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The Trials of Oland Born
Curse of Kings
In the tone of The Hobbit, comes the first thrilling story in an epic fantasy adventure, from a major new voice.
Fourteen-year-old Oland Born lives in dark times, in a world ruled by evil tyrant, Vilius Ren. Vilius and his fearsome, bloodthirsty army have wrecked the prosperous kingdom of Decresian, once ruled by good King Micah. Oland himself has been kept as Vilius’s servant in grim Castle Derrington, and he knows little about his past – or why Vilius keeps such a sharp, close eye on him.
One night, Oland finds a letter addressed to him, from the long-dead king. No sooner has he read the message than a mysterious stranger tries to kidnap him. Oland runs, the dead king’s warning ringing in his ears…
If Oland is to live he must restore the shattered kingdom. This is his quest. This is his curse. Let the trials of Oland Born begin. . .
The setting is a hugely atmospheric fantasy world of medieval castles, Romanesque games arenas, supernatural forests and harsh seas. Terrifying hybrid creatures and monsters abound – and Oland’s greatest ally is a girl called Delphi who has dark secrets of her own.
433 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 2013
11 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Alex Barclay
39 books156 followersBarclay studied journalism at university and worked for a period in fashion and beauty journalism as a copywriter in the RTÉ Guide. In 2003, she left the fashion industry to write Darkhouse, the first of two novels featuring NYPD detective Joe Lucchesi. Her second novel, The Caller, was released in 2007, and Last Call in 2008. She won the Ireland AM Crime Fiction Award at the Irish Book Awards for her fourth novel, Blood Runs Cold.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 27, 2021
Well this is the longest it has ever taken me to finish a book.
There were so many positive aspects to this novel but the pacing was off for me and it was quite a hectic plot. New characters kept popping up and disappearing with random creature attacks throughout the book to add a bit of action, and lots of old men telling stories where we find out about other things that are going on elsewhere or in the past, and then suddenly we are back in another crazy fight for survival. Phew! The result was a story that felt disjointed with too much going on for readers to really settle in the story. I kept picking it up and putting it down. I got there in the end but it won't make it to my booktalk shelves.
There were so many positive aspects to this novel but the pacing was off for me and it was quite a hectic plot. New characters kept popping up and disappearing with random creature attacks throughout the book to add a bit of action, and lots of old men telling stories where we find out about other things that are going on elsewhere or in the past, and then suddenly we are back in another crazy fight for survival. Phew! The result was a story that felt disjointed with too much going on for readers to really settle in the story. I kept picking it up and putting it down. I got there in the end but it won't make it to my booktalk shelves.
September 1, 2021
mind= blown
i have no words.
i under-hyped this book.
i actually had to stop reading each day so the book would last longer…
i have no words.
i under-hyped this book.
i actually had to stop reading each day so the book would last longer…
February 7, 2013
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The recommendation from Derek Landy on the cover and the apparent (according to the gumf on the back) resemblance to the Hobbit sold me on this one.
The book starts 14 years ago, with King Micah being betrayed by his most trusted and loyal friend (well not so loyal after all), Villus Ren. Villus kills Micah and takes over as ruler of Decresian, a land that flourished under the rule of King Micah but that fades away into ruin under Villus’s control. Villus spends the next 14 years destroying the land and creating the 999 souls that scream all night, every night - 999 people that were failed experiments and left to rot for eternity. Move on to present day, and Orland Born is introduced, a boy that was born the night King Micah was over thrown, and his mother left, leaving only a note saying she’d be back for him one day. So Orland stays, becomes Villus’ servant (and a servant to Villus’ men too), until his 14th year when he betrays Villus’ and finds a letter from King Micah instructing him to go on a blind journey which will help him save Decresian. On his journey, Orland fights against time, science and magic to find true friendship, as well as the truth about his heritage (and its not what you’d think), the royal line.
