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Warder #1
The Ukinhan Wilds
Assassin. Rogue. Demon's bane. Dragon-slayer. Kylac Kronus has been called many names, and earned every one of them. Months shy of his seventeenth spring, he is already the deadliest man alive. Nothing-be it man or beast-has been able to prove otherwise.
Uncomfortable with his newfound fame following the War of the Demon Queen, Kylac seeks fresh adventure overseas, recruited by a band of outlanders under royal commission to escort a kidnapped princess back to her father, King Kendarrion, ruler of the Sundered Isle. They warn him that, to do so, he will brave tempest seas full of raging leviathans while seeking to evade those responsible for the princess's abduction-including a terrifying mutant left over from the days of the Mage Wars.
Kylac readily agrees.
But when the mutant proves as cunning as it is savage, the perilous voyage gives way to an even deadlier trek across a poisoned wilderness once home to the ancient Gorrethrehn-"Breeders"-a sect of magi known for their foul creation practices. Stalked by bestial denizens, treacherous companions, and horrors that his blades cannot touch, Kylac finds himself embattled as never before. For the mutant is relentless in its hunt, the island's terrors do not rest, and not even the deadliest man alive can hope to emerge unscathed.
Uncomfortable with his newfound fame following the War of the Demon Queen, Kylac seeks fresh adventure overseas, recruited by a band of outlanders under royal commission to escort a kidnapped princess back to her father, King Kendarrion, ruler of the Sundered Isle. They warn him that, to do so, he will brave tempest seas full of raging leviathans while seeking to evade those responsible for the princess's abduction-including a terrifying mutant left over from the days of the Mage Wars.
Kylac readily agrees.
But when the mutant proves as cunning as it is savage, the perilous voyage gives way to an even deadlier trek across a poisoned wilderness once home to the ancient Gorrethrehn-"Breeders"-a sect of magi known for their foul creation practices. Stalked by bestial denizens, treacherous companions, and horrors that his blades cannot touch, Kylac finds himself embattled as never before. For the mutant is relentless in its hunt, the island's terrors do not rest, and not even the deadliest man alive can hope to emerge unscathed.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 28, 2018
88 people are currently reading
9077 people want to read
About the author
Eldon Thompson
16 books173 followersAfter surrendering his dream of playing pro football, Eldon Thompson set out to publish a fantasy adventure novel. In 2003, he sold his Legend of Asahiel trilogy to HarperCollins, which kicked off with The Crimson Sword in 2005. He is also a graduate of the UCLA Professional Program in Screenwriting, and in 2007 sold a feature adaptation of Terry Brooks's The Elfstones of Shannara (his favorite childhood novel) to Warner Bros. He has signed and dined with the likes of Robert Jordan, George R. R. Martin, Brandon Sanderson, and Patrick Rothfuss, but wrote chiefly for Hollywood until 2013, when "Unbowed," a short story featuring fan-favorite character Kylac Kronus, appeared in the Grim Oak Press anthology, Unfettered. Scratching that itch led to the long-promised delivery of Kylac's full-length return in the Warder trilogy, beginning with The Ukinhan Wilds in August of 2018.
Mostly, he continues to fantasize about being an NFL quarterback.
Mostly, he continues to fantasize about being an NFL quarterback.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
August 30, 2019
* SPFBO5 Read *
RATING: 3.5/5
Well, the entirety of this book is one wild expedition, fraught with horrors and peril at every. Single. Turn. A thrilling tale of adventure, treachery, and courage, The Ukinhan Wilds delivers us from the throes of a hungry sea, to shattered shores, to humid swamps, to labyrinthine caves, and more, in order to deliver a kidnapped princess back to her father. However, there's a consistent feeling that nothing is as it seems, which unravels into a larger underlying plot line that awaits further discovery. Populated by a large cast of diverse characters - some you love, and some you hate - this story focuses quite a bit on character dynamics, most of which were interesting to watch unfold. Kylac, the main character, is overly-powered, yet conflicted, which I always find to be a fine balance. Solid writing, vividly painted landscapes, and truly terrifying baddies, this story was an unexpected and welcome treat.
While I enjoyed my precarious trek through the wilds, at times there was a bit of meandering that threatened to pull me from the story, finding myself growing weary and wishing for more monsters. Don't get me wrong, there are monsters aplenty, and each more horrifying than the last. I also felt somewhat of a disconnect with Kylac, and later learned that the author dedicated another entire series to his adventures. There were a few aspects of his character that I found distracting or questionable, and maybe being acquainted with his history would've better equipped me for this. A shocking ending leaves this series open to a whole new set of nail-biting wanderings, and I'm looking forward to seeing what trouble Kylac finds himself in next.
RATING: 3.5/5
Well, the entirety of this book is one wild expedition, fraught with horrors and peril at every. Single. Turn. A thrilling tale of adventure, treachery, and courage, The Ukinhan Wilds delivers us from the throes of a hungry sea, to shattered shores, to humid swamps, to labyrinthine caves, and more, in order to deliver a kidnapped princess back to her father. However, there's a consistent feeling that nothing is as it seems, which unravels into a larger underlying plot line that awaits further discovery. Populated by a large cast of diverse characters - some you love, and some you hate - this story focuses quite a bit on character dynamics, most of which were interesting to watch unfold. Kylac, the main character, is overly-powered, yet conflicted, which I always find to be a fine balance. Solid writing, vividly painted landscapes, and truly terrifying baddies, this story was an unexpected and welcome treat.
While I enjoyed my precarious trek through the wilds, at times there was a bit of meandering that threatened to pull me from the story, finding myself growing weary and wishing for more monsters. Don't get me wrong, there are monsters aplenty, and each more horrifying than the last. I also felt somewhat of a disconnect with Kylac, and later learned that the author dedicated another entire series to his adventures. There were a few aspects of his character that I found distracting or questionable, and maybe being acquainted with his history would've better equipped me for this. A shocking ending leaves this series open to a whole new set of nail-biting wanderings, and I'm looking forward to seeing what trouble Kylac finds himself in next.
June 5, 2020
The Ukinhan Wilds is an action-packed adventure story, filled with battles and fantastical creatures.
With a myriad of characters - so many that it's hard to keep track at times - it was definitely character-driven.
Kylac, the main character, was a mystery to me. When we first meet him, he's written as a young boy seeking passage on a ship, slinking around the shipyard, and the way the harbormaster spoke to him, you'd imagine he was a young orphan in need of guidance. But within a chapter, it's discovered that that's just a mask, and while he's still young (16, I think?), his tone, voice, and expertise don't fit a teenager, even one in a fantasy, at all. He's way too overpowered, a better fighter than the king's elite, and usually the smartest in the room.
I think I might have liked this book more if I'd liked Kylac a little more than I did, but as it was, he was too overpowered and infallible to be relatable or likeable. And speaking of unlikeable characters, the princess in need of saving was so unlikeable that I almost didn't care if she was rescued or not.
All that being said, however, the story was interesting, and though it was slow at times, it was generally well-paced. If you're a fan of fantasy adventures, I'd recommend giving it a try.
With a myriad of characters - so many that it's hard to keep track at times - it was definitely character-driven.
Kylac, the main character, was a mystery to me. When we first meet him, he's written as a young boy seeking passage on a ship, slinking around the shipyard, and the way the harbormaster spoke to him, you'd imagine he was a young orphan in need of guidance. But within a chapter, it's discovered that that's just a mask, and while he's still young (16, I think?), his tone, voice, and expertise don't fit a teenager, even one in a fantasy, at all. He's way too overpowered, a better fighter than the king's elite, and usually the smartest in the room.
I think I might have liked this book more if I'd liked Kylac a little more than I did, but as it was, he was too overpowered and infallible to be relatable or likeable. And speaking of unlikeable characters, the princess in need of saving was so unlikeable that I almost didn't care if she was rescued or not.
All that being said, however, the story was interesting, and though it was slow at times, it was generally well-paced. If you're a fan of fantasy adventures, I'd recommend giving it a try.
September 21, 2020
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
An assassin is at loose ends. Despite being a legend at 17, he wants to go to sea. When he rescues a young soldier, he gets his chance, bodyguarding a princess who has a mutant being after her. We get some hero's journey type stuff, then a double twist at the end.
Not bad. Maybe a little bit too much slogging in the jungle, but it manages to pick up steam.
An assassin is at loose ends. Despite being a legend at 17, he wants to go to sea. When he rescues a young soldier, he gets his chance, bodyguarding a princess who has a mutant being after her. We get some hero's journey type stuff, then a double twist at the end.
Not bad. Maybe a little bit too much slogging in the jungle, but it manages to pick up steam.
October 26, 2020
It had been a while since I read some decent fantasy. This book was decent enough, and well written, but the characters just did not grab me. I probably will not read the other books in this series.
November 13, 2024
DNF'd at 41%, but probably not for the reasons that you think.
I won this from a Goodreads giveaway, and to be quite honest, it's not the worst book I've read from a Goodreads giveaway. I've got no problems with it's writing, it has a lot of action, etc. My main problem is that I really don't believe it serves as a good first book in a series. It's pretty clear that Kylac, the main character, is a main character in another book series before this one, and that's where you're truly supposed to go to get to know him, because just reading this, he comes off as very G.S.
And while I'm reading, and the action scenes are actually pretty enthralling, I just find I don't really care. I don't like Kylac, I don't hate him either, I just don't know anything about him, so why do I care how this ends? I wouldn't actually be against reading the original book series Kylac is from and THEN coming back to this one, because I do think it could be a decent book.
I won this from a Goodreads giveaway, and to be quite honest, it's not the worst book I've read from a Goodreads giveaway. I've got no problems with it's writing, it has a lot of action, etc. My main problem is that I really don't believe it serves as a good first book in a series. It's pretty clear that Kylac, the main character, is a main character in another book series before this one, and that's where you're truly supposed to go to get to know him, because just reading this, he comes off as very G.S.
And while I'm reading, and the action scenes are actually pretty enthralling, I just find I don't really care. I don't like Kylac, I don't hate him either, I just don't know anything about him, so why do I care how this ends? I wouldn't actually be against reading the original book series Kylac is from and THEN coming back to this one, because I do think it could be a decent book.
March 3, 2024
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway for my honest review. Well the prologue was good. Thought the book was going to be better than it actually was. The main character I can't stand. The teenage wanna be hero I found lame. It's a group of men fighting the salty seas to rescue the princess and get her home to daddy. A story told a thousand times. There are so many characters you don't remember one from the next. Hard to keep track of. Between the fantasy monsters, the sludging through the jungles it could have been a decent book. But I found the whole thing rather boring with absolutely no enthusiasm. It seems the author tried, but dropped the ball in the excitement area. I was disappointed with this work. I love fantasy books, read them all the time. But this one was lacking everything important. You can give it a try if you must. I wouldn't waste the time though.
February 11, 2022
Action and fantasy
Detailed, action packed fantasy which I thoroughly enjoyed! I did have a WTF moment when it ended. I have to get book two to answer that WTF.
Detailed, action packed fantasy which I thoroughly enjoyed! I did have a WTF moment when it ended. I have to get book two to answer that WTF.
January 2, 2021
Overall I thought this was a good book and an interesting take on the adventure genre. The story follows Kylac Kronus as he journeys through open seas and jungles to return a princess home to her family. The story is a little slow to get started, but once it does its full of exciting new creatures and mishaps that befall the crew, proving that none of the characters are safe. The story is fast-paced and encourages the reader to keep going and see what will happen next. There's even an unexpected twist at the ending to top it off.
A great book that I would definitely recommend for all adventure seekers!
A great book that I would definitely recommend for all adventure seekers!
December 14, 2020
Note: I won a free digital copy of “The Ukinhan Wilds : Warder”from Goodreads. My Thanks to Goodreads, the author and publisher.
The book is of the fantasy fiction genre and heavy on the monsters , mutants and super- capable teen hero sub genre. Maybe a YA book aimed at the hack and slash video-game or movie audience.
The novel begins on a ship with a group of the King’s guard combatting a mutant beast. It has wicked fangs , claws on both “hands” and feet, not to mention a scaly armor that self repairs. Many soldiers are slain before the wounded beast-thing leaps overboard from the ship transporting the Royal Princess whom the Guard was transporting back home after she ran away. The reason for her scampering is vague, but can be put down to being a willful, arrogant, smart- mouthed , drama teen.
Cut to next scene, wherein a scruffy young man is trying to find a ship transporting the princess on which he can sign on as a sailor in return for passage. He has no luck with the ship captain. Wandering off to a nearby tavern, a place so odious that it reeks, the said teen, a person of various names, soon finds himself being arrested by the local guard.This results in a back alley fight in which the unarmed youth manages to kill five or six armed and armored opponents with balletic ( or perhaps break- dancing ) moves, spinning, whirling and leaping until he is victorious. That sets the tone and tendency of the book. Teen super fighter versus dangerous opponents and extreme challenges overcomes.
Every fantasy novel has its quest. In the book the quest is for Kylac Kronos, the youth’s name, to escort and protect the runaway princess back home against her very pronounced wishes. The sea to be sailed in patrolled by pirates. Bad enough, but then the caravan has to traverse a landscape crawling with nasty insects, birds and beasts, not to mention those mutant super-things and the local anti- Royal inhabitant rebels called Ukinhan. No matter, Kylac can handle them easily. In fact, Kylac with his ninja moves, his blades so endowed with magic that they can pierce stone, and his super- spider sense wins all challenges. Not that the fights are not well described; they are exciting, but the conclusions obvious. And throughout the princess is unlikeable, for want of a more acceptable term.
Mr. Eldon builds an interestingly dangerous world for the setting of this heroic trek and as the reader finds out, the book is going to have sequels for more adventures for Kylac. Only Kylac is of real interest, although there is no real depth of character except to paint him a a warrior. There is little background given for the hero. Was he trained to be a superb warrior , if so, where and by whom? Why was he directed to that seaport ? He simply appeared full born on these pages, leaving much to be wondered at, perhaps intentionally.
I found it difficult to become involved in the book and skimmed pages. Not a good sign, nor a good recommendation. I will not be reading more installments.
The book is of the fantasy fiction genre and heavy on the monsters , mutants and super- capable teen hero sub genre. Maybe a YA book aimed at the hack and slash video-game or movie audience.
The novel begins on a ship with a group of the King’s guard combatting a mutant beast. It has wicked fangs , claws on both “hands” and feet, not to mention a scaly armor that self repairs. Many soldiers are slain before the wounded beast-thing leaps overboard from the ship transporting the Royal Princess whom the Guard was transporting back home after she ran away. The reason for her scampering is vague, but can be put down to being a willful, arrogant, smart- mouthed , drama teen.
