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Ithelas #1
The River Kings' Road
A thrilling new voice in fantasy makes an unforgettable debut with this "intriguingly twisted tale of treachery and magic" ( New York Times bestselling author L. E. Modesitt, Jr.). Liane Merciel’s The River Kings’ Road takes us to a world of bitter enmity between kingdoms, divided loyalties between comrades, and an insidious magic that destroys everything it touches. . . .
The wounded maidservant thrust the knotted blankets at him; instinctively, Brys stepped forward and caught the bundle before it fell. Then he glimpsed what lay inside and nearly dropped it himself.
There was a baby in the blankets. A baby with a tear-swollen face red and round as a midsummer plum. A baby he knew, even without seeing the lacquered medallion tucked into the swaddling—a medallion far too heavy, on a chain far too cold for an infant who had not yet seen a year.
A fragile period of peace between the eternally warring kingdoms of Oakharn and Langmyr is shattered when a surprise massacre fueled by bloodmagic ravages the Langmyrne border village of Willowfield, killing its inhabitants—including a visiting Oakharne lord and his family—and leaving behind a scene so grisly that even the carrion eaters avoid its desecrated earth. But the dead lord’s infant heir has survived the carnage—a discovery that entwines the destinies of Brys Tarnell , a mercenary who rescues the helpless and ailing babe, and who enlists a Langmyr peasant, a young mother herself, to nourish and nurture the child of her enemies as they travel a dark, perilous road . . . Odosse , the peasant woman whose only weapons are wit, courage, and her fierce maternal love—and who risks everything she holds dear to protect her new charge . . . Sir Kelland , a divinely blessed Knight of the Sun, called upon to unmask the architects behind the slaughter and avert war between ancestral enemies . . . Bitharn , Kelland’s companion on his journey, who conceals her lifelong love for the Knight behind her flawless archery skills—and whose feelings may ultimately be Kelland’s undoing . . . and Leferic , an Oakharne Lord’s bitter youngest son, whose dark ambitions fuel the most horrific acts of violence. As one infant’s life hangs in the balance, so too does the fate of thousands, while deep in the forest, a Maimed Witch practices an evil bloodmagic that could doom them all. . . .
The wounded maidservant thrust the knotted blankets at him; instinctively, Brys stepped forward and caught the bundle before it fell. Then he glimpsed what lay inside and nearly dropped it himself.
There was a baby in the blankets. A baby with a tear-swollen face red and round as a midsummer plum. A baby he knew, even without seeing the lacquered medallion tucked into the swaddling—a medallion far too heavy, on a chain far too cold for an infant who had not yet seen a year.
A fragile period of peace between the eternally warring kingdoms of Oakharn and Langmyr is shattered when a surprise massacre fueled by bloodmagic ravages the Langmyrne border village of Willowfield, killing its inhabitants—including a visiting Oakharne lord and his family—and leaving behind a scene so grisly that even the carrion eaters avoid its desecrated earth. But the dead lord’s infant heir has survived the carnage—a discovery that entwines the destinies of Brys Tarnell , a mercenary who rescues the helpless and ailing babe, and who enlists a Langmyr peasant, a young mother herself, to nourish and nurture the child of her enemies as they travel a dark, perilous road . . . Odosse , the peasant woman whose only weapons are wit, courage, and her fierce maternal love—and who risks everything she holds dear to protect her new charge . . . Sir Kelland , a divinely blessed Knight of the Sun, called upon to unmask the architects behind the slaughter and avert war between ancestral enemies . . . Bitharn , Kelland’s companion on his journey, who conceals her lifelong love for the Knight behind her flawless archery skills—and whose feelings may ultimately be Kelland’s undoing . . . and Leferic , an Oakharne Lord’s bitter youngest son, whose dark ambitions fuel the most horrific acts of violence. As one infant’s life hangs in the balance, so too does the fate of thousands, while deep in the forest, a Maimed Witch practices an evil bloodmagic that could doom them all. . . .
431 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 16, 2010
13 people are currently reading
1025 people want to read
About the author
Liane Merciel
40 books114 followersLiane Merciel's novels include Pathfinder Tales: Hellknight and Nightglass, Dragon Age: Last Flight, and The River Kings' Road. She has written for game companies including Pathfinder, Dungeons & Dragons, and Warhammer's Black Library. She lives and works in Philadelphia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
August 1, 2011
While visiting the rival's city of Willowfield, the Lord of Bull's March, Sir Galefrid, has been ambushed by a dark magic only a Thorn could wield. The entire town is decimated, except for Brys Tarnell, who is able to escape just before the bloodmist fully takes its toll.
The coincidences and timing make it hard to believe it's only the workings of a Thorn and its bloodmagic. Sir Kelland, a knight of the Sun, blessed to work magic in the goddess Celestia's name, and Bitharn, hopelessly in love with Kelland, are asked to investigate by the Lord of Langmyr and governing province of Willowfield who had hoped to enter peace talks with the rival lord, Sir Galefrid.
Set in my favorite subgenre, that of secondary world epic fantasy, The River Kings' Road [US] [UK] is the first in the series of Ithelas (the second, Heaven's Needle [US] [UK], having been recently released).
As Peter William mentions in his review, there's a lot of competition (or maybe just a lot of books) in this subgenre with the very easy possibility of good works being lost in the sea of junk. Luckily for me, I have friends that know a good thing when they see it.
I still can't believe this was a first novel for Liane Merciel. Her prose is crisp and the pacing is perfect. I was deeply involved with the characters, and even her antagonists are hard not to like, or at least respect, they reside in a nice gray area.
The magic is centered around certain rituals that invoke a goddess' power. The Thorns' magic is based around their worship of the goddess of pain, so their rituals are pretty sick and twisted indeed. Kelland, as a knight of the Sun, has certain magical abilities which, like the Thorns, aren't completely explained, but also based in ritual (although more inward than the Thorns' outward pain infliction).
This brings up a great point that sets Merciel apart. Not only is her magic something different than the usual, but her entire story isn't run-of-the-mill either. There is no quest, but the world she's created is mysterious and vast nonetheless.
Once you get past the confusion at the beginning, mostly in trying to figure out which town belongs in which kingdom and who's on whose side, The River Kings' Road is a very satisfying read.
Why Read River Kings' Road?
Liane Merciel deserves much more credit than she has received until now and I hope her audience continues to grow and grow. I really enjoyed her debut, The River Kings' Road, and I'm extremely excited for the next installment, Heaven's Needle. Highly Recommended!
4 out of 5 Stars (Loved it!)
The coincidences and timing make it hard to believe it's only the workings of a Thorn and its bloodmagic. Sir Kelland, a knight of the Sun, blessed to work magic in the goddess Celestia's name, and Bitharn, hopelessly in love with Kelland, are asked to investigate by the Lord of Langmyr and governing province of Willowfield who had hoped to enter peace talks with the rival lord, Sir Galefrid.
Set in my favorite subgenre, that of secondary world epic fantasy, The River Kings' Road [US] [UK] is the first in the series of Ithelas (the second, Heaven's Needle [US] [UK], having been recently released).
As Peter William mentions in his review, there's a lot of competition (or maybe just a lot of books) in this subgenre with the very easy possibility of good works being lost in the sea of junk. Luckily for me, I have friends that know a good thing when they see it.
I still can't believe this was a first novel for Liane Merciel. Her prose is crisp and the pacing is perfect. I was deeply involved with the characters, and even her antagonists are hard not to like, or at least respect, they reside in a nice gray area.
The magic is centered around certain rituals that invoke a goddess' power. The Thorns' magic is based around their worship of the goddess of pain, so their rituals are pretty sick and twisted indeed. Kelland, as a knight of the Sun, has certain magical abilities which, like the Thorns, aren't completely explained, but also based in ritual (although more inward than the Thorns' outward pain infliction).
This brings up a great point that sets Merciel apart. Not only is her magic something different than the usual, but her entire story isn't run-of-the-mill either. There is no quest, but the world she's created is mysterious and vast nonetheless.
Once you get past the confusion at the beginning, mostly in trying to figure out which town belongs in which kingdom and who's on whose side, The River Kings' Road is a very satisfying read.
Why Read River Kings' Road?
Liane Merciel deserves much more credit than she has received until now and I hope her audience continues to grow and grow. I really enjoyed her debut, The River Kings' Road, and I'm extremely excited for the next installment, Heaven's Needle. Highly Recommended!
4 out of 5 Stars (Loved it!)
August 6, 2016
This is exactly the kind of fantasy I love: a potentially epic setting but with "low fantasy" focus on the actual people within it. Peasants have the chance to determine fate for a change. Like Saladin Ahmed, I also want "fewer kings and starship captains, more coach drivers and space waitresses" in my spec fic.
Beyond class diversity, the spec fic genre also needs progress in racial diversity. It's something I try to do in my own writing and also something I consciously keep an eye out for in my reading. I was pleasantly surprised to discover the paladin in The River Kings' Road, Sir Kelland, is from the African-analogue of this fictional universe. Although an orphan raised by Sun Knights, he connects with his heritage by braiding his hair in the fashion of its warriors, and the common folk view his dark skin as a manifestation of the Sun Goddess' favor, making him the "Burnt Knight." He's also the subject of a wants-to-be-but-bound-to-celibacy romantic subplot with his assistant, a woman warrior, and I was happy to see that these two will have a bigger part in the sequel.
I hasten to add that the story itself is less of an essay on class and racial diversity than the paragraphs I've written here--I was just impressed at how, while not groundbreaking, this story is able to quietly model that sort of diversity with a cast of well-rounded characters, albeit in a fairly standard fantasy setting.
Although there are some unique and flavorful additions--the sadomasochistic Thorn witches (and that's sadomasochism in the not fun, safe, sane, and consensual manner), Sir Kelland and his background, and even the River Kings' gleaming Road itself--ultimately the setting is a medieval world, complete with analogues to the Vikings. One nice thing is that it's a medieval world written by an author who clearly did historical research: there's a throwaway line about a family losing its milk cow when their house is burned down, because during winter they keep the livestock indoors with them. Again, there's these down-to-earth details of daily lives and what it's like to be an average person in this world. I hasten to add that these are throwaway lines; the main plot isn't bogged down by trivia.
Which isn't exactly to say doesn't get bogged down.
The plot starts with a bang--technically, with fire and Bloodmist, which is exactly what it sounds like--and the story moves forward steadily, without any wasted scenes. Yet, in the middle particularly, there are a lot of flashbacks to provide background information that rarely rises above standard fantasy fare. Wars, evil wizards, hard-bitten mercenaries, strange curses, and those Viking analogues I mention call the undead they fight Skraelings, which is an actual Viking term (meaning "wretch," and applied by them to Native Americans. Specifically the Native Americans who drove them out of Newfoundland. I highly doubt Merciel intends anything racially loaded by the term; that's just interesting trivia I want to bog my review down with).
In contrast to my parenthetical comment above, the characters' flashbacks are generally germane, and frequently help to develop the backstory and personality of individuals. Sometimes I wonder whether the background information could be more gracefully presented, but on the whole it is a fast-paced story as the worldbuilding gets fleshed out. All the same, aspects of the world still feel a bit thrown together--the Thorn Witches, despite some genuinely creepy body modifications, are in many ways a generic evil sorcerers empire to the east with exotic naming conventions, while the Western European main setting has a mixture of names that feel English and French--which makes parts of it feel more constructed than inhabited. Ang'arta especially--I do not know how that country works, and it does not feel like a real place. To be fair, none of the characters have actually been there yet, mostly because in true evil empire fashion it's a place few people go to and survive.
Even if the evil empire which never appears onscreen could be better realized (and when you put it like that, it's obvious), the villainous characters themselves are as well-rounded as the good guys. There does seem to be more character development on their part, with redemptive arcs or at least tragic ones. In fact, I wound up feeling more sympathy for the most decent of the villains than the most antiheroic of the heroes--and I think that's a feature, not a bug. There are enough genuinely kind people for me to care about and root for, like the peasant mother Odosse and Sir Kelland, who are respectively trying to survive and keep two babes in arms alive while fleeing a Thorn Witch through border territory that might at any moment erupt into war, and launching an investigation into a massacre that might wind up triggering said war. Unlike the typical epic fantasy where we're supposed to be cheered at the prospect of a nice war to get the heart pounding and the lungs inflated, here war is shown as terrible as it generally is when you're, say, one of the people who might drop dead when the Bloodmist is unleashed.
Of a fairly large cast, one of the least interesting characters happens to be the one we start off with--Brys Tarnell, the brilliantly green-eyed swordsman featured on the cover, and pretty much a standard antihero. I actually expected more character development from him than I got. He's a perfectly well-rounded standard antihero, with the street smarts to get Odosse and two babies across enemy territory and the occasional sarcastic barb, but he hasn't hit the full swing of his redemptive arc yet (some might find this refreshing). Odosse, though, is instantly sympathetic without being nothing but a victim, despite being a peasant, a young unmarried mother, and unattractive in more than the "Hollywood Homely" sense. She has to make her own choices in this novel, some of them surprising.
The Thorn Witch and her magic, which relies largely on mutilation, is genuinely terrifying, and while I wish we learned more about her motives, it looks like those will come up in the sequel. All of the backstory dropping and the slow character arcs appear to be in preparation for a much larger story arc--and this book is clearly the first in the series, with much tantalizingly unresolved at the end. I've already ordered the next, Heaven's Needle.
This review is cross-posted from Story Addict.
Beyond class diversity, the spec fic genre also needs progress in racial diversity. It's something I try to do in my own writing and also something I consciously keep an eye out for in my reading. I was pleasantly surprised to discover the paladin in The River Kings' Road, Sir Kelland, is from the African-analogue of this fictional universe. Although an orphan raised by Sun Knights, he connects with his heritage by braiding his hair in the fashion of its warriors, and the common folk view his dark skin as a manifestation of the Sun Goddess' favor, making him the "Burnt Knight." He's also the subject of a wants-to-be-but-bound-to-celibacy romantic subplot with his assistant, a woman warrior, and I was happy to see that these two will have a bigger part in the sequel.
I hasten to add that the story itself is less of an essay on class and racial diversity than the paragraphs I've written here--I was just impressed at how, while not groundbreaking, this story is able to quietly model that sort of diversity with a cast of well-rounded characters, albeit in a fairly standard fantasy setting.
Although there are some unique and flavorful additions--the sadomasochistic Thorn witches (and that's sadomasochism in the not fun, safe, sane, and consensual manner), Sir Kelland and his background, and even the River Kings' gleaming Road itself--ultimately the setting is a medieval world, complete with analogues to the Vikings. One nice thing is that it's a medieval world written by an author who clearly did historical research: there's a throwaway line about a family losing its milk cow when their house is burned down, because during winter they keep the livestock indoors with them. Again, there's these down-to-earth details of daily lives and what it's like to be an average person in this world. I hasten to add that these are throwaway lines; the main plot isn't bogged down by trivia.
Which isn't exactly to say doesn't get bogged down.
The plot starts with a bang--technically, with fire and Bloodmist, which is exactly what it sounds like--and the story moves forward steadily, without any wasted scenes. Yet, in the middle particularly, there are a lot of flashbacks to provide background information that rarely rises above standard fantasy fare. Wars, evil wizards, hard-bitten mercenaries, strange curses, and those Viking analogues I mention call the undead they fight Skraelings, which is an actual Viking term (meaning "wretch," and applied by them to Native Americans. Specifically the Native Americans who drove them out of Newfoundland. I highly doubt Merciel intends anything racially loaded by the term; that's just interesting trivia I want to bog my review down with).
In contrast to my parenthetical comment above, the characters' flashbacks are generally germane, and frequently help to develop the backstory and personality of individuals. Sometimes I wonder whether the background information could be more gracefully presented, but on the whole it is a fast-paced story as the worldbuilding gets fleshed out. All the same, aspects of the world still feel a bit thrown together--the Thorn Witches, despite some genuinely creepy body modifications, are in many ways a generic evil sorcerers empire to the east with exotic naming conventions, while the Western European main setting has a mixture of names that feel English and French--which makes parts of it feel more constructed than inhabited. Ang'arta especially--I do not know how that country works, and it does not feel like a real place. To be fair, none of the characters have actually been there yet, mostly because in true evil empire fashion it's a place few people go to and survive.
Even if the evil empire which never appears onscreen could be better realized (and when you put it like that, it's obvious), the villainous characters themselves are as well-rounded as the good guys. There does seem to be more character development on their part, with redemptive arcs or at least tragic ones. In fact, I wound up feeling more sympathy for the most decent of the villains than the most antiheroic of the heroes--and I think that's a feature, not a bug. There are enough genuinely kind people for me to care about and root for, like the peasant mother Odosse and Sir Kelland, who are respectively trying to survive and keep two babes in arms alive while fleeing a Thorn Witch through border territory that might at any moment erupt into war, and launching an investigation into a massacre that might wind up triggering said war. Unlike the typical epic fantasy where we're supposed to be cheered at the prospect of a nice war to get the heart pounding and the lungs inflated, here war is shown as terrible as it generally is when you're, say, one of the people who might drop dead when the Bloodmist is unleashed.
Of a fairly large cast, one of the least interesting characters happens to be the one we start off with--Brys Tarnell, the brilliantly green-eyed swordsman featured on the cover, and pretty much a standard antihero. I actually expected more character development from him than I got. He's a perfectly well-rounded standard antihero, with the street smarts to get Odosse and two babies across enemy territory and the occasional sarcastic barb, but he hasn't hit the full swing of his redemptive arc yet (some might find this refreshing). Odosse, though, is instantly sympathetic without being nothing but a victim, despite being a peasant, a young unmarried mother, and unattractive in more than the "Hollywood Homely" sense. She has to make her own choices in this novel, some of them surprising.
The Thorn Witch and her magic, which relies largely on mutilation, is genuinely terrifying, and while I wish we learned more about her motives, it looks like those will come up in the sequel. All of the backstory dropping and the slow character arcs appear to be in preparation for a much larger story arc--and this book is clearly the first in the series, with much tantalizingly unresolved at the end. I've already ordered the next, Heaven's Needle.
This review is cross-posted from Story Addict.
June 13, 2014
This book starts with a not unfamiliar scenario: a prince murdered, his family with him in a bloody massacre; a lone knight survives to hide the prince's baby son away, that the child may live, and grow up to avenge his father's death and retake his rightful throne...
But, in fact, the lone survivor is no noble hero, but a cynical ex-mercenary who saves the child for reasons of his own. The dead prince was not as much loss to his kingdom as might be thought. The author of the massacre has compounded with powers that he really, really shouldn't have - powers that have their own agenda.
And then there are the holy knight and his companion, who face off against the dodgy powers, and the single mother who gets roped in to act as wet-nurse to the rescued baby.
And there is magic and religion and war and politics and some fairly gruesome deaths, and really, I don't know why I didn't hear about this book before, because it's pretty damn' good. I just hope the next book is available on Kindle, because the Kobo shop doesn't have it, grr snarl.
But, in fact, the lone survivor is no noble hero, but a cynical ex-mercenary who saves the child for reasons of his own. The dead prince was not as much loss to his kingdom as might be thought. The author of the massacre has compounded with powers that he really, really shouldn't have - powers that have their own agenda.
And then there are the holy knight and his companion, who face off against the dodgy powers, and the single mother who gets roped in to act as wet-nurse to the rescued baby.
And there is magic and religion and war and politics and some fairly gruesome deaths, and really, I don't know why I didn't hear about this book before, because it's pretty damn' good. I just hope the next book is available on Kindle, because the Kobo shop doesn't have it, grr snarl.
March 25, 2010
At a very young age my older brother handed me
The Sword of Shannara
by Terry Brooks and I fell in love. Up to that point I had been stuck with such light, kiddy books as The Baby Sitters Club or Encyclopedia Brown - never knowing about this whole other, magical world. But when I stepped into the pages that epic fantasy, I was completely and utterly lost. And although I no longer name Brooks as my favorite author, I still thank him (and his books) for introducing me to the magical world of epic fantasy. He unavoidably led me to Tolkien - for which I am forever grateful - and is actually one of the main reasons I have never been able to control myself when presented with any sort of sweeping fantasy saga since. Which is why I had high hopes and was immediately rewarded with a bit of bookish nostalgia upon opening Liane Merciel's epic fantasy debut
The River Kings' Road
- I was getting to step back into my favorite genre.
For generations the provinces of Oakharn and Langmyr have been at war. Separated by the river and years of death and mistrust, a tenuous peace has finally been established between the two regions - but all that changes when a small Oakharn town, Willowfield, and its inhabitants are decimated during the visit from a feudal lord, Sir Galefrid of Langmyr, visiting on a mission of peace. Only a knight in service to Sir Galefrid, Brys Tarnell, and Galefrid's infant son, and heir, Winston survive the tragedy of Willowfield. Understanding the need to take the baby to safety, Brys convinces a young, unmarried mother named Odosse to care for the baby on their perilous journey. But there are many who would see the child and its protectors dead - men who would go so far as to engage the help of the Thorns, a group of sadistic and foreign sorcerers more deadly than entire armies.
Those familiar with the epic fantasy genre will immediately fall into step with Liane Merciel's solid worldbuilding. All the time-honored types are present: the inns, mercenaries, archery contests, evil mages, knights, ladies and bandits aplenty. What sets it apart however is how this common backdrop is sprinkled throughout with a most impressive collection of decidedly human characters. Oh, don't mistake me: the bad guys are really quite nasty and there are a few truly 'good' guys, but even those characters are not sickeningly so. But what I found most interesting is what I like to call her 'gray' characters': men like Brys Tarnell, a moral-less sellsword by all accounts who again and again shows courage and cunning beyond an ordinary knighthood with a past full of intriguing secrets. And then there's the man who would be king, Leferic, Sir Galefrid's younger, bookish brother: upon first glance he is truly despicable but with closer inspection, you find his motives to be pure even if his methods questionable. And that's just scratching the surface: there are religious knights who cling desperately to their vows even when faced with heart-breaking challenges and simple townsfolk who fairly come to life in their variances. There was much to enjoy about The River Kings' Road - even if it was paced rather slowly, I understand the need for adequate plot development in something this large scale and I will eagerly anticipate Merciel's next novel of Ithelas. I'm all for reminding myself why I started reading fantasy books in the first place.
For generations the provinces of Oakharn and Langmyr have been at war. Separated by the river and years of death and mistrust, a tenuous peace has finally been established between the two regions - but all that changes when a small Oakharn town, Willowfield, and its inhabitants are decimated during the visit from a feudal lord, Sir Galefrid of Langmyr, visiting on a mission of peace. Only a knight in service to Sir Galefrid, Brys Tarnell, and Galefrid's infant son, and heir, Winston survive the tragedy of Willowfield. Understanding the need to take the baby to safety, Brys convinces a young, unmarried mother named Odosse to care for the baby on their perilous journey. But there are many who would see the child and its protectors dead - men who would go so far as to engage the help of the Thorns, a group of sadistic and foreign sorcerers more deadly than entire armies.
Those familiar with the epic fantasy genre will immediately fall into step with Liane Merciel's solid worldbuilding. All the time-honored types are present: the inns, mercenaries, archery contests, evil mages, knights, ladies and bandits aplenty. What sets it apart however is how this common backdrop is sprinkled throughout with a most impressive collection of decidedly human characters. Oh, don't mistake me: the bad guys are really quite nasty and there are a few truly 'good' guys, but even those characters are not sickeningly so. But what I found most interesting is what I like to call her 'gray' characters': men like Brys Tarnell, a moral-less sellsword by all accounts who again and again shows courage and cunning beyond an ordinary knighthood with a past full of intriguing secrets. And then there's the man who would be king, Leferic, Sir Galefrid's younger, bookish brother: upon first glance he is truly despicable but with closer inspection, you find his motives to be pure even if his methods questionable. And that's just scratching the surface: there are religious knights who cling desperately to their vows even when faced with heart-breaking challenges and simple townsfolk who fairly come to life in their variances. There was much to enjoy about The River Kings' Road - even if it was paced rather slowly, I understand the need for adequate plot development in something this large scale and I will eagerly anticipate Merciel's next novel of Ithelas. I'm all for reminding myself why I started reading fantasy books in the first place.
September 3, 2012
All I can really say is that this book is adequate. I figured it probably would be, but had hoped it would surprise me and be a bit more. It got better towards the end, but never had anything to make it truly great.
Really, this felt like a really good high school production of a big-time musical. Sometimes you go see some teenagers perform Les Miserables, and you know it won't be spectacular, so you're not really disappointed. In fact, a few performances might even be stellar, even though they can't possibly compete with a professional cast. In the end, the production will be a bit uneven, you'll always be aware that it's on a stage, the budget will be shoe-string at best, and so forth. That's what this book is like. It does everything just fine within its reach, but that doesn't change the fact that its arms are not long enough to attain more.
I will say that while the plot is quite thin, the characters are actually quite good. Brys is atypical, not being overly-gallant and in fact very efficient without being a Ranger/Warder/other-fantasy-super-soldier. Odesse is a strong, though plain woman. There's no rushed/forced romance, and she's a fairly plain woman, rather than a stunningly beautiful characiture. Kelland and Bitharn are both interesting and have a very believable relationship (though Bitharn's little feminist scene is really pointless, since this is clearly a more egalitarian world than your usual medieval fantasy world). And Leferic is a really gem of a villain--sympathetic, nobly-intended (in the going-straight-to-hell sort of way), and clever.
Ultimately, Merciel's writing isn't bad, but it isn't wondrous, either. There's no sweeping quality to it, no strong base of humanity, etc. It's strong, but lacks conviction.
Again, this is not a bad book, per say. In fact, you could say that there is nothing seriously wrong with this book. It's just that there isn't enough that is sufficiently right with it either. I might pick up the sequel later, but that will be a long time in the future.
Really, this felt like a really good high school production of a big-time musical. Sometimes you go see some teenagers perform Les Miserables, and you know it won't be spectacular, so you're not really disappointed. In fact, a few performances might even be stellar, even though they can't possibly compete with a professional cast. In the end, the production will be a bit uneven, you'll always be aware that it's on a stage, the budget will be shoe-string at best, and so forth. That's what this book is like. It does everything just fine within its reach, but that doesn't change the fact that its arms are not long enough to attain more.
I will say that while the plot is quite thin, the characters are actually quite good. Brys is atypical, not being overly-gallant and in fact very efficient without being a Ranger/Warder/other-fantasy-super-soldier. Odesse is a strong, though plain woman. There's no rushed/forced romance, and she's a fairly plain woman, rather than a stunningly beautiful characiture. Kelland and Bitharn are both interesting and have a very believable relationship (though Bitharn's little feminist scene is really pointless, since this is clearly a more egalitarian world than your usual medieval fantasy world). And Leferic is a really gem of a villain--sympathetic, nobly-intended (in the going-straight-to-hell sort of way), and clever.
Ultimately, Merciel's writing isn't bad, but it isn't wondrous, either. There's no sweeping quality to it, no strong base of humanity, etc. It's strong, but lacks conviction.
Again, this is not a bad book, per say. In fact, you could say that there is nothing seriously wrong with this book. It's just that there isn't enough that is sufficiently right with it either. I might pick up the sequel later, but that will be a long time in the future.
dnf
May 1, 2019Ich breche keine Bücher ab. Ich hätte dann ein schlechtes Gewissen. Es hört sich auch ein meinen Ohren seltsam an, aber ich hätte dann tatsächlich ein schlechtes Gewissen dem Buch gegenüber.
Gestern habe ich bei Stehlblüten einen Blogpost gelesen, den ich mir jetzt wirklich zu Herzen nehmen werde, oder es versuchen werde.
Es stimmt einfach nunmal; warum sich durch ein Buch “quälen”, wenn noch so viele andere tolle Bücher auf einen warten.
Deshalb breche ich nun “Der Krieger und der Prinz” nach ca. einem Drittel ab.
Gestern habe ich bei Stehlblüten einen Blogpost gelesen, den ich mir jetzt wirklich zu Herzen nehmen werde, oder es versuchen werde.
Es stimmt einfach nunmal; warum sich durch ein Buch “quälen”, wenn noch so viele andere tolle Bücher auf einen warten.
Deshalb breche ich nun “Der Krieger und der Prinz” nach ca. einem Drittel ab.
March 27, 2023
This one took a minute for me to get into, mostly because the author did something that i really appreciate: she just drops us into the story, into the world, and expects us to catch up as we go along; I am not a fan of long exposition, or dumbing things down for the reader.
The world building, characters and general structure of this book all played well, I really enjoyed the somewhat parallel nature of the journeys of our two main protagonist groups, and was just fascinated by the world building and magic system, and all the more as the book progressed. I didn't realize when I started this one that there were more in the series, but I'm looking forward to reading the next one!
The world building, characters and general structure of this book all played well, I really enjoyed the somewhat parallel nature of the journeys of our two main protagonist groups, and was just fascinated by the world building and magic system, and all the more as the book progressed. I didn't realize when I started this one that there were more in the series, but I'm looking forward to reading the next one!
April 24, 2010
An impious mercenary witnesses, and avoids an attack in a bordertown between two fractious medieval fantasy kingdoms, Langmyr, the site of the attack, and their implacable enemy, Oakharn. Also surviving the attack are a young woman, and the heir to the Oakharn lord killed in the massacre.
This sets the stage for a complex web of alliances, struggles and strivings, as forces not only on both sides move to investigate and take advantage of the attack, but powers from beyond Oakharn and Langmyr as well. Godtouched champions of good and light maneuver against each other, and those caught in the middle simply try to survive, and wait to see if this massacre will lead to yet another conflict on already blood-soaked ground.
Such is the fodder for River Kings' Road, a fantasy novel debut by Liane Merciel. The broad lines of the world and conflict she creates is nothing new for experienced fantasy readers. Medieval fantasy, magic based on devotion to one of a pantheon of deities, the basic trappings of a typical fantasy world. Digging a little deeper, the novel features a variety of multidimensional characters on a decidedly complex chessboard of groups seeking to quell or enflame, the fires of war and conflict between the two kingdoms. Merciel does a good job at the shades of gray between the the two characters who really are black and white. She also has clearly read and grokked the Anderson essay "On Thud and Blunder". She gets underpinnings right that many authors completely and utterly forget. Horses in her universe, for example, are *not* treated as motorcycles. The medieval feel of the world is pervasive and palpable. Faith has a role in this world that feels authentic and nuanced rather than "Crystal Dragon Jesus" .
My only major complaint is that it is not extremely original. I've read much fantasy like this before, of varying qualities, degrees and shadings. Its familiar territory. Kingdoms with ambitious vassals, sorceresses, paladins, and so forth.
Oh, and the novel really could have used a map and a glossary or concordance. While these two features in a fantasy novel are practically cliche by this point, when you have a novel geography and world, it is often useful for really getting a handle on who is where, where they are going, and how people are related to each other.
It's a decent debut, even if not groundshattering. Merciel has ideas here that I would like to have explored further, and I hope her novel does well enough that readers such as myself will have the opportunity to discover them.
This sets the stage for a complex web of alliances, struggles and strivings, as forces not only on both sides move to investigate and take advantage of the attack, but powers from beyond Oakharn and Langmyr as well. Godtouched champions of good and light maneuver against each other, and those caught in the middle simply try to survive, and wait to see if this massacre will lead to yet another conflict on already blood-soaked ground.
Such is the fodder for River Kings' Road, a fantasy novel debut by Liane Merciel. The broad lines of the world and conflict she creates is nothing new for experienced fantasy readers. Medieval fantasy, magic based on devotion to one of a pantheon of deities, the basic trappings of a typical fantasy world. Digging a little deeper, the novel features a variety of multidimensional characters on a decidedly complex chessboard of groups seeking to quell or enflame, the fires of war and conflict between the two kingdoms. Merciel does a good job at the shades of gray between the the two characters who really are black and white. She also has clearly read and grokked the Anderson essay "On Thud and Blunder". She gets underpinnings right that many authors completely and utterly forget. Horses in her universe, for example, are *not* treated as motorcycles. The medieval feel of the world is pervasive and palpable. Faith has a role in this world that feels authentic and nuanced rather than "Crystal Dragon Jesus" .
My only major complaint is that it is not extremely original. I've read much fantasy like this before, of varying qualities, degrees and shadings. Its familiar territory. Kingdoms with ambitious vassals, sorceresses, paladins, and so forth.
Oh, and the novel really could have used a map and a glossary or concordance. While these two features in a fantasy novel are practically cliche by this point, when you have a novel geography and world, it is often useful for really getting a handle on who is where, where they are going, and how people are related to each other.
It's a decent debut, even if not groundshattering. Merciel has ideas here that I would like to have explored further, and I hope her novel does well enough that readers such as myself will have the opportunity to discover them.
March 27, 2024
2nd Read: First review remains unchanged, but I will say that my first read was before I was a parent. Now I am a dad, and this punches above its expected weight. Parents, be ready. Your heart will hurt.
I really, really enjoyed this. I understand that Ms. Merciel has only written one other Ithelas novel. It's next on my reading list, but I really want there to be more.
For a clearly role-playing influenced world (no big surprise; she writes for both Paizo and BioWare), this has a lot of the ring of authenticity to its medieval European roots, and has a real world with real edges and definitions, rather than the "anyone-can-play" watering down of those settings that, I should emphasize, is explicitly necessary for a game to function. Still, the cast is by no means a boys' club, with female viewpoint characters and major figures of both genders on both sides of the moral divide. Atmosphere is well-drawn and feels more real than many, and is familiar without being undistinctive or stereotypical.
A major part of what I ultimately love about fantasy and sci-fi is the philosophizing that is part of building a new world. Questions of morality and faith and so forth come readily to the fore when building new worlds and settings, and this one is no exception. Ms Merciel tells, with grace and clear eyes, how people can do terrible things for motivations that are not entirely unsympathetic and execrable, and at the same time, people who live their lives in devotion to faith and higher ideals are not always either hypocritical killjoys or heterodox nose-thumbers. Lawful Good is not either Lawful Stupid or non-existent. Sin is a slippery slope, and many times we lie to ourselves about our reasons, but in the end, most of us usually know right from wrong. When that fails, you get round to what Messrs Gygax, Arneson, Jackson et al call the Evil Alignments, and they range from vicious ruthlessness to sociopathy to alien, inhuman, unreasonable evil. There is both motivational complexity coexisting with moral and ethical certainty, and that is nice to see, as is a hard look at the real human cost of the bloody set-pieces beloved of fantasy that are sometimes tossed off without real examination. We are not spared the sight of real evil and depravity, but we are not asked to wallow in it, cynically call it the true way of the world, or act like there are no viable alternatives that matter. However, this one is not for kids.
Also, this is a lot of fun to read. There are monsters, blackest sorcery, hints of ancient history and dark plots and a real-deal paladin, and a really strong cast of viewpoint characters neither too large nor too small. The latter is especially important, as it keeps the narrative pulling like a well-ordered team of horses, rather than going off in a bunch of different directions. The result is a story that really moves, and I've read books from significantly more famous and critically acclaimed authors that were three times the length of "The River Kings' Road" that didn't accomplish half as much or entertain me half as much either. Ms. Merciel has a gift for info-dumping that doesn't feel like info-dumping, and for me at least, it only fired my imagination further. I imagine this is a combination of her own gifting and an excellent editor.
I enjoyed this thoroughly. I am off to read the next one.
I really, really enjoyed this. I understand that Ms. Merciel has only written one other Ithelas novel. It's next on my reading list, but I really want there to be more.
For a clearly role-playing influenced world (no big surprise; she writes for both Paizo and BioWare), this has a lot of the ring of authenticity to its medieval European roots, and has a real world with real edges and definitions, rather than the "anyone-can-play" watering down of those settings that, I should emphasize, is explicitly necessary for a game to function. Still, the cast is by no means a boys' club, with female viewpoint characters and major figures of both genders on both sides of the moral divide. Atmosphere is well-drawn and feels more real than many, and is familiar without being undistinctive or stereotypical.
A major part of what I ultimately love about fantasy and sci-fi is the philosophizing that is part of building a new world. Questions of morality and faith and so forth come readily to the fore when building new worlds and settings, and this one is no exception. Ms Merciel tells, with grace and clear eyes, how people can do terrible things for motivations that are not entirely unsympathetic and execrable, and at the same time, people who live their lives in devotion to faith and higher ideals are not always either hypocritical killjoys or heterodox nose-thumbers. Lawful Good is not either Lawful Stupid or non-existent. Sin is a slippery slope, and many times we lie to ourselves about our reasons, but in the end, most of us usually know right from wrong. When that fails, you get round to what Messrs Gygax, Arneson, Jackson et al call the Evil Alignments, and they range from vicious ruthlessness to sociopathy to alien, inhuman, unreasonable evil. There is both motivational complexity coexisting with moral and ethical certainty, and that is nice to see, as is a hard look at the real human cost of the bloody set-pieces beloved of fantasy that are sometimes tossed off without real examination. We are not spared the sight of real evil and depravity, but we are not asked to wallow in it, cynically call it the true way of the world, or act like there are no viable alternatives that matter. However, this one is not for kids.
Also, this is a lot of fun to read. There are monsters, blackest sorcery, hints of ancient history and dark plots and a real-deal paladin, and a really strong cast of viewpoint characters neither too large nor too small. The latter is especially important, as it keeps the narrative pulling like a well-ordered team of horses, rather than going off in a bunch of different directions. The result is a story that really moves, and I've read books from significantly more famous and critically acclaimed authors that were three times the length of "The River Kings' Road" that didn't accomplish half as much or entertain me half as much either. Ms. Merciel has a gift for info-dumping that doesn't feel like info-dumping, and for me at least, it only fired my imagination further. I imagine this is a combination of her own gifting and an excellent editor.
I enjoyed this thoroughly. I am off to read the next one.
September 15, 2011
Pros: clear writing, fast paced, brutal but intelligent characters
Cons: the story jumps around and with the size of the cast it was sometimes hard to remember who was who
When Sir Galefrid's entourage is ambushed at prayers in Willowbank, on the wrong side of the border everyone, even the villagers, is killed. Only his infant son Wistan and a sellsword, Brys Tyrell, survive.
Brys encounters a young mother and child, away from the village for the day and convinces her to accompany him and help the injured Wistan. The child is hunted by those who killed his father, including a practitioner of blood magic.
Meanwhile, the lord of Willowbank's province asks a visiting Blessed to investigate its destruction in the hopes of avoiding war with neighbouring Oakharn over the incident.
For a debut this book is very well written. The language is clear, the plot fast moving and intricate, the characters interesting. I especially liked how pragmatic the people were. I wouldn't want to know Brys, but he's a great character who knows when the fight or flee, kills without remorse when he needs to, and admires strength in others. Similarly Galefrid's younger brother, Leferic, is a ruthless but intelligent man. Despite how he becomes the acting ruler of Bull's March, it sounds like he really would be a better ruler than his brother.
I was surprised by how easily the village girl agreed to follow Brys, despite having no evidence but his word that Willowbank was destroyed. And I'd expected Leferic to consider the advantages of having Wistan returned safely earlier.
Since the story jumps between plot lines and has a large cast I sometimes had a hard time remembering who everyone was. But this wasn't a big problem.
It was a great read.
Cons: the story jumps around and with the size of the cast it was sometimes hard to remember who was who
When Sir Galefrid's entourage is ambushed at prayers in Willowbank, on the wrong side of the border everyone, even the villagers, is killed. Only his infant son Wistan and a sellsword, Brys Tyrell, survive.
Brys encounters a young mother and child, away from the village for the day and convinces her to accompany him and help the injured Wistan. The child is hunted by those who killed his father, including a practitioner of blood magic.
Meanwhile, the lord of Willowbank's province asks a visiting Blessed to investigate its destruction in the hopes of avoiding war with neighbouring Oakharn over the incident.
For a debut this book is very well written. The language is clear, the plot fast moving and intricate, the characters interesting. I especially liked how pragmatic the people were. I wouldn't want to know Brys, but he's a great character who knows when the fight or flee, kills without remorse when he needs to, and admires strength in others. Similarly Galefrid's younger brother, Leferic, is a ruthless but intelligent man. Despite how he becomes the acting ruler of Bull's March, it sounds like he really would be a better ruler than his brother.
I was surprised by how easily the village girl agreed to follow Brys, despite having no evidence but his word that Willowbank was destroyed. And I'd expected Leferic to consider the advantages of having Wistan returned safely earlier.
Since the story jumps between plot lines and has a large cast I sometimes had a hard time remembering who everyone was. But this wasn't a big problem.
It was a great read.
March 21, 2010
The year is 1217.
There is a feuding war going on between the kingdoms of Oakharn and Langmyr.
Brys Tarnell is a mercenary. He was part of Sir Galefrid of Bulls’ March entourage. An ambush was waiting for Sir Galefrid outside the church, they were praying in. Brys was not in the church. On his way out of town, Brys is handed a baby. The baby is Wistan, who is heir to the throne.
Odosse and her newborn son, Aubry are all alone. When Brys comes upon them promising safety, Odosse agrees to become nurse maid to Wistan.
Sir Kelland Knight of the Sun. Bitharn is Sir Kelland friend and companion. She is deadly with a bow and arrow. What Sir Kelland doesn’t know is that Bitharn loves him.
Leferic is the brother of Sir Galefrid’s. He already has dreams of power and glory now that his brother is dead. The only person who could crush Leferic’s dreams is Wistan. It is going to be a long journey on The River Kings’ Road.
The River Kings’ Road is author, Liane Merciel’s debut novel. This book is a mixture of Lord of the Rings for the adventure, The Sword and the Stone for the theme, and The Riyria Revelations series for the great story line and characters. I have to admit through I really enjoyed all of the characters; my favorite parts of this book were when Brys and Odosse were featured. From the first page to the last page, this book grabbed me. There was not a dull moment to be found in this book. All of the characters interacted well with each other. The River Kings’ Road is one book you will be recommending to your friends, over and over again.
There is a feuding war going on between the kingdoms of Oakharn and Langmyr.
Brys Tarnell is a mercenary. He was part of Sir Galefrid of Bulls’ March entourage. An ambush was waiting for Sir Galefrid outside the church, they were praying in. Brys was not in the church. On his way out of town, Brys is handed a baby. The baby is Wistan, who is heir to the throne.
Odosse and her newborn son, Aubry are all alone. When Brys comes upon them promising safety, Odosse agrees to become nurse maid to Wistan.
Sir Kelland Knight of the Sun. Bitharn is Sir Kelland friend and companion. She is deadly with a bow and arrow. What Sir Kelland doesn’t know is that Bitharn loves him.
Leferic is the brother of Sir Galefrid’s. He already has dreams of power and glory now that his brother is dead. The only person who could crush Leferic’s dreams is Wistan. It is going to be a long journey on The River Kings’ Road.
The River Kings’ Road is author, Liane Merciel’s debut novel. This book is a mixture of Lord of the Rings for the adventure, The Sword and the Stone for the theme, and The Riyria Revelations series for the great story line and characters. I have to admit through I really enjoyed all of the characters; my favorite parts of this book were when Brys and Odosse were featured. From the first page to the last page, this book grabbed me. There was not a dull moment to be found in this book. All of the characters interacted well with each other. The River Kings’ Road is one book you will be recommending to your friends, over and over again.
July 24, 2010
I really disliked this book. First off, what does every medieval fantasy novel worth its salt have in the front cover? Yes! A map. This is handy for several reasons, but mostly because when I read that Brys and Odosse traveled between Willowfield and some border town in Oakharn I need a visual to understand how far that is and also where everything is in relation to each other. Without that, all those town names are only made-up words on a page. The map makes the narrative real. Other problems? There are too many characters that flit in for two paragraphs and then don't return for 50 pages. When they do return, they appear without reintroduction, which would be fine if they were memorable characters in the first place. Unfortunately, they weren't and I didn't care enough to flip back and find out who they were--and here e-readers with their search function would be very handy in this instance, though I suspect I wouldn't actually use the function-- so I spent substantial portions of the narrative thinking, "who is this?" Also, the author employs the abhorrent Steven King technique of killing off a very nice innocent minor character whose kindness should have been rewarded. Overall, this was an entirely unsatisfying 388 pages and I don't recommend this book in any way, shape or form.
March 24, 2010
This book really sounded promising. Magic, adventure, and a mystery to be solved. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book as I thought I would. The author jumps from several points of view. This might have been fine if you knew the characters and the places well. Unfortunately, this served to draw me out of the story until I could place who what and where. I think if she followed two major players in this book, it would have flowed much better. My submissions for this would be Odosse, the peasant woman and Sir Kelland, the burnt knight of the major religion in the area. Those two (and the characters that surround them) were the most interesting and I would have liked to known more about their adventures. Kelland and his companion Bitharn were extremely interesting but although they played a central role in this story they were hardly seen. This was very disappointing. I think if the author rewrote this book with those characters as the focal point, I'd quickly snatch up this book to see what happened.
Unfortunately, I gave this book 2 stars. I didn't give it 1 because it does have it's very interesting parts, but it does fail in the end. The book leaves it for another story, but I doubt I'll pick it up.
Unfortunately, I gave this book 2 stars. I didn't give it 1 because it does have it's very interesting parts, but it does fail in the end. The book leaves it for another story, but I doubt I'll pick it up.
April 13, 2010
The River Kings’ Road by Liane Merciel
Great Book! I enjoyed this book. It was populated with realistic characters set in a medieval time who were dealing with magic, war and questions of succession.
This could be qualified as a morality play. Is Lord Leferic an ambitious patriot or a crass villain? Does mercenary Brys Tarnell have a secret or is he exactly what he seems? This is a well done story that also forces you to ponder the motivation of the characters. What makes them tick? Why do the do what they do? Are they just what they seem or are they more. The story line is good but the characterizations are marvelous! I can’t wait for the next installment.
I highly recommend the book and can’t wait for the entire series.
Great Book! I enjoyed this book. It was populated with realistic characters set in a medieval time who were dealing with magic, war and questions of succession.
This could be qualified as a morality play. Is Lord Leferic an ambitious patriot or a crass villain? Does mercenary Brys Tarnell have a secret or is he exactly what he seems? This is a well done story that also forces you to ponder the motivation of the characters. What makes them tick? Why do the do what they do? Are they just what they seem or are they more. The story line is good but the characterizations are marvelous! I can’t wait for the next installment.
I highly recommend the book and can’t wait for the entire series.
April 12, 2010
This is a wonderful fantasy debut and once I started reading it, I found it hard to put down. The story takes right off and the alternate world will be a joy for any historical fiction fan. The story weaves magic in a very believable way and I didn't even question them since they were introduced so subtly. It really reminded me of a knights of the round table type tale. The author does a great job with the characters as well and you will find yourself cheering for the good ones! I especially liked the strong character of Bitham. I hope I don't have to wait too long for the next one since this left me hanging at the end.
July 2, 2011
This was a very quick read, and in places it felt awfully D&D. Every time the gods of the setting were discussed, I could picture the author pouring over a source book to pick out the relevant details to tell me about the gods in any particular explanatory sentence. That's probably not a good thing, and it definitely broke up the sense of immersion in the novel.
That said? The plot was good. The characters were likeable if somewhat under-described. There was a good bit of gentle feminism here, and at no point did I feel like my fantasy HAD to come with a side of sexism. I'd rate this 3.5 if I could, but it definitely needs to round down, not up.
March 25, 2010
I love a good fantasy book. But I have a hard time finding ones that I like. Often fantasy books have to much imagery with many characters and not enough story line for me.
Did I like The River King's Road yes I did. The story draws you in from the first page and the characters are real and the story line is a real page turner I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed the book and I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series Heaven's Needle
If you do not normally read fantasy do not let that stop you from reading this one.
Did I like The River King's Road yes I did. The story draws you in from the first page and the characters are real and the story line is a real page turner I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed the book and I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series Heaven's Needle
If you do not normally read fantasy do not let that stop you from reading this one.
March 26, 2010
Battles have been fought between Oakharn and Langmyr from the start of time. When a truce is called for, Sir Galefried of Bull's March in Oakharn takes his wife and child to a town called Willowfield in the name of friendship. What his family couldn't have known was that this was their last day of life. The baby survives which enrages the evil Luferic who wants the child dead. Now! Luferic's brother is determined to return the baby to safety before it's too late.
Loved it! I've always been a fan of fantasy fiction and I give this book two thumbs up for plot, characters and suspense.
Loved it! I've always been a fan of fantasy fiction and I give this book two thumbs up for plot, characters and suspense.
August 9, 2012
I liked it a lot. The characters were rich and felt like real people. She described their interactions with one another in a way that was easily imaginable and true to the characters. It was also a lot more subtle book than your everyday fantasy novel. Sometimes I wonder if life is more or less just a bunch of subtly leading onward.
There's a lot left to discover, and I look forward to seeing where The River Kings' Road will take us.
There's a lot left to discover, and I look forward to seeing where The River Kings' Road will take us.
April 16, 2010
Another excellent fantasy for adults with believable characters. I'm looking forward to the next book in the Ithelas series, which according to Liane Merciel's interview at Alex Bledsoe's blog (http://downinluckytown.blogspot.com/2...) is going to be even darker than this novel. Good stuff!
March 8, 2012
LOVE LOVE LOVE this author. I read her 2nd novel after I received it in the Goodreads giveway, and I was hooked! I finally got around to purchasing The River King's Road and loved it every bit as much as Heaven's Needle (book 2 in the series). It's well written, original, and just a fun read. Will definitely look for more from this author!
May 29, 2010
Interesting characters, though frankly there are a lot of sociopaths trapped in between the pages of this novel. A little slow to get going, particularly since the first three-four chapters are devoted to introducing separate parties. But interesting once it gets past that.
January 10, 2010
My review is HERE.
November 9, 2023
This was a well written book with great heroes and a solid and scary evil villain. What it boils down to is a treacherous assassination of a noble family and the only survivor, a boy called Wistan is saved by a servant woman. She runs into a grim and gritty warrior/mercenary who doesn't save her, just allows her to travel with him and hopes she will find safety. Behind this is the machinations of a couple of ruling powers and some very evil bonds that will never turn out well. Then comes a paladin and the archer/warrior woman who secretly loves him, a man she can never have. They can stop the evil, called Thorns who can summon or convert creatures into twisted demonic/undead (?) threats that are simply horrifying. The end is a rambling and weak stop to the book which I don't understand. That is my biggest complaint about this book. I just don't know why it ended so abruptly and so dry. I have looked and seen there is another book or two in this setting but having looked at many scathing reviews and the lack of connection between this book and the follow up, I won't read it. That is something I rarely do and I don't think I have ever written this in my many reviews. Sad, this was such a great start and middle of this book's story. Took me awhile to finish it.
Danny
Danny
February 27, 2021
I hardly know where to begin. Solid solid world building that brings to life the world of Ithelas. Just as solid are the characters. Engaging and intriguing with all the foibles of normal humans thrust into situations not of their choosing... and sometimes their choice. This is the type of fantasy that I'd given up hope of finding after so many years of "Dungeons and Dragons" and RPG types. Exquisitely written and excellent storytelling.
Excellent!
Excellent!
January 4, 2021
Need to read more fantasy, as I'm reading terrifying little of it and thought this book sounded interesting enough. It's an okay story, kinda entertaining but I wasn't hooked on the stories or the characters and was anything but invested in it. But it might be a me thing and I need to get more in the fantasy mindset.
March 6, 2025
One of the greatest strengths of this book is writing morally complex characters and forcing the reader to evaluate and reevaluate whose side they are on. I enjoyed the diverse point of views, the world building and how the storylines resolved themselves. This is a great fantasy that even suggests better things to come as the series continues.
April 16, 2025
It wasn't a great book, but it wasn't a terrible read, either. It took a little too long to get to the point and the names of the characters were sometimes hard to keep up with. I decided to finish it even though I wanted to put it down. I do like how it ended though, to see the bad guys get a win!
May 23, 2025
I enjoyed River King's Road more than the other installment in this story. A less is more fantasy tale that deserves a larger audience.
March 25, 2010
From my blog...[return][return]This novel truly surprised me, I was quite literally mesmerised from the first sentence to the very last word and now find myself anxiously awaiting the next novel in the series.[return]The River Kings' Road by Liane Merciel is a brilliantly written debut novel and will grab the reader's attention from the very beginning of this story of one baby, heir to the throne, and his control of the destiny of two kingdoms. This intricately woven tale begins in 1217, a time when the lands of Oakharn and Langmyr were in a delicate balance of peace. Traveling to Willowfield in Langmyr territory, Sir Galefrid, his wife, and infant son are slaughtered during chapel. None were armed, being inside the chapel and on a peace mission, so no one was prepared. One of the King's company was not in church, Brys Tarnell, the only known survivor to have seen the work of the Thorn. Prior to departing, a dying maidservant hands him a bundle containing Sir Galefrid's infant son, Wistan Galefring of Bull's Run, heir to the throne. Brys takes the baby with him as he flees Willowfield; Bryn happens across Odosse, a young mother who was out gathering for the day and escaped dying with the rest of her village. She agrees to travel with Byrs as Wistan's nursemaid. She immediately notices a difference between her son Aubry and Wistan and demands they seek a healer. To do so, Brys must bring her and her son to Tarne Crossing, a village in Oakharn, where she is the enemy. Back in Langmyr, Kelland, a Knight of the Sun and his dear friend Bitharn are in Thistlestone for the Swordsday contest when Lady Isavela Inguilar and her husband Lord Eduin request an appearance with them. The Lord and Lady requested the two to find out what happened at Willowfield, as they did not order it and they do not want the peace between the kingdoms to end. Kelland, being a Knight of the Sun is truth-bound, so regardless of what he discovers, all will know it is the truth. Finally, back in Oakharn, is Leferic, Galefrid's brother, the one who ordered the massacre so that he could rule Oakharn. He is working with Thornlady Severine to find the missing baby, heir to the thrown. With all the key players in position, Merciel writes a most brilliant adventure of love, peril, treachery, magic, and hope. The River Kings' Road is a fantastically delightful novel that commands the reader's attention from the very beginning and holds the readers attention with the life of an heir apparent as well as a nation in the hands of just a few people. A long history of hatred has existed between the kingdoms of Langmyr and Oakhorn, but will they be able to work together, keep the peace and fight against a common enemy or do old wounds, injured pride and prejudice bring down the kingdoms? To find the answers to these questions and many more, one must read The River Kings' Road, be prepared to be unable to put this novel down.
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