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A Kingdom Divided #1
Rise of the Mercenary King
When tragedy threatens to claim the lives of those he holds dear, Tyrion Nelvar finds himself fighting for his very life.
Half-elf, half-man, all warrior. The young adventurer must bring every skill he has to bear if he is to rise above the chaos and conflict that plague the land of Vantacor.
This action packed novella will keep you on your toes from the first page till the last.
Half-elf, half-man, all warrior. The young adventurer must bring every skill he has to bear if he is to rise above the chaos and conflict that plague the land of Vantacor.
This action packed novella will keep you on your toes from the first page till the last.
52 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 20, 2015
191 people are currently reading
394 people want to read
About the author
S.C. Stokes
64 books118 followersSam is a writer of magically-charged fantasy adventures. His passion for action, magic and intrigue spawned his Arcanoverse; a delightfully deluded universe that blends magic, myth, and the modern world in a melting pot that frequently explodes.
When he isn’t hiding away in his writing cave, his favorite hobbies include cooking, indulging sugary cravings, gaming, and trying to make his children laugh. You can find more of his work at www.samuelcstokes.com.
When he isn’t hiding away in his writing cave, his favorite hobbies include cooking, indulging sugary cravings, gaming, and trying to make his children laugh. You can find more of his work at www.samuelcstokes.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
March 26, 2016
I enjoyed reading this book. I received it as a e-book for subscribing to his website. It is my first book by this author. I hope to read more books by this author. It had a good story to it.
Currently reading
May 9, 2016Kings
There is many types of kings, you have the good, bad,and the ones that are the people king and the one how want it by any mines. This that type of storyline, a very goodone
There is many types of kings, you have the good, bad,and the ones that are the people king and the one how want it by any mines. This that type of storyline, a very goodone
April 24, 2017
I will start with the fact that this is a fantasy book. I love reading fantasy. This book might not be like the Wheel of Time or the Lord of the Rings but I love it. It’s easy to read and it’s very interesing. The story started a bit slowly but after a few pages it got me hooked so much I couldn’t put it down. In general this is a very interesting read.
The fantasy world was built very well and the character development was good. I had the feeling that I can connect with the characters. It felt as if the places and the characters existed long ago in our world and this is a story that shows the past. While reading the book it constantly reminded me of other books. But in the fantasy genre almost everything is the same. There are a lot of book about kings raised by wizards or books that try to show the neverending fight between good and evil. It’s the same even in the paranormal genre. But what makes this book different is the approach the author takes. I like the way the authors has succeeded in finding the balance between dialogue and descriptions.
What surprised me the most was the forward from the auther where he states that the readers might find similarities and differences between the novel and other traditional fantasy works. Not many author would say that. I appreciate the honesty. Furthermore, in the forward the author states tht the goal for the pace of the novel is to be an action-packed fantasy novel. I believe that S.C. Stokes succeeded to achieve that. The other thing that I like about the author is that he doesn’t shy away from feedback. I like author who are open to criticism.
I also like the idea of the map. It’s a very beautiful map which you have the option to view in a larger size on the ebook version of the book. Another positive thing I can list are the names. They are well-though and easy to pronounce. I don’t like name I can’t wrap my tongue around when saying them. And admit it. It’s easier to say Listarii than Warmliornarcrad for example, the latter I just made up. Without giving away any spoiler I will tell you that so far this is the best fantasy book I’ve read in recent years and the epilogue will leave you wanting more. From the moment I read; The black-hooded figure slipped quetly through the shadowy streets of Mizumumra.; I knew that there is more going on but I will have to wait for the sequel to find out. But that is not what nailed me to my chair. It’s the very last sentence that made me wanna eat my phone while waiting for the next part. A very good ending that will make your hands itch for more.
I give this book 5 out 5 stars and strongly recommend it to all fantasy fans and to those that haven’t read book in the genre before. You will like it.
The fantasy world was built very well and the character development was good. I had the feeling that I can connect with the characters. It felt as if the places and the characters existed long ago in our world and this is a story that shows the past. While reading the book it constantly reminded me of other books. But in the fantasy genre almost everything is the same. There are a lot of book about kings raised by wizards or books that try to show the neverending fight between good and evil. It’s the same even in the paranormal genre. But what makes this book different is the approach the author takes. I like the way the authors has succeeded in finding the balance between dialogue and descriptions.
What surprised me the most was the forward from the auther where he states that the readers might find similarities and differences between the novel and other traditional fantasy works. Not many author would say that. I appreciate the honesty. Furthermore, in the forward the author states tht the goal for the pace of the novel is to be an action-packed fantasy novel. I believe that S.C. Stokes succeeded to achieve that. The other thing that I like about the author is that he doesn’t shy away from feedback. I like author who are open to criticism.
I also like the idea of the map. It’s a very beautiful map which you have the option to view in a larger size on the ebook version of the book. Another positive thing I can list are the names. They are well-though and easy to pronounce. I don’t like name I can’t wrap my tongue around when saying them. And admit it. It’s easier to say Listarii than Warmliornarcrad for example, the latter I just made up. Without giving away any spoiler I will tell you that so far this is the best fantasy book I’ve read in recent years and the epilogue will leave you wanting more. From the moment I read; The black-hooded figure slipped quetly through the shadowy streets of Mizumumra.; I knew that there is more going on but I will have to wait for the sequel to find out. But that is not what nailed me to my chair. It’s the very last sentence that made me wanna eat my phone while waiting for the next part. A very good ending that will make your hands itch for more.
I give this book 5 out 5 stars and strongly recommend it to all fantasy fans and to those that haven’t read book in the genre before. You will like it.
May 31, 2016
I give this book a rating of 3.5.
The story is creative and engaging and kept me involved. At the end of the book, in the 'about the author' section, he said that he chose not to put in a great amount of detail so that the reader's imagination would fill in the gaps. I am sorry he made this choice. The book was good, but I think the extra details could have made it much better.
Loved the characters in the gang! They were all memorable. The main character, however, was almost too perfect. He needed some kind of quirk or flaw or defect. Also, when his father is killed, he is able to put aside his grief and make rational decisions almost immediately. Grief for such a close relationship is overwhelming so I found this to be highly unrealistic.
There were also several typos. I find these very distracting. I would highly recommend an editor.
The story is creative and engaging and kept me involved. At the end of the book, in the 'about the author' section, he said that he chose not to put in a great amount of detail so that the reader's imagination would fill in the gaps. I am sorry he made this choice. The book was good, but I think the extra details could have made it much better.
Loved the characters in the gang! They were all memorable. The main character, however, was almost too perfect. He needed some kind of quirk or flaw or defect. Also, when his father is killed, he is able to put aside his grief and make rational decisions almost immediately. Grief for such a close relationship is overwhelming so I found this to be highly unrealistic.
There were also several typos. I find these very distracting. I would highly recommend an editor.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2016
I got this as a e-book from the author for subscribing to his site. I enjoyed reading it. It had a good story to it. I hope to read more books by this author.
February 4, 2017
Okay, so let me start by saying I’ve never found myself deeply in love with young adult books, and this was no different. I’ve liked some, but they’ve never snagged me wholly. The reason is almost always the main characters. I find the majority of YA books have a rather perfect hero/heroine, and a cockiness or timidness that goes to extremes. Of course they’re great and loved by all. I get it. It’s a good draw and something a lot of people expect. And there’s nothing wrong with it if that’s what the author decides to write, it’s just not my cup of tea. However, there can be redeeming qualities that help me overlook these startling awesome youths, and this book had enough in the way of magic to help me keep turning the pages.
If anyone reads the author’s note in this, they’ll see that Stokes has chosen to leave out descriptions. For a reader who hates lengthy descriptions, I was really excited. While I was reading, I can’t say I noticed much, but as I sit to write this review, I realize it did indeed have a negative impact that I wasn’t expecting. Without laying out the land for me, I’m walking alongside my characters in a meadow and suddenly we’re hiding behind scrubs and there’s no meadow. We were walking in woods the entire time. Sure I can adjust, but looking back I realize it left me hazy to the story, floating. Which in turn made me realize I was reading the entire time. I never escaped anywhere because I had no place to escape to. Just a tad bit more description—and I mean just a little here and there—would have solved it. If you’re a description junky, steer clear.
Now for those characters. Well, they were young men around 18 years and they each have a girl they like—she’s awesome and not squeamish—and the boys are awesome at what they want to be awesome at. I found no depth in them. I think it might go back to that description issue. And some of their reactions were quite … I don’t even know how to say it without giving away anything, but it felt off to me. I’d have liked a bit more depth to their feelings. Maybe I’m more emotional than they are. I don’t know.
The world seems interesting, from what I could make of it: very standard fantasy in the way of kings and lords, marrying for favor and allies, ect. However, when Stokes started touching upon magic, I perked up. It was interesting to me, but I love me some magic. While I don’t think it was earth shattering, I found it entertaining enough for me to ignore some of the young adult elements. There was some real fun to be had, and I’ll just say dragons … yeah, dragons. Fun stuff, so it kept me reading on and pulled this book up a rating. Honestly, if not for some of the issues I said above, this could easily have been amazing.
As for the writing, it’s hard to say. The action scenes were fun, and I had a nice picture of what was going on for those. Very grounded then. But we had an irksome head hopping happening that would sometimes pull me out of those scenes. I’ve said it before: changing characters from paragraph to paragraph will always pull me right out of a story, and this was no exceptions. There’s also quotation issues which can sometimes be distracting: not stopping and starting at the right points so you don’t know someone is speaking again because the quotes didn’t start. This happened enough for me to notice, and I’d have to take that split second to figure out what happened.
I will give the author credit on keeping this book light. If you have a youngster, I’d see no problem with them reading this. The cover definitely looks darker than the books is, FYI. And I do love this cover, I’m just not sure it fit the book.
DISCLAIMER: I have no children of my own and have been told I don’t notice how dark something can be for children.
So overall, this review might sound negative, but the world was fun enough to offset what I didn’t like. If you really enjoy young adult, I’d give this a go. If you like light fantasy, I’d definitely give it a go. And on the date of this review the book is free, so if you’re even remotely curious, give it a download. Nothing to lose.
If anyone reads the author’s note in this, they’ll see that Stokes has chosen to leave out descriptions. For a reader who hates lengthy descriptions, I was really excited. While I was reading, I can’t say I noticed much, but as I sit to write this review, I realize it did indeed have a negative impact that I wasn’t expecting. Without laying out the land for me, I’m walking alongside my characters in a meadow and suddenly we’re hiding behind scrubs and there’s no meadow. We were walking in woods the entire time. Sure I can adjust, but looking back I realize it left me hazy to the story, floating. Which in turn made me realize I was reading the entire time. I never escaped anywhere because I had no place to escape to. Just a tad bit more description—and I mean just a little here and there—would have solved it. If you’re a description junky, steer clear.
Now for those characters. Well, they were young men around 18 years and they each have a girl they like—she’s awesome and not squeamish—and the boys are awesome at what they want to be awesome at. I found no depth in them. I think it might go back to that description issue. And some of their reactions were quite … I don’t even know how to say it without giving away anything, but it felt off to me. I’d have liked a bit more depth to their feelings. Maybe I’m more emotional than they are. I don’t know.
The world seems interesting, from what I could make of it: very standard fantasy in the way of kings and lords, marrying for favor and allies, ect. However, when Stokes started touching upon magic, I perked up. It was interesting to me, but I love me some magic. While I don’t think it was earth shattering, I found it entertaining enough for me to ignore some of the young adult elements. There was some real fun to be had, and I’ll just say dragons … yeah, dragons. Fun stuff, so it kept me reading on and pulled this book up a rating. Honestly, if not for some of the issues I said above, this could easily have been amazing.
As for the writing, it’s hard to say. The action scenes were fun, and I had a nice picture of what was going on for those. Very grounded then. But we had an irksome head hopping happening that would sometimes pull me out of those scenes. I’ve said it before: changing characters from paragraph to paragraph will always pull me right out of a story, and this was no exceptions. There’s also quotation issues which can sometimes be distracting: not stopping and starting at the right points so you don’t know someone is speaking again because the quotes didn’t start. This happened enough for me to notice, and I’d have to take that split second to figure out what happened.
I will give the author credit on keeping this book light. If you have a youngster, I’d see no problem with them reading this. The cover definitely looks darker than the books is, FYI. And I do love this cover, I’m just not sure it fit the book.
DISCLAIMER: I have no children of my own and have been told I don’t notice how dark something can be for children.
So overall, this review might sound negative, but the world was fun enough to offset what I didn’t like. If you really enjoy young adult, I’d give this a go. If you like light fantasy, I’d definitely give it a go. And on the date of this review the book is free, so if you’re even remotely curious, give it a download. Nothing to lose.
July 5, 2018
The golden throne has stood vacant for a hundred years, but a power-mad baron will stop at nothing to take it.
Tristan Listar watches helplessly as his family is massacred and his home burned to the ground. The villains who performed this heinous act were soldiers of the Baron of Belnair. Bereft of family, home, and even country, Tristan must unite the most unlikely allies to prevent the murderous baron from ascending the throne.
Content:
Drug Content:
PG - One of the characters in this book is a drunkard.
Violence:
PG-13 - There's a war going on in this book, so there's a great deal of fighting, especially in the latter half. A man is decapitated. A person is shoved through a window and falls to his death. A battalion of soldiers burns alive. A man with a sword buried in his chest manages to battle several opponents. A man is tortured and beaten nearly to death. A magic wielder destroys a ship full of pirates. Cannon and cutlass abound. But for the most part, the violence is not gratuitously graphic.
Language:
G - squeaky clean.
Adult Content:
G - There's some love interest between Tristan and the girl he likes, but the level of romance in this novel is what you would expect in a Disney movie.
Christian content:
Nada. I'd place the belief structure in the book somewhere between the Norse mythology and that of the Greeks. The basic premise of this world is one in which the AllFather creates a race of demigods with incredible powers, which they abuse and are somewhat disenchanted. On the positive side, there is self sacrifice, honor, duty, depicted against villainy, deceit, and intrigue.
Final analysis:
I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced fantasy. Great world-building, exciting action, sterling characters vs. classic villains. A solid plot line leaving you satisfied yet wanting more. Stokes has painted a solid picture of good versus evil, and Five Stars!
Tristan Listar watches helplessly as his family is massacred and his home burned to the ground. The villains who performed this heinous act were soldiers of the Baron of Belnair. Bereft of family, home, and even country, Tristan must unite the most unlikely allies to prevent the murderous baron from ascending the throne.
Content:
Drug Content:
PG - One of the characters in this book is a drunkard.
Violence:
PG-13 - There's a war going on in this book, so there's a great deal of fighting, especially in the latter half. A man is decapitated. A person is shoved through a window and falls to his death. A battalion of soldiers burns alive. A man with a sword buried in his chest manages to battle several opponents. A man is tortured and beaten nearly to death. A magic wielder destroys a ship full of pirates. Cannon and cutlass abound. But for the most part, the violence is not gratuitously graphic.
Language:
G - squeaky clean.
Adult Content:
G - There's some love interest between Tristan and the girl he likes, but the level of romance in this novel is what you would expect in a Disney movie.
Christian content:
Nada. I'd place the belief structure in the book somewhere between the Norse mythology and that of the Greeks. The basic premise of this world is one in which the AllFather creates a race of demigods with incredible powers, which they abuse and are somewhat disenchanted. On the positive side, there is self sacrifice, honor, duty, depicted against villainy, deceit, and intrigue.
Final analysis:
I thoroughly enjoyed this fast-paced fantasy. Great world-building, exciting action, sterling characters vs. classic villains. A solid plot line leaving you satisfied yet wanting more. Stokes has painted a solid picture of good versus evil, and Five Stars!
November 21, 2017
A Coronation of Kings by Samuel Stokes Review
The difference between kindness and cruelty!
Watching from the window, Tristan screamed, “Father!” Tears streamed down his face as he fell to his knees. Without mercy the bandits closed in, torches blazing against the night sky. Tristan watched in terror as the Manor caught fire…with him inside it.
With his home in ashes and his world on fire, Tristan must make a choice…Fight or die. Tyranny and civil war threaten to consume the island Kingdom of Valaar. Aided by a handful of brave souls, Tristan makes a stand that will change Valaar and the world forever. Do you love action-packed fantasy adventures? If so you will love A Coronation of Kings. Jam-packed with action, sorcery, dragons, heroism, and treachery A Coronation of Kings will suck you in and not let you go! Grab your next fantasy favorite today.
What did I like? You can’t help but fall in love with Tristan and family! I think that struck me most was the difference in how the people were treated in this book, we all know that adage that you can more with honey. This book brings it all to heart in spades. I love the fact also that Tristan showed the strength that his did at his age.
What will you like? Besides the total action, sorcery, lots of dragons, heroism, treachery and even a little romance, what more could you possibly want in a book? Tristan taking his life in his hands and spreading love and devotion to the most unusual band of people that you could expect him to be with. The action is spellbinding and the development of his brother will keep you mesmerized. It is one action-packed adventure from start to finish! I am on to the next book and can’t wait. I received this from the author as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) for an honest review with no other compensation.
The difference between kindness and cruelty!
Watching from the window, Tristan screamed, “Father!” Tears streamed down his face as he fell to his knees. Without mercy the bandits closed in, torches blazing against the night sky. Tristan watched in terror as the Manor caught fire…with him inside it.
With his home in ashes and his world on fire, Tristan must make a choice…Fight or die. Tyranny and civil war threaten to consume the island Kingdom of Valaar. Aided by a handful of brave souls, Tristan makes a stand that will change Valaar and the world forever. Do you love action-packed fantasy adventures? If so you will love A Coronation of Kings. Jam-packed with action, sorcery, dragons, heroism, and treachery A Coronation of Kings will suck you in and not let you go! Grab your next fantasy favorite today.
What did I like? You can’t help but fall in love with Tristan and family! I think that struck me most was the difference in how the people were treated in this book, we all know that adage that you can more with honey. This book brings it all to heart in spades. I love the fact also that Tristan showed the strength that his did at his age.
What will you like? Besides the total action, sorcery, lots of dragons, heroism, treachery and even a little romance, what more could you possibly want in a book? Tristan taking his life in his hands and spreading love and devotion to the most unusual band of people that you could expect him to be with. The action is spellbinding and the development of his brother will keep you mesmerized. It is one action-packed adventure from start to finish! I am on to the next book and can’t wait. I received this from the author as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) for an honest review with no other compensation.
June 3, 2018
*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review*
Tristan is the son and heir to the House of Listar. Other than growing up with the expectations that come with his title, he leads a comfortable life. That all changes when his father is brutally murdered by Gerwold, the Baron of Belnair. Tristan is forced to go on the run, watching helplessly as his father’s killer takes his inheritance and Gerwold’s son steals away the girl that Tristan loves. Seeking refuge with a band of thieves, Tristan must avenge his father and prevent Gerwold from achieving his ultimate goal; to become King.
A Coronation of Kings is a fast-paced and action-packed fantasy novel. It is the first book in the A Kingdom Divided series and not only does a great job of setting up for later novels in the series but is a very enjoyable standalone read too. I liked how the author didn’t get overly bogged down with description. Whilst there was certainly enough that I could immerse myself in the world that he has created, too much can be distracting and the right balance was achieved here.
