The Prophecy of the Five says that only the five princesses can unite to break the Dark Consul’s Power.
But what happens when one of them goes missing?
Blaze is an Ember Mage, skilled with fire magic and with a temper just as hot. She’s desperate for a way to prove herself, but never imagined a royal messenger would come knocking on her door. King Jasper III, ruler of all Crystalia, needs someone who works outside the system to search for his missing heir, and Blaze fits that description perfectly. After all, his first born, Princess Sapphire, is no damsel-in-distress, so the King is sure something must be terribly wrong.
But, just Blaze’s luck, Princess Sapphire was last seen in the worst of all possible places: the Frostbyte Reach. The Reach is the coldest, most miserable mountain range in the whole realm. A nightmare for any Ember Mage.
And, as Blaze soon finds out, the situation is far worse than the King feared. The entire mountain is under siege by an army of bloodthirsty orcs who are crafting a weapon of incredible power. Frozen tundra or not, orcs or not, Blaze has accepted the call. Now she must prove to King Jasper—and to herself—that the King's trust was not misplaced.
In between books, Adam Glendon Sidwell uses the power of computers to make monsters, robots and zombies come to life for blockbuster movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean, King Kong, Transformers and Tron. After spending countless hours in front of a keyboard meticulously adjusting tentacles, calibrating hydraulics, and brushing monkey fur, he is delighted at the prospect of modifying his creations with the flick of a few deftly placed adjectives. He's been eating food since age 7, so feels very qualified to write this book. He once showed a famous movie star where the bathroom was. Adam currently lives in Los Angeles, where he can't wait to fall into the sea.
The Kind's Summons offers an interesting and imaginative world, but it left me wanting a bit more depth in both character development and plot progression. The premise is intriguing, with a unique mix of magic and adventure, but I felt the pacing was inconsistent. Some parts of the story felt rushed, while other sections dragged on without much happening.
That said, Sidwell’s creativity shines through in the world-building, which kept me engaged enough to finish the book. The protagonist has potential, but their motivations could have been fleshed out more to create a stronger emotional connection with the reader. Overall, while it didn’t fully meet my expectations, it’s a decent read for fans of fantasy who enjoy rich, imaginative settings and don’t mind a few pacing issues along the way.
A fun, quick read with lots of adventure and magic. Strong female characters make it a good read for boys and girls. This series was based on a board game and I like how they incorporated elements of video and board games into the book.(characters run low on magic, level up in a way, and shout “fireball” as they cast fireballs). Those Easter eggs gave it a fun feel and never distracted from the narrative. I think older elementary and middle school kids would love this, but I also enjoyed it as an adult.
Five heroes disappear. Without them, the prophecy cannot be fulfilled. It is up to Blaze, an Ember Mage, to bring them back. But will her desire for revenge put everything at risk?
For anyone who likes gaming, RPGs (role-playing games), wizards, magic, and orcs, this is the tale for you! I believe the narration of the tale made me feel as if I was reading the perfect gameplay of "The King's Summons" and could easily see my D&D-loving family members struggle to put it down if they read it. If you aren't a hardcore-gamer like myself, I think you would still be able to enjoy this story. The descriptions of the locations made it easy to imagine where battles took place and how characters looked. And the dialogue of different characters helped paint a better picture of the characters and where they were from.
Some themes of the story include unlikely friendships, the power of love vs. anger, the dangers of prejudices, and more. Each of these themes seeks to help Blaze learn what it means to be part of a team and better herself towards her destiny. I think that out of each of these, my favourite is the one about prejudices and everything not being as it seems. Blaze always believes she knows more than the orc Dreck because he does not seem like the brightest bulb, but at one point he showed her that he knew a lot more than he led on in a very comically.
If you are looking to give this story to your child or one you know, this would be a great one! I would recommend it for ages 9 - 14 simply because the messages Sidwell attempts to convey about one's character will be absorbed and the comical elements will be best understood among this age range. Battles and fight scenes are very mild and age-appropriate, with fighters (gnomes especially) playing tricks and leaving "Kick Me" notes on the backs of their enemies. Overall, this is a creative story and could introduce game-addicted kids to reading and make readers interested in tabletop games.
"The King's Summons" was an interesting read with a morally ambiguous protagonist and a decent plot. Following Blaze, an ex-Ember Mage, as she hunts for one of the five princesses of prophecy, readers experience her confusion as she comes to terms with the fact that Princess Sapphire, whom she had placed on a pedestal, was working with the Crook-Eye Orcs - the same tribe of orcs who killed her parents and ravaged her hometown. Blaze shows exceptional character growth, eventually learning to place aside her feelings of betrayal to work with the princess, orcs, and dwarves to save the Frostbyte Reach.
