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Highwings #1

All the King's Traitors

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Over a thousand years have passed since the first Godstones ripped through the skies and mangled the earth. With their fall came centuries of chaos and destruction, but also immense power.

Power that separates humans from Gods.

Now, in the Kingdom of Azanthea, two adoptive brothers flee from unjust conscription.

A fugitive struggles to truly be free.

A double-crossing warrior must choose where his allegiances lie: with his wife or with his daughter.

A traitorous heir to the Kingdom’s throne roams the lands in search of an army to call his own.

A prodigy in the House of Historian competes in a grueling trial to prove her loyalty.

And one God-King rules over them all.

358 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 2019

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602 people want to read

About the author

Keylin Rivers

5 books82 followers

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5 stars
59 (37%)
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43 (27%)
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37 (23%)
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13 (8%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
Profile Image for NAT.orious reads ☾.
965 reviews415 followers
March 9, 2020
2 treacherous STARS ★★✬✩✩
This book is for you if… you'd like to be very confused about the prevailing oponion concerning it.

Overall.
Lately, my books seem to be either excellent or excruiating, almost no in between. What about this book, you're wondering? Let me put it this way: The last sentence was the only truly exciting thing about it ...

If you liked this book, fine. Maybe it's just not my cuppa. Could very well be.


Apart from the mildly interesting characters, All the King's Traitors reads like any other average YA fantasy book you've come across recently, except that it may be less uneventful depending on your individual experiences. There might be more creatures involved and some shiny stones that give superpowers, but that's about all the good I can say about this.

I was not invested in this story at all. There's no real suspense building throughout the book and it was hard to get in touch with the characters sometimes. Twists came about suddenly and made this story seem uncoordinated and chaotic.

What’s happening.
‘What Lord Ceridia really meant by 'volunteer' was that anyone who could move, had completed their mandatory lessons, and who didn#t already serve a purpose in the town was guaranteed to be recruited into the army.’

Just to give you an idea just what kind of king will be betrayed in this multi-POV fantasy book that's kicking of a series I've got little interest in following.
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writing quality + easy of reading = 3*

pace = 3*

plot/story in general = 2*

plot development = 2*

characters = 4*

enjoyability = 2*

insightfulness = 1*
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Many thanks to the author Keylin Rivers and Xpresso Book Tours, who provided me with this eArc via Netgalley.
Profile Image for Joyffree.
3,410 reviews62 followers
September 6, 2019
This is why I love fantasy -
An entertaining read is a bit like watching a movie
You have multiple POV's which has you thinking you know what is about to happen - but really you don't
Lots of edge of your seat action - the kind that has you holding your breath or screaming at the characters in horror that they would make such an absurd choice
All kinds of Magic and Mayhem
Overall - An excellent way to spend an afternoon

Rivers presents us with a well-rounded cast:
The curious young orphan
The older protector
The inquisitive one
The power-hungry evil psycho who needs to be reined in (Okay I am a bit on the fence with him. There was a time he was a good man.)
The misguided one
The evil overlord who manipulates his people into loving him
Just for starters

This is a first in series and one I intend to follow
The world-building is well ... out of this world
Rivers has crafted a colorful universe for her story.
I loved the detail and how easily it transported me as a reader.
Being a first there is a lot of groundwork being presented that sets the tone for the series. In the beginning, it can slow the overall story line just a touch, but once things get rolling you will want to hang on for one magically fantastic adventure!
This ends on a cliffhanger -
But it is so worth it
Profile Image for Moony (Captain Mischief) MeowPoff.
1,687 reviews149 followers
January 26, 2020
2.5 stars.
Some of the book was interesting and some of the characters too, but i won't be reading the next book.
It was a bit too much and some characters were so annoying and just in general, meh.
Profile Image for Amanda Minnock.
230 reviews48 followers
March 15, 2020
I would like to thank Keylin Rivers & Astre Encre for my copy of the ARC. Due to this kind gesture, I have decided to leave an honest review.

I am so torn with this book, I don't know how I actually feel about it. While the story was original and fresh it sometimes fell really flat and it would feel like it was just loads of mumbo jumbo on the page without any actual dialogue. I would then feel myself getting pulled back into it as some parts are written extremely well with an unusual style of writing.

The story I would say is pretty original, but I didn't think much of the world building, with a brand new planet I would have loved to delve deeper into its folklore and culture as its a new shiny ball! I really liked the magic side of it as it isn't something that I have yet come across in a book. Having magical stones that people can wield was pretty neat.



I could not connect to any of the characters and I found myself putting the book down a lot then going back to it. Kari just got on my nerves the whole time. Aurelia, Ion & Kuba I could take or leave, they were not bad characters, I just wasn't blown away. Rohan confused me a bit, I don't get him but we can't get everyone's reasoning. I think the only person I was interested in was Vallich and I hope he turns out to be the worst of the bunch, can't beat a good villain! There was a bunch of other people, really I mean like a lot as the book was pretty diverse.

I got pulled back in at the end of the story so I think I might give the second book a chance as it was getting interesting. We will need to wait and see!

https://mandyizzym.tumblr.com

"Why is that everyone's reaction when they see me? Never, 'it's good to see you, Vallich! How's it going, Vallich? Thanks for saving our lives, Vallich.' Always just a stern 'you.'"

Profile Image for Alaina.
7,368 reviews203 followers
March 8, 2020
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

All the King's Traitors was interesting and a fun read to dive into. Yet, I didn't like all the characters within it. Definitely had my favorites and I'm so happy that I met them. This book gives you a vast cast of characters - no, really it does. So you are bound to fall in love with a few of them - if not all.

Speaking of those wonderful characters, you will meet Aurelia, Kuba, Ion, and Vallich. Just to name a few because this book has so much. At first, Vallich was interesting but then at one point you end up hating them. Then at another point, it's like he's redeeming himself and is likable all over again. I'm sure he has something up his sleeve and I can't wait to see it.

Then there's Aurelia, and I absolutely love her. She is my northern rebel and my spirit animal. So when she meets up with Kuba and Ion - guys, I love her even more. Kuba was an annoying little shit for most of the time and I was kind of upset that he had the power over his cousin Ion. Now he was more likable and I want more Ion and Aurelia together.

The ending was so good. I was wondering how someone could disappear so quickly and I'm honestly upset/shocked about who it was. Oh lord, I need the next book ASAP.
Profile Image for mads.
717 reviews573 followers
January 29, 2020
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I want to start by saying this wasn't exactly a bad book, but it just wasn't something I could enjoy. The author is clearly talented and I know she will have her audience, but that audience is, unfortunately, not me. In the moments where I wasn't extremely bored, I was confused. Confused by the magic system, the world, and the amount of characters. I kept hoping that something would shift and I would care about even one character, but I'm afraid the only emotion I would have felt had everyone suddenly dropped dead would have been relief. The book switched POVs so often that I found it hard to get attached to any of the characters, or their personal conflicts.

It was an interesting concept with an interesting world, the execution just fell flat for me.
Profile Image for Vippi.
629 reviews32 followers
April 7, 2021
ALERT!
It's currently free in ebook format on Amazon.
Let's grab a copy right now!

Original review: December 29, 2019
I loved this book so much that the first thing I did once I finished the ARC provided by Netgalley was to order a paper copy of All the King's Traitors: I need it in my library!

Now I can't wait for the sequel to come out!

~I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to NetGalley and the editor~
Profile Image for Jessica.
506 reviews7 followers
November 9, 2019
I received this book as an ARC, which I have never read/reviewed before. I have to say, the plot sounded interesting and in the beginning, I was really pulled in to the plot, but then as the book went on, I found it a tad difficult to keep track of what was going on. I tended to focus more on the story of Aurelia, Kuba, and Ion because it seemed the easiest to follow, whereas, the other "sub plots", if you will, made the flow somewhat confusing.
It was easily written (prose), but I think a down fall was that there were just way too many characters to keep track of.
Profile Image for Bridget.
64 reviews
September 30, 2019
** I received an advanced reading copy of All the King's Traitors in exchange for an honest review. Minor spoilers ahead**

Actual rating 3.5 stars

"You would be wise to question whom you worship and serve. You would be wise to question your God."

Well, this was a fast-paced, exciting adventure and I really enjoyed my trip through Azanthea! While this is Rivers' first novel, it's definitely a promising start to a series and I'm eager to see where these characters go next! Especially with that cliffhanger! 😱 What in the world was that?!?! I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS AND I NEED ANSWERS! Now panic aside, I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review, so on to that.

Worldbulding: This was Rivers' strong suit, in my opinion. The story and writing remind me a lot of Cinda Chima's, Demon King. I think those that like her books will also enjoy this one. The world Rivers has created is immersive and I throughly enjoyed learning about this alternate Earth. I found it to be an enchanting blend of fantasy and perhaps even dystopia. It's a unique combo and I feel it will be attractive to those who aren't huge fantasy readers. Rivers gives glimpses into the lives of those in the conquered lands and gives a few small hints of different ways of life across Azanthea. There are also small details about those who study the Earth's past inventions and the skies, referred to as Historians. They were interesting, but I would have liked to have learned more about them. And while not much was offered about Apollyon's rise to power and those who still oppose him, I do believe we'll see more of that in the sequel, so I've got my fingers crossed. The Godstones and the abilities bestowed upon those that find them (Called Wielders) was fascinating and learning about all the various abilities others have was a lot of fun. I thought that Kari's relationship with Mimrvor was a nice touch and just added a mystical, maybe even supernatural vibe to the whole thing and I loved it. I would really like to see more about the inner workings of the Godstones later on. They are such cool little things and they really make this book. Pretty much, the world-building is very cool and I would love to see it expanded upon because I have lots of questions about the wars, the politics, religions, ways of life, etc. There's a lot of potential here and I want to see even more!

Characters: The story follows multiple characters from the third-person perspective.

*Vallich: Former heir to the Azanthean kingdom. Traitor to the throne.

*Kuba and Ion: Brothers. Fugitives on the run from the government.

*Aurelia: A Northern rebel on the run looking for the Free-Wielders (Wielders who are opposed to Apollyon's rule).

*Kari Sangdroi: Last of King Apollyon's bloodline. Student under the Historians. Potential heir to the throne.

*Rohan: A double-crossing wielder who aides both the King's army and the Free-Wielders.

Rivers does an excellent job of balancing the many perspectives and I really enjoyed getting a look at the arrangement of characters from a diverse set of backgrounds. Each has been affected by the war in some way and each is driven by different reasons, noble or not so noble. I particularly liked Aurelia and Vallich. They were the most fleshed out and I felt that their chapters were the best. Vallich is especially well done and I seriously applaud Rivers for making a morally gray villain that keeps you guessing. His actions are downright deplorable at times, but given his past and the bloodshed he has seen, (and caused in Apollyon's name) you just can't help but feel for him. Sure, he's considered a villain and he's generally bad, but I'm a sucker for dark-haired, villainous males in fiction, so I'm going to love him. Sue me! And as twisted as it is, I kind of ship him and Aurelia... Lord help me. 😌 I'm anxious to see how that'll all play out, honestly, because I'm not too sure where Vallich's allegiances lie and if he'll change for the better. Now, while I feel Vallich was very well written, I also feel that left less room for the other characters to develop. With so many perspectives, it seems like it was hard to give each character the space to become fully fleshed out and brought beyond the page. This makes it a bit difficult to empathize with the other characters and fully grasp some of their outlandish behaviors. Especially with Rohan. I felt his POV wasn't really necessary and some of his actions seemed irrational and his character was very lacking in depth. While details about the pasts of each are slowly revealed throughout, some are a bit predictable at times and I just couldn't connect with them as much as I would have hoped. I'm a very character driven reader though, so others may not have an issue with this. Regardless, I wanted to learn more about their motives and what has led them to become all the King's traitors. I'm invested in their stories and their outcome and I'm ready to see where they're headed next.

The romance: This is really where I had to knock my rating back the most. The romance just wasn't to my liking. As soon as two characters came together, romance was instantly implied. It wasn't even Insta-love so much as it was Insta-infatuation. The characters were oftentimes too focused on the physical appeal of others and they seemed to lose all sense when said person was around. The romance was more about how "pretty her hair or lips were". In all honesty, relationships/friendships based on the physical appeal of another individual just bother me to no end. I found this particularly annoying with Kari and Amelie. That relationship came out of nowhere in like, 2 days and considering they are competitors, I'm not convinced that anyone would be so trusting of the other. This made her side of the story a little less enjoyable, but the romance was not by any means the focus of this book. The story was definitely able to carry itself along without the assistance of angsty romantic drama, so it didn't take away too much. Although, I do hope that the relationships are built on and better developed in further installments. I'm not dead set against romance by any means, I just like it to be realistic and more heartfelt.

All in all, I would recommend this book to those who enjoy Cinda Chima's works, those who are new to the fantasy genre, or those looking for a quick and exciting adventure. This was a good read with a few good twists, bits of humor, and friendship and I will most assuredly be reading the sequel. I feel this one was laying the groundwork for a phenomenal series and the potential is high! Rivers has created a fascinating world and I can't wait to see more in All the Queen's Renegades!

And just as a side note, my absolute favorite quote from this book comes from Vallich: "It is the things that scare us that are truly worth doing."
Profile Image for Petra.
141 reviews18 followers
December 18, 2019
*THANK YOU to Xpresso Book Tours for graciously providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Fast paced story that follows multiple characters from third-person perspective and the different backgrounds of all of them makes it even more interesting, as every one of them have a different motivtion, but all affected by the war on some level.On lots of occasions the author have you thinking "Oh i know what's gonna happen now", only to pull the rug under your feet and " Oh i didn't see that coming" reaction.
There is a fair share of edge of you seat kind of action and make you hold your breath without noticing.
The world- bulding is made perfectly and i really can't wait to see if it will be developed even further in the following book,because it leaves you asking for more despite the well detailed universe.
As a first books in a series,the foundation that is given for further development is really good and definitely will pick up the next book with excitement.
All the more, when all ended in a cliffhanger.
Profile Image for Iona.
Author 1 book31 followers
December 5, 2019
There were a few things that were very good about this book, and a few misses. I think I'll start with the good.

The Good

This was a crossover in genres, which was a very pleasant surprise. It reads like an epic fantasy, but is actually set in a dystopian Earth. I think that was a very interesting take on your classic epic kingdom fantasies.

The author had very good world building and setting. I thought the setting was complex and multi-layered, and I think that world building for this world was a perfect balance. There was no info-dumping but there also weren't too many grey areas.

Also, Keylin absolutely nails the villain of the story: the God-King. He took me by surprise and I found his mystery that was carried through to the end of the novel was very intriguing. I kept wondering who this God-King was? How? When? And the answers did not disappoint.


The Meh

This was given to me as an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for a review, and I dearly hope that this is not the last edit before publishing. There were a flurry of grammar mistakes throughout the story. I think I spotted 3 different mistakes in the usage of your/re, and a many mistakes in tenses. There would be sentences like, "She access the room." And it jarringly interrupted the flow of the story.

Where the setting and villain soared high, the characterization flopped. Alright, alright, flopped is a strong word. They weren't all bad, I enjoyed Vallich and Kari as characters, and was disappointed that we hardly ever were in Vallich's POV. Kari herself wasn't that interesting of a character, but her storyline of competing during the Ascension Trials propped her up very high. The rest of the characters were.... meh. They weren't bad, but I don't think I will remember any of their names two weeks from now. They didn't have distinct, unique personalities or quirks. They were all very basic, driven by plot and not relationships.

The final say for this book is that it reads as a debut novel. Although a good read, there isn't an oomph to it that would make stand out as a five-star story. I am interesting in reading the sequel and seeing (since now we have a good understanding of the setting) if the author will be able to flesh out these characters more.
Profile Image for Payton.
148 reviews1 follower
September 16, 2019
What a stunning fantasy debut!

Rivers has created an intriguing world with a cast of well-rounded, lovable characters. This series is perfect for those who are fans of multi-POV like Game of Thrones, and fans of dark, YA Fantasy like Furyborn and Throne of Glass. All The King's Traitors is a vivid, epic adventure and I can't wait for the next book!
Profile Image for Naomi Downing.
Author 2 books15 followers
September 24, 2019
This is a great start to a series! I was pulled right into this book, the world and characters were very well written. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Madhu MaBookYard -.
1,314 reviews29 followers
June 30, 2020
My Rating : 3🌟
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Kindle/ Netgalley/ June2020
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Thank you so much Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.
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This book follows our main characters, brothers Kuba & Ion who is on the run from their village, their accomplice Aurelia, who decides to help the brothers get to safety with her own selfish reasons in kind, and Vallich, who is struggling to place his loyalty, Rohan and Kari.
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First, I must say the plot and the story was very original in its own way. It reminded me a little of Hunger games, and the sisters, but the concept of a godstone giving powers to the weilder and how that godstone gains it's power were interesting twists to the fantasy element. Other than that, this book had too many common fantasy elements in it and I would have loved to know more about the concept of godstone and it's lore.
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Second, I really loved Vallich as a character! He was badass, unapologetic, sassy and has a very good potential to be a good villain! I love me some morally gray character who becomes a good villain! The other characters, when I read the story, did not hold my attention much. Kuba was an unassuming child thrust with a huge responsibility and Ion was just whiny and kind of stupid at times?? Aurelia was too rash and I didn't care for Rohan and Kari was just annoying. (Omg I just sound whiny, but that's the truth).
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Coming to the pacing of the story, it set a really good pace and stuck to it. The multiple perspectives with contrasting scenes actually made me want to read more and hooked me in. The progression of the story was done really good and I loved that Vallich got a really good character arc and I have high hopes for him in the next installment!!
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Overall, this book had amazing fantasy element concept, good set of characters(even though they annoyed me, they were done good), good pacing, nice flow of scenes, multiple pov and a very good ending! If you are a fan of elemental/object based magic, then this would be a good read for you!
Profile Image for Colline Vinay Kook-Chun.
774 reviews21 followers
March 5, 2020
I enjoyed reading this novel from the fist chapter as I got to know the world and the characters that inhabit it. I did wish for a map insert when I began reading but was soon able to familiarise myself with the world described without it. The story does have a dystopian feel to it as characters often refer to the life humans previously lived.

Rivers creates vivid images with her use of words which enabled me to imagine the world in which her characters live. As with all fantasy series, there are a number of characters to learn about. At no time, though, was I confused and instead grew curious as to how they would all connect. The author’s pacing is perfect as she slowly shows the connections throughout the novel. The connections make sense and left me wondering how they would all pan out.

The novel ends on a cliffhanger – and has left me wanting more! The story slowly builds towards it and leaves the reader with so many questions. These questions are generated naturally and are in no way forced.

Will I continue reading the series? Yes, I definitely will. Not only because the story has left me with unanswered questions, but also because the story is well written. I look forward to the publication of the second book in the series and to my continued enjoyed of the Highwings series. This novel is perfect for fans of Fantasy fiction and for those who enjoy reading series. In addition, you would be supporting an independent author.
Profile Image for Red Ink Book Reviews.
467 reviews15 followers
January 13, 2020
I was kindly given an advanced copy of this book so I could provide an honest review.

All The King’s Traitors is the first book in the Highwings series by Kelyin Rivers. This is the author’s debut novel, a fantasy tale following the stories of several characters and their adventures of survival in a land where it isn’t good to be different, to have powers and abilities coveted by someone more dangerous and powerful than you.

Ever since the blackout and the fall of the first Godstones the people of Azanthea are ruled by a greedy, cruel and god-line king, Apollyon. Seemingly all powerful and unstoppable as he gathers many Godstones and keeps them close Gifting them to only a chosen few, those he can control and keep under his thumb. Always in power, as a God.

So, when little Kuba comes across a freshly fallen Godstone he must either choose to submit to the God-King or run and pray for the survival of his family and bis brother, Ion. Together the two brothers flee to safety and fight to stay alive long enough for Kuba to learn the intricacies of wielding a God-stone.

They are helped on their journey by Aurelia, a fugitive heiress of a defeated people, who is also a wielder of a God-stone. Aurelia tells the brothers about the Free Wielders, a people who are free and far from the grip of the God-King.

Together they begin the perilous journey to the secret whereabouts of the Free Wielders. There they join the Free Wielders and join the war against the God-King, Apollyon.

Though it seems like a battle they are destined to lose, until the God-King is betrayed by his heir, Vallich. Vallich, having his eyes opened to the God-King’s truth, he sets out to bring it all crumbling down around the so-called God-King. But, because of his past and reputation, Vallich must prove he can be trusted and what his true intentions really are. But what are his chances when he couldn’t convince Kari, his only friend of the God-King’s truth.

Kari was held too firmly under the sway of the God-King, Apollyon. Too convinced he was everything he portrayed himself to be, the saviour of the people. Happy and secure with her position in the House of Historians, Kari never thought to question any of it, certain that Vallich’s mind had turned. Then the trials began to determine who the new heir to the God-King would be, Kari was thrilled to be invited to compete, that is until she is in the trials actually competing. She slowly comes to the realisation that maybe there was some truth to what Vallich had said. Not everything is as it seems with the God-King.

Time will tell if all the King’s traitors will succeed, stay alive and win freedom for all the people of Azanthea.

This fantasy tale is vivid and colourful, with several intricately written characters and storylines coming together to form a beautiful tapestry that is “All The King’s Traitors”. Written at a good pace with an exciting storyline that made it quite enjoyable to read. A great escape from reality. Will definitely be keeping my eyes out for the next in the series.
Profile Image for Patrick Delaney.
Author 6 books109 followers
January 12, 2020
This was a fantastic debut! I haven’t read much fantasy, but Keylin did a great job with the world building in this novel. I will say that the amount of characters became a little hard to keep track of, especially with the unusual names, but I believe this is common in the genre. One of the most interesting things about the novel that caught my attention was that it wasn’t based in some alternate universe, but rather far in the future, and I wish there would have been more about why the time we know now, is no longer around. I also especially enjoyed the way the book ended, and thought the pacing really picks up quite a bit at the end as compared to the first half. Overall a solid read, can’t wait to see what she’s able to do with the second in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for issacannafic.
300 reviews3 followers
April 8, 2022
I'm so mad because this book has such a potential to be so amazing. The characters had no real characterization and I couldn't care less about what happened to them but the world building is so amazing and delicately crafted. The pulling factor to pull this review towards 2 stars instead of 3 was the plot just never moved. they had a goal but barley anything happened towards achieving it in 200 so pages and even when stuff was happening it was dull and unmemerable, but even more so frustrating is the conclusion of this book had brilliant plot twist but the fell flat when I didn't care about the characters and the foreshadowing was there a bit but there wasn't a big enough buildup towards it. If this book went through a few more drafts I feel like it could have been a brilliant project, but oh well. I may read the sequel and see if it's better.
Profile Image for Claire Mac.
178 reviews32 followers
Want to read
February 13, 2020
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book*.
6,025 reviews219 followers
June 21, 2020
All the King’s Traitors by Keylin Rivers, pages. Astre Encre, 2019. $15.

Language: PG (9 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

The God-King has ruled for centuries and continues his ruthless rule and expansion. However, not everyone is content to sit back and watch. Though in very different circumstances, several parties are learning that everything the God-King has built is founded on lies and deception -- but how can you commit treason against your God?

With several points of view and magic rules to learn, reading this book starts with a steep learning curve, and I wondered how many new characters Rivers could keep introducing before it got to be too much. The story definitely gets more interesting the farther you read, but it can be hard to want to keep going because of how slow it feels to get the full breadth of understanding. With all of those characters and their differing knowledge of what’s going on, readers must be mentally ready to keep everything straight (meaning that this is not a light afternoon read). The mature content rating is for alcohol use, nudity, mentions of rape, and sexual harassment; the violence rating is for battle gore and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...
319 reviews3 followers
August 25, 2019
this is the first book i have read by Keylin Rivers and i am so glad i did i was hooked from the start i loved the characters in the book but i have to say there were some i loved more.All the kings traitors is about the Gods-king who is determined to wipe out all the wielders that will not follow him. we meet Vallich who is the heir to the gods-king and does his bidding but he find out something that changes he view of the Gods-king so he leaves and is now considered a traitor.
we also meet two brothers Ion and Kuba who are on the run from the Gods-King army as Kuba was taken from his family and his brother Ion went to rescues him. they meet up with Aurelia who is also on the run and trying to find the free wielder. can i just say the ending i what left on a really cliffhanger i cant wait for the second book as i need to know what happens next to them all. i highly recommend you read this book as it is very different from other fantasy books i have read but i loved it Keylin River what an amazing author would give it 10 stars if i could
Profile Image for Alexandra Heim.
1 review
August 19, 2019
I had the privilege of being a beta reader for All the King's Traitors. Normally, I would not select a multi-point of view book (and a fantasy one at that) to be my book of choice, but the summary peaked my interest enough to take a chance and I am so happy I did. ATKT is a complete joy and adventure of a read. ATKT crafts a vivid world of rebels, vagabonds, intellects and rulers, spread across a vast and ever-changing land with surprising connections to the reader's own reality.

I found myself quickly bonding to certain characters, as Rivers makes it easy to attach yourself to them for their quirks. Rivers really shines in scenes of action, carefully constructing an almost movie-like vision of war and struggle, making the book difficult to put down and the reader hungry for more.

The last few pages really flew by for me, leaving me desperately eager to find out what happens next. I am absolutely looking forward to book 2!
Profile Image for Jeremiah B.
1 review
September 15, 2019
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I read from Keylin Rivers, and it's the first in the Highwing series. ATKT is a multi-POV epic fantasy/adventure. I was surprised by how well done the world-building was executed. The attention to detail really shines in this book. Keylin Rivers has created a very compelling world filled with unique and distinguishable characters. The character development was very good. The story has lots of action, adventure, and mystery. The writing is very vivid and I couldn't stop imagining it as a movie a lot of the times. There is a very intriguing cliffhanger at the end, and I honestly can't wait for the second book.
For a debut novel, this was a very well done book. Great writing, and the prose was consistent and a joy to read. I highly recommend adding this book to your shelves today! 5 stars all around!
Profile Image for Angela Anne.
96 reviews142 followers
August 20, 2019
I had the pleasure of being a beta reader for Keylin Rivers and this book was hard to put down!!!! I remember reading it every day before work and having to force myself to stop reading so I could get to work on time.

All the King’s Traitors takes place in a unique fantasy world with an interesting cast of characters. In the current fantasy saturated market, it can hard to create distinct and well-done fantasy, but this book is unlike any fantasy book I’ve read before! Rivers is especially strong in her ability to create a fascinating fantasy world with a little sci-fi flair.

This is not a book you are going to want to miss. I’m excited to go back and revisit this book once it comes out later this month! Add All the King’s Traitors to your TBR pile if you want a unique, refreshing, and gripping fantasy read!
Profile Image for Beyond The Covers Blog.
2,518 reviews91 followers
August 29, 2019
The author takes us on a magical adventure back in time. A ruthless God-King determined to kill Wielders for their Godstones to make him more powerful to win the war. But what is the real reason behind the wars? Godstones? Or something bigger?

Vallich, once being the Apollyon's soldier, a wielder and next heir, realizes he has been lied to and is on the run. He's considered a traitor.

Kari is next in line to become the heir. She must pass the Trials in order to officially sit next to the God-King. Now that secrets are revealed about Apollyon's real purpose what will she do?

Can she win against Amelie?

As I was reading All the King's Traitors I could visualize everything that was happening, like a movie.

Can't wait for next installment!
Profile Image for GoodGlory.
417 reviews3 followers
October 5, 2019
Thanks to the aurthor/publisher for sending me an arc of this book! Fantasy is a new genre for me. Well within the last year. And when I start to feel like I've read them all, a gem comes along and suprises me. Starting with the cover, I really liked it! I can see a hardcover with an embellished symbol in shades of gold and silver. It has lots of potential. The story writing was easy to sink yourself into. It just flowed so smoothly. The character building was fantastic. I love having different characters and points of view. It really gives you the chance to see the background and story being built word by by. It allows more into the story i think. Lots of action and I loved the idea of Gods and men. Such a good story. I'll be looking forward to more of this aurthors books.
Profile Image for Erica Highley.
33 reviews2 followers
September 23, 2019
Oh my word. This book was so good! It kept me entertained from start to finish. I don't usually like when the POV jumps around because I find it hard to follow but this book was easy to follow and keep the characters straight in my head. The characters are all very likeable and have well rounded personalities, even some of the antagonists. The world building is incredible. I don't usually read fantasy but I might start now. I can't wait for the sequel.

I was given a copy of the book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Ashley.
29 reviews3 followers
September 16, 2019
I received an Advanced Reader's Copy and am excited to share my honest review. I absolutely loved this book! It was a little slow at the beginning, and some of the names were a bit difficult to figure out pronunciation wise, but overall I truly enjoyed the characters and the story. It reminded me of a more adult version of the Song of the Lioness Quartet. I'm excited to revisit the characters in the second book next year.
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