At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to like Tristan’s character. He seemed a little arrogant and immature when the novel started, but throughout his character developed as he was forced to grow up quickly due to events. I found myself liking him more and more as I continued to read, which shows the skill of the author; creating a main character who endears himself to readers over time rather than be instantly likeable. It was very refreshing and made me root for Tristan that much more because of it.
I really enjoyed reading A Coronation of Kings. It’s an excellent novel and a real page turner. I can’t wait to read further books in the series.
Tristan is the son and heir to the House of Listar. Other than growing up with the expectations that come with his title, he leads a comfortable life. That all changes when his father is brutally murdered by Gerwold, the Baron of Belnair. Tristan is forced to go on the run, watching helplessly as his father’s killer takes his inheritance and Gerwold’s son steals away the girl that Tristan loves. Seeking refuge with a band of thieves, Tristan must avenge his father and prevent Gerwold from achieving his ultimate goal; to become King.
A Coronation of Kings is a fast-paced and action-packed fantasy novel. It is the first book in the A Kingdom Divided series and not only does a great job of setting up for later novels in the series but is a very enjoyable standalone read too. I liked how the author didn’t get overly bogged down with description. Whilst there was certainly enough that I could immerse myself in the world that he has created, too much can be distracting and the right balance was achieved here.
At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to like Tristan’s character. He seemed a little arrogant and immature when the novel started, but throughout his character developed as he was forced to grow up quickly due to events. I found myself liking him more and more as I continued to read, which shows the skill of the author; creating a main character who endears himself to readers over time rather than be instantly likeable. It was very refreshing and made me root for Tristan that much more because of it.
I really enjoyed reading A Coronation of Kings. It’s an excellent novel and a real page turner. I can’t wait to read further books in the series.
January 12, 2020
I did find the beginning of A Coronation of Kings a tad slow in the beginning but to Samuel C. Stokes defense he was setting the stage for his trilogy. After a bit the pace did pick up and I really began to enjoy the adventure. I would have liked to have see a little more detail in his discriptions but it wasn't enough to put me off. I found myself looking forward to the next chapter or paragraph when I returned home from work. I was a bit surprised that more was not said about Tristan's girlfriend since she played a larger part in the beginning of the book. I thought she would have played a bigger role in his life, It felt like she was stuck in a closet somewhere to be forgotten. Also Tristan, still in his teens, seemed quite young to be taking on such a large role in the story. Also his twin brother Syrion was in another part of the realm with their mother, unbeknownst to Tristan. Syrion is going through a huge life changing event. Tristan's brother is there to help Tristan but I don't know what his role will be in the future books. I will admit that authors alway have artistic license to create the world as they see it, that's why we love fantasy and Sci-Fic. Back to Syrion, he seems a little arrogant which his mother warned him about, I'm not sure he'll heed her warning. Guess I'll have to read the next book. Anyway I wouldn't shy away from the Coronation Trilogy by any means. I am thoroughly enjoying it so far and want to see what happens next. It is a very entertaining trilogy.
I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
June 6, 2017
I love a good fantasy novel and this certainly qualifies. This is an action packed fantasy that totally immerses the reader into it's world. The settings feel organic, rather than just relayed, which is good. Often, settings are just passively described, which causes a disconnect but the author has created a fantasy world that is fully formed and when combined with the complex characters, the action and the fast pace, puts the reader right in the action.
The writing is good - and the characters, as mentioned, are complex. The characters are relatable and it makes it easy to connect to them. With action, mythology and magic, this book delivers on all accounts. For anybody who loves the genre, you will highly enjoy this book. The plot and pacing are enough that you can't really predict what will happen and once you get into the first few chapters, you won't want to put this down.
The writing is good - and the characters, as mentioned, are complex. The characters are relatable and it makes it easy to connect to them. With action, mythology and magic, this book delivers on all accounts. For anybody who loves the genre, you will highly enjoy this book. The plot and pacing are enough that you can't really predict what will happen and once you get into the first few chapters, you won't want to put this down.
July 28, 2017
A Coronation of Kings by Samuel Stokes is the first installment of the Chronicles of Meldinar. Tristan is son and heir to Marcus, Lord of the Listarii. Never knowing his mother, Tristan was raised by his father. After losing everything he loved, Tristan vows revenge on those who destroyed his world.
This book has so much potential; it has all the elements for an excellent epic fantasy, but the execution and the lack of editing had me pulling my hair out! It is truly a shame. Hopefully the next installment will be better executed, and better edited. Also, the characters could use a bit more fleshing out. I'm willing to give the next installment a try because of Stokes' potential.
This book has so much potential; it has all the elements for an excellent epic fantasy, but the execution and the lack of editing had me pulling my hair out! It is truly a shame. Hopefully the next installment will be better executed, and better edited. Also, the characters could use a bit more fleshing out. I'm willing to give the next installment a try because of Stokes' potential.
January 2, 2018
Samuel Stokes’ A Coronation of Kings is a great start to his new Chronicles of Meldinar epic fantasy series, though it also works well enough as an enjoyable standalone. It’s lead, Tristan is son and heir to Marcus, Lord of the Listarii, who was murdered before his eyes. This first book is basically Tristan’s revenge - and what he discovers along the way (including about his mother and Family) and where it all leads to. Very well plotted, complex with some neat twists and turns but totally understandable, and full of thrills and adventure. Add in a strong cast of lead and supporting characters and the result is a series I want to follow and am happy to recommend.
July 14, 2018
I loved everything about this book. The action, fantasy, dialogue, and drama. This book if it were a full length novel, no cliffhangers would've been enough. Being that I probably won't be able to complete the series out, I regret getting involved with story. I didn't realize this was a series when I downloaded the book or I wouldn't have bothered. Now I'll never know the true ending for the characters and the back story of most of them, which is a shame. But this first book set the prerequisite for a great story I really enjoyed discovering. I just wish it was under better convenient circumstances to my reading list!
March 24, 2017
Pretty basic formula, prince thinks he is only child and his mother died in childbirth. Father killed by rival through treachery, son seeks vengeance. Discovers he has twin brother and his mother is still alive.
Characters are definitely Mary Sue-esque and the dialogue/plot are probably more suited (mostly) for a younger audience then myself. That being said, it is written with a quick pace and it is easy to dive in and basically read the entire thing in a couple of settings.
I probably won't mark my calendar to read follow on books, but I am certainly not opposed to reading them as I come across them in the future.
Characters are definitely Mary Sue-esque and the dialogue/plot are probably more suited (mostly) for a younger audience then myself. That being said, it is written with a quick pace and it is easy to dive in and basically read the entire thing in a couple of settings.
I probably won't mark my calendar to read follow on books, but I am certainly not opposed to reading them as I come across them in the future.
March 7, 2018
Wow! An exciting action packed adventure! I was pulled in from the beginning and had a hard time putting this book down!
I loved the different twists and turns the story took! I never knew what was going to happen.
I enjoyed the unique take on things and the different beings present.
The characters themselves were quite likeable and I loved reading their journeys.
I can’t wait to see what happens next!
This is a must read for fans of sorcery/sword action fantasies!
I loved the different twists and turns the story took! I never knew what was going to happen.
I enjoyed the unique take on things and the different beings present.
The characters themselves were quite likeable and I loved reading their journeys.
I can’t wait to see what happens next!
This is a must read for fans of sorcery/sword action fantasies!
November 21, 2016
This is a must read book! My only regret is that I didn't read it sooner. It is filled with adventure and loveable and humorous characters. I have read many fantasy books but this one is at the top of my list along with several others. If you get the chance to read this book you will not be disappointed. I look forward to what will come next!
May 6, 2017
Disclosure: I was offered a free copy of this book by the author in return for an honest review.
Whats there to not like? Magic, mages, dragon-kind and much much more. Somewhat Tolkin-esque but this is only the first book so the characters have not filled out fully yet, but look forward to more, can't wait for the next book.
Whats there to not like? Magic, mages, dragon-kind and much much more. Somewhat Tolkin-esque but this is only the first book so the characters have not filled out fully yet, but look forward to more, can't wait for the next book.
October 22, 2018
Damn, what a story! It is vivid and consuming, you get sucked into the world Samuel Stokes has built and enjoy every minute of it. I could not put it down and don't mind missing dinner. This novel Is Epic Fantasy at its best. Sword and sorcery, dragons and magic, what more can you ask for. I highly recommend this novel!
June 11, 2017
Fun never stops
From the start the action never ceases. This book was a easy read and kept me entertained the whole time. Once I started, I was not able to put it down and finished it in one sitting. I can't wait to read the other books in this series!
From the start the action never ceases. This book was a easy read and kept me entertained the whole time. Once I started, I was not able to put it down and finished it in one sitting. I can't wait to read the other books in this series!
November 27, 2017
Excellent read
I got started reading this over the Thanksgiving holiday. I found it very hard to put down even as I was busy with my family. I look forward to reading more from this Author.
I got started reading this over the Thanksgiving holiday. I found it very hard to put down even as I was busy with my family. I look forward to reading more from this Author.
February 2, 2017
trying way to hard to accomplish to much. not plausible speed of events with minimal character development
June 13, 2017
I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. Compelling characters. Lots of action. Great story!
August 4, 2017
Very enjoyable, easy reading
October 5, 2017
Enjoyable, fast paced magical action adventure. A prince who seeks to stop the evil in the land. Interesting characters and a story you can picture in your head. Looking forward to the next book.
March 21, 2019
Not bad
Solid read. Quick paced. Enjoyable characters. Neat world. Fun magic and dragons. Fight scenes were a little brief and undetailed but it worked.
Solid read. Quick paced. Enjoyable characters. Neat world. Fun magic and dragons. Fight scenes were a little brief and undetailed but it worked.
October 27, 2019
Simplistic writing. Definitely not Feist.
Read
March 20, 2017Review to come. 3.5 stars
October 31, 2020
Rating: 4.5 stars
Shop on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jHDGbq
WOW! This book just surprised me.
When this book was recommended to me, I just said ok. But because of my massive TBR which keeps on increasing every day, I am certain that it would took me a while to read it. I don’t know what just happens but I just find myself reading it that day. I wasn’t expecting that I will finish it that fast and surprise surprise! I was really entertained!
I love watching movies with fight scenes like the movie 300 but I don’t share the same feeling when reading a book with the same plot. Why’s that? Well, I am a dialogue reader and I easily get bored. Stories like that tends to keep on talking and explaining and as much as possible, I avoid it haha.
This story is about the twin brothers, Tristan and Syrion, who was separated at birth. Their journey started when the Wolf killed King Marcus (Tristan and Syrion’s father) and burnt the Listarii mansion to the ground.
To tell you honestly, I am literally speechless about this story. All I know is that I really enjoyed it. I love the fact that it easily caught my attention as early as its first chapter. And I really adore the idea of dragons, magic and these “spartan”-inspired fight scenes mixed in one book!
The characters was surprisingly fine with me. Actually, while I keep reading this book, I can’t help but remember the “A song of Ice and Fire” series by George R.R. Martin not just because of the dragons but also because of the commotion rooted by greed for the throne. Plus, there were some words also that I can’t help but picture out Daenerys when it mentioned stormborn.
But unlike the latter, this story comprises only a very easy to track characters and the name’s isn’t that hard to pronounce and remember too. The introduction of each characters isn’t that long which I really adore! Plus the execution of lines was superb. I had my share of confusions too but I’m sure all will be properly explained on the second book.
I really love the story line and I love the fact that it’s a no non-sense story. All we’re properly explained but didn’t lose the action, so absolutely no boring moments at all. And that’s absolutely what I want to read for an adventure fantasy story, so obviously, I became an instant fan!
Plus, the ending was massive! I love the happy ending and I love the fact that it gave its readers something to look forward to on the second book. And that my dear, is my kind of ending.
As I finished this story, I came across the author’s bio and read the part where he said “Instead of a slow buildup of an incredibly detailed plot, my goal is to write fantasy that takes place at breakneck speed, so the action never stops“. Dang! And he definitely did that with this story. I’ll be following this series that’s for sure.
And oops, why 4.5 stars? Well, actually, it’s because this story is composed of quite a number of some not-so-reader-friendly words that once in a while, I keep on “long pressing” my kindle for its meaning. But so far, it’s not that annoying at all.
If you want some action-packed story that will make your nerves whacking in suspense, then you’ll absolutely love this book.
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Shop on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jHDGbq
WOW! This book just surprised me.
When this book was recommended to me, I just said ok. But because of my massive TBR which keeps on increasing every day, I am certain that it would took me a while to read it. I don’t know what just happens but I just find myself reading it that day. I wasn’t expecting that I will finish it that fast and surprise surprise! I was really entertained!
I love watching movies with fight scenes like the movie 300 but I don’t share the same feeling when reading a book with the same plot. Why’s that? Well, I am a dialogue reader and I easily get bored. Stories like that tends to keep on talking and explaining and as much as possible, I avoid it haha.
This story is about the twin brothers, Tristan and Syrion, who was separated at birth. Their journey started when the Wolf killed King Marcus (Tristan and Syrion’s father) and burnt the Listarii mansion to the ground.
To tell you honestly, I am literally speechless about this story. All I know is that I really enjoyed it. I love the fact that it easily caught my attention as early as its first chapter. And I really adore the idea of dragons, magic and these “spartan”-inspired fight scenes mixed in one book!
The characters was surprisingly fine with me. Actually, while I keep reading this book, I can’t help but remember the “A song of Ice and Fire” series by George R.R. Martin not just because of the dragons but also because of the commotion rooted by greed for the throne. Plus, there were some words also that I can’t help but picture out Daenerys when it mentioned stormborn.
But unlike the latter, this story comprises only a very easy to track characters and the name’s isn’t that hard to pronounce and remember too. The introduction of each characters isn’t that long which I really adore! Plus the execution of lines was superb. I had my share of confusions too but I’m sure all will be properly explained on the second book.
I really love the story line and I love the fact that it’s a no non-sense story. All we’re properly explained but didn’t lose the action, so absolutely no boring moments at all. And that’s absolutely what I want to read for an adventure fantasy story, so obviously, I became an instant fan!
Plus, the ending was massive! I love the happy ending and I love the fact that it gave its readers something to look forward to on the second book. And that my dear, is my kind of ending.
As I finished this story, I came across the author’s bio and read the part where he said “Instead of a slow buildup of an incredibly detailed plot, my goal is to write fantasy that takes place at breakneck speed, so the action never stops“. Dang! And he definitely did that with this story. I’ll be following this series that’s for sure.
And oops, why 4.5 stars? Well, actually, it’s because this story is composed of quite a number of some not-so-reader-friendly words that once in a while, I keep on “long pressing” my kindle for its meaning. But so far, it’s not that annoying at all.
If you want some action-packed story that will make your nerves whacking in suspense, then you’ll absolutely love this book.
Let's follow each other on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blushinggeek/
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December 2, 2016
Originally posted on Reveries Reviews (reveriesreviews.wordpress.com)
The Coronation of Kings by Samuel Stokes is a simply amazing book. I enjoyed it from start to finish. There were a few things, however, that need improvement.
First of all, I would definitely recommend an editor. In every paragraph I was aching to change a thousand little things from word choice to punctuation to grammar to a million little typos. I believe the author could even do a great deal of it himself.
Second, Tristan was a little too … bland. I wish there was more time spent developing his character (and that of his brother as well). He was too perfect, too good at everything, and he had no real character arch. However, I was able to ignore that because, as I said before, this is an amazing book.
At first glance, this is your average story about an heir seeking to reclaim his throne. However, it’s anything but. As mentioned in the summary, Tristan teams up with some unlikely allies. These allies, and their fortress, added something very special and original to this novel. I really want to live in a catacomb now. What? I’m serious! I do! They really had an ideal defense system set up. And I also want a secret army … okay, so maybe I don’t, but it still sounds cool …
From chapter one, this story took off at a fast clip. It rarely seemed rushed, but it was very action-packed. I’m not usually big into those kind of novels (they usually skim on character development, as did this one a bit here and there), but this one was well-done.
Syrion, Tristan’s twin brother, and the stories of the Astarii were fantastic, too. To me, the stories of the Astarii kind of sounded like Christianish … the one about the one Astarii turning away from the gods, the morals, etc. However, I don’t know if this was intended or not. Whether or not some of the tales were supposed to be allegorical, the Astarii and everything about them were an interesting addition to the story. There was a bit of a mystery involved here, and everything came together nicely, just leaving me wondering enough to read on but not confusing me. I especially loved the dragons.
Although Tristian and a few other characters were weak, many characters were not. I found Elaina, Syrion, and Marcus both well-developed, as well as the few ‘thieves’ we did meet and the villains. And the evil creepy lady whose name isn’t coming to mind at the moment.
The setting was really well-done. I felt like I knew the world we were in very well. I enjoyed seeing the different cultures at play on the continent. The description in these cases was fantastic.
Overall, this was an action-packed, breathtaking, twist-filled adventure story that could use just a little tweaking here and there. I can easily see how it could be made a best-seller with a little editing and a little character development.
~Kellyn Roth, Reveries Reviews
The Coronation of Kings by Samuel Stokes is a simply amazing book. I enjoyed it from start to finish. There were a few things, however, that need improvement.
First of all, I would definitely recommend an editor. In every paragraph I was aching to change a thousand little things from word choice to punctuation to grammar to a million little typos. I believe the author could even do a great deal of it himself.
Second, Tristan was a little too … bland. I wish there was more time spent developing his character (and that of his brother as well). He was too perfect, too good at everything, and he had no real character arch. However, I was able to ignore that because, as I said before, this is an amazing book.
At first glance, this is your average story about an heir seeking to reclaim his throne. However, it’s anything but. As mentioned in the summary, Tristan teams up with some unlikely allies. These allies, and their fortress, added something very special and original to this novel. I really want to live in a catacomb now. What? I’m serious! I do! They really had an ideal defense system set up. And I also want a secret army … okay, so maybe I don’t, but it still sounds cool …
From chapter one, this story took off at a fast clip. It rarely seemed rushed, but it was very action-packed. I’m not usually big into those kind of novels (they usually skim on character development, as did this one a bit here and there), but this one was well-done.
Syrion, Tristan’s twin brother, and the stories of the Astarii were fantastic, too. To me, the stories of the Astarii kind of sounded like Christianish … the one about the one Astarii turning away from the gods, the morals, etc. However, I don’t know if this was intended or not. Whether or not some of the tales were supposed to be allegorical, the Astarii and everything about them were an interesting addition to the story. There was a bit of a mystery involved here, and everything came together nicely, just leaving me wondering enough to read on but not confusing me. I especially loved the dragons.
Although Tristian and a few other characters were weak, many characters were not. I found Elaina, Syrion, and Marcus both well-developed, as well as the few ‘thieves’ we did meet and the villains. And the evil creepy lady whose name isn’t coming to mind at the moment.
The setting was really well-done. I felt like I knew the world we were in very well. I enjoyed seeing the different cultures at play on the continent. The description in these cases was fantastic.
Overall, this was an action-packed, breathtaking, twist-filled adventure story that could use just a little tweaking here and there. I can easily see how it could be made a best-seller with a little editing and a little character development.
~Kellyn Roth, Reveries Reviews
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