Posted on  03/07/2019 17:27:19

My rating: 4,5 of 5 stars

Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Jason Russell! It was a wonderful read!

4.5 epic stars

In the enthralling cadence of a master storyteller, Jason Rusell gives us here the common, immemorial epic quest. Making use of all the classic Fantasy tropes, he still manages to create something fresh and avoid the by now very common clichés.

He builds on good vs evil, a Dark Lord, magic, Medievalism, all sorts of races and species, as well as the Hero who suddenly finds himself on a quest of both self-realisation and to save the world.
But he twists and expands until he's able to deliver us something different in each and every aspect.

The strong point of this tale is the cadence, rhythm and language the author tells it in. It is typical to that of a master storyteller who has his listeners enthralled and hanging on his every word, eager to find out what's next.
Seanachie (a traditional Irish storyteller/historian) - crofters.org

I often have a problem with newer fantasy books, because the language there mixes up our modern-day words like "heels" or "update" with the older vocabulary and language style. This author doesn't do it! His phrasing, wordbuilding, vocabulary and language are constant throughout, without any jarring elements of our modern age intruding into a perfect medieval setting. KUDOS for that because his style really works and is enchanting.

Now to the plot. It is fairly simple, as I was mentioning above. It is a traditional quest and if you are looking for grim-dark or full out action, this is definitely not the book for you. It is slow moving, Tad Williams style, and you'll have to often wait it out, because of travel passages and detailed descriptions. If you don't mind these however, Quest of Kings will prove to be a charming read.

In a land where men are divided by region and fealty, dark forces brew in secret while rumor of the eminent return of the ancient Shadow Armies is carried in whisper. At the heart of the conflict lie twin brothers who were raised on separate and opposing paths.

And there we go. We have not one but two heroes. Fialle, a strong and famous warrior, who wields a sword as no other but is just as wild and ill-mannered as an ogre. He is the leader of the Academy of Rogues, the remnants of his father's mercenary academy.
And his twin brother Eric, adviser of the king, well versed in politics and courtly manners but a downright disaster when it comes to wielding any weapon and more likely to break his own ribs with the hilt of his sword, then succeed in even touching an ogre with it.

Two brothers separated in childhood and set on two opposing paths by a father who "perhaps knew that it took both strong minds as well as strong arms wielding swords to achieve influence in the world." Or perhaps he may have had more than one reason to keep his boys apart.

Both of them unhappy with their set path, both envious of the life led by the other, both firm in their belief that they are less in the eyes of the other, the brothers need to rediscover each other as well as themselves and join forces because their father's best laid plans had somehow managed to merge into a single cold hard road.

The Shadow Armies are stirring, heralding the arrival of their Shadow King. They threaten humanity and leave nothing but corpses in their wake. Whole kingdoms slaughtered to the last single commoner, woman or child. They spare no one and cannot be stopped, unless help is sought from the only ones considered powerful enough to stop them - the Fairy Kings of old.

Those shadow armies... this is how I picture them:
Undead Army - Fantasy Art in 2019 - Pinterest

The twins, accompanied by a Pixie, a big gruff warrior and a woman set off for the frigid northern wastelands bordering the realm beyond civilized man's domain, in search of the Fairy Kings, while the remnants of the Rogues Academy is set on regrouping for a final stand.

We get both threads entwined in the tale: one told from Eric's perspective that details the journey North in all it's dangers and magical adventures, and another following Nichts, Fialle's man, set in charge of the regrouping of Rogues Academy forces. And on both paths the author gives us magic, sword fights, good and evil, as well as ogres, gnomes, and creatures of darkness.

Both threads are slow at times and extremely fast paced at others and both will probably make you say: "Oh! I know that's coming now!" because it's all pretty Captain Obvious!!
Except that it isn't! And shit will hit the proverbial fan precisely when you're not expecting it! That's another thing this author managed to pull off for me. I knew stuff was too good to be true and was waiting for the downside, only to have it in full at a completely different point. Pretty well done if you ask me!

The only complain I have here is that the ending feels to abrupt. What?! It's over?! No next chapter?! That was my reaction to the end of the book.
Truth be told, if we are to consider the master storyteller spinning a tale for the gathered crowd in front of the fire on a cold winter night, he may also end it just as abrupt, with a "You shall hear the rest tomorrow" accompanied by a mention of the late hour and an early rise come morning. But still, it left me wanting more and I couldn't help wishing for an extra few chapters to better tie up the threads.

All in all, what should you expect, when picking up this book!?