The Story King

The Sunlit Lands #3

by Matt Mikalatos

In the third and final installment in the Sunlit Lands series, the magic of the Sunlit Lands has been reset, but that doesn’t mean all is well. Unrest and discord are growing by the day, and Hanali is positioning himself as ruler of the Sunlit Lands. But, in order for Hanali to seize control, there must be a sacrifice, one that very few are willing to make. Jason, Shula, Baileya, and others must work together to save the lives of those Hanali would sacrifice for his own gain.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Christian, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Adventure, Christian Fantasy

448 pages, Paperback

Published June 8, 2021

About the author

Matt Mikalatos writes in a variety of genres, and also writes for film and TV. He lives in the Portland, Oregon area with his wife, three daughters, and a gigantic rabbit named Bruce.

Reviews

[Abigail Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is the third book in the Sunlit Lands Series, and I actually liked it more than the first two for a few reasons.
First of all, this series deals with the issue of racism. The thing in the first two books was that they were a little vague in offering solutions, which sort of makes sense because they were leading up to events in the third book that offered more substance, but it was a little frustrating in the beginning of the series because I couldn’t tell what Mikalatos was trying to say.

Secondly, I really enjoyed this book more because the main character from the first two books played a much smaller role in The Story King. Madeline may have been passionate and empathetic, but I found that she often came off as immature, whiny, and pouty. The things she sometimes said in defiance made me cringe. For a while I wondered why I was enjoying this book more, and sadly, I think this is the main reason.

Okay, so how did this book deal with racism? Sometimes Mikalatos addresses it very up front. For instance, one of the characters, Darius, is black and we get to see his experience with racism. For the most part it’s a lot of frustration, anger, and wishing for justice, while at the same time being afraid to defend himself because of stereotypes. I found Darius’ perspective to be helpful.

What I found more confusing were the parallels and symbolism between our world and the Sunlit Lands.
In the Sunlit lands, the Elenil have oppressed the Scim for centuries, and in the end reconciliation comes when both groups recognize their shared humanity, a new community is formed, and NO ONE is excluded. This part I really appreciated. I think oftentimes in today’s society racism is ‘solved’ by elevating previously (and currently) mistreated groups above their counterparts, which isn’t really equality (I’m not saying there doesn’t need to be justice, but I’m talking in terms of general groups where not all members are at fault of mistreatment). I think Mikalatos NAILED it in this part. Even the worst character was invited into the new community. Yes there were consequences for his actions and he wasn’t given full trust immediately, but he wasn’t excluded.

So what did I find confusing? Well for one, the Historian. The Historian is a mysterious, evil character who ‘rewrote’ the history of the Sunlit lands to justify inequality and mistreatment, which I totally agree is wrong. What concerns me with this is the real life application. Yes, it’s true that some highly praised historical figures actually did really horrible, despicable things, and we should not be praising them. The thing is that I think this has been taken to extremes in our current culture. Not every white male in history was a terrible person and many of them did great things worthy of recognition. We should definitely be open to talking about their flaws, but also be able to recognize talent apart from that. In the Bible, David is an adulterer. And yet he is one of the most revered individuals in the Bible for other achievements and reconciliation with God.
I’m not saying that the book did a bad job of representing this idea, but it wasn’t very clear what Mikalatos was trying to say about the role of history in racism.

Overall, I think Mikalatos did a fairly good job of discussing this very complicated issue. I only wish some details would have been more clarified.

[Rachelle Sperling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is stunning. You can’t start with book three, you need to read The Crescent Stone and The Heartwood Crown first, and really, you should.

Though targeted for ages 13-18 any adult with a bit of imagination could love this series. The world-building is spectacular. The humor is delightful. The author doesn’t shy away from difficult topics weaving themes like terminal illness, racial tension and the complicated danger of seeking and wielding power into a tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat. And all the while the characters are growing, discovering who they are, untangling the lies they have believed, and taking their places in a larger and grander narrative arc than they could have imagined.

While several of the themes are intense, and death is a part of the story, the writing never feels dark and for an author to accomplish that balance is a real feat.

I recommend the whole series and loved the conclusion brought to life in The Story King.

I received a free digital galley of this final book in the series in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Emily Golus · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s been a long time since a book engaged me so thoroughly. I absolutely loved Crescent Stone and Heartwood Crown, but it took me a while to get to the third. It did not disappoint. I don’t want to give spoilers but the highlights are:

1. Jason Wu
2. Darius’s story is given more depth and his arc concludes satisfactorily
3. Madeline’s legacy is handled well
4. Jason Wu
5. Shula’s story deepens
6. Mysteries about the Elenil and the origin of the Sunlit Lands uncovered!
7. *So much* Jason Wu.
8. SNACK TIME.

There was a little bit that was confusing near the end (a lot going on at once) but even so, this series ended so well. I’m so glad I discovered these delightful books.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Die Auflösung der Geschichte rund um die Sunlit Lands. Nach einem Regentensturz wird es gefährlich für die Menschen in den Sunlit Lands, und die alten Hauptfiguren und eine neue versuchen, etwas dagegen zu unternehmen. Das Buch hat etwas gehetzt gewirkt auf mich, vor allem gegen Ende hat der Autor der Geschichte nicht mehr genug Zeit gelassen. Ich hatte mir erwartet, dass diese Serie eine bessere Narnia-Geschichte ist, und obwohl sie viel Gutes hat, war ich insgesamt leider nicht zufrieden damit.

[Christina D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Story King is the third book in the Sunlit Lands series (The Crescent Stone and The Heartwood Crown are books one and two). If you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that Matt Mikalatos is one of my favorite theologians and I try my best to get my hands on and read and share all of his titles. No surprise then that I loved The Story King.

Mikalatos does a great job of wrapping up all the stories and filling in all the right holes while leaving enough mystery for the story to have a life of its own. In much the same way that The Final Battle from the Narnia series helps explain the beginning of the story, The Story King does so for the Sunlit Lands. Even though it's an ending, it's rooted very deeply in the beginning of the story and how we don't have to let broken things stay broken because that's the way it's always been. If pressed very hard to sum up the entire series, I would say that the story we believe about ourselves helps shape the world we live in. And because of that, it's very important that we recognize the grace and love that help bring us into being.

Since finishing The Story King, I've spent many hours pondering my name and how I think of myself, and how I interact with the world because of those thoughts. I don't know if that was Mikalato's intent with this trilogy but it is a very beautiful result.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for the purpose of review. I'm never required to say positive things but I'm always thankful when I can.

[Steph Elias · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Story King is the third of The Sunlit Lands books. It has great characters and like the others, it has a really interesting setting. I think the book is really unique and I love the authors writing style. I look forward to reading more of their work.

[Josh Olds · Rating 5 out of 5]

And so we come to the end of The Sunlit Lands. After two years, Matt Mikalatos is finally giving readers the long-awaited conclusion to The Sunlit Lands with The Story King. Where to even begin? First, if you haven’t read the first two books (The Crescent Stone & The Heartwood Crown), go and do that. There’s so much to absorb in The Story King, I can’t imagine trying to read it while also relying on only distant memories of the first two books. Second, prepare yourself for a complex and nuanced story. That’s been true for this series as a whole, but The Story King takes it to another level as Mikalatos explores the creation and foundation of the Sunlit Lands.

The Sunlit Lands is a well-crafted, fully-realized world so rich in lore and legend that even Tolkien would appreciate it. It’s almost too much at times. Not too much objectively, but too much for one book. Since the world is so unique and does not rely on standard fantasy tropes, Mikalatos has no great way of giving readers a succinct shorthand. On one hand, this leads to beautifully lyric descriptions; on the other, it’s just so much to take in all at once. I wonder if the story wouldn’t have been better told if expanded and allowed to breathe through two books. Now there are publishing reasons for why it isn’t, I’m sure, so I’ll always take too much over too little (especially when it’s Mikalatos dishing it out).

There are also some plotlines that are a little…complicated. I didn’t understand everything I read in the moment—such as when the fake Jasons kidnap Jason. And there are things I’m still not sure I totally understood in all its fullness—Darius’s journey to Malgwin and the Sea Beneath. And there are things that are still mystery and meant to be mystery—such as the origin of Cumberland’s master’s magic. (This last one could have been a prequel novel in and of itself.)

The first two books in The Sunlit Lands explored the concepts of privilege, inequality, social justice, and sacrifice. In The Crescent Stone, we learn that the Elenil obtain their power by taking from the Scim. When Madeline is healed of her lung disease, it is to the detriment of a Scim who takes that burden upon themselves. The Heartwood Crown is about undoing the generational effects of such systemic injustice and Madeline sacrifices her own life to reset the balance of power. The Story King moves one step further to consider what we are to do if the very system itself was created out of a pattern of injustice and inequality. It’s a dense, yet understandable movement from awareness to individual activism to true systemic deconstruction.

The Story King is one of those novels that you could read several times and still pick up new things from it. Mikalatos has layered his legends one over the other and ensured that each story within the story has its own purpose and isn’t simply there to serve the narrative. If you’re a fantasy buff, the best analogy that I have is that The Story King is to The Sunlit Lands what That Hideous Strength is to C.S. Lewis’s Space Trilogy. (Except I had a much better time reading The Story King.) If you thought the first two books were deep and compelling, challenging and mysterious, just wait until the third.

In fact, I’m willing to extend the comparison: Matt Mikalatos is a C.S. Lewis of his generation. Consistently thoughtful, yet whimsical. Very serious, yet full of snark and sarcasm. An evident love of mythology, symbolism, and story. Lewis’s influence is seen several places throughout the series, perhaps even in the name The Sunlit Lands itself.

In this world, our preconceived biases often keep us from being able to see issues from a different perspective. By placing a near-analogue of those issues into a fantasy world—a world where we have no biases—Matt Mikalatos shows readers our world through the lens of that one, helping us see old issues with new eyes. The questions he asks and the answers he suggests are not easy (indeed they may mean our undoing), but they worth the conversation. Mikalatos uses story in the most profound of ways. Like Nathan of old, he tells us a parable, notes our outrage, then says to us quite simply “Thou art that man.” But he does so in a way so loving, so non-condemning, so simply, that you can’t help but ask him where to start. Because it’s one thing to deconstruct a fantasy world and quite another to do so to our reality.

The Story King is a worthy conclusion to The Sunlit Lands, though I desperately hope for more adventures to follow.

[Daniels' Kids · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the best books of the best series I have read, up there with Lord of the Rings and Narnia for plot and action, and the City of Ember for a powerful message. The message is that freedom doesn't come from someone in charge, because that's not freedom. I love this series and 100% recommend it.

[Kaleb Axon]

This review spoils The Heartwood Crown, so if you haven't read that book yet, don't read this.

The trouble with this story is that Madeline is dead, and I found that I was not invested enough in the other characters to find the story engaging. I just couldn't get into it. I'm guessing that were it not for that hurdle, it might have been a great book.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Open this book, and you'll fall in love with the characters and action adventure. After turning the last page, you’ll leave the Sunlit Lands satisfied and considering the power and responsibility of remembering.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting trilogy recommend a read, did not expect the ending. I am still processing this book I may write more later.

[Ethan Marstella · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one just tried to do too much, and I didn’t feel like it all worked in concert. Overall a good series worth reading.

[Matt Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and unexpected end to the series.

[Whitney Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just wish we had a bit more at the end, more tied strings, more character development for Madeline's mom and a little more for everyone really.

[Christine Barth · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a lot happening in this and I don't know how I feel about all of it, but I did enjoy all the characters in different ways.

[Elli Vickery · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ THESE BOOKS!!! I loved them soooo much

[Sara Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

** “There is a power in words … It is words that make the world. And even more power in story, for what is a story but a collection of words, arranged to bring order to the world, to change the world, to make the world.” **

Matt Mikalatos wraps up his Sunlit Land series with “The Story King,” the third installation that picks up shortly after Madeline’s sacrifice in “The Heartwood Crown.”

“The Story King” follows the journeys of her friends as they work to save the Sunlit Sands and release the hold of the Elenil people upon the rest of the land’s residents. Plucky Jason Wu is also working to win the hand of his beloved Baileya; Darius is still on Earth trying to find his way back to the Sunlit Lands; and Shula is still protecting young Yenil while on a quest to find her brother whom she thought was dead.

Mikalatos does an incredible job of developing a fantastical world filled with unique creatures, like a “unicorn” rhinoceros that can change its size, people who can shape shift, and people with magical powers. He creates characters that are truly loveable (including sweet yet fierce Yenil and Delightful Glitter Lady, the rhino “unicorn”), as well as ones not so likable. He also fills his world with intrigue and wonder, with knights and castles and battles.

Besides having a great plot that weaves suspense, inspiration and love together, “The Story King” is filled with several great themes, like overcoming injustice; showing humanity and compassion to others; the importance of memories and one’s story; caring for the poor, orphans and widows; and overcoming our wounds in life and growing stronger from them (“When you don’t remember a wound, you can’t heal from it. You have to acknowledge it, study it, and then you start to heal”).

This book is a great allegorical fantasy story that is geared toward young readers but will be loved by adults too. Fans of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, Andrew Peterson’s Wingfeather Saga, or either Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games or The Underland Chronicles with Gregor the Overlander will love the Sunlit Lands stories.

Five stars out of five.

Tyndale House Publishers provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

[Beth Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I’m off to the war council,” she said.
“And I’m off to save the world so we can date,” Jason said.

The third and final installment of The Sunlit Lands series sucked me in from the first page.

I adore Jason Wu (Wu Song) and the Kakri people, who value and bargain with stories. Jason keeps me laughing through the entire book (series, actually).

My heart aches for Darius in this book as he grieves and tries to find the right way forward. I see Darius as the philosopher, the heart, and the hope of a better world for both the Sunlit Lands and Earth. (Darius’s dad and grandpa Cumberland are awesome in this one too. That’s all I’ll say to avoid spoilers.)

The other characters’ arcs were well done but Jason and Darius are my favs, especially in this book as they both strive to save the Sunlit Lands in different ways.

As with the previous books the writing shifts seamlessly from gorgeous prose that reads like myth and fairy tale to hilarious modern humor in both the action and dialogue. I tip my hat to Matt Mikalatos for blending the serious stuff and the fun so well. This is an excellent reading experience from start to finish.

I love all the diverse peoples of the Sunlit Lands. There are so many topics and pieces of the human experience addressed in these books that it’s hard for me to list them. Love and grief. Power, slavery, sacrifice and forgiveness. Magic and nature. Ignorance and the importance of literacy, knowledge and memory. What makes us different and the same. Taking a stand against racism or keeping your head down.

A thought-provoking commentary on humanity—all wrapped up in a fun fantasy trilogy.

Dive into this amazing series, folks. It’s like nothing else I’ve read.

[Meagan | The Chapter House · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 to 3.5 stars. Much of this book is really fantastic, and a worthy conclusion to the series; other parts are less so. The agenda and correlations to present-day events are, at times, glaringly obvious in this read--much more so than in previous books. (I mean, come on ... a white-supremacy group called the Vain Boys. Can't imagine what that plays off of.) Allegory included sometimes felt like a 2x4; I wished at times it was a little more nuanced.

Certainly thought-provoking in more ways than one ... and strength and weakness are juxtaposed here also in more ways than one. A bit of a mixed bag; worth reading (with a grain or six of salt) for the resolution and conclusion to the series, and I would just add, go in with your critical-thinking cap on and eyes wide open.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.