Given the chance to train as a squire, kitchen servant Achan Cham hopes to pull himself out of his pitiful life and become a Kingsguard Knight. ... read full description
reviews
Mar 22, 2009
Michelle
rated it: 
What I enjoyed most about Williamson’s style is her dialogue. Witty. Snappy. Humorous. The interaction between characters is entertaining and sometimes surprising. Williamson truly has a knack for clever conversation.
My favorite character is hero Achan Cham. Besides the fact that he’s handsome, this is one humble protagonist. He’s got his flaws all right, but he owns up to his shortcomings with a modest and sincere finesse. This is the kind of leading man every girl dreams of.
More...
My favorite character is hero Achan Cham. Besides the fact that he’s handsome, this is one humble protagonist. He’s got his flaws all right, but he owns up to his shortcomings with a modest and sincere finesse. This is the kind of leading man every girl dreams of.
More...
Jul 02, 2010
Jeanette
rated it:
I just finished reading By Darkness Hid (Book I of Blood of Kings) by Jill Williamson. What can I say but "Bravo!" to an author who has published her first novel? Williamson has done a masterful job of bringing the characters to life and drawing the reader in to care deeply about each of them. I long to re-enter the world of Er'Rets while I wait for the sequel to be published. Is the second book finished yet, Jill?
The first character we meet is Achan Cham, a stray or an orp More...
The first character we meet is Achan Cham, a stray or an orp More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Mar 30, 2009
Michelle
rated it:
I don't normally like fantasy, but this story was incredibly well done and held my attention. In fact, it more than held it. It gripped me. I was entrenched in the characters' world. I could not stop reading this book because it was so edgy and exciting that I had to know more. Think Dragonspell, but even better!
Dec 24, 2011
Karen
rated it: 
As a Writer... Williamson has a wonderful and unique style of writing that is very beautiful. I enjoyed the original descriptions and pictures that she painted with words. She also has a wealth of knowledge about castles and medieval weaponry that comes out in her writing. Sometimes I found the story line got weighed down by the in depth descriptions-I admit to some skimming to see what happens next. Both Achan and Vrell were believably portrayed. It was a wonderful and enjoyable read - I would
More...
Feb 05, 2011
cecilia
rated it: 
The world that Jill Williamson has created has great potential to becoming unforgettable, but I sometimes felt overwhelmed with all the new and necessary details and names that became entangled as I read on. I too shared Achan’s confusion when he realized that the voices in his head were actually other peoples’ thoughts, though sometimes the voice sounded more God-like than human. As the story progressed, the momentum started to build and I became engrossed with how everything came together with
More...
Aug 04, 2010
jlf
rated it:
The author is not a particularly skilled writer-- it took me a while to get comfortable with her choppy sentences-- but the story is adequate and at some point you will probably lose yourself in the plot and not notice the clumsy prose.
Nothing that happens in this book is new, but is that really so terrible? Hauling out the same old characters in genre fiction is not really a deal-breaker--I read this stuff because I like downtrodden servant-boys growing into kings and evil councils plott More...
Nothing that happens in this book is new, but is that really so terrible? Hauling out the same old characters in genre fiction is not really a deal-breaker--I read this stuff because I like downtrodden servant-boys growing into kings and evil councils plott More...
Jun 06, 2009
Janna
rated it:
I have heard a lot about this new publisher of Speculative/Fantasy Christian books called Marcher Lord Press and I've been very interested in the books they have published so far but haven't gotten one to read until now. Hold onto your hats fans of Christian Spec/Fantasy - Marcher Lord Press may be the best thing that has ever happened to us (the fans) and it all starts with "By Darkness Hid" by Jill Williamson!
Kings, politics, orphans (called strays), knights, squires, bloodvoic More...
Kings, politics, orphans (called strays), knights, squires, bloodvoic More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Jun 26, 2010
Bill
rated it:
Great read, very age appropriate. Great pace, lots of suspense with great villains as well as heroes. I count it as one of the best contemporary Christian fantasy books available today. Too bad there is not a better supply on Amazon. Achan & Vrell are excellent lead characters, I appreciate the way you introduce spiritual aspects to young readers.