While the plot has great potential, the lack of world building made a significant portion of the book hard to follow as readers were trying to catch up with Blaze's understanding of her environment while also being pulled in two directions with Blaze's own confusion about who her allies - and enemies - were. Further, the scenes felt somewhat jumpy, giving me literary whiplash as I tried to keep up with the action. Finally, the early uncovering of Princess Sapphire's whereabouts made the novel feel like a two-in-one situation, as Blaze achieved her goal of finding the princess but was immediately given a new goal: defeating the dark jotnar. I would have enjoyed it more had the novel ended with the discovery of Princess Sapphire and focused more on Blaze and Dreck - the Crook-Eye Orc/monk - and their journey to find her. The ending of the novel makes it difficult to imagine what the remaining novels are about, as Blaze has already seemingly achieved the character development required of her.
* Strengths: The story shines in its creative world-building and fast-paced plot, immersing the reader in the fantastical realm of Crystalia. The authors, Adam Glendon Sidwell and Zachary James, craft a vivid landscape teeming with unique creatures, magic systems, and intriguing lore. The narrative moves swiftly, propelling Blaze through a series of challenges and encounters that keep the reader engaged. * Character Development: While some characters like Princess Sapphire could benefit from more depth, Blaze undergoes a significant transformation. Initially fueled by anger and a thirst for revenge, she learns to embrace compassion and the importance of connection, ultimately evolving into a more mature and powerful mage. This evolution aligns well with the story's themes of forgiveness and growth. * Themes: The book highlights the power of compassion and forgiveness as central themes. Princess Sapphire's willingness to forgive the Crook-Eye Orcs and Blaze's ultimate rejection of anger as her sole source of power emphasize these ideals. * Areas for Improvement: The ending, while hopeful, feels somewhat abrupt and leaves several plot threads unresolved. The fates of the remaining princesses and the ultimate resolution of the conflict with Cernonos remain unclear. Overall, The King's Summons is an enjoyable and engaging read with strong world-building, a fast-paced plot, and positive thematic messages. I really enjoyed reading this book!
I expected this book to be a bit below my pay grade, so to speak, but I genuinely enjoyed reading it. I think it is a wonderful adventure story for both middle-grade children and adults. "the King's Summons" makes you feel like you are transported into a fantasy world, almost like an RPG session. The action is honestly top-tier and it does a great job of keeping you interested and engaged. The morality and lessons are fantastic, making it such a good read for younger kids who are just getting into the reading world. The climax was amazing and I seriously can't wait to read the next book in the series. My only critique for the book is I wish there had been a little more world building. I would have loved some history of Crystalia and more details about how Blaze's magic works (for example, there are some instances where she speaks the power that she is using; is this required for certain abilities or just part of how she battles?). Maybe it omits these details just because it's intended for a younger audience, but I think a bit more background and setting details would have made this book five stars with no questions asked. It's a great read, though! I highly recommend.
The King's Summons is an absolute blast from start to finish! The story follows Blaze, an Ember Mage with a fiery personality, who’s itching to prove herself. When King Jasper sends her on a quest to find the missing Princess Sapphire, Blaze is thrown headfirst into a thrilling adventure, which takes her to the freezing, orc-infested Frostbyte Reach—a place that’s every fire mage's worst nightmare.
Blaze is such a fun character to follow—she's fierce, determined, and makes you want to cheer for her at every turn. The authors do a great job of mixing serious moments with humor, and there's plenty of action to keep you hooked. The world of Crystalia feels alive, and the stakes are high, but it's Blaze's fiery determination that really makes the book shine.
Whether you're a young reader just getting into fantasy or just want a fun, light read, The King's Summons is a great pick. It's got adventure, magic, orcs, and a hero who knows how to handle a challenge even if it means facing her fears in the freezing cold. Definitely recommended for anyone looking for an exciting escape!
The King's Summons is a fun fantasy adventure with solid characters and a very intriguing world. I honestly didn't know what to expect going into this but it is safe to say I was pleasantly by the story told. There were certainly some issues present, mostly with some of the pacing, but the strengths more than made up for the weaknesses. Blaze is a fun protagonist with plenty of personality that served as an excellent point of view for this interesting new world. The action was also done really well by keeping a fast pace while still being able to keep track of everything happening. As I mentioned before, one of my only negatives was the pace of the story. While the fast pace certainly works for the action, sometimes plot elements go by a little too fast and the story feels like it ends rather abruptly. But this is a relatively minor issue when it comes to the story as a whole. Again, The King's Summons is a very fun reader for readers of all ages and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested!
King’s Summons was an action packed adventure full of wacky and cartoonish characters. It was an enjoyable read, but I’m a bit neutral on it overall. Even though it was fun, I don’t think that I would read it again, mostly because it lacks a lot of depth.
The world building and prophesy aspects were interesting, but I was sometimes questioning the logic.
The main character, Blaze, goes through some development but it feels rushed. The other characters just feel like convenient sidekicks. My favorite part of the book was probably Dreck the orc, a monk trying to find his own path in life, who is particularly naive and lovable. I wanted more of him, and less of Blaze being rude to him. I understand being suspicious of a stranger, but after he repeatedly saves her life, she just refuses to listen and continues to doubt him. So frustrating.
In the end, if you’re looking for a quick, fun, dnd-like read, I might recommend this.
Book Review: "The King's Summons" by Adam Glendon Sidwell and Zachary James Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
I recently finished "The King's Summon" by Adam Glendon Sidwell and Zachary James, the first book in the "Super Dungeon" series, and while I can see the potential appeal for others, this book wasn't for me. The premise of a young mage answering the summons of a king longing to find his missing heir is intriguing, and the world has a lot of imaginative detail. The writing is solid, and there's plenty of action and magic to keep fantasy fans hooked. However, I found it difficult to connect with the characters, and the pacing felt uneven sometimes, making it hard to stay engaged.
That said, fantasy readers who love a more fast-paced, action-driven narrative might find a lot to enjoy here. It's clear that Sidwell and James put a lot of effort into building this narrative, and I can see how it could capture the imaginations of others. Unfortunately, it just didn’t hit the mark for me.
This story jumps straight into action and remains engaging throughout, filled with excitement. The blend of humor adds to the enjoyment.
When five princesses go missing as foretold by prophecy, an ember mage is tasked with finding the princess of prophecy. The mage, Blaze, is determined to prove herself, and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way.
The narrative is easy to follow, though I personally would have preferred a bit more world-building.
One aspect I really appreciated, without giving away any spoilers, is the balance in Blaze's magic. She has the opportunity to develop and grow as a character without being all-powerful right away.
As a middle-grade book, it's an excellent choice for young readers and could also appeal to adults seeking a fun, action-packed introduction to fantasy.
This is a pretty good middle-grade fantasy novel. It is definitely for readers on the younger side. It centers around the adventures of Blaze, a young mage with the power to manifest fire, as she goes on a journey to find the five missing princesses of Crystalia. I found the action sequences well-written, and the story has good pacing.
In terms of criticism, I would say that the story itself very much conforms to certain tropes of the genre, which makes it a bit boring. Blaze is a stereotypical tomboy, a trope that I feel is limiting to the full complexity of what a female protagonist can be, as well as overdone. The world-building itself feels a bit hollow, and overall, it feels like the book is not really doing anything differently within the genre.This is a good book for young fantasy readers to practice their reading until they get to a more advanced level.
Strengths - - I really enjoyed the portrayals of the five princesses. I thought they were cute, well-developed, and sincere depictions of sisterhood. - I enjoyed Blaze's relationship with Sapphire, as it was truly the former's driving force in her character development. - I loved Dreck; the perfect embodiment of the heart-warming, friendly sidekick character. - Endless pages of fantasy action.
Weaknesses - - The choice of Blaze as the mage to go on this quest was questionable. Why would the mages choose such a loose canon, disgraced mage for such a world-ending quest? It doesn't make any sense. - I would love to have learned more about the magic rules. What exactly extinguishes/sparks Blaze's spark?
Final Thoughts: A cute, heartwarming action/fantasy/adventure sure to be enjoyed by all ages.
While I wasn't familiar with the tabletop game that inspired this series, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I genuinely enjoyed reading about Blaze, a fire mage, and her adventures with Dreck, an orc who also happens to be an aspiring priest. Their friendship was the highlight of the novel—the wholesome messaging of accepting others' differences and overcoming anger in favor of love is perfect for middle-grade readers and beyond.
The pacing was pretty fast and engaging, with plenty of action scenes that balanced humor and intensity well. I especially appreciated the rich details that described Crystalia, which really helped me picture the fantasy environment and characters.
Overall, this was a fun, light read that you could easily hand to a child or anyone who is into fantasy/RPGs.
I progressively found myself losing interest in this novel the more I read it. I don't think there's anything objectively wrong with it, the writing itself is fine and the story stays consistent. There's just nothing about the plot or premise that is overly original or memorable. Especially within the fantasy genre, there's a lot of potential for expansive world-building or complex in-universe magic systems that would make it interesting. But I felt that this novel didn't try taking any risks in either regard, which ultimately made it feel kind of generic. Perhaps this is the sort of story that's better within the context of its complete series, but as a stand-alone novel, it's not one I would recommend.
This book was really fun to read! It definitely fit the age range that was marketed for this book. There was a lot of depth to the characters, and could feel the Kings emotion and frustration over losing his daughter. I felt sympathetic for him, and could feel how his actions and words helped develop his emotional range and character depth. Every scene was full of suspense, and it did leave me wanting to read the story throughout. There were some phrases that weren't very coherent, but this was more in the beginning of the book. Overall, this was a great read and would recommend it to many sci-fi and fantasy lovers!
A fun read! Full of high adventure and compelling characters. King Jasper and Blaze were my favorites. The world of Crystalia is rich, and the author is deft at weaving details into the story instead of info-dumping. King Jasper is desperate to find his daughters, even if he puts the kingdom at risk by venturing out to look for them himself, leaving the kingdom without its ruler. Blaze is fierce and tough--a strong female lead character, which so many young adult novels need. This book held my attention from start to finish, and I look forward to the further books in the series. I highly recommend for ages 9-14.
A fun adventure filled tale, will cool world building and lots of magic. Sidwell does an excellent job of writing a novel incorporating classic elements involved in RPGs, and lovers of such games will have a fun time reading this novel. The prose was definitely interesting as I found it read like narration/game play from D&D, which was something I had never encountered in novel form before.
The narrative is straightforward but satisfying and covers a variety of themes centered around Blaze's growth as a character. There were some humorous moments, lots of age-appropriate action, and heartwarming friendships.
The King's Summons is an epic fantasy adventure filled with magic, quests, and strong female protagonists. The story follows Blaze, an ember mage, who sets off on a quest to rescue Princess Sapphire. Blaze is a fiery character full of sarcasm and strength. The book is immersive, full of high stakes, and engaging. While I do wish there would have been more world-building and magic development, the characters were very well-written with wonderful arcs. The book was a wonderful middle-grade adventure that I really enjoyed!
The King's Summons starts with the famous Princesses of Crystalia disappearing. The story follows the main character, Blaze, a mage who possesses fire powers, as she is given orders by the King to bring his oldest daughter, Princess Sapphire, back. I really enjoyed reading about the four Princesses, who are each unique in their own way, and I wish more of the story centered around them. I also liked the friendship between Blaze and her enemy-turned-companion Dreck. The relationship between the two made for some great and funny moments and was probably my favorite part of the book.
The King's Summons is a delightful fantasy adventure that immerses readers in the super enchanting world of Crystalia. Brimming with magic, monsters, and a touch of humor, this story is both engaging and accessible. Sidwell's writing makes it easy to connect with Blaze and the other characters on their journey.
While the plot may be somewhat predictable, the characters and their interactions truly shine.
If you are looking for a fun and lighthearted fantasy adventure, this would be hands down a fantastic choice. It's a perfect gift for bookish pre-teens!
Overall, The King's Summons was a fun read! The world-building was rich and immersive, truly a great setting for Blaze's journey of self-discovery and found family. The only thing that I think would improve this installment is better pacing, which would also allow the space for more depth of character. This was a fast-paced, engaging read and a great introduction to the Super Dungeon world!
The King's Summons was an enjoyable fantasy book. I enjoyed the character dynamics, the creative and imaginative world, and the many action scenes of the story. This story ended up being an enjoyable read. While it could've been better-paced, that doesn't detract much from my total score for this book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and often did not want to put it down while reading it.
I don't know what more you could want from a middle-grade fantasy book.
The plot might feel simple at times, but the world and characters are imaginative and fun to read. Blaze is a great main character who is relatable and easy to understand, and who (what more could a kid want) also can use fire magic.
The King’s Summons was an interesting read from beginning to the end. Young readers will enjoy the adventurous story. I wish there was a some more world building in the beginning chapters, but it was still an entertaining read!
This book pulled me right in from the first chapter, the main character is the perfect amount of sarcastic and sweet. I couldn't put it down and NEED to read the rest of the series!