This book was LONG. I wanted to get it reviewed prior to the release date (1st feb) but I just couldn’t get through it. The second half was better than the first, there was an awful lot of scene setting and preparation for the actual action. The comparisons to tolkin are, in my opinion, unfounded, and a little misleading. Where Tolkin had the ability to weave sub plots and descriptions into the fold, leading the reader off on a tangent they don’t mind being on, Barclay struggled to engage in places, there was no ‘epic-ness’ to the book, which is what I’d of expected given the size of the book, the premise and the Tolkin comparisons. Thats not to say its bad, but to give it a label such as ‘in the tone of the Hobbit’ is setting it up to fail. There is little magic, which was unexpected, I presumed it’d be sorcerers and witches, and curses, its not -its science, DNA and genetic alterations and manipulations. Nothing wrong with a science based book (or in this case fictional science), but it just wasn’t what I thought it would be.
The story is ok, there is little originality there, but for the target audience there is enough to keep them guessing, and there were things in there I saw coming, but the truth about Oland (who btw I keep wanting to call Orlando- as in Bloom), I did not, and I’m glad it wasn’t going to go down the obvious route. The second half is DEFINITELY better than the first, the journey really gets going and they are up against the clock, and the friendships between Delphi is very gentle, unassuming and heart warming. The world created is a little disappointing, harking back to the Tolkin comparisons, he could create a world that you could see, Barclay’s world is only on paper, there are few mystical creatures (other than those created by Villus’ scientists), the people they meet are all ‘people’ barring the seer’s guards, there is mention of other species or races, but they don’t come into the story at all really. Its almost like the world is there - but you just can’t get to it.
Overall I enjoyed the book, despite it being a little hard to read in places, there were aspects of it dragging. I can’t say I’d rush out to buy book two, but I’d read it if its in the library, I don’t know what was missing, but there was something not there. Barclay has produced a solid, hard working debut, it won’t be the next Harry Potter, or even the next Hobbit/LOTR but it’ll do ok, and if you like fantasy with a bit of science, its worth a read - 3.5 stars
ARC/eGalley kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
The recommendation from Derek Landy on the cover and the apparent (according to the gumf on the back) resemblance to the Hobbit sold me on this one.
The book starts 14 years ago, with King Micah being betrayed by his most trusted and loyal friend (well not so loyal after all), Villus Ren. Villus kills Micah and takes over as ruler of Decresian, a land that flourished under the rule of King Micah but that fades away into ruin under Villus’s control. Villus spends the next 14 years destroying the land and creating the 999 souls that scream all night, every night - 999 people that were failed experiments and left to rot for eternity. Move on to present day, and Orland Born is introduced, a boy that was born the night King Micah was over thrown, and his mother left, leaving only a note saying she’d be back for him one day. So Orland stays, becomes Villus’ servant (and a servant to Villus’ men too), until his 14th year when he betrays Villus’ and finds a letter from King Micah instructing him to go on a blind journey which will help him save Decresian. On his journey, Orland fights against time, science and magic to find true friendship, as well as the truth about his heritage (and its not what you’d think), the royal line.
This book was LONG. I wanted to get it reviewed prior to the release date (1st feb) but I just couldn’t get through it. The second half was better than the first, there was an awful lot of scene setting and preparation for the actual action. The comparisons to tolkin are, in my opinion, unfounded, and a little misleading. Where Tolkin had the ability to weave sub plots and descriptions into the fold, leading the reader off on a tangent they don’t mind being on, Barclay struggled to engage in places, there was no ‘epic-ness’ to the book, which is what I’d of expected given the size of the book, the premise and the Tolkin comparisons. Thats not to say its bad, but to give it a label such as ‘in the tone of the Hobbit’ is setting it up to fail. There is little magic, which was unexpected, I presumed it’d be sorcerers and witches, and curses, its not -its science, DNA and genetic alterations and manipulations. Nothing wrong with a science based book (or in this case fictional science), but it just wasn’t what I thought it would be.
The story is ok, there is little originality there, but for the target audience there is enough to keep them guessing, and there were things in there I saw coming, but the truth about Oland (who btw I keep wanting to call Orlando- as in Bloom), I did not, and I’m glad it wasn’t going to go down the obvious route. The second half is DEFINITELY better than the first, the journey really gets going and they are up against the clock, and the friendships between Delphi is very gentle, unassuming and heart warming. The world created is a little disappointing, harking back to the Tolkin comparisons, he could create a world that you could see, Barclay’s world is only on paper, there are few mystical creatures (other than those created by Villus’ scientists), the people they meet are all ‘people’ barring the seer’s guards, there is mention of other species or races, but they don’t come into the story at all really. Its almost like the world is there - but you just can’t get to it.
Overall I enjoyed the book, despite it being a little hard to read in places, there were aspects of it dragging. I can’t say I’d rush out to buy book two, but I’d read it if its in the library, I don’t know what was missing, but there was something not there. Barclay has produced a solid, hard working debut, it won’t be the next Harry Potter, or even the next Hobbit/LOTR but it’ll do ok, and if you like fantasy with a bit of science, its worth a read - 3.5 stars
ARC/eGalley kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
November 28, 2018
It is a fast pacing story in the beginning and at the end. It went slow for 30% of the book in between. It is full of twists and turns. There is less of a story and more of a premise for upcoming books. Introducing too many characters and killing them one by one as the novel progress and then some of them turning up alive at the end! This is the first time I have read a book with characters dying and reviving so quickly.
I would have liked it better if there were lesser characters with more depth than too many shallow drawn ones. It was as if all the characters from second book had been introduced in the first itself, to be developed later.
At places, I believe a little more description could have helped the imagination, like the drogues. Rather than mentioning just their long snout or sharp spine or hooves, it would be better to draw similarity to the animals they were made of.
Altogether it is a shallow read in which anything is possible super powers sprouting up here and there, genetic mutation at the crux of it all.
I would have liked it better if there were lesser characters with more depth than too many shallow drawn ones. It was as if all the characters from second book had been introduced in the first itself, to be developed later.
At places, I believe a little more description could have helped the imagination, like the drogues. Rather than mentioning just their long snout or sharp spine or hooves, it would be better to draw similarity to the animals they were made of.
Altogether it is a shallow read in which anything is possible super powers sprouting up here and there, genetic mutation at the crux of it all.
August 23, 2021
Well it was a good listener to in the car for out long summer holiday drives to keep our nipper (and us) entertained. It was hard to follow at times what with so many characters, couldn't keep up with who was who. Some interesting characters you never saw site of again and the ending wasn't what we expected at all. And went onto search for number 2 in the series and nothing. This one was published 2013. It feels very unfortunate that we can't pick up and continue the saga. The narrator Ben Allen was brilliant and really brought the book to life. And that being said, if may have been a tricky one to read though now we want to read #2.
August 22, 2021
We listened to this for our long car rides this summer to keep our youngest entertained but it kept us entertained also. It was well read by Ben Alan and I think it probably was a better listen than an actual read though the story was a great adventure and liked a lot of the characters, it was hard to follow who was who at times. it was enjoyable and I recommend listening to it..we are looking forward to number 2 on this series but can't find it even though this book was 1st published in 2013
December 23, 2018
Well written - lost of twists and turns, great book.
October 23, 2020
dnf at 49%
April 4, 2014
Review Courtesy Of April Hollingworth
Brilliant, entertaining and exciting - if you can't guess I really like this book!
Oland Born's inner strength and determination is all he has keeping him alive. So when he finds a mysterious letter addressed to him from a dead king that died when he was just born Oland goes on the adventure of a life time to find answers and save the people of the kingdom. This is the first book in this exciting new series.
Opening Scene:
FOURTEEN YEARS AGO...
Wind rushed in from the cold night and quenched all but three of the torches that lit the great hall of Castle Derrington.
The Review:
Oland Born is a fourteen year old boy, brought up as a slave to the man who murdered King Micah. A King who wrote a letter to Oland just before he died, when Oland was just a new born baby. Fourteen years later Oland finds the letter under mysterious circumstances and then is almost kidnapped by a mysterious stranger. Escaping into the night Oland goes on the adventure of a lifetime unsure who to trust as danger and strangeness lies just around the corner. But time is running out, and Oland has to solve the quest the dead King sent him on, before it's to late.
Notable Scene:
Cries broke out across the arena and, when Oland looked up, a boy no older than him was being wrestled from the crowd by a guard. He had short, choppy black hair and fierce, dark eyes that were almost black. He fought hard, struggling against the guard's bulging arm around his waist. Oland wondered what the boy had done. He watched as the guard carried him up the last step. The boy struggled one last time. He raised his arm, tensed it, tightened his hand into a fist, then sent a sharp elbow backward into the stomach of the guard. The man's face contorted and he dropped him. A smile broke out across the boy's face and it was transformed. Oland's eyes shot wide. He knew then why the boy was being kicked out.For he was not a boy at all. He was a girl. A very pretty girl, in fact. And then she was gone.
A loud bell tolled over the uproar, until the still-cheering crowd quietened. Villius Ren gestured for Oland to approach the royal box. Oland didn't move. Villius beckoned him again. Oland moved slowly towards him.
"People of Decresian," roared Villius, "are we witnessing the historical first meeting of slavery and bravery?" He laughed loud.
The crowd was utterly silent as Oland walked up the steps to the royal box and stood beside Villius. Oland's heart pounded. He knew that they had been cheering not because he had taken lives, but because he had saved one.
Brilliant, entertaining and exciting - if you can't guess I really like this book!
Oland Born's inner strength and determination is all he has keeping him alive. So when he finds a mysterious letter addressed to him from a dead king that died when he was just born Oland goes on the adventure of a life time to find answers and save the people of the kingdom. This is the first book in this exciting new series.
Opening Scene:
FOURTEEN YEARS AGO...
Wind rushed in from the cold night and quenched all but three of the torches that lit the great hall of Castle Derrington.
The Review:
Oland Born is a fourteen year old boy, brought up as a slave to the man who murdered King Micah. A King who wrote a letter to Oland just before he died, when Oland was just a new born baby. Fourteen years later Oland finds the letter under mysterious circumstances and then is almost kidnapped by a mysterious stranger. Escaping into the night Oland goes on the adventure of a lifetime unsure who to trust as danger and strangeness lies just around the corner. But time is running out, and Oland has to solve the quest the dead King sent him on, before it's to late.
Notable Scene:
Cries broke out across the arena and, when Oland looked up, a boy no older than him was being wrestled from the crowd by a guard. He had short, choppy black hair and fierce, dark eyes that were almost black. He fought hard, struggling against the guard's bulging arm around his waist. Oland wondered what the boy had done. He watched as the guard carried him up the last step. The boy struggled one last time. He raised his arm, tensed it, tightened his hand into a fist, then sent a sharp elbow backward into the stomach of the guard. The man's face contorted and he dropped him. A smile broke out across the boy's face and it was transformed. Oland's eyes shot wide. He knew then why the boy was being kicked out.For he was not a boy at all. He was a girl. A very pretty girl, in fact. And then she was gone.
A loud bell tolled over the uproar, until the still-cheering crowd quietened. Villius Ren gestured for Oland to approach the royal box. Oland didn't move. Villius beckoned him again. Oland moved slowly towards him.
"People of Decresian," roared Villius, "are we witnessing the historical first meeting of slavery and bravery?" He laughed loud.
The crowd was utterly silent as Oland walked up the steps to the royal box and stood beside Villius. Oland's heart pounded. He knew that they had been cheering not because he had taken lives, but because he had saved one.
September 7, 2014
I’m not sure what made me pick up this book from the book store. I guess, the blurb kinda attracted me. A Curse of Kings started with King Micah being betrayed by Villius Ren. Years later, Oland Born, a servant to Villius Ren was introduced. It was said that Oland was born on the night that King Micah was overthrown with a note from his mother that said she’ll be back for him someday. One night, Oland found a letter addressed to him from the late King Micah, instructed him to run.
I didn’t have much expectation when I start reading this book. There weren’t a lot of reviews for it when I purchased the book, so, I didn’t know what to expect.
The first part of A Curse of Kings was a bit too long and draggy. My sister started the book, and DNF at page 90++ because of this. But if you were a bit patience, you will find that the second part was way better. I enjoyed the adventure, and the friendship between Oland and Delphi. There story building was quite good. The characters and the supporting characters were great. There were a few twists that I did not expect at the ending. I kinda like the story and will definitely read the second book (if there’s any).
I didn’t have much expectation when I start reading this book. There weren’t a lot of reviews for it when I purchased the book, so, I didn’t know what to expect.
The first part of A Curse of Kings was a bit too long and draggy. My sister started the book, and DNF at page 90++ because of this. But if you were a bit patience, you will find that the second part was way better. I enjoyed the adventure, and the friendship between Oland and Delphi. There story building was quite good. The characters and the supporting characters were great. There were a few twists that I did not expect at the ending. I kinda like the story and will definitely read the second book (if there’s any).
February 12, 2017
Fun, a little juvenile. I would say it would be great for middle-grade.
November 13, 2014
If you want to read this book (which I really do recommend) then don't read this review as it contains spoliers.
This book had quite a plot twist at the end. I never would have guessed the Oland was the Rising Scryer, nor that Delphi was the Thousandth Soul. I had always thought that Oland would have been King Micah's son. After I read the letter, I thought he would have been Villius Ren's son. Boy, was I wrong!!!
Great book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2015
This book started out veeeeeeerrrrrryyyyyy slow, I honestly was losing concentration during the beginning! It did get fast-paced towards the end, but then it just got really confusing and maybe too fast paced. The book just jumped from one idea to the next, and at one point, when people were preparing for a battle, next thing I know the battle is under way and I'm like, "Hey, when did that start, weren't they just talking about plans!?!?!"
Good story, but poorly written.
Good story, but poorly written.
January 30, 2013
When I signed up for NetGalley, I made a mistake on my profile and was listed as a UK reader, not a US reader. I corrected my mistake, but had already requested and been approved for a few books. This was one of them.
Deepest apologies, all! In deference to the publisher's wishes, I cannot write a review on this book!
Deepest apologies, all! In deference to the publisher's wishes, I cannot write a review on this book!
May 23, 2016
This book is aimed at a much younger audience then I expected. There is very little character development and I felt the characters were just aimlessly going from place to place with very little information being discovered about the plot.
That said, the story picks up towards the end and I think I would probably read the next part of this story.
That said, the story picks up towards the end and I think I would probably read the next part of this story.
Want to read
June 2, 2013Hmm...any book that likens itself to The Hobbit is automatically intriguing to me. However, I must say that the synopsis sounds absolutely **NOTHING** like The Hobbit, so not quite sure how similar it can be. But Derek Landy likes it, so I guess I gotta find my amazon.co.uk password again and get me a copy!
May 20, 2014
A nice, new fantasy book that didn't take too long to read for it was large writing and smaller than normal pages. A great plot, many twists and turns and cannot wait for the continuation of the series.
April 8, 2014
I thought that this book was awsome! Sometimes it dragged out a bit too much, but other then that it was great. The plot was really grabbing and entertaining, to a degree that I had troubles getting my head out of the book.
March 7, 2013
A great adventure, a fantastic quest! For those who love their Ranger’s Apprentice this will be another series to devour.
April 1, 2013
Loved reading this!! Can't wait for more!
September 16, 2013
This book is brilliant.
The ending was done beautifully, it answered pretty much all of the questions and but offered you so much more to mull over before the next book comes out.
I loved this book!
The ending was done beautifully, it answered pretty much all of the questions and but offered you so much more to mull over before the next book comes out.
I loved this book!
November 6, 2013
This book is fantastic!! the plot is pretty amazing stuff. the ideas are great as well. Can't believe Delphi is.....(spoiler).....WOW!! Oland is pretty cool as well
December 30, 2014
A good read. The Curse of Kings incorporates the true Fantasy story - I did not want to put the book down.
August 26, 2014
DNF at page 92.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews