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The Worth of a King

(The Fall of a Star #1)

Kendra E. Ardnek (Goodreads Author)

4.08 · Rating details · 39 ratings · 23 reviews

Princess Obsidia’s father was killed the night she was born. Since there was no male heir, the crown went to the man who killed him, by Dialcian law. This never bothered her, growing up, and when it comes time for Obsidia to choose her husband, she chooses Prince Delaney, the son of that man, with little hesitation. Only then does her life start crumbling around her.

Adri ...more

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Paperback, 350 pages

Published October 9th 2018 by Independently published (first published August 27th 2018)

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· 39 ratings · 23 reviews

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Mar 08, 2019 Aria rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kindle-unlimited, reviews, fantasy, pretty-books

Although this is the third book I’ve read by Kendra, she never ceases to amaze me with her epic world building skills. And I do mean epic.

I’ve read many great fantasy books. Narnia, LOTR, Watership Down, and Redwall to name a few. The Worth of a King and Kendra’s two Rizkaland books take their place among my favorites. In fact, I put them right next to Narnia.

What makes her books so great is that they take great pieces of fantasy and combine it with enough reality to make it plenty relatable. T ...more

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Mar 05, 2018 Gabrielle marked it as to-read

WOAH. That cover tho.

I gotta get this one for that drool-worthy cover if nothing else. XD

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Jan 24, 2019 S.G. Willoughby rated it really liked it

I have no idea what I think about this book. XD It was fun. I LOVED the world building. The world building was my favorite part . . . the creativity, cultures, and the way the author did the theology was fascinating.

However, the biggest thing that threw me off was the pacing. It took me a while to put a finger on it, it wasn't that obvious, but events seemed too sped up. I think the book could have been three times longer to fit everything. Obviously, that would have made for a very long book, b ...more

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Aug 30, 2018 Deborah O'Carroll rated it it was amazing

Shelves: realm-makers, 2018-release, got-for-review, 2018-reads, 5-stars-awesome, dragons, epic-character-i-love, fantasy, medieval-fantasy, owned-ebooks

(Originally posted on my book blog, here.)

SQUEE! This was a really enjoyable book. :D

Things I loved

+ Delaney! Of course he had to be at the top of this list. I LOVE THIS BOY. He’s fantastic. I don’t want to give away any of the plot, but the way he does all the awesomeness, and is also sweet, and stands firm on the right things when everything is conspiring against him—basically, I’m a fan. :D

+ Winged Horses! Okay, I really want one of these. They were awesome.

+ The world, the “feel,” and jus ...more

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Oct 25, 2016 Sarah rated it it was amazing

Shelves: a-whole-new-world, fantasy, my-favorite-things, political-intrigue

THIS BOOK. THIS BOOK, Y'ALL. If you haven't read, or at least bought, The Worth of a King, you need to change that right this minute. Go ahead. You can pick it up on Kindle here. If you really want to the paperback . . . well, you'll have to wait a little for that, but still.

Ok. I should probably try to be serious, 'cause this book is seriously amazing. I didn't really think Kendra would top Lady Dragon, Tela Du anytime soon — eventually, sure, but not with the very next full-length novel sh ...more

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Nov 30, 2018 Katherine M rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Compelling, creative fantasy

Princess Obsidia has spent her life as a pawn of the man who killed her father the night of her birth. As the dragons and humans battle over their world's future, Obsidia's choices determine the course of the war.
Loved the characters and their conflicts, and the creativity of the world. I will definitely be reading more by this author! ...more

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Aug 22, 2018 Keturah Lamb rated it really liked it

I want to give it 4.5 stars but don't know how to do that ;/

This book surprised me, and pleasantly so.

I'd heard at one time Jack was co-writing this book. I'm sad she wasn't able to finish doing so (she and Kendra would have made an AMAZING team). But even so, Kendra did awesome!

The romance was great — not too much, yet sweet and cute and unique. Loved the many unique cultures Kendra built. Loved her characters, loved the setting, loved the traditions. And Kendra wove in theme so artfully! And S I want to give it 4.5 stars but don't know how to do that ;/

This book surprised me, and pleasantly so.

I'd heard at one time Jack was co-writing this book. I'm sad she wasn't able to finish doing so (she and Kendra would have made an AMAZING team). But even so, Kendra did awesome!

The romance was great — not too much, yet sweet and cute and unique. Loved the many unique cultures Kendra built. Loved her characters, loved the setting, loved the traditions. And Kendra wove in theme so artfully! And SO LOVED THE ZOVORDIANS.

I really loved the Choosing, when a princess flaunts around her many "suitors" and chooses one to become her husband. One of my favorite scenes in the book was when Nadilynn, a young friend of Obsidia's, chooses her own husband. Nadilynn was such a fun character. She reminded me so much of one of my dear friends, named Amber. Naive, hyper, and altogether sweet, she was a favorite.

Readers of Water Princess, Fire Prince will be pleased at some characters that show in this book (I won't give away spoilers).

I loved the relationship between Adrian and Jerolin, brothers and friends. And at times I was so reminded of some of Jack's WWII stories.

Kendra did fantastic with writing a non-groan Christian fantasy.

At times the characters' conversations felt stilted and the plot seemed to stray. But for the most part I really enjoyed it, and read it all in one sitting (about seven hours long), taking a break only to find some supper. The story started just a little slow, and I was really confuse as to why the princess was okay with the man that killed her father (I hadn't read the back cover synopsis). But once I got into the story that soon became clear.

There were so many scenes I loved, and just few that felt out of place. Over all I really enjoyed reading this book and think anyone that loves Christian Fantasy should definitely find a copy of The Worth of A King.

Content: There was some magic for those who have a problem with that. Romance was appropriate for all ages. Some war, and some graphic violence/ death. But again, again good. I'd give content a whole five stars :D

*Read an advanced e-copy in exchange for a review* ...more

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Nov 30, 2020 Erica Nicole Pait rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

What? YES!!

I swear I just read this book in one sitting. It’s two in the morning. I meant to go to bed at ten. I’m dying. This book had everything I wanted plus a little more I didn’t know I wanted. The epilogue was a major cliffhanger and now I need book two absolutely immediately.

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Sep 03, 2018 Chloe rated it really liked it

I'm a little late with this (thankyouthankyouthankyou Kendra for being so patient with me!), but it is still within the first week of Worth's release, and I have a review for y'all!

Blurb:

Princess Obsidia’s father was killed the night she was born. Since there was no male heir, the crown went to the man who killed him, by Dialcian law. This never bothered her, growing up, and when it comes time for Obsidia to choose her husband, she chooses Prince Delaney, the son of that man, with little hesitat ...more

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May 23, 2020 Helena rated it really liked it

I enjoyed the story. It wrapped up the main plot nicely while leaving some deeper plot points open for prequels/sequels. It can be read as a stand alone without being disappointing. There are some religious overtones, but they are not preachy, more inline with the maturing of the FMC.

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Oct 16, 2018 Camille Esther rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed this story! It was a complicated setup, but the author does a great job not bogging down the reader with everything at once. The world felt real, even though the laws of physics were different; and the different customs in the different kingdoms really made the land seem large.

I also liked that the author kept everything squeaky clean, while at the same time expertly and delicately referring to adult topics when the occasion required.

The only thing that annoyed me about this boo ...more

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Jun 22, 2019 Leia Rose rated it it was ok

Shelves: did-not-finish

DNF 71 %

I hadn't gone far into this before I started wanting to quit. I really wanted to like it though, so I kept going.

There's some good points about this book. A lot of the ideas and arcs that are going on are interesting. I like that there's not just one culture but two. I feel like there's some rich history and worldbuilding tucked in here. It leaves a lot of room to really grow a world and a series. I though there was a nice amount of characters that are pretty well-developed. It's not a b ...more

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Aug 27, 2018 Erika Mathews rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorite-cover

Packed with vivid characters, plot twists, dragons, and intrigue, The Worth of a King fascinates the reader with a unified blend of theme depth and imaginative fantasy in a memorable journey for both characters and readers.

I had the privilege of beta reading/editing this book, and it is indeed a "worth"-while title for your bookshelf. Characters, drama, intrigue, plot depth - this book has it all.

First, can we take a moment to once again admire THAT COVER? Alea Harper did an amazing job and capt Packed with vivid characters, plot twists, dragons, and intrigue, The Worth of a King fascinates the reader with a unified blend of theme depth and imaginative fantasy in a memorable journey for both characters and readers.

I had the privilege of beta reading/editing this book, and it is indeed a "worth"-while title for your bookshelf. Characters, drama, intrigue, plot depth - this book has it all.

First, can we take a moment to once again admire THAT COVER? Alea Harper did an amazing job and captured the themes of the book in a work of gorgeous, amazing art.

The story of Worth starts with a common premise: there's a throne, and there are people who need to ascend to the throne. More than one, so who will get it? What's more (surprise, surprise), the unassuming peasant isn't who he thinks he is. Yet it very quickly branches out from that ordinary starting place with unique twists and amazing character development.

The Worth of a King is told from all three points of view: Adrian's, Obsidia's, and Delaney's. This provides a unique feel to the story and a relaxing, immersive pacing that allows us to identify with each character and fully understand the story. Personally, I loved being able to track events through each person's viewpoint and put the pieces together one by one.

What I Loved:

Character development. Worth is a book of character development, and I absolutely loved the realistic way that each character learned, developed, and changed throughout the course of the story. The relationships that progressed were well done, and every major character had a beautiful arc in this story.

The three points of view, as I already mentioned. This rounded out the story excellently.

Laura, Amber, and Granite. If you've read any of the Rizkaland Legends, you'll recognize these three. Initially, I was interested in reading Worth simply for the Amber backstory, and it did not disappoint. It was wonderful to see Amber and Granite pre-scale - such a new dimension to them and new insight into who they are! - and of course Laura always takes center stage whenever she appears. Yet I must be quick to add that this book is so much more than these three. It's well worth reading even without them.

Jerolin. He adds so much to the story and he's a hilarious, loyal, lovable character who spills books, spouts sarcasm, and unceasingly comforts and supports those he loves.

El Shaddai and how the characters grew in relationship with Him. Relationship with Him wasn't a given for all the major characters from the beginning, and the different stages of characters' walks with Him came across as realistic and also interesting to the story line. I especially loved His part in the climax.

That said, I loved the climax and conclusion. The way it was written and portrayed with all three points of view; the way it built and built and everything came down to one perfect God-moment; everything. Go read the book and see for yourself.

The theme of the book: the worth of a king. While I'm still pondering all the nuances of the meaning of this phrase, I will say it's the perfect title for the book. Indeed, this theme is thought-provoking, and, though it may raise more questions than it answers, I count that a positive benefit. After all, the best books don't even pretend to answer every question and give every moral; rather, the best books spur personal thought and meditation. And The Worth of a King is one of these books. ...more

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Sep 01, 2018 Brie Donning rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-physically-own

I first read this book while it was still in rough form, then again later in development, and finally the finished version and I'm friends with Kendra, so I can't deny that I'm writing from a biased perspective. Still, I think it's one of Kendra's best books. Not quite my favourite as few things can surpass the delightful twistiness of Lady Dragon, Tela Du. I thoroughly enjoyed it however, and There is no way I can choose a favourite character.

There's Princess Nadilynn, a chatterbox who can chee I first read this book while it was still in rough form, then again later in development, and finally the finished version and I'm friends with Kendra, so I can't deny that I'm writing from a biased perspective. Still, I think it's one of Kendra's best books. Not quite my favourite as few things can surpass the delightful twistiness of Lady Dragon, Tela Du. I thoroughly enjoyed it however, and There is no way I can choose a favourite character.

There's Princess Nadilynn, a chatterbox who can cheer up any situation, there's our main trio of Obsidia, Adrian and Delaney. (If you're like me and only knew Delaney as a girl's name, and you haven't read the book description yet, here's a tip: Delaney is a guy.) There's Adrian's family and friends, and the Zovordian royalty. There's also the Immortal Queen and king who are a mixture of wise, brilliant and fun. Well the Immortal King at least is fun; Amber is just brilliant and not someone you want to mess with. And there is Laura the Doorkeeper who is one of my favourite character ever. Cute, and brilliant and tragic. Some of her lines are hilarious. "Hey, Mr. Dialcian Soldier Person." Laura is one of the few character who can pull a line like that off without sounding like a snarky, angsty YA action heroine.

Actually on further reflection Favourite character is a tie between Nadilynn and Laura. I like the main three, and they're written well, but they're not the most fun or expressive characters. They take things seriously, which is probably how they should be taken seriously, but doesn't connect to me on a deep emotional level. Or maybe I simply find non-royalty easier to relate to.

Worth starting off reminds me of the typical heroes story. You've got a young man in some insignificant village who find's he's a prince and needs to reclaim his throne. And then it goes the way of intrigue and politics more than action. If you're looking for lots of actions, this isn't the book for you. There is some action, including battling dragons, but it's not heavy on it. This is a character story, the story of a few people caught up in the battles between those much more powerful than them.

It is thematically lovely, though far from subtly in its discussions of faith. It's not just about faith though, so it didn't feel heavy-handed. And it made me cry at place with some of the characters. I don't cry easily while reading, and still half-blame the tears on tiredness, but It did affect me.

If you're familiar with Kendra's writing, you'll know she has a fondness for quirky things in her world. The Worth of a King is a little different. It's still got Kendra's mark on it, but it's a little more serious. There's a complexity to the world-building that doesn't quite come through in her other stories. Complex politics, and accession laws, alliances between kingdoms, major borders, and a strong sense that these kingdoms are all unique and full of people.

The Worth of a King is sort of a prequel to Kendra's Rizkaland Legends, and there were some connections that I enjoyed, but it stands very well alone. So don't let the fact you haven't read any of the Rizkaland books stand in you way of reading this book. It's a good first book. It's also likely to be the first book of Kendra's I own a physical copy of. It's gorgeous and I want it on my shelf. ...more

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Jun 29, 2019 Katelyn rated it liked it

the. blushing. is. too. much.

the. happiness. is. too. much.

the. complex. is. too. much.

the. romance. is. wrong.

the. death. is. wrong.

the. conflict. is. wrong.

i. want. anger. (that. makes. SENSE.)

i. want. tears.

i. want. imperfections.

i. want. explanations.

i. need. connections.

