Kingshold (The Wildfire Cycle #1) by D.P. Woolliscroft

Apr 09, 2018 Esme rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, light-fantasy, indie-published, multi-pov, political

I received this as a review request thanks Mr. Woolliscroft, I had a lot of fun with this one!

r/Fantasy Bingo Squares:

Published 2018
Indie Published
Under 2500 ratings
One Word Title
Reviewed (once posted to Reddit)
Protag who is a writer/artist/musician
Plot:
This book focuses on what its like to make a transition from a monarchy to a semi-democratic society thats holding its first election.

The King and Queen were murdered under mysterious circumstances, you find out early on that it was the ...more

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May 10, 2019 TS Chan rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, arc-review-copy

I received a copy of the audiobook from Tantor Media in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars.

An enjoyable classic fantasy romp with some modern touches, Kingshold is a commendable debut by DP Woolliscroft.

This first book of The Wildfire Cycle is heavy on politics as its major plotline is centred around the election of a new Lord Protector to the Kingdom of Edland. With the current King dead and after many generations of useless monarchs, the ancient wizard, Jyuth, who founded the kingdom I received a copy of the audiobook from Tantor Media in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars.

An enjoyable classic fantasy romp with some modern touches, Kingshold is a commendable debut by DP Woolliscroft.

This first book of The Wildfire Cycle is heavy on politics as its major plotline is centred around the election of a new Lord Protector to the Kingdom of Edland. With the current King dead and after many generations of useless monarchs, the ancient wizard, Jyuth, who founded the kingdom refused to take any further responsibility in choosing the next one. Instead, an election was proposed and the story ensued with political scheming and assassinations (which are perfectly legal if performed under a contract).

There were some references to a neighbouring kingdom which may be setting its eyes on conquering Edland, but it remained in the sidelines throughout the course of this book. Politics is a necessary evil whether in real life or in books, but never one of my favourite topics. This is the primary reason that I couldn’t rate this book higher, even though the book is quite fun and has a good cast of characters. The worldbuilding is pretty contained within Kingshold at this point. There is the familiar but still interesting magic which involves shapeshifting, use of life energy (or mana) and demon stones. We also have the usual fare of dwarves being expert smiths and living underground, pirates and a medieval city which has very marked social division. What the book lacked in breadth though, it made up in depth with the vivid setting of the city of Kingshold.

The characterisation is easily the best part of the story, with some great female representation. It appears that Woolliscroft was not averse to utilising character tropes and he managed to make it work. I especially have a soft spot for the ‘band of brothers’ trope and in this, we have Motega, Trypp and Florian making up a trio of adventurers, or to be more exact, talents for hire. Then there is the bard, Mareth, who has a special ability to influence the hearts and thoughts of others through song. The main female characters are well-written in the form of Neenahwi, the adopted daughter and apprentice to Jyuth, and Alana, an intelligent castle maid who finds herself drawn into the political game between the machinations of the nobles and the uprising of the common people. We do have quite a large cast of characters; there are more which I’ve not mentioned. And I found most of them to be sufficiently well fleshed-out for me to appreciate their motivations and actions, and enjoy the interactions between these characters.

It did take me quite some time to get drawn into the story because of the numerous shifts in character perspectives earlier on in the story. Together with the heavily political slant to the narrative, there were quite a few moments where I got distracted while listening to the audiobook. The female narrator was an interesting choice for this book as the male POVs seemed more dominant, but it appeared to work. The narrator was brilliant with dialogues, incorporating just the right nuances and inflections into the voices of the various characters. She employed accents that managed to differentiate the nobility from the commoners, as well as the foreigners. I also loved the clarity of her articulation and how she handled the humour with a deadpan approach.

Coupled with the engaging writing style of the author, the narrated story kept me entertained with its light humour, as well as diverse and colourful characters. Admittedly, the political intrigue in this book could sometimes be quite fun too. I couldn’t really tell where the series will head from here but Kingshold is a promising start.

You can purchase a copy of this book from Amazon US | Amazon UK

You can also find this, and my other reviews at Novel Notions. ...more

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Sep 19, 2018 Nils | nilsreviewsit rated it liked it · review of another edition

Kingshold is a fantasy book that is entered into Mark Lawrences SPFBO contest, and I was kindly given a copy by the author, D. P. Woolliscroft, to read and review.
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Without giving too much away, the book begins with the monarchy of Kingshold being dissolved and the instillation of a democratic republic system. The focus of the story is a murderous rivalry for position of the Lord Protector.
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The things that really stood out to me in Kingshold was the use of traditional magic with unique twists.
Kingshold is a fantasy book that is entered into Mark Lawrence’s SPFBO contest, and I was kindly given a copy by the author, D. P. Woolliscroft, to read and review.
👑
Without giving too much away, the book begins with the monarchy of Kingshold being dissolved and the instillation of a democratic republic system. The focus of the story is a murderous rivalry for position of the Lord Protector.
👑
The things that really stood out to me in Kingshold was the use of traditional magic with unique twists.
Neenahwi, a tribal hedge Witch, was a character I got pretty enthusiastic about, she could shape shift and use energy sources and weaves to channel her powers.
Another character that was pretty unique was, Motega, who could use his spirit animal for various situations.
I found that I instantly liked the mage Jyuth who was quite ambiguous in nature.
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I did find that the humour in the book was a tad bit misplaced at times. I think I personally would have preferred a more serious tone in some sections, especially when character’s lives were at stake. I also found the use of modern slang words such as; ‘noggin’, ‘gonads’ and ‘goolies’ jarred me out of the story.
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I found that the ending was really good. It had a fair amount of action which involved pirates and a very cool battle with a monster/demon. However throughout the rest of the book the pace was far too slow for me. The heavy focus on the politics of the monarchy transgressing to a republic state, and a revolution of the poorer people, slowed the pace down too much for me. I would have preferred a bit more focus on the threat of invasion which was underlying throughout the story, and a few more battle scenes in the middle rather than having it all at the end.
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On reflection there is a lot to like about Kingshold, but with the majority of the focus on the political side of the story, and less on the militaristic side, isn’t really my kind of fantasy book. However if you do like that kind of thing then this book would definitely be for you. ...more

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Oct 06, 2018 Anton rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-sword-and-sorcery, indie-wonders, arc

Many thanks to the author for proving ARC of the book to the BookDragonNest for a review!

This is a new indie title and I had a lot of fun reading it. It just goes to show once more that independent writers do not pull their punches and in the last 12 month alone I was surprised again and again with the strengths of their game.

Kingshold is a perfect case-in-point. It is written in a very easy going style. Even though it is 500+ pages long - they melt away before you know it. I found this book ...more

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Dec 06, 2018 Wol rated it it was amazing

Full review below. Kingshold's custom cocktail is available at The Fantasy Inn.

Kingshold is an entertaining look at a fantasy worlds transition from monarchy to democracy. Jyuth, an ancient wizard, has been quietly pulling the strings behind the scenes for centuries. When the dark secrets of the King and Queen are revealed to him, he decides that hes pretty much done propping up sociopathic royals and he wants Kingshold to be handed off to a better class of bastard. To this end, he murders the Full review below. Kingshold's custom cocktail is available at The Fantasy Inn.

Kingshold is an entertaining look at a fantasy world’s transition from monarchy to democracy. Jyuth, an ancient wizard, has been quietly pulling the strings behind the scenes for centuries. When the dark secrets of the King and Queen are revealed to him, he decides that he’s pretty much done propping up sociopathic royals and he wants Kingshold to be handed off to a better class of bastard. To this end, he murders the shit out of them, dissolves the monarchy, and calls for an election. Politics being what they are in pretty much any society, the haves are terrified of the have-nots getting a say, and so some rules are set in place that a refundable deposit of 1000 gold must be paid in order to be allowed to vote, preventing all but the elite from having their voices heard. An assortment of rich arseholes put themselves forward for the position of Lord Protector, and that’s when the assassinations begin.

Are you ready? Because we’re just getting started.

This is a cleverly plotted multi-PoV tale, and it’s told with an enormous amount of enthusiasm and wit. The characters are all deeply thought out and utterly charming, to the point where I had to remind myself that this is a debut novel. Neenahwi is a fiery sorceress with a traumatic past, a pragmatic attitude and a boatload of sass. Mareth is a ne’er do well Bard with a desire to be better man. Alana is a serving girl with a good head on her shoulders and she’s absolutely bright as a button. There’s a trio of rogues who I think are all the way up there with Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, Royce and Hadrian, and Locke and Jean in terms of banter. Jyuth is a Dumbledore-level schemer who loves those close to him dearly but he is done with everyone’s shit. We start off reading each character’s individual thread, and as the story progresses Woolliscroft braids these threads together and everything begins to shine.

Have I mentioned that I had a really good time?

So, it’s not a comedic fantasy exactly, but it did make me laugh really hard more than a couple of times. I’d liken it to Scott Lynch’s style in that respect, but… more British. Woolliscroft and I are both British expats, so that might explain why the hybrid Brit/American tone really worked for me. There are a lot of sly Discworld references and some creative swearing, and the comedic timing is spot on. Woolliscroft’s political commentary is based in reality rather than pure imagination, so parallels can be drawn to today’s political climate and that might either tickle or irritate you depending on your own leanings. If you like your humor on the dry, slightly pessimistic side, you’ll find much to enjoy here.

That’s not to say it’s perfect. There are some awkwardly crafted sentences here and there, the pacing has some issues (probably 50 pages could have been shaved to make it tighter), and there are anachronisms within the dialogue that some readers may find jarring. Even so, this is one of the strongest debuts I have read in some time. I hesitate to dock it a star because frankly, while I acknowledge that Kingshold is in some ways a diamond in the rough, that diamond is the size of a goddamn baseball. I have read more polished books that I enjoyed a lot less. The characters, plot and worldbuilding are absolutely stellar, and I will be ordering a physical copy of both this novel and Tales of Kingshold as a Christmas gift to myself. If you’re looking for something funny, charming, and a little different, I can’t recommend it enough.

It was a wonderful reminder of exactly why I take review requests, and with a debut this special I can’t wait to watch this author’s writing develop.
...more

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May 09, 2018 Olivia rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

I received a copy of Kingshold from the author in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars.

The King and Queen are hated, then murdered and now election is upon Kingshold.

Kingshold follows a group of characters who are all linked. There's Mareth the bard, who doesn't really know what to do with life. He sleeps and drinks a lot. To me, that sounds like an amazing life, but he's not happy. Alana is the personal servant of the wizard, Jyuth. She's incredibly clever and her chapters were a joy to ...more

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Jun 28, 2018 Nick Borrelli rated it it was amazing

Click here for full review:

http://outofthisworldrev.blogspot.com...

KINGSHOLD is the debut offering from self-published author DP Woolliscroft and the first entry in his Wildfire Cycle. Woolliscroft hails from Derby, England and now resides in Princeton New Jersey (a hop, skip, and jump from my current city of residence by the way). But I digress.....My attention was drawn to this author when I began following him on Twitter and kept seeing all of the discussion regarding his first book just Click here for full review:

http://outofthisworldrev.blogspot.com...

KINGSHOLD is the debut offering from self-published author DP Woolliscroft and the first entry in his Wildfire Cycle. Woolliscroft hails from Derby, England and now resides in Princeton New Jersey (a hop, skip, and jump from my current city of residence by the way). But I digress.....My attention was drawn to this author when I began following him on Twitter and kept seeing all of the discussion regarding his first book just released this past April. I was even more intrigued when it was recently announced that KINGSHOLD would be one of 300 entries in Mark Lawrence's highly regarded Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off contest for 2018. So when offered a chance to receive a review copy by the author himself, I must say that I was very excited to get a chance to read it and write a review before the contest kicked off in earnest. Upon reading the brief description of the plot, I was even more eager to begin the story as it seemed to be the type of Fantasy book that I usually love immersing myself in. So I started reading this 500 page tome exactly one week ago and finished late last night. If the speed with which I flew through the pages is any indication, I think you can make a pretty accurate guess as to how I felt about this book. And so now a little bit more about KINGSHOLD....

KINGSHOLD is a place embroiled in treachery and upheaval. The King and Queen were just recently discovered murdered under a cloud of mystery. The opening paragraphs describe a court in chaos as the different factions and leaders struggle to understand what just took place and who might be responsible. It is soon revealed that the ancient wizard Jyuth was the one who committed the regicide, but for what reasons is still unclear. The only thing that is clear is that the monarchy has been abruptly abolished in one night and there must now be new elections to select a Lord Protector of KINGSHOLD who will rule the new government. Jyuth, King-maker and ever the opportunist, sees a chance to influence the selection while making a bit of coin for himself in the process due to the fact that the only way someone can put vote their choice is by making a substantial monetary donation. And so the race to become Lord Protector begins with the back-stabbing and double-dealing getting incredibly hot and heavy. Mareth is a bard of middling renown who is suddenly thrust into one of the biggest eras of chaos that KINGSHOLD has ever seen in its long history. Mareth is pretty much a drunk and an underachiever, what you would call a slacker by today's standards. Being a bard, this is his greatest chance to erase all of that and place his selection in the leadership chair should he be able to sing the story that will unite everyone behind his choice. Mareth believes that fame is just around the corner and all of the spoils and drinking money that go along with it. Meanwhile, the reason for the King and Queen's assassination is revealed to be because they were engaged in a vile slave trade which was negatively impacting the reputation and governing of KINGSHOLD and which the wizard Jyuth simply could not abide any longer. As the candidates come forward to vie for the new position of Lord Protector, the political maneuvering begins to get a bit out of control and bribing, killing, and violent rioting become the order of the day. Suddenly the future of KINGSHOLD may not be at all certain and whether or not there can be an orderly transition at all is very much in doubt. There are also those outside the confines of KINGSHOLD who see the civil unrest and instability as a very real chance to finally tear down the once mighty kingdom and finally give power to those unfortunate and poverty-stricken who reside just outside its walls. Will the wizard Jyuth achieve his ultimate goal to raise a Lord Protector to the throne and restore stability to KINGSHOLD or will chaos and anarchy ultimately reign supreme, plunging the kingdom into a much different era where no one is positive of the eventual outcome? Nothing is as it seems and motivations shift with the wind in this complex yet utterly readable medieval Epic Fantasy by DP Woolliscroft.

Every once in a great while a book just comes out of left field and completely floors me. KINGSHOLD is one of those very books. I have to say that the quality of self-published books, especially in the Fantasy genre, has risen to unseen heights recently. Credit established Fantasy author Mark Lawrence for giving voice and visibility to those authors who ten or even five years ago would have never been given a chance of reaching such a large audience. It would have been a real crime had KINGSHOLD never been afforded the opportunity to reach the masses because it is simply a wonderful and engaging Fantasy read. And it surprised the hell out of me with how it grabbed my attention from the first page and then demanded that I keep reading and reading and reading. One of the many wonderful aspects of this book in my opinion is the way the main character is written. I kept going back and forth in my head as to whether or not I believed Jyuth was a hero or a villain. He is portrayed in such a way that you aren't entirely sure whether he has the best interests of KINGSHOLD truly at heart or whether he is simply a selfish lout who is only concerned with furthering his own agenda. The picture does become clearer as you get further into the book, but it was a masterful job of keeping the reader guessing and not creating the usual cookie-cutter characters that most Fantasy books are teeming with these days. I would also classify this as Political Fantasy, in that the majority of the plot deals with the election of the new Lord Protector and the strategic positioning of all of the candidates and their backers. That being said, I was never bored by this and there is quite enough action to satisfy those who crave that as well. Another element that was interesting was the use of modern day slang and profanity set against a very Medieval Fantasy period. The contrast was a unique approach and I thought that it lent a gritty realism to what could have been a very stale "same old Fantasy" story. There are so many things that I loved about KINGSHOLD and I really didn't want it to end. In fact, I may eventually go back and read it again very soon if I have some time because it was that entertaining a story. I really hope that both KINGSHOLD and author DP Woolliscroft advance to the finals in the SPFBO challenge. This is a book that deserves to be recognized as not only one of the best self-published books of the year, but also as one of the best Fantasy books of 2018 period. It could very well win the whole thing when all is said and done. All due accolades to DP Woolliscroft, I eagerly anticipate the next installment in the Wildfire Cycle. Oh, and please write faster! ...more

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Dec 04, 2018 Justine rated it really liked it

Full review at Fantasy Book Critic

Kingshold is an incredible political fantasy debut that could be the initial stepping stone for a truly remarkable series. This book has been on my radar for quite some time and Im really glad Ive finally gotten to dive into this fascinating world the author has so meticulously created.

The city of Kingshold is in upheaval after the unexpected assassination of its king and queen and dissolution of its monarchy. For the first time in history, the decision of who Full review at Fantasy Book Critic

Kingshold is an incredible political fantasy debut that could be the initial stepping stone for a truly remarkable series. This book has been on my radar for quite some time and I’m really glad I’ve finally gotten to dive into this fascinating world the author has so meticulously created.

The city of Kingshold is in upheaval after the unexpected assassination of its king and queen and dissolution of its monarchy. For the first time in history, the decision of who rules will be in the hands of its citizens - or at least those that can afford a voice. In a campaign to determine who will assume the mantle of Lord Protector, prominent figures emerge as favorites. However, after witnessing the social injustices of the current lay of the land, a group of unlikely compatriots are steadfast in their resolve to bring change that will benefit all in the city and not just those in the Upper Circle.

There are so many things to praise in this story, the characters and setting topping the list. We spend most of our time in the sprawling city of Kingshold, so finely constructed and detailed by Woolliscroft, that it becomes comfortably familiar. The hierarchical social structure directly affecting the layout of the different districts, each inhabited by realistic people making the environment tangible. Whether running across rooftops in the slums or meditating in a palace chamber, you feel as though you’ve truly been transported into this world.

We’re introduced to a wonderful cast of beautifully developed, colorful characters, all of different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. The story has a large group of point of view characters, but the author seamlessly weaves them together to keep the story flow fluid and easy to follow. Lately I’ve been on a binge of darker fantasy and I can’t tell you how refreshing it was to spend time with a group of likable protagonists that aren’t apparently masking malice with charm.

Another thing I adored about this story was its organic and almost lighthearted humor. As we’re dealing with a story of political intrigue peppered with assassinations and suppression of the common people, there’s always a chance that adding splashes of humor can feel forced or out of place - this is definitely not the case with Kingshold. Woolliscroft manages to expose very serious concepts in a natural way without dipping into the darker aspects that are currently flooding the fantasy genre.

Thanks to SPFBO and a larger focus on self-published writers, I’ve had the honor of reading some impressive works by authors that I may not have heard of otherwise. This story is no exception. There are a few loose ends that need tying and I’m really looking forward to continuing my journey in the Jeweled Continent in future installments of The Wildfire Cycle. I highly recommend. ...more

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Sep 11, 2018 Lukasz rated it really liked it

Shelves: self-published, spfbo2018

Kingshold does almost everything right. The combination of proper humour, social satire and the commentary on real-world history in a fantasy setting works well for me. Add memorable characters to the mix and take my money.

Mr Woolliscroft's debut is ambitious, and it mostly succeeds on all fronts.

After the assassination of Kingshold's rulers, the ancient wizard behind the throne decides he wants kings and queens no more. But what's the alternative? Well, why not let the people vote and choose Kingshold does almost everything right. The combination of proper humour, social satire and the commentary on real-world history in a fantasy setting works well for me. Add memorable characters to the mix and take my money.

Mr Woolliscroft's debut is ambitious, and it mostly succeeds on all fronts.

After the assassination of Kingshold's rulers, the ancient wizard behind the throne decides he wants kings and queens no more. But what's the alternative? Well, why not let the people vote and choose their next ruler?

Kingshold follows society's transition to proto-democracy. Obviously, the idea of a free vote and election doesn't excite nobles and lords as much as it does the old magi. Treason, assassinations and mayhem ensue. And amid all this turmoil, a charming cast of characters tries to survive and do some good.

The novel takes place almost exclusively in Kingshold. I have a clear image of the city in my mind. Bravo for making it real. Readers looking for exciting worlds to explore may find the scope of the story is too limited, but I'm sure sequels will explore new lands and introduce new characters. Personally, I've enjoyed the narrow focus.

The prose flows nicely and is often humorous. Where some novels try too hard to be funny and assault readers with way too many jokes and anecdotes, Kingshold remains focused on plot development. The humour never felt forced or out of place.

The pacing. Well. It could be better. The story develops slowly, and sometimes it drags. I'm sure cutting out 20% of the book would make it stronger, better and faster. Happily, likeable characters and plot twists compensate slower moments.

Efficiently handling five POVs requires skill. Using more than one POV allows readers to see things through more than one character’s mind. Cool. But everything comes at a price. Using multiple POVs can make the story feel fragmented and destroy its focus. Additionally, there's just no way a reader will care equally for all POV characters. The more POV characters you have, the more you’re forcing me to spread out my attention and my loyalty. Unfortunately, that's the case here. There are three POVs that feel deeply important, one that makes one of the final chapters shocking and one I could live without (sorry Alana).

Colourful cast of main and secondary characters moves the plot forward. Two characters that stood out for me were Mareth (a bard rumoured to be a Spellsinger, a drunkard and a decent human being) and Neenahwi (a powerful but still young and relatively unexperienced wizard). I'm sure every fantasy reader will easily find a relatable character in Kingshold.

Despite minor flaws, Kingshold is an exciting debut worth attention. Especially when you're looking for a lighter read that doesn't try to be deadly serious all the time.

...more

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Dec 05, 2018 C.W. Snyder rated it really liked it

If you're a fan of stories featuring a diverse cast, political intrigue, light humor, and a story that leaves you on the edge of your seat, you'll enjoy Kingshold. I had a small issue with the initial pacing, but it picks up from there and establishes itself as a promising debut. I look forward to more.

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Sep 16, 2018 Travis Riddle rated it it was amazing

Shelves: spfbo4

Admittedly, I went into Kingshold not expecting to particularly love it. I'm not huge on big, political stories. I prefer much smaller scale, personal stories. But I'm happy to say that the book surprised me in a really great way and ended up being the best of both worlds.

Woolliscroft took a larger scale framework and made it all about the characters. They're the driving force behind the narrative, rather than the political machinations. Luckily, all of the characters are highly entertaining in Admittedly, I went into Kingshold not expecting to particularly love it. I'm not huge on big, political stories. I prefer much smaller scale, personal stories. But I'm happy to say that the book surprised me in a really great way and ended up being the best of both worlds.

Woolliscroft took a larger scale framework and made it all about the characters. They're the driving force behind the narrative, rather than the political machinations. Luckily, all of the characters are highly entertaining in their own right and have fun, intriguing storylines that weave throughout the entire book, intersecting at various times and affecting the larger arc in both large and small ways.

And while I'm thankful the focus was on the characters, I'm pleasantly surprised to report that the actual political storyline was highly engaging and compelling as well. It contained several twists and turns and I found myself invested in finding out how it was going to play out.

The worldbuilding was also strong. It all takes place in one city, the titular Kingshold, and while I can't say I have a huge grasp on how the city is laid out or anything, Woolliscroft weaved details and titles and other such things throughout the descriptions and dialogue that made the city feel fleshed-out and real. Not to mention the conflicts and references to other countries, as well as the underground dwarven city beneath Kingshold. It's a fascinating world that I hope we get to see more aspects of in the rest of the series, because while Kingshold was an interesting place to bounce around, it seems like the rest of Edland and the surrounding places are just as interesting and ready to be explored.

While reading, I couldn't help but be reminded of Daniel Abraham's writing style, in both his Dagger & Coin series as well as his work with The Expanse. By that, I mean the way that there's a large scale (usually political) backdrop, but we focus on the personal stakes of that huge story. And on a more technical writing level, both Woolliscroft and Abraham are adept at propelling the narrative with every single chapter, not wasting a single moment in the book, as well as showcasing how each individual character is important to the narrative and how their actions all intersect or bounce off each other. It's not an easy task, but both authors make it seem so.

Given the ending combined with the fact that this is only the first book of a series, I'm incredibly interested in seeing where the story and these characters go from here. The second book can't come soon enough! ...more

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Apr 11, 2019 Kristen rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audiobooks

Full review is here on my blog!~

This is the story of a few different people, who live in (or around) the city of Kingshold. The King and Queen are dead, caught doing horrible shenanigans by their wizard, Jyuth. He has decided that since he was the one that started the monarchy, and that its been getting worse and worse every time, it is time for a democracy. So, he declares the monarchy abolished (by murderkilling the king and queen), and that there will be an election in a month to see who will ...more

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May 19, 2019 kartik narayanan rated it really liked it

Read the full review at my blog Digital Amrit

Introduction
Kingshold is one of those serendipitous moments that happens in life. I was randomly browsing through twitter when I saw that the author had asked for reviews of his forthcoming book the third in the series. One thing led to another, I liked the synopsis and ended up reading both Kingshold and Tales of Kingshold back to back.

The verdict? Both these books were very enjoyable.

But before we get into why, what is Kingshold or for that matter ...more

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Dec 03, 2018 Calvin Park rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, spfbo-2018

Kingshold by DP Woolliscroft came highly recommended. I picked this book up awhile ago, read the first several chapters, didnt connect with it, and set it aside. Recently several folks told me I really needed to read this book and so I went back and gave it another shot. Im glad I did. Kingshold is a unique fantasy adventure, one part epic fantasy and one part political thriller wrapped up with some fun humor.

Woolliscroft has crafted quite the cast of colorful characters. From a wizard who Kingshold by DP Woolliscroft came highly recommended. I picked this book up awhile ago, read the first several chapters, didn’t connect with it, and set it aside. Recently several folks told me I really needed to read this book and so I went back and gave it another shot. I’m glad I did. Kingshold is a unique fantasy adventure, one part epic fantasy and one part political thriller wrapped up with some fun humor.

Woolliscroft has crafted quite the cast of colorful characters. From a wizard who wants to retire—and is perhaps slightly mad and slightly tyrannical—to a drunken bard looking for something to sing about, to a chancellor who would really like to not be in charge, thank you very much, there is a colorful cast of characters to keep you engaged throughout. The plot itself is unique in the extreme, a tale of what it looks like for a monarchy to transition to a system of voting to choose its leader. Of course, being a fantasy, that transition is complicated by magic and other shenanigans. It’s definitely not your run-of-the-mill fantasy, and it’s enjoyable largely because of this. It also doesn’t take itself too seriously. There is plenty of humor and tongue in cheek moments throughout the story that elicit plenty of chuckles.

As I mentioned before, I didn’t immediately connect with the novel. For me, it took until almost 40% of the way in before I was engaged and connected with the story. While I love epic fantasy with multiple viewpoints, I think the storylines were so disparate early on that it felt too disjointed for me. Once individual storylines started to join up, I was highly engaged for the rest of the novel. On a separate note, I’ve already said that Kingshold has plenty of humor, not taking itself too seriously. In that way it’s a little like Stargate SG-1 or the BBC Merlin series. Unfortunately, there were times when I felt like the dialog or narration crossed the line into anachronism. Phrases like, “neat freak” or “you can do it, man!” or “he had to be stopped from going all ceremonial with his mace,” took me out of the story. They are so much a part of the tone of the book—and that’s mostly positive—but they just didn’t work for me.

While it took me awhile to get into, I can’t help but find the story of Kingshold too fun to pass up. I’ll definitely be reading more of Woolliscroft’s work set in this world. If you’re looking for something that is not your standard fantasy, you should give it a try. 3.7/5 stars.

5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing ...more

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Jan 13, 2019 Jason Aycock rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: indie-selfpublished, fantasy

Regicide, politics, assassinations, pirates, magic, demons, and giant draco-turtles are just taste of what's in store for you in this solid and entertaining self-published debut from D. P. Woolliscroft. Kingshold made it to the semi-finalist round in this year's Self-Published Fantasy Blogg Off (#SPFBO) hosted by author Mark Lawrence and it's easy to understand why. Offering a fresh take on revolution and dynastic change in fantasy literature this first book in the Wildfire Cycle sets the stage ...more

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Mar 02, 2019 Jennifer (bunnyreads) rated it really liked it

Shelves: tbrinder-request-books, 2019

With the Death of the King and Queen, the city of Kingshold begins switching to an election-based government, sparking a scramble for power as the population vies to throw their lot in and have a say in the outcome. Things get interesting when the front runners for the position of Lord Protector start dropping like flies.

Gosh, this book was a lot of fun. I have to admit I was skeptical about this one, just because I knew it was about switching governments and as much as I love intrigue and ...more

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May 27, 2018 Timy rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, magic, have-it, first-book-of-a-series

Actual rating: 4.25

Full review with some added personal notes: starlitbook.com/2018/05/29/kingshold-...

Ive got an ARC of Kingshold, so Id like to thank D. P. Woolliscroft for reaching out to me asking for a request and providing me a copy.

The plot (at least in the beginning) is pretty simple: the King and Queen are dead by the hands of the ancient wizard Jyuth and although most people are happy with this outcome, the kingdom needs a leader nonetheless. And so Jyuth decides he had enough of ...more

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May 22, 2018 ZJ rated it did not like it

-- I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review --

I love stories about cities. A good city story will make you feel like youve not only visited its neighbourhoods but maybe also filled out a couple of rental applications. You feel like youve gotten to know the city, like you could walk down the street and know which corners to avoid or which hole in the wall has the best fish and chips. A good city story is going to have the setting as a central character, as -- I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review --

I love stories about cities. A good city story will make you feel like you’ve not only visited its neighbourhoods but maybe also filled out a couple of rental applications. You feel like you’ve gotten to know the city, like you could walk down the street and know which corners to avoid or which hole in the wall has the best fish and chips. A good city story is going to have the setting as a central character, as a protagonist. So I was excited when I saw that D.P. Woolliscroft’s Kingshold was not only going to take place primarily within a city but that it would also feature the political machinations of an election held within its walls. Nothing gives a more complete picture of a city than the inner workings of its politics.

Kingshold begins with the figurative and literal death of the monarchy. It seems the King and Queen were up to no good and required an ousting. And to hear the court Wizard tell it, it’s not exactly an uncommon occurrence, so maybe it’s time for a change. Maybe it’s time for a little democracy. A plan is put into place so that anybody with a little bit of land and a pocket full of coin can voice their opinion on the next ruler. They do this by whispering their choice to a Pyxie which they are given upon payment of the fee.

This is a multi-POV book so we follow a plethora of characters in various aspects of city life in the weeks before the big election. Jyuth, the aforementioned wizard and man behind the throne. Mareth, a drunken layabout of a bard. Hoskins, the man in charge in the meantime. Neenahwi, a shape shifting sorceress. Oh, and the requisite thieves, rogues, servants, and narcissistic lords that fill out any and every fantasy cast.