Cut to next scene, wherein a scruffy young man is trying to find a ship transporting the princess on which he can sign on as a sailor in return for passage. He has no luck with the ship captain. Wandering off to a nearby tavern, a place so odious that it reeks, the said teen, a person of various names, soon finds himself being arrested by the local guard.This results in a back alley fight in which the unarmed youth manages to kill five or six armed and armored opponents with balletic ( or perhaps break- dancing ) moves, spinning, whirling and leaping until he is victorious. That sets the tone and tendency of the book. Teen super fighter versus dangerous opponents and extreme challenges overcomes.
Every fantasy novel has its quest. In the book the quest is for Kylac Kronos, the youth’s name, to escort and protect the runaway princess back home against her very pronounced wishes. The sea to be sailed in patrolled by pirates. Bad enough, but then the caravan has to traverse a landscape crawling with nasty insects, birds and beasts, not to mention those mutant super-things and the local anti- Royal inhabitant rebels called Ukinhan. No matter, Kylac can handle them easily. In fact, Kylac with his ninja moves, his blades so endowed with magic that they can pierce stone, and his super- spider sense wins all challenges. Not that the fights are not well described; they are exciting, but the conclusions obvious. And throughout the princess is unlikeable, for want of a more acceptable term.
Mr. Eldon builds an interestingly dangerous world for the setting of this heroic trek and as the reader finds out, the book is going to have sequels for more adventures for Kylac. Only Kylac is of real interest, although there is no real depth of character except to paint him a a warrior. There is little background given for the hero. Was he trained to be a superb warrior , if so, where and by whom? Why was he directed to that seaport ? He simply appeared full born on these pages, leaving much to be wondered at, perhaps intentionally.
I found it difficult to become involved in the book and skimmed pages. Not a good sign, nor a good recommendation. I will not be reading more installments.
March 26, 2019
Originally published at Risingshadow.
Eldon Thompson's The Ukinhan Wilds is the first novel in the Warder trilogy, which takes place in the same fantasy world as the author's The Legend of Asahiel trilogy, but can be read independently. This novel is a fine and fast-paced fantasy adventure that feels like a breath of fresh air among other new fantasy novels, because it's entertaining escapism from start to finish.
I think it's good to point out that whether you like this novel or not depends entirely on how you feel about fantasy adventures, heroic fantasy and fast-paced tales. If you're into reading well-realised adventure tales and love fantasy fiction with action scenes, you'll be thrilled to read this novel and will be pleased with it. I personally enjoyed this novel, because it feels kind of like a throwback to the good old days when fantasy adventures and heroic fantasy stories were in full bloom.
The Ukinhan Wilds is an epic fantasy adventure that is filled with a sense of grand adventure and foreboding danger. If you have an appetite for epic and classic fantasy adventures, this novel is guaranteed to satisfy you in every possible way, because it has everything a devoted fan of the genre could ever hope for. This novel's old-fashioned atmosphere is impressive, because the author has captured the essence of what a good fantasy adventure has at its core: action, danger, fun, freshness and excitement.
The Ukinhan Wilds reunites readers with Kylac Kronus from The Legend of Asahiel trilogy. In this novel, Kylac has become a bit bored and seeks fresh and new adventures. He manages to get himself recruited by a band of men under royal commission to escort a kidnapped princess back to her father, King Kendarrion, who is the ruler of the Sundered Isle. He is warned that a powerful and terrifying mutant, bred by the extinct sect of magi known as the Breeders, is after the princess. As Kylac and the crew begin their journey towards the Sundered Isle, they face many perils and have to find a safe way through the Ukinhan Wilds.
The perilous journey across the deadly Ukinhan Wilds where the groll and other dangerous creatures live is memorable and full of action, danger and death. It was thrilling to read about how Kylac and the others made their way across the wilderness, because survival in the poisonous wilderness was difficult and death could come at any moment in any way without warning (even if one was careful, something bad could easily happen).
The characterisation is the only thing about this novel that could be better, because there's not much character development. Fortunately, it's easy to forget this minor flaw, because the main focus is on fast-paced action and swiftly flowing adventure, which more than makes up for the lack of characterisation.
I enjoyed reading about Kylac Kronus and his deeds, because he is unlike other fantasy characters in recent epic fantasy novels. He is the deadliest man alive and knows how to handle various adversaries ranging from human beings to monsters. He has a thirst for adventure and danger. Kylac is not your normal kind of a hero figure, because he can be seen as a swashbuckling youngster with a yearning for action and adventures.
The princess Denariel is quite an interesting person, because she doesn't act at all like a princess should, but is rather grumpy and despises other people. She has a temper and she lashes out at those who try to help her. I was fascinated by what was revealed about her situation during the story, because it was more complex than I had assumed.
The author's descriptions about what kind of tensions exist between Kylac and the other men and how Kylac handles them are intriguing. I especially enjoyed reading about what happens between Kylac and Hadrum, because it was handled well by the author.
The worldbuilding is fluent and the various places described in the story are brought to life in a vivid way. It was interesting to read about the Sundered Isle and especially about its wilderness, because it's a dangerous place for human beings. I can mention that the different areas ranging from the Shattered Fingers to the Cindercrag are sights to behold and it's a pleasure to read about them.
The groll are fascinating monsters, because they've been bred to be fearsome, relentless and powerful. They can survive under any conditions and on any terrain, and their wounds are self-healing. They're difficult to kill and they pursue their prey without mercy. The Breeders created them to be nearly invincible, so killing them is extremely difficult.
The groll are not the only creatures that live in the wilderness. Other creatures (for example, very deadly scorpions) can be found there. Besides being riddled with dangerous creatures, there are many poisonous plants in the wilderness and they can cause many kinds of problems.
I like the author's effortless and swift writing style, because it fits the story. His fast-paced storytelling is entertaining and enjoyable, because he manages to evoke a sense of adventure and danger with his prose and surprises readers with a few plot twists. One of the main reasons why I like the author's writing style is that his descriptions of the different locales, life on ship and survival in the wilderness are atmospheric.
I have to mention that there's something charmingly old-fashioned about this novel that I liked a lot. In my opinion, this novel has the same kind of charm to it as the first Shannara novels written by Terry Brooks and the first Midkemia novels by Raymond E. Feist. Because I like the early novels by both authors, I felt instantly at home with this novel when I began to read it.
I give this novel strong four stars on the scale from one to five stars, because I enjoyed it and was pleased with its entertainment values (the only thing that bothered me a bit was the lack of character development). It was fun to read something light and exciting for a change, because I've mostly read heavier fantasy novels during the recent months. I'll soon read the sequel, The Blackmoon Shards, because the author hooked me with his story and I want to find out how the adventure continues.
Eldon Thompson's The Ukinhan Wilds is fantasy escapism of the highest order, because it's an entertaining and surprisingly fresh reading experience. If you love fast-paced fantasy adventures and heroic fantasy, you'll most likely find this novel entertaining and will enjoy it. This is a perfect novel for those moments when you want to forget everything else for a while and immerse yourself in an action-packed adventure.
(PS. If you're a fan of The Legend of Asahiel trilogy, this novel is a must-read for you.)