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Oct 02, 2018 Kirsten rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

http://kiribeth.blogspot.com/2018/10/... ...more

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Oct 03, 2019 Patience rated it it was amazing

The best writing Kendra Ardnek has done yet!

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Aug 27, 2018 Rachel Rizzuto rated it really liked it

Shelves: bata-read

This book was not what I usually read, but it was really good! I liked the three main characters. I didn't really like the setting of the book. All the siblings made me laugh, with their long talks and arguments. The book was fantastic! ...more

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Aug 01, 2018 Morgan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-ve-read-in-2018

Yes, I still like Rizkaland better, but I did enjoy this book. I loved the characters, particularly Del and Sidi, it was nice to see pre-Dragon Amber, and overall, it was a pretty enjoyable read.

The worldbuilding in this thing is...just wow. So much detail was put into the different cultures. Such strange laws and traditions. The Zovordians were particularly interesting, though I personally would not be interested in being one of them. Secret identities are a way of life among them, and their sk Yes, I still like Rizkaland better, but I did enjoy this book. I loved the characters, particularly Del and Sidi, it was nice to see pre-Dragon Amber, and overall, it was a pretty enjoyable read.

The worldbuilding in this thing is...just wow. So much detail was put into the different cultures. Such strange laws and traditions. The Zovordians were particularly interesting, though I personally would not be interested in being one of them. Secret identities are a way of life among them, and their skill in a fight is to be envied (though not as much as Ranger skills...I so want to be a Ranger). They're practically impossible to keep straight, though, with all their names starting with "Z." And the Dialcian laws. What idiot created the law that a usurper can't be tried as a murderer if there is no underage male heir, and thus the usurper has a legal right to the throne? The new rulers need to change that law, because it's nothing but an open invitation to bad guys to kill the king. Corrupt governments! Still, their culture and customs were very detailed and well developed, and I wish I could worldbuild like that.

I enjoyed the political aspect of the story, and could have done with more of it. What can you say when you've been involved in politics since age 8? But mostly I liked Del and Sidi and seeing how their story played out. They both had emotional journeys to go on, a lot of growing up to do, a lot to learn about themselves and the world they lived in. And they were pretty awesome anyway. Especially Del. He was the best. And I do rather like characters with evil fathers (see Luke Skywalker).

There were a few things I didn't like as much, such as how every time they were in danger they seemed to escape to a legitimately safe place, and something about certain characters that is biologically/genetically quite far fetched, but in the grand scheme of things, I can forgive it. Because over all, I did really enjoy the story.

The Worth of a King was an interesting and enjoyable read with great characters, and I think you'll enjoy it very much. ...more

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Jul 27, 2020 Jolyn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Enjoyed Adrian, Obsidia and Delaney's story

I enjoyed the story of twins Adrian and Obsidia discovering they were twins and then having to figure out what to do to save the kingdom. I also really liked Delaney. He was my favorite character in the book and I was rooting for him to somehow end up with Obsidia. However I had a hard time following the doorkeeper/time travel/other dimension stuff and there were some parts that were very confused from a religious perspective, primarily with regards to ...more

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Sep 06, 2018 Maricel rated it it was ok

I thought I was reading a narration the whole time because all characters seemed to be apathetic. Oh, they talk about their feelings all the time but it felt distant-as if marrying somebody is just a fact of life and that marrying your friend is better than marrying someone else. They throw away 'i love you's' just as emotionless as saying good morning. It's hard to invest to characters like that. All of them seemed one dimensional and have no sense of adventure or daring. They just go with the ...more

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Jan 04, 2019 Nicole Moses rated it liked it · review of another edition

Good story, needs a bit of editing.

I enjoyed the story, but it needed some editing, both for grammar/typos and clarity. I was so confused by the laws at the beginning of the book. It would have been nice for those to be laid out a bit more clearly. That did get a bit better as the story continued though, but it was frustrating.

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Sep 20, 2020 Helena George rated it liked it

Shelves: 2020

So this was okay. Once again, Granite is the best character ever.

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Michelle Kosel rated it liked it
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Cate rated it it was amazing
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About Kendra E. Ardnek

Kendra E. Ardnek

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Kendra E. Ardnek is the self-proclaimed Arista of Fairy Tales. She lives in the Piney Woods of East Texas with her dragon babies and massive herd of mini-giraffes, and she is still waiting for one of of her fifty nutcrackers to come to life and marry her. When not writing, you can usually find her sitting in a random box, and she’s frequently known to act before she thinks.