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The Kinshield Saga #3
Well of the Damned
Book 3 of The Kinshield Saga
Having banished the demon released from its prison by his defeated nemesis Ravenkind, Gavin Kinshield faces new challenges: a magical barrage by Ravenkind's grieving mother and an age-old mystery whose time has come to be revealed.
A former member of an elite battlers' guild, Cirang Deathsblade has a dark past. She sits in gaol, awaiting the new king's sentence for her terrible crimes... but she's not who he thinks she is.
In exchange for leniency, Cirang leads Gavin to a centuries-old, hidden journal that holds the secrets of ancient kings and a magical wellspring with its own dark past... and an even more terrible future.
Having banished the demon released from its prison by his defeated nemesis Ravenkind, Gavin Kinshield faces new challenges: a magical barrage by Ravenkind's grieving mother and an age-old mystery whose time has come to be revealed.
A former member of an elite battlers' guild, Cirang Deathsblade has a dark past. She sits in gaol, awaiting the new king's sentence for her terrible crimes... but she's not who he thinks she is.
In exchange for leniency, Cirang leads Gavin to a centuries-old, hidden journal that holds the secrets of ancient kings and a magical wellspring with its own dark past... and an even more terrible future.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 24, 2012
32 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
About the author
K.C. May
27 books162 followersK.C. May grew up in the mid-western USA and in Hawaii, and earned a B.A. in Russian from Florida State University. After a year in Taiwan teaching English and studying Mandarin Chinese, she lived in the Arizona desert where she founded a Rottweiler rescue organization and worked as a computer programmer and technical writer. Her interests include karate, backpacking, motorcycle riding, dog training, and computer gaming. Sign up for her newsletter at http://www.kcmay.com
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 31, 2012
When I read that K.C. May had decided to write a third and fourth book in her Kinshield Saga I was stoked. I have been a big fan of her writing since I read the first book in the series and was very curious to see what her next project was going to turn out to be.
Can the rough brawling warrant knight turned king manage a kingdom, a relationship, and deal with a surprise enemy from his past? This book continues the story as well as the quality of writing that I have come to expect from K.C. May. Gavin is still a great guy and I'm always rooting for him. It's amusing to me to see how he has difficulty dealing with the behavioral expectations for a ruler with his much rougher background. There is also more background given about Sithral Tyr and how he got to where he was in the earlier books.
Overall this is an extremely strong continuation to an already fantastic series. The plot twists keep things interesting and while there are some problems that get resolved more pop up and make it so that the next book in the series can't come soon enough.
Can the rough brawling warrant knight turned king manage a kingdom, a relationship, and deal with a surprise enemy from his past? This book continues the story as well as the quality of writing that I have come to expect from K.C. May. Gavin is still a great guy and I'm always rooting for him. It's amusing to me to see how he has difficulty dealing with the behavioral expectations for a ruler with his much rougher background. There is also more background given about Sithral Tyr and how he got to where he was in the earlier books.
Overall this is an extremely strong continuation to an already fantastic series. The plot twists keep things interesting and while there are some problems that get resolved more pop up and make it so that the next book in the series can't come soon enough.
September 12, 2017
A real page turner. King Gavin is still settling into life as King, he his finding it trying at times. The constant rain is not helping people, and it appears to be magical rain. It is also time to sentence the last of Ravenkinds associates, but she is not who she was. She leads the King and two of his battlers on a journey to recover the second journal which mentions the location of the Well of Enlightenment. Unfortunately the waters do not give enlightenment and administering them leads to disaster.
February 9, 2019
Very good storyline.
This book was riveting and kept my attention to the end. Being king is a hard road for Gavin Kinshield. I hooe the remedy to this books plight is found. Too much sorry lies ahead otherwise.
This book was riveting and kept my attention to the end. Being king is a hard road for Gavin Kinshield. I hooe the remedy to this books plight is found. Too much sorry lies ahead otherwise.
April 27, 2020
I procrastinated finishing this for like 1000 years. The ending was disappointing. Everything was drawn together really quickly and a bit too conveniently. Meh. I likely won't be reading the next one.
January 5, 2019
I loved the additional of Cirang’s character and the new predicaments that Gaven found himself in. Love all the characters in this story and the magical components. Awesome adventure.
July 21, 2019
It took a while, but got better
Slow start, I started reading this book some time ago and it just didn't grab me as much as book 1 & 2 but...*no spoilers* at the end of the book I was entralled. Starting book 4 now!!!
Slow start, I started reading this book some time ago and it just didn't grab me as much as book 1 & 2 but...*no spoilers* at the end of the book I was entralled. Starting book 4 now!!!
August 10, 2013
I must say that I really enjoyed this book. It is a good continuation of the story that K.C. May has been telling throughout the series. A common complaint that I have had with May's writing thus far is that it starts out fairly slow. Through this was true for the first 2 books in the series, it is not true with this book. It starts out strong and keeps going right until the end. Never did it feel like the book was dragging.
This, for me, was the strongest book in the series thus far. As has been common in the series, there is equal POV attention given to the protagonist(s) and antagonist(s) which translates to a strong understanding of the plot and characters as a whole. Never did I have a look of ??? on my face, wondering why a character was doing something.
