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Kinless: Book One of Two
They broke his sword, they cast him out, and still he returns to fight for them. Rejected by his people, stripped of his honour, betrayed by the woman he loves, Drustan desainCoid is naught but a sell-sword. But when an army of demon worshippers attacks his homeland he will risk all that he is, all that he holds dear, to deny them victory. "Let the fight dictate the moves. Do not plan: act. Do not think: be. Let the fight dictate the moves. Drustan opened his eyes and threw the spear with a surge of practised muscle. He lifted his swords and leapt into the clearing." 'If you like your spec fic/fantasy books with a darker side and with authentic military detail, you'll want to buy this.' Jae Erwin, author of Stillness Dancing. 'Another stunning and vivid tale from master world-builder Stephen Godden.' Gary Bonn, author of Expect Civilian Casualties. 'Godden gave us a taste of his skills in last year's City of Lights. Here he delivers a full-length novel (two actually, because there's more to come; hurrah!) and he doesn't disappoint. Reading Kinless is like watching a film inside your head. The scenery and situations are vividly real, and you can almost form personal relationships with the vivid cast of characters. This is intelligent, engaging storytelling, in which the goodies make you cheer, the lovers warm your cockles, and the baddies chill the blood (and gave me nightmares). Military types will relish the meticulous detail; for me, it's the unfolding relationships that make this such an enjoyable read.' Janet Brown, author of The Walker's Daughter.
308 pages, Paperback
First published December 19, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 16, 2014
Like a gritty Gemmell. Great fun. Lots of rich prose and world building without going on and on. Some spectacular battle scenes and characters I genuinely cared about. Disclaimer: the author is a friend and cowriter of mine, but regardless I still loved this book and would happily recommend it to fans of fantasy who don't want to read a 1000 page monster.
January 19, 2014
Not your typical epic fantasy, Kinless moves at breakneck speed from start to finish. The world-building is thorough and top-notch, the characters well-rounded. I don't want to go into detail to avoid spoilers, but I found myself rooting for a certain event from page one, and it was very satisfying when it happened.
This one isn't for the faint of heart, thought. It does contain some brutality and war-related violence, but it is done with historical, military accuracy, and done very well.
Rarely, a series emerges that grabs me so hard with the first book, that I mark my calendar with the next book's release day so I can be waiting at the doors when the store opens.
This is one of those books.
This one isn't for the faint of heart, thought. It does contain some brutality and war-related violence, but it is done with historical, military accuracy, and done very well.
Rarely, a series emerges that grabs me so hard with the first book, that I mark my calendar with the next book's release day so I can be waiting at the doors when the store opens.
This is one of those books.
March 18, 2014
If you like your fantasy dark, with authentic military detail, then Kinless is the book for you. It's not relentless in the darkness though. There are powerful, human threads throughout.
December 28, 2015
Some time ago, I was approached about writing a book review for Kinless. I suspect my name was mentioned in passing as, at the time, I had been spending much of my time reviewing other author's work. I was in charge of the literature section at FanboysAnonymous in fact, a Geek site which treated me with enough respect, I suppose. Anyhow, I sat down to this book not knowing what exactly to expect. As a reader, it's hard to know what you are getting yourself into anyway. I've read a lot of bad books. No offense to the authors, and no insult intended. I started reading this book with little reserved hope for the better.
I will say this much, I finished it. That's to say, I finished it quite quickly. I read it almost inside a day. A certain number of my own life issues, circumstances which might have been helped had I kept the right mindset about things all these years. This review is about a year and a half late, maybe later, but I've decided to write it none-the-less, so here goes.
Kinless is the story of an ignoble Knight, a man who fights even for those that don't want him, a man named Drusten DesainCoid. They broke his sword, they cast him out, the love of his life betrayed him and still he returns to fight for them, but only as a mercenary for higher. Such tends to be the fate of men who are part man and part immense ogrean monster demon worshipper. The thing about Drusten though is he's got a bigger heart than other men and it comes in handy in battle. He'll need it.
