and complexity. The world is a (intentionally) fascinating mess, but one that leaves you wanting to unravel it, bit by bit. The plot teeters on being a farce at times, but still had me gasping at reveals, cheering at triumphs, and tearing up for the losses.

All told, I think this is an incredible bit of fantasy writing. I found myself thinking about it often when I wasn't actively reading it, wanting to get back to it as quickly as I could. Can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.

[Brian West · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic and fun. A great read. I had a lot of fun reading this, a perfect blend of humor and seriousness to keep a solid fantasy story. Highly recommend, and it ends at a perfect open for a second. Hope it happens and I cannot wait to read it.

[Olin Haish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven't enjoyed a book quite as much as I enjoyed this one in a while. It was so easy to get lost in the story; found myself reacting aloud to bits and pieces of it: laughing, tearing up, yelling, whole nine yards. MacRae has a great sense of humor, and did a wonderful job at creating a significantly large amount of very likeable characters. I just finished the book moments ago and I already miss them.

There was SO MUCH story that it feels like I just finished a series even though it was a steady read (not super quick, but finishing a book within a month is kind of quick for me). I was honestly worried it would get difficult to keep track of all the characters and individual plots, but everything comes together very nicely later in the book.

I'm sad it's over, but I think it's a very well-rounded story with a satifying ending. Kingdom of Trash easily makes it into my top 5, and it's crazy to me that I just happened to learn about this book on Tiktok. I'm not sure where it's at right now in terms of popularity, but I hope it gets all the recognition it deserves!

[H.H. Rune · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a wonderful surprise, as I ventured away from my typical genres. I am so happy I did. Fantasy, an imaginative new world, characters that tickle the soul. This story was a wonderful adventure that folds in a bit of societal commentary. Sneaking in opinions that I whole heartedly relate to acted like a fun little maze to walk through. Brilliant words, excellent writing and not one typo!? Loved this book, thank you for giving us a tour of your brain. Kudos.

[Ky Briscoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is stunning. The authors style of writing is unique and hilarious. There was so many times I had to set the book down because I was giggling. The massive world building and is beautifully navigated. I loved seeing how the different POVs came together.

[Corey Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The book is entertaining, witty, and tells a good story. I would highly recommend this to fantasy fans

[Rebecca Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert MacRae’s Kingdom of Trash is a comedic fantasy novel full of humor, colorful world-building, and unexpected commentary on modern socio-economic and political issues. The story follows Trashy, a trash golem who is full of surprises, as he sets off on a trek across the kingdom with some new acquaintances.

The writing is playful yet smart, poking fun at the typical tropes of fantasy (or paying homage?) while still giving us a new, smart fantasy story.

The characters are well-developed including a cast of quirky sidekicks, each with their own detailed backstories, motives, and vulnerabilities.

One of the most interesting aspects of the book is its use of footnotes, which adds another layer of humor and depth to the narrative.

There are subtle (and not-so-subtle) jabs at the corporatization of government, misinformation, racism, and the vast wealth disparities that plague the kingdom, among other social issues. These critiques are woven into the story with such finesse that you may not even realize the commentary until you are deep into the book. The satire is sharp but never heavy-handed.

Kingdom of Trash is a masterful blend of comedy, fantasy, and social commentary. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy that don’t take themselves too seriously but are concerned about what is happening in our world today.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this off the TikTok shop sort of on a whim, but I'm very glad I did! It was a slow start for me, and I'm not entirely sure why? It could have more to do with my mood at the time I started it more than anything else. Up until about 2/3 of the way through the book, I was fairly certain it was only going to be a four-star review, but the last 1/3 of the book tipped it to a five-star. Again, could've just been my mood. I enjoyed the ending, which leaves the story open to a sequel without torturing you with a cliff-hanger.

[Gary Hodge · Rating 5 out of 5]

underrated and underhyped

This story was a grand adventure and quite simply a fun read. Found this book by accident and so glad I read it. The journey and development of Trashy was heartwarming, silly and intriguing. An odd and very accidental group of traveling companions added a great deal of depth to the story. The footnotes throughout this book added significant levity without being intrusive. I really enjoyed the added and almost running narrative/commentary f this footnotes.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really excited to read this one and it did not disappoint! Though it was a little slow in the beginning and took a little getting used to, I soon found myself totally immersed in the sorry and characters.

It follows a trash golem who is recruited by two soldiers to return to the watch for duty. They meet a lot of strange characters along the way. Lots of political conflict running simultaneously in the background with an unexpected twist.

This is one of those silly, weird, self-aware novels and it was a fun read!

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant comedic fantasy in the vein of Pratchett. Lovable (and loathable) characters, a world that feels vibrant and alive, giant deer, and high adventure. If there was one thing I thought this book was missing it was more of everything because by the time I finished it I was truly disappointed to be leaving the Egg behind. Fantastic, wonderful book.

[Ollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kicked me out of a near decade long reading funk. Super funny (like actually giggling to myself) and gripping with a deeper storyline than expected for how silly it seems at the start, with a lovable and diverse cast of characters.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fun read! Found myself actually laughing out loud while reading it. Highly recommend if you like witty fantasy!!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun book! The characters were easy to connect with and I grew very fond of them. Excited for more from this author!