Though the plot takes a while to get going, by this point in the series, the characters and world are so well developed, that just walking about in their shoes for a while as things get started was pleasant. Gavin's family got some screen time in book 2, but I love how the threads of his family play into his character well, leaving the reader satisfied just to watch him living out his new life as king. There was a sense of intrigue from chapter one as the reader is thrown into the shoes of the protagonist is gaoled physically, as well as spiritually (an evil man trapped in a woman's body). Finally Sithral Tyr takes the forefront, a moment I have been waiting for in the series every since reading Sole Sacrifice.
The only complaint I have about this book is that the ending leaving things hanging on a thin thread. It feels like a part 1 of a book instead of a full book on it's own. The Kinshield Legacy had a little bit of that feel with there being a sub-plot and an over-arching plot to be fully dealt with in The Wayfarer King, but I felt like the ending was even less satisfying in this title. With that said, I am glad that I waited to read this until book 4 was out, because now I can dive right into it treating the two books as if they are one. I hope (and have no doubts) that book 4 will follow along well and wrap things up beautifully. This book would have been rated 5 stars if it wasn't for the ending.
This, for me, was the strongest book in the series thus far. As has been common in the series, there is equal POV attention given to the protagonist(s) and antagonist(s) which translates to a strong understanding of the plot and characters as a whole. Never did I have a look of ??? on my face, wondering why a character was doing something.
Though the plot takes a while to get going, by this point in the series, the characters and world are so well developed, that just walking about in their shoes for a while as things get started was pleasant. Gavin's family got some screen time in book 2, but I love how the threads of his family play into his character well, leaving the reader satisfied just to watch him living out his new life as king. There was a sense of intrigue from chapter one as the reader is thrown into the shoes of the protagonist is gaoled physically, as well as spiritually (an evil man trapped in a woman's body). Finally Sithral Tyr takes the forefront, a moment I have been waiting for in the series every since reading Sole Sacrifice.
The only complaint I have about this book is that the ending leaving things hanging on a thin thread. It feels like a part 1 of a book instead of a full book on it's own. The Kinshield Legacy had a little bit of that feel with there being a sub-plot and an over-arching plot to be fully dealt with in The Wayfarer King, but I felt like the ending was even less satisfying in this title. With that said, I am glad that I waited to read this until book 4 was out, because now I can dive right into it treating the two books as if they are one. I hope (and have no doubts) that book 4 will follow along well and wrap things up beautifully. This book would have been rated 5 stars if it wasn't for the ending.
July 30, 2013
This is book 3 in the Gavin Kinsheild series, and it picks up pretty close to the end of book 2. Gavin has taken the throne and has married Feanna, but things have not settled down, and there is trouble all over the place. He's got to deal with two mysterious twins who seem to appear out of nowhere, insisting that Gavin isn't the rightful king; there has been nonstop rain and it's starting to threaten the cities and farms; and then there's Cirang - healed, but not totally herself. If possible Cirang is even more trouble than before. She offers Gavin a chance to find a magical well that may just be the answer to his problems. Of course, nothing goes as planned, and there is such a shock at the end, I can't wait to read the last book in the series to see where it goes from here.
I love that Gavin isn't your typical gorgeous, well mannered and polite hero. He's obnoxious, crass and more like someone I'd like to meet.
I love that Gavin isn't your typical gorgeous, well mannered and polite hero. He's obnoxious, crass and more like someone I'd like to meet.
February 7, 2013
A little disappointing after the perfectly formed first two in the series, (The Kinshield Legacy and The Wayfarer King) which I thought had come to a fitting and satisfying conclusion.
February 8, 2013
I really enjoyed this third book in the series.
It was very well paced and had many twists and turns that I did not see coming. Just a really fun read!
Looking forward to the next book.
Long live king Gavin!
It was very well paced and had many twists and turns that I did not see coming. Just a really fun read!
Looking forward to the next book.
Long live king Gavin!
June 10, 2013
This was a pretty good book. I would have never suspected the ending but an overall good book. I would have liked to see the book have Gavin participating in a "worth while" quest but overall it worked.
January 19, 2016
So - the riddle solved, the stones released and Gavin is confirmed king; the demon is returned to its realm and Brodas is killed. All is set for Gavin and his new wife to live happily ever after... This is how their new life starts.
January 15, 2013
Another great read from K.C. Gavin has become one of my favorite literary characters. Can't wait for the next installment.
March 29, 2013
Great conclusion to the story but it seems like it may go on? I sure hopw so because I want to see what becomes of the new kingdom after all that has come to pass.
February 1, 2014
Enjoyable story. Decent plot. Nice quick read. A bit of action though I felt like the climactic end was a little bit of a let down. This book does set the stage for the next one and I will read it.
July 21, 2014
Formula writing, repeated from book to book. I had to quit at book 3 as the formula didn't change.
September 16, 2014
It was a good addition to the first 2 books. A lot goes on and it's all well crafted into itself.
May 5, 2015
The story moves along nicely. Ready to read the last book to find out how it all wraps up.
January 5, 2015
Not for young adults. Language, violence, and sexual content.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews