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Bonds of Kin #1
A King's Radiance
THREE SIBLINGS... A REBEL, A PRINCE, A PRISONER
The sun's light shines bright over the land of Zapour, and only a select few can harness its power. But all power comes with a cost, and the world is not kind to those who refuse to pay it.
Raiz Glaive, a strong shine wielder, was born into royalty, though even royals have to answer to someone. When the King-Radiant sends one of his precious underlings to the Kingdom of Trost, Raiz quickly learns who holds the true power in the realm. After his sister is taken prisoner simply for having the violet eyes of a mystic, Raiz swears vengeance. But when an unwilling father stands in his way, Raiz promises to take revenge into his own hands.
Dazen Glaive remains heir to the throne of Trost, and a sworn defender of the King-Radiant, but he has not forgotten what happened to his sister, and will not forgive their cruelty.
Forced to be the centrepiece of her "master's" twisted human art gallery, Isha remains a prisoner. Though she has not lost hope. Finding friends among fellow captives, she begins to formulate a plan for escape. Though what she discovers has a much more sinister bearing on the fate of all of Zapour.
The sun's light shines bright over the land of Zapour, and only a select few can harness its power. But all power comes with a cost, and the world is not kind to those who refuse to pay it.
Raiz Glaive, a strong shine wielder, was born into royalty, though even royals have to answer to someone. When the King-Radiant sends one of his precious underlings to the Kingdom of Trost, Raiz quickly learns who holds the true power in the realm. After his sister is taken prisoner simply for having the violet eyes of a mystic, Raiz swears vengeance. But when an unwilling father stands in his way, Raiz promises to take revenge into his own hands.
Dazen Glaive remains heir to the throne of Trost, and a sworn defender of the King-Radiant, but he has not forgotten what happened to his sister, and will not forgive their cruelty.
Forced to be the centrepiece of her "master's" twisted human art gallery, Isha remains a prisoner. Though she has not lost hope. Finding friends among fellow captives, she begins to formulate a plan for escape. Though what she discovers has a much more sinister bearing on the fate of all of Zapour.
543 pages, Paperback
First published March 15, 2022
73 people are currently reading
3156 people want to read
About the author
L.R. Schulz
5 books134 followersLuke is a fantasy addict born in Melbourne, Australia. He discovered a passion for fantasy at a young age which developed into a love for the imaginary and a desire to write.
Despite an early passion for storytelling, Luke obtained a teaching degree before beginning a career as a primary school teacher.
When he is not reading and writing, Luke enjoys spending time with his Golden Retriever named Gem, gaming, and surfing.
A King’s Radiance is Luke’s debut novel, though he is always coming up with ideas for his next project, as well as working towards a sequel.
Despite an early passion for storytelling, Luke obtained a teaching degree before beginning a career as a primary school teacher.
When he is not reading and writing, Luke enjoys spending time with his Golden Retriever named Gem, gaming, and surfing.
A King’s Radiance is Luke’s debut novel, though he is always coming up with ideas for his next project, as well as working towards a sequel.
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April 3, 2022
✨Honest Book Review!✨
~I was honoured to have received the ARC of this novel to read and offer my honest review!~
(As always, spoiler free ;3)
So, I feel like this review is going to end up an excited ramble gush, so strap in! 🤣 Because I get overly passionate about books I adored! Of which, yes, I *adored* A King's Radiance.
✒️ The Writing || And here's where the gush begins for real because this is some of the most incredible writing I've have the pleasure of reading. It is my absolute favourite when I can hear the characters voices themselves right in the narration. But this goes even deeper than that. Similarly to the writing in the Mousai books, I fell in *love* with the flow of the sentence structures and the emotions laid behind nearly every word. Also like the Mousai books, this is some serious writing goals for me as a writer myself. It just does such a good job sucking you into the world and keeping you there. I particularly love how the writing goes as far as to deliver dialects to different countries and classes. Eagles sounded like the snobs they were while the more modest and proud Wisha sounded just that. It does excellent work with setting the tone and general ✨vibes✨ of the story that's only deepened by the lovely worldbuilding~
🌍 Worldbuilding (and magic system) || Normally I like to separate these into different points but the two are so beautifully woven together that they need to be mentioned as one. A King's Radiance as the nice and gentle world exposure that I love in books. Info dumping is my greatest annoyance in writing and I was so grateful there's none of that here. We're introduced to things gradually without hand-holding and are still able to get a good understanding of how this world functions and what it even looks like. The magic system is fantastic and plays such an important role on the world itself that it really feels like it belongs. Plus all the religious in-world tie-ins just adds a whole new level of depth. Worldbuilding is my favourite part of the writing process so this easily excited me 😅
✏️ The Characters || I really love a book with a wide cast of characters and I love how it was handled here. Our main focus is on the three siblings and their journeys but the interludes here and there were a welcome surprise! I found myself more drawn to Raiz in particular but greatly appreciate how Dazen and Isha feel like their own individuals with unique thoughts and opinions. Each POV has a clear voice and it's easy to tell right away whos POV we're following, even if there hadn't been name tags as chapter headers. I feel like the characters are easy to get attached to and it's easier still to grasp an understanding of how they think and how they reach opinionated conclusions. Inner monologue is used fantastically here where there's just enough go get into the characters heads without it feeling overbearing.
📒 The Story (as a whole) || I'm so excited that there's going to be more to come from this! I feel like the story pacing was spot on which has become another great inspiration for my own work. It's really exciting to see all the foreshadowing and slowly start to piece it all together before the Great Reveal™ pops! I found myself going "AH-HAH I KNEW IT!" which is always great fun 🤣 The plot isn't totally predictable and I greatly enjoyed the twists. It's very rare in books that every scene feels like it holds weight and importance (we all know those fluff scenes that could be removed and not affect the story at all. Even if we love them), but it's done so well here. Even in those "is this a fluff scene" moments, they still have an impact later which is such a nice refresher to see that absolutely everything is there for a purpose.
In all, I really loved this book. Probably way too much. For some reason I was really scared I wouldn't enjoy it as much as I did. Now it's become one of my favourite books that I can't wait to own a physical copy of 💛 I can probably gush on forever more if I don't stop myself here so thanks for your time to read through this excited ramble! 😂
~I was honoured to have received the ARC of this novel to read and offer my honest review!~
(As always, spoiler free ;3)
So, I feel like this review is going to end up an excited ramble gush, so strap in! 🤣 Because I get overly passionate about books I adored! Of which, yes, I *adored* A King's Radiance.
✒️ The Writing || And here's where the gush begins for real because this is some of the most incredible writing I've have the pleasure of reading. It is my absolute favourite when I can hear the characters voices themselves right in the narration. But this goes even deeper than that. Similarly to the writing in the Mousai books, I fell in *love* with the flow of the sentence structures and the emotions laid behind nearly every word. Also like the Mousai books, this is some serious writing goals for me as a writer myself. It just does such a good job sucking you into the world and keeping you there. I particularly love how the writing goes as far as to deliver dialects to different countries and classes. Eagles sounded like the snobs they were while the more modest and proud Wisha sounded just that. It does excellent work with setting the tone and general ✨vibes✨ of the story that's only deepened by the lovely worldbuilding~
🌍 Worldbuilding (and magic system) || Normally I like to separate these into different points but the two are so beautifully woven together that they need to be mentioned as one. A King's Radiance as the nice and gentle world exposure that I love in books. Info dumping is my greatest annoyance in writing and I was so grateful there's none of that here. We're introduced to things gradually without hand-holding and are still able to get a good understanding of how this world functions and what it even looks like. The magic system is fantastic and plays such an important role on the world itself that it really feels like it belongs. Plus all the religious in-world tie-ins just adds a whole new level of depth. Worldbuilding is my favourite part of the writing process so this easily excited me 😅
✏️ The Characters || I really love a book with a wide cast of characters and I love how it was handled here. Our main focus is on the three siblings and their journeys but the interludes here and there were a welcome surprise! I found myself more drawn to Raiz in particular but greatly appreciate how Dazen and Isha feel like their own individuals with unique thoughts and opinions. Each POV has a clear voice and it's easy to tell right away whos POV we're following, even if there hadn't been name tags as chapter headers. I feel like the characters are easy to get attached to and it's easier still to grasp an understanding of how they think and how they reach opinionated conclusions. Inner monologue is used fantastically here where there's just enough go get into the characters heads without it feeling overbearing.
📒 The Story (as a whole) || I'm so excited that there's going to be more to come from this! I feel like the story pacing was spot on which has become another great inspiration for my own work. It's really exciting to see all the foreshadowing and slowly start to piece it all together before the Great Reveal™ pops! I found myself going "AH-HAH I KNEW IT!" which is always great fun 🤣 The plot isn't totally predictable and I greatly enjoyed the twists. It's very rare in books that every scene feels like it holds weight and importance (we all know those fluff scenes that could be removed and not affect the story at all. Even if we love them), but it's done so well here. Even in those "is this a fluff scene" moments, they still have an impact later which is such a nice refresher to see that absolutely everything is there for a purpose.
In all, I really loved this book. Probably way too much. For some reason I was really scared I wouldn't enjoy it as much as I did. Now it's become one of my favourite books that I can't wait to own a physical copy of 💛 I can probably gush on forever more if I don't stop myself here so thanks for your time to read through this excited ramble! 😂
August 21, 2023
This review was originally posted on Before We Go Blog
From the moment I first heard about A King’s Radiance, I just had the feeling that it was going to be a book for me. Brutal dark fantasy, three siblings as the main protagonists, an inventive sun-based magic system, and plenty of jaw-dropping plot twists. Oh, and we’ve got a loyal ‘animal’ (?) companion, what’s not to love?
On a fateful day eight years ago, which we get to experience first-hand in the gripping prologue, the peaceful lives of the three royal siblings of the Glaive family were brutally shattered. They have been separated ever since, but now their fates are starting to intertwine again as the flames of rebellion are being lit. A princess turned slave, a prince turned rebel, and a crown-prince on the cusp of a life-changing decision; this is their thrilling story of endurance, vengeance, uprising, and freedom.
Right from the prologue, I was fully hooked into this story because of the high levels of tension and intrigue. The reader is just thrown into the world and presented with all kinds of captivating concepts and dazzling displays of magic, which instantly captured my imagination. It quickly becomes clear that this sun-based magic can be incredibly destructive and that no one can be trusted at face value, so the stakes are sky-high from the very first page.
To me, the world building felt very immersive and I am deeply impressed with how seamlessly every aspect of the world and story is woven together into one cohesive whole. From the religion, to the magic system, to the tense and corrupt political landscape, and to the personal struggles of our main protagonists; they are all interconnected and affect each other in unexpected yet catastrophic ways.
I was morbidly fascinated with the merciless King-Radiant and his zealous Eagles, and was truly shocked by some of their vile convictions and practices.
Also, this is the type of story where breadcrumbs of foreshadowing are masterfully planted into the narrative, which made all the reveals and plot twists feel so earned and satisfying.
Now, as a character-driven reader I need more than just an engaging plot and intriguing world building to keep me hooked, and I am very pleased to say that Schulz’s excellent character work turned out to be a shining light of this story for me.
I absolutely loved following these three siblings and exploring how that one pivotal event in their youths has shaped them into the people they are 8 years later. They are all on such different paths and driven by their own motivations, which made it super interesting to explore this world from such contrasting perspectives.
I personally immediately latched onto Isha and Raiz, because I found their respective inner conflicts extremely compelling and really liked how much emotional depth they both had. I’ll admit that it took me a lot longer to get interested in Dazen which made the pacing a bit rocky for me in the beginning, but eventually I got fully invested in all three perspectives and could not stop turning the pages.
Each of these characters is also surrounded by some very strong and vibrant side characters, all with their own backstories and motivations, who we really get the time to connect to. Some are lovable and some absolutely despicable, but I loved how the author defied expectations and did not immediately make it obvious how you were supposed to feel about any of them.
Some character arcs were very unexpected in the most satisfying way possible and I was fully on-board for the unlikely alliances, strong friendships, and wholesome found family vibes that were established. All the conflicting emotions, shifting loyalties, hidden identities, brutal betrayals, and various other crazy twists and turns made this just such an extreme emotional rollercoaster from start to finish.
I also feel like I have to give some special praise to the author for writing some of the most cinematic and pulse-pounding (magical) action sequences that I have ever read. I am the type of reader who often skims through action or fight scenes, but these had me completely glued to the page.
The displays of the Shine magic are just so vividly described and the tension is built up masterfully, which made me feel like I was right there in the scenes alongside these characters. It also helped that the incredibly strong character work had allowed me to become fully emotionally invested in all the characters, so I was biting my nails when shit started to go haywire. And believe me, this story gets absolutely batshit crazy in the best way possible!
Needless to say, I had an absolute blast with this story and the explosive ending left me desperate for more. And judging by the impressive quality of this debut novel, I have a feeling that Schulz is going to be an author to watch.
If you are looking for a dark fantasy with an inventive magic system, compelling sibling dynamics, secret/hidden identities, dangerous rebellion, and lots of emotional gut punches, then you have to check out A King’s Radiance.
From the moment I first heard about A King’s Radiance, I just had the feeling that it was going to be a book for me. Brutal dark fantasy, three siblings as the main protagonists, an inventive sun-based magic system, and plenty of jaw-dropping plot twists. Oh, and we’ve got a loyal ‘animal’ (?) companion, what’s not to love?
On a fateful day eight years ago, which we get to experience first-hand in the gripping prologue, the peaceful lives of the three royal siblings of the Glaive family were brutally shattered. They have been separated ever since, but now their fates are starting to intertwine again as the flames of rebellion are being lit. A princess turned slave, a prince turned rebel, and a crown-prince on the cusp of a life-changing decision; this is their thrilling story of endurance, vengeance, uprising, and freedom.
Right from the prologue, I was fully hooked into this story because of the high levels of tension and intrigue. The reader is just thrown into the world and presented with all kinds of captivating concepts and dazzling displays of magic, which instantly captured my imagination. It quickly becomes clear that this sun-based magic can be incredibly destructive and that no one can be trusted at face value, so the stakes are sky-high from the very first page.
To me, the world building felt very immersive and I am deeply impressed with how seamlessly every aspect of the world and story is woven together into one cohesive whole. From the religion, to the magic system, to the tense and corrupt political landscape, and to the personal struggles of our main protagonists; they are all interconnected and affect each other in unexpected yet catastrophic ways.
I was morbidly fascinated with the merciless King-Radiant and his zealous Eagles, and was truly shocked by some of their vile convictions and practices.
Also, this is the type of story where breadcrumbs of foreshadowing are masterfully planted into the narrative, which made all the reveals and plot twists feel so earned and satisfying.
Now, as a character-driven reader I need more than just an engaging plot and intriguing world building to keep me hooked, and I am very pleased to say that Schulz’s excellent character work turned out to be a shining light of this story for me.
I absolutely loved following these three siblings and exploring how that one pivotal event in their youths has shaped them into the people they are 8 years later. They are all on such different paths and driven by their own motivations, which made it super interesting to explore this world from such contrasting perspectives.
I personally immediately latched onto Isha and Raiz, because I found their respective inner conflicts extremely compelling and really liked how much emotional depth they both had. I’ll admit that it took me a lot longer to get interested in Dazen which made the pacing a bit rocky for me in the beginning, but eventually I got fully invested in all three perspectives and could not stop turning the pages.
Each of these characters is also surrounded by some very strong and vibrant side characters, all with their own backstories and motivations, who we really get the time to connect to. Some are lovable and some absolutely despicable, but I loved how the author defied expectations and did not immediately make it obvious how you were supposed to feel about any of them.
Some character arcs were very unexpected in the most satisfying way possible and I was fully on-board for the unlikely alliances, strong friendships, and wholesome found family vibes that were established. All the conflicting emotions, shifting loyalties, hidden identities, brutal betrayals, and various other crazy twists and turns made this just such an extreme emotional rollercoaster from start to finish.
I also feel like I have to give some special praise to the author for writing some of the most cinematic and pulse-pounding (magical) action sequences that I have ever read. I am the type of reader who often skims through action or fight scenes, but these had me completely glued to the page.
The displays of the Shine magic are just so vividly described and the tension is built up masterfully, which made me feel like I was right there in the scenes alongside these characters. It also helped that the incredibly strong character work had allowed me to become fully emotionally invested in all the characters, so I was biting my nails when shit started to go haywire. And believe me, this story gets absolutely batshit crazy in the best way possible!
Needless to say, I had an absolute blast with this story and the explosive ending left me desperate for more. And judging by the impressive quality of this debut novel, I have a feeling that Schulz is going to be an author to watch.
If you are looking for a dark fantasy with an inventive magic system, compelling sibling dynamics, secret/hidden identities, dangerous rebellion, and lots of emotional gut punches, then you have to check out A King’s Radiance.
January 4, 2024
I received an e-ARC from the author, very luckily for me, and I was stoked to get into this one. Out officially May, 22nd, be sure to be on the lookout for the e-book and paperback!
This is an epic fantasy novel, and it is just that, EPIC (EPIC EPIC). It has everything you’re used to loving in a fantasy novel, and even better, it’s also done well. The writing is slick and intelligent, I wasn’t bored with a single page.
The characters truly come alive on the page. It was honestly a treat to have them each blossom into their own individual being over the 500+ page book. The story features three main perspectives, from three siblings, (and some added spice via interlude appearances) and even the characters that aren’t in the main spotlight are incredibly well fleshed out.
Raiz: arguably the true “main character” in this story. A true ‘chip on the shoulder’ character, with absolutely tons of teenage angst. His is a tale of empowerment and revenge, of courage and action. His decision making may have you pulling your hair out, but I did not question a single thing as being outside of his character. He also has a companion creature that you will just have to read to see and understand. So cool!
Dazen: the elder brother, the father’s favorite, the perfect prince. A character that grows from a teen to a man under his father’s shadow. The author still somehow manages to make him multilayered, dynamic, and believable. Not to mention honorable. Probably some of my favorite character development is from him.
Isha: the middle child and perhaps most unfortunate. When a princess is turned into a slave in the collection of a rich untouchable, the story ignites into a battle for sanity, inner strength, and wanted opportunities for escape. The author really impressed me with this character. Not only does she project just incredible strength and warmth as a character, but she is lovable and believable as well.
This novel does some very interesting things with its magic system. Some men and women have the ability to harvest the strength of the sun, or Zur, their god. This sun magic is referred to as Shine and it is used for light, fire, and heat. Almost every character has a slightly different way that they use the ability and I loved that it was drawing from a natural source. Some are more powerful than others while others cannot use it at all, and I thought it was amazing that some of it has to do with lineage, and than others seem to be more powerful simply by chance. I love when there’s not necessarily a rhyme or reason.
I will say honestly that this novels tropes are certainly going to trope (trope trope). There’s no getting around that. From found family, to chosen ones, to enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, long lost family, hidden family, underdog heroes, and I’m sure I’m missing a few. But I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I bought in, I was entirely invested in their outcome.
A new favorite for sure. As this is a debut, I know you haven’t read this author yet, but believe me, you’re going to want to. Follow him and add his novel on Amazon to some list that you can order when it releases. I will tell my mom to read this book, I will tell babies to read it. I do not have a physical copy of it, but my shelf absolutely demands it.
Now this amazing book is out, and I did preorder a physical copy!!
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-a-king...
This is an epic fantasy novel, and it is just that, EPIC (EPIC EPIC). It has everything you’re used to loving in a fantasy novel, and even better, it’s also done well. The writing is slick and intelligent, I wasn’t bored with a single page.
The characters truly come alive on the page. It was honestly a treat to have them each blossom into their own individual being over the 500+ page book. The story features three main perspectives, from three siblings, (and some added spice via interlude appearances) and even the characters that aren’t in the main spotlight are incredibly well fleshed out.
Raiz: arguably the true “main character” in this story. A true ‘chip on the shoulder’ character, with absolutely tons of teenage angst. His is a tale of empowerment and revenge, of courage and action. His decision making may have you pulling your hair out, but I did not question a single thing as being outside of his character. He also has a companion creature that you will just have to read to see and understand. So cool!
Dazen: the elder brother, the father’s favorite, the perfect prince. A character that grows from a teen to a man under his father’s shadow. The author still somehow manages to make him multilayered, dynamic, and believable. Not to mention honorable. Probably some of my favorite character development is from him.
Isha: the middle child and perhaps most unfortunate. When a princess is turned into a slave in the collection of a rich untouchable, the story ignites into a battle for sanity, inner strength, and wanted opportunities for escape. The author really impressed me with this character. Not only does she project just incredible strength and warmth as a character, but she is lovable and believable as well.
This novel does some very interesting things with its magic system. Some men and women have the ability to harvest the strength of the sun, or Zur, their god. This sun magic is referred to as Shine and it is used for light, fire, and heat. Almost every character has a slightly different way that they use the ability and I loved that it was drawing from a natural source. Some are more powerful than others while others cannot use it at all, and I thought it was amazing that some of it has to do with lineage, and than others seem to be more powerful simply by chance. I love when there’s not necessarily a rhyme or reason.
I will say honestly that this novels tropes are certainly going to trope (trope trope). There’s no getting around that. From found family, to chosen ones, to enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, long lost family, hidden family, underdog heroes, and I’m sure I’m missing a few. But I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I bought in, I was entirely invested in their outcome.
A new favorite for sure. As this is a debut, I know you haven’t read this author yet, but believe me, you’re going to want to. Follow him and add his novel on Amazon to some list that you can order when it releases. I will tell my mom to read this book, I will tell babies to read it. I do not have a physical copy of it, but my shelf absolutely demands it.
Now this amazing book is out, and I did preorder a physical copy!!
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-a-king...
June 1, 2023
Fantastic debut novel that captured my interest from start to finish. I'm a sucker for most of the familiar tropes and themes found in this book, and Schulz managed to make them feel fresh and exciting in his own unique way. The magic system was wicked and made the action scenes play out like a badass anime in my mind. You can tell by the end of the book we're just getting started with this world and I'm excited to read the sequel when it drops. Highly recommended!
December 13, 2023
Zapour. Where sunlight is harnessed by the few. A tyrant who takes what he desires will tear a family apart. A kingdom will be thrown into chaos.
Fantastic characters and world building! Action packed.Great debut.
Fantastic characters and world building! Action packed.Great debut.
November 27, 2022
Follow me on Twitter: Twitter.com/wolfmantula
For more reviews, go to www.wolfmantula.com/book-reviews
MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.25/5
FORMAT: eARC
🚨 I received an Advanced Reader Copy provided by the author, in exchange for a fair and honest review. ALL THOUGHTS ARE MY OWN. 🚨
A stellar debut novel that grabs you and never lets go!
Mr. Schulz does a great job building an immersive fast paced story that has some Star Wars and Classical fantasy influences tied into it, but if you’re looking for bad language, it’s not here, this is free and clear of foul language. The cities and the buildings, and giving a great cast of diverse morally grey characters that are told with the perfect amount of detail to build pictures in your mind of the world of Zapour and the people that reside in it. In this multi-POV, Schulz also does a fantastic job building the relationships between his characters giving them a great deal of complexity.
“But there is more to life than misery. Sometimes we just have to work hard to find it. If you want to change yourself, you must fight. Take the first step, fight for what you believe in and make it a reality.”
The magic system is pretty cool, which is based on the sun. The magic is called shine and not everyone has the power to use it, but some have too much. It’s powerful and can be brutal. It has a similar effect on those that are “shine wielders” to how the Sun gives Superman his powers on Earth. Also, if you love animal companions, then you’re in luck! I absolutely love animal companions in stories, and this gives a very unique type of companion that I have yet to experience in any book so far!
“There are a dozen definitions for ‘Wrong’ in this world. We just have to decide which of them is the right one.”
As much as I enjoyed this and will 100% be continuing it, there were a few hiccups along the way. Because this is a debut author, it is somewhat expected to have a couple. It was a bit too predictable, almost everything that is foreshadowed is easily seen through. There were times when info was revealed too early on that should have been kept for a bigger reveal at or near the end for a bigger effect on the story. A couple times there was action that took place off scene, I only bring this up because there is one instance that should have happened for us to see. The chapter ends and then later we find out what happened, instead of seeing it.
Don’t get it twisted though, this is a great story that you are going to love! This should definitely be entered into SPFBO-8 next year
For more reviews, go to www.wolfmantula.com/book-reviews
MY ⭐️ RATING: 4.25/5
FORMAT: eARC
🚨 I received an Advanced Reader Copy provided by the author, in exchange for a fair and honest review. ALL THOUGHTS ARE MY OWN. 🚨
A stellar debut novel that grabs you and never lets go!
Mr. Schulz does a great job building an immersive fast paced story that has some Star Wars and Classical fantasy influences tied into it, but if you’re looking for bad language, it’s not here, this is free and clear of foul language. The cities and the buildings, and giving a great cast of diverse morally grey characters that are told with the perfect amount of detail to build pictures in your mind of the world of Zapour and the people that reside in it. In this multi-POV, Schulz also does a fantastic job building the relationships between his characters giving them a great deal of complexity.
“But there is more to life than misery. Sometimes we just have to work hard to find it. If you want to change yourself, you must fight. Take the first step, fight for what you believe in and make it a reality.”
The magic system is pretty cool, which is based on the sun. The magic is called shine and not everyone has the power to use it, but some have too much. It’s powerful and can be brutal. It has a similar effect on those that are “shine wielders” to how the Sun gives Superman his powers on Earth. Also, if you love animal companions, then you’re in luck! I absolutely love animal companions in stories, and this gives a very unique type of companion that I have yet to experience in any book so far!
“There are a dozen definitions for ‘Wrong’ in this world. We just have to decide which of them is the right one.”
As much as I enjoyed this and will 100% be continuing it, there were a few hiccups along the way. Because this is a debut author, it is somewhat expected to have a couple. It was a bit too predictable, almost everything that is foreshadowed is easily seen through. There were times when info was revealed too early on that should have been kept for a bigger reveal at or near the end for a bigger effect on the story. A couple times there was action that took place off scene, I only bring this up because there is one instance that should have happened for us to see. The chapter ends and then later we find out what happened, instead of seeing it.
Don’t get it twisted though, this is a great story that you are going to love! This should definitely be entered into SPFBO-8 next year
June 7, 2022
In simplest terms A story of a brother trying to rescue his sister and maybe take down the ruling system while he does it. But also SOOO much more.
I'm absolutely blown away by the magic system in this one. I love thé idea of the sun giving them powers. And the visual representations of them burning up.
The class structure in this book is always very interesting. And political scheming at every corner.
Would recommend
I'm absolutely blown away by the magic system in this one. I love thé idea of the sun giving them powers. And the visual representations of them burning up.
The class structure in this book is always very interesting. And political scheming at every corner.
Would recommend
April 9, 2022
https://undertheradarsffbooks.com/202...
I recieved a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. What immediatly gravitated me towards this book was the cover and how the colors are beaming with beauty and radiance (pun intented). However, the cover is just the tip of the iceburg when it comes to what you will read in this book. Three siblings seperated by tragic circumstances in the past now find themselves as focal pieces of an immenent war. We follow a rebel, a prince, and a prisoner while the world searches for resources in people who can harness great power but there is always a cost to be paid. There are some dark themes in this debut novel so make sure you are prepared.
Raiz Glaive has runaway from is royal heritage following his sister being taking prisoner by the knights of The Eagle. Unable to forgive his father and brother for not stopping this injustice, Raiz has formed his own group of outcast to stop this future children from being taken. Raiz is also a strong weilder of the Shine, an ability to use the power of the sun for good or evil. Vengenace will drive Raiz to the edge of reasoning until he discovers the truth behind who holds power in Zapour. Dazen Glaive is the oldest sibling left behind to one day rule the kindgom when the time comes. Pushed to the front and center in court politics and commander of the troops during the upcoming war. Despite the sins of his past, Dazen has never stopped looking for his brother or wanting vengeance for what has happend to his sister. Dazen is very much handcuffed in the world of politics from making a move until rumblings come of an uprising against The Eagle and the Kings Radiance. Isha Glaive was taken away from her family simply for having the violet eyes of a mystic. Isha is paraded as a piece of human art by her mastes but she has not lost hope of gaining her freedom. She will form bonds with her fellow prisoners and discover who holds the true power in Zapour. It will not be who you expect!
There are many different factions I can discuss here but by far my favorite parts were reading the adventures of Raiz and his team. We have his pet lizard type creature Spike who will bite your hand off like butter. Draz is a mercenary type warrior with a metal helmet which he never takes off. Aroha is a monsterous giant creature and she will have you quiver in your boots. Last but not least we have Veil, a slim woman but the deadliest of all and I won’t spoil the surpirse from you. All of these members were a joy to read and each one unique to the flow of the story. Raiz answers to a master of his own with a secret agenda that will drive the plot forward to the very end. It is a wild story indeed. The magic system was also a joy to read about but it never really became the focal point for me. This is very much a story of vengeance, family, friendship, and secrets.
This is one hell of a debut novel both in scope and ambition. The pacing goes relatively quickly and the writting style is easy to absorb. The characters are what shines in this novel and I can’t wait to read more in this world. Job well done Luke!
Cheers!
I recieved a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. What immediatly gravitated me towards this book was the cover and how the colors are beaming with beauty and radiance (pun intented). However, the cover is just the tip of the iceburg when it comes to what you will read in this book. Three siblings seperated by tragic circumstances in the past now find themselves as focal pieces of an immenent war. We follow a rebel, a prince, and a prisoner while the world searches for resources in people who can harness great power but there is always a cost to be paid. There are some dark themes in this debut novel so make sure you are prepared.
Raiz Glaive has runaway from is royal heritage following his sister being taking prisoner by the knights of The Eagle. Unable to forgive his father and brother for not stopping this injustice, Raiz has formed his own group of outcast to stop this future children from being taken. Raiz is also a strong weilder of the Shine, an ability to use the power of the sun for good or evil. Vengenace will drive Raiz to the edge of reasoning until he discovers the truth behind who holds power in Zapour. Dazen Glaive is the oldest sibling left behind to one day rule the kindgom when the time comes. Pushed to the front and center in court politics and commander of the troops during the upcoming war. Despite the sins of his past, Dazen has never stopped looking for his brother or wanting vengeance for what has happend to his sister. Dazen is very much handcuffed in the world of politics from making a move until rumblings come of an uprising against The Eagle and the Kings Radiance. Isha Glaive was taken away from her family simply for having the violet eyes of a mystic. Isha is paraded as a piece of human art by her mastes but she has not lost hope of gaining her freedom. She will form bonds with her fellow prisoners and discover who holds the true power in Zapour. It will not be who you expect!
There are many different factions I can discuss here but by far my favorite parts were reading the adventures of Raiz and his team. We have his pet lizard type creature Spike who will bite your hand off like butter. Draz is a mercenary type warrior with a metal helmet which he never takes off. Aroha is a monsterous giant creature and she will have you quiver in your boots. Last but not least we have Veil, a slim woman but the deadliest of all and I won’t spoil the surpirse from you. All of these members were a joy to read and each one unique to the flow of the story. Raiz answers to a master of his own with a secret agenda that will drive the plot forward to the very end. It is a wild story indeed. The magic system was also a joy to read about but it never really became the focal point for me. This is very much a story of vengeance, family, friendship, and secrets.
This is one hell of a debut novel both in scope and ambition. The pacing goes relatively quickly and the writting style is easy to absorb. The characters are what shines in this novel and I can’t wait to read more in this world. Job well done Luke!
Cheers!
June 12, 2022
A rip-roaring modern take on epic fantasy.
Perfect for fans of Mistborn and The Last Airbender. Schulz is definitely an author to watch!
Perfect for fans of Mistborn and The Last Airbender. Schulz is definitely an author to watch!
April 6, 2022
4.5 rounded up to 5
**Thank you, Luke, for gifting me with an ARC of A King’s Radiance in return for an honest review**
I did not consume this book, this book consumed me. To say this was a debut, self-published author is absolutely astounding. I am calling this now, underdog of the year!
The reader is dropped into the world and it is all systems go. It’s gritty, it’s dark, and it’s dire. The stakes are high, the motivations are set, the magic is explained, all within the first 50 pages.
We are following three siblings who are currently all on different paths, with different ideas of what it is they want. To be free, to find the other, or worrying about someday wearing the crown. Each character is driven by their own clear motivations, yet all connect to the one main plot line effortlessly.
In amongst their various quests, we have one of the most terrifying magic systems I’ve come across. It’s so simple, yet so effective and the author shows us just what harnessing so much power can do to a person, a group, and a whole nation. There was one scene in particular that had me going oh **** and it was written so well, my heart was in my throat the entire time.
Our side characters matter to the story, they each have a part to play and .. have we mentioned there is a dog like giant lizard/dragon who is probably my favourite animal companion to date? Can I have a Pricket please?
The biggest stand out for me in A King’s Radiance is the author’s ability to show not tell. Sometimes a new fantasy will have a few info dumps just to get the information in the readers heads. Not this book. Everything was shown, in subtle, enjoyable ways that didn’t feel like it was just there to further the story. It had purpose and immersed me in this world. I didn’t feel like I had to whip out a notepad and jot down main points at all because I was there, with these characters witnessing how the world worked.
The foreshadowing is superb and memorable, there are very clear OHHHH moments as you consume the story.
The humour. It is so subtle and well placed. This is not a funny book, do not go in thinking that it is. But there are tiny little snippets of humour to dispel tension throughout, artfully giving the reader a breather before jumping back into gritty scene.
Finally, the bigger conversations taking place in between the lines. Why does one person get to dictate what happens to a nation? On the other hand, is it ok to sacrifice one person for the sake of many? What makes that right? Who must make that choice and how do they come to those conclusions? Conversations about racism, disability and religion all take place (again subtly, but deeply) within these 500. Because of this, the book will make you think long after you have closed the last devastating page.
Schultz is on my must watch list, and by golly. He should be on yours too!
**Thank you, Luke, for gifting me with an ARC of A King’s Radiance in return for an honest review**
I did not consume this book, this book consumed me. To say this was a debut, self-published author is absolutely astounding. I am calling this now, underdog of the year!
The reader is dropped into the world and it is all systems go. It’s gritty, it’s dark, and it’s dire. The stakes are high, the motivations are set, the magic is explained, all within the first 50 pages.
We are following three siblings who are currently all on different paths, with different ideas of what it is they want. To be free, to find the other, or worrying about someday wearing the crown. Each character is driven by their own clear motivations, yet all connect to the one main plot line effortlessly.
In amongst their various quests, we have one of the most terrifying magic systems I’ve come across. It’s so simple, yet so effective and the author shows us just what harnessing so much power can do to a person, a group, and a whole nation. There was one scene in particular that had me going oh **** and it was written so well, my heart was in my throat the entire time.
Our side characters matter to the story, they each have a part to play and .. have we mentioned there is a dog like giant lizard/dragon who is probably my favourite animal companion to date? Can I have a Pricket please?
The biggest stand out for me in A King’s Radiance is the author’s ability to show not tell. Sometimes a new fantasy will have a few info dumps just to get the information in the readers heads. Not this book. Everything was shown, in subtle, enjoyable ways that didn’t feel like it was just there to further the story. It had purpose and immersed me in this world. I didn’t feel like I had to whip out a notepad and jot down main points at all because I was there, with these characters witnessing how the world worked.
The foreshadowing is superb and memorable, there are very clear OHHHH moments as you consume the story.
The humour. It is so subtle and well placed. This is not a funny book, do not go in thinking that it is. But there are tiny little snippets of humour to dispel tension throughout, artfully giving the reader a breather before jumping back into gritty scene.
Finally, the bigger conversations taking place in between the lines. Why does one person get to dictate what happens to a nation? On the other hand, is it ok to sacrifice one person for the sake of many? What makes that right? Who must make that choice and how do they come to those conclusions? Conversations about racism, disability and religion all take place (again subtly, but deeply) within these 500. Because of this, the book will make you think long after you have closed the last devastating page.
Schultz is on my must watch list, and by golly. He should be on yours too!
April 3, 2022
"But there is more to life than misery. Sometimes we just have to work hard to find it. If you want to change yourself, you must fight. Take the first step, fight for what you believe in and make it a reality." - really cool quote from the book.
Multi-POVs following three siblings just doing their best to save each other in some sort of skewed save-triangle. Raiz is trying to get their sister, Isha, back after being kidnapped by boss-man. Dazen is trying to please daddy and mostly just entertains the idea of trying to fetch Isha. Isha just trying to escape prison and not die in the process. Love the family love but, we all know the real hero here is Spike. I said what I said.
The magic system is really neat in that those with the Shine garner their energy from the sun, Zur, and can be shaped at will to manifest a sword or spear or something else stabby or shooty worthy of inflicting death or worse, ouches. Terrible, terrible ouches.
gloriously woven masterpiece even if a tad predictable at times. I did contend to find sympathy for Vail but just couldn't connect. Her "I'm gonna die" line bothered me as it was overused one too many times and for how strong she was (mentally & physically), she gave up too easily for it to feel probable with her character.
All in all this is a very accomplished debut novel!
Not to mention such a beautiful map! This was how I knew where everyone died. Thank you for that.
Will I continue reading the series? Yep. Very likely. Do I recommend? Also yep.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Thank you Luke, for gifting me an early copy of your book in exchange for an honest review!
Multi-POVs following three siblings just doing their best to save each other in some sort of skewed save-triangle. Raiz is trying to get their sister, Isha, back after being kidnapped by boss-man. Dazen is trying to please daddy and mostly just entertains the idea of trying to fetch Isha. Isha just trying to escape prison and not die in the process. Love the family love but, we all know the real hero here is Spike. I said what I said.
The magic system is really neat in that those with the Shine garner their energy from the sun, Zur, and can be shaped at will to manifest a sword or spear or something else stabby or shooty worthy of inflicting death or worse, ouches. Terrible, terrible ouches.
gloriously woven masterpiece even if a tad predictable at times. I did contend to find sympathy for Vail but just couldn't connect. Her "I'm gonna die" line bothered me as it was overused one too many times and for how strong she was (mentally & physically), she gave up too easily for it to feel probable with her character.
All in all this is a very accomplished debut novel!
Not to mention such a beautiful map! This was how I knew where everyone died. Thank you for that.
Will I continue reading the series? Yep. Very likely. Do I recommend? Also yep.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Thank you Luke, for gifting me an early copy of your book in exchange for an honest review!
February 18, 2023
THREE SIBLINGS... A REBEL, A PRINCE, A PRISONER
A King’s Radiance is an epic fantasy novel in every sense of the word epic. It is a long book at over 500 pages but it absolutely transports you into the land of Zapour and it is so beautifully written that you will actually feel like the novel is too short!
The story is told mainly from the perspectives of the three siblings - Raiz, Dazen and Isha - and they are really well written and strong characters. I felt like the siblings really came alive and I was gripped by their stories.
This is an epic debut novel by LR Shulz and I am looking forward to reading more.
Check your triggers before reading.
I received a gifted copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion and written voluntarily.
A King’s Radiance is an epic fantasy novel in every sense of the word epic. It is a long book at over 500 pages but it absolutely transports you into the land of Zapour and it is so beautifully written that you will actually feel like the novel is too short!
The story is told mainly from the perspectives of the three siblings - Raiz, Dazen and Isha - and they are really well written and strong characters. I felt like the siblings really came alive and I was gripped by their stories.
This is an epic debut novel by LR Shulz and I am looking forward to reading more.
Check your triggers before reading.
I received a gifted copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion and written voluntarily.
June 29, 2022
I want to start by saying 3stars is not a bad rating. I enjoyed most of this book, especially the middle part. I thought the story and magic system were both really cool, but there were a few issues that bothered my reading experience and I want to be honest about them. I think the author has talent and potential, and hey this is their debut novel. All writers need time and experience to get better.
Please give this book a try yourselves, I'm sure many will enjoy it😁
So let's start with what I liked.
-As I said, I liked the general storyline. The idea behind it is really cool, and I always enjoy a rebellion against the tyrant ruler. There is a lot of action and quite a few plot twists I really liked.
-The magic system was also really good. I can see how much effort the author put into it. It's interesting and there are so many details.
-The world building was well done. I think I enjoyed the descriptive paragraphs a lot more than I did the dialogues. The author has good writing skills when it comes to descriptions.
-I loved Dazen's character, he was my favorite. It just hurt me so bad when everyone would call him a coward and liar and say he was poisoned by his father. He is such a nice guy. He is a real king because he understands consequences and doesn't act recklessly.
-Spike❤️ who doesn't love animal companions
Now, what I didn't like.
-This is probably a personal opinion, but not a fan of the prologue and beginning in general. I believe books are meant to please our mind, and yes we all find that in different ways. This prologue didn't please my mind at all, it left me unsatisfied. There was not much preparation to the opening scene, so that when something happens we don't really know much. And the prologue never goes back to it. I don't think this is a bad prologue, but I didn't like it. It was very brave of the author because this is not only self pub but also a debut. If an author I know and liked did this, I'd trust them to make things clear later, but with a new to me author it was just a miss.
The first chapter is 8 years later. This is what disappointed me because I really wanted to see what happened to the characters during that time. Maybe not all 8 years but at least some parts. I think this is the reason why I had a really hard time caring about the characters.
-Dialogues and interactions. As I said, I didn't care about the characters much. This is a problem I have noticed with other debut novels, so I'm starting to think it takes a lot of experience before writers can write realistic and engaging dialogues. The interactions felt a little awkward at times, unnecessary or forced. In many occasions characters would "stomp their feet" when disagreeing with others and that is just an action that makes me think of children and not warriors or kings. The problem was that I enjoyed the descriptive paragraphs so much, I was sucked into the story, and then the dialogues would push me right back out of it.
The only exception was the King Radiant himself. I don't know why but his dialogue lines were good.
-I didn't like the MC. Sorry😬
-The romance. This is not a big one because, well, I almost never enjoy romance in fantasy books written by men.
-Veil🙄 and Isha. Isha was actually alright at first but her "everyone is in love with me" attitude ruined her for me.
So. This book was no bad. I think most of the issues are just my very personal opinion.
Please give this book a try yourselves, I'm sure many will enjoy it😁
So let's start with what I liked.
-As I said, I liked the general storyline. The idea behind it is really cool, and I always enjoy a rebellion against the tyrant ruler. There is a lot of action and quite a few plot twists I really liked.
-The magic system was also really good. I can see how much effort the author put into it. It's interesting and there are so many details.
-The world building was well done. I think I enjoyed the descriptive paragraphs a lot more than I did the dialogues. The author has good writing skills when it comes to descriptions.
-I loved Dazen's character, he was my favorite. It just hurt me so bad when everyone would call him a coward and liar and say he was poisoned by his father. He is such a nice guy. He is a real king because he understands consequences and doesn't act recklessly.
-Spike❤️ who doesn't love animal companions
Now, what I didn't like.
-This is probably a personal opinion, but not a fan of the prologue and beginning in general. I believe books are meant to please our mind, and yes we all find that in different ways. This prologue didn't please my mind at all, it left me unsatisfied. There was not much preparation to the opening scene, so that when something happens we don't really know much. And the prologue never goes back to it. I don't think this is a bad prologue, but I didn't like it. It was very brave of the author because this is not only self pub but also a debut. If an author I know and liked did this, I'd trust them to make things clear later, but with a new to me author it was just a miss.
The first chapter is 8 years later. This is what disappointed me because I really wanted to see what happened to the characters during that time. Maybe not all 8 years but at least some parts. I think this is the reason why I had a really hard time caring about the characters.
-Dialogues and interactions. As I said, I didn't care about the characters much. This is a problem I have noticed with other debut novels, so I'm starting to think it takes a lot of experience before writers can write realistic and engaging dialogues. The interactions felt a little awkward at times, unnecessary or forced. In many occasions characters would "stomp their feet" when disagreeing with others and that is just an action that makes me think of children and not warriors or kings. The problem was that I enjoyed the descriptive paragraphs so much, I was sucked into the story, and then the dialogues would push me right back out of it.
The only exception was the King Radiant himself. I don't know why but his dialogue lines were good.
-I didn't like the MC. Sorry😬
-The romance. This is not a big one because, well, I almost never enjoy romance in fantasy books written by men.
-Veil🙄 and Isha. Isha was actually alright at first but her "everyone is in love with me" attitude ruined her for me.
So. This book was no bad. I think most of the issues are just my very personal opinion.
November 20, 2022
This book is a debut Indie fantasy novel following three siblings, Isha, Raiz and Dazen. Their lives take dramatic turns when they are children, after Isha is taken by the King-Radiant when he realises she has a rare gift.
As I read this book I was immediately taken with the world and the magic system we are introduced to. The world of Zapour is one where certain individuals are gifted with ‘shine’; the ability to harness and use the power of the sun. The thing I really loved about this system is how the power can manifest in so many different ways; as raw power, light and heat in varying degrees and for all sorts of purposes, from mild to incredibly destructive. It’s so much fun, while at the same time being absolutely terrifying. It reminded me a little bit of Avatar: The Last Airbender. The world building and magic system are also introduced throughout the book is the perfect way; no hand holding and the information is shown to the us through the story with no need for big explanations or expositions about it. It’s built into the world seamlessly, and I really appreciated how well this was done. It really helped with the immersion into the world. If info-dumps are not your thing; have no fear. You won’t find any here!
Character development is another area I really think this book shines in. The author does a really phenomenal job writing the three separate character stories and I felt really invested in each one of them from the start. They all have so much depth, heart, humour and complexity, while also each having their own voice come through clearly too. Watching the three siblings stories slowly converge as the book goes on was so much fun, and I honestly struggled to put this book down. Not to mention that each sibling has their own cast of side characters, all of whom stood out so strongly and were incredibly well written too. Nothing and no-one falls by the wayside here. The care that went into character development in this book, for main as well as side characters, is plain to see and a huge plus for this book.
In terms of overall story there is so much to love, both on a smaller intimate scale and an epic one. There are so many great elements woven in. Revenge, daring escapes, the underdogs fighting against the regime, the struggle between duty and conscience, found family, finding your inner strength, a dash of romance (just a dash) and so much more. There are moments that will make you laugh, and moments that will tug on your heart strings. There is also a whole lot of action, and the pace is spot on. The themes and ideas that are tackled throughout the book are at times tough ones, and I appreciated the care and grace that this was done with. There are a few tropes thrown in but they are all done well in my opinion, and even the slightly more predictable moments (of which there were only a few) still had me on the edge of my seat with a smile on my face, all because this story and world are just so damn fun.
Things are left open for this tale to continue, with questions left unanswered and the stakes continuing to rise. I couldn’t be more invested in what’s the come for these characters.
All in all, I’m hooked! This is a new favourite for sure, and I’ll definitely be keeping Schulz on my radar.
As I read this book I was immediately taken with the world and the magic system we are introduced to. The world of Zapour is one where certain individuals are gifted with ‘shine’; the ability to harness and use the power of the sun. The thing I really loved about this system is how the power can manifest in so many different ways; as raw power, light and heat in varying degrees and for all sorts of purposes, from mild to incredibly destructive. It’s so much fun, while at the same time being absolutely terrifying. It reminded me a little bit of Avatar: The Last Airbender. The world building and magic system are also introduced throughout the book is the perfect way; no hand holding and the information is shown to the us through the story with no need for big explanations or expositions about it. It’s built into the world seamlessly, and I really appreciated how well this was done. It really helped with the immersion into the world. If info-dumps are not your thing; have no fear. You won’t find any here!
Character development is another area I really think this book shines in. The author does a really phenomenal job writing the three separate character stories and I felt really invested in each one of them from the start. They all have so much depth, heart, humour and complexity, while also each having their own voice come through clearly too. Watching the three siblings stories slowly converge as the book goes on was so much fun, and I honestly struggled to put this book down. Not to mention that each sibling has their own cast of side characters, all of whom stood out so strongly and were incredibly well written too. Nothing and no-one falls by the wayside here. The care that went into character development in this book, for main as well as side characters, is plain to see and a huge plus for this book.
In terms of overall story there is so much to love, both on a smaller intimate scale and an epic one. There are so many great elements woven in. Revenge, daring escapes, the underdogs fighting against the regime, the struggle between duty and conscience, found family, finding your inner strength, a dash of romance (just a dash) and so much more. There are moments that will make you laugh, and moments that will tug on your heart strings. There is also a whole lot of action, and the pace is spot on. The themes and ideas that are tackled throughout the book are at times tough ones, and I appreciated the care and grace that this was done with. There are a few tropes thrown in but they are all done well in my opinion, and even the slightly more predictable moments (of which there were only a few) still had me on the edge of my seat with a smile on my face, all because this story and world are just so damn fun.
Things are left open for this tale to continue, with questions left unanswered and the stakes continuing to rise. I couldn’t be more invested in what’s the come for these characters.
All in all, I’m hooked! This is a new favourite for sure, and I’ll definitely be keeping Schulz on my radar.
July 9, 2022
Score: 4 out of 5 stars
Firstly, I want to disclose that I was given a copy by Escapist Book Tours in exchange for an honest review and to host a stop during the book tour.
I think this is not a book for everybody, and that will bring mixed reviews to it. Although I love grimdark and I think the genre is marvelous, I can understand that not anybody is going to enjoy it. And A King's Radiance doubles down into the genre premise.
While the first quarter of the book might be slow, cause it is used with a double purpose, presenting the characters and acting as our first contact with the world. Let me say something, I love the creation of Luke Schulz: the world feels like something unique, the magic system of Light is hard but not too hard and especially I want to bring the spotlight on the characters.
The book is narrated from three different POVs, the three brothers: Daze didn't particularly click on me in the first half of the book, but Raiz and Isha are marvelously written. Raiz is probably the epitome of an outlaw that has a clear objective in mind and is a really powerful Light user. Issa, on the other hand, is a slave in the house of one of the Eagles. Because I think I kinda forgot that Eagles are powerful rulers of this world and that have absolute control over the kingdoms that are subjugated to their will.
An interesting equilibrium of power between the Six Kingdoms and the Eagles is shown, at least in the meanwhile Eagles have access to a weapon that allows them to control them.
I have to remark that Luke's prose is really powerful and it let some absolute banger of sentences, which also helps to empathize sometimes with the characters. The plot is really interesting, and honestly, I hope this is the first book of a series.
My only problem with the book and I think it's the reason it only gets 4 stars is that I find some problems of pace in two main points of the plot: the start is excessively slow, while you are being dumped a real ton of info, which can make you feel a little bit disoriented; and for me, the ending is too abrupt, too fast in comparison with how many pages there are in a slower pace. Said that, the story hooked me fastly.
In summary, I find this a really great book that I enjoyed, but that can be hard at some points. If you are a grimdark enjoyer, and an Abercrombie fan, you should totally read A King's Radiance.
Firstly, I want to disclose that I was given a copy by Escapist Book Tours in exchange for an honest review and to host a stop during the book tour.
I think this is not a book for everybody, and that will bring mixed reviews to it. Although I love grimdark and I think the genre is marvelous, I can understand that not anybody is going to enjoy it. And A King's Radiance doubles down into the genre premise.
While the first quarter of the book might be slow, cause it is used with a double purpose, presenting the characters and acting as our first contact with the world. Let me say something, I love the creation of Luke Schulz: the world feels like something unique, the magic system of Light is hard but not too hard and especially I want to bring the spotlight on the characters.
The book is narrated from three different POVs, the three brothers: Daze didn't particularly click on me in the first half of the book, but Raiz and Isha are marvelously written. Raiz is probably the epitome of an outlaw that has a clear objective in mind and is a really powerful Light user. Issa, on the other hand, is a slave in the house of one of the Eagles. Because I think I kinda forgot that Eagles are powerful rulers of this world and that have absolute control over the kingdoms that are subjugated to their will.
An interesting equilibrium of power between the Six Kingdoms and the Eagles is shown, at least in the meanwhile Eagles have access to a weapon that allows them to control them.
I have to remark that Luke's prose is really powerful and it let some absolute banger of sentences, which also helps to empathize sometimes with the characters. The plot is really interesting, and honestly, I hope this is the first book of a series.
My only problem with the book and I think it's the reason it only gets 4 stars is that I find some problems of pace in two main points of the plot: the start is excessively slow, while you are being dumped a real ton of info, which can make you feel a little bit disoriented; and for me, the ending is too abrupt, too fast in comparison with how many pages there are in a slower pace. Said that, the story hooked me fastly.
In summary, I find this a really great book that I enjoyed, but that can be hard at some points. If you are a grimdark enjoyer, and an Abercrombie fan, you should totally read A King's Radiance.
May 25, 2022
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up. Talk about debuting with a BANG! This book was so much fun. If you like the underdogs rebelling against the evil godlike emperor, interesting sun-based magic, little to no romance, and LOTS of action then friends this book is FOR YOU!! Disclosure: I received an ARC from the author in return for an honest review. And this book is so much fun if you want the action and plot setup of Avatar the Last Airbender with the mana canon from Tales of Symphonia...look no further.
This is a multi-perspective fantasy story where we follow three children of one of the six kingdoms under the King Radiant's rule. We have Dazen the oldest son learning to take over the throne, Isha the daughter taken into slavery as a rare Mystic, and Raiz the youngest son who leaves home when his sister is taken. The society is corrupt and awful things are done in its name, including annihilating one of the kingdoms with their super weapon that can launch basically atomic sun lasers to anywhere in the world.
When everyone is afraid to rise up, how do you start the rebellion? And what hidden things will be revealed if you do manage to tear down the current world order? Find out for yourself and read A King's Radiance ASAP!!!
Full video review: https://youtu.be/jiYollgQF4U
This is a multi-perspective fantasy story where we follow three children of one of the six kingdoms under the King Radiant's rule. We have Dazen the oldest son learning to take over the throne, Isha the daughter taken into slavery as a rare Mystic, and Raiz the youngest son who leaves home when his sister is taken. The society is corrupt and awful things are done in its name, including annihilating one of the kingdoms with their super weapon that can launch basically atomic sun lasers to anywhere in the world.
When everyone is afraid to rise up, how do you start the rebellion? And what hidden things will be revealed if you do manage to tear down the current world order? Find out for yourself and read A King's Radiance ASAP!!!
Full video review: https://youtu.be/jiYollgQF4U
April 20, 2022
A fun, tension filled epic fantasy with awesome characters, an original world and magic system!
Tropes of found family, morally grey characters and animal companions were amazingly written in the story and I can’t wait to read the next one.
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC.
Tropes of found family, morally grey characters and animal companions were amazingly written in the story and I can’t wait to read the next one.
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC.
December 9, 2022
Cover art: Sien Lee
This debut is worth reading.
A masterfully written tale of vengeance, family, friendship, betrayals, manipulations, beautiful magic system and fight scenes with dramatic ending.
First of all, I want to say thank you to the author of this book to provide me with it in exchange for an honest review. I really appreciate your kindness.
This story has been written from three siblings’ POVs. They are Raiz, Isha and Dazen. Raiz is the third born child of King Kron Glaive of Trost. When King-Radiant sends someone to the kingdom of Trost, his eyes fall upon Raiz’s sister, Isha, whose eyes are violet-coloured. This person makes her one of his precious human collectibles. While Raiz, still a child of no more than 10 years old, tries to protest against it, no other person stands with him. Even his father does nothing. Disappointed with his coward father and having learnt who actually has the power in Zapour, he takes the matter into his own hands and leaves the kingdom of Trost to revenge his sister’s capturer.
Raiz’s brother Dazen is the heir to the throne of Trost. While he is helpless when his sister is taken away from him, he will not forget the person who is behind this. He is torn between the safety of his people and the concern for his sister. What will he choose? I encourage you to find it out.
Isha is a slave in Lumindal. She is on display for people. However, she is hopeful that someday she can get a chance to escape her master and Lumindal. She finds some friends among other slaves and formulates a plan to escape Lumindal.
Other than these three main POVs, we get to read a small interlude from Evanon’s perspective and another small interlude from Echo and Obeyun’s POVs. Raiz is the character whose POV I really loved reading.
For me, nearly all the characters felt real. I really sympathized with them. I felt their losses, pain, sufferings and frustration. Their motives were clear. Overall, their character development was done well. There is an animal companion, too and it is becoming something different.
The world-building of the novel was immersive. Lumindal is the city where King-Radiant and his Eagles live. And believe me, it is so beautiful with its Fifty-Spears and Last Light. I have never seen or read a city like this in any other fantasy novels. And then there is the Golden Forest. Not that there has been written much about it.
Its plot has some surprising revelations in the end. Draz, one of Raiz’s companions, sets a beautiful trap in Lesken to capture a Eagle and his guard. I enjoyed that. For spoiler reason, I cannot talk much about it. There is not any battles, but the dramatic ending and the fighting scenes were top notch. The drama at the council of kings in Lumindal was so much entertaining and engaging. I could not put down this book during reading through the final 40 percent of the book. The theme of familial bonds, love and friendship was present throughout the novel.
It is a fantasy novel. Like every other fantasy novel, it feels incomplete if we don’t talk about its magic system. The magic system employed in this novel is based on light. It manifests itself in a person when he comes a particular age. Not all are able to wield the magic. And only men can wield it. A magic wielder draws in heat/energy from Zur ( the name of the sun in the novel ) and he can solidify it into a weapon, use like a fire or a beam of intense heat to burn something or make a protective, thin shield with it. Different uses with different skills, offcourse. It is really very interesting.
There were minor issues, too. First, the pacing in some sections was slow. But that is not the major issue. Second, I could not find myself invested in Dazen’s POV chapters. Third, I really think I would have loved it if there had been just one or two chapters from Obeyun and Echo’s POVs. Yes, it would have made this book a little longer.
However, nothing and no one is perfect in this world. So focus on the good aspects of this book. You will end up loving it. I will be waiting for the next book in Bonds of Kin series.
Note:- These quotes are taken from this novel.
This debut is worth reading.
A masterfully written tale of vengeance, family, friendship, betrayals, manipulations, beautiful magic system and fight scenes with dramatic ending.
First of all, I want to say thank you to the author of this book to provide me with it in exchange for an honest review. I really appreciate your kindness.
“You cannot find peace without first sating your hatred.”
This story has been written from three siblings’ POVs. They are Raiz, Isha and Dazen. Raiz is the third born child of King Kron Glaive of Trost. When King-Radiant sends someone to the kingdom of Trost, his eyes fall upon Raiz’s sister, Isha, whose eyes are violet-coloured. This person makes her one of his precious human collectibles. While Raiz, still a child of no more than 10 years old, tries to protest against it, no other person stands with him. Even his father does nothing. Disappointed with his coward father and having learnt who actually has the power in Zapour, he takes the matter into his own hands and leaves the kingdom of Trost to revenge his sister’s capturer.
But with age came responsibility , and with greater responsibility came a certain neglect towards those of lesser standing.
Raiz’s brother Dazen is the heir to the throne of Trost. While he is helpless when his sister is taken away from him, he will not forget the person who is behind this. He is torn between the safety of his people and the concern for his sister. What will he choose? I encourage you to find it out.
Isha is a slave in Lumindal. She is on display for people. However, she is hopeful that someday she can get a chance to escape her master and Lumindal. She finds some friends among other slaves and formulates a plan to escape Lumindal.
Other than these three main POVs, we get to read a small interlude from Evanon’s perspective and another small interlude from Echo and Obeyun’s POVs. Raiz is the character whose POV I really loved reading.
“There are more important aspects that make up a person than the ones they are born with.”
For me, nearly all the characters felt real. I really sympathized with them. I felt their losses, pain, sufferings and frustration. Their motives were clear. Overall, their character development was done well. There is an animal companion, too and it is becoming something different.
“The weight that comes with a crown is heavy, and that is what you do not understand.”
The world-building of the novel was immersive. Lumindal is the city where King-Radiant and his Eagles live. And believe me, it is so beautiful with its Fifty-Spears and Last Light. I have never seen or read a city like this in any other fantasy novels. And then there is the Golden Forest. Not that there has been written much about it.
“A fitting punishment, of course, for an unforgivable crime. Strike a man down once and he will learn his lesson. Strike him down twice and he will learn it double . But strike him down thrice, and a man’s reason begins to wander into the realm of insanity. Insanity breeds foolishness. Trap a rat in a box and it will have no choice but to try and claw its way out.”
Its plot has some surprising revelations in the end. Draz, one of Raiz’s companions, sets a beautiful trap in Lesken to capture a Eagle and his guard. I enjoyed that. For spoiler reason, I cannot talk much about it. There is not any battles, but the dramatic ending and the fighting scenes were top notch. The drama at the council of kings in Lumindal was so much entertaining and engaging. I could not put down this book during reading through the final 40 percent of the book. The theme of familial bonds, love and friendship was present throughout the novel.
It is a fantasy novel. Like every other fantasy novel, it feels incomplete if we don’t talk about its magic system. The magic system employed in this novel is based on light. It manifests itself in a person when he comes a particular age. Not all are able to wield the magic. And only men can wield it. A magic wielder draws in heat/energy from Zur ( the name of the sun in the novel ) and he can solidify it into a weapon, use like a fire or a beam of intense heat to burn something or make a protective, thin shield with it. Different uses with different skills, offcourse. It is really very interesting.
“Vengeance? Vengeance is not worth your life! You may not think your life has meaning, but to me it does. I don’t want you to go. Stop your act of self-pity and let us see this through together.”
There were minor issues, too. First, the pacing in some sections was slow. But that is not the major issue. Second, I could not find myself invested in Dazen’s POV chapters. Third, I really think I would have loved it if there had been just one or two chapters from Obeyun and Echo’s POVs. Yes, it would have made this book a little longer.
However, nothing and no one is perfect in this world. So focus on the good aspects of this book. You will end up loving it. I will be waiting for the next book in Bonds of Kin series.
Note:- These quotes are taken from this novel.
April 15, 2022
A King’s Radiance
Sometimes surfing through Social Media does bear fruit. One such session, I come across L.R Schulz (Luke) account and I saw he was looking for Arc readers for his debut book.
After reading the synopsis, I jumped at the chance to read his book and I put my name forward as an Arc reader.
I was very lucky that Luke approved my request. Therefore, I must first start this review by thanking Luke for allowing me the opportunity to read his book, in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
Let me start by saying the prologue…just wow. This really set up the book wonderfully.
Luke writing style is both beautiful and very easy to follow.
In A King’s Radiance we following the story through the POV’s of 3 siblings Raiz, Isha and Dazen.
In the prologue we first met the siblings when they’re young enjoying their privilege upbringing, that is until one fateful day that change all of their lives forever.
Jump forward 8 years and we get to see where the siblings are in their lives and how they reacted to said fateful day.
Raiz is now in a band of outlaws on the hunt for “Eagles”, one “Eagle” in particular.
Isha, now a slave has been trapped in an endless cycle of loneliness. She’s had to endure being paraded around like some fascinating piece of art for over 8 years.
Finally we find Dazen on the cusp of a life changing decision.
Along side the 3 main POV’s we get a few chapters/interludes from some side characters which I thought was a nice touch and added more depth to the story.
There are so many great characters in this book from Raiz to Vail but my personal favourite is Draz, an ex mercenary warrior with a metal helmet he never takes off.
I just loved the way Luke built each chapter in this book, the flow was just seamless and felt so smooth.
Nothing in this book felt rushed or miss placed, each plot point was perfectly placed to enhance the story further with the reader finding out key elements at the correct moment.
Another great part of this book is the action scenes. These are so well done, you have great action plus the added joy of learning about the magic and how this alters the way people fight in this story.
My one small critique about this book would be the middle section was a little slower compare to the start and end.
There is always a key requirement to lay the groundwork for the story to come in the first book, this can often make part of the story feel slow.
After reading this book it’s so easy to forget this is Luke debut, so Luke, I tip my hat off to you.
This was a very good book with high political tension, a shed load of family drama, a unique magical system, great characters and an expansive world and not forgetting spike.
I’m really looking forward to see where Luke takes the story from here.
7.5/10 Rating ⭐️
Sometimes surfing through Social Media does bear fruit. One such session, I come across L.R Schulz (Luke) account and I saw he was looking for Arc readers for his debut book.
After reading the synopsis, I jumped at the chance to read his book and I put my name forward as an Arc reader.
I was very lucky that Luke approved my request. Therefore, I must first start this review by thanking Luke for allowing me the opportunity to read his book, in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
Let me start by saying the prologue…just wow. This really set up the book wonderfully.
Luke writing style is both beautiful and very easy to follow.
In A King’s Radiance we following the story through the POV’s of 3 siblings Raiz, Isha and Dazen.
In the prologue we first met the siblings when they’re young enjoying their privilege upbringing, that is until one fateful day that change all of their lives forever.
Jump forward 8 years and we get to see where the siblings are in their lives and how they reacted to said fateful day.
Raiz is now in a band of outlaws on the hunt for “Eagles”, one “Eagle” in particular.
Isha, now a slave has been trapped in an endless cycle of loneliness. She’s had to endure being paraded around like some fascinating piece of art for over 8 years.
Finally we find Dazen on the cusp of a life changing decision.
Along side the 3 main POV’s we get a few chapters/interludes from some side characters which I thought was a nice touch and added more depth to the story.
There are so many great characters in this book from Raiz to Vail but my personal favourite is Draz, an ex mercenary warrior with a metal helmet he never takes off.
I just loved the way Luke built each chapter in this book, the flow was just seamless and felt so smooth.
Nothing in this book felt rushed or miss placed, each plot point was perfectly placed to enhance the story further with the reader finding out key elements at the correct moment.
Another great part of this book is the action scenes. These are so well done, you have great action plus the added joy of learning about the magic and how this alters the way people fight in this story.
My one small critique about this book would be the middle section was a little slower compare to the start and end.
There is always a key requirement to lay the groundwork for the story to come in the first book, this can often make part of the story feel slow.
After reading this book it’s so easy to forget this is Luke debut, so Luke, I tip my hat off to you.
This was a very good book with high political tension, a shed load of family drama, a unique magical system, great characters and an expansive world and not forgetting spike.
I’m really looking forward to see where Luke takes the story from here.
7.5/10 Rating ⭐️
June 3, 2023
This is a well written, strong, enjoyable fantasy novel!
The story follows 3 siblings who try to survive in a world ruled by a dangerous king! The characters, even secondary ones, are all well developed and interesting. Love the magic system and the world can’t wait for book 2!
The story follows 3 siblings who try to survive in a world ruled by a dangerous king! The characters, even secondary ones, are all well developed and interesting. Love the magic system and the world can’t wait for book 2!
April 10, 2024
4.75 Star
A King's Radiance by L.R. Schulz has been on my radar and want to read list for very near two years. I just looked and I added it to my list May 13th, 2022 and here we are in April 2024 and I finally got to it. This is another read this year that I can thank the Domains Reading Challenge hosted by Trudie Skies. This was my prompt of the month that represented sun magic. I was very excited when I found out that this would fit nicely into the challenge as it's been hovering right on the edge of my TBR each month for far too long.
I felt the pacing went very well. There is quite a bit going on with this book as far as number of locations and characters. The page count was a bit on the higher side than what some non-epic fantasy readers may like. I even thought this one would take me a bit longer to get through than what it did. It was a real page turner for me though. When thinking of peaks and valleys within a book, I never really felt like any of the valleys were very low. It felt more like we had some massive peaks, some lower peaks and baseline. Again, with this being book one and setting things up for what could be an epic fantasy series, this one kept my attention very easily.
The worldbuilding was also very well done in my opinion. From friends telling me there was some type of sun magic to help me slide this read into my reading challenge selection, that was about all I knew of it going in. That was rather intriguing though. And that aspect didn't disappoint. I really liked the magic system in this story. There was really only a couple of moments that I couldn't quite tell if I was understanding the scene or intent quite right but I think that was my own lack of understanding and hopefully as the series continues we might learn yet more about this magic. The geography of the world was also great. As characters were introduced it helped us get an idea of how many regions and cultures there were. Then as the story progressed, we got to know more and more about those as well.
The character development was exciting. I previously mentioned there are a lot of characters in this book and that might even be an understatement. Not to mention we see a lot of change or growth with many of them by the end of the book. One of my favorite parts of this read though was the way that so many of the characters were connected in one way or another. The reveals start fairly early and then they just keep coming at you with a flurry! A couple of my favorite characters were Draz (comic relief), Echo (young but finds his strength) and Veil (tragic love). That isn't to say I didn't enjoy many of the other characters as well. I still hope we learn more about Puk in the future.
All in all this was a very enjoyable read for me. There were a few editing issues along the way in the form of typos or wrong words used (not always easy to catch) but for a book with this much going on, they didn't really trip me up much.
I'd certainly recommend this to readers looking for a read with a lot of characters, those twists and reveal moments, a good magic system and a bit on the epic fantasy side but still keeping that sword and sorcery feel to it.
A King's Radiance by L.R. Schulz has been on my radar and want to read list for very near two years. I just looked and I added it to my list May 13th, 2022 and here we are in April 2024 and I finally got to it. This is another read this year that I can thank the Domains Reading Challenge hosted by Trudie Skies. This was my prompt of the month that represented sun magic. I was very excited when I found out that this would fit nicely into the challenge as it's been hovering right on the edge of my TBR each month for far too long.
I felt the pacing went very well. There is quite a bit going on with this book as far as number of locations and characters. The page count was a bit on the higher side than what some non-epic fantasy readers may like. I even thought this one would take me a bit longer to get through than what it did. It was a real page turner for me though. When thinking of peaks and valleys within a book, I never really felt like any of the valleys were very low. It felt more like we had some massive peaks, some lower peaks and baseline. Again, with this being book one and setting things up for what could be an epic fantasy series, this one kept my attention very easily.
The worldbuilding was also very well done in my opinion. From friends telling me there was some type of sun magic to help me slide this read into my reading challenge selection, that was about all I knew of it going in. That was rather intriguing though. And that aspect didn't disappoint. I really liked the magic system in this story. There was really only a couple of moments that I couldn't quite tell if I was understanding the scene or intent quite right but I think that was my own lack of understanding and hopefully as the series continues we might learn yet more about this magic. The geography of the world was also great. As characters were introduced it helped us get an idea of how many regions and cultures there were. Then as the story progressed, we got to know more and more about those as well.
The character development was exciting. I previously mentioned there are a lot of characters in this book and that might even be an understatement. Not to mention we see a lot of change or growth with many of them by the end of the book. One of my favorite parts of this read though was the way that so many of the characters were connected in one way or another. The reveals start fairly early and then they just keep coming at you with a flurry! A couple of my favorite characters were Draz (comic relief), Echo (young but finds his strength) and Veil (tragic love). That isn't to say I didn't enjoy many of the other characters as well. I still hope we learn more about Puk in the future.
All in all this was a very enjoyable read for me. There were a few editing issues along the way in the form of typos or wrong words used (not always easy to catch) but for a book with this much going on, they didn't really trip me up much.
I'd certainly recommend this to readers looking for a read with a lot of characters, those twists and reveal moments, a good magic system and a bit on the epic fantasy side but still keeping that sword and sorcery feel to it.
July 26, 2022
TLDR: An intriguing debut fantasy with a fun, unique magic system, plenty of action/drama, and an interesting world begging to be further explored. While I have some reservations about certain aspects, I enjoyed this read and it kept me turning pages until its conclusion, which I really enjoyed. 4/5
A King's Radiance's main draw is the unique (and so much fun) magic system based around harnessing the power of the sun in the form of projections of light energy. The various ways this magic was used reminded me a lot of elemental bending from Avatar: The Last Airbender in the sense of unique applications and dueling. This magic system and the significance of those who wield it were, for me, one of the stand outs for this story.
As far as the characters, I couldn't put my finger on it, but for some reason I didn't personally connect to the POVs as much as I would've liked to. It could be due to the dialogue or the interactions between different characters, but I wasn't as emotionally invested as I was in the other aspects of the novel. That's not to say there was anything inherently wrong with them, either. It was 100% my feeling as I read it, and I'm sure others readers will connect and possibly make it a 5/5 for them. Take my opinion with a grain of salt.
As far as the plot, there were some twists and turns, some foreshadowing, and some promises of things to come. I thought the plot was fairly solid overall, and the pacing felt right. There were moments I saw coming due to the aforementioned foreshadowing, so I wouldn't say I was surprised much by the twists, though predicting them using the hints given was very satisfying. The ominous foreshadowing of things to come sets up nicely for the next novel, which compels me to want to read it.
The worldbuilding wasn't explored as in-depth as some other fantasies I've read recently (and I definitely wanted just a touch more), but the bits of worldbuilding we do get are, in my opinion, very exciting and interesting. There was a distinct charm to it's presentation in a way that's hard to describe, but it was definitely there. Overall, I enjoyed the worldbuilding, I just wanted a bit more of it.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with A King's Radiance, as it was a fun journey through an interesting world with a captivating magic system and POVs that, while they didn't personally resonate with me, may with other readers. For me, the world and plot were a great time, and make me eager for a sequel so I can explore this world some more. 4/5
A King's Radiance's main draw is the unique (and so much fun) magic system based around harnessing the power of the sun in the form of projections of light energy. The various ways this magic was used reminded me a lot of elemental bending from Avatar: The Last Airbender in the sense of unique applications and dueling. This magic system and the significance of those who wield it were, for me, one of the stand outs for this story.
As far as the characters, I couldn't put my finger on it, but for some reason I didn't personally connect to the POVs as much as I would've liked to. It could be due to the dialogue or the interactions between different characters, but I wasn't as emotionally invested as I was in the other aspects of the novel. That's not to say there was anything inherently wrong with them, either. It was 100% my feeling as I read it, and I'm sure others readers will connect and possibly make it a 5/5 for them. Take my opinion with a grain of salt.
As far as the plot, there were some twists and turns, some foreshadowing, and some promises of things to come. I thought the plot was fairly solid overall, and the pacing felt right. There were moments I saw coming due to the aforementioned foreshadowing, so I wouldn't say I was surprised much by the twists, though predicting them using the hints given was very satisfying. The ominous foreshadowing of things to come sets up nicely for the next novel, which compels me to want to read it.
The worldbuilding wasn't explored as in-depth as some other fantasies I've read recently (and I definitely wanted just a touch more), but the bits of worldbuilding we do get are, in my opinion, very exciting and interesting. There was a distinct charm to it's presentation in a way that's hard to describe, but it was definitely there. Overall, I enjoyed the worldbuilding, I just wanted a bit more of it.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with A King's Radiance, as it was a fun journey through an interesting world with a captivating magic system and POVs that, while they didn't personally resonate with me, may with other readers. For me, the world and plot were a great time, and make me eager for a sequel so I can explore this world some more. 4/5
May 17, 2022
A King's Radiance by L.R. Schulz was something I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read an ARC of and I'll just go ahead before the review and say I have to own a physical copy of this immediately upon release because I am completely blown away by this debut! It already has a reserved space on my shelves.
Three siblings are thrown on very different paths as a tragic event separates them and changes their lives forever. The Prince, the rebel, and the slave all face challenges as the world starts to question everything that has been. Politics, revenge, and war are laced with unstable and costly magic in this epic quest.
First, these characters! I found something to love and identify with each of the siblings. I thought going in that I would for sure dislike at least one of them (as that is usually the case when reading a multi POV novel) but they all were written in a way that you are rooting for them, even when they aren't at their finest. I never once dreaded switching to a POV because I was invested in all of their storylines. Not only are the siblings well done, but the side characters shine through and you come to care about them on this journey too.
The alternating storyline was done incredibly well. I was never lost, even with the quick pace of the novel, and each POV had me engrossed. Luke's writing style is easy to read, all the while he is still building a very intriguing magic system and complex world.
There is so much I could say about this book but honestly, it is one of those books that you just have to read to understand what all the gushing is about.
Three siblings are thrown on very different paths as a tragic event separates them and changes their lives forever. The Prince, the rebel, and the slave all face challenges as the world starts to question everything that has been. Politics, revenge, and war are laced with unstable and costly magic in this epic quest.
First, these characters! I found something to love and identify with each of the siblings. I thought going in that I would for sure dislike at least one of them (as that is usually the case when reading a multi POV novel) but they all were written in a way that you are rooting for them, even when they aren't at their finest. I never once dreaded switching to a POV because I was invested in all of their storylines. Not only are the siblings well done, but the side characters shine through and you come to care about them on this journey too.
The alternating storyline was done incredibly well. I was never lost, even with the quick pace of the novel, and each POV had me engrossed. Luke's writing style is easy to read, all the while he is still building a very intriguing magic system and complex world.
There is so much I could say about this book but honestly, it is one of those books that you just have to read to understand what all the gushing is about.
July 4, 2022
A King’s Radiance was fantastic! Set in the land where some people can wield magic by absorbing the power of the sun, this epic fantasy follows the three Glaive siblings, children of one of six kings of Zapour who serve under the Radiant-King.
Dazen is the crown prince who must learn to balance duty to family and duty to his future kingdom. Isha is the princess taken as a slave by one of the Radiant-King’s followers and put on display for her strange violet eyes of a Mystic. Raiz is the young prince turned rebel, set on dismantling the monarchy system built by the Radiant-King that allowed for his sister to be taken. These three siblings, separated by choice and circumstance, must forge their own path, but fate will bring them together again in their fight towards justice, vengeance, and peace.
A King’s Radiance is Luke Schulz’s first novel and what an accomplishment this is. Although you can tell that he’s still finding his groove as an author, the groundwork shines through in his worldbuilding and storytelling. The story is a bit trope-y, but tropes are tropes for a reason because they can work so well done right. I also loved the sibling dynamic he chose for his main characters, contrasting their different personalities and choices while showcasing their love for and struggles with each other. The magic and action were fun and culminated in a hugely climactic finale.
A King’s Radiance is a fantastic debut filled with magic and power, politics and strife, and ultimately the love and bond between siblings. It tells a complete epic fantasy story that can work both as a standalone and as a series starter.
*I was provided an ebook of this book as part of a book tour for it.
Dazen is the crown prince who must learn to balance duty to family and duty to his future kingdom. Isha is the princess taken as a slave by one of the Radiant-King’s followers and put on display for her strange violet eyes of a Mystic. Raiz is the young prince turned rebel, set on dismantling the monarchy system built by the Radiant-King that allowed for his sister to be taken. These three siblings, separated by choice and circumstance, must forge their own path, but fate will bring them together again in their fight towards justice, vengeance, and peace.
A King’s Radiance is Luke Schulz’s first novel and what an accomplishment this is. Although you can tell that he’s still finding his groove as an author, the groundwork shines through in his worldbuilding and storytelling. The story is a bit trope-y, but tropes are tropes for a reason because they can work so well done right. I also loved the sibling dynamic he chose for his main characters, contrasting their different personalities and choices while showcasing their love for and struggles with each other. The magic and action were fun and culminated in a hugely climactic finale.
A King’s Radiance is a fantastic debut filled with magic and power, politics and strife, and ultimately the love and bond between siblings. It tells a complete epic fantasy story that can work both as a standalone and as a series starter.
*I was provided an ebook of this book as part of a book tour for it.
May 16, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.25
Three siblings... A rebel. A prince. A prisoner.
When their sister is taken away due to power-hungry, tyrannical, self-proclaimed protectors of the realm, the three siblings must grapple with their new future.
This was a coming-of-age fantasy grappling with family bonds, loyalty, power and a sense of justice.
I’ve seen people compare the magic system to that of Superman - a sun which fuels light magic which can be deadly if not carefully managed and controlled.
Full of fascinating characters with different motivations, pasts and cultures, there was never a boring moment.
Oh, and also, there’s a giant pet lizard.
The three main perspectives were handled magnificently. Shulz is an author who can be added to my ‘can be trusted to right strong female characters in fantasy’ list.
This was a strong debut, and it sets the groundwork for a next instalment which is even more epic in scale.
I did find myself slightly disappointed towards the end of the book, where a lot of cliches were used and some reactions felt forced. However, it does leave Easter eggs for our heroes next journey and, despite feeling slightly out-of-sorts, this does have potential to hopefully be fixed by the author with his next release.
I would recommend this to fans of the Shadow of What was Lost and The Ember Blade.
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Three siblings... A rebel. A prince. A prisoner.
When their sister is taken away due to power-hungry, tyrannical, self-proclaimed protectors of the realm, the three siblings must grapple with their new future.
This was a coming-of-age fantasy grappling with family bonds, loyalty, power and a sense of justice.
”There are a dozen definitions for wrong in this world. We just have to decide which of them is the right one."
I’ve seen people compare the magic system to that of Superman - a sun which fuels light magic which can be deadly if not carefully managed and controlled.
Full of fascinating characters with different motivations, pasts and cultures, there was never a boring moment.
Oh, and also, there’s a giant pet lizard.
The three main perspectives were handled magnificently. Shulz is an author who can be added to my ‘can be trusted to right strong female characters in fantasy’ list.
”If a man cannot wait a few hours in the dark of the night for me then I doubt he can handle me when I'm at my most vulnerable."
This was a strong debut, and it sets the groundwork for a next instalment which is even more epic in scale.
I did find myself slightly disappointed towards the end of the book, where a lot of cliches were used and some reactions felt forced. However, it does leave Easter eggs for our heroes next journey and, despite feeling slightly out-of-sorts, this does have potential to hopefully be fixed by the author with his next release.
I would recommend this to fans of the Shadow of What was Lost and The Ember Blade.
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June 18, 2022
A King’s Radiance grabbed me right out of the gates in the first few chapters, setting up a world of nonchalant cruelty perpetuated by a despicable elite class who are provided complete protection by an all-powerful emperor. The three main characters experience the brunt of this brutality early on, and as a result, I found myself really cheering for them as, one by one, they struggle to stand and fight against hellish odds. It results in a really cathartic experience when the hacking and slashing begins.
Schulz does a masterful job at introducing a cast of interesting and believable characters all with unique backgrounds, personalities, grudges, quirks, flaws, and strengths. I think the reason that they’re so compelling is that they all have some connection with one another, whether it’s a shared suffering at the hands of the oppressive regime, their history of war with one-another, or their checkered family ties. However, Draz is objectively the best character and I will fight anyone who disagrees.
There is no black and white morality in this book, only shades of grey. There are always questions about whether the fight is worth the risk and the sacrifice, and whether the greater good is worth the injustices inflicted on the innocent.
If you’re into epic fantasies with lovable and lamentable characters, blistering action, grey morality, themes of vengeance and family hatreds, I strongly recommend you check this out. Also, the cover art is perfection.
Schulz does a masterful job at introducing a cast of interesting and believable characters all with unique backgrounds, personalities, grudges, quirks, flaws, and strengths. I think the reason that they’re so compelling is that they all have some connection with one another, whether it’s a shared suffering at the hands of the oppressive regime, their history of war with one-another, or their checkered family ties. However, Draz is objectively the best character and I will fight anyone who disagrees.
There is no black and white morality in this book, only shades of grey. There are always questions about whether the fight is worth the risk and the sacrifice, and whether the greater good is worth the injustices inflicted on the innocent.
If you’re into epic fantasies with lovable and lamentable characters, blistering action, grey morality, themes of vengeance and family hatreds, I strongly recommend you check this out. Also, the cover art is perfection.
September 16, 2023
A great start to an epic series.
This book follows 3 siblings as the main pov characters from their youth at the beginning to their adulthood. Following a certain event, each has grown up under different circumstances. This gave each character their own nicely defined goals, perspectives, and hardships that are not often seen with sibling povs. It was a pleasure experiencing their journeys as Raiz, Isha, and Dazen fought to break their molds.
Even with the clear cut characters that make the pages turn almost on their own, I think my favorite aspect of this book was the magic system. The use of sunlight as a weapon once absorbed into the body and the consequences that occured were extremely intriguing, especially with the underlining notion that this magic use is perhaps causing harm to the sun. I'm also intrigued with discovering in the following books why different people have different shines (like Raiz's) and what they mean. I can't wait to find out more about prickets, the skae, and if the skae have any relation to the Sun Prince (book 2's title) who is mentioned early on in this book.
Now, I will say that while the first 60% of the book simply flew by for me, a certain choice made by Raiz regarding returning to his family's homestead completely pulled me out of the story and lessened my reading experience, which is why this is a 4 star for me. It was a decision that didn't fit with the character's life experiences as an outlaw and vigilante, his intelligence, nor how he felt about the place and his father. The following chapters because of it were extremely predictable, and this choice drove the events of the book for another 15% of the book. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the ending and how everything came together.
Bring on book 2!
This book follows 3 siblings as the main pov characters from their youth at the beginning to their adulthood. Following a certain event, each has grown up under different circumstances. This gave each character their own nicely defined goals, perspectives, and hardships that are not often seen with sibling povs. It was a pleasure experiencing their journeys as Raiz, Isha, and Dazen fought to break their molds.
Even with the clear cut characters that make the pages turn almost on their own, I think my favorite aspect of this book was the magic system. The use of sunlight as a weapon once absorbed into the body and the consequences that occured were extremely intriguing, especially with the underlining notion that this magic use is perhaps causing harm to the sun. I'm also intrigued with discovering in the following books why different people have different shines (like Raiz's) and what they mean. I can't wait to find out more about prickets, the skae, and if the skae have any relation to the Sun Prince (book 2's title) who is mentioned early on in this book.
Now, I will say that while the first 60% of the book simply flew by for me, a certain choice made by Raiz regarding returning to his family's homestead completely pulled me out of the story and lessened my reading experience, which is why this is a 4 star for me. It was a decision that didn't fit with the character's life experiences as an outlaw and vigilante, his intelligence, nor how he felt about the place and his father. The following chapters because of it were extremely predictable, and this choice drove the events of the book for another 15% of the book. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the ending and how everything came together.
Bring on book 2!
March 14, 2024
A compelling fantasy story with likeable mc’s, great world-building, and unique powers too. I like that one of the characters knows she is ‘useless’, but that she can at least try to do something and wants to learn to fight.
I like that the story has three POV’s so that you can see the development of each of the siblings more clearly.
Can’t wait to find out about the Sun Prince in the next book and what kind of man Raiz will turn into. And let’s not forget about Spike!
I like that the story has three POV’s so that you can see the development of each of the siblings more clearly.
Can’t wait to find out about the Sun Prince in the next book and what kind of man Raiz will turn into. And let’s not forget about Spike!
August 19, 2022
I got recommended this book by a dear friend that actually got to read the ARC version and once she was done she kept going on about how much she loved the book and reminding me the date of the book coming out so I didn't forget to read it. And I got to say I'm not disappointed on her constant recommendation of the book.
To start off I really enjoyed the story following all 3 siblings and what they were all going thru instead of suddenly having them pop on on parts and not knowing how they got to where they where. And all siblings interactions? those where so nice to read about since they felt real. I have 2 sisters and while reading I kept remembering some interactions with them thanks to how the book portrayed them, and I feel that's something important on the book, mainly because the story develop upon their relationship over their hardships.
The magic system of the word being based on the sun was amassing, being more powerful by day than night as you didn't had contact with the light to recharge your magical energy made so much sense and was so well written that it was nice to read how some characters used their powers in a different way depending on their personalities and needs. Tho it did made me think why not have other characters with different magical sources, BUT we never know that might come on the sequel.
And before I finish this off I want to say that the attention to detail on each character POV icon was amazing, I got to chapter 4 when I realized each sibling had their illustrative little icon that matched with their story that gave it a little nice touch to the book itself.
Can't wait to see what the sequel could bring us!
To start off I really enjoyed the story following all 3 siblings and what they were all going thru instead of suddenly having them pop on on parts and not knowing how they got to where they where. And all siblings interactions? those where so nice to read about since they felt real. I have 2 sisters and while reading I kept remembering some interactions with them thanks to how the book portrayed them, and I feel that's something important on the book, mainly because the story develop upon their relationship over their hardships.
The magic system of the word being based on the sun was amassing, being more powerful by day than night as you didn't had contact with the light to recharge your magical energy made so much sense and was so well written that it was nice to read how some characters used their powers in a different way depending on their personalities and needs. Tho it did made me think why not have other characters with different magical sources, BUT we never know that might come on the sequel.
And before I finish this off I want to say that the attention to detail on each character POV icon was amazing, I got to chapter 4 when I realized each sibling had their illustrative little icon that matched with their story that gave it a little nice touch to the book itself.
Can't wait to see what the sequel could bring us!
February 6, 2023
A King's Radiance
In any world or realm, there seems to be a battle between good and evil. This book asures this point and battle. With many levels of conflict, thoughts of revenge but a love of parents no matter what occurs is the best thing in any life. I loved it!!!!
In any world or realm, there seems to be a battle between good and evil. This book asures this point and battle. With many levels of conflict, thoughts of revenge but a love of parents no matter what occurs is the best thing in any life. I loved it!!!!
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