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The Ring-Sworn Trilogy #1
For the Killing of Kings
Howard Andrew Jones' powerful worldbuilding brings this epic fantasy to life in For the Killing of Kings, the first audiobook of his new adventure-filled trilogy.
Their peace was a fragile thing, but it had endured for seven years, mostly because the people of Darassus and the king of the Naor hordes believed his doom was foretold upon the edge of the great sword hung in the hall of champions. Unruly Naor clans might raid across the border, but the king himself would never lead his people to war so long as the blade remained in the hands of his enemies.
But when squire Elenai’s aging mentor uncovers evidence that the sword in their hall is a forgery, she’s forced to flee Darassus for her life, her only ally the reckless, disillusioned Kyrkenall the archer. Framed for murder and treason, pursued by the greatest heroes of the realm, they race to recover the real sword, only to stumble into a conspiracy that leads all the way back to the Darassan queen and her secretive advisers. They must find a way to clear their names and set things right, all while dodging friends determined to kill them - and the Naor hordes, invading at last with a new and deadly weapon.
Their peace was a fragile thing, but it had endured for seven years, mostly because the people of Darassus and the king of the Naor hordes believed his doom was foretold upon the edge of the great sword hung in the hall of champions. Unruly Naor clans might raid across the border, but the king himself would never lead his people to war so long as the blade remained in the hands of his enemies.
But when squire Elenai’s aging mentor uncovers evidence that the sword in their hall is a forgery, she’s forced to flee Darassus for her life, her only ally the reckless, disillusioned Kyrkenall the archer. Framed for murder and treason, pursued by the greatest heroes of the realm, they race to recover the real sword, only to stumble into a conspiracy that leads all the way back to the Darassan queen and her secretive advisers. They must find a way to clear their names and set things right, all while dodging friends determined to kill them - and the Naor hordes, invading at last with a new and deadly weapon.
Audiobook
First published February 19, 2019
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About the author
Howard Andrew Jones
68 books370 followersHoward Andrew Jones was an American speculative fiction and fantasy author and editor, known for The Chronicles of Hanuvar series, The Chronicles of Sword and Sand series and The Ring-Sworn trilogy. He had also written Pathfinder Tales, tie-in fiction novels in the world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, published by Paizo. He was the editor of Tales from the Magician's Skull and had served as a Managing Editor at Black Gate since 2004. He assembled and edited a series of eight volumes of the short fiction of Harold Lamb for publication by Bison Books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
February 12, 2025
RIP Howard Andrew Jones
A truly nice man, generous with his time, and supportive of other writers to the nth degree.
++++++++++++++++++++
8 hours in a taxi. That's how I read this book. My disabled child needs me to escort her to and from summer playgroup at her school, and for the 4 sessions she got that meant 16 trips for me at 30 minutes each. Fortunately I had the kind of driver who just wants to drive.
While reading this I had forgotten the tag line "Nine Princes in Amber meets The Three Musketeers" but I made the Amber connection anyway. The similarity is two-fold. On the one hand you have a scattered and modestly sized collection of powerful individuals all known to each other, some at odds, some lost for years, each with their own talents, some great swordsmen, some incredible archers, or great trackers, or magically skilled etc. And on the other hand you have a setting which has some similarities to the Amber series' travelling through shadow, wherein skilled individuals can wander off the map and visit a wide range of bizarre new worlds where useful magics may be found, and this journeying involves a gradual change rather than portal magic.
Anyway, I loved the early Amber books, and I very much enjoyed For The Killing of Kings. It's focused very much at a personal level with most of the fights being small scale. Primarily the story is told through the point of view of two characters, a squire very close to joining the nation's elite band of warriors and warrior-mages (the aforementioned collection of powerful individuals), the Alternai, and a recently fledged member of the group.
A good sense of history is given through the older members of the group and we find ourselves right in the middle of an ongoing conflict that has taken a new turn.
The magic is interesting and flexible, not a rigid or well defined system, but more structured than just rattling off handy spells. I found the characters interesting and the action exciting. Jones writes well, strong prose giving a good sense of setting and able to stir emotions without ever getting itself noticed.
The book keeps its focus and rattles along. Part of the interest is in discovering lost members of the Alternai (may have spelled that incorrectly), finding out what they've been up to and whose side they are on in the division that opens up in the ranks.
The plot is interesting enough, and the characters are too, but the real strength of the book is simply that it is fun to read. More-ish, exciting, satisfying. I really enjoyed it.
If I had to criticise ... well, the main Pov, the squire, does master really difficult things with relative ease, but then again I can accept that she is just a remarkable talent. She was chosen from a very large field especially for her potential. The other niggle might be that the large scale engagements lack the attention that the melees get and felt less convincing. But this is really just me stretching for balance. It's a great story. Read it!
Here's the Advance Reader Copy I got.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
...
A truly nice man, generous with his time, and supportive of other writers to the nth degree.
++++++++++++++++++++
8 hours in a taxi. That's how I read this book. My disabled child needs me to escort her to and from summer playgroup at her school, and for the 4 sessions she got that meant 16 trips for me at 30 minutes each. Fortunately I had the kind of driver who just wants to drive.
While reading this I had forgotten the tag line "Nine Princes in Amber meets The Three Musketeers" but I made the Amber connection anyway. The similarity is two-fold. On the one hand you have a scattered and modestly sized collection of powerful individuals all known to each other, some at odds, some lost for years, each with their own talents, some great swordsmen, some incredible archers, or great trackers, or magically skilled etc. And on the other hand you have a setting which has some similarities to the Amber series' travelling through shadow, wherein skilled individuals can wander off the map and visit a wide range of bizarre new worlds where useful magics may be found, and this journeying involves a gradual change rather than portal magic.
Anyway, I loved the early Amber books, and I very much enjoyed For The Killing of Kings. It's focused very much at a personal level with most of the fights being small scale. Primarily the story is told through the point of view of two characters, a squire very close to joining the nation's elite band of warriors and warrior-mages (the aforementioned collection of powerful individuals), the Alternai, and a recently fledged member of the group.
A good sense of history is given through the older members of the group and we find ourselves right in the middle of an ongoing conflict that has taken a new turn.
The magic is interesting and flexible, not a rigid or well defined system, but more structured than just rattling off handy spells. I found the characters interesting and the action exciting. Jones writes well, strong prose giving a good sense of setting and able to stir emotions without ever getting itself noticed.
The book keeps its focus and rattles along. Part of the interest is in discovering lost members of the Alternai (may have spelled that incorrectly), finding out what they've been up to and whose side they are on in the division that opens up in the ranks.
The plot is interesting enough, and the characters are too, but the real strength of the book is simply that it is fun to read. More-ish, exciting, satisfying. I really enjoyed it.
If I had to criticise ... well, the main Pov, the squire, does master really difficult things with relative ease, but then again I can accept that she is just a remarkable talent. She was chosen from a very large field especially for her potential. The other niggle might be that the large scale engagements lack the attention that the melees get and felt less convincing. But this is really just me stretching for balance. It's a great story. Read it!
Here's the Advance Reader Copy I got.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
...
October 19, 2018
Where do I begin with For the Killing of Kings? Do I start with my impressions of the central murder mystery, which unfolds to fascinating and devastating effect? Do I go on about the two central characters, a grizzled drunk and a bright-eyed but promising recruit, who play foil to one another beautifully? Perhaps I could mention the way it tips its hat to Arthurian legend without becoming beholden to it, and how it put a smile on my face. I might even touch on how deftly the world was revealed, layer after mesmerizing layer.
In the end, though, I suppose what matters most is the experience. What you have in Howard Andrew Jones’ latest novel is a story that entrances, that draws you deep into its pages, that cradles you on a journey as rewarding as it is intriguing. Readers who crave rich, immersive tales will not be disappointed.
In the end, though, I suppose what matters most is the experience. What you have in Howard Andrew Jones’ latest novel is a story that entrances, that draws you deep into its pages, that cradles you on a journey as rewarding as it is intriguing. Readers who crave rich, immersive tales will not be disappointed.
December 13, 2019
This is an exciting and fun book that has upset a few Christian extremists simply because it dares to mention in passing that one of the male characters has a husband. Oh, the horror!
Here's the thing about Christian rightwing homophobia, folks: the Bible often doesn't actually say what Christian conservatives think it does. Pardon me while I rant a bit.
FIRST: You know that stuff in Leviticus about abominations? Yeah, well, conservatives forget that the Old Testament laws were overthrown by the New Covenant (see (1) below). That's why we are no longer forbidden to eat shrimp or wear mixed fibers, and why we are no longer expected to kill rude children or stone adulterers. Leviticus is gone, people. Get over it.
SECOND: You know that old saw about "Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve"? (see (2) below). Yeah, the passages that describe men going off to marry women and so forth are DESCRIPTIVE passages, not PRESCRIPTIVE ones. In other words, they are describing things that usually happen that way, not declaring that things must happen that way. And that's perfectly reasonable: since only about 5% of the human population is LGBT, naturally about 95% of all human pairings will be opposite-sex ones. Furthermore, when the only humans in existence were Adam and Eve, procreation was essential to the survival of the species. They HAD to go out and multiply, or there would be no humans today. But these days, there are already plenty of people around. Even if a few folks pair off with their own gender, the species will do just fine!
THIRD: You know how most Christians believe that Sodom and Gomorrah was all about homosexuality? Yeah, well, guess what? The Bible itself tells us this isn't true. In fact, Ezekiel specifically says that the sin of Sodom was actually arrogance and failure to help the poor and needy (3). And the Book of Wisdom from the Catholic Bible tells us the same thing -- the Sodomites treated strangers badly (4). In the Sodom story, the gender of the angels was actually irrelevant -- in reality, the story was all about people who refused to treat strangers well. In fact, Lot himself tells us exactly what the problem is: he specifically tells the Sodomites that he won't allow the strangers to be abused because they are already under his protection. He doesn't say it's wrong because they are men -- no, it's wrong because they are under the protection of his roof (5).
FOURTH: Furthermore, Jesus never says a single word in the Bible against homosexuality. In fact, the ONLY person in the New Testament who speaks specifically against homosexuality was Paul -- and Paul also supports slavery (6), teaches that women are inferior to men (7), teaches that it is better to remain celibate than to marry (thus contradicting God, who told Adam and Eve to go forth and multiply) (8), and teaches that people should never divorce (thus contradicting Jesus, who says that divorce is justified in cases of infidelity) (9). Paul obviously had some issues to work through!
FIFTH: Few people realize this, but same-sex marriage was legal in the Roman Empire during Jesus's lifetime. In fact, at least two Roman emperors married other men, and thirteen out of the first fourteen emperors were known to be either bisexual or homosexual (10). Same-sex unions were not made illegal there until 342 AD, by the emperor Constantius (11). Yet, for some reason, Jesus evidently never felt the need to speak out against it. Things that make you go hmmmmm!
SIXTH: And finally, yes, Jesus DOES mention homosexuals in the Bible -- WITHOUT condemning them (12). In fact, Jesus specifically says that there are three types of "eunuchs" (men who do not marry women): men who are "born that way" (homosexuals), men who are "made" that way (castrated men), and men who "choose to live" that way (celibate priests). And then he says that people should accept this fact. Or, in today's phrasing: Some people are born gay -- get over it! And yes, early Christians understood that "born that way" referred to homosexual men, as recorded by Clement of Alexandria right around 200 AD -- 1800 years ago (13).
TL;DR: Most of what Christians believe about homosexuality and the Bible is either obsolete or pure poppycock, and the only clear statements against homosexuality in the New Testament were made by a guy who espoused multiple beliefs that most Christians do not agree with today. If people really want to think of themselves as "good Christians", they need to spend more time actually reading the Bible and thinking for themselves, and spend less time mindlessly regurgitating falsehoods that they've been taught by others!
----------
(1)
-- "...the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises." (Hebrews 8:6)
-- "By calling this covenant 'new,' he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear."(Hebrews 8:13)
-- "He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3:6)
-- "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant." (Hebrews 9:15)
(2)
-- "a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24)
-- "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." (Mark 10:7-8)
(3)
-- "Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me." (Ezekiel 16:49-50)
(4)
-- "...they suffered justly according to their own wickedness, insomuch as they used a more hard and hateful behavior toward strangers. For the Sodomites did not receive those, whom they knew not when they came: but these brought friends into bondage, that had well deserved of them." (Wisdom 19:13-14)
(5)
-- "But don’t do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof." (Genesis 19:8)
(6)
-- "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart." (Ephesians 6:5)
-- "Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord." (Colossians 3:22)
-- "All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect..." (1 Timothy 6:1-2)
-- Paul returned the escaped slave Onesimus to his master Philemon. (Philemon 1:12)
(7)
-- "the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man" (1 Corinthians 11:3)
-- "For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man" (1 Corinthians 11:8-9)
-- "Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church." (1 Corinthians 14:34-35)
-- "A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner." (1 Timothy 2:11-14)
(8)
-- "Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. " (1 Corinthians 7:8)
-- "But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this." (1 Corinthians 7:28)
-- "...he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better." (1 Corinthians 7:38)
(9)
-- Paul said: "To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife." (1 Corinthians 7:10-11)
-- but Jesus said: "I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery." (Matthew 19:9)
(10)
-- see Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
-- also see Bret Hinsch, Passions of the Cut Sleeve
(11)
-- Theodosian Code 9.7.3
(12)
-- "For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” (Matthew 19:12)
(13)
-- "'...there are some eunuchs who are so from their birth...' And their explanation of this saying is roughly as follows: Some men from their birth, have a natural sense of repulsion from a woman..." (Clement of Alexandria -- Stromata, III. 1.1) .
Here's the thing about Christian rightwing homophobia, folks: the Bible often doesn't actually say what Christian conservatives think it does. Pardon me while I rant a bit.
FIRST: You know that stuff in Leviticus about abominations? Yeah, well, conservatives forget that the Old Testament laws were overthrown by the New Covenant (see (1) below). That's why we are no longer forbidden to eat shrimp or wear mixed fibers, and why we are no longer expected to kill rude children or stone adulterers. Leviticus is gone, people. Get over it.
SECOND: You know that old saw about "Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve"? (see (2) below). Yeah, the passages that describe men going off to marry women and so forth are DESCRIPTIVE passages, not PRESCRIPTIVE ones. In other words, they are describing things that usually happen that way, not declaring that things must happen that way. And that's perfectly reasonable: since only about 5% of the human population is LGBT, naturally about 95% of all human pairings will be opposite-sex ones. Furthermore, when the only humans in existence were Adam and Eve, procreation was essential to the survival of the species. They HAD to go out and multiply, or there would be no humans today. But these days, there are already plenty of people around. Even if a few folks pair off with their own gender, the species will do just fine!
THIRD: You know how most Christians believe that Sodom and Gomorrah was all about homosexuality? Yeah, well, guess what? The Bible itself tells us this isn't true. In fact, Ezekiel specifically says that the sin of Sodom was actually arrogance and failure to help the poor and needy (3). And the Book of Wisdom from the Catholic Bible tells us the same thing -- the Sodomites treated strangers badly (4). In the Sodom story, the gender of the angels was actually irrelevant -- in reality, the story was all about people who refused to treat strangers well. In fact, Lot himself tells us exactly what the problem is: he specifically tells the Sodomites that he won't allow the strangers to be abused because they are already under his protection. He doesn't say it's wrong because they are men -- no, it's wrong because they are under the protection of his roof (5).
FOURTH: Furthermore, Jesus never says a single word in the Bible against homosexuality. In fact, the ONLY person in the New Testament who speaks specifically against homosexuality was Paul -- and Paul also supports slavery (6), teaches that women are inferior to men (7), teaches that it is better to remain celibate than to marry (thus contradicting God, who told Adam and Eve to go forth and multiply) (8), and teaches that people should never divorce (thus contradicting Jesus, who says that divorce is justified in cases of infidelity) (9). Paul obviously had some issues to work through!
FIFTH: Few people realize this, but same-sex marriage was legal in the Roman Empire during Jesus's lifetime. In fact, at least two Roman emperors married other men, and thirteen out of the first fourteen emperors were known to be either bisexual or homosexual (10). Same-sex unions were not made illegal there until 342 AD, by the emperor Constantius (11). Yet, for some reason, Jesus evidently never felt the need to speak out against it. Things that make you go hmmmmm!
SIXTH: And finally, yes, Jesus DOES mention homosexuals in the Bible -- WITHOUT condemning them (12). In fact, Jesus specifically says that there are three types of "eunuchs" (men who do not marry women): men who are "born that way" (homosexuals), men who are "made" that way (castrated men), and men who "choose to live" that way (celibate priests). And then he says that people should accept this fact. Or, in today's phrasing: Some people are born gay -- get over it! And yes, early Christians understood that "born that way" referred to homosexual men, as recorded by Clement of Alexandria right around 200 AD -- 1800 years ago (13).
TL;DR: Most of what Christians believe about homosexuality and the Bible is either obsolete or pure poppycock, and the only clear statements against homosexuality in the New Testament were made by a guy who espoused multiple beliefs that most Christians do not agree with today. If people really want to think of themselves as "good Christians", they need to spend more time actually reading the Bible and thinking for themselves, and spend less time mindlessly regurgitating falsehoods that they've been taught by others!
----------
(1)
-- "...the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises." (Hebrews 8:6)
-- "By calling this covenant 'new,' he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear."(Hebrews 8:13)
-- "He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3:6)
-- "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant." (Hebrews 9:15)
(2)
-- "a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24)
-- "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." (Mark 10:7-8)
(3)
-- "Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. Thus they were haughty and committed abominations before Me." (Ezekiel 16:49-50)
(4)
-- "...they suffered justly according to their own wickedness, insomuch as they used a more hard and hateful behavior toward strangers. For the Sodomites did not receive those, whom they knew not when they came: but these brought friends into bondage, that had well deserved of them." (Wisdom 19:13-14)
(5)
-- "But don’t do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof." (Genesis 19:8)
(6)
-- "Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart." (Ephesians 6:5)
-- "Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord." (Colossians 3:22)
-- "All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect..." (1 Timothy 6:1-2)
-- Paul returned the escaped slave Onesimus to his master Philemon. (Philemon 1:12)
(7)
-- "the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man" (1 Corinthians 11:3)
-- "For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man" (1 Corinthians 11:8-9)
-- "Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church." (1 Corinthians 14:34-35)
-- "A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner." (1 Timothy 2:11-14)
(8)
-- "Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. " (1 Corinthians 7:8)
-- "But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this." (1 Corinthians 7:28)
-- "...he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better." (1 Corinthians 7:38)
(9)
-- Paul said: "To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife." (1 Corinthians 7:10-11)
-- but Jesus said: "I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery." (Matthew 19:9)
(10)
-- see Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
-- also see Bret Hinsch, Passions of the Cut Sleeve
(11)
-- Theodosian Code 9.7.3
(12)
-- "For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” (Matthew 19:12)
(13)
-- "'...there are some eunuchs who are so from their birth...' And their explanation of this saying is roughly as follows: Some men from their birth, have a natural sense of repulsion from a woman..." (Clement of Alexandria -- Stromata, III. 1.1) .
January 29, 2019
Sword and Sorcery fantasy writ large. If you like your action furious and your fantasy high this is a book you should seek out. Howard Andrew Jones is an author that continues to impress and I can't wait to see where this world goes next.
November 12, 2019
When comes my numbered day, I will meet it smiling. For I’ll have kept this oath.
I shall use my arms to shield the weak.
I shall use my lips to speak the truth, and my eyes to seek it.
I shall use my hands to mete justice to high and low, and I will weigh all things with heart and mind.
Where I walk the laws will follow, for I am the sword of my people and the shepherd of their lands.
When I fall, I will rise through my brothers and sisters, for I am eternal -- Pledge of the Altenerai
Howard Andrew Jones’s For the Killing of Kings is highly recommended for epic fantasy fans. Twice in the first half, I was completely floored by plot twists. The last third kept me from going to sleep. Haven’t had that much fun reading a book in a long time. This jumpstarts The Ring-Sworn Trilogy, a wild & fresh & furious epic.
Pitched as The Three Musketeers presented via the style of Zelzany’s Chronicles of Amber, it holds true. Indeed, the epic pacing is reminiscent of Zelzany; HAJ doles out action and backstory with precision. Since there are many more than three “musketeers” here, and it has more of a medieval flare, one could argue it is more of a “King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table” mashup. Instead of a singular Holy Grail, the Altenerai guard are spread out searching for many hearthstones of mysterious, spiritual, power—in this case, stones are not clearly holy.
The key story arc focuses on the coming of age of the female squire Elenai, a soldier with burgeoning magic prowess. Her rise in the Altenerai (the Queen’s guard) is compelling. On her journey she mingles with the older members who still reel from the ambiguous ending of a war seven years prior; their commander was killed, and their Queen Leonara decided to make peace rather than annihilate the barbaric Naor enemies. The Queen spread the ranks out searching for hearthstones, and distanced herself from Altenerai traditions.
I list some of my favorite elements (Re-ordered and slightly disguised to avoid spoilers): a spellcasting system that linked nature to people (hearthstones); a sculptured horse worthy of Frazetta’s Death Dealer (or a woman of the similar ilk); a humanoid made of blood; a spooky ghost-town/village; the hidden content within the Chasm Tower; an unexpected, swift betrayal.
Humor: the expected banter between friends on the front line is well-delivered. Also, there are humorous cultures like the kobalin which are honor-driven furballs (reminded me of a matured, and more belligerent, Gurgi from Lloyd Alexander’s Pyrdain series)—if they like you, they want to kill you.
A diverse cast feels genuine and fresh. Despite a requisite dose of masculinity (via violence and “charmers”), women play a dominant role in the book; to wit, Queen Leonara rules over the city of Darassus, and Feolia is governor of Alantris. Elenai mingles with the disenfranchised Altenerai as she matures. The group listed below is ~50% female; a few in the group are sexually nonbinary (orientations are not a focus of the story, just low-key truths, matters of fact).
1. Asrahn (m): Master of Squires, veteran
2. Elenai (f): Young squire under Asrahn
3. N’lahr (m): Entombed Swordsman and war strategist; his sword Irion is part of a prophecy
4. Kyrkenall (m): Archer and mad poet; best buddy to N’lahr
5. Denaven (m): Veteran like Asrahn
6. Varama (f): Weapon’s specialists and scientist, emotionally cold (reminded me of a Star Trek Vulcan)
7. Rylin: (m) James-Bond-like, charming specialist
8. Cerai: (f) Hearthstone seeking sorceress with artistic flare
9. Rialla (f): Spellcaster and forger of weapons
10. Belahn (m): An aged crazy, protector of families
11. Decrin (m): Veteran
12. Aradel: (f) Wyvern (ko’aye) riding, retired member
13. Kalandra: (f) MIA sorceress, searching for hearthstone and their origin
14. Renik: (m) also MIA, swordsman looking for hearthstones and their origin, may have heeded to a strange garden in Ekhem
Quibbles:
A map was not necessary, but would have been appreciated.
The role of the sword Irion in the plot is fantastic. It is a fun weapon to see in action. It certainly was fated to complete a mission instead of being locked up in a display case after a stalled war. However, the hope/myth behind its potential is referred to as “prophecy” which (a) seemed like a misnomer and (b) introduced a fantasy cliché. In a book in which many dozens of story arcs are interwoven, each having believable motivations/consequences, posing a fate-driven prophecy felt out of place. The prophecy seemed to originate in a relatively private setting in an impromptu ritual (not a public discourse or professed openly) and there was some mystery about its invocation (where did the inspiration come from to link the weapon to a particular individual).
More from HAJ
The trilogy is well underway. During the Feb 2019 Ask Me Anything (AMA) on reddit, I inquired on the release schedule. HAJ returned: “First, rest assured. Not only is the second book written, it's going through final revisions right now… The third book is fully outlined and I had begun drafting…”
Howard A. Jones has long held a passion for action fiction and throughout his career has re-introduced readers to Harold Lamb, moderated Sword and Sorcery websites, and edited the Dark Fantasy magazine Blackgate and currently Tales from the Magician’s Skull & Perilous Worlds.
February 20, 2019
Full review at The Quill to Live: https://thequilltolive.com/2019/02/19...
I apparently have a thing for military orders. Or, I guess not military, but organized groups of fantasy heroes. Maybe all of us who read the genre do, as most fantasy books have them. There always seems to be some group of warriors with a cliche name like “the Night Fighters” in every fantasy book. However, every once in a while you get a series like Malazan, or Bloodsong, or even Harry Potter that does these groups of heroes justice and tell you about a club that you would give your left arm to be a part of. This is one of those times. For the Killing of Kings, by Howard Andrew Jones, is the first book in his new The Ring-Sworn Trilogy. It is a phenomenal new story, whose greatest shortcoming is that there is not more of it, and it will likely be one of my top books of 2019.
For the Killing of Kings (FtKoK) tells the story of a post-war Darassus. Through the use of the Altenari, a prestigious military order, and its army, Darassus won a major conflict again its hostile neighboring nations. However, instead of pressing their victory, the royalty sued for peace – electing instead to focus their time upon studying mysterious magical artifacts they found over the course of the conflict instead of hunting down their enemies. This choice fractured the Altenari, with some losing faith in their leaders, and others holding fast to the nation’s new direction. Although the Altenari are somewhat reduced from their former glory, it is still a highly sought after order with many aspirants pledging to try and rise to the high rank of Alten. Our story follows two individuals, Elenai – a high ranking squire in the Altenari order, and Rylin – one of the newest individuals to reach the high rank of Alten after the war. Although both of these individuals are supremely talented, they find themselves in the shadow of the “old guard” of the Altenari (those who helped win the previous war). However, in the course of their duties both of our protagonists stumble over a mystery/conspiracy that threatens Darassus and find themselves working with the old guard to save the nation.
FtKoK has all the hallmarks of a fantasy great. It has an engrossing world, a top tier cast of characters, a fast-paced plot, and smart well-written prose that explores complicated themes through a fun medium. The world has your typical fantasy backstory – six gods each sat down and made a nation and became their patron. One went crazy and tried to murder the others, and got curbed stomped. While the gods fashioning the various nations isn’t too original, there are a number of details, like that the goods seemed to have built the word in some sort of giant unstable magical dimension, that gives FtKoK a distinguishing flare. While the land of the nations is solid and fairly “normal”, the borders and space between the various realms is this shifting morass of reality that essentially looks like a kaleidoscope that was tossed into a dryer. These shifting lands are extremely unstable, and magic users have learned to essentially build a reality around them as they travel through the lands. This leads to some super cool magic and magical fights in the story and really gives the world of FtKoK a lot of character.
Although the world is cool, it doesn’t hold a candle to the characters. The entire cast is fantastic and was really the high point of the series. Starting with our protagonists, both are intelligent, relatable, kind, warm, and show growth throughout the book. While they have a ton of differences, Elenai and Rylin are similar in they are both in roles where they feel they have been promoted above their station. Although they technically share ranks (or a rank below) with the rest of the Alten, they are new additions to this prestigious order and feel they still have a lot to do to live up to their ranks. They both have a level of self-awareness that is refreshing and speaks a lot to the virtues of responsibility and sacrifice. And speaking of the old guard, the most established Alten are all brilliantly written characters. Each of them is distinct, engrossing to read about, and improve the enjoyment of the book by their very presence. I love these characters and I want to read more about them.
The plot is also no slouch, and I found myself throwing out my regimented free time schedule in order to spend more time with this book. The mysteries in the story are well presented, and Jones has a real talent for teasing out clues and leads to build a larger picture. However, while I have a boatload of positive things to say about FtKoK, there were some places that could be improved. First, the book is too short and ends on an outrageously suspenseful cliffhanger. I feel like Jones couldn’t decide where to break up books one and two and just picked a place at random. I only finished the book last night and I am already dying for the sequel. Along a similar line, the pacing sometimes felt too quick. There were fights, dialogues, and expositions that felt a little rushed and I wish Jones took a little more time fleshing out and exploring. I really, really, liked this book and I didn’t like that I sometimes felt that I was being “rushed out the door”. At only 350 pages, I felt that FtKoK could have easily been 600 (a lot happens) and told the same story at a more luxurious pace.
At the end of the day, if the worst thing you can say about a book is that you wish it was twice as long it means you obviously loved it. For the Killing of Kings has raised the Altenari to one of my favorite fantasy orders in a single book, a feat that is no small accomplishment. With its brilliant cast of characters, smart explorations of the burdens of responsibility, and nebulous world and plot – For the Killing of Kings is sure to be one of the best books of 2019 and I recommend you check it out as soon as possible.
Rating: For the Killing of Kings – 9.0/10
I apparently have a thing for military orders. Or, I guess not military, but organized groups of fantasy heroes. Maybe all of us who read the genre do, as most fantasy books have them. There always seems to be some group of warriors with a cliche name like “the Night Fighters” in every fantasy book. However, every once in a while you get a series like Malazan, or Bloodsong, or even Harry Potter that does these groups of heroes justice and tell you about a club that you would give your left arm to be a part of. This is one of those times. For the Killing of Kings, by Howard Andrew Jones, is the first book in his new The Ring-Sworn Trilogy. It is a phenomenal new story, whose greatest shortcoming is that there is not more of it, and it will likely be one of my top books of 2019.
For the Killing of Kings (FtKoK) tells the story of a post-war Darassus. Through the use of the Altenari, a prestigious military order, and its army, Darassus won a major conflict again its hostile neighboring nations. However, instead of pressing their victory, the royalty sued for peace – electing instead to focus their time upon studying mysterious magical artifacts they found over the course of the conflict instead of hunting down their enemies. This choice fractured the Altenari, with some losing faith in their leaders, and others holding fast to the nation’s new direction. Although the Altenari are somewhat reduced from their former glory, it is still a highly sought after order with many aspirants pledging to try and rise to the high rank of Alten. Our story follows two individuals, Elenai – a high ranking squire in the Altenari order, and Rylin – one of the newest individuals to reach the high rank of Alten after the war. Although both of these individuals are supremely talented, they find themselves in the shadow of the “old guard” of the Altenari (those who helped win the previous war). However, in the course of their duties both of our protagonists stumble over a mystery/conspiracy that threatens Darassus and find themselves working with the old guard to save the nation.
FtKoK has all the hallmarks of a fantasy great. It has an engrossing world, a top tier cast of characters, a fast-paced plot, and smart well-written prose that explores complicated themes through a fun medium. The world has your typical fantasy backstory – six gods each sat down and made a nation and became their patron. One went crazy and tried to murder the others, and got curbed stomped. While the gods fashioning the various nations isn’t too original, there are a number of details, like that the goods seemed to have built the word in some sort of giant unstable magical dimension, that gives FtKoK a distinguishing flare. While the land of the nations is solid and fairly “normal”, the borders and space between the various realms is this shifting morass of reality that essentially looks like a kaleidoscope that was tossed into a dryer. These shifting lands are extremely unstable, and magic users have learned to essentially build a reality around them as they travel through the lands. This leads to some super cool magic and magical fights in the story and really gives the world of FtKoK a lot of character.
Although the world is cool, it doesn’t hold a candle to the characters. The entire cast is fantastic and was really the high point of the series. Starting with our protagonists, both are intelligent, relatable, kind, warm, and show growth throughout the book. While they have a ton of differences, Elenai and Rylin are similar in they are both in roles where they feel they have been promoted above their station. Although they technically share ranks (or a rank below) with the rest of the Alten, they are new additions to this prestigious order and feel they still have a lot to do to live up to their ranks. They both have a level of self-awareness that is refreshing and speaks a lot to the virtues of responsibility and sacrifice. And speaking of the old guard, the most established Alten are all brilliantly written characters. Each of them is distinct, engrossing to read about, and improve the enjoyment of the book by their very presence. I love these characters and I want to read more about them.
The plot is also no slouch, and I found myself throwing out my regimented free time schedule in order to spend more time with this book. The mysteries in the story are well presented, and Jones has a real talent for teasing out clues and leads to build a larger picture. However, while I have a boatload of positive things to say about FtKoK, there were some places that could be improved. First, the book is too short and ends on an outrageously suspenseful cliffhanger. I feel like Jones couldn’t decide where to break up books one and two and just picked a place at random. I only finished the book last night and I am already dying for the sequel. Along a similar line, the pacing sometimes felt too quick. There were fights, dialogues, and expositions that felt a little rushed and I wish Jones took a little more time fleshing out and exploring. I really, really, liked this book and I didn’t like that I sometimes felt that I was being “rushed out the door”. At only 350 pages, I felt that FtKoK could have easily been 600 (a lot happens) and told the same story at a more luxurious pace.
At the end of the day, if the worst thing you can say about a book is that you wish it was twice as long it means you obviously loved it. For the Killing of Kings has raised the Altenari to one of my favorite fantasy orders in a single book, a feat that is no small accomplishment. With its brilliant cast of characters, smart explorations of the burdens of responsibility, and nebulous world and plot – For the Killing of Kings is sure to be one of the best books of 2019 and I recommend you check it out as soon as possible.
Rating: For the Killing of Kings – 9.0/10
May 15, 2019
Sheer, unbridled, brilliantly written entertainment! Sword and Sorcery at its finest. FtKoK is a book that demands little investment: I was captivated at the first page, and my interest never waned once.
We follow two second-generation Altenerai (a bit like high caste mage-knights) living in the shadows of their previous generation's legends in the aftermath of a war. Mysterious conspiracies begin to unravel around the death of their commander, who is still venerated by the entire kingdom, and our two untempered protagonists are drawn into opposite theatres of conflicts both domestic and foreign.
FtKoK has been likened to Zelazny's Amber Chronicles, and I see the correlation between those characters and the charismatic, almost god-like talent of the legendary Altenerai. The world is fresh and vibrant, however, entirely its own, and the characterization is first-rate. Can't recommend it enough.
We follow two second-generation Altenerai (a bit like high caste mage-knights) living in the shadows of their previous generation's legends in the aftermath of a war. Mysterious conspiracies begin to unravel around the death of their commander, who is still venerated by the entire kingdom, and our two untempered protagonists are drawn into opposite theatres of conflicts both domestic and foreign.
FtKoK has been likened to Zelazny's Amber Chronicles, and I see the correlation between those characters and the charismatic, almost god-like talent of the legendary Altenerai. The world is fresh and vibrant, however, entirely its own, and the characterization is first-rate. Can't recommend it enough.
February 21, 2019
If you're a fan of Howard Andrew Jones' Arabian fantasy novels featuring Dabir and Asim (and if you're not, you should be), you've probably heard a lot about his ambitious new series THE RING-SWORN TRILOGY. Expectations for this book have been very high, and I'm very happy to see that Jones has not only met the challenge, but surpassed it with ease.
FOR THE KILLING OF KINGS is a white knuckle murder mystery brilliantly set in a Zelazny-esque fantasy landscape. It has everything ― enchanted blades, magic rings, edge-of-your seat sword fights, Game of Thrones-scales battles, ancient legends… It is the finest fantasy novel I have read in years.
FOR THE KILLING OF KINGS is a white knuckle murder mystery brilliantly set in a Zelazny-esque fantasy landscape. It has everything ― enchanted blades, magic rings, edge-of-your seat sword fights, Game of Thrones-scales battles, ancient legends… It is the finest fantasy novel I have read in years.
February 16, 2019
This was so much fun! My favorite parts: the dynamic between Elenai and Kyrkenall; the world building!!!!; and meeting all the Altenerai along the way. The pace was good, I read it pretty much in one sitting. I just want more!!! It read like a movie in my head. I can't wait for the sequels!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the eARC!
Full review:
This book had pretty much everything I love – a cast of characters that all have their own strengths and weaknesses and are all fun to read about; magic!; an innovative world setup that I haven’t seen before; fight scenes on both small and large scales; and epic quests (or not so much as a quest as a fleeing from a recently discovered murdery conspiracy).
The first set of characters we are first introduced to are the Altenerai, an elite group of warriors tasked with protecting the realm. The story is set seven years after a peace treaty has been struck with a neighboring land, which followed an intense war. Many of the Altenerai died in the war or have gone missing while on other missions since then. Yet others have retired or left the service, so there are only a handful left to train new squires. One of my favorite things about this book was that at the beginning Elenai (one of the main characters) and the younger generations have just heard of these famed older Altenerai, and as the novel goes on we get to meet many of them. It is an interesting way to contrast how people get talked about and how others remember them with what they are actually like. Of course a lot of people’s flaws aren’t talked about when they are referred to as heroes, so I liked seeing those come out since it makes people more relatable and realistic.
I love the dynamic between the two main characters, Elenai and Kyrkenall. I haven’t read Brandon Sanderson’s Warbreaker in a while, but their dynamic reminded me of Vasher and Vivenna from Warbreaker. At first Elenai is hesitant and unsure in her abilities, but as she travels with Kyrkenall she learns from him and is forced to develop her abilities with all the obstacles they encounter. Kyrkenall is sassy and crazy and dangerous and I like him a lot.
The world setup was very different than most I have seen before. In order to travel to different lands/kingdoms, you must travel across this odd borderland area that doesn’t quite have a grounding in reality, and can undergo shifts where the entire reality/landscape around you can change. The main realms are large country-sized areas of ‘reality’ and within this borderland there are fragments/shards/slivers of land that are also grounded in reality. It’s likened to crossing an ocean but obviously, it’s much more treacherous. I really really like this concept! I hope it’s explored more in the future novels. I will say I didn’t really get a different feeling from the major realms other than the one we start in, and the land of the Naor, the enemies of the war (and with whom the peace treaty has been struck).
The plot is centered around the sword of N’lahr, a fallen Altenerai who was the commander in the war. There is a prophecy that his sword will defeat the leader of the Naor, the enemy that they were at war against. The sword is discovered to be a fake by Elenai’s mentor, and Elenai and Krykenall are subsequently framed for murder and forced to flee the capital. They go in search of the real sword and are hunted along the way by those who don’t want them to expose the fake sword and the true murderers. Pretty much my only complaint is that though the plot evolves into a much larger scale thing than just the discovery of the fake sword, I still thought it was lacking throughout the book. A lot happened, and there was a lot of fighting, but I still feel that the plot didn’t advance very much.
Jones’ writing style flows very well, and kept me reading through the whole day that I read this. I never wanted to stop! The chapters and points of view were well spaced to keep you on your toes while reading. The characters and world were well fleshed out for a first novel in a trilogy, and I can’t wait to see the expansion of both in the next books.
Most of all, this was such a fun read. In my head it almost read like a movie, it was so easy to picture and there was a great balance of action and politics. I’m looking forward to the next two books! And mad that I’ll have to wait so long for them haha.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the eARC!
Full review:
This book had pretty much everything I love – a cast of characters that all have their own strengths and weaknesses and are all fun to read about; magic!; an innovative world setup that I haven’t seen before; fight scenes on both small and large scales; and epic quests (or not so much as a quest as a fleeing from a recently discovered murdery conspiracy).
The first set of characters we are first introduced to are the Altenerai, an elite group of warriors tasked with protecting the realm. The story is set seven years after a peace treaty has been struck with a neighboring land, which followed an intense war. Many of the Altenerai died in the war or have gone missing while on other missions since then. Yet others have retired or left the service, so there are only a handful left to train new squires. One of my favorite things about this book was that at the beginning Elenai (one of the main characters) and the younger generations have just heard of these famed older Altenerai, and as the novel goes on we get to meet many of them. It is an interesting way to contrast how people get talked about and how others remember them with what they are actually like. Of course a lot of people’s flaws aren’t talked about when they are referred to as heroes, so I liked seeing those come out since it makes people more relatable and realistic.
I love the dynamic between the two main characters, Elenai and Kyrkenall. I haven’t read Brandon Sanderson’s Warbreaker in a while, but their dynamic reminded me of Vasher and Vivenna from Warbreaker. At first Elenai is hesitant and unsure in her abilities, but as she travels with Kyrkenall she learns from him and is forced to develop her abilities with all the obstacles they encounter. Kyrkenall is sassy and crazy and dangerous and I like him a lot.
The world setup was very different than most I have seen before. In order to travel to different lands/kingdoms, you must travel across this odd borderland area that doesn’t quite have a grounding in reality, and can undergo shifts where the entire reality/landscape around you can change. The main realms are large country-sized areas of ‘reality’ and within this borderland there are fragments/shards/slivers of land that are also grounded in reality. It’s likened to crossing an ocean but obviously, it’s much more treacherous. I really really like this concept! I hope it’s explored more in the future novels. I will say I didn’t really get a different feeling from the major realms other than the one we start in, and the land of the Naor, the enemies of the war (and with whom the peace treaty has been struck).
The plot is centered around the sword of N’lahr, a fallen Altenerai who was the commander in the war. There is a prophecy that his sword will defeat the leader of the Naor, the enemy that they were at war against. The sword is discovered to be a fake by Elenai’s mentor, and Elenai and Krykenall are subsequently framed for murder and forced to flee the capital. They go in search of the real sword and are hunted along the way by those who don’t want them to expose the fake sword and the true murderers. Pretty much my only complaint is that though the plot evolves into a much larger scale thing than just the discovery of the fake sword, I still thought it was lacking throughout the book. A lot happened, and there was a lot of fighting, but I still feel that the plot didn’t advance very much.
Jones’ writing style flows very well, and kept me reading through the whole day that I read this. I never wanted to stop! The chapters and points of view were well spaced to keep you on your toes while reading. The characters and world were well fleshed out for a first novel in a trilogy, and I can’t wait to see the expansion of both in the next books.
Most of all, this was such a fun read. In my head it almost read like a movie, it was so easy to picture and there was a great balance of action and politics. I’m looking forward to the next two books! And mad that I’ll have to wait so long for them haha.
February 25, 2019
A rollicking old-school adventure. Review here - https://www.alwroteabook.com/2019/02/...
April 28, 2021
It’s always difficult for me to gauge the number of stars on a book in a series. It is difficult to see the whole picture. I picked this book up as I have read some S&S stories by HAJ and enjoyed them.
Impressions:
• I try not to pick up too many series books. I have limited time for pleasure reading and prefer short stories (primarily) and self-contained novels. My list of started, but not (in some cases-yet) finished series is staggering; however, this promises to be a trilogy. I have a nostalgic spot in my black heart for trilogies birthed from my teen years when I would launch into every Fantasy trilogy that landed in my path.
• book one is not a door stopper, metropolitan phone book sized volume. It’s a respectable 350ish pages. Thank you for that HAJ.
• It’s not my usual fare. I stay away from most Epic Fantasy these days, preferring Sword and Sorcery; however, it’s also not Tolkien flavored, grind ‘em out with a cookie cutter stamped Fantasy. It explores tropes and yes, there are some classic Epic Fantasy ingredients, but the cake is not all vanilla. There are some sprinkles.
• A grumbling review amused me as the reviewer was upset that there were homosexual characters. I read a second rumble on Amazon implying that it’s not realistic to have gay characters in a fantasy book...ummm, Bozo, it’s make-believe-land. You know what is fantastic about make believe? You can make believe any way you want. No rules. Second point, I expected (from these two reviews) to be hit up side the head with LBGT politics. Such is not the case. There are two Queer characters, one of which (SPOILER) dies early, the other appears off stage. So even if you are homophobic, calm down Karen, you aren’t reading Gay Porn here.
• When I read opinions that I either didn’t pickup on, or do not necessarily agree with, I try to evaluate them for merit. Here, I am thinking about reviewers who did not care for the character of Rylin and/or thought Ealin was not a strong female character. I think both are legitimate gripes. I’m going off memory for the spelling of both characters, so forgive me if I’m off. Rylin is very much the high school jock, but he is dynamic. I see change coming for him. Someday, he will be a real boy. Ealin, as a writer, I am guilty of developing poor female characters. HAJ is better than I, but there are some faults, but I can’t help but like her.
• I enjoy the concept of New Heroes rising to the cause to help the legendary heroes. It’s satisfying in a fist thumping way.
• The biggest Star decision factor for me with series books is: Based upon the strength of Book X, are you down for reading Book Y? Yes. Yes I am.
Impressions:
• I try not to pick up too many series books. I have limited time for pleasure reading and prefer short stories (primarily) and self-contained novels. My list of started, but not (in some cases-yet) finished series is staggering; however, this promises to be a trilogy. I have a nostalgic spot in my black heart for trilogies birthed from my teen years when I would launch into every Fantasy trilogy that landed in my path.
• book one is not a door stopper, metropolitan phone book sized volume. It’s a respectable 350ish pages. Thank you for that HAJ.
• It’s not my usual fare. I stay away from most Epic Fantasy these days, preferring Sword and Sorcery; however, it’s also not Tolkien flavored, grind ‘em out with a cookie cutter stamped Fantasy. It explores tropes and yes, there are some classic Epic Fantasy ingredients, but the cake is not all vanilla. There are some sprinkles.
• A grumbling review amused me as the reviewer was upset that there were homosexual characters. I read a second rumble on Amazon implying that it’s not realistic to have gay characters in a fantasy book...ummm, Bozo, it’s make-believe-land. You know what is fantastic about make believe? You can make believe any way you want. No rules. Second point, I expected (from these two reviews) to be hit up side the head with LBGT politics. Such is not the case. There are two Queer characters, one of which (SPOILER) dies early, the other appears off stage. So even if you are homophobic, calm down Karen, you aren’t reading Gay Porn here.
• When I read opinions that I either didn’t pickup on, or do not necessarily agree with, I try to evaluate them for merit. Here, I am thinking about reviewers who did not care for the character of Rylin and/or thought Ealin was not a strong female character. I think both are legitimate gripes. I’m going off memory for the spelling of both characters, so forgive me if I’m off. Rylin is very much the high school jock, but he is dynamic. I see change coming for him. Someday, he will be a real boy. Ealin, as a writer, I am guilty of developing poor female characters. HAJ is better than I, but there are some faults, but I can’t help but like her.
• I enjoy the concept of New Heroes rising to the cause to help the legendary heroes. It’s satisfying in a fist thumping way.
• The biggest Star decision factor for me with series books is: Based upon the strength of Book X, are you down for reading Book Y? Yes. Yes I am.
April 3, 2021
*For the Killing of Kings* is the first of *The Ring-Sworn* trilogy by Howard Andrew Jones, the author of the celebrated Asim and Dabir Arabian fantasy novels, *The Desert of Souls* and *The Bones of the Old Ones,* as well as the editor of *Tales from the Magician's Skull,* the flagship sword and sorcery magazine published by Goodman Games. The Asim and Dabir novels are excellent historical sword and sorcery, so I was keen to read this newer trilogy. On one level, this was similar to the Asim and Dabir novels: the prose style is crisp and enjoyable and the characters--like Asim and Dabir--are heroic, larger-than-life, yet paradoxically ordinary and a joy to cheer on, i.e. humble and driven by duty and values like loyalty, friendship, compassion, and joy (really a contrast to "Grimdark" trends). On another level, however, this is very different from Jones' previous work. For example, the setting, because it is a fantasy and not a historical (fantasy) setting adds a layer to things. Worldbuilding is on display. Places like Darassus and Alantris and the enigmatic shifting sands give a feeling of strangeness and possibility, and provide for the potential of intriguing background lore. The awesome Altenerai--a martial order of sorcerer-warriors--use "ring" magic and mysterious "hearthstone" sorcery (as well as swords!). They gave off a "Jedi" vibe from Star Wars: delicate, mysterious fighters who possess great power. There are several other memorable characters: the poetry-reciting Kyrkenall the Archer (he reminded me of Geralt the Witcher for some reason); the talented Squire Elenai (she should be played by Gal Gadot in the movie); the cold but wise Varama; the cavalier and joyful Rylin, and more. One of the best features of Jones' fiction is how genuinely likable his protagonists are. There is one scene, when Altenerai are forced to fight eachother due to confusion and conspiracy, that is an emotional gut punch. There is another character, a sentient flying "mount," a long-necked "ko-aye" named Lelanc, who will stick with me. I'm stoked to read book 2, *Upon the Flight of the Queen.*
February 3, 2019
"A great rollicking landslide of a book." Five stars.
Find my full review here: https://infinitefreetime.com/2019/02/...
Find my full review here: https://infinitefreetime.com/2019/02/...
June 29, 2025
This book, and author were brought to my attention by Mark Lawrence, dark fantasy author in his own right. A group, much like the Musketeers, though less in number exist to protect their people and Kingdom from their enemies.
A diverse group of personalities are well written and there are small bits of humor in places. But there is treachery amongst their ranks, and it comes to light early on in the book.
The first book of a trilogy and there are highs and lows already.
A diverse group of personalities are well written and there are small bits of humor in places. But there is treachery amongst their ranks, and it comes to light early on in the book.
The first book of a trilogy and there are highs and lows already.
November 6, 2019
What a delightful read!
The blurb calls this "Three Musketeers" meets "Nine Princes in Amber" and that is very apt, though leavened with a dose of Jack Chalker's "Flux & Anchor". For those of us who grew up in the 80s, I'd say there is a subtle misting of the original Dragonlance Trilogy and the best "young woman traveling with a short, disagreeable, slightly psychotic warrior" since Wolverine and Kitty Pride.
But that doesn't do this book, or Howard Andrew Jones craft, justice. Because this IS NOT a serious of homages wedged together, but something wonderful and new. Rather, it is as if someone took the famous "Appendix N", distilled it in alchemist's alembic to its raw essence and then poured it out on fertile soil. The end result is an epic fantasy, written with the quick, clipped narration of old-school sword & sorcery. The work opens with a mystery, but that in and of itself is a trap: the first mystery is revealed within pages (at least to us), and the action is already fast and furious by the end of *chapter one*, and we find ourselves embroiled in larger mysteries of *why* rather than *who*. Assumed series villains are dispatched and new villains emerge. As the world and its rather strange rules are revealed, layer by layer, Jones manages to keep up the swift pace while creating detailed and unique characters you *want* to spend time with.
This book made me smile from beginning to end. And like Dumas and Zelazny's masterworks, it introduces characters of emotional depth (and flaws), spritely humor, and pathos, while being a roller-coaster ride. That's a hard juggling act, and Jones makes it seem effortless. I can't wait to return.
The blurb calls this "Three Musketeers" meets "Nine Princes in Amber" and that is very apt, though leavened with a dose of Jack Chalker's "Flux & Anchor". For those of us who grew up in the 80s, I'd say there is a subtle misting of the original Dragonlance Trilogy and the best "young woman traveling with a short, disagreeable, slightly psychotic warrior" since Wolverine and Kitty Pride.
But that doesn't do this book, or Howard Andrew Jones craft, justice. Because this IS NOT a serious of homages wedged together, but something wonderful and new. Rather, it is as if someone took the famous "Appendix N", distilled it in alchemist's alembic to its raw essence and then poured it out on fertile soil. The end result is an epic fantasy, written with the quick, clipped narration of old-school sword & sorcery. The work opens with a mystery, but that in and of itself is a trap: the first mystery is revealed within pages (at least to us), and the action is already fast and furious by the end of *chapter one*, and we find ourselves embroiled in larger mysteries of *why* rather than *who*. Assumed series villains are dispatched and new villains emerge. As the world and its rather strange rules are revealed, layer by layer, Jones manages to keep up the swift pace while creating detailed and unique characters you *want* to spend time with.
This book made me smile from beginning to end. And like Dumas and Zelazny's masterworks, it introduces characters of emotional depth (and flaws), spritely humor, and pathos, while being a roller-coaster ride. That's a hard juggling act, and Jones makes it seem effortless. I can't wait to return.
November 11, 2021
Addictive action & character arcs!
Enjoyed reading this swashbuckling tale of fantastical realms and warriors. Numerous mysteries abound, piling high about our heroes and making suspect the aims and intentions of all. Features several strong characters, though two of the male leads are my favorites. A nice blending of sorcerous sword-slinging and testing the loyalties of comrades and companions true. I also appreciated Jones' comment in his acknowledgement regarding the challenge of consistently writing a character like Varama.
Enjoyed reading this swashbuckling tale of fantastical realms and warriors. Numerous mysteries abound, piling high about our heroes and making suspect the aims and intentions of all. Features several strong characters, though two of the male leads are my favorites. A nice blending of sorcerous sword-slinging and testing the loyalties of comrades and companions true. I also appreciated Jones' comment in his acknowledgement regarding the challenge of consistently writing a character like Varama.
December 1, 2019
***I received this book and it's sequel free from the publisher***
A solid, enjoyable read with memorable characters in a somewhat unique setting. Though there are some standard fantasy tropes in use at no point did it lack imagination or cause me to lose interest in the story. The setting and world building were different but not so alien as to be unfamiliar. Overall, a fun book but not one that stands out as exceptional. I am going to read it's sequel which is recommendation enough as I don't continue series if I don't like the first book in the series.
A solid, enjoyable read with memorable characters in a somewhat unique setting. Though there are some standard fantasy tropes in use at no point did it lack imagination or cause me to lose interest in the story. The setting and world building were different but not so alien as to be unfamiliar. Overall, a fun book but not one that stands out as exceptional. I am going to read it's sequel which is recommendation enough as I don't continue series if I don't like the first book in the series.
November 19, 2019
Special thank you to St. Martin’s for reaching out to me to read & review. This in no way affects my opinions on the novel.
Now I absolutely adore fantasy novels, but the only other adult sci-fi fantasy series I’ve read was Nevernight by Jay Kristoff. And I’ve been meaning to get into more, so when I was reached out to review this series, I jumped at the chance, as it sounded extremely interesting and all the reviews sounded amazing.
For this specific novel in the series, there should be some trigger warnings (but please also note this is NOT a YA series): death of an LGBT+ character (right in the beginning) and there are some lesbophobic comments by a straight guy (who is also a villain). I have no place judging these scenes themselves, but in case that content makes anyone uncomfortable, those are my TW.
This first installment in the series was quick to impress me. It took me about 80 or so pages to actually get into the story, but when I did, I was very much intrigued from start to finish. The author paints an open, creative, intriguing magical and political system that I found fairly easy to follow. Usually with high epic fantasies such as these, things can get very confusing. And in a way, it was at first, but as the story progressed I picked up on things and remembered. There are many species, races, and names that are similar that had me confused but I was able to eventually push through with the constant use of the terms.
There are SO many characters in this series as well as many points of view, but each character was so different in their own way, with their own voices and challenges to go through. I had no trouble following along with each character. Some point of views I enjoyed better than others. I do feel like one of the main characters’s, Rylin, personality just didn’t stick out to me. He seemed very archetypal (hero) but remained static throughout this novel. Elenai, however, was my absolute favorite. I love how badass she is without even realizing she’s a badass, and how goddamn smart she is. I would die for her.
My only complaint about at least this first installment, and also in regards to the sequel (but more on that tomorrow) is that the author writes too much. Sometimes I felt lost in the descriptions of every single thing that was happening at every given moment. We don’t need constant descriptions of travel. Most of the novel I was like, okay, let’s get to the point.
I ended up plowing through most of this book one weekend because once the plot got started, I could barely put it down. There were scenes that made me chuckle, others that made me said, others that made me really feel for the characters. I think this is an amazing epic fantasy that is on par with a lot of big name fantasy writers on the shelves.
Now I absolutely adore fantasy novels, but the only other adult sci-fi fantasy series I’ve read was Nevernight by Jay Kristoff. And I’ve been meaning to get into more, so when I was reached out to review this series, I jumped at the chance, as it sounded extremely interesting and all the reviews sounded amazing.
For this specific novel in the series, there should be some trigger warnings (but please also note this is NOT a YA series): death of an LGBT+ character (right in the beginning) and there are some lesbophobic comments by a straight guy (who is also a villain). I have no place judging these scenes themselves, but in case that content makes anyone uncomfortable, those are my TW.
This first installment in the series was quick to impress me. It took me about 80 or so pages to actually get into the story, but when I did, I was very much intrigued from start to finish. The author paints an open, creative, intriguing magical and political system that I found fairly easy to follow. Usually with high epic fantasies such as these, things can get very confusing. And in a way, it was at first, but as the story progressed I picked up on things and remembered. There are many species, races, and names that are similar that had me confused but I was able to eventually push through with the constant use of the terms.
There are SO many characters in this series as well as many points of view, but each character was so different in their own way, with their own voices and challenges to go through. I had no trouble following along with each character. Some point of views I enjoyed better than others. I do feel like one of the main characters’s, Rylin, personality just didn’t stick out to me. He seemed very archetypal (hero) but remained static throughout this novel. Elenai, however, was my absolute favorite. I love how badass she is without even realizing she’s a badass, and how goddamn smart she is. I would die for her.
My only complaint about at least this first installment, and also in regards to the sequel (but more on that tomorrow) is that the author writes too much. Sometimes I felt lost in the descriptions of every single thing that was happening at every given moment. We don’t need constant descriptions of travel. Most of the novel I was like, okay, let’s get to the point.
I ended up plowing through most of this book one weekend because once the plot got started, I could barely put it down. There were scenes that made me chuckle, others that made me said, others that made me really feel for the characters. I think this is an amazing epic fantasy that is on par with a lot of big name fantasy writers on the shelves.
February 28, 2019
I was provided an eARC by netgalley in trade for an honest review.
For the killing of kings is about Elenai, she is a squire to the Altenerai, a group of distinguished warriors who have fought for their realm for many many years. At this point in the history of the realms, the land that Elenai is from is mostly at peace, and has been for 7 years. However when Asrahn her trainer asks her to fix a legendary sword of a famed deceased general, this leads to all kinds of questions, especially when Asrahn ends up dead seemingly killed by one of his closest friends. What is wrong with Irion, and why did Asrahn get killed over it. From there Elenai and Kyrkenall set out to discover what has actually happened and when.
What I didn't like about this book:
Probably the thing that I felt like was the hardest part of this book was the begining. I wanted to like Asrahn as a narrator but it seemed really slow to build, part of this could have been that I was reading this book when I was on a trip in France and didnt really have much time to read but it was slow, until you finally got the part when Elenai took over.
It felt a bit in this book like Jones was riding a bit too much on tropes for his main characters, with both Rylin and Elenai he was talking about how they were both untested, and in the case of Elenai pretty much a complete unknown. THis seems like its pretty much the set up for most fantasy novels of the last 20 years or more going right back to Tolkien.
I really enjoyed the combat in the books, however it really did feel like they managed to kill off most of the major bad guys by the end of the book, and then started to establish new bad guys, like heres the definative end of a chapter only to go on to chapter 2.
What I liked about this book:
I wont say much but the ending really was pretty great, I really enjoyed the final twist with Rylin to the point where I was wondering if he will actually end up being more of a character in the second book than Elenai will be. He seems to have much more of the overall plot than she does, however he is still missing some major pieces.
I really did end up liking the writing a lot more as the book progressed and it got much more fun and easy to read.
Overall a solid book, and a great start to new set of fantasy novels. I would definatley recommend this book to anyone that loves epic fantasy and is looking for a new voice, but someone who respects the old ways of doing things too.
Solid 4 stars, and cant wait to read more.
For the killing of kings is about Elenai, she is a squire to the Altenerai, a group of distinguished warriors who have fought for their realm for many many years. At this point in the history of the realms, the land that Elenai is from is mostly at peace, and has been for 7 years. However when Asrahn her trainer asks her to fix a legendary sword of a famed deceased general, this leads to all kinds of questions, especially when Asrahn ends up dead seemingly killed by one of his closest friends. What is wrong with Irion, and why did Asrahn get killed over it. From there Elenai and Kyrkenall set out to discover what has actually happened and when.
What I didn't like about this book:
Probably the thing that I felt like was the hardest part of this book was the begining. I wanted to like Asrahn as a narrator but it seemed really slow to build, part of this could have been that I was reading this book when I was on a trip in France and didnt really have much time to read but it was slow, until you finally got the part when Elenai took over.
It felt a bit in this book like Jones was riding a bit too much on tropes for his main characters, with both Rylin and Elenai he was talking about how they were both untested, and in the case of Elenai pretty much a complete unknown. THis seems like its pretty much the set up for most fantasy novels of the last 20 years or more going right back to Tolkien.
I really enjoyed the combat in the books, however it really did feel like they managed to kill off most of the major bad guys by the end of the book, and then started to establish new bad guys, like heres the definative end of a chapter only to go on to chapter 2.
What I liked about this book:
I wont say much but the ending really was pretty great, I really enjoyed the final twist with Rylin to the point where I was wondering if he will actually end up being more of a character in the second book than Elenai will be. He seems to have much more of the overall plot than she does, however he is still missing some major pieces.
I really did end up liking the writing a lot more as the book progressed and it got much more fun and easy to read.
Overall a solid book, and a great start to new set of fantasy novels. I would definatley recommend this book to anyone that loves epic fantasy and is looking for a new voice, but someone who respects the old ways of doing things too.
Solid 4 stars, and cant wait to read more.
December 9, 2021
DNF at 34(ish)% **Warning: Rant Incoming**
I don't usually rate my DNFs on principle, but I hated everything about this and can not stand to not give it a rating. It was atrocious.
The characterizations are TERRIBLE. Up to the point that I stopped, there are two main POV characters with some others sprinkled in here and there. The female character is terrible. She is portrayed as a complete idiot, but somehow we are supposed to think that she's a competent squire/magic user. But she has this weird relationship with the mentor figure that she is traveling with and it just made me mad. I felt like she was saying in her head that she could do something but then was checking and double checking with the guy she was traveling with and I just can't stand her. She reminds me more of a young child than the woman she is portrayed as, and it was just a really terrible portrayal of a female POV
Then there is a male POV introduced, and I thought, okay cool, maybe this will be better. NOPE. Oh my word, the gross lecherous thoughts that he had about literally every single female he came near was TERRIBLE. He was actively describing how one of his colleagues was super off-putting and basically ugly, but then he started to notice her "female form" and BLECH. It was gross and distasteful and I hated every minute of THAT.
Then there is the story. It seems like a very straight-forward fantasy story with lots of tropes, which I'm normally fine with, but it certainly isn't enough to keep me engaged when I don't like anything else. And the prose is just weird. It is filled with awkward, wordy descriptions of something super simple like a cup on the table. It feels like the author is trying to be flowery and write beautifully, but it just sounds incredibly awkward and unnecessary, and from the first few minutes I found myself asking why I cared about the sheen coming off the arrows, or whatever else was being described.
I found this from my library when I saw that a booktuber I love is going to be doing a readalong and liveshow for the third book and I'm kind of glad that I read it, only because I really hope that I can hear a good rant on her channel about this book. But I very much do NOT recommend.
I don't usually rate my DNFs on principle, but I hated everything about this and can not stand to not give it a rating. It was atrocious.
The characterizations are TERRIBLE. Up to the point that I stopped, there are two main POV characters with some others sprinkled in here and there. The female character is terrible. She is portrayed as a complete idiot, but somehow we are supposed to think that she's a competent squire/magic user. But she has this weird relationship with the mentor figure that she is traveling with and it just made me mad. I felt like she was saying in her head that she could do something but then was checking and double checking with the guy she was traveling with and I just can't stand her. She reminds me more of a young child than the woman she is portrayed as, and it was just a really terrible portrayal of a female POV
Then there is a male POV introduced, and I thought, okay cool, maybe this will be better. NOPE. Oh my word, the gross lecherous thoughts that he had about literally every single female he came near was TERRIBLE. He was actively describing how one of his colleagues was super off-putting and basically ugly, but then he started to notice her "female form" and BLECH. It was gross and distasteful and I hated every minute of THAT.
Then there is the story. It seems like a very straight-forward fantasy story with lots of tropes, which I'm normally fine with, but it certainly isn't enough to keep me engaged when I don't like anything else. And the prose is just weird. It is filled with awkward, wordy descriptions of something super simple like a cup on the table. It feels like the author is trying to be flowery and write beautifully, but it just sounds incredibly awkward and unnecessary, and from the first few minutes I found myself asking why I cared about the sheen coming off the arrows, or whatever else was being described.
I found this from my library when I saw that a booktuber I love is going to be doing a readalong and liveshow for the third book and I'm kind of glad that I read it, only because I really hope that I can hear a good rant on her channel about this book. But I very much do NOT recommend.
May 22, 2019
This epic fantasy has all the right ingredients, i.e., adventure, bravery, alliances, deception, magic, flirtation, and special creatures. The Altenerai are the elite defenders of the realm (along the lines of knights of the round table); each will be challenged to search deep within as they fight, challenge and defend when it is clear that all is not as it seems. Is the Queen on a secret agenda? What about the head of the Altenerai?
Hearthstones with their magical powers both aid and destroy and it is these not entirely knowable tools that serve both good and evil. As members within this large cast of characters embark on different journeys to seek the truth, great battles ensue complete with dragon-like creatures. There are hints of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series here. Almost certain defeat(s) have great story twists.
This is the first in a trilogy. If there is one 'ding' it is that the ending was somehow rushed a bit, clearly leading to the second book. The book's cover is not exactly right either as it suggests more of a middle-school type of tale, but that is not within the author's control. Excellent read that should be read when one can immerse oneself in the story.
Hearthstones with their magical powers both aid and destroy and it is these not entirely knowable tools that serve both good and evil. As members within this large cast of characters embark on different journeys to seek the truth, great battles ensue complete with dragon-like creatures. There are hints of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series here. Almost certain defeat(s) have great story twists.
This is the first in a trilogy. If there is one 'ding' it is that the ending was somehow rushed a bit, clearly leading to the second book. The book's cover is not exactly right either as it suggests more of a middle-school type of tale, but that is not within the author's control. Excellent read that should be read when one can immerse oneself in the story.
March 30, 2024
GREAT story. Great start to a series.
I'm working through the second one right now and absolutely loving it. The first book has the hard task of building the world and introducing characters, all while driving the plot and action forward. Howard does this very well. I can't credit him enough for it but he is a master at coming up with unique situations and character responses to said situations, and that is one of many things that impresses me. I dislike the occasional lagging in certain scenes that didn't feel conducive to the plot but they are rare. I just enjoy reading a story that could easily have fallen into cliche and plain hum drum fantasy blandness we see everywhere.
It's a great fantasy story and series, and I like it more and more the farther I go. This deserves to be more popular than it is and I think in time it will age very well. Howard Andrew Jones is a Sword and Sorcery pioneer and is a phenomenal writer. I loved the first book, apart from some minor complaints. The second in the series is shaping up to be a five star read so far!
I'm working through the second one right now and absolutely loving it. The first book has the hard task of building the world and introducing characters, all while driving the plot and action forward. Howard does this very well. I can't credit him enough for it but he is a master at coming up with unique situations and character responses to said situations, and that is one of many things that impresses me. I dislike the occasional lagging in certain scenes that didn't feel conducive to the plot but they are rare. I just enjoy reading a story that could easily have fallen into cliche and plain hum drum fantasy blandness we see everywhere.
It's a great fantasy story and series, and I like it more and more the farther I go. This deserves to be more popular than it is and I think in time it will age very well. Howard Andrew Jones is a Sword and Sorcery pioneer and is a phenomenal writer. I loved the first book, apart from some minor complaints. The second in the series is shaping up to be a five star read so far!
February 5, 2019
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you publisher!
4 out of 5 stars
My first ever serious book was The Count of Monte Cristo and ever since then - I have been obsessed with the works of Dumas. When I came upon this book - which the publisher compared to Nine Princes of Amber & the Three Musketeers - I just had to read it.
While the story itself is pretty good (you have your usual underestimated/untested MC), the world building is interesting, and the mystery is intriguing - I felt that overall the characters just felt shallow and two dimensional. I felt that more time was spent on writing fighting scenes than on developing characters. That being said - I did really enjoy the adventure, the ending was terrific and I will definitely pick up book 2.
4 out of 5 stars
My first ever serious book was The Count of Monte Cristo and ever since then - I have been obsessed with the works of Dumas. When I came upon this book - which the publisher compared to Nine Princes of Amber & the Three Musketeers - I just had to read it.
While the story itself is pretty good (you have your usual underestimated/untested MC), the world building is interesting, and the mystery is intriguing - I felt that overall the characters just felt shallow and two dimensional. I felt that more time was spent on writing fighting scenes than on developing characters. That being said - I did really enjoy the adventure, the ending was terrific and I will definitely pick up book 2.
April 6, 2019
This was a great work of High Fantasy and I especially Loved the code of the Altenerai
When comes my numbered day, I will meet it smiling. For I’ll have kept this oath.
I shall use my arms to shield the weak.
I shall use my lips to speak the truth, and my eyes to see it.
I shall use my hands to mete justice to high and low, and I will weigh all things with heart and mind.
Where I walk the laws will follow, for I am the sword of my people and the shepherd of their lands.
When I fall, I will rise through my brothers and sisters, for I am eternal -- Pledge of the Altenerai
This is what all should strive to do, but sometimes we fall. We saw in this book people who kept the code, people who betrayed the code, and people who were trying to do it but for some reason or other couldn't always attain such ideals. So a sample of humanity as it exist today.
When comes my numbered day, I will meet it smiling. For I’ll have kept this oath.
I shall use my arms to shield the weak.
I shall use my lips to speak the truth, and my eyes to see it.
I shall use my hands to mete justice to high and low, and I will weigh all things with heart and mind.
Where I walk the laws will follow, for I am the sword of my people and the shepherd of their lands.
When I fall, I will rise through my brothers and sisters, for I am eternal -- Pledge of the Altenerai
This is what all should strive to do, but sometimes we fall. We saw in this book people who kept the code, people who betrayed the code, and people who were trying to do it but for some reason or other couldn't always attain such ideals. So a sample of humanity as it exist today.
February 28, 2019
This is a definite must-read for fantasy lovers! I was drawn in from the first page and the action and intrigue never let up at all. This book has everything that appeals to me in a fantasy. I loved the plot, the characters, the world, all of it.
I will be impatiently waiting for the next book to see what happens next!
I received a copy from Net Galley.
I will be impatiently waiting for the next book to see what happens next!
I received a copy from Net Galley.
June 4, 2019
Intrigue, action, magic, and great characters. This one's got it all!
It's been described as "Chronicles of Amber" meets "Three Musketeers" and that seems like a fairly accurate description of how it reads (though personally I got more Jack Chalker "Flux and Anchor" than Amber). The book is not derivative of any those works, though. It's definitely a unique and enjoyable fantasy story!
It's been described as "Chronicles of Amber" meets "Three Musketeers" and that seems like a fairly accurate description of how it reads (though personally I got more Jack Chalker "Flux and Anchor" than Amber). The book is not derivative of any those works, though. It's definitely a unique and enjoyable fantasy story!
March 6, 2019
A really exceptional book. I kept looking at how much was left to read and going "oh no, it's almost over." Then I would console myself with the knowledge that another volume is coming. HAJ's work is always top-notch, and this one is more compelling than usual.
October 20, 2019
My love for this book is immense.
July 31, 2020
Honestly one of the best books I've read these past few years, and it was no wonder it got in my Top '19 Books List. So much action, and intrigue, and suspense - not to mention the humor and the dialogues! Truly magnificent.
This first book in the Ring-Sworn series has everything a mature reader would appreciate. It makes your head spin and lock in place and your heart pumping - So. Many. Plot. Twists! The magic and the way it works is phenomenal. The world-building is seriously exquisite, and I enjoyed that little info about how it's not a steady universe, but changes when energy storms occur. A world made up of shifting lands, where those storms I just mentioned altered more than mere landscapes - they altered reality itself.
But what really sells this story? The characters! First of all, I wanna warn you all - this is a book for mature readers. There are mentions of sex and other activities in here. Nothing too graphic in action, but even so, Kyrkenall in particular can be quite blunt about some of the human basic instincts. (and we love him for that) There is also LGBTQ representation in the book, and it comes so naturally, not just for the fun of it - let me fangirl again about Kyrkenall, the guy was soooo sweet even in his cynical ways when he talked to that married elder guy about the latter's husband!
Kyrkenall, as you may have imagined, was a major favorite of mine. I just love sarcastic, cynical assholes who run their mouths and yet still try to save a world that is trying to bury them or worse. He was callous and at times caustic and blasphemous, but, considering his past, that only served to make him even more realistic - plus, he was hilarious! I shipped him with Elenai soooo hard - another favorite, although she was a bit slow to fully get why Kyrkenall was doing all that he did and way too much of a rule-follower. And let's not forget the easy camaraderie between him and N'lahr - adorable, it made me cry!
By the way, I knew what Denaven thought was going on between Kyrkenall and Rialla was a misunderstanding! Priceless! Look at the mess he created, all because of a stupid assumption!
Another favorite pair - although not a romantic one - was Rylin and Varama. At first, I didn't like Rylin. Thought he was just some extra, a pretty boy. But like Elenai, he proved to be so much more! If there was one person in this book that had the most growth, I'll have to say it was Rylin! And Varama, don't even get me started on her! Everyone was like "Oooh, Varama is so flighty and weird, and in her head all the time, she's no danger" - but then the woman just ups and shows that not only does she know what's happening in court around her, she's also thinking five moves ahead of everyone else! That's a Boss Bitch right there, and I bow to that woman and her brilliant mind!
All in all, this was a fantastic opening to a series. I sure hope to read of the adventures of the great Altenerai and their other friends. This was just a masterpiece and I can't recommend it enough!
***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com/
This first book in the Ring-Sworn series has everything a mature reader would appreciate. It makes your head spin and lock in place and your heart pumping - So. Many. Plot. Twists! The magic and the way it works is phenomenal. The world-building is seriously exquisite, and I enjoyed that little info about how it's not a steady universe, but changes when energy storms occur. A world made up of shifting lands, where those storms I just mentioned altered more than mere landscapes - they altered reality itself.
But what really sells this story? The characters! First of all, I wanna warn you all - this is a book for mature readers. There are mentions of sex and other activities in here. Nothing too graphic in action, but even so, Kyrkenall in particular can be quite blunt about some of the human basic instincts. (and we love him for that) There is also LGBTQ representation in the book, and it comes so naturally, not just for the fun of it - let me fangirl again about Kyrkenall, the guy was soooo sweet even in his cynical ways when he talked to that married elder guy about the latter's husband!
Kyrkenall, as you may have imagined, was a major favorite of mine. I just love sarcastic, cynical assholes who run their mouths and yet still try to save a world that is trying to bury them or worse. He was callous and at times caustic and blasphemous, but, considering his past, that only served to make him even more realistic - plus, he was hilarious! I shipped him with Elenai soooo hard - another favorite, although she was a bit slow to fully get why Kyrkenall was doing all that he did and way too much of a rule-follower. And let's not forget the easy camaraderie between him and N'lahr - adorable, it made me cry!
By the way, I knew what Denaven thought was going on between Kyrkenall and Rialla was a misunderstanding! Priceless! Look at the mess he created, all because of a stupid assumption!
Another favorite pair - although not a romantic one - was Rylin and Varama. At first, I didn't like Rylin. Thought he was just some extra, a pretty boy. But like Elenai, he proved to be so much more! If there was one person in this book that had the most growth, I'll have to say it was Rylin! And Varama, don't even get me started on her! Everyone was like "Oooh, Varama is so flighty and weird, and in her head all the time, she's no danger" - but then the woman just ups and shows that not only does she know what's happening in court around her, she's also thinking five moves ahead of everyone else! That's a Boss Bitch right there, and I bow to that woman and her brilliant mind!
All in all, this was a fantastic opening to a series. I sure hope to read of the adventures of the great Altenerai and their other friends. This was just a masterpiece and I can't recommend it enough!
***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***
Read this and other reviews at: http://cupcakesandpopcorn.wordpress.com/
August 27, 2024
4.5
Boy, did I have fun reading this book. HAJ is new to me and I expect him to be one of my go-to authors if the rest of the trilogy lives up to this first one.
So many amazing characters we are introduced to here, but we are given time to get to know them. Also the world building is depicted so well. There’s a good balance of characters and setting.
Some people we only get to visit with for a short time, but you have a distinct picture of their personality. So I was sad when others were sad at the loss. So because there are so many, I will point out my favorites so far.
Kyrkenall, the impeccable archer and boastful drunk, Elenai, the young up and coming alten or knight (as I see this group), Varama, a stoic but talented scientist, and Rylin, a playboy yet loyal companion. They seem to be the heart here.
I must mention the magic, which is hard to describe. Hearthstones have magical properties which do many things for the owner. I was astounded by the vastness of its powers. And Irion is a very special sword that was especially forged. It can cut through anything.
Honorable mention is Lelanc, a ko’aye, which is a cross between serpent and griffin I think. She is an important ally for our heroes, and hopefully more of her kind will join the battles to come.
A fun sword and sorcery story!
Boy, did I have fun reading this book. HAJ is new to me and I expect him to be one of my go-to authors if the rest of the trilogy lives up to this first one.
So many amazing characters we are introduced to here, but we are given time to get to know them. Also the world building is depicted so well. There’s a good balance of characters and setting.
Some people we only get to visit with for a short time, but you have a distinct picture of their personality. So I was sad when others were sad at the loss. So because there are so many, I will point out my favorites so far.
Kyrkenall, the impeccable archer and boastful drunk, Elenai, the young up and coming alten or knight (as I see this group), Varama, a stoic but talented scientist, and Rylin, a playboy yet loyal companion. They seem to be the heart here.
I must mention the magic, which is hard to describe. Hearthstones have magical properties which do many things for the owner. I was astounded by the vastness of its powers. And Irion is a very special sword that was especially forged. It can cut through anything.
Honorable mention is Lelanc, a ko’aye, which is a cross between serpent and griffin I think. She is an important ally for our heroes, and hopefully more of her kind will join the battles to come.
A fun sword and sorcery story!
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