Nine of Wands

The King's Watch #5

by Mark Hayden, Ciaran Saward (Narrator)

Gold. Beautiful and Deadly.
And doubly deadly when you mix it with magick.

Conrad and Mina take a time-out from trouble in Spain. It’s their own little Garden of Eden, until a Tarot reader tells him that his troubles have barely begun.

Expelled from Paradise, Conrad and the team have to chase the trail of a new source of Alchemical Gold. A source that already has Dwarves, Gnomes and human Mages at each other’s throats.

When the prize is gold, life is cheap, and nothing blinds like greed. Can Conrad keep his eyes open and see through the killing glare of gold?

When the Tarot says Nine of Wands, you know you’re in for a bumpy ride.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Magic, Fiction, Audiobook, Adventure, Paranormal

Audible Audio

Published June 17, 2021

About the author

Author also writes under Ruth Ward

Mark Hayden is the nom de guerre of Adrian Attwood. He lives in Westmorland with his wife, Anne.

Adrian has had a varied career working for a brewery, teaching English and being the Town Clerk in Carnforth. He is now a part-time writer and part-time assistant in Anne's craft projects.

He is also proud to be the Mad Unky to his Great Nieces & Great Nephew.

His current writing project is the King’s Watch series of urban fantasy novels, from 13th Witch all the way down to Zero Hour. If he can keep it up.

Reviews

[Milda Page Runner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love this series but this installment was a bit of a hit and miss for me. 'Miss' mainly because there is too much cricket. Really don't care reading about the games.
Everything to do with the case solving was interesting and exciting as usual. And Scout is adorable :)

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the ‘additional’ review I posted for The 13th Witch – but the comments made in this review apply to all the books I have read so far in the series, so I am copy/pasting this for the rest of the books I have read. ;)

I've finished reading the series as far as it goes and I am now waiting eagerly for the next book to be published - sometime around the end of March 2020. I cannot remember the last time I enjoyed an urban fantasy series quite so much, and to the extent that I immediately started reading again, from the start. The writing is deliciously 'British', the characters each have their own distinctive 'voice' and the author uses some subtle and clever ways to change POVs (which doesn't happen very often.) And I LOVE the slight obsession with shrugging!

As the series progresses, the back story becomes clearer, though there are still several mysteries regarding Conrad, and usually that would irritate me. But it doesn't here. It works really well for some reason (and yes, I know Conrad's story is written in a different series, but I hadn't read those)

I also love the way details are dropped into the story with an almost casual air. I expect the author has done a phenomenal amount of research and it shows, but not in massive info-dumps, or great wodges of boring details. There's a comfortable sense that this author isn't going to drop a clanger or write something so stupid that I want to throw my Kindle across the room. Instead I am quietly enjoying learning small details without feeling I am being lectured at!

There are a few niggles about the actual format of the book - changes in scenes/times are not sometimes marked with the usual *** and it can confuse the reader. The chapter titles are a tad too large - maybe because I have my kindle font set at 'large' and although I like the covers, they have a slight 'blurriness' about them – but I think that might be the Kindle?

However, I have read all six books in the series and I am going to start reading them again, tonight. I think that's a good enough recommendation. ;)

[Dale Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The King's Watch investigation into the Magickal world's increasingly runaway financial problems has turned deadly. It was only through pure luck that Conrad and Vicky survived an attack that not only would have ended that investigation but would have provided their attackers with an artefact of incredible importance to the entire world of magick.

Now those same investigations have uncovered what was thought to be impossible and will lead to attempted murder, betrayal, and death...and directly in to conflict with the world of the Fae and all that may bring.

But...the world goes on. With new responsibilities...new additions to the team...and new secrets uncovered that will rock Conrad Clarke's entire world.

And the Nine of Wands may STILL not be done with Conrad and his world.

This is the 5th book in the stories of the KING's WATCH though not that of Conrad Clarke. Author Mark Hayden has crafted an amazing and wonderful world that is hidden away from the "Mundane" world and is inhabited by people, creatures, and those in-between who readers could easily confuse with the neighbors and world that they see and encounter everyday. The same wants and needs that drive the real world can be seen in Hayden's.

One of the other enjoyable parts of Hayden's storytelling and world building is that he continually introduces new players into each story that are not simply one hit wonders and continue to carry on through the next and subsequent books as he enriches the stories with so many colorful and interesting pieces.

This series...and author Mark Hayden...have quickly become one of my favorites in the Urban Fantasy...Ex-Military...Magickal Enforcement...and sooooo many other genres.

With more already published...AND...multiple short stories that take place and interweave with the main story line, I'll be able to enjoy these for a while longer.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still keeping the standards high.

Another excellent book from mark Hayden, this one is a touch more darker than the previous books in the series. Also the action does goes up a gear in this book.

Totally unsuspected twist in the last chapter of the book, not sure what it’s going to add to storyline.

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

I invested in the series early and bought the first 6 books, and am determined to see it through.
I found myself struggling to concentrate with elements of this plotline, and feel that a bit of the old 'Deux Ex Machina' was used to wrap the storyline up, a little too neatly. The storyline is just a little...drab. Conrad as a character is more concerned with Cricket and village gossip than the magical world. I get it, I love cricket too, but if Mark Hayden loves it that much he should write a spin off series about it and concentrate on storytelling.
Conrad is just becoming a bit of a 'lad'; as Mark writes in a Harem of younger women into his life living in his house....I just am struggling more and more with actually liking him/suspending disbelief.
The series started brilliantly with some great new ideas, the take on Gnomes and Dwarves and the hierarchy of the magical world in Albian I really like...but by books 4 and 5 I feel like it's lost it's way.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

And on to the fifth adventure for Conrad Clarke, former RAF pilot, Kings Watch officer, Dragonslayer and all round good guy.

This latest installment involves more goblins, a demon, gold and hyper-inflation. Also Mina is out of prison and finally becoming more than just 'Conrad's girlfriend in gaol'. In fact (and I say this as an accountant myself) Mina is instrumental in uncovering the crime in this novel and pinpointing the source.

What more can I say? I binge-read the series to-date in a few days because it has humour, magick (always with a K), dwarves, dragons, gnomes, a Jewish commander, demons and a group of loveable characters.

[Eden · Rating 5 out of 5]

2023 bk 170. In some ways this might be my favorite. We get to watch Conrad's parents come to know and accept Mina when the pair visit Spain. Mina and Mary bond over bridge and Conrad gets an unexpected tarot reading. Back home, they delve into matters gnomish and accept their first gnome irregular. Lots of action, a cause for Mina and they are off to the races. well done!

[Cherry Mischievous · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mina's Ancile

My Thoughts:

In The 12 Dragons Of Albion, I wondered if we will get to know if there are 11 more dragon eggs and if we are going to see more dragons in this series. In this book, I was surprised that I actually got an answer! Of some sort. I don't know if there will be more dragons in the series. But my question was actually asked by one of the audience in the dragon seminar. Now, how about that?!

For a minute there, I got lost and got confused in the story lines. All of a sudden there was this mother of the Earth Master of Salomon's House, Chris Kelly, got mentioned! Now, I read this series faithfully from book 1 and I don't remember any Phantom Stag!! However, I backbenched that thought and continued reading. A couple of chapters on, I went into GoodReads and had a nosey because not knowing annoyed me! Then there we are! A parallel series of short stories, A King's Watch Stories series. And the first book in that series is the Phantom Stag!... That answers that mystery... This book is also an advert for buying that novella.

My advise is, don't read this book until you've read the Tales From The Watch because you will not apprecite the sequence of events mentioned in this book and it might just get you royally confused.

So, book 5, I am already a fan. So, from henchforth, it will all be fan-girling. Biased.

Not the best book in the series but still an enjoyable read!

Empirical Evaluation:

Story telling quality = 4
Character development = 4
Story itself = 3.5
Writing Style = 4
Ending = 4.5
World building = 4
Cover art = 3
Pace = (12 hrs and 5 mins listening time)
Plot = 4
Narration = 4.5

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 cherries

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title: Nine of Wands A Conrad Clarke Novel (Kings Watch Book 5)
Author: Mark Hayden @mhaydenauthor

Rating: 3/5*

Pages: 282

Also available on @amazonkindle - kindle unlimited

I'm enjoying the tremendous being built between the characters. The rapport and the events haircut at clerkwell. I was sad that vicky is no longer Conrad's partner.

Some parts were very predictable and I felt I'd missed out on a few stories.

I did dislike the hints to the novellas and now I've realised I've got to read those to keep up with what's going on. On looking for the novellas I also saw the jigsaw project which makes sense on why I feel like I'd missed something with that.

To know that there are all these extra books that seem to be mentioned in the storyline quite often has made me feel quite overwhelmed.

12 books in this series
8 in the novellas
3 in the jigsaw project

My adhd won't let me continue until I've read the others and caught up in the series in the correct order.

I always thought novellas were meant to be little side stories and not critical to the storyline.

However, I loved the plot twist in the end. That was unexpected!!

Have you read this book or series?
Will you give it a go?
What's your favourite urban fantasy book at the moment?

*Note from me: I never want to dim people's shine. It's brave for the author to put themselves out there in the public eye. Books/stories are personal preferences. What might be my cup of tea may not be yours. And vice Versa! Keep creating!

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really go back and forth with this series on how much I’m actually enjoying myself. When it’s good it soars so high. But when it’s not it can really be a slog. This was a bit of both but it really did finish off very strong which is a good job because I had been considering taking a long break til the next one.


Sometimes you know what these books are about straight away, sometimes there’s so much catching up from the last story that it takes awhile for it to be clear. And that’s strange considering how short these books all are. I didn’t have a feel for what was going on here until wayyyy into this story. A lot of that is down to the cricket. I could really use a hell of a lot less cricket talk. Conrad has a hidden mage talent for talking women into joining his local cricket team. It is very dull.

Mina continues to be a thorn to me. Yet again it seems she is not going to turn out to be a Secret Bad Guy. Pity. It would be perfect. And it would mean less of her all around. I just do not like her or her story lines much. She was also wayyyy too involved in the First Mine. She’s not trained in any kind of combat and she takes down the main bad Mage? Come ooooon.

Also Vicky is suddenly replaced with Saffron. Nooooo thank you! I adore Vicky and Conrad’s chemistry so I’m suspect going forward.

Love Scout! Didn’t really get why he came with him EVERYWHERE. I know he needed Lux but that was a bit much.

A decent final fight, but felt a bit hurried, which tends to be the case in this series. There’s a lot of build up to them and then it’s over with so quickly and Vicky is hurt for the 16th time or something.

This ends on a bit of a cliff hanger with the possibility of the new sister. Drama! Interesting though. Dad has some explaining to do!

[Janet Lawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the previous four

I was excited to start book five in the Conrad Clarke series, but for me; for a number of reasons it just wasn't as good as the previous 4. I'm really not a fan of Saffon, because Vicky felt like a much more natural partnership. I'm also increasingly irriated with the Mina story-arc. She doesn't feel like a good fit for Conrad to me, she also seems to be being shoehorned into the story by blundering into the magickal world and making stupid decisions. Rachael and her seemingly petty jealousy over Elvenham again seems like filler. To me it all feels extraneous to the actual story. If it is an upcoming plot point it's been hammered in so much it'll hardly be a big reveal. All that being said, the story itself is good. The progression of the overarching story is enough to keep it a present theme, without feeling rushed. Scout is awesome, I enjoy the interactions with Chris Kelly, Hannah, Cora, the parents etc. So overall a good book, but for a fantasy far too much mundane sibling squabbling, extraneous fluff.

BOTTOM LINE: Definitely worth a look, but not a book I think I'll ever reread.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was easily my favourite of the series (which has been hit and miss as a whole).

One thing though is the cricket chat is too much. I get that the cricket has become part of the gangs life but even a paragraph describing each game several times in this book has become too much for me.

Generally though I like how this book built on the events of last book in a more crime thriller type way. Nothing felt strained to me and it didn't feel like anything went on too long in either part of the book (except the cricket).

Another note though is I still remain tired of how the author writes Conrad's interaction with the women in this book. Nearly all his interactions are with women in which, while they technically know more about this world than him, he always knows best and they are resigned to popping the kettle on. His smart arse arrogant ways have become a lot more tempered in this book so fingers crossed for an absolute removal by the next installment.

[Tina M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Action Packed And Plenty Of Drama

I've been extremely captivated by this series so far. Some of the individual books have been more elevated and polished than others.

Each individual story has its own plot, which lures the reader in, and the subplots keeps the narrative running to centralize and tie into the bigger picture. It's more than sufficient to keep your curiosity piqued, and coming back for more.

Each main character creates a memorable spark, whether you can relate to them or not. To add in the supporting co-characters provides a comprehensive nuance which brings further diversity, creating another element of interest.

You're absolutely cheering on, rooting for, and completely engrossed in the main character's well-being, as well as the action that's unfolding around them.

This one, by far, tops out on the action and drama. Hard to put down once you start it.

[George Seminara · Rating 4 out of 5]

another fun ride that might spoil your appetite

First, the cast is expanding and the over-arching tale is blazing. This chapter, book 5, is arranged in two halves. Much like Raiders of the Lost Ark, when Indy dives into water and hitches a ride on the U-Boat. A breather. And then it continues at a break-neck pace. So two with, Nine of Wands, except you barely get a breather. Very enjoyable.
But! I have a bone to pick with whoever copy-edited this piece. There are some confusing moments when Conrad is talking to someone who is unidentified or he is describing a place we have never been. There are also a few spots where the “Y” has been dropped to make the instead of they. I’m reading this on the kindle and it’s fast reading. I forgive Mark Hayden for any grammatical errors and put the responsibility on who ever edited this other wise pleasurable read.

[Eric Simons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Joining an Extended Family

I won't say much about the story because that would give it away. But let's talk about two things I really enjoy about series, the interaction of characters over time and the writing. Mr Hayden's writing has a comfort and warmth to it that draws you in and makes reading a joy. Plenty of explanation where it's needed but also the emotive quality that makes you love the characters. As the series has developed we've learnt about the big players and even some of the small ones so they've become real people. This series has a lovely immersive feeling to it aided by some well thought out rules of magic. I'll keep reading just to see where it goes.

[Amanda Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complex and engrossing

Binge reading the series... being as unaware of Magick as Conrad, it's taken time to follow the deeper story... initially, I wasn't as drawn in, but this one really seems to start pulling things together more... I think once I reach the end of the series, a reread would make the earlier novels much easier to follow in terms of who is who, their roles, and their individual places in the Magick world so the focus would be not on trying to unpick the complex background but just enjoy the story itself...

I am deeply invested in the characters and their own progression, or I would stop and go back now... the need to know if Conrad and Mina, Myfanwy and Ben, Vicky, Desi, et al, get to the end safely makes it far too compelling to pause...

[Hana · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a way, there were two stories with clear end. The first dealt with gnomes, gold and artificial inflation and was sort of Mina's story. The second followed closely and focused on finding and capturing villains from the first story. Both were interesting and full of action. I was a bit surprised by the fact that Conrad and Vicky split and got new partners because their dynamic was out of charts. But Conrad's new partner Saffron wasn't bad and we will see how their relationship will develop. The end got us a new surprise and I am looking forward to learn more.

[Erin Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Packed to the brim

I'll start by saying I love this series, but this entry was rammed full of events. It was almost as though there were four or five complete stories within the one novel. Sometimes it was difficult to keep up and remember the key points. However, I couldn't stop reading and I enjoyed it just as much as all the others. I love the extended cast and the continuation of so much development.

[Clare Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stuff

I’m enjoying working my way through this series, I like that the mundane stories are flowed as well as magik. I especially liked this one as I’m from Birmingham, so I recognised all the places, Tettenhall, Dudley and the Black Country Museum, Lichfield it made it more real and I’ll be on the lookout for Lux next time I visit them! Also loving the development of Scout, I hope it’s not going to be one of those where I get attached then he gets killed off.

[John-Torleif Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where will this go next?

Ummm, what just happened? That ending was so completely unexpected that I don't know if I have any words yet. I'm definitely wondering how this will change things in Conrad's life.

I was dreading how yet another betrayal in the Watch would demoralize everyone. And yet, it's interesting that every time the Watch is targeted by their enemies,it only seems to hone and sharpen the Watch into a much more capable and fearsome unit than it ever was before.

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Conrad's group of comrades expands, and so does the story.

Lots of details, but no plot holes in this fast moving story that covers a lot of ground in a rush. New characters, new magick, new motivations, and more of the history that binds it all together.
One book runs to the next, and now there are side stories! Hayden must write in his sleep.
Too much cricket for me, but I have a better understanding now of why so many disregard it.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiler alert - nah not really; Conrad and Mina go to Spain to visit Conrad's parents. While there Conrad learns that he has an illegitimate half-sister who is also a mage. Chased back to the UK Conrad sets out on another series of adventures that end up with him once again being the bad ass of the magical police.

[Jim Basl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book in the series

This was a good book in the series. This book continues on with series plot and shows how the main character cases’ tie together. This book tied more of the previous books to this one. The book finished with a cliffhanger in regards to the main character’s life.

[Peggy Richter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner

Another in the series, well written, consistent to the " universe" created by the author. I like the heroes and heroines. They are good without being unrealistic. If I have a complaint, it's that the "side stories" really do need to be read as well, and it would be good to have all the tales listed in an appendix. Already purchasing the next book.

[Vikki Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun storyline & great characters

Really enjoying the kings watch series - great escapism. Love the main characters and fast moving plot. Just what is needed in lockdown - only waiting for a Phoenix or griffin to make an appearance!

[Mordecai · Rating 5 out of 5]

And it STILL gets Better!

Loved this book, nice pace, well written, still get confused over who’s who name wise but not as bad as the last book! Novella time now before the next in the series!
Mr Author sir ... keep writing!

[Andrew Paier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful continuation

I continue to love this series and the characters. I admire the author's vision and audacity to set out creating a 13 books series. The series started out excellent and continues in that vein.

[Steve W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book in the series. Read in a day and thoroughly enjoyed. It finished well and with a great lead into the next book. He missed a trick using a Puma helicopter when he could have used the Merlin 😂

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I've said, the author is getting really comfortable with these characters...and they are flourishing in the story telling. These books read more like mysteries than supernatural. Still loving them.

[Michael MacLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unpolished, but still enjoyable

This book seems to have a lot of errors between the written version and the audible version. It’s not bad, but enough that you notice it. Great story, though, and it continues to deepen.