Eldon Thompson's The Ukinhan Wilds is the first novel in the Warder trilogy, which takes place in the same fantasy world as the author's The Legend of Asahiel trilogy, but can be read independently. This novel is a fine and fast-paced fantasy adventure that feels like a breath of fresh air among other new fantasy novels, because it's entertaining escapism from start to finish.
I think it's good to point out that whether you like this novel or not depends entirely on how you feel about fantasy adventures, heroic fantasy and fast-paced tales. If you're into reading well-realised adventure tales and love fantasy fiction with action scenes, you'll be thrilled to read this novel and will be pleased with it. I personally enjoyed this novel, because it feels kind of like a throwback to the good old days when fantasy adventures and heroic fantasy stories were in full bloom.
The Ukinhan Wilds is an epic fantasy adventure that is filled with a sense of grand adventure and foreboding danger. If you have an appetite for epic and classic fantasy adventures, this novel is guaranteed to satisfy you in every possible way, because it has everything a devoted fan of the genre could ever hope for. This novel's old-fashioned atmosphere is impressive, because the author has captured the essence of what a good fantasy adventure has at its core: action, danger, fun, freshness and excitement.
The Ukinhan Wilds reunites readers with Kylac Kronus from The Legend of Asahiel trilogy. In this novel, Kylac has become a bit bored and seeks fresh and new adventures. He manages to get himself recruited by a band of men under royal commission to escort a kidnapped princess back to her father, King Kendarrion, who is the ruler of the Sundered Isle. He is warned that a powerful and terrifying mutant, bred by the extinct sect of magi known as the Breeders, is after the princess. As Kylac and the crew begin their journey towards the Sundered Isle, they face many perils and have to find a safe way through the Ukinhan Wilds.
The perilous journey across the deadly Ukinhan Wilds where the groll and other dangerous creatures live is memorable and full of action, danger and death. It was thrilling to read about how Kylac and the others made their way across the wilderness, because survival in the poisonous wilderness was difficult and death could come at any moment in any way without warning (even if one was careful, something bad could easily happen).
The characterisation is the only thing about this novel that could be better, because there's not much character development. Fortunately, it's easy to forget this minor flaw, because the main focus is on fast-paced action and swiftly flowing adventure, which more than makes up for the lack of characterisation.
I enjoyed reading about Kylac Kronus and his deeds, because he is unlike other fantasy characters in recent epic fantasy novels. He is the deadliest man alive and knows how to handle various adversaries ranging from human beings to monsters. He has a thirst for adventure and danger. Kylac is not your normal kind of a hero figure, because he can be seen as a swashbuckling youngster with a yearning for action and adventures.
The princess Denariel is quite an interesting person, because she doesn't act at all like a princess should, but is rather grumpy and despises other people. She has a temper and she lashes out at those who try to help her. I was fascinated by what was revealed about her situation during the story, because it was more complex than I had assumed.
The author's descriptions about what kind of tensions exist between Kylac and the other men and how Kylac handles them are intriguing. I especially enjoyed reading about what happens between Kylac and Hadrum, because it was handled well by the author.
The worldbuilding is fluent and the various places described in the story are brought to life in a vivid way. It was interesting to read about the Sundered Isle and especially about its wilderness, because it's a dangerous place for human beings. I can mention that the different areas ranging from the Shattered Fingers to the Cindercrag are sights to behold and it's a pleasure to read about them.
The groll are fascinating monsters, because they've been bred to be fearsome, relentless and powerful. They can survive under any conditions and on any terrain, and their wounds are self-healing. They're difficult to kill and they pursue their prey without mercy. The Breeders created them to be nearly invincible, so killing them is extremely difficult.
The groll are not the only creatures that live in the wilderness. Other creatures (for example, very deadly scorpions) can be found there. Besides being riddled with dangerous creatures, there are many poisonous plants in the wilderness and they can cause many kinds of problems.
I like the author's effortless and swift writing style, because it fits the story. His fast-paced storytelling is entertaining and enjoyable, because he manages to evoke a sense of adventure and danger with his prose and surprises readers with a few plot twists. One of the main reasons why I like the author's writing style is that his descriptions of the different locales, life on ship and survival in the wilderness are atmospheric.
I have to mention that there's something charmingly old-fashioned about this novel that I liked a lot. In my opinion, this novel has the same kind of charm to it as the first Shannara novels written by Terry Brooks and the first Midkemia novels by Raymond E. Feist. Because I like the early novels by both authors, I felt instantly at home with this novel when I began to read it.
I give this novel strong four stars on the scale from one to five stars, because I enjoyed it and was pleased with its entertainment values (the only thing that bothered me a bit was the lack of character development). It was fun to read something light and exciting for a change, because I've mostly read heavier fantasy novels during the recent months. I'll soon read the sequel, The Blackmoon Shards, because the author hooked me with his story and I want to find out how the adventure continues.
Eldon Thompson's The Ukinhan Wilds is fantasy escapism of the highest order, because it's an entertaining and surprisingly fresh reading experience. If you love fast-paced fantasy adventures and heroic fantasy, you'll most likely find this novel entertaining and will enjoy it. This is a perfect novel for those moments when you want to forget everything else for a while and immerse yourself in an action-packed adventure.
(PS. If you're a fan of The Legend of Asahiel trilogy, this novel is a must-read for you.)
June 16, 2020
If you just want an adventure...
Kylac's got you covered. Literally too sometimes if you're one of the other characters.
Also the cover is awesome!!... ok, that's out of the way now on to the book.
This has quite the gruesome start: “...sprawled backward, down against the decking. A severed sword arm - Demin's- hit the planks near his feet. His lungs drew breath, bellowed a warning. “Groll!” Demin's cries were muffled as the mutant's teeth ravaged his throat. Blood sprayed, black in the mooncast dark. Ledron felt its warm splatter upon his face and brow...”
And that's just the prologue.
Needless to say, this is an action packed fantasy tale headed by a boy (almost 17 so 'not yet a man' by his own lips, though he was being kind of snide when he said it) who is bored and looking for trouble... I mean adventure. Which we all know is just another name for trouble.
Yeah, this book has lots of fight scenes but it also has some human moments (“He reflected momentarily on the missing faces of Haeg and Inmon. As their captain, it had been his personal duty to dismiss them from service. Haeg had been defiant at first, but was eventually persuaded to let his wounds bleed out. Better that than waiting for the rot to claim him. Inmon stood a chance, given a successful amputation, but how long could a proud soldier bear life as a crippled outlander? A dagger across the throat had been the kinder end.”) as well as some completely unbelievable ones like the scene of Rydan getting his ship ride (really the thugs stopped thugging just to deal with a scruffy kid?)
So really, for this being all about action it's not purely action. It even has it bits of wisdom like: “Are you peddling whispers or ravings? 'Tis my trade to sift truth from falsehood and my solemn oath to never sell one for the other. A wise man does not pay twice for deceit.” Surprisingly that's not the only example and though this book is a far sight from being truly deep I appreciate the gems it brings. It also has some really great dialogue among which there's my favorite bit where the series reference is dropped: “...I don't know what game you're playing, but you'd best carry it elsewhere before I lose my patience. Game? A simple one, really. Sallun here was going to offer me a ride on his ship but only if I agreed to dispatch any ruffians come to harass him.
The nameless thugs flanking Ulflund sniggered, while Ulflund himself cracked a smile...Is that so? the renegade captain asked. Sallu? Is this beardless lad your warder?”
Yeah the scene is actually much longer but the gist of it is there, also I don't know anything about the previous series so maybe it's not as clever as I want to give credit but I still liked it enough to mention it.
Lastly, the cons. This like I said earlier has a lot of fight scenes, *detailed* fight scenes and though at first it's interesting to know whose fist, blade or whatever went where and who died from what ultimately it gets a bit tedious when it could all be summed up but that's just my personal preference. There's also that this had an undercurrent of conspiracy: why did Ulflund defect? From the first time it was mentioned I was suspicious but then... well, no spoilers so just know it might not be what you're thinking.
Ultimately this was written very well and is perfect for the genre it's just that it kind of lacked a point for my tastes which is why I rate it the average 3 stars, good but not great.
I'd recommend this to anyone who loves this genre or maybe to someone who wants to try it out; it's really a great standard example while having the bonus of having some of the best writing I've experienced yet for a book like this.
Kylac's got you covered. Literally too sometimes if you're one of the other characters.
Also the cover is awesome!!... ok, that's out of the way now on to the book.
This has quite the gruesome start: “...sprawled backward, down against the decking. A severed sword arm - Demin's- hit the planks near his feet. His lungs drew breath, bellowed a warning. “Groll!” Demin's cries were muffled as the mutant's teeth ravaged his throat. Blood sprayed, black in the mooncast dark. Ledron felt its warm splatter upon his face and brow...”
And that's just the prologue.
Needless to say, this is an action packed fantasy tale headed by a boy (almost 17 so 'not yet a man' by his own lips, though he was being kind of snide when he said it) who is bored and looking for trouble... I mean adventure. Which we all know is just another name for trouble.
Yeah, this book has lots of fight scenes but it also has some human moments (“He reflected momentarily on the missing faces of Haeg and Inmon. As their captain, it had been his personal duty to dismiss them from service. Haeg had been defiant at first, but was eventually persuaded to let his wounds bleed out. Better that than waiting for the rot to claim him. Inmon stood a chance, given a successful amputation, but how long could a proud soldier bear life as a crippled outlander? A dagger across the throat had been the kinder end.”) as well as some completely unbelievable ones like the scene of Rydan getting his ship ride (really the thugs stopped thugging just to deal with a scruffy kid?)
So really, for this being all about action it's not purely action. It even has it bits of wisdom like: “Are you peddling whispers or ravings? 'Tis my trade to sift truth from falsehood and my solemn oath to never sell one for the other. A wise man does not pay twice for deceit.” Surprisingly that's not the only example and though this book is a far sight from being truly deep I appreciate the gems it brings. It also has some really great dialogue among which there's my favorite bit where the series reference is dropped: “...I don't know what game you're playing, but you'd best carry it elsewhere before I lose my patience. Game? A simple one, really. Sallun here was going to offer me a ride on his ship but only if I agreed to dispatch any ruffians come to harass him.
The nameless thugs flanking Ulflund sniggered, while Ulflund himself cracked a smile...Is that so? the renegade captain asked. Sallu? Is this beardless lad your warder?”
Yeah the scene is actually much longer but the gist of it is there, also I don't know anything about the previous series so maybe it's not as clever as I want to give credit but I still liked it enough to mention it.
Lastly, the cons. This like I said earlier has a lot of fight scenes, *detailed* fight scenes and though at first it's interesting to know whose fist, blade or whatever went where and who died from what ultimately it gets a bit tedious when it could all be summed up but that's just my personal preference. There's also that this had an undercurrent of conspiracy: why did Ulflund defect? From the first time it was mentioned I was suspicious but then... well, no spoilers so just know it might not be what you're thinking.
Ultimately this was written very well and is perfect for the genre it's just that it kind of lacked a point for my tastes which is why I rate it the average 3 stars, good but not great.
I'd recommend this to anyone who loves this genre or maybe to someone who wants to try it out; it's really a great standard example while having the bonus of having some of the best writing I've experienced yet for a book like this.
February 2, 2020
Enthralling but ended questionably.
would kinda put Kylac Kronus in a standing with Conan. You can generally bet on either one being the baddest in the room, and if not, then ready to survive whatever comes at them. As tough and resourceful as the Shadowgaurd soldiers are, I'm not sure what they would have done on their journey if Kylac didn't join up. But then again, Kylac needed the soldiers to fare the sea and at least one to trek the wilds. And maybe Kylac only postponed the inevitable end.
The princess, though she calls it like it is on one hand, is quite mouthy, derisive, and arrogant. Her death, in the beginning of the story, would not have disappointed me. Or if not death, then one of the people who were actually doing something to protect her could have at least told her off. For someone who knows as much as she does about everything, with a high criticism of how everybody does things, how did she end up kidnapped and helpless?
These are not criticisms against the writing. They are simply observation's about the characters who the author did a good job of detailing.
The story is very much an arduous trek through enemy territory with a supposedly prized possession. Where a highly trained killing machine is stalking our heroes, the biggest threat at times is nature and the creatures inhabiting it, from the unforgiving sea to the wild terrain of the Ukinhan land. Smatter it all with prehistoric beasts, venomous bugs, and flesh-hungry plants and you've got yourself a harrowing story ahead of you. At times, the gruelling nature of the trek is uneventful but the characters are genuinely interesting. So you find yourself feeling their pain and madness only for any actual action to exhaust you with them.
I thought I had an exhausting experience in Burkina Faso with a bat, a scorpion, and a spider showing up on different nights. I couldn't last one week in the Ukinhan Wilds.
But that's a review at 50% of the story. At 100%, the landscape has changed, the bad guys have changed, the good guys have changed, the objective has changed. I don't even pity the "heroes" because I'm no longer sure who the author was true with. Sallun, as an example, I was routing to be a part of a glorious ending but by the end, I cannot call if he is another lie or a wasted youth.
I'm torn about continuing the story into book 2. Will it be a story of girl power over brash men? Of wronged races seeking redemption against a privileged race? I hope not. The battle against the wilderness was adventurous. I hope not to get caught in a socially observant game with no redemption
I'm going to do 3 stars and venture to book 2 with the hopes that I'm reading into this set up wrong. If so, I'll adjust this rating.
would kinda put Kylac Kronus in a standing with Conan. You can generally bet on either one being the baddest in the room, and if not, then ready to survive whatever comes at them. As tough and resourceful as the Shadowgaurd soldiers are, I'm not sure what they would have done on their journey if Kylac didn't join up. But then again, Kylac needed the soldiers to fare the sea and at least one to trek the wilds. And maybe Kylac only postponed the inevitable end.
The princess, though she calls it like it is on one hand, is quite mouthy, derisive, and arrogant. Her death, in the beginning of the story, would not have disappointed me. Or if not death, then one of the people who were actually doing something to protect her could have at least told her off. For someone who knows as much as she does about everything, with a high criticism of how everybody does things, how did she end up kidnapped and helpless?
These are not criticisms against the writing. They are simply observation's about the characters who the author did a good job of detailing.
The story is very much an arduous trek through enemy territory with a supposedly prized possession. Where a highly trained killing machine is stalking our heroes, the biggest threat at times is nature and the creatures inhabiting it, from the unforgiving sea to the wild terrain of the Ukinhan land. Smatter it all with prehistoric beasts, venomous bugs, and flesh-hungry plants and you've got yourself a harrowing story ahead of you. At times, the gruelling nature of the trek is uneventful but the characters are genuinely interesting. So you find yourself feeling their pain and madness only for any actual action to exhaust you with them.
I thought I had an exhausting experience in Burkina Faso with a bat, a scorpion, and a spider showing up on different nights. I couldn't last one week in the Ukinhan Wilds.
But that's a review at 50% of the story. At 100%, the landscape has changed, the bad guys have changed, the good guys have changed, the objective has changed. I don't even pity the "heroes" because I'm no longer sure who the author was true with. Sallun, as an example, I was routing to be a part of a glorious ending but by the end, I cannot call if he is another lie or a wasted youth.
I'm torn about continuing the story into book 2. Will it be a story of girl power over brash men? Of wronged races seeking redemption against a privileged race? I hope not. The battle against the wilderness was adventurous. I hope not to get caught in a socially observant game with no redemption
I'm going to do 3 stars and venture to book 2 with the hopes that I'm reading into this set up wrong. If so, I'll adjust this rating.
January 15, 2025
There's some stuff I really love about this book and some stuff that fell flat for me. I really loved the voice of the "narrator" - not the inner dialogue or dialogue, but the fact that the passages describing actions and events read like it was a story being told, mayhaps by a seafaring pirate. (Take a shot every time the word 'Mayhaps' is said and you will find yourself blackout quite quickly). I also thought the action was good to great, and I didn't have the same gripes as some of the other commentators about Kylac. Is he OP? For sure. But it's pretty cool to have a kind of coming of age novel that isn't just a coming of age novel. Refreshing. That being said, with the story around the final fight, he performed way better than he had a right to. Echoing other reviews, I also didn't like the princess, but I think that is what the author wanted, so point in the "good" category. It was action packed, more brutal than you would expect, and all around fun.
To the bad:
- I think my biggest gripe is that there's not really a lot of description of the things that the characters are experiencing. Like the world is clearly so vivid, and maybe I just didn't read as much into it as I could, but I would have loved to really sit with these monsters, fruits, bugs, etc.
- The politics were a bit "here's two pages of really intense lore dump then we're not gonna talk about it anymore"
- The world was just so over the top deadly "here's the scorpion that kills you in 6 seconds. Here's the fruit that kills you in 10 seconds. Here's the fruit that doesn't kill you but the bugs in it do". With as much death as there is, you'd expect it to be about double that - I don't think anyone dies from the same thing twice?
- Minor complaint and one I have with parts of stormlight as well - this book suffers from "and then nothing happened off-screen" syndrome. Why didn't Kylac learn to sail in his weeks on the boat? Why didn't anyone... talk to the princess? Why didn't Kylac question Ledron more? There's a decent (not a ton, but a decent) amount of downtime in this books where the characters are just travelling in each others company, I would expect more yap.
Overall, even though my review says 3 stars, I think it's more a 3.5 (would rate 7/10). Am I going to search out a copy of book two to dive into? No, especially with how many other books are on my TBR I'm working through right now. But if I see it at a bookstore I'll certainly pick it up, and I could really see myself coming back to and enjoying the rest of the series. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants an R-rated fantasy for action not romance, is a fan of really high-fantasy-high-fantasy vivid worlds, and likes it when the writing style draws you into the world of the book.
To the bad:
- I think my biggest gripe is that there's not really a lot of description of the things that the characters are experiencing. Like the world is clearly so vivid, and maybe I just didn't read as much into it as I could, but I would have loved to really sit with these monsters, fruits, bugs, etc.
- The politics were a bit "here's two pages of really intense lore dump then we're not gonna talk about it anymore"
- The world was just so over the top deadly "here's the scorpion that kills you in 6 seconds. Here's the fruit that kills you in 10 seconds. Here's the fruit that doesn't kill you but the bugs in it do". With as much death as there is, you'd expect it to be about double that - I don't think anyone dies from the same thing twice?
- Minor complaint and one I have with parts of stormlight as well - this book suffers from "and then nothing happened off-screen" syndrome. Why didn't Kylac learn to sail in his weeks on the boat? Why didn't anyone... talk to the princess? Why didn't Kylac question Ledron more? There's a decent (not a ton, but a decent) amount of downtime in this books where the characters are just travelling in each others company, I would expect more yap.
Overall, even though my review says 3 stars, I think it's more a 3.5 (would rate 7/10). Am I going to search out a copy of book two to dive into? No, especially with how many other books are on my TBR I'm working through right now. But if I see it at a bookstore I'll certainly pick it up, and I could really see myself coming back to and enjoying the rest of the series. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants an R-rated fantasy for action not romance, is a fan of really high-fantasy-high-fantasy vivid worlds, and likes it when the writing style draws you into the world of the book.
July 12, 2019
For those who don't follow it, this is a book in the Self-published Fantasy Blog-off competition #5 hosted by the wonderful Mark Lawrence. This book is in the same group as my book, so I thought I'd give it a looksie.
Kylac is looking for adventure, and he finds it by way of escorting a runaway princess home. This book follows Kylac's journey which is fraught with peril. The plot is that simple. Toward the last few chapters of the book, we learn that indeed Kylac's mission is far more complicated. However, we discover this very late, so one should not expect an intricate woven web of intrigue and worldbuilding.
I didn't realize this was a series following another series that probably provided the detailed worldbuilding and character development that I generally look for in books. Kylac, I assume, was flushed out in those other books. While I agree that you don't need to read the other series, I regret not doing so because I'm a character reader, and though there were mentions here and there of Kylac's past, none of it was explored, which left me thirsting for more information and feeling slightly cheated. Now that I know about the other series, this was not the fault of the author but was mine for not researching the series. I'm sure for fans of the other series, hearing all that history repeated would be a tad annoying. If you just want an adventure, danger around every corner, and a break from intrigue, this will be up your alley. Despite my desire for more history on Kylac, I still found it an enjoyable ride through dangerous landscapes painted vividly by Thompson.
Kylac is looking for adventure, and he finds it by way of escorting a runaway princess home. This book follows Kylac's journey which is fraught with peril. The plot is that simple. Toward the last few chapters of the book, we learn that indeed Kylac's mission is far more complicated. However, we discover this very late, so one should not expect an intricate woven web of intrigue and worldbuilding.
I didn't realize this was a series following another series that probably provided the detailed worldbuilding and character development that I generally look for in books. Kylac, I assume, was flushed out in those other books. While I agree that you don't need to read the other series, I regret not doing so because I'm a character reader, and though there were mentions here and there of Kylac's past, none of it was explored, which left me thirsting for more information and feeling slightly cheated. Now that I know about the other series, this was not the fault of the author but was mine for not researching the series. I'm sure for fans of the other series, hearing all that history repeated would be a tad annoying. If you just want an adventure, danger around every corner, and a break from intrigue, this will be up your alley. Despite my desire for more history on Kylac, I still found it an enjoyable ride through dangerous landscapes painted vividly by Thompson.
July 20, 2020
Talk about starting off with a bang! The first chapter begins with very terrifying monsters and an extremely hard fought battle. And the book doesn't stop after that. Every twist and every turn bring more adventures and edge-of-the-seat moments. The title says 'Wilds' and that is exactly what this read is—wild.
I wasn't quite prepared to dive so forcefully into a horrific, monsterly battle. There are characters galore...so many more than I could ever remember or keep up with...but each one is to love or to hate. Boredom doesn't seep in easily, which is good. I did, however, have trouble connecting to the main character, Kylac, which put a bit of a damper on the fun.
Kylac is sixteen, and while he comes across about his age during the first pages, this switches drastically as the story goes on. I believe there is another series written by this author, which already centers around Kylac's earlier adventures. Reading this series first might have brought more insight into his personality. But so, he comes across as anything but sixteen. He's very powerful, an awesome fighter which puts seasoned ones to shame, and often knows more than the other characters. Plus, it always feels like he's kept an arm's length away, making it hard to every really empathize with him.
I was impressed with what appears to be an underlying plot, which I'm assuming will come to light as the series continues. There was already a lot going on in this book, and despite all of the craziness, it seems to be lying on much more. It definitely tickled my curiosity, and considering how fast-paced the book is, I will be watching for the release of the next in the series to see what happens next.
I received an ARC through Netgalley and found this book to be so much more than I thought it'd be.
I wasn't quite prepared to dive so forcefully into a horrific, monsterly battle. There are characters galore...so many more than I could ever remember or keep up with...but each one is to love or to hate. Boredom doesn't seep in easily, which is good. I did, however, have trouble connecting to the main character, Kylac, which put a bit of a damper on the fun.
Kylac is sixteen, and while he comes across about his age during the first pages, this switches drastically as the story goes on. I believe there is another series written by this author, which already centers around Kylac's earlier adventures. Reading this series first might have brought more insight into his personality. But so, he comes across as anything but sixteen. He's very powerful, an awesome fighter which puts seasoned ones to shame, and often knows more than the other characters. Plus, it always feels like he's kept an arm's length away, making it hard to every really empathize with him.
I was impressed with what appears to be an underlying plot, which I'm assuming will come to light as the series continues. There was already a lot going on in this book, and despite all of the craziness, it seems to be lying on much more. It definitely tickled my curiosity, and considering how fast-paced the book is, I will be watching for the release of the next in the series to see what happens next.
I received an ARC through Netgalley and found this book to be so much more than I thought it'd be.
February 14, 2020
First of a trilogy that focuses on Kylac Kronus, a young man with amazing fighting abilities that border on the magical. The story is about an abducted princess, but it twists into much more than that. Beyond the weird and bizarre plants and animals they encounter on their quest, there is the groll, which is relentless tracking them, meaning to get to the princess. And she seems to favor him, though no really satisfactory reason is given for this. After bringing the princess home, it turns out that she was trying to escape a pre-arranged marriage with the ruler of the Grenarr. It seems there may be a bit of racial inequality here...the Grenarr (who are black) welcomed the Addarans (who are white) and in return were forced off their lands to barely survive in the outer islands. The Grenarr were seeking to avert any more wars, etc. through marriage, but it seems there was more to it - they kidnapped the King's son to force the marriage. And the Addarans all seem to hate The Grenarr. Kronus' role in this is weird. It's hard to figure out what he considers to be right or wrong. A lot is left unsaid in this story, but the author is quite adept at describing blood and gore that occurs with every skirmish. Okay read.
Read
September 12, 2020Posting Review from Publishers Weekly (July 27, 2020):
Thompson (The Sundered Isle) kicks off his Warder series with this adrenaline-charged fantasy adventure. While searching for a passage at sea, rogue swordsman Kylac Kronus chances upon a promising quest when he rescues sailor Sallun from a traitorous band of Addaran Shadowguards. In exchange for saving his life, Sallun introduces Kylac to his crew, who were tasked with finding and safely returning the abducted Princess Denariel to her father. Their captain, Ledron, taps Kylac to serve as their mission’s defense against an intelligent mutant called the Ukinh. They rescue the princess with little fuss, but their long sea voyage back to her kingdom brings them first to treacherous waters, then through the Ukinhan Wilds, the “homeland to the mutants.” And when they finally arrive in Denariel’s home kingdom, Kylac realizes that there is more to the story of her abduction than first meets the eye. Though the plot is electrifying, Kylac himself remains an enigma, which will frustrate some readers. Still, Thompson’s dense, atmospheric worldbuilding and cinematic fight scenes will keep the pages turning. Fantasy fans won’t want to put this down.
Thompson (The Sundered Isle) kicks off his Warder series with this adrenaline-charged fantasy adventure. While searching for a passage at sea, rogue swordsman Kylac Kronus chances upon a promising quest when he rescues sailor Sallun from a traitorous band of Addaran Shadowguards. In exchange for saving his life, Sallun introduces Kylac to his crew, who were tasked with finding and safely returning the abducted Princess Denariel to her father. Their captain, Ledron, taps Kylac to serve as their mission’s defense against an intelligent mutant called the Ukinh. They rescue the princess with little fuss, but their long sea voyage back to her kingdom brings them first to treacherous waters, then through the Ukinhan Wilds, the “homeland to the mutants.” And when they finally arrive in Denariel’s home kingdom, Kylac realizes that there is more to the story of her abduction than first meets the eye. Though the plot is electrifying, Kylac himself remains an enigma, which will frustrate some readers. Still, Thompson’s dense, atmospheric worldbuilding and cinematic fight scenes will keep the pages turning. Fantasy fans won’t want to put this down.
September 4, 2024
It engaging, pack with combat action and savagery. It keep me turning the page to the next. From Ledron's " But Ledron was a lifelong soldier, and didn't like sharing air with those he knew he couldn't trust"or somewhere in those lines to the Harbormaster that I thought displayed kindness and guidance even though that not where the story is going. Kylac Kronus eventually sailed with the group of soldiers and giving them nicknames such as "Fangs", Fishhook", Roach, "Tower", "The Head", which I thought is endearing. The slim, light on his feet character finally fought the monster. I would have settled to end there, but then we wouldn't have a soliloquy, then he wakes up, his rationalize it as fever dream. I thought it presenting itself as a subconscious part of him.The presented pageantry of Grenarr and Addaranth and the crowded people booing and hissing, parallels citizens disdain decisions by their elected officials. Then after that, I did not expect that. I want to know what next after this book.
November 10, 2020
Received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
Been reading a lot of books where the main characters kind of stumble their way through defeating their enemy, not that there is anything wrong with that and typically makes for an interesting story. However, it was refreshing to read a book with a main character with superior knowledge and skills to handle a variety of dangerous situations. And this book was filled with dangerous situation after dangerous situation. Often times it was hard to put the book down as Kylac was in the middle of a harrowing crisis.
Between each crisis though I thought Thompson did a good job of character development as we discovered more about Kylac, hidden agendas from others, and untold truths. I liked the fact that not only did the author bring in dangers from monsters but included nature elements as well, such as a variety of deadly bugs and plants.
It was a good start to the trilogy and I'm looking forward to continuing the story in the 2nd book.
Been reading a lot of books where the main characters kind of stumble their way through defeating their enemy, not that there is anything wrong with that and typically makes for an interesting story. However, it was refreshing to read a book with a main character with superior knowledge and skills to handle a variety of dangerous situations. And this book was filled with dangerous situation after dangerous situation. Often times it was hard to put the book down as Kylac was in the middle of a harrowing crisis.
Between each crisis though I thought Thompson did a good job of character development as we discovered more about Kylac, hidden agendas from others, and untold truths. I liked the fact that not only did the author bring in dangers from monsters but included nature elements as well, such as a variety of deadly bugs and plants.
It was a good start to the trilogy and I'm looking forward to continuing the story in the 2nd book.
May 29, 2023
Wow! So I can’t lie, the beginning of the book with all the characters and many (if not most) having multiple names overwhelmed me. Once you get into the meat of the book it was hard to put down! World building is part of all fantasy and necessary to get us in the characters mindset.
Once the adventure started, I was sucked in. Holding my breath and reading as fast as I could to see what would befall our characters. Some of the villains in the story are obvious and some are not. I don’t want to spoil anything, but once the quest got going I was holding my breath
As soon as I finished the last few pages, I was downloading the next book in the series. I am fully in it now, and I have to know what happens to our main characters. There is definitely more of the story from book one that needs to be told and I’m hoping it’s covered in book 2.
Once the adventure started, I was sucked in. Holding my breath and reading as fast as I could to see what would befall our characters. Some of the villains in the story are obvious and some are not. I don’t want to spoil anything, but once the quest got going I was holding my breath
As soon as I finished the last few pages, I was downloading the next book in the series. I am fully in it now, and I have to know what happens to our main characters. There is definitely more of the story from book one that needs to be told and I’m hoping it’s covered in book 2.
June 3, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up
This is the first book I've read by this author. For the most part, I like his writing style. As I hadn't read any of the other books with the main character, I was unfamiliar with him. While this book is a standalone, there is almost no backstory on the main character other than he is 17, a trained assassin, and almost unstoppable. That's it - I have no idea what he looks like or anything other than his large ego. The other main characters are not described or fleshed out either. All the action and various environments are well described (sometimes over done), so the lack of detail on the characters is kind of weird. It was an enjoyable story, but I'm not sure I will continue with the series.
This is the first book I've read by this author. For the most part, I like his writing style. As I hadn't read any of the other books with the main character, I was unfamiliar with him. While this book is a standalone, there is almost no backstory on the main character other than he is 17, a trained assassin, and almost unstoppable. That's it - I have no idea what he looks like or anything other than his large ego. The other main characters are not described or fleshed out either. All the action and various environments are well described (sometimes over done), so the lack of detail on the characters is kind of weird. It was an enjoyable story, but I'm not sure I will continue with the series.
April 10, 2022
It was okay
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
This book was hard to get into. I felt like the beginning dumped me into the story without doing anything to ease the transition. I didn’t know what was going on, didn’t know who the characters were, and I didn’t care about the characters.
The book didn’t get interesting until about the halfway point. I think it became interesting because it was at that point the main character started having actual struggles. The book set him up to be extremely skilled, which is fine, but he didn’t have any real challenges. It made the book really, really hard to get into.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
This book was hard to get into. I felt like the beginning dumped me into the story without doing anything to ease the transition. I didn’t know what was going on, didn’t know who the characters were, and I didn’t care about the characters.
The book didn’t get interesting until about the halfway point. I think it became interesting because it was at that point the main character started having actual struggles. The book set him up to be extremely skilled, which is fine, but he didn’t have any real challenges. It made the book really, really hard to get into.
May 19, 2020
Talk about in medias res! This book starts right in the middle of a thrilling battle scene. It really grabs your attention by putting you in the action immediately. Within a few chapters we are teased by the mention of elves, goblins, dragons, ghosts, demons and mutants. I don’t know about you but, that made me not just want to keep reading on, I needed to see what was going to happen. If you enjoy high fantasy and battle scenes, this book is for you. Do yourself a favor and check it out. The best part is, it’s part one of a trilogy so the fun doesn’t end here.
November 17, 2020
I won a digital copy of this book on Goodreads. Thanks to Goodreads and the author for that.
The world created by Mr. Thompson is pretty cool. The peoples, lands, creatures were all intriguing and had me hooked wanting to learn more. I especially liked how cocky the main character was. I think we've all known someone who was beyond confident and Kylac is that.
There were some plot twists that I think you could see coming of you paid attention. That's not a bad thing, by the way. They set up the story going forward really well.
Overall a good book and an enjoyable read.
The world created by Mr. Thompson is pretty cool. The peoples, lands, creatures were all intriguing and had me hooked wanting to learn more. I especially liked how cocky the main character was. I think we've all known someone who was beyond confident and Kylac is that.
There were some plot twists that I think you could see coming of you paid attention. That's not a bad thing, by the way. They set up the story going forward really well.
Overall a good book and an enjoyable read.
October 30, 2025
*I received this book as a winner of a Goodreads giveaway*
Thompson starts The Ukinhan Wilds by jumping right into the action and the book rarely slows down from there. I loved the descriptive style and the uniqueness of the adventure itself.
Fair warning to those with weak stomachs - the violence is described in *detail*, including deaths by various disturbing methods. If you have trouble with scenes like that, this is not the right book (series?) for you.
That said, I cannot wait to dive into the rest of the series!
Thompson starts The Ukinhan Wilds by jumping right into the action and the book rarely slows down from there. I loved the descriptive style and the uniqueness of the adventure itself.
Fair warning to those with weak stomachs - the violence is described in *detail*, including deaths by various disturbing methods. If you have trouble with scenes like that, this is not the right book (series?) for you.
That said, I cannot wait to dive into the rest of the series!
May 29, 2023
The book had lots of surprise elements and adventure . I would have liked it if the writer stayed on the characters as they were presented without wandering the reading to another monster.
I read there will be more on Kylac’s character but a little more in this first book is necessary for the jest of the story I was reading. Otherwise a great start to a three part book series.
I won this through Goodreads contest with no obligations.
I read there will be more on Kylac’s character but a little more in this first book is necessary for the jest of the story I was reading. Otherwise a great start to a three part book series.
I won this through Goodreads contest with no obligations.
January 28, 2025
For as long as this book was it didn’t feel like a whole lot happened. There were little breadcrumb trails in the beginning that weren’t really alluded to at all later on, so I have to assume those threads get picked up later in the series. The writing was SO good, though. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style…even if the word “mayhap” got a bit on my nerves after a while :)
Overall an enjoyable read, just wish there had been a bit more follow through on some of the plot points.
Overall an enjoyable read, just wish there had been a bit more follow through on some of the plot points.
May 21, 2020
I recently have really become interested in the fantasy/adventure genre and Warder: The Ukinhan Wilds stoked my interest even further. I couldn’t put it down once I started reading. I was on the edge of my seat with each page, eager to find out if the hero protagonist Kylac Kronus would succeed in his mission. Overall, I loved the novel and can’t wait to read another by Eldon Thompson.
March 2, 2023
A bit of a struggle
It wasn't a bad read, though I found my interest waning halfway through. The countless deaths made me numb to any character development and I found myself still questioning the main character. This supposed hero bent on adventure, felt like a stranger at the end. I'll skip out on the rest of the series, I am satisfied with this book's conclusion.
It wasn't a bad read, though I found my interest waning halfway through. The countless deaths made me numb to any character development and I found myself still questioning the main character. This supposed hero bent on adventure, felt like a stranger at the end. I'll skip out on the rest of the series, I am satisfied with this book's conclusion.
March 19, 2023
A big thank you for the Kindle giveaway to Goodreads, the author and publisher. The giveaways give me an opportunity to try different genres that I would normally not read. If you like fantasy, this is a great book. Although slow at times, it was better than I expected. Unfortunately, I will not be reading any further installments.
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