The 2nd Book of the Wardstone Trilogy, Kings, Queens, Heroes, and Fools, did not disappoint. If you have already read Book 1, Book 2 starts with a wonderful surprise. I am not going to spoil it for you, but I was smiling and happy.

The familiar characters Mik, Hyden Hawk, and Gerard mature and develop. In addition, a whole host of new and diverse characters are introduced. The characters regroup after a tremendous shift in power and then reach out to create alliances and recover from the devastation created by Pael and Shaella. I liked experiencing Mik and Hyden as celebrated heroes in the beginning of the book- their simple boyhood lives of the past gone forever as they become powerful men. Shaella continues to be a formidable adversary.

I felt that one could read this book without reading the first book because the author offers some back-story for events and characters. I do, however, highly recommend reading the books in order. Mathias does a terrific job of enriching and expanding on his Wardstone Trilogy fantasy adventure with fresh and unpredictable schemes. There are many stories within the story.

The battle scenes, brawls, mysteries, and adventures kept me turning page after page. Yet it was the close relationships between the main characters that makes this book transcend beyond adventure. The characters face constant danger, yet they play practical jokes on each other during rest and down times. The lightness gives wonderful contrast to the fact that at any moment, they could and do find themselves embroiled in life or death battles. I highly recommend reading Kings, Queens, Heroes, and Fools. I cannot wait to read Book 3.