Half of Er’Rets is under an impenetrable shroud of darkness. The side that still sees the sun, we find two young people struggle to unders More...
Half of Er’Rets is under an impenetrable shroud of darkness. The side that still sees the sun, we find two young people struggle to unders More...
0 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Jan 10, 2010
Doug
rated it:
I've been in a 'drought' for good fantasy story for a while. After doing some looking around on Amazon and Goodreads, I came across By Darkness Hid. The plot intrigued me so I ordered the Kindle version of the book about a week ago.
The reading level is fairly easy for an adult as this book is geared a little more toward the young adult crowd. However, the story is compelling and fun. The characters are easy to relate to and the pace of the book draws you in until the very end...w More...
The reading level is fairly easy for an adult as this book is geared a little more toward the young adult crowd. However, the story is compelling and fun. The characters are easy to relate to and the pace of the book draws you in until the very end...w More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Aug 06, 2011
Hollie
rated it:
Ok, first I'd like to say AAAARGH! how did I end up reading another one of these christian propaganda disguised as fantasy books again! Ok, now that I got that out of my system, sorry to you christian fantasy readers out there, but I read fantasy to get AWAY from the messed up stuff in the real world, and something about someone interjecting real life religion into my beloved fantasy really irks me. I know that people can write whatever they want, and I don't have to read it, but besides that
More...
Jul 16, 2010
Lauren
rated it:
First, I want to mention how amazing it was to have won an autographed copy of this book from the great people here at Goodreads. Thanks Ms. Williamson - you ROCK!
Second, I would like to recommend this delightful fantasy. It was a fast, fun and exciting read. The story is told in third person alternating between our two unlikely heroes, Vrell and Achan. The world that Ms. Williamson creates is vivid and detailed. Moreover, I love the fact that she describes each character fully. Vrel More...
Second, I would like to recommend this delightful fantasy. It was a fast, fun and exciting read. The story is told in third person alternating between our two unlikely heroes, Vrell and Achan. The world that Ms. Williamson creates is vivid and detailed. Moreover, I love the fact that she describes each character fully. Vrel More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
May 28, 2010
Rachel
rated it:
Pressure filled his head again.
This time the insight that followed was not dread but kinship and hope. Achan paused at the entrance to the kitchens and turned, seeking out the source of the sensation. His gaze was drawn to the armory.
A knight stood leaning against the crude structure of the armory, watching Achan with a pensive stare.
Achan Cham. His first name means “trouble”; his animal surname, referring to a mythic wild bear, marks him as a Stray — a boy wi More...
This time the insight that followed was not dread but kinship and hope. Achan paused at the entrance to the kitchens and turned, seeking out the source of the sensation. His gaze was drawn to the armory.
A knight stood leaning against the crude structure of the armory, watching Achan with a pensive stare.
Achan Cham. His first name means “trouble”; his animal surname, referring to a mythic wild bear, marks him as a Stray — a boy wi More...
Sep 13, 2011
Josiah
rated it:
I COULDN'T PUT THIS BOOK DOWN!
This surprising find in my county library was a gold mine. To not have only found a great story but an author with evangelical biblical themes and principles was refreshing God send.
As far as the writing is concerned, she is quick to, and maybe, excessive in the amount of conflict and opposition she puts her main character through. Scene after scene something is befalling him. And towards the end she began using one word sentences more frequently. On the o More...
This surprising find in my county library was a gold mine. To not have only found a great story but an author with evangelical biblical themes and principles was refreshing God send.
As far as the writing is concerned, she is quick to, and maybe, excessive in the amount of conflict and opposition she puts her main character through. Scene after scene something is befalling him. And towards the end she began using one word sentences more frequently. On the o More...
May 25, 2010
R.L.
rated it:
I love it when I read a book that has great characters, an unpredictable plot, and clear writing that doesn’t get in the way of the story. And by all accounts, that’s what you can expect to find in By Darkenss Hid, by Jill Williamson.
Jill creates an interesting and well developed cast, both with the two protagonist and the supporting characters. They read and feel like individuals with their own history and motives, and the chemistry between many of them simply works. The reader won’ More...
Jill creates an interesting and well developed cast, both with the two protagonist and the supporting characters. They read and feel like individuals with their own history and motives, and the chemistry between many of them simply works. The reader won’ More...
Sep 27, 2011
LeAnne
rated it:
Some books suffer from a sagging middle. This one had me turning the pages from page one. I liked the premise of “bloodvoicing,” a kind of telepathy passed down in the royal family, and the possibility of blocking it with a ‘tonic’. This is a plot driven story, no more (or less) literary than the average mass market fantasy. It was pretty predictable that Achan would turn out to be more than a despised “stray”, but nevertheless satisfying. Vrell was too girlie for me to really believe she co
More...
Mar 29, 2011
Natalie
rated it:
I am always on the lookout for new Christian fantasy novels, but I am often disappointed by their stiffness. There was no such disappointment in By Darkness Hid. Their was faith without preachiness and Achan and Vrell had human flaws that make you empathize with them more than any exaggerated purity ever could. By Darkness Hid is a promising beginning to Jill Williamson's fantasy trilogy.
I gave this book to my little sister (now thirteen) and she read it very quickly, coming to me immediat More...
I gave this book to my little sister (now thirteen) and she read it very quickly, coming to me immediat More...
Dec 13, 2011
Connie
rated it:
I picked this book up, thinking it was going to be one of those cliche "peasant into warrior" type of things. It certainly did have the peasant into warrior aspect, but Williamson was able to add interesting details and original ideas. Bloodvoicing, for example, along with the other magic in this book (and the other ones) made the whole story much more enjoyable. In addition, the story was carefully planned out, and is rather organized. I also think this was one of the easiest books to
More...
Dec 21, 2011
Amber
rated it:
An exciting and intriguing beginning to the "Blood of Kings" trilogy, By Darkness Hid is a fabulous fantasy novel! An imaginative world, dastardly villains, and plenty of plot twists abound in this book that has a lot to offer fantasy fans of either gender.
Achan is a boy on the verge of manhood - and on the verge of an epic adventure. It would be a dream come true for him to find a life beyond kitchen duty at the palace. But when he discovers he has a powerful gift and a dest More...
Achan is a boy on the verge of manhood - and on the verge of an epic adventure. It would be a dream come true for him to find a life beyond kitchen duty at the palace. But when he discovers he has a powerful gift and a dest More...
10 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Jan 24, 2011
Karen
rated it:
It was a good story, definitely a trilogy and the 3rd one's not out until April, so for those of you who don't like to wait, might want to wait to start.
I liked the innocence and innate goodness of the main character. It was a little a little predictable and I REALLY don't buy that a girl could pull of being a guy for that long, that convincingly in such close quarters. But, it was fun to watch it all unfold.
If I sound lack luster, perhaps it's just the timing. I'm just starting to fee More...
I liked the innocence and innate goodness of the main character. It was a little a little predictable and I REALLY don't buy that a girl could pull of being a guy for that long, that convincingly in such close quarters. But, it was fun to watch it all unfold.
If I sound lack luster, perhaps it's just the timing. I'm just starting to fee More...
Nov 18, 2009
Karin
rated it:
This is a fabulous speculative fiction book. Williamson quickly pulls the reader into her world and into the lives of Achan and Vrell. Though the characters are young (teens) and the setting is unfamiliar (Er'Rets), Williamson's creativity and style so fully captivate the reader that you forget any preconceived idea's about "fantasy" or "young adult" literature. Instead, you find yourself wrapped up in the lives of Achan and Vrell, afraid for, crying with, and cheering for th
More...
Oct 07, 2011
Rachel
rated it: 
I couldn't finish it. I really couldn't. The book is riddled with the same boring, puerile crap as Eragon, mixed into the same sort of poorly conceived fantasy world of Feist's major works, coated with a slavering dose of badly disguised religious drivel and hillbilly-ish mores. And the characters are all kind of shallow, one-dimensional. How can anyone enjoy a book once they start thinking, gee, I hope the hero dies?
I read a lot more of this than I really should have basically due t More...
I read a lot more of this than I really should have basically due t More...
Oct 01, 2011
Kristen
rated it:
This is a fabulous fantasy adventure. Jill Williamson has crafted a deeply interesting storyworld with a rich culture. The kingdom of Er'Rets is fraught with internal conflicts, as nobles jockey for positions of power. Achan, a mistreated slave, is drawn into the country's power struggles when he's enlisted as a squire. Meanwhile, Vrell, the daughter of a duchess, masquerades as a slave to evade an unwelcome royal suitor.
The characters in this story are engaging and well-drawn. Willi More...
The characters in this story are engaging and well-drawn. Willi More...
May 24, 2011
Rachel
rated it:
Storyline - Achan is a nobody who has nobody. So when a legendary knight of the past offers him a squireship, he is confused, especially since strays are not allowed to serve in the Kingsguard anymore after the king was murdered and half the land went into darkness. When Achan's training is discovered, Sir Gavin disappears and Achan's life takes another unexpected tern. Things start to become confusing and dangerous. But, when the prince goes to the Counsel to receive the kingship, what will be
More...
Apr 20, 2011
Katie
rated it:
By Darkness Hid pulled me into the story from the very beginning. While some might think it a formidable read (nearly 500 pages long), I didn’t even notice as I flew through the pages and completed it in a day. (Granted, I did lose a bit of sleep – but I did NOT want to put it down!) I don’t really care for the fantasy genre, but this book was amazing. I can understand why it won the Christy award.
The plot was intricate and complex and it doesn’t clean them all up nice and neat by th More...
The plot was intricate and complex and it doesn’t clean them all up nice and neat by th More...
Jun 04, 2010
Jesslyn
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jul 19, 2010
Fred
rated it:
By Darkness Hid isn’t so much about an exotic new world, or courtly intrigue, or pulse-pounding adventure, or even a deep, underlying spiritual message, though all of those elements are present. It’s a character-driven story. It’s about Achan and Vrell and what happens to them. That’s a good thing. It was Ms.Williamson’s characters that kept me turning pages. I liked them immediately, I was quickly drawn into their trials and tribulations, and I cared what happened to them. They had strong perso
More...
Jan 15, 2010
Grace
rated it:
I don't think there's much of a spoiler in this. At least, not really. Just the last sentence. You're forewarned. :)
Like so many books, I'm not sure where to start. First, when I started this, I wasn't sure how good it would be - let alone if it was christian or not (I can def say it is now). It got a high rating, really high specially for goodreads, but I was a bit confused when I started it, because it wasn't all that great: the description wasn't all that amazing, in my opinion, a More...
Like so many books, I'm not sure where to start. First, when I started this, I wasn't sure how good it would be - let alone if it was christian or not (I can def say it is now). It got a high rating, really high specially for goodreads, but I was a bit confused when I started it, because it wasn't all that great: the description wasn't all that amazing, in my opinion, a More...
Jul 20, 2011
Chris
rated it:
By Darkness Hid is a gripping fantasy revolving around two teenagers - Achan Cham, a young 'stray' (an orphan) conscripted to serve in the kitchens of Lord Nathak's castle, and Vrell Sparrow, a mysterious young girl posing as a boy, who has the talent of 'blood-voicing'.
Rejected by most, and tolerated by some, Achan scrapes out an existence with no real hope in his future. There is no future for a stray. They are branded and treated as little more than criminals, for it was a stray More...
Rejected by most, and tolerated by some, Achan scrapes out an existence with no real hope in his future. There is no future for a stray. They are branded and treated as little more than criminals, for it was a stray More...
Jan 07, 2011
Holly
rated it:
Wonderful Christian medieval fantasy YA book. Outstanding dialogue. Achan is a humble, yet talented and attractive young protagonist.I cheered for him all the way. Jill Williamson introduces the concept of bloodvoicing. Is it a gift or a curse? Swords, sorcery with some intrigue and spiritual symbolism. Great read. Age appropriate for teens.
Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont
Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont
Feb 04, 2010
Becky
rated it:
I loved this story!! I was totally wrapped up in the kingdom of Er'Rets, and the stories of Achan & Vrell. I can hardly believe this is a first novel for the author - Jill Williamson is truly gifted :) The mystery of "bloodvoicing" and the suspenseful adventure kept me reading far into the night (and even into the early morning). I'm eagerly awaiting the next in the trilogy - I've heard that it is entitled "By Darkness Fled"
