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Warden of Fál #1
The Wrath of Lords
The job sounded simple enough.
Rid the village of an ogre and rescue the girl. In return, the local lord would overlook that ugly business in the church.
It was nothing he hadn’t dealt with before.
That was before he heard the howls coming from the Bog of Móin Alúin. Before he crossed paths with the headless rider. Before he woke to find the witch’s crooked fingers on his face.
Now Berengar must unravel the labyrinth of secrets and lies surrounding the village before a deadly curse claims his life, all while a darker evil looms in the shadows…
Rid the village of an ogre and rescue the girl. In return, the local lord would overlook that ugly business in the church.
It was nothing he hadn’t dealt with before.
That was before he heard the howls coming from the Bog of Móin Alúin. Before he crossed paths with the headless rider. Before he woke to find the witch’s crooked fingers on his face.
Now Berengar must unravel the labyrinth of secrets and lies surrounding the village before a deadly curse claims his life, all while a darker evil looms in the shadows…
274 pages, Paperback
Published January 11, 2019
91 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Kyle Alexander Romines
31 books148 followersKyle Alexander Romines is a teller of tales from the hills of Kentucky. He enjoys good reads, thunderstorms, and anything edible. His writing interests include fantasy, science fiction, horror, and western.
Kyle’s lifelong love of books began with childhood bedtime stories and was fostered by his parents and teachers. He grew up reading Calvin and Hobbes, RL Stine’s Goosebumps series, and Harry Potter. His current list of favorites includes Justin Cronin’s The Passage, Red Rising by Pierce Brown, and Bone by Jeff Smith. The library is his friend.
Kyle's debut horror novel, The Keeper of the Crows, appeared on the Preliminary Ballot of the 2015 Bram Stoker Awards in the category of Superior Achievement in a First Novel. His next book, a western, is scheduled to be released in 2017 by Sunbury Press, which has also accepted the sequel to The Keeper of the Crows for publication in 2018.
He is a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Medicine.
You can contact Kyle at thekylealexander@hotmail.com. You can also subscribe to his author newsletter to receive email updates and a FREE electronic copy of his science fiction novella, The Chrononaut, at http://eepurl.com/bsvhYP.
Kyle’s lifelong love of books began with childhood bedtime stories and was fostered by his parents and teachers. He grew up reading Calvin and Hobbes, RL Stine’s Goosebumps series, and Harry Potter. His current list of favorites includes Justin Cronin’s The Passage, Red Rising by Pierce Brown, and Bone by Jeff Smith. The library is his friend.
Kyle's debut horror novel, The Keeper of the Crows, appeared on the Preliminary Ballot of the 2015 Bram Stoker Awards in the category of Superior Achievement in a First Novel. His next book, a western, is scheduled to be released in 2017 by Sunbury Press, which has also accepted the sequel to The Keeper of the Crows for publication in 2018.
He is a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Medicine.
You can contact Kyle at thekylealexander@hotmail.com. You can also subscribe to his author newsletter to receive email updates and a FREE electronic copy of his science fiction novella, The Chrononaut, at http://eepurl.com/bsvhYP.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 17, 2019
The Wrath of Lords by Kyle Alexander Romines and narrated by Matt Addis is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary. I love a good epic fantasy book and this really superseded my expectations by a long shot! It has everything a great epic fantasy needs including a quest, a damsel or two, ancient relic, goblins, ogres, magic, curses, demanding Lords, evil hag in a bog, the unsung hero, and spineless villagers! Yep, check on all of those!
Plenty of action, wonderful world building, well developed characters, a twisty and unpredictable plot, and the sense that you are actually there in this God forsaken place and need a shower, ax, and a clean drink of water!
The narrator made the story really POP with his rich voice and it seemed to really fit this world and the main character that was a big bear of a man! I really felt part of this world and can't wait to dive in to the next book! Great job!!!
Plenty of action, wonderful world building, well developed characters, a twisty and unpredictable plot, and the sense that you are actually there in this God forsaken place and need a shower, ax, and a clean drink of water!
The narrator made the story really POP with his rich voice and it seemed to really fit this world and the main character that was a big bear of a man! I really felt part of this world and can't wait to dive in to the next book! Great job!!!
July 30, 2020
I've tried a few new fantasy series from the big publishers recently so I decided the time had come to give another self-published fantasy series a go as it had been a while since I last tried one. I've been reading plenty of self-published stuff lately but not much actual fantasy! This one seemed a good choice as it was a fairly short read! I was expecting an action fantasy when I picked up The Wrath of Lords and to a degree I got what I expected but this story also turned out to be a weird blend of genres as it mixed elements of old school D&D style fantasy, modern grimdark fantasy, crime/mystery fiction, and Westerns! It was quite the mix but I think Romines pulled it off as this was a fairly readable book.
The plot was typical Western. Sheriff (OK he was actually a Warden) Berengar was tracking a bunch of bandits across the land with the intent of putting them down before they did any more harm. It was a task he completed successfully. Unfortunately he killed the (unarmed) bandit leader in a local village Church to the outrage of all the villagers who witnessed the event and they demanded his arrest. Berenger found himself hauled before the local lord. Lucky for him good gunslingers (OK he was really an axe-slinger!) were in high demand and the local lord agreed to let the whole incident slide if Berenger helped find his niece who had just went missing. It meant a trip to a bog to battle the lead suspect in the abduction - a giant ogre! In true murder mystery fashion nothing about the whole thing was as it seemed and as well as tracking down the damsel poor Berenger found himself battling Ogre, goblins, outlaws, village idiots, an evil witch, twisted occultists, and even a headless rider all while tracking the lord's niece, solving a bunch of similar abductions, solving a local murder, and freeing himself from a fatal curse!
This book was pretty short at only around 7 hours in audio so the given all the stuff Berenger had going on it will surprise no one to learn this was a fast-paced story. Berenger bounced from one action/mystery scene to the next at a rapid pace!
In terms of tone this was fairly dark. This was pretty much a grimdark murder mystery story! It just about worked as Berenger showed a bit of positive growth over the course of the story that made him just about likeable enough to root for as he cut his way through bandits, lesser races, and peasants alike. Berenger definitely took the Conan approach when it came to dealing with people!
As with most mystery/western tales this one had an episodic feel to it. Berenger arrived in the region by himself, got caught up in events, and then was moving on to somewhere else when things ended. My guess is he will be solving a new crime and killing a few new evil-doers in a new location in the next instalment. It was interesting to see the crime fiction format in a traditional fantasy setting. I think it could work if the tales are kept short like this one and the series adds in some small series arc at some point.
All in all this was an OK read. I'll probably pick up the second book in the series at some point in the future.
Rating: 3.5 stars.
Audio Note: Matt Aldid did a good job with the audio.
The plot was typical Western. Sheriff (OK he was actually a Warden) Berengar was tracking a bunch of bandits across the land with the intent of putting them down before they did any more harm. It was a task he completed successfully. Unfortunately he killed the (unarmed) bandit leader in a local village Church to the outrage of all the villagers who witnessed the event and they demanded his arrest. Berenger found himself hauled before the local lord. Lucky for him good gunslingers (OK he was really an axe-slinger!) were in high demand and the local lord agreed to let the whole incident slide if Berenger helped find his niece who had just went missing. It meant a trip to a bog to battle the lead suspect in the abduction - a giant ogre! In true murder mystery fashion nothing about the whole thing was as it seemed and as well as tracking down the damsel poor Berenger found himself battling Ogre, goblins, outlaws, village idiots, an evil witch, twisted occultists, and even a headless rider all while tracking the lord's niece, solving a bunch of similar abductions, solving a local murder, and freeing himself from a fatal curse!
This book was pretty short at only around 7 hours in audio so the given all the stuff Berenger had going on it will surprise no one to learn this was a fast-paced story. Berenger bounced from one action/mystery scene to the next at a rapid pace!
In terms of tone this was fairly dark. This was pretty much a grimdark murder mystery story! It just about worked as Berenger showed a bit of positive growth over the course of the story that made him just about likeable enough to root for as he cut his way through bandits, lesser races, and peasants alike. Berenger definitely took the Conan approach when it came to dealing with people!
As with most mystery/western tales this one had an episodic feel to it. Berenger arrived in the region by himself, got caught up in events, and then was moving on to somewhere else when things ended. My guess is he will be solving a new crime and killing a few new evil-doers in a new location in the next instalment. It was interesting to see the crime fiction format in a traditional fantasy setting. I think it could work if the tales are kept short like this one and the series adds in some small series arc at some point.
All in all this was an OK read. I'll probably pick up the second book in the series at some point in the future.
Rating: 3.5 stars.
Audio Note: Matt Aldid did a good job with the audio.
July 9, 2023
3.5* (english version below)
Die schöne atmosphärische, düstere Stimmung vom Anfang des Buches konnte leider nicht ganz so lang aufrecht erhalten werden.
Sehr viele side quests und fast schon zu viele Fabelwesen auf einmal.
Ab einem gewissen Punkt wurde es dann arg vorhersehbar.
Nichts desto trotz, Berengar weiß zu gefallen, und das Buch ist dennoch ein kurzweiliges Lesevergnügen.
----------------------------------
Unfortunately, the nice grim atmosphere from the beginning of the book could not be kept up for quite so long.
There were a lot of side quests and almost too many mythical creatures at once.
At a certain point the story became predictable.
Nevertheless, Berengar knows how to please, and the book is still an entertaining read.
Die schöne atmosphärische, düstere Stimmung vom Anfang des Buches konnte leider nicht ganz so lang aufrecht erhalten werden.
Sehr viele side quests und fast schon zu viele Fabelwesen auf einmal.
Ab einem gewissen Punkt wurde es dann arg vorhersehbar.
Nichts desto trotz, Berengar weiß zu gefallen, und das Buch ist dennoch ein kurzweiliges Lesevergnügen.
----------------------------------
Unfortunately, the nice grim atmosphere from the beginning of the book could not be kept up for quite so long.
There were a lot of side quests and almost too many mythical creatures at once.
At a certain point the story became predictable.
Nevertheless, Berengar knows how to please, and the book is still an entertaining read.
June 2, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyable grimdark fantasy novel. I requested the third book to listen to via Audioboom as it looked like it could be read as a standalone, and Romines very kindly gave me all three books, which is pretty awesome of him.
Excellent start to the series. It's action packed from the beginning and generally fun to read. Have already recommended to one friend so hopefully they will also enjoy it. Only criticism I have is there wasn't too much backstory given, so I'm hoping this is explored more in the second book.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request via Audioboom and have voluntarily left this review.
Excellent start to the series. It's action packed from the beginning and generally fun to read. Have already recommended to one friend so hopefully they will also enjoy it. Only criticism I have is there wasn't too much backstory given, so I'm hoping this is explored more in the second book.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request via Audioboom and have voluntarily left this review.
June 14, 2019
It's well written, and has an engaging plot. I loved all of the characters that were introduced. It reads kind of like an Irish inspired Witcher novel.
January 7, 2022
⭐️3.5/4⭐️
May 8, 2019
The cover of this book is what caught my eye initially, and then the synopsis just made me want to read it more, but it was the fact that this is set in Ireland that made me really eager to read it. I'm Irish, so I love finding a fantasy book set here!! I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but I didn't expect to love it as much as I did. I was totally engrossed the whole way through and didn't want it to end.
We start with a brief history lesson about the Kings and Queens of Ireland and how Queen Nora became the High Queen presiding over the rest. We are then introduced to one of Queen Noras' Warden, Berengar. Known as the Warden or the Bloody Red Bear, he is feared, hated and respected where ever his job takes him. His word is law and he is sent by the queen to be her enforcer. On one such hunt for the leader of The Black Hand, a band of killers, something happens that causes him to become beholden to the Lord of Kildare, and the only way to get his freedom is to kill the ogre that took the Lords' niece. Berengar has no trouble with that but his journey isn't as simple as he thinks and there is more going on than meets the eyes.
The plot of this was richly detailed and complex. What starts out as a simple task for Berengar, turns into a mystery that needs to be unraveled before Berengar loses everything. There is twists and turns throughout and I had such a hard time putting the book down because there wasn't a moment where the action lets up. Berengar has problem after problem to solve and I needed to see what happened each time. Between Ogres, Goblins, Witches, headless horseman, werewolves and other humans, it was brilliantly written and executed. I honestly devoured it!!
The world building and character development was amazing. Ireland is a beautiful country rich in folklore and the author utilised that. The descriptive writing made it easy to picture the places, plus it helped that I recognised nearly all of them ;) The Bog of Móin Alúin was creepy, and the village and surrounding area was well described. I could picture everything. Each of the characters were well written and developed too. I loved Berengar and his dog (not going to try to spell his name because I couldn't). Berengar goes through the most changes and I can't wait to see what else is in store for him.
In all, this was a welcome surprise. I've never read this authors work before but I will definitely try some of his other ones now! This is going on my favourites list and I can't wait to read the next one.
I'm seriously impressed with the narrator Matt Addis! It's my first time listening to a book narrated by him and wow is all I could think of. He gave a brilliant performance and really brought the book to life. He had an impressive array of voices and gave each character their own one. I had no trouble figuring out who was who. He also impressed me with his Irish accent!!! I will also have to check out more books performed by him.
I was given this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
We start with a brief history lesson about the Kings and Queens of Ireland and how Queen Nora became the High Queen presiding over the rest. We are then introduced to one of Queen Noras' Warden, Berengar. Known as the Warden or the Bloody Red Bear, he is feared, hated and respected where ever his job takes him. His word is law and he is sent by the queen to be her enforcer. On one such hunt for the leader of The Black Hand, a band of killers, something happens that causes him to become beholden to the Lord of Kildare, and the only way to get his freedom is to kill the ogre that took the Lords' niece. Berengar has no trouble with that but his journey isn't as simple as he thinks and there is more going on than meets the eyes.
The plot of this was richly detailed and complex. What starts out as a simple task for Berengar, turns into a mystery that needs to be unraveled before Berengar loses everything. There is twists and turns throughout and I had such a hard time putting the book down because there wasn't a moment where the action lets up. Berengar has problem after problem to solve and I needed to see what happened each time. Between Ogres, Goblins, Witches, headless horseman, werewolves and other humans, it was brilliantly written and executed. I honestly devoured it!!
The world building and character development was amazing. Ireland is a beautiful country rich in folklore and the author utilised that. The descriptive writing made it easy to picture the places, plus it helped that I recognised nearly all of them ;) The Bog of Móin Alúin was creepy, and the village and surrounding area was well described. I could picture everything. Each of the characters were well written and developed too. I loved Berengar and his dog (not going to try to spell his name because I couldn't). Berengar goes through the most changes and I can't wait to see what else is in store for him.
In all, this was a welcome surprise. I've never read this authors work before but I will definitely try some of his other ones now! This is going on my favourites list and I can't wait to read the next one.
I'm seriously impressed with the narrator Matt Addis! It's my first time listening to a book narrated by him and wow is all I could think of. He gave a brilliant performance and really brought the book to life. He had an impressive array of voices and gave each character their own one. I had no trouble figuring out who was who. He also impressed me with his Irish accent!!! I will also have to check out more books performed by him.
I was given this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
October 11, 2019
The Wrath of Lords by Kyle Alexander Romines is the story of the High Queen of Fáls warden, Esben Berengar, a rough guy who prefer to be left and alone and does not appreciate it when things doesn’t go his way. He’s famously known as The Red Bear, and known for his temper and rough way of handling things. After a skirmish where he executes a bad guy he was out to find, he gets involved in the case of a missing girl in the small town of Aluine. The girl was abducted by an ogre in a swamp, and Berengar is forced to find her. Said swamp turns out to be a place filled with evil, and our warden gets into more trouble than he is used to. Underway in the tale, it turns out that things aren’t as clear as they should be in Aluine, and people appear to have secrets that are not immediately clear.
The book was very nicely written, and kept me captivated all the way through. The writing had a great flow, with good descriptions, and excellent characterisation of the main character and those he came across. The main character was very well portrayed, and you get a good sense of what kind of person he is.
It is your somewhat old school fantasy tale, but despite not being on the epic scale, a very down to earth and believable story. There’s a good array of classic monster/villain arch types, but despite this, it didn’t feel it lowered the quality of the story. While I did only go into it expecting your standard fantasy genre, the book also turned out to be a mystery novel, which I enjoyed very much. It was an excellent mixture of two different genres, and it made for a much more complex story than would first appear.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Matt Addis, and he did an absolutely fabulous job of it. It is not often a narrator fits the overall setting so perfectly, and does so with such a clear voice, and with distinct tones for each character.
Overall there’s not much to critique about the story, which again lends itself to the great writing. I did find that transitions were somewhat abrupt, and there could have been a line or two more to build up or close down, each scene.
My second critique is that Berengar has a wolf that follows him around, yet the wolf is essentially never there. It is used in a very few scenes, and then only shortly, and it really came out as if the wolf were an unimportant item he had in his pocket, which he just decided to throw at a bad guy twice throughout the book. Had the wolf not been included in the book, it wouldn’t have made a single difference. Could it have been fleshed out much more though, it would have been preferable. Why he has the wolf, is also never explained.
And finally, despite not being too long a story, there were too many character names to follow. I had a hard time distinguishing some of the background characters, until some part into their dialogs, when things that happened previously in the story were mentioned.
But overall, I was very satisfied with the book, and I will most certainly read more in the series! Highly recommended for any fantasy or mystery novel readers. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this audiobook for free in return for a review. I have no affiliation with the author, the narrator, the publisher, or their pets (Although I am sure the latter are quite nice!).
The book was very nicely written, and kept me captivated all the way through. The writing had a great flow, with good descriptions, and excellent characterisation of the main character and those he came across. The main character was very well portrayed, and you get a good sense of what kind of person he is.
It is your somewhat old school fantasy tale, but despite not being on the epic scale, a very down to earth and believable story. There’s a good array of classic monster/villain arch types, but despite this, it didn’t feel it lowered the quality of the story. While I did only go into it expecting your standard fantasy genre, the book also turned out to be a mystery novel, which I enjoyed very much. It was an excellent mixture of two different genres, and it made for a much more complex story than would first appear.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Matt Addis, and he did an absolutely fabulous job of it. It is not often a narrator fits the overall setting so perfectly, and does so with such a clear voice, and with distinct tones for each character.
Overall there’s not much to critique about the story, which again lends itself to the great writing. I did find that transitions were somewhat abrupt, and there could have been a line or two more to build up or close down, each scene.
My second critique is that Berengar has a wolf that follows him around, yet the wolf is essentially never there. It is used in a very few scenes, and then only shortly, and it really came out as if the wolf were an unimportant item he had in his pocket, which he just decided to throw at a bad guy twice throughout the book. Had the wolf not been included in the book, it wouldn’t have made a single difference. Could it have been fleshed out much more though, it would have been preferable. Why he has the wolf, is also never explained.
And finally, despite not being too long a story, there were too many character names to follow. I had a hard time distinguishing some of the background characters, until some part into their dialogs, when things that happened previously in the story were mentioned.
But overall, I was very satisfied with the book, and I will most certainly read more in the series! Highly recommended for any fantasy or mystery novel readers. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this audiobook for free in return for a review. I have no affiliation with the author, the narrator, the publisher, or their pets (Although I am sure the latter are quite nice!).
July 15, 2019
Berengar could be The Hound’s cousin. He’s big, rough, and had some wiggle room in his morals. I love how his character starts out – all unrepentant sharp edges. Someone has to rid the land of scum, and why not let it be someone who enjoys the work. Those that deserve death get it and Berengar enjoys dishing it out.
As the story continues, his character grows a bit. He comes to find that things aren’t always to black and white, people can redeem themselves, that those that might have once deserved death are now willing to put it all on the line to save someone else. Through these experiences, he learns about his own softer side. But don’t think that it gets all gooey! Nope! Berengar might have been altered a bit by the violence and trickery of those around him, but he’s the well armed man who will happily take out a savage brute to save children.
The story has a very Medieval wild Ireland or perhaps Wales feel to it. The moor, the mist, the Hag, the werewolf, etc. It’s a lush world to set this monster hunt and murder mystery into. Aha! Yes, this tale has a cerebral side. We must untangle the mystery, figure out who the real killers are and their motivations. Then we go stand behind a nice sturdy stone wall and let Berengar dispense some worthy justice.
Obviously, I really enjoyed this story. It clipped along at the perfect pace, having a balance of action and introspection. The magic is well matched with real-world woes (like mucking about in the dreary mist). While it appears the ladies need rescuing at the outset, that soon changes. Not all of them are in need of an assist.
The story ends with the mysteries solved and some justice meted out. Berengar is whole enough for another adventure to stumble upon him. I look forward to Book 2! Oh! and I love his wolf-hound too! 5/5 stars.
The Narration: Matt Addis has a great voice and is perfect for Berengar. I love his angry, gravelly voice for the ticked off would-be hero. Addis also voices the ladies quite well too, especially that creepy Hag! And I like his young man’s voice for Allistair (Rose’s love). The pacing was spot on and there were no technical issues with the recording. 5/5 stars.
I received a copy of this this book in exchange for an honest, free review. My opinions are %100 my own.
As the story continues, his character grows a bit. He comes to find that things aren’t always to black and white, people can redeem themselves, that those that might have once deserved death are now willing to put it all on the line to save someone else. Through these experiences, he learns about his own softer side. But don’t think that it gets all gooey! Nope! Berengar might have been altered a bit by the violence and trickery of those around him, but he’s the well armed man who will happily take out a savage brute to save children.
The story has a very Medieval wild Ireland or perhaps Wales feel to it. The moor, the mist, the Hag, the werewolf, etc. It’s a lush world to set this monster hunt and murder mystery into. Aha! Yes, this tale has a cerebral side. We must untangle the mystery, figure out who the real killers are and their motivations. Then we go stand behind a nice sturdy stone wall and let Berengar dispense some worthy justice.
Obviously, I really enjoyed this story. It clipped along at the perfect pace, having a balance of action and introspection. The magic is well matched with real-world woes (like mucking about in the dreary mist). While it appears the ladies need rescuing at the outset, that soon changes. Not all of them are in need of an assist.
The story ends with the mysteries solved and some justice meted out. Berengar is whole enough for another adventure to stumble upon him. I look forward to Book 2! Oh! and I love his wolf-hound too! 5/5 stars.
The Narration: Matt Addis has a great voice and is perfect for Berengar. I love his angry, gravelly voice for the ticked off would-be hero. Addis also voices the ladies quite well too, especially that creepy Hag! And I like his young man’s voice for Allistair (Rose’s love). The pacing was spot on and there were no technical issues with the recording. 5/5 stars.
I received a copy of this this book in exchange for an honest, free review. My opinions are %100 my own.
May 11, 2019
Although it has several fairly serious flaws, here we have an interesting story set in an engaging world.
Matt Addis's audio narration is skillful, if a bit on the dull side. He does well with voices, I have no complaints there. His control of vocal inflections is likewise skillful. The only problem is there are no real changes in tempo. He reads the entire text at roughly the same rate with no changes, regardless of the action in the story.
The first thing you need to know going into this is it is much more of a mystery/thriller than a fantasy novel, and is structured as such. You'll find no show burn or deep world building here.
Now, most of the characters in this story are well developed and distinct. The notable exception, unfortunately, is the main character, Berengar.
In fairness, he is a complex character with some unique traits. The problem is he is not internally consistent. He starts out being presented as the penultimate antihero who will do whatever it takes to compete his mission, regardless of who gets hurt. Then swings a wild 180 to become basically the male equivalent of a Mary Sue (with the occasional swing back to doing semi-villainous things) with no explanation as to why.
Although the plot does seem to jump around a bit, this is a pretty solid fantasy mystery with some interesting things happening and one or two excellent twists.
Probably the main problem area (apart from the issues with the main character) for me is the book's frequent use of one of my biggest pet peeves: variations on the phrase "that was when he/she saw/heard/noticed/etc it/[noun]." whenever I see or hear any variation on this phrase it instantly pulls me right out of the story.
And finally, the ending comes together nicely without any loose ends that I noticed. However, there was an event that almost happened that could have been a lead-in to a series of truly epic scope and I'm a little disappointed the author didn't run with that.
Matt Addis's audio narration is skillful, if a bit on the dull side. He does well with voices, I have no complaints there. His control of vocal inflections is likewise skillful. The only problem is there are no real changes in tempo. He reads the entire text at roughly the same rate with no changes, regardless of the action in the story.
The first thing you need to know going into this is it is much more of a mystery/thriller than a fantasy novel, and is structured as such. You'll find no show burn or deep world building here.
Now, most of the characters in this story are well developed and distinct. The notable exception, unfortunately, is the main character, Berengar.
In fairness, he is a complex character with some unique traits. The problem is he is not internally consistent. He starts out being presented as the penultimate antihero who will do whatever it takes to compete his mission, regardless of who gets hurt. Then swings a wild 180 to become basically the male equivalent of a Mary Sue (with the occasional swing back to doing semi-villainous things) with no explanation as to why.
Although the plot does seem to jump around a bit, this is a pretty solid fantasy mystery with some interesting things happening and one or two excellent twists.
Probably the main problem area (apart from the issues with the main character) for me is the book's frequent use of one of my biggest pet peeves: variations on the phrase "that was when he/she saw/heard/noticed/etc it/[noun]." whenever I see or hear any variation on this phrase it instantly pulls me right out of the story.
And finally, the ending comes together nicely without any loose ends that I noticed. However, there was an event that almost happened that could have been a lead-in to a series of truly epic scope and I'm a little disappointed the author didn't run with that.
June 8, 2019
This is my review of the audio version as posted on Audible:
A bit violent, definitely unputdownable...:)
This is my first by Kyle Alexander Romines and I'll definitely look for more.
The plot itself - fast-paced, full of magic, full of adventure, and surprisingly full of moral dilemmas - is one factor that would entice me to do so, but there are others, too: Mr Romines's undisputed talent for descriptive writing and his mastery to weave elements of folklore (Irish, in this case) into a tale that feels fresh, new, exciting...
Berenger, the Warden of Fal, is not the hero in shining armour; he's the Queen's monster that - as he himself says - other monsters need to fear. True, he seems ruthless, cruel, he kills without hesitation... but does he really? I like his character a lot; he's complex, he's unpredictable, he's, well, honourable and extremely deep. There are more layers to him that we have already discovered in this book... Other characters are equally complex and very human in their vices and virtues, with not one feeling unrealistic (except the magical ones, of course:) - but even they ring true..:)).
There is quite a lot of violence in the book, with Berenger fighting many enemies, and these scenes are very descriptive, not leaving much to imagination; any yet though violent they're not gore somehow...
Narration by Mr Addis is very good, too. He reads rather slowly (I sped it up a bit, I admit:)), but his interpretation brings the characters to life and makes the story feel real, almost cinematic, especially in the fight/action scenes. He does male voices very well, he manages female voices, too, without making them sound too unnatural.
Overall, it's a very good interpretation of this fantastically addictive book:) And if you're a fantasy fan, you can't miss it:)
DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
A bit violent, definitely unputdownable...:)
This is my first by Kyle Alexander Romines and I'll definitely look for more.
The plot itself - fast-paced, full of magic, full of adventure, and surprisingly full of moral dilemmas - is one factor that would entice me to do so, but there are others, too: Mr Romines's undisputed talent for descriptive writing and his mastery to weave elements of folklore (Irish, in this case) into a tale that feels fresh, new, exciting...
Berenger, the Warden of Fal, is not the hero in shining armour; he's the Queen's monster that - as he himself says - other monsters need to fear. True, he seems ruthless, cruel, he kills without hesitation... but does he really? I like his character a lot; he's complex, he's unpredictable, he's, well, honourable and extremely deep. There are more layers to him that we have already discovered in this book... Other characters are equally complex and very human in their vices and virtues, with not one feeling unrealistic (except the magical ones, of course:) - but even they ring true..:)).
There is quite a lot of violence in the book, with Berenger fighting many enemies, and these scenes are very descriptive, not leaving much to imagination; any yet though violent they're not gore somehow...
Narration by Mr Addis is very good, too. He reads rather slowly (I sped it up a bit, I admit:)), but his interpretation brings the characters to life and makes the story feel real, almost cinematic, especially in the fight/action scenes. He does male voices very well, he manages female voices, too, without making them sound too unnatural.
Overall, it's a very good interpretation of this fantastically addictive book:) And if you're a fantasy fan, you can't miss it:)
DISCLAIMER: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
December 27, 2019
Preface: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading most of this book, to the point where I was originally going to give it at least 4.5 stars - and then the ending happened, and crushed most of the enjoyment out of me.
A great deal of this novel's appeal is in the protagonist - a weatherworn, embittered bear of a dude who styles himself more monster than man. He's a lot more interesting than the usual squeaky-clean fantasy protagonist - he's got some history to him, some oomph, and plenty of room for a great character arc. The book really seems to be steering itself in that direction - but in the end, his development is pointless, everything he attempts comes to nothing, and everyone is worse off than they were when the story began.
Obviously I can't go into too much detail, but the endgame of this book is complete and utter misery. It really needed at least one plot thread to resolve in a positive manner to avoid leaving an icky bitter taste in the reader's mouth. And there are plenty to choose from. The other major flaw of this novel is halfway through it becomes spotty and unfocused, as our hero kinda bumbles around running into side quests left and right. And, again, all of them end in the worst way possible.
I'm still going to give the second book a try, I think, but if it ends anything like this one, I don't see much reason to pursue the series. It's mostly competently written, and again I enjoyed the main character, but you've gotta give your readers some light at the end of the tunnel.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading most of this book, to the point where I was originally going to give it at least 4.5 stars - and then the ending happened, and crushed most of the enjoyment out of me.
A great deal of this novel's appeal is in the protagonist - a weatherworn, embittered bear of a dude who styles himself more monster than man. He's a lot more interesting than the usual squeaky-clean fantasy protagonist - he's got some history to him, some oomph, and plenty of room for a great character arc. The book really seems to be steering itself in that direction - but in the end, his development is pointless, everything he attempts comes to nothing, and everyone is worse off than they were when the story began.
Obviously I can't go into too much detail, but the endgame of this book is complete and utter misery. It really needed at least one plot thread to resolve in a positive manner to avoid leaving an icky bitter taste in the reader's mouth. And there are plenty to choose from. The other major flaw of this novel is halfway through it becomes spotty and unfocused, as our hero kinda bumbles around running into side quests left and right. And, again, all of them end in the worst way possible.
I'm still going to give the second book a try, I think, but if it ends anything like this one, I don't see much reason to pursue the series. It's mostly competently written, and again I enjoyed the main character, but you've gotta give your readers some light at the end of the tunnel.
April 17, 2019
“He killed the first man with his bare hands.”
That first line of the novel is definitely an attention grabber! Previous to these words, there was a small description of the history of Fal, which is a magical version of Dark Ages (I'm guessing) Ireland. In that description supposedly taken from an ancient text, we are told that five kings and queens ruled Ireland, and they gathered at the Stone of Destiny at Tara. When Queen Nora touched the stone, it’s roar was throughout the land, and so she was made High Queen, presiding over the five kings and queens as well as having five Guardians. Four of the Guardians are more interested in diplomacy, while the fourth, Berengar, is not. He's the one who's been tasked with killing the leader of the Black Hand, a notorious band of thieves and killers. The scene started by the quote above is gripping in its shocking violence and gruesome in the treachery of the Black Hand that it reveals. Strange things start to occur, deepening the mystery of what evils Fal is up against.
What other tasks will Berengar face? What does his queen think of his tactics and finds? What evil haunts the land? What will Berengar and the Queen do about it?
I appreciated that the author gave the relevant set up in the very quick description before the main text started. The wording of this supposed quote from an ancient text, too, help set the tone for this book of mythical and magical proportions. Berengar is a complex protagonist. He can act with incredible violence but also with gentle compassion, often risking his life saving others. He also avenges those who have been mistreated.
If you don't mind the violence and enjoy tales about strange howls from dark places, dungeons of death, evil witches, and headless riders, you will find this fictional version of a magical old Ireland a compelling read.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Read my other reviews at https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com.
That first line of the novel is definitely an attention grabber! Previous to these words, there was a small description of the history of Fal, which is a magical version of Dark Ages (I'm guessing) Ireland. In that description supposedly taken from an ancient text, we are told that five kings and queens ruled Ireland, and they gathered at the Stone of Destiny at Tara. When Queen Nora touched the stone, it’s roar was throughout the land, and so she was made High Queen, presiding over the five kings and queens as well as having five Guardians. Four of the Guardians are more interested in diplomacy, while the fourth, Berengar, is not. He's the one who's been tasked with killing the leader of the Black Hand, a notorious band of thieves and killers. The scene started by the quote above is gripping in its shocking violence and gruesome in the treachery of the Black Hand that it reveals. Strange things start to occur, deepening the mystery of what evils Fal is up against.
What other tasks will Berengar face? What does his queen think of his tactics and finds? What evil haunts the land? What will Berengar and the Queen do about it?
I appreciated that the author gave the relevant set up in the very quick description before the main text started. The wording of this supposed quote from an ancient text, too, help set the tone for this book of mythical and magical proportions. Berengar is a complex protagonist. He can act with incredible violence but also with gentle compassion, often risking his life saving others. He also avenges those who have been mistreated.
If you don't mind the violence and enjoy tales about strange howls from dark places, dungeons of death, evil witches, and headless riders, you will find this fictional version of a magical old Ireland a compelling read.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
Read my other reviews at https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com.
November 1, 2020
I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
In The Wrath of Lords, Kyle Alexander Romines writes about warden Berengar, who's been commissioned by the High Queen. He's tasked with cleaning up messes and purifying the land. The tale opens with an intense battle, and the narrative moves swiftly throughout the remaining chapters. There's never a dull moment, as the warden fights monsters and converses with interesting characters.
The warden is full of depth. His emotions and convictions are clearly felt throughout the story. It's clear that he's lived a tumultuous life; his past experiences regularly impact his actions. He even goes through intricate changes throughout the short, seven hour story. But these changes never feel forced or illogical. Romines does a superb job fleshing out the warden's character. He does a great job with the story, too, as it contains a surprising amount of depth. My only real complaint is that it's over too quickly.
And about that narration...Matt Addis is one of my new favorite narrators. His accent and depth is perfect for a fantasy warden, and he expertly captures the other character's emotions. I hope that he continues to narrate Romines work, and I'm excited to explore his other projects.
Overall, this is a fantastic tale that had me hooked from the very beginning. I can't recommend The Warden of Fál highly enough!
In The Wrath of Lords, Kyle Alexander Romines writes about warden Berengar, who's been commissioned by the High Queen. He's tasked with cleaning up messes and purifying the land. The tale opens with an intense battle, and the narrative moves swiftly throughout the remaining chapters. There's never a dull moment, as the warden fights monsters and converses with interesting characters.
The warden is full of depth. His emotions and convictions are clearly felt throughout the story. It's clear that he's lived a tumultuous life; his past experiences regularly impact his actions. He even goes through intricate changes throughout the short, seven hour story. But these changes never feel forced or illogical. Romines does a superb job fleshing out the warden's character. He does a great job with the story, too, as it contains a surprising amount of depth. My only real complaint is that it's over too quickly.
And about that narration...Matt Addis is one of my new favorite narrators. His accent and depth is perfect for a fantasy warden, and he expertly captures the other character's emotions. I hope that he continues to narrate Romines work, and I'm excited to explore his other projects.
Overall, this is a fantastic tale that had me hooked from the very beginning. I can't recommend The Warden of Fál highly enough!
June 1, 2019
Berengar finds that he has plenty to do after he ends up cutting a deal with a local lord, to rescue a damsel taken by an ogre! He quickly realizes that he's caught between a rock and a hard place, as he learns that the lord he made a deal with is really a skeezy POS, and has no intention of holding up his end of the bargain! Berengar finds that the deeper into the literal, and figurative swamp he gets, the more likely it is that he'll be losing his life! He finds himself pitted against all kinds of magical creatures, all of whom have taken exception to Berengar's continued breathing, plus there's a curse to be dealt with, a mystery to solve, and a deadline to beat!
I loved the book! It's paced nicely with plenty of action and world building... Plus, we learn that Berengar, who's all rugged and tough on the outside, is really just sweet and gooey nougat, on the inside! He's ready to help a kid in need, or come to the defense of anyone who's being bullied!
Matt Addis was really fun to listen to, and did a great job with the narration!
All in all I found this to be a great set up for the next book, and while the main story concluded nicely, Kyle A Romines left a nice hook that'll leave you wanting the next book in the series... Right Now! 😊
I loved the book! It's paced nicely with plenty of action and world building... Plus, we learn that Berengar, who's all rugged and tough on the outside, is really just sweet and gooey nougat, on the inside! He's ready to help a kid in need, or come to the defense of anyone who's being bullied!
Matt Addis was really fun to listen to, and did a great job with the narration!
All in all I found this to be a great set up for the next book, and while the main story concluded nicely, Kyle A Romines left a nice hook that'll leave you wanting the next book in the series... Right Now! 😊
December 31, 2019
Audiobook Review
The Wrath of Lords by Kyle Alexander Romines is an epic fantasy book that is written just how I like an epic fantasy book to be written. It's not an RPG lit (even though the plotline reads very much like a single player RPG game) even though it has all the classic parts to one: a MC that has good intentions but suffered a mighty blow/event, a quest to make amends for his actions, a daring rescue, mythical beasts to slaughter, AN EVIL BOG HAG, horrible NPCs that are literally no help. Now, throw in a fantastically built world, with amazing descriptions, and some tugging of your heartstrings and we have this amazing book. Truly one of my favorite books that I've listened to this year.
The narration by Matt Addis is superb. He's one of those narrators whose voice has you searching out other books he's narrated rather than searching for authors and hoping you run across his voice again. Voices, emotion, accents - he has them all down 100%. Another narrator might not have been able to do this as much justice as Matt Addis has done.
I've already purchased the next book and cannot wait to continue!
I requested this book from the author, narrator, or publisher in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
The Wrath of Lords by Kyle Alexander Romines is an epic fantasy book that is written just how I like an epic fantasy book to be written. It's not an RPG lit (even though the plotline reads very much like a single player RPG game) even though it has all the classic parts to one: a MC that has good intentions but suffered a mighty blow/event, a quest to make amends for his actions, a daring rescue, mythical beasts to slaughter, AN EVIL BOG HAG, horrible NPCs that are literally no help. Now, throw in a fantastically built world, with amazing descriptions, and some tugging of your heartstrings and we have this amazing book. Truly one of my favorite books that I've listened to this year.
The narration by Matt Addis is superb. He's one of those narrators whose voice has you searching out other books he's narrated rather than searching for authors and hoping you run across his voice again. Voices, emotion, accents - he has them all down 100%. Another narrator might not have been able to do this as much justice as Matt Addis has done.
I've already purchased the next book and cannot wait to continue!
I requested this book from the author, narrator, or publisher in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
September 22, 2019
I received a review copy of this book.
The shortest pitch I can give this book is to say that it is very similar to what you might dream if you spent the whole day playing "The Witcher" and reading the Mabinogian.
Berengar is the kind of protagonist who speaks to the darker, more vengeful side in each of us. He has few rules he won't break, but he is nonetheless still undeniably on the side of the angels.
The world of Fál is largely inspired by Celtic mythology, with real places like Leinster, Munster, and Ulster. Religion is addressed in a sort of "Christianity-lite;" the Church worships "The Lord of Hosts" and uses crosses as symbols, but doesn't go deep into theology or doctrine.
My one criticism of the book is that it feels like Berengar spends a significant portion of the book getting roped into side-quests that arbitrarily get in the way of fulfilling his main objective. That said, the story is still fun, so I don't place too high of a value in this.
The shortest pitch I can give this book is to say that it is very similar to what you might dream if you spent the whole day playing "The Witcher" and reading the Mabinogian.
Berengar is the kind of protagonist who speaks to the darker, more vengeful side in each of us. He has few rules he won't break, but he is nonetheless still undeniably on the side of the angels.
The world of Fál is largely inspired by Celtic mythology, with real places like Leinster, Munster, and Ulster. Religion is addressed in a sort of "Christianity-lite;" the Church worships "The Lord of Hosts" and uses crosses as symbols, but doesn't go deep into theology or doctrine.
My one criticism of the book is that it feels like Berengar spends a significant portion of the book getting roped into side-quests that arbitrarily get in the way of fulfilling his main objective. That said, the story is still fun, so I don't place too high of a value in this.
June 30, 2019
I received this as an advanced reading copy.
While to book was entertaining and eventually had a point, it had a strange start. The seemed to be a random series of events. It almost felt as if the author started writing it without any plan in mind. The reader doesn't start to get an over sense of purpose to the plot until over half way through the book. This itself seems like a major flaw. And while it becomes a good story, it ends up almost as depressing as Hamlet. The difference being more people survive than in Hamlet. I think I may read the books follow it. But I hope they don't end up as seemingly pointless as this story appears.
While to book was entertaining and eventually had a point, it had a strange start. The seemed to be a random series of events. It almost felt as if the author started writing it without any plan in mind. The reader doesn't start to get an over sense of purpose to the plot until over half way through the book. This itself seems like a major flaw. And while it becomes a good story, it ends up almost as depressing as Hamlet. The difference being more people survive than in Hamlet. I think I may read the books follow it. But I hope they don't end up as seemingly pointless as this story appears.
September 12, 2019
A curse from a hag and a headless horseman to deal with.
I enjoyed this book. This fantasy story is a bit dark.
Berengar is a Warden of the High Queen of Fál. He has a dark history and is considered a monster by most. In this book he is put on a quest to find a noble blooded girl who was taken by an ogre. During his search he runs across a headless horseman, a werewolf, a hag from a bog and a village full of secrets.
This is a must read to find out how much of a monster Berengar is, what the hag does to him and what secrets he uncovers from the village.
I would say PG13 due to level of violence.
I enjoyed this book. This fantasy story is a bit dark.
Berengar is a Warden of the High Queen of Fál. He has a dark history and is considered a monster by most. In this book he is put on a quest to find a noble blooded girl who was taken by an ogre. During his search he runs across a headless horseman, a werewolf, a hag from a bog and a village full of secrets.
This is a must read to find out how much of a monster Berengar is, what the hag does to him and what secrets he uncovers from the village.
I would say PG13 due to level of violence.
May 18, 2019
This was an action filled swords and sorcery style adventure. The main protagonist is well written and develops during the story. The main story in the book is well done, even if bits of it are formulaic. The overall world is well written, loosely based on a magical version of Ireland during the dark ages. The narration is clear and understandable. Overall I really enjoyed the book and will be picking up future books in this series.
Disclaimer: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Disclaimer: I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
October 18, 2019
Nice surprise. I had hoped the hero had some magic but I guess determination and luck is a type of magic. The hero was somewhat emotionally damaged, depressed, and at times too indifferent. He did what needed doing even when it was shocking. I was fascinated by the mysteries of this small village and couldn't put it down. Regardless, I am not especially interested in a hero with no magic in a fantasy world. So I'm a one and done on this series.
June 18, 2019
I loved Kyle's writing style. He has created a fantasy with much of what we expect, but it feels as there's a little different approach to why the events happen. It's got a touch of mystery to the story while we have magic and many elements of the fantasy realm. I very much enjoyed this book and Berengar. I look forward to following him on many missions.
****FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW****
****FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW****
July 1, 2019
"The Wrath of Lords" has plenty of gore and action, but also plenty of story to go with it - and the story is very good! I particularly enjoyed this author's writing, with the book being a very fast read (mainly due to me not wanting to stop reading). Really enjoyable.
I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy.
I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy.
July 29, 2019
A fantasy book full of action and suspense, excellent world building, amazing character development and continuous plot twists that riveted me from start to finish. The story is set in Ireland and rich in Irish lore. I highly recommend it to all fans of fantasy and I can't wait for the next installment!
August 9, 2019
It took me a bit to get into this book.I really enjoyed it!It was well written with worthy characters.We hit on everything from Goblins to Werewolves in this book. A warden is sent in search of a missing girl.He encounters shysters and new comrades along the way. Matt Addis was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'
October 11, 2019
I've read other books by this author, and this is the first Fantasy novel I've read from him. Great stuff. Strong but broken hero, allies, enemies, evil spellcasters, corrupt leaders, witches, ogres, even a headless horseman. The story starts with a bang and doesn't stop until the end credits. I can't wait to read the rest.
October 27, 2019
This was my first book by Kyle Alexander Romines. I bought it after seeing his books at a local Kentucky author book fair. I love reading Ky authors and now his name is among those that I will continue to look for.
I’m going to have to check out the rest of the books in this series. It was an intriguing story within an intriguing fantasy world.
I’m going to have to check out the rest of the books in this series. It was an intriguing story within an intriguing fantasy world.
August 8, 2020
I was very surprised by how strong this new (to me) Author came out of the gate. He plays with monsters and lore in a way reminiscent of the Witcher games. The hag in this is very much my idea of the baba yaga. Beautifully told characters in a beautiful harsh world!
May 5, 2023
I appreciate the fact the author seems to have played the same RPGs as me and have read kinda same grimdarks, but that is not enough: some writing talent is also required for a good book - but this is truly amateurish stuff.
April 21, 2019
Well written and recommended
Non-stop action, no romance, dark, and a comp!eyed story; just how I like them. Well done Mr. Romines, I look forward to reading the next installment.
Non-stop action, no romance, dark, and a comp!eyed story; just how I like them. Well done Mr. Romines, I look forward to reading the next installment.
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