As to my earlier statement about reserving hope for the better, I was sorry the notion ever crossed my mind after reading this book. It cleansed my palate completely. There's something about the hard sword and sorcery, demon magic which causes men to think they are wild vicious search dogs and epic battle plots, not to mention visits from Gods, of this story that comes together in a furious hurricane of wow. If you pick this book up, you will not only finish it, but you will love it.
I will say this much, I finished it. That's to say, I finished it quite quickly. I read it almost inside a day. A certain number of my own life issues, circumstances which might have been helped had I kept the right mindset about things all these years. This review is about a year and a half late, maybe later, but I've decided to write it none-the-less, so here goes.
Kinless is the story of an ignoble Knight, a man who fights even for those that don't want him, a man named Drusten DesainCoid. They broke his sword, they cast him out, the love of his life betrayed him and still he returns to fight for them, but only as a mercenary for higher. Such tends to be the fate of men who are part man and part immense ogrean monster demon worshipper. The thing about Drusten though is he's got a bigger heart than other men and it comes in handy in battle. He'll need it.
As to my earlier statement about reserving hope for the better, I was sorry the notion ever crossed my mind after reading this book. It cleansed my palate completely. There's something about the hard sword and sorcery, demon magic which causes men to think they are wild vicious search dogs and epic battle plots, not to mention visits from Gods, of this story that comes together in a furious hurricane of wow. If you pick this book up, you will not only finish it, but you will love it.
April 19, 2014
This is the second book by this author that I have read, and I must say he doesn't disappoint. It is a well written piece of Fantasy that once you get into it, you can't put the book down.
This story immerses us into a world in conflict as the Karisae islanders try to stop the Vascanar horde from invading their islands and freeing their Dark Gods. This fight of desperation and survival is mixed in well with brilliant characters, from the gruff Cullain to the sadistic Torquesten. By the end you'll be begging for more of the story.
If there is one thing to find fault with, it is the lack of a prologue at the beginning of the book. Without one, you're just thrown into the world of conflict wondering what on earth is going on, which may put some people off. You do get a good grasp of the world throughout the book, but a prologue to help introduce the world would have made this book a much easier read at the start.
Overall, this book is really good and I look forward to reading the second and final book.
This story immerses us into a world in conflict as the Karisae islanders try to stop the Vascanar horde from invading their islands and freeing their Dark Gods. This fight of desperation and survival is mixed in well with brilliant characters, from the gruff Cullain to the sadistic Torquesten. By the end you'll be begging for more of the story.
If there is one thing to find fault with, it is the lack of a prologue at the beginning of the book. Without one, you're just thrown into the world of conflict wondering what on earth is going on, which may put some people off. You do get a good grasp of the world throughout the book, but a prologue to help introduce the world would have made this book a much easier read at the start.
Overall, this book is really good and I look forward to reading the second and final book.
June 27, 2014
If you like your fantasy epic but not endless... you heroes hot but not unrealistic... and your action gritty but not grim, then Stephen Godden could be the writer for you. He avoids the nastiness of some of the more recent grim-dark fantasy, (the sometimes gratuitous or narratively-amoral violence), but still paints a realistic portrait of a world embattled and a soldier - nay, a sellsword - caught by love, duty and inner conflict.
I liked City of Lights a lot and I stillthink the Tales of the Shonri is probably my favourite of his two worlds. But Kinless is very good. I look forward to reading Book 2.
I liked City of Lights a lot and I stillthink the Tales of the Shonri is probably my favourite of his two worlds. But Kinless is very good. I look forward to reading Book 2.
January 19, 2015
Sometimes you read a book that just hits the spot. This is one of those books. People who would know say it's reminiscent of Gemmell, but I wouldn't know since I haven't read any Gemmell. I just know that I love the way the author has spun a world full of stories and mythologies that make the heart beat a little faster. The heroes are wonderful; the baddies are terrifying; the action is thrilling; and the love story is moving. Seriously, what else do you want from a book? There's a tenderness to this story that makes it sing long after the last page is turned.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews