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The Summoned King
Indiana high school senior James Madison Young can best be described as a Renaissance man: intelligent, of good character, and possessed by insatiable curiosity about everything from Krav Maga to robotics. One evening, he falls asleep while studying at the library. He wakes to find himself in another world, filled with magic, danger and romance. He has been summoned by court wizard Maynard to be the king of Kalymbria. Forced into marriage with the beautiful and magically powerful yet untrained Julia Roper for his queen, he must restore the lapsed Constitution in the face of opposition from a hostile Council of Advisors, and defend his new country from the evil machinations of the wizard Ruinga and her allied kingdom of Venicka. Rediscovering the lost art of enchantment may provide him with a powerful edge in his quest, if he can survive the assassins and conspiracies arrayed against him.
- GenresFantasyChristian Fiction
Unknown Binding
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About the author
Dave Neuendorf
2 books22 followersDave Neuendorf has been a lover of fantasy, science fiction, and political thrillers since the 1950's, when he would rather read than romp during recess in school. After decades of making notes of stories he'd like to write, he finally set out to create his own fantasy series in 2015. The first fruit of his efforts is The Summoned King, published in February 2016, as book one of The Kalymbrian Chronicles. Development of the series will proceed as time allows while he continues to pursue his day job as a Java software development consultant. He is also working on his first political thriller.
Dave has been married since 1976 to his one love, Patricia. He is the father of three sons, and grandfather of one young lady and one tiny gentleman, so far. He and his family live with their two dogs, a Giant Alaskan Malamute and a Siberian Husky, in Aurora, Indiana.
Dave has been married since 1976 to his one love, Patricia. He is the father of three sons, and grandfather of one young lady and one tiny gentleman, so far. He and his family live with their two dogs, a Giant Alaskan Malamute and a Siberian Husky, in Aurora, Indiana.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 27, 2017
To see this review and others, please visit www.readrantrockandroll.com
The Summoned King by Dave Neuendorf is a fantasy story about a 17 year old student named James, mostly referred to as Jim, who falls asleep in a library and wakes up in another world. He's been chosen by Maynard the Wizard and is expected to be the new king of Kalymbria.
I truthfully enjoyed Jim's character. What's not to like about him? He's smart, confident, considerate, and seems to be completely comfortable even though he's been transplanted into another world, Kalymbria. Much of the story centers around James settling in as king, getting to know Julia-his soon to be wife, and devising a plan to fix Kalymbria. I enjoyed the interaction between James and Julia and found it interesting the way they expeditiously clicked. The book contains a little bit of everything including science and Christianity, although not too much for those not interested in those elements.
This is a very smooth and simple read that's perfect for young adults. Even without an abundance of action, I thought it was wonderful and I actually admired that there wasn't any explicit content which makes it perfect for younger readers. I believe the second book will have much more action especially with the conclusion of The Summoned King. I've heard that the second book is releasing soon and I'm looking forward to reading it.
I'd like to thank the author for granting me a complimentary copy of this book.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4****
The Summoned King by Dave Neuendorf is a fantasy story about a 17 year old student named James, mostly referred to as Jim, who falls asleep in a library and wakes up in another world. He's been chosen by Maynard the Wizard and is expected to be the new king of Kalymbria.
I truthfully enjoyed Jim's character. What's not to like about him? He's smart, confident, considerate, and seems to be completely comfortable even though he's been transplanted into another world, Kalymbria. Much of the story centers around James settling in as king, getting to know Julia-his soon to be wife, and devising a plan to fix Kalymbria. I enjoyed the interaction between James and Julia and found it interesting the way they expeditiously clicked. The book contains a little bit of everything including science and Christianity, although not too much for those not interested in those elements.
This is a very smooth and simple read that's perfect for young adults. Even without an abundance of action, I thought it was wonderful and I actually admired that there wasn't any explicit content which makes it perfect for younger readers. I believe the second book will have much more action especially with the conclusion of The Summoned King. I've heard that the second book is releasing soon and I'm looking forward to reading it.
I'd like to thank the author for granting me a complimentary copy of this book.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4****
April 14, 2018
Unusual fantasy! Read my review, interview with the author Dave Neuendorf, and enter the giveaway!
Dave is generously giving away the first and second book in this new series, The Kalymbrian Chronicles. 10 lucky winners will receive both! Giveaway ends in 3 days! Good luck!
https://twogalsandabook.com/
Dave is generously giving away the first and second book in this new series, The Kalymbrian Chronicles. 10 lucky winners will receive both! Giveaway ends in 3 days! Good luck!
https://twogalsandabook.com/
June 1, 2017
This is a delightful fantasy about a teen-anger summoned while napping in a modern library to be a puppet king of a self-serving aristocracy in a magical medieval society of another world.
He may be a boy, but his wisdom is soon apparent as he maneuvers thru the intrigue and challenges of his new kingdom as he attempts to set up a just and fair government for the people.
In the beginning, the book reminded me of Robert Aspirin's "Myth Adventures" series and of the classic, "A Kid in King Arthur's Court". It is also similar to C.S. Lewis's "Chronicles of Narnia", and any who like that series are likely to be delighted with this one.
The book is rich with medieval, magical fun, enchantments, weapons, and imagery.
The boy-king shows himself to be quite clever, reminding me of the role of Michael J Fox in the "Back to the Future" series, and a little of MacGyver.
Yet this book, while delightful, offers more as well. This is because the young king is a history buff, and is knowledgeable of American and world history, and as he strives to instill a just and fair government, he reflects on the rights of the people, on limitations of powers, and on the justice of laws. In the process, kids (and non-kids) get a good introduction to good principles of government, law, and morality.
Just about the time this book has you hooked on the primary, secondary, and tertiary themes, the author removes the veil from the quaternary theme of the book, the faith of this summoned boy-king in the Triune God.
In the process, the author provides a delightful book that is safe for the family, has great entertainment value, and that educates in solid, thought-provoking, and useful areas.
Just about anyone who enjoys C. S. Lewis should love this book.
I can't wait to read the next one, and thank the author for allowing a friend to forward me this complementary copy. I also plan to buy a hardcopy now for my eleven year old daughter to read.
He may be a boy, but his wisdom is soon apparent as he maneuvers thru the intrigue and challenges of his new kingdom as he attempts to set up a just and fair government for the people.
In the beginning, the book reminded me of Robert Aspirin's "Myth Adventures" series and of the classic, "A Kid in King Arthur's Court". It is also similar to C.S. Lewis's "Chronicles of Narnia", and any who like that series are likely to be delighted with this one.
The book is rich with medieval, magical fun, enchantments, weapons, and imagery.
The boy-king shows himself to be quite clever, reminding me of the role of Michael J Fox in the "Back to the Future" series, and a little of MacGyver.
Yet this book, while delightful, offers more as well. This is because the young king is a history buff, and is knowledgeable of American and world history, and as he strives to instill a just and fair government, he reflects on the rights of the people, on limitations of powers, and on the justice of laws. In the process, kids (and non-kids) get a good introduction to good principles of government, law, and morality.
Just about the time this book has you hooked on the primary, secondary, and tertiary themes, the author removes the veil from the quaternary theme of the book, the faith of this summoned boy-king in the Triune God.
In the process, the author provides a delightful book that is safe for the family, has great entertainment value, and that educates in solid, thought-provoking, and useful areas.
Just about anyone who enjoys C. S. Lewis should love this book.
I can't wait to read the next one, and thank the author for allowing a friend to forward me this complementary copy. I also plan to buy a hardcopy now for my eleven year old daughter to read.
February 24, 2016
This is a really well written story. I have read many different fantasy books and this one is quite unique in many ways. I will attempt to write my review with as few details from the story as possible, but be advised that there will be points where I talk a bit about the story.
First off, as it says in the title, it is a book one of a series. This is not a bad thing, but something to keep in mind since the story is not finished at the end of this book. It is at a good stopping point but I am anxious to see what the next book will bring.
The book is set in the fictional country of Kalymbria. The main character, Jim is actually an American teenager who gets summoned by a wizard to this other world (don't worry you find this out in the first few pages). Jim has been chosen by this wizard (Maynard) to be the new king and he was hand picked because things in Kalymbria are not going well. Jim is a very likable character who has very high morals and a very defined sense of right and wrong. I truly enjoyed his character and getting to see the story through his point of view.
Let's get to some of the things that make this book different than most fantasy stories I have read. The story focuses on Jim working to "fix" the country and since he is King the best way he has to do this is by working on changing the way the country is governed. As such, there is quite a bit of politics for lack of a better term. I have read books before where it felt very much like the author was using a book as a platform to spew their political views and I am not a fan of those types of books. I feel like Mr. Neuendorf managed to write about political things and ideas without falling into that trap and I was kept engaged and interested in that part of the story.
The second thing that I think is very unique to this book is how the author portrays magic in this story. You can't have a fantasy book without some type of magic. I'm pretty sure there is a rule written somewhere about that. However, Neuendorf took a new and fresh approach to magic. He manages to make magic almost scientific and describes it in a way that relates it a bit to electric circuitry. I found this fascinating and it allowed our main character to study and learn how to use magic to some degree because of the way he saw magic and compared it in his own mind to things that he understood from his own world. I have never seen this almost scientific approach to magic and the fact that he explains what and how much of the magic works is truly creative. I feel like most authors shy away from this and just leave any magic that is in books as some ambiguous thing that no one really understands.
This review is getting a bit long so I will go ahead and summarize my thoughts. This book is well written, well thought out and well developed. I enjoyed the characters and story line and am interested to see where the next books take us. There was a bit of a feeling of laying the ground work in this book which means that in some ways the story didn't have as much "meat" as I feel like it might have been able to have. But I am optimistic that the next book will delve deeper into the story lines that have been set up and give us a more rich and complete experience next time. I appreciate that there is no swearing or sexual content. There is even a bit of religion mixed in to the book. As a Christian, I enjoyed this aspect, but there wasn't so much that it would be off putting to someone who is not a Christian.
First off, as it says in the title, it is a book one of a series. This is not a bad thing, but something to keep in mind since the story is not finished at the end of this book. It is at a good stopping point but I am anxious to see what the next book will bring.
The book is set in the fictional country of Kalymbria. The main character, Jim is actually an American teenager who gets summoned by a wizard to this other world (don't worry you find this out in the first few pages). Jim has been chosen by this wizard (Maynard) to be the new king and he was hand picked because things in Kalymbria are not going well. Jim is a very likable character who has very high morals and a very defined sense of right and wrong. I truly enjoyed his character and getting to see the story through his point of view.
Let's get to some of the things that make this book different than most fantasy stories I have read. The story focuses on Jim working to "fix" the country and since he is King the best way he has to do this is by working on changing the way the country is governed. As such, there is quite a bit of politics for lack of a better term. I have read books before where it felt very much like the author was using a book as a platform to spew their political views and I am not a fan of those types of books. I feel like Mr. Neuendorf managed to write about political things and ideas without falling into that trap and I was kept engaged and interested in that part of the story.
The second thing that I think is very unique to this book is how the author portrays magic in this story. You can't have a fantasy book without some type of magic. I'm pretty sure there is a rule written somewhere about that. However, Neuendorf took a new and fresh approach to magic. He manages to make magic almost scientific and describes it in a way that relates it a bit to electric circuitry. I found this fascinating and it allowed our main character to study and learn how to use magic to some degree because of the way he saw magic and compared it in his own mind to things that he understood from his own world. I have never seen this almost scientific approach to magic and the fact that he explains what and how much of the magic works is truly creative. I feel like most authors shy away from this and just leave any magic that is in books as some ambiguous thing that no one really understands.
This review is getting a bit long so I will go ahead and summarize my thoughts. This book is well written, well thought out and well developed. I enjoyed the characters and story line and am interested to see where the next books take us. There was a bit of a feeling of laying the ground work in this book which means that in some ways the story didn't have as much "meat" as I feel like it might have been able to have. But I am optimistic that the next book will delve deeper into the story lines that have been set up and give us a more rich and complete experience next time. I appreciate that there is no swearing or sexual content. There is even a bit of religion mixed in to the book. As a Christian, I enjoyed this aspect, but there wasn't so much that it would be off putting to someone who is not a Christian.
March 16, 2019
As an Amazon reviewer, I have occasionally gotten outside offers to give a review in exchange for a free or reduced price, as in this instance.
I'm an avid reader, and though time travel and historical fiction are my favorites, I have ventured into fantasy, with some pretty sharp opinions.
The Summoned King, as book 1 of a Trilogy, gave me something to think about. In this present day setting, Jim, a Midwestern teen-ager snoozes while studying in the library, and wakes to find himself in a country on a new planet in our galaxy, in a sort of parallel dimension where technology has been replaced by magic.
Jim, in disbelief, discovers he's been "summoned" to this planet by a wizard who has been vetting him as the new King of this place. Dave Neuendorf has thought ahead on language barriers, and how Maynard will provide what Jim needs. However, as King, Jim discovers that his role is diminished as opposed to his expectations of how a king should be treated on Earth. Pretty much, he's only there to do what he's told, sign what he's told to sign, and to let the elitists stay in power and collect the perks while others matter much less.
Apparently, the Council didn't count on Jim's intelligence, and ability to question, as well as his integrity, sense of justice, backbone, and inquisitiveness. They are soon to be disabused of the idea that they are running the show.
Jim is not a horny teen-ager who is drunk with power. He has Christian values, and though he's appointed a wife, he doesn't just take advantage of her. He finds his way around the castle and the kingdom, discovers an arsenal of magical weapons and a magical library. He uses his abilities to find support, just as Wizard Maynard had expected he would.
As the story unfolds, Jim, and his wife, Julia, discover she has magical powers and he detects a connection between the "magic" and electrical circuitry. Though they are endangered by a disgruntled Council, they seem to remain a step ahead.
I recommend this book because it has a good pace, is engaging to read, and because I want to see the rest of the Trilogy.
I'm an avid reader, and though time travel and historical fiction are my favorites, I have ventured into fantasy, with some pretty sharp opinions.
The Summoned King, as book 1 of a Trilogy, gave me something to think about. In this present day setting, Jim, a Midwestern teen-ager snoozes while studying in the library, and wakes to find himself in a country on a new planet in our galaxy, in a sort of parallel dimension where technology has been replaced by magic.
Jim, in disbelief, discovers he's been "summoned" to this planet by a wizard who has been vetting him as the new King of this place. Dave Neuendorf has thought ahead on language barriers, and how Maynard will provide what Jim needs. However, as King, Jim discovers that his role is diminished as opposed to his expectations of how a king should be treated on Earth. Pretty much, he's only there to do what he's told, sign what he's told to sign, and to let the elitists stay in power and collect the perks while others matter much less.
Apparently, the Council didn't count on Jim's intelligence, and ability to question, as well as his integrity, sense of justice, backbone, and inquisitiveness. They are soon to be disabused of the idea that they are running the show.
Jim is not a horny teen-ager who is drunk with power. He has Christian values, and though he's appointed a wife, he doesn't just take advantage of her. He finds his way around the castle and the kingdom, discovers an arsenal of magical weapons and a magical library. He uses his abilities to find support, just as Wizard Maynard had expected he would.
As the story unfolds, Jim, and his wife, Julia, discover she has magical powers and he detects a connection between the "magic" and electrical circuitry. Though they are endangered by a disgruntled Council, they seem to remain a step ahead.
I recommend this book because it has a good pace, is engaging to read, and because I want to see the rest of the Trilogy.
January 1, 2017
James Madison Young, the protagonist of this story, is summoned into an uncertain place, where he must learn to adapt quickly and force an entire kingdom to rebuild itself against the powerful cabal of treachery and deceit that works to undo everything that James attempts to restore.
Dave Neuendorf clearly interweaves the politics within this fantasy realm with American history. The more the story continues to develop, we see James become a stronger leader with principled ideas that are not popular with the Council of Advisers.
Read the entire review at: http://bookendchronicles.blogspot.com/
Dave Neuendorf clearly interweaves the politics within this fantasy realm with American history. The more the story continues to develop, we see James become a stronger leader with principled ideas that are not popular with the Council of Advisers.
Read the entire review at: http://bookendchronicles.blogspot.com/
August 19, 2016
I have to say, it felt like this book was more than just the author's book, it was his story. What I mean is that this was the adventure on which he imagined himself. Clearly, I'm not saying he actually went to an alien world and did all these things, but that it's the adventure he'd want to experience if given the opportunity. It really seemed, to me, like the author put a lot of himself into Jim. I could be wrong--but I don't think I am.
I was a little worried when I started reading this one. It was very slow to get started. Honestly, I would have gotten into the story much faster had it jumped in with Jim awakening in Kalymbria, I didn't really need to know what he was doing before he found himself on an alien planet. But once I got past that, the pace of the rest of the story was good.
Initially, I also had a hard time with the word choice and tone. It just didn't say "seventeen year-old" to me, but I thought back to my years in high school and remembered that I had friends that did talk a lot like Jim... in fact, I remember a two-hour discussion a friend and I had about the origination of language and how ancient language would have likely been based on a heavenly language (a teacher walked outside where we were sitting near his window to tell us that he was so glad to hear teens talking about something other than who our hottie of the week was). So, once I thought about that, Jim's vocabulary made a lot of sense.
Beyond that, I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters were interesting and I look forward to seeing how they grow as the series continues. Jim is likable, if not a little too "nerd-perfect." He didn't seem to hit a single snag that he couldn't solve or didn't, at the very least, have a kindle book on the subject. For me, those moments when the hero doesn't know what to do are what make me either love him or hate him, those are the moments in the story when I find out what kind of person the hero really is, and I didn't really get any of those. I do have hope for the next book though!
Along that same vein, because Jim didn't seem to encounter any obstacles he couldn't almost immediately solve, I felt like the plot was kind of "problem, solution, problem, solution." I really wanted the conflict to be more interwoven into the overall plot.
The world creation was excellent. Throughout the story, he revealed tidbits about the nuances of the culture, the people, and even the animals. Though all of those things were extremely similar to earth, it was still enough to set the world apart. There were moments when I felt more like Jim had simple been pulled back through time rather than transported to another planet, but it certainly didn't affect the story.
His use of magic was probably my favorite part of the story. I really love magic systems that are based on the idea that magic and science are extremely similar, if not the same. Kalymbrian magic falls in the "similar" category and I did enjoy seeing how Jim was able to use his knowledge of technology to affect similar concepts through magical artifacts.
Another thing I really enjoyed about this one was the way the author handled the "Christian" part of the genre. Even as a Christian, I often find that most Christian Fiction is way too preachy and tries to shove the Gospel down the reader's throat. Neuendorf uses Jim to reveal the message through a couple of opportunities Jim finds to talk to others about Christ, though for the most part, Jim is revealing his faith through his words and actions. Rather than calling them all heathens and hell-bound, Jim shows kindness, is fair in his rule, and abides by Biblical principles regardless of the situation he faces.
All-in-all, I really enjoyed reading The Summoned King and I look forward to the next book in the series!
I was a little worried when I started reading this one. It was very slow to get started. Honestly, I would have gotten into the story much faster had it jumped in with Jim awakening in Kalymbria, I didn't really need to know what he was doing before he found himself on an alien planet. But once I got past that, the pace of the rest of the story was good.
Initially, I also had a hard time with the word choice and tone. It just didn't say "seventeen year-old" to me, but I thought back to my years in high school and remembered that I had friends that did talk a lot like Jim... in fact, I remember a two-hour discussion a friend and I had about the origination of language and how ancient language would have likely been based on a heavenly language (a teacher walked outside where we were sitting near his window to tell us that he was so glad to hear teens talking about something other than who our hottie of the week was). So, once I thought about that, Jim's vocabulary made a lot of sense.
Beyond that, I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters were interesting and I look forward to seeing how they grow as the series continues. Jim is likable, if not a little too "nerd-perfect." He didn't seem to hit a single snag that he couldn't solve or didn't, at the very least, have a kindle book on the subject. For me, those moments when the hero doesn't know what to do are what make me either love him or hate him, those are the moments in the story when I find out what kind of person the hero really is, and I didn't really get any of those. I do have hope for the next book though!
Along that same vein, because Jim didn't seem to encounter any obstacles he couldn't almost immediately solve, I felt like the plot was kind of "problem, solution, problem, solution." I really wanted the conflict to be more interwoven into the overall plot.
The world creation was excellent. Throughout the story, he revealed tidbits about the nuances of the culture, the people, and even the animals. Though all of those things were extremely similar to earth, it was still enough to set the world apart. There were moments when I felt more like Jim had simple been pulled back through time rather than transported to another planet, but it certainly didn't affect the story.
His use of magic was probably my favorite part of the story. I really love magic systems that are based on the idea that magic and science are extremely similar, if not the same. Kalymbrian magic falls in the "similar" category and I did enjoy seeing how Jim was able to use his knowledge of technology to affect similar concepts through magical artifacts.
Another thing I really enjoyed about this one was the way the author handled the "Christian" part of the genre. Even as a Christian, I often find that most Christian Fiction is way too preachy and tries to shove the Gospel down the reader's throat. Neuendorf uses Jim to reveal the message through a couple of opportunities Jim finds to talk to others about Christ, though for the most part, Jim is revealing his faith through his words and actions. Rather than calling them all heathens and hell-bound, Jim shows kindness, is fair in his rule, and abides by Biblical principles regardless of the situation he faces.
All-in-all, I really enjoyed reading The Summoned King and I look forward to the next book in the series!
July 23, 2016
James Madison Young is a bright high school senior with an interest in a broad range of subjects, especially fantasy and science fiction. When he falls asleep one evening while studying in the library, he wakes up in a strange land, a land where magic is real. He’s been summoned by a wizard, Maynard, who informs that he is to become the king of Kalymbria. Not enough to blow your mind? He’s also informed that he’s to marry a commoner, Julia Roper, a girl who has undeveloped magic powers. Still not convinced this is a story you’d be interested in reading? The nobles of Kalymbria want a king who’ll just rubber stamp their decisions, but James has a mind of his own, and under Maynard’s tutelage, his mission is to reform the kingdom.
The Summoned King by David Neuendorf is a semi-humorous fantasy romp through a magical land that, absent the magic, could be almost any society that currently exists. The author does a pretty good job of merging modern technology and ways of thinking into a world where magic is not the name of a former basketball star. You don’t have to be a fan of fantasy to enjoy reading this one.
The Summoned King by David Neuendorf is a semi-humorous fantasy romp through a magical land that, absent the magic, could be almost any society that currently exists. The author does a pretty good job of merging modern technology and ways of thinking into a world where magic is not the name of a former basketball star. You don’t have to be a fan of fantasy to enjoy reading this one.
August 1, 2016
As an avid fantasy reader I was excited to review something a bit more modern. I will do my best to give a good review without ruining the story. The author makes a point of putting Christianity into the story line but not until you are well into the book, I would say at least half way. As a non believer I would say that he does so in such a way that he is either trying to express his personal testimony in a very literal way, or he is just trying a fantasy "what if" and using modern religion as the basis. All in all it really wasn't too big of a deal, but some folks really don't like religion. The story is very engaging, with a Harry Potter/Percy Jackson sorry of feel. The protagonist is unique in the world of fantasy in that he doesn't have some miraculous calling to magic, or amazing skills that no one else has. He is a generalist like many American males these days and that benefits him greatly on the world of fantasy in which he is thrust. I look forward to reading the remainder of the series and seeing the development of the author as well.
August 21, 2016
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Hehe. Read this book on your Kindle Fire, and be jealous of how King Jim uses his Kindle Fire to understand and make magical artifacts in his new home in Kalymbria!
James Madison Young is a high school senior, apparently a bit of a nerd with a wide variety of interests, including electronics and robotics, metal ore prospecting, and chemistry. He also does Krav Maga training, which appears to be a kind of martial art.
He falls asleep in the library while cramming for finals only to wake up in the middle of a summoning circle on another planet, having been summoned there by the Wizard Advisor to the local Council of Advisors to be their King. Once he is sworn in and crowned, the very next thing that happens is he is married.
The Council of Advisors turn out to be a pretty nefarious group who have been running Kalymbria mostly for their own profit for many years now. The Wizard, Maynard, has selected Jim to reform the system, and he easily convinces the highly opinionated Jim to take on the job.
With all the idealism of youth Jim sets about reforming the Palace Guards and the army, winning over the common people (who have been treated like dirt or worse under the rule of the Council of Advisors), easing power from the hands of the Council, ending slavery, and doing away with the practice of human sacrifice.
In all these endeavors he is aided by the Wizard Maynard, and by his new Queen, Julia, who was selected for her magical aptitude. They are repeatedly attacked by would-be assassins, some sent by various Advisors, and some sent by the hostile neighboring kingdom of Venicka. Most of these assassins use magic or magical weapons of some sort, and to defend against them Maynard uses his magic and teaches Julia magic so that she can protect Jim. Jim does not have much magical power of his own, but he can detect when magic is being used. He and Julia and the Wizard undertake a program to produce their own magical artifacts, a skill that has been lost in Kalymbria in recent years.
Jim also finds a few Christians among the pagans of Kalymbria, and undertakes to support the religion.
Much of the book is devoted to the process of political reform – setting up the laws and systems and putting the right people in place to handle the many aspects of running a country. This part is probably boring if you are not into that sort of thinking. But it gives you an idea what a complicated thing it is to be King. On the whole though, this was an interesting story. It was a relief to find that despite the nefarious Council members, The Summoned King was not a dark or dystopian fantasy.
Hehe. Read this book on your Kindle Fire, and be jealous of how King Jim uses his Kindle Fire to understand and make magical artifacts in his new home in Kalymbria!
James Madison Young is a high school senior, apparently a bit of a nerd with a wide variety of interests, including electronics and robotics, metal ore prospecting, and chemistry. He also does Krav Maga training, which appears to be a kind of martial art.
He falls asleep in the library while cramming for finals only to wake up in the middle of a summoning circle on another planet, having been summoned there by the Wizard Advisor to the local Council of Advisors to be their King. Once he is sworn in and crowned, the very next thing that happens is he is married.
The Council of Advisors turn out to be a pretty nefarious group who have been running Kalymbria mostly for their own profit for many years now. The Wizard, Maynard, has selected Jim to reform the system, and he easily convinces the highly opinionated Jim to take on the job.
With all the idealism of youth Jim sets about reforming the Palace Guards and the army, winning over the common people (who have been treated like dirt or worse under the rule of the Council of Advisors), easing power from the hands of the Council, ending slavery, and doing away with the practice of human sacrifice.
In all these endeavors he is aided by the Wizard Maynard, and by his new Queen, Julia, who was selected for her magical aptitude. They are repeatedly attacked by would-be assassins, some sent by various Advisors, and some sent by the hostile neighboring kingdom of Venicka. Most of these assassins use magic or magical weapons of some sort, and to defend against them Maynard uses his magic and teaches Julia magic so that she can protect Jim. Jim does not have much magical power of his own, but he can detect when magic is being used. He and Julia and the Wizard undertake a program to produce their own magical artifacts, a skill that has been lost in Kalymbria in recent years.
Jim also finds a few Christians among the pagans of Kalymbria, and undertakes to support the religion.
Much of the book is devoted to the process of political reform – setting up the laws and systems and putting the right people in place to handle the many aspects of running a country. This part is probably boring if you are not into that sort of thinking. But it gives you an idea what a complicated thing it is to be King. On the whole though, this was an interesting story. It was a relief to find that despite the nefarious Council members, The Summoned King was not a dark or dystopian fantasy.
September 29, 2016
The Summoned King is a Christian fantasy book.
High school student James Madison Young ends up in the fictional country of Kalymbria after cramming in the library for a chemistry exam. He was brought there by the wizard Maynard, and Jim is appointed king. Kalymbria prefers to “avoid problems inherent in a hereditary monarchy” and thus summons its kings from other planets, after a process of observing them (page 8). Jim is given a wife, Julia, who is from the peasant class, and Jim has to become accustomed to that, since he is rather awkward around the opposite sex. Julia has the potential to become powerful in the usage of magic, but she is gradually feeling her wings, under Maynard’s tutelage.
Jim has to contend with a Council of Advisors, which expects him to rubber-stamp its every decision and is the real power in Kalymbria. Jim devises strategies to gain more power and to create a just system in the country, against much opposition. Meanwhile, there is the looming threat of war, and the witch Ruingia is making attacks.
If you like political science, then you will enjoy this book. The book is detailed about the political, social, and religious system of Kalymbria and surrounding countries. The book is also detailed about aspects of technology. While that could be slow and tedious, in areas, it did add greater believability to the story.
Politically, Jim is rather progressive in Kalymbria, since Jim abolishes slavery, challenges human sacrifice, eliminates state support for religion, and attempts to create a republic. The book seems to reflect a rather conservative political stance, in terms of American political ideology, since Jim supports the gold standard and institutes the right to keep and bear arms.
There are action scenes in the book, and they enhance the story, but the political, social, and religious aspects of the book’s world were what especially intrigued me.
A question that occurred to me was why Maynard would choose a teenager to be king, of all people. But it actually makes sense. Maynard wanted to effect reforms in Kalymbria. Perhaps he felt that Jim was impressionable and teachable enough to do what Maynard advised, while having enough intelligence to be an effective ruler.
One of my favorite scenes is when the witch Ruingia sends Jim a message, and the message was like Princess Leia’s message to Obi-Wan in Star Wars (a hologram, of sorts). Jim sees Ruingia, and she does not look like a hag at all, but rather like a grandmother.
This is the first book of a series, and I hope to read subsequent books.
I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
High school student James Madison Young ends up in the fictional country of Kalymbria after cramming in the library for a chemistry exam. He was brought there by the wizard Maynard, and Jim is appointed king. Kalymbria prefers to “avoid problems inherent in a hereditary monarchy” and thus summons its kings from other planets, after a process of observing them (page 8). Jim is given a wife, Julia, who is from the peasant class, and Jim has to become accustomed to that, since he is rather awkward around the opposite sex. Julia has the potential to become powerful in the usage of magic, but she is gradually feeling her wings, under Maynard’s tutelage.
Jim has to contend with a Council of Advisors, which expects him to rubber-stamp its every decision and is the real power in Kalymbria. Jim devises strategies to gain more power and to create a just system in the country, against much opposition. Meanwhile, there is the looming threat of war, and the witch Ruingia is making attacks.
If you like political science, then you will enjoy this book. The book is detailed about the political, social, and religious system of Kalymbria and surrounding countries. The book is also detailed about aspects of technology. While that could be slow and tedious, in areas, it did add greater believability to the story.
Politically, Jim is rather progressive in Kalymbria, since Jim abolishes slavery, challenges human sacrifice, eliminates state support for religion, and attempts to create a republic. The book seems to reflect a rather conservative political stance, in terms of American political ideology, since Jim supports the gold standard and institutes the right to keep and bear arms.
There are action scenes in the book, and they enhance the story, but the political, social, and religious aspects of the book’s world were what especially intrigued me.
A question that occurred to me was why Maynard would choose a teenager to be king, of all people. But it actually makes sense. Maynard wanted to effect reforms in Kalymbria. Perhaps he felt that Jim was impressionable and teachable enough to do what Maynard advised, while having enough intelligence to be an effective ruler.
One of my favorite scenes is when the witch Ruingia sends Jim a message, and the message was like Princess Leia’s message to Obi-Wan in Star Wars (a hologram, of sorts). Jim sees Ruingia, and she does not look like a hag at all, but rather like a grandmother.
This is the first book of a series, and I hope to read subsequent books.
I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2016
I was a bit conflicted as to how to rate this book. As a stand alone book, with nothing else to recommend it, I might only have given it three stars. But as the author's first book, and the opening of a trilogy, with a Christian viewpoint, I am willing to say there is enough to look forward to to qualify for four stars.
The good:
The premise is really fun, and unique, at least to my current memory. The corrupt council summons a puppet king to rule their land, but he is only a figurehead for rubber-stamping their decisions. Until the wizard Maynard takes a hand in selecting a young man of character, James, who is willing to use the power the power the king actually DOES have to turn things around for the country of Kalymbria.
There is also a Christian viewpoint. Throughout most of this book, it is only subtly evoked in James' morality, and occasional references. Only towards the end of the book does it actually become a "player" in the story world. but, again, if this is the beginning of a trilogy, we have much more to look forward to.
The magic system is clever, and well designed. I particularly enjoy the discoveries about the lost art of enchanting - and I don't want to tell you more, because you should read about it for yourself.
The book definitely picks up in pace and interest towards the end, and I do recommend you stick it out!
The bad:
The characters are rather flat, and show little development. This makes it hard to really get attached to them, or care much about them, personally.
The plot is also fairly predictable, and the challenges come in a linear fashion that allows for resolutions to be handled sequentially, and not leaving me with the "can't put it down" or "page-turner!" feeling. Even for the intended YA audience, I think it is in some ways simplistic.
James, the summoned king and main character, is *not* a typical teenager. He knows too much about too many things, and it's all just a bit too convenient.
The writing is correct and well done, but not compelling. The book does seem a little slow, at least through the majority of it. The end does pick up a bit, giving me hope for the sequels.
All in all?
I think it is a VERY good book for a first novel! I will definitely be looking forward to reading the sequels, and watching this writer develop his voice.
I received this book as a gift from the author in exchange for my agreement to provide my honest review. A quick look at my profile will assure you that this does not compel me to write nice things about bad books or products. ;)
The good:
The premise is really fun, and unique, at least to my current memory. The corrupt council summons a puppet king to rule their land, but he is only a figurehead for rubber-stamping their decisions. Until the wizard Maynard takes a hand in selecting a young man of character, James, who is willing to use the power the power the king actually DOES have to turn things around for the country of Kalymbria.
There is also a Christian viewpoint. Throughout most of this book, it is only subtly evoked in James' morality, and occasional references. Only towards the end of the book does it actually become a "player" in the story world. but, again, if this is the beginning of a trilogy, we have much more to look forward to.
The magic system is clever, and well designed. I particularly enjoy the discoveries about the lost art of enchanting - and I don't want to tell you more, because you should read about it for yourself.
The book definitely picks up in pace and interest towards the end, and I do recommend you stick it out!
The bad:
The characters are rather flat, and show little development. This makes it hard to really get attached to them, or care much about them, personally.
The plot is also fairly predictable, and the challenges come in a linear fashion that allows for resolutions to be handled sequentially, and not leaving me with the "can't put it down" or "page-turner!" feeling. Even for the intended YA audience, I think it is in some ways simplistic.
James, the summoned king and main character, is *not* a typical teenager. He knows too much about too many things, and it's all just a bit too convenient.
The writing is correct and well done, but not compelling. The book does seem a little slow, at least through the majority of it. The end does pick up a bit, giving me hope for the sequels.
All in all?
I think it is a VERY good book for a first novel! I will definitely be looking forward to reading the sequels, and watching this writer develop his voice.
I received this book as a gift from the author in exchange for my agreement to provide my honest review. A quick look at my profile will assure you that this does not compel me to write nice things about bad books or products. ;)
March 7, 2017
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.
I am a female reader in my late 40’s and enjoy reading fiction, fantasy, and some YA books in the fantasy genre.
Plot: A teenager living in the current United States is summoned by a wizard to a magical realm to be the King. The King was selected by the wizard specifically to institute a bit of reform in the class-based government. I am not going to give you any spoilers, but I loved the Wizard’s first steps with the new King.
This 358-page book is a very fast read! I was shocked with how much plot the author packed into the book. However, this fast pace left little to character development up front. Instead, the author is parsing character development throughout the storyline. This is different than what I am used to; I just had to tell myself to be patient. My initial surprise at the unlikely behavior of this teenager is being addressed as the story progresses. The same is true for the development of the realm itself; just be patient with the author’s different style, and he will take you there. Think of the jarring introduction to the plot as the same jolt the new King experienced!
I was initially put off by the author’s use of trade names of products in the storyline, but after I reflected on it, I realized that this has become a huge trend in fiction, particularly the political thriller and police drama categories. As I continued to read, the author wove in the rationale for one of these trade names; I expect that trend to continue as this is the author’s narrative style. Could the plot have worked without the trade names? Yes, but for many readers, the name likely grounds the book more in reality. It also adds a humorous element at one point.
The use and understanding of magic is very intriguing. Well done! I like how the author is integrating the two world views into the plot.
Overall a nice, easy, relaxing read from a genre I visit too little. It was also a nice break from the detail heavy crime/political thrillers I have been reading. As a middle-aged reader, I am not the target audience; I think some of the less favorable reviews may reflect an older readership.
I would read the next book in the series if I could check it out as an e-book from my library or if it were a Kindle First. I purchase very few books, so this would not be unusual for me. I often wait months on the wait list for a new book, like the new Harry Potter book.
I am a female reader in my late 40’s and enjoy reading fiction, fantasy, and some YA books in the fantasy genre.
Plot: A teenager living in the current United States is summoned by a wizard to a magical realm to be the King. The King was selected by the wizard specifically to institute a bit of reform in the class-based government. I am not going to give you any spoilers, but I loved the Wizard’s first steps with the new King.
This 358-page book is a very fast read! I was shocked with how much plot the author packed into the book. However, this fast pace left little to character development up front. Instead, the author is parsing character development throughout the storyline. This is different than what I am used to; I just had to tell myself to be patient. My initial surprise at the unlikely behavior of this teenager is being addressed as the story progresses. The same is true for the development of the realm itself; just be patient with the author’s different style, and he will take you there. Think of the jarring introduction to the plot as the same jolt the new King experienced!
I was initially put off by the author’s use of trade names of products in the storyline, but after I reflected on it, I realized that this has become a huge trend in fiction, particularly the political thriller and police drama categories. As I continued to read, the author wove in the rationale for one of these trade names; I expect that trend to continue as this is the author’s narrative style. Could the plot have worked without the trade names? Yes, but for many readers, the name likely grounds the book more in reality. It also adds a humorous element at one point.
The use and understanding of magic is very intriguing. Well done! I like how the author is integrating the two world views into the plot.
Overall a nice, easy, relaxing read from a genre I visit too little. It was also a nice break from the detail heavy crime/political thrillers I have been reading. As a middle-aged reader, I am not the target audience; I think some of the less favorable reviews may reflect an older readership.
I would read the next book in the series if I could check it out as an e-book from my library or if it were a Kindle First. I purchase very few books, so this would not be unusual for me. I often wait months on the wait list for a new book, like the new Harry Potter book.
August 26, 2016
I was contacted via the author and received a copy in exchange for an unbiased, honest review.
The idea behind this book is one that is easy to relate to, a nerdy high school senior - James "Jim" Madison falls asleep whilst at the library and finds himself transported to a different world or rather summoned by a magician. Jim is forced to take up the role as King and has it sprung on him that as King he must marry as it is law and from there Jim, as King, decides to take his role seriously and make progressive changes to his society.
I don't enjoy giving low ratings but here are the reasons why it didn't work for me.
While the premise of the story is an interesting, fun one, it was unbelievable the moment Jim was transported to a different world. Jim wasn't taken aback, he immediately fell into the role which offered no development to him. Even if he believed it to be a dream [which it didn't seem that way, I'll come back to that in a moment,] he seemed to accept everything rather easily.
My main issue is the lack of development in character, as well as the world. It's largely a dialogue book, which detracts from delving into this world feet first and experiencing first hand. While there are a goodly amount of politics, it doesn't save the characters from being flat and I will blame that on the lack of storytelling behind the characters. They were all interchangeable. That being said since there was very little character development and back stories to them we never truly get to understand what is going on with each character and how all of the events affected them.
I guess in the end I felt like this book was only half written and that it was still in need of some finishing touches. It has a very interesting storyline but I feel like most of it could and should be embellished on.
I wish I could give it a higher rating.
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The idea behind this book is one that is easy to relate to, a nerdy high school senior - James "Jim" Madison falls asleep whilst at the library and finds himself transported to a different world or rather summoned by a magician. Jim is forced to take up the role as King and has it sprung on him that as King he must marry as it is law and from there Jim, as King, decides to take his role seriously and make progressive changes to his society.
I don't enjoy giving low ratings but here are the reasons why it didn't work for me.
While the premise of the story is an interesting, fun one, it was unbelievable the moment Jim was transported to a different world. Jim wasn't taken aback, he immediately fell into the role which offered no development to him. Even if he believed it to be a dream [which it didn't seem that way, I'll come back to that in a moment,] he seemed to accept everything rather easily.
My main issue is the lack of development in character, as well as the world. It's largely a dialogue book, which detracts from delving into this world feet first and experiencing first hand. While there are a goodly amount of politics, it doesn't save the characters from being flat and I will blame that on the lack of storytelling behind the characters. They were all interchangeable. That being said since there was very little character development and back stories to them we never truly get to understand what is going on with each character and how all of the events affected them.
I guess in the end I felt like this book was only half written and that it was still in need of some finishing touches. It has a very interesting storyline but I feel like most of it could and should be embellished on.
I wish I could give it a higher rating.
Website - Facebook - Instagram
August 31, 2016
I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
The premise, an extremely knowledgeable kid summoned by a wizard to be king of a land on another world, had me intrigued from the start. The reader gets a brief glimpse into Jim's life on Earth before he's brought by the wizard, Maynard, to be king of Kalymbria.
Maynard knew exactly what he was doing when he chose Jim, because Jim isn't one to play the part of a puppet king like he's supposed to--or, at least, how his advisory council wants him to. Having made extensive study of our own American Constitution, he's not just going to rubber-stamp the corrupt council's legislation that pretty much serves to advance their own powers while exempting themselves from the laws they pass and the taxes they levy. Instead, he'll take back the powers proper to the king of Kalymbria, root out the corruption, and establish a just government.
I thoroughly enjoyed Jim's journey through navigating the corrupt council, forging alliances with other nations, and facing threats from within and without the Kalymbrian government. Maybe I'm more politically-minded than I realized, but it made for a fun read. The characters were enjoyable as well. Jim, while there wasn't much growth during the course of the story, has a great heart, and it seemed he was born to this role he'd found himself in. While he was found to have some weak magical potential, I liked that he had a strength in seeing what is essentially magical circuitry and used this skill to do magical programming of useful weaponry and gadgetry. Julia, his wife by arranged marriage (as kings must be married before their coronation), is feisty and has some powerful magic. Maynard, of course, is a wise wizard and a good mentor--and very strict about safety (as in, NOT trying magic you're not familiar with while unsupervised because it can get you or others hurt, or even killed).
This is book one of The Kalymbrian Chronicles, and I look forward to seeing where the adventure goes next.
The premise, an extremely knowledgeable kid summoned by a wizard to be king of a land on another world, had me intrigued from the start. The reader gets a brief glimpse into Jim's life on Earth before he's brought by the wizard, Maynard, to be king of Kalymbria.
Maynard knew exactly what he was doing when he chose Jim, because Jim isn't one to play the part of a puppet king like he's supposed to--or, at least, how his advisory council wants him to. Having made extensive study of our own American Constitution, he's not just going to rubber-stamp the corrupt council's legislation that pretty much serves to advance their own powers while exempting themselves from the laws they pass and the taxes they levy. Instead, he'll take back the powers proper to the king of Kalymbria, root out the corruption, and establish a just government.
I thoroughly enjoyed Jim's journey through navigating the corrupt council, forging alliances with other nations, and facing threats from within and without the Kalymbrian government. Maybe I'm more politically-minded than I realized, but it made for a fun read. The characters were enjoyable as well. Jim, while there wasn't much growth during the course of the story, has a great heart, and it seemed he was born to this role he'd found himself in. While he was found to have some weak magical potential, I liked that he had a strength in seeing what is essentially magical circuitry and used this skill to do magical programming of useful weaponry and gadgetry. Julia, his wife by arranged marriage (as kings must be married before their coronation), is feisty and has some powerful magic. Maynard, of course, is a wise wizard and a good mentor--and very strict about safety (as in, NOT trying magic you're not familiar with while unsupervised because it can get you or others hurt, or even killed).
This is book one of The Kalymbrian Chronicles, and I look forward to seeing where the adventure goes next.
July 8, 2016
I received this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
The story got down to business quickly, there wasn't much time spent setting things up before stuff started happening which I appreciate. The book has a strong Christian angle that I wasn't expecting, some readers may not like this but it's easy for me to ignore.
The main character is far from a stereotypical teenager, he is nerdy, very intelligent, conservative Christian, and almost a Jack of all trades. It was hard to suspend disbelief at seeing how many different useful books in a wide range of topics he had on his Kindle Fire, very few teenagers would have that assortment. The character was almost too good to be true except the author took the time to give him some imperfections by making him inexperienced with women and have a fear of public speaking, even then, it still felt like I was reading about a super teen. While the character was very intellectually complex, there was a lack of emotional depth, aside from some mentions of missing his family, the depth of his emotions were not felt.
I would have actually liked to have read this book back when I was studying political science in college as it covers some angles of government, politics, American history and law and it's easy to see analogies to the political situation in our planet. The pop culture and fantasy references were appreciated by this geek.
That said I wish that there was better imagery for the new planet, there isn't much information and what little we learn is too much like Earth, even many of the names are too much like Earth, it just didn't feel alien enough so it was easy to feel like he traveled back in time to a medieval world than to another planet.
I usually hate cliffhangers and avoid series that leave me hanging but this one wasn't too bad, the story just stops where you would expect a chapter to stop. I am curious to learn about what happens next.
The story got down to business quickly, there wasn't much time spent setting things up before stuff started happening which I appreciate. The book has a strong Christian angle that I wasn't expecting, some readers may not like this but it's easy for me to ignore.
The main character is far from a stereotypical teenager, he is nerdy, very intelligent, conservative Christian, and almost a Jack of all trades. It was hard to suspend disbelief at seeing how many different useful books in a wide range of topics he had on his Kindle Fire, very few teenagers would have that assortment. The character was almost too good to be true except the author took the time to give him some imperfections by making him inexperienced with women and have a fear of public speaking, even then, it still felt like I was reading about a super teen. While the character was very intellectually complex, there was a lack of emotional depth, aside from some mentions of missing his family, the depth of his emotions were not felt.
I would have actually liked to have read this book back when I was studying political science in college as it covers some angles of government, politics, American history and law and it's easy to see analogies to the political situation in our planet. The pop culture and fantasy references were appreciated by this geek.
That said I wish that there was better imagery for the new planet, there isn't much information and what little we learn is too much like Earth, even many of the names are too much like Earth, it just didn't feel alien enough so it was easy to feel like he traveled back in time to a medieval world than to another planet.
I usually hate cliffhangers and avoid series that leave me hanging but this one wasn't too bad, the story just stops where you would expect a chapter to stop. I am curious to learn about what happens next.
August 16, 2016
There's a lot to like in this full-length Christian YA fantasy novel. Unfortunately, there's also a lot to not like, and that prevents me from giving it a higher rating.
The good includes a clever plot and interesting characters. A modern teenage Christian nerd, fascinated by everything in its turn, is transported into a fantasy world and forced to be their new king. The position holds little true power, but one of his current fascinations is politics, and he undertakes the kingship seriously with the intention of transforming the land into a true republic. It's a great concept and Jim, the summoned king, is strong enough to carry it.
The bad takes over from there. Jim isn't sufficiently developed to be more than interesting. We can't really cheer for him because we never really get to know him. His interactions with other characters remain superficial, and even when he's witnessing, he never provides us with enough introspection to make us care. He carries the story and that's all he does.
Plot development is no better, because it's linear. A problem arises; they solve the problem. Another problem arises; they solve that one. There's a complication; they find a way around it. And so on. For the plot to really fascinate, the problems and complications would need to be woven around each other with everything happening at the same time.
Because of the lack of plot and character development, there's no real tension. Nothing got me excited and I never had a problem putting the book aside. I wanted to finish it, but not at the cost of staying up late for just one more chapter. Reading the book was more an intellectual exercise than an emotional one.
The book's been produced well, with attention paid to proofreading and formatting. But the writing couldn't hold me. We'll call it three stars, mainly on the strength of the idea.
The good includes a clever plot and interesting characters. A modern teenage Christian nerd, fascinated by everything in its turn, is transported into a fantasy world and forced to be their new king. The position holds little true power, but one of his current fascinations is politics, and he undertakes the kingship seriously with the intention of transforming the land into a true republic. It's a great concept and Jim, the summoned king, is strong enough to carry it.
The bad takes over from there. Jim isn't sufficiently developed to be more than interesting. We can't really cheer for him because we never really get to know him. His interactions with other characters remain superficial, and even when he's witnessing, he never provides us with enough introspection to make us care. He carries the story and that's all he does.
Plot development is no better, because it's linear. A problem arises; they solve the problem. Another problem arises; they solve that one. There's a complication; they find a way around it. And so on. For the plot to really fascinate, the problems and complications would need to be woven around each other with everything happening at the same time.
Because of the lack of plot and character development, there's no real tension. Nothing got me excited and I never had a problem putting the book aside. I wanted to finish it, but not at the cost of staying up late for just one more chapter. Reading the book was more an intellectual exercise than an emotional one.
The book's been produced well, with attention paid to proofreading and formatting. But the writing couldn't hold me. We'll call it three stars, mainly on the strength of the idea.
May 14, 2017
Excellent debut for The Kalymbrian Chronicles
A fantasy novel starring a guy who loves fantasy novels...sounds good to me! 17 year old Jim is an inventor, good student and voracious reader. When magically transported to another world to become a king, he quickly finds his footing. His reading has given him a very strong frame of reference, allowing him to accept a medieval-type society with magic providing some "technology". As Jim tries to reform the corrupt government, invent a way to magically power his Kindle Fire that he was holding when transported--which incidentally contains many useful books and programs--and avoid the assassins, we go along for the ride. Although Jim doesn't sound like a teenager to me, I loved his story! He is a decent, intelligent guy trying to improve a bad situation with everything at his command. The system of magic is different from any other I am familiar with and I am interested to see where it goes in the subsequent books. Speaking of which...this book ends abruptly. I NEED THE NEXT BOOK! I need to know what happens next! I don't think I can wait, but I have no choice. Dave Neuendorf, I hope you are writing in every spare moment you have!
So. My recommendation is that you read this book immediately. And tell the author we need the second book NOW!
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
A fantasy novel starring a guy who loves fantasy novels...sounds good to me! 17 year old Jim is an inventor, good student and voracious reader. When magically transported to another world to become a king, he quickly finds his footing. His reading has given him a very strong frame of reference, allowing him to accept a medieval-type society with magic providing some "technology". As Jim tries to reform the corrupt government, invent a way to magically power his Kindle Fire that he was holding when transported--which incidentally contains many useful books and programs--and avoid the assassins, we go along for the ride. Although Jim doesn't sound like a teenager to me, I loved his story! He is a decent, intelligent guy trying to improve a bad situation with everything at his command. The system of magic is different from any other I am familiar with and I am interested to see where it goes in the subsequent books. Speaking of which...this book ends abruptly. I NEED THE NEXT BOOK! I need to know what happens next! I don't think I can wait, but I have no choice. Dave Neuendorf, I hope you are writing in every spare moment you have!
So. My recommendation is that you read this book immediately. And tell the author we need the second book NOW!
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
March 9, 2016
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. The Summoned King is about a teenaged boy named Jim, who was summoned to an area called Kalymbria to become the next king. Jim was summoned within the first few pages of the story while sitting at his high school library. On Jim's journey as King he works towards fixing the corrupt government set in place in Kalymbria with his ideas he know of the US government. Jim is helped along the way with a wizard named Maynard, his Queen Julia and a few other characters. In the book, you see some usage of magic throughout the story in aid to protect Jim on his quest to change the corruption created by the Counsel that currently runs the Government. This book is considered a YA Christian Fantasy book which was interesting to read since it was my first time reading this genre. What caused me to rate this book a 3 was due to the heavy politics throughout the story, I am not a fan politics so it got a little boring and hard to get around. I also felt the story lack character development. I had a difficult time relating to the main characters because I knew so little about them. I would recommend this story to anyone who likes Politics and Fantasy. This book is suited towards older teens and up due to the complex language throughout the story.
June 19, 2016
The Summoned King by Dave Neuendorf
This is a easily read young adult novel. The story resonates with AConnecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court but, and a big but, this story should appeal to the young adult reader. Jim Young is catapulted into a medieval style of world that is in need of a new king. He brings with him the idealism and enthusiasm of the teen he is.
Neuendorf crafts a good group of characters that are likeable and possibly characters that teens may identify with. Note I said may because having been a school counselor of teens I doubt anyone can unequivocally nail down what teens are feeling. I think the author provided a character that has the foibles expected of a teen but also provides a character that has laudable goals and who lands on his feet under extenuating circumstances.
Christianity is brought up as a factor in Jim's identity but there is no proselytization involved.
I recommend the book and look forward to the sequel.
Web Site: http://www.daveneuendorf.com/?author=1
This is a easily read young adult novel. The story resonates with AConnecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court but, and a big but, this story should appeal to the young adult reader. Jim Young is catapulted into a medieval style of world that is in need of a new king. He brings with him the idealism and enthusiasm of the teen he is.
Neuendorf crafts a good group of characters that are likeable and possibly characters that teens may identify with. Note I said may because having been a school counselor of teens I doubt anyone can unequivocally nail down what teens are feeling. I think the author provided a character that has the foibles expected of a teen but also provides a character that has laudable goals and who lands on his feet under extenuating circumstances.
Christianity is brought up as a factor in Jim's identity but there is no proselytization involved.
I recommend the book and look forward to the sequel.
Web Site: http://www.daveneuendorf.com/?author=1
October 21, 2016
I got the book by Dave Neuendorf as a gift for an honest review.
I was different from all the sci-fi books i have read up to now.
Young James Madison Young is falling asleep in the library while studying for his finals, only to wake up in a complete different world, called Kalymbria.
And finding out, that he was summoned by Wizard Maynard to be crowned as King with his Queen Julia to marry.
He was first against everything he was told by the Wizard. He had only one thought, how to go back to his real world. But he became intrigued as more and more the Wizard told him about that world. So he decided to listen and go along with it, and made up his mind to change the strange new world, since he couldn't go back to his own world.
Well, what else is there to say? Others have said it all. So i leave it to it.
If you like political stories, that book is your book.
Very interesting book to read
I was different from all the sci-fi books i have read up to now.
Young James Madison Young is falling asleep in the library while studying for his finals, only to wake up in a complete different world, called Kalymbria.
And finding out, that he was summoned by Wizard Maynard to be crowned as King with his Queen Julia to marry.
He was first against everything he was told by the Wizard. He had only one thought, how to go back to his real world. But he became intrigued as more and more the Wizard told him about that world. So he decided to listen and go along with it, and made up his mind to change the strange new world, since he couldn't go back to his own world.
Well, what else is there to say? Others have said it all. So i leave it to it.
If you like political stories, that book is your book.
Very interesting book to read
March 6, 2016
Christian Religious YA Fantasy at its best!
This is an exceptional fantasy. The world-building is first rate. The characters are diverse, interesting, and believable. In Reality Calling's spiritual rating system, this is as good as it gets without technically reaching the redemptive level.
I loved the story. Watching the summoned king learn to be a godly leader is a joy as is his arranged wife. The magic is believable and wondrous. The hideous bureaucracy is revealed in its horror. I can't wait for book two. I may have been given a copy to review (I really can't remember). But trust me, this an exceptional book.
This is an exceptional fantasy. The world-building is first rate. The characters are diverse, interesting, and believable. In Reality Calling's spiritual rating system, this is as good as it gets without technically reaching the redemptive level.
I loved the story. Watching the summoned king learn to be a godly leader is a joy as is his arranged wife. The magic is believable and wondrous. The hideous bureaucracy is revealed in its horror. I can't wait for book two. I may have been given a copy to review (I really can't remember). But trust me, this an exceptional book.
July 11, 2016
This is a particularly well written book that I quite enjoyed. There are some interesting elements to the fantasy I don't recall ever seeing before. The magic was related to present day electronics.
While I was not fan of some of the Christian elements they weren't bad. I'm not a Christian myself which probably colored my view regarding that aspect. Anyway, a non-Christian can get into it too.
While I was not fan of some of the Christian elements they weren't bad. I'm not a Christian myself which probably colored my view regarding that aspect. Anyway, a non-Christian can get into it too.
September 10, 2016
This is an engrossing fantasy story with likeable characters. The protagonist is an ordinary, if highly intelligent teenager who finds himself exploring a new and magical world.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
March 13, 2018
James Madison Young is a promising high school senior with a bright future. Intelligent, of high moral character, interested in politics and history, and a talent for Krav Maga, he delves deeply into every study he can get his hands on. With a library of nonfiction texts from engineering to history filling up his Kindle Fire, he finds himself at the school library late one evening doing research, and falls asleep - only to wake up on another planet, where magic and danger abound.
He has been summoned by the court wizard Maynard to be king of Kalymbria. This country 'jobs out' their puppet leadership to protect the real leadership, the Council of Advisors, from blame for the odious legislation they pass, strangling the common people to fill their coffers and their indulgent lifestyle.
Immediately forced into marriage with a beautiful and powerful female wizard, James quickly finds himself the pawn of opposing forces set to tear this weary country apart. Hated by the council, hated by the citizens, and threatened by neighboring countries poised on the brink of invasion, James must refashion the government into a benevolent servant of the people, with no friends and no resources.
With a heart for the common man and a desire to establish a fair democracy modeled after the US, James must stand up to the corrupt Council and avert war with neighboring countries, all while trying to prevent his own assassination!
Content:
Drug Content:
PG - There is a minor level of drunkenness involved with some pirates.
Violence:
PG-13 - There are quite a few characters killed by poison darts, or executed by hanging. One family is murdered at their dinner table, a decapitated head is left as a warning. A child is kidnapped. Assassination seems to be an accepted practice.
Language:
G - squeaky clean.
Adult Content:
PG - Rape and prostitution is discussed, but only from a legal consideration as to punishment. The king and queen, though forced into marriage, remain celibate until they mutually decide to consummate.
Christian content:
James is a devout Christian and works with a prophet from Kalymbria to bring the bible to this planet. Multiple characters convert to faith following miraculous evidence of God's power and guidance. The spiritual purpose behind James being summoned is explored.
Final analysis:
Sometimes reading a book for review is arduous, but this is not one of those times. I found The Summoned King to be like candy. Fantasy mixes with Faith in this high-stakes roller coaster ride. Fast-paced, action-packed, and filled with timeless truth, Neuendorf has hit a home run with this debut treasure. Looking forward to reading more about James and Julia in the pages to come. Five Stars!
*I received an electronic copy for an honest review.
He has been summoned by the court wizard Maynard to be king of Kalymbria. This country 'jobs out' their puppet leadership to protect the real leadership, the Council of Advisors, from blame for the odious legislation they pass, strangling the common people to fill their coffers and their indulgent lifestyle.
Immediately forced into marriage with a beautiful and powerful female wizard, James quickly finds himself the pawn of opposing forces set to tear this weary country apart. Hated by the council, hated by the citizens, and threatened by neighboring countries poised on the brink of invasion, James must refashion the government into a benevolent servant of the people, with no friends and no resources.
With a heart for the common man and a desire to establish a fair democracy modeled after the US, James must stand up to the corrupt Council and avert war with neighboring countries, all while trying to prevent his own assassination!
Content:
Drug Content:
PG - There is a minor level of drunkenness involved with some pirates.
Violence:
PG-13 - There are quite a few characters killed by poison darts, or executed by hanging. One family is murdered at their dinner table, a decapitated head is left as a warning. A child is kidnapped. Assassination seems to be an accepted practice.
Language:
G - squeaky clean.
Adult Content:
PG - Rape and prostitution is discussed, but only from a legal consideration as to punishment. The king and queen, though forced into marriage, remain celibate until they mutually decide to consummate.
Christian content:
James is a devout Christian and works with a prophet from Kalymbria to bring the bible to this planet. Multiple characters convert to faith following miraculous evidence of God's power and guidance. The spiritual purpose behind James being summoned is explored.
Final analysis:
Sometimes reading a book for review is arduous, but this is not one of those times. I found The Summoned King to be like candy. Fantasy mixes with Faith in this high-stakes roller coaster ride. Fast-paced, action-packed, and filled with timeless truth, Neuendorf has hit a home run with this debut treasure. Looking forward to reading more about James and Julia in the pages to come. Five Stars!
*I received an electronic copy for an honest review.
June 28, 2017
This is pretty good
This is a pretty good story. A few things nag at me and are keeping it from 5 stars. First, this High school student seems a little over educated and knowledgeable for his age group. Maybe a little more background about this would help. Second, the religious tones are a little heavy for a 17 yr old. It's not that it's bad, it just is that I have never know any 17 yr olds that act that way. Still will read the next book.
This is a pretty good story. A few things nag at me and are keeping it from 5 stars. First, this High school student seems a little over educated and knowledgeable for his age group. Maybe a little more background about this would help. Second, the religious tones are a little heavy for a 17 yr old. It's not that it's bad, it just is that I have never know any 17 yr olds that act that way. Still will read the next book.
August 15, 2017
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
I don't like giving low or upsetting reviews and I really wanted to like this book. However, I didn't. It wasn't because of the Christian YA Fantasy genre and it wasn't the politics. It was the writing that pulled me away. Let me start with what I disliked and then go into what I did like.
The first thing that pulled me away was the way the book was written. The dialogue had no indications as to who was talking when. There were times I was confused to who was talking and had to guess by using the context clues. A good way to describe it is like this (not direct quotes):
I looked at her.
"Surely, you like yourself."
"Not really. There's only so much to like. I am plain, unhappy, and my stomach does this strange thing when I drink milk."
"Maybe you're just lactose intolerant. My mother is lactose intolerant. It's very uncomfortable for her when we want to go to Dairy Queen."
Do you see what I mean? Sure, this is easy to figure out who is talking, but in the context of the book, not so much. It also makes knowing how the characters are feeling during their conversations difficult. The lack of indicators prevented me from seeing the characters in action and their emotions. They came across as monotone which in turn made the story feel very boring.
I also didn't care for the lack of character development. The main character and narrator, Jim, seems to have a solid base or at least some basic knowledge about all sorts of things. He isn't a typical teenager let alone a typical teenage boy. He knows Krav Maga, he has Kindle books on inventions and how to make an electrical source for charging his devices, he has political books in his Kindle... he even has a roll (granted a single roll) of toilet paper. I wish there were more issues about him emotionally or freaking out. He took being King to another world very well. Though he did miss his family, I didn't see it. There were no tears being shed at night or emotional outbursts of wanting his mommy (which I know I would have done).
From these alone, I didn't like the book. I was bored. For me, the book felt like a first or second draft. There could have been more imagery. What made this world different from ours aside from the politics? What are the animals like? Little things like that make a world believable. The cultures seemed pretty basic and something from a textbook. There wasn't something that grabbed me about their uniqueness.
That said, there were things I liked.
I love politics in books. I find them intriguing and a great format for causing conflict. Neuendorf does do that in this book. The politics are all about corruption. Another thing I found interesting is the direct comparison to the American government today. The Council of Advisors instantly made me think of Congress today. Basically, the Kalymbrian king is appointed (like the POTUS). The Council (our Congress) have a hereditary ascension. Yes, Congress does not have that, however it is difficult for a Congress member to leave unless the people vote for the opposing person. There is no time limit to their office position.
I don't know if Neuendorf planned that, but I found it clever. I also found Jim's reasonings to be clever. Even if I also feel that it doesn't reflect a typical teenager. Again, I just wish there was more development about him to help me believe that.
The one thing I was really worried about was the Christian outlook to the book. I'm not Christian. In fact, I am what I consider a Gnostic Pagan. I believe in the teachings and a God, just that I don't believe Christ was God. I believe he was a person and a person cannot be God. I also have nature based Pagan beliefs. As you can imagine, I was worried.
I had nothing to worry about. Though Christ is an important figure to Jim, his morals and beliefs being important motivators, he wasn't one to instantly try conversion. Yes, he had some moments of verbal diaherra, but I took that as a modern person's viewpoints in a medieval world. Even I would have said that the people were backwards. The Christianity in the book is not a direct conversion. Neuendorf isn't trying to convert in his book. He is trying to show a world and give a solution through a knowledgeable character and their personal beliefs.
I was by no means offended or scared into a belief system I don't follow. For that, the book is open minded and I do say that if you can work past what I disliked and you aren't Christian, this is still a fantasy you could read. In fact, I wouldn't mind trying again if Neuendorf decided to revisit his work and expanded on it. It has great potential. It's just that right now, I don't care for it and I don't feel it is a completed piece.
I don't like giving low or upsetting reviews and I really wanted to like this book. However, I didn't. It wasn't because of the Christian YA Fantasy genre and it wasn't the politics. It was the writing that pulled me away. Let me start with what I disliked and then go into what I did like.
The first thing that pulled me away was the way the book was written. The dialogue had no indications as to who was talking when. There were times I was confused to who was talking and had to guess by using the context clues. A good way to describe it is like this (not direct quotes):
I looked at her.
"Surely, you like yourself."
"Not really. There's only so much to like. I am plain, unhappy, and my stomach does this strange thing when I drink milk."
"Maybe you're just lactose intolerant. My mother is lactose intolerant. It's very uncomfortable for her when we want to go to Dairy Queen."
Do you see what I mean? Sure, this is easy to figure out who is talking, but in the context of the book, not so much. It also makes knowing how the characters are feeling during their conversations difficult. The lack of indicators prevented me from seeing the characters in action and their emotions. They came across as monotone which in turn made the story feel very boring.
I also didn't care for the lack of character development. The main character and narrator, Jim, seems to have a solid base or at least some basic knowledge about all sorts of things. He isn't a typical teenager let alone a typical teenage boy. He knows Krav Maga, he has Kindle books on inventions and how to make an electrical source for charging his devices, he has political books in his Kindle... he even has a roll (granted a single roll) of toilet paper. I wish there were more issues about him emotionally or freaking out. He took being King to another world very well. Though he did miss his family, I didn't see it. There were no tears being shed at night or emotional outbursts of wanting his mommy (which I know I would have done).
From these alone, I didn't like the book. I was bored. For me, the book felt like a first or second draft. There could have been more imagery. What made this world different from ours aside from the politics? What are the animals like? Little things like that make a world believable. The cultures seemed pretty basic and something from a textbook. There wasn't something that grabbed me about their uniqueness.
That said, there were things I liked.
I love politics in books. I find them intriguing and a great format for causing conflict. Neuendorf does do that in this book. The politics are all about corruption. Another thing I found interesting is the direct comparison to the American government today. The Council of Advisors instantly made me think of Congress today. Basically, the Kalymbrian king is appointed (like the POTUS). The Council (our Congress) have a hereditary ascension. Yes, Congress does not have that, however it is difficult for a Congress member to leave unless the people vote for the opposing person. There is no time limit to their office position.
I don't know if Neuendorf planned that, but I found it clever. I also found Jim's reasonings to be clever. Even if I also feel that it doesn't reflect a typical teenager. Again, I just wish there was more development about him to help me believe that.
The one thing I was really worried about was the Christian outlook to the book. I'm not Christian. In fact, I am what I consider a Gnostic Pagan. I believe in the teachings and a God, just that I don't believe Christ was God. I believe he was a person and a person cannot be God. I also have nature based Pagan beliefs. As you can imagine, I was worried.
I had nothing to worry about. Though Christ is an important figure to Jim, his morals and beliefs being important motivators, he wasn't one to instantly try conversion. Yes, he had some moments of verbal diaherra, but I took that as a modern person's viewpoints in a medieval world. Even I would have said that the people were backwards. The Christianity in the book is not a direct conversion. Neuendorf isn't trying to convert in his book. He is trying to show a world and give a solution through a knowledgeable character and their personal beliefs.
I was by no means offended or scared into a belief system I don't follow. For that, the book is open minded and I do say that if you can work past what I disliked and you aren't Christian, this is still a fantasy you could read. In fact, I wouldn't mind trying again if Neuendorf decided to revisit his work and expanded on it. It has great potential. It's just that right now, I don't care for it and I don't feel it is a completed piece.
October 10, 2016
he Summoned King
By Dave Neuendorf
YA Fantasy
As a reviewer, as a READER I want to love (love with a capitol “L”) every book I’m given the chance to read. Reading, for me, is more than a pastime; it’s a vacation. I want to lose myself between the pages of each book I read. So, I don’t want to waste even a minute thinking, “that could have been written better” or “hmmm wasted opportunity there”. Unfortunately, I had those kinds of thoughts all throughout this book.
Let’s talk about why:
I am a lover of the fantasy genre and, even though I’m a grandmother, I’ve discovered I truly enjoy the Young Adult genre as well. The two together are often magical. So I was thrilled to begin this book.
Early on, however—and I mean in the first few pages—I was taken aback by the car-crash suddenness of the transitioning from every day American teenage school day to magical fantasy-land adventure. Our main character, Jim—a teenaged boy—falls asleep in the school Library and wakes to find himself in Kalymbria, a land of wizards and magic. He’s told he is the new chosen king and will soon have a queen and—just for the fun of it—it’s his new purpose in life to revitalize the government of Kalymbria and make it a wonderful place to live again. Oh and by-the-way, you can never go home again. Jim’s response isn’t what I was expecting. I thought he’d have at least one hesitation…but, no. Jim accepts his new life with no qualms—leaving behind parents, friends, school and ordinary life without a blink—and sets right off into the thick of it. Admirable…but, unlikely. I’ve been the mother of a teenaged boy. They won’t even clean their rooms without half-a-day of debate. It was an implausible reaction.
But, okay. I get it. Jim is NOT an ordinary teenager. And boy is that an understatement!
All the teenaged boys I’ve ever known have had trouble expounding in full sentences on any subject that does not involve a video game or a plate of nachos. Yet, Jim is fluent in politics, government structure and other (again) implausible subjects. Which leads me to paraphrase Judge Judy, if it doesn’t make sense then it isn’t true.
While the story itself could have been fun(-ish) I have to be honest and say it was also very…bland. There was so little “flavor”. The author missed out on some wonderful opportunities to describe his fantasy world, to flesh it out and bring it to life. The story needed a more detailed backdrop. Jim needed a more inspired persona, a personality … heck, Jim needed a life. As it was, he (and all the characters, really) were more stick-figure-ish than fully fleshed out persons. That’s saying a lot when you consider that most of the characters are wizards and the like.
Don’t get me wrong. Mr. Neuendorf has talent. I guess that’s why I was disappointed. It could have been so much better. This book read more like the outline of what the story could have been than what I imagine the final copy should have been.
The Summoned King is the first in a projected series called, “The Kalymbrian Chronicles”. Here’s hoping that Mr. Neuendorf reaches deeper into his considerable imagination (and skill) and fleshes out his next story with a little more finesse.
By Dave Neuendorf
YA Fantasy
As a reviewer, as a READER I want to love (love with a capitol “L”) every book I’m given the chance to read. Reading, for me, is more than a pastime; it’s a vacation. I want to lose myself between the pages of each book I read. So, I don’t want to waste even a minute thinking, “that could have been written better” or “hmmm wasted opportunity there”. Unfortunately, I had those kinds of thoughts all throughout this book.
Let’s talk about why:
I am a lover of the fantasy genre and, even though I’m a grandmother, I’ve discovered I truly enjoy the Young Adult genre as well. The two together are often magical. So I was thrilled to begin this book.
Early on, however—and I mean in the first few pages—I was taken aback by the car-crash suddenness of the transitioning from every day American teenage school day to magical fantasy-land adventure. Our main character, Jim—a teenaged boy—falls asleep in the school Library and wakes to find himself in Kalymbria, a land of wizards and magic. He’s told he is the new chosen king and will soon have a queen and—just for the fun of it—it’s his new purpose in life to revitalize the government of Kalymbria and make it a wonderful place to live again. Oh and by-the-way, you can never go home again. Jim’s response isn’t what I was expecting. I thought he’d have at least one hesitation…but, no. Jim accepts his new life with no qualms—leaving behind parents, friends, school and ordinary life without a blink—and sets right off into the thick of it. Admirable…but, unlikely. I’ve been the mother of a teenaged boy. They won’t even clean their rooms without half-a-day of debate. It was an implausible reaction.
But, okay. I get it. Jim is NOT an ordinary teenager. And boy is that an understatement!
All the teenaged boys I’ve ever known have had trouble expounding in full sentences on any subject that does not involve a video game or a plate of nachos. Yet, Jim is fluent in politics, government structure and other (again) implausible subjects. Which leads me to paraphrase Judge Judy, if it doesn’t make sense then it isn’t true.
While the story itself could have been fun(-ish) I have to be honest and say it was also very…bland. There was so little “flavor”. The author missed out on some wonderful opportunities to describe his fantasy world, to flesh it out and bring it to life. The story needed a more detailed backdrop. Jim needed a more inspired persona, a personality … heck, Jim needed a life. As it was, he (and all the characters, really) were more stick-figure-ish than fully fleshed out persons. That’s saying a lot when you consider that most of the characters are wizards and the like.
Don’t get me wrong. Mr. Neuendorf has talent. I guess that’s why I was disappointed. It could have been so much better. This book read more like the outline of what the story could have been than what I imagine the final copy should have been.
The Summoned King is the first in a projected series called, “The Kalymbrian Chronicles”. Here’s hoping that Mr. Neuendorf reaches deeper into his considerable imagination (and skill) and fleshes out his next story with a little more finesse.
July 16, 2016
I was gifted The Summoned King in exchange for a fair review.
Indiana high school senior James Young is a promising young man who seems to be on track to a good successful life. A nap in the library had turned into the greatest adventure for James, when he was transported to Kalymbria. Ever the cool head, James quickly adapts into his new environment, becoming the Summoned King of Kalymbria.
It is a place where magic exists, and Kings are summoned to help pass laws or do puppet king duties. King James is quickly married to Julia Roper, a commoner chosen to be his queen. Things get interesting quickly, because James is full of ideologies about equality and fairness, and starts to challenge the Council.
Yes, the book has a few characters, but only a handful who makes it to the main cast, Maynard the wizard is one that I find annoying, while Julia's a girl who seems to appeal to me with her sharp mind. James' adventure is fraught with danger, and his determination only gets stronger as powerful people sought to end his rule before it begins.
The book is aimed at young adults who likes to imagine themselves in James' shoes, changing the world with courage, and not be afraid to try new things. The Summoned King is a good start to the Kalymbrian chronicles, and will be a good story to start. It will be interesting to see the direction the new King takes Kalymbrian people to, hopefully it does not end with sadness and war.
Indiana high school senior James Young is a promising young man who seems to be on track to a good successful life. A nap in the library had turned into the greatest adventure for James, when he was transported to Kalymbria. Ever the cool head, James quickly adapts into his new environment, becoming the Summoned King of Kalymbria.
It is a place where magic exists, and Kings are summoned to help pass laws or do puppet king duties. King James is quickly married to Julia Roper, a commoner chosen to be his queen. Things get interesting quickly, because James is full of ideologies about equality and fairness, and starts to challenge the Council.
Yes, the book has a few characters, but only a handful who makes it to the main cast, Maynard the wizard is one that I find annoying, while Julia's a girl who seems to appeal to me with her sharp mind. James' adventure is fraught with danger, and his determination only gets stronger as powerful people sought to end his rule before it begins.
The book is aimed at young adults who likes to imagine themselves in James' shoes, changing the world with courage, and not be afraid to try new things. The Summoned King is a good start to the Kalymbrian chronicles, and will be a good story to start. It will be interesting to see the direction the new King takes Kalymbrian people to, hopefully it does not end with sadness and war.
September 11, 2016
Received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This was rather interesting. It wasn’t really good but it wasn’t really bad either, I’m just kind of indifferent about it. I’m actually rather surprised that I was able to get through the book, there’s so much politics throughout that I’m so surprised that I was able to finish. I have to admit, I skipped over the new law, not really interested in that and if I hadn’t skipped it, I might have stopped.
Maybe it was seeing the magic through a different perspective instead of it just being accepted that kept me reading? I don’t know but I was interested in the magic more than the politics.
I’m not really sure how relatable this could be for teens though, unless they are really into politics. I’m not big into them so I know if I had read this when I was a teenager, I probably would have either skipped a good chunk of this book or just stopped reading all together.
The cover, I’m not really sure how I should feel about it, it’s simple but not really all that eye catching. The pace is a little slow and was mostly about the politics, as if my repeating that word didn’t give you the idea, and the inner workings of magic, though that was a little interesting.
I don’t know if I would continue with this series but for me, it was a good little filler book. I would recommend this to those more into politics who also like a little bit of romance, just smidgen.
Thank you for reading my review.
-Sam
This was rather interesting. It wasn’t really good but it wasn’t really bad either, I’m just kind of indifferent about it. I’m actually rather surprised that I was able to get through the book, there’s so much politics throughout that I’m so surprised that I was able to finish. I have to admit, I skipped over the new law, not really interested in that and if I hadn’t skipped it, I might have stopped.
Maybe it was seeing the magic through a different perspective instead of it just being accepted that kept me reading? I don’t know but I was interested in the magic more than the politics.
I’m not really sure how relatable this could be for teens though, unless they are really into politics. I’m not big into them so I know if I had read this when I was a teenager, I probably would have either skipped a good chunk of this book or just stopped reading all together.
The cover, I’m not really sure how I should feel about it, it’s simple but not really all that eye catching. The pace is a little slow and was mostly about the politics, as if my repeating that word didn’t give you the idea, and the inner workings of magic, though that was a little interesting.
I don’t know if I would continue with this series but for me, it was a good little filler book. I would recommend this to those more into politics who also like a little bit of romance, just smidgen.
Thank you for reading my review.
-Sam
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