At the centre of it all is Mareth. He’s a bit of a drunk, a bit of a cad, and, unfortunately, a bit of a bore. It’s his story at the focus of the narrative and most other characters come into his orbit at some point or another. He feels so much like the protagonist that I can’t help but think if at some point with this was a first person narrative or that it would have been better served as one. We follow Mareth as he does his bard thing in taverns, drinks to excess, becoming a propagandist for a election candidate, and eventually becoming a candidate himself. But it’s not quite enough to give him a personality. There are hints of a more interesting and inspiring man underneath but whenever Woolliscroft has an opportunity to show us he decides to tell us instead.

But we can’t blame Mareth’s for being a bit of a dullard when he lives in a city equally devoid of character. I was disappointed that Kingshold felt so much like other fantasy cities with its rich neighbourhoods, poor ghettos, and its neglected slums. It lacks the eccentricities and quirks that make cities memorable. I had been hoping for something closer to The Wire’s Baltimore or even Uncle Scrooge’s Duckburg but Kingshold feels like a prop instead of a real pace. There was no charm or menace or grit. The only standout feature is a The Lance, a large road which bisects the city and a road can only be so interesting.

The denizens of Kingshold fare a little better, mostly after a large number of the cast get together and become friends. It is by in large the most interesting part of the book. Once together there is an organic likability that appears as little differences start to emerge and characters begin to play off each other. They begin to feel like real people as the sense of friendship and camaraderie begins to shine through. Ironically, it is outside of these group meetings that the characters feel least like individuals. Consider the adventuring party of Motega, Trypp, and Florian (the aforementioned thieves and rogues) who have just returned to the city by sea. Other than their physical descriptions (respectively, piebald complexion, dark skinned, and...white, I guess? It’s never stated) they are essentially the same person. They sound so much alike that you could switch them around in any given scene without notice. It makes it all the more difficult to care about the fate of a city when I can’t even muster much enthusiasm for a member of the cast.

Normally, I can abide by one note characters (as a frequent mystery reader it’s not exactly uncommon) but there needs to something else to take up the slack. Initially I really liked the idea of the post-monarchy election plot. It’s a neat idea that I haven’t seen before and an interesting way to engage in political intrigue. Or it would have been. But the most compelling thing Woolliscroft does with the idea is to throw some murder at it. And while a killer loose in Kingshold should perk up the plot a bit it fails to rise above plot device. Since we never actually get to know any of the candidates it’s difficult to care when they die. There’s no tension or suspense to the events; they just happen. It’s a plot that in more experienced hands could have been really affecting but here it just lies flat.

There are several other plot points throughout the book. A fight for a demon’s gem, a D&D style side quest to help some Dwarves, an exceedingly lean romantic subplot, and a final act action set piece that feels so out of place and pointless that it boggles the mind. I’m still trying to figure out if it actually had an effect on the plot. Or how serious I’m supposed to take something called a Draco-Turtle. But nothing feels quite as squandered as the Pyxies. I read this book almost completely on of the promise of using pocket demons to vote in an election. Visions of Gremlins and Darklings pestering and manipulating danced in my head. Obviously it isn’t fair to complain that something didn’t live up to my own baseless expectations but I just felt so let down that the Pyxies are almost non-existent in this story. They don’t really do anything that a slip of paper and a wooden box couldn’t do equally as well. They don’t even really talk until one pipes up at the very end and proceeds to call everything into question making you wonder what any of this was for in the first place.

Woolliscroft writes Kingshold in a simple and straightforward style but unfortunately stays just below a workmanlike level. He mostly gets the point across and there are no real grammar or spelling errors that stood out but there are mistakes that I think should have been weeded out by a more substantial editing process. Weird vocabulary choices like “partied”, “boyfriend”, “stogy”, and “weekend” which are jarring and call into question both setting and tone. Characters call each other “turds” and at one point the wise, possibly immortal wizard kingmaker uses the phrase “...a bonk from my trusty staff”. Bonk?! I’m really not sure what I am supposed to do with that. The story doesn’t feel like a comedy and while other reviewers have called it lighthearted I really don’t see it. There are moments of attempted levity and the characters are quick with a quip but there is a definite note of self seriousness that would prevent me from calling the book light or funny. But I don’t know if I would say it’s all that serious either. I mean, Draco-Turtle.

I do think there is potential here. The idea of a city struggling with a new form of government, the lengths some people will go to secure their own futures, and the ever present possibility that things won’t go your way are all fuel for a good story. But extraneous characters, lacklustre writing, and a go nowhere plot all come together to muddy what could have otherwise been a fine book. The election ends up exactly like you think, the characters don’t learn anything organically, and there is (maybe) a twist at the end but it’s not very clear and wouldn’t really matter anyway. I didn’t find much to like about this book and the few things that I thought would stand out didn’t manage to live up to my expectations. It’s not a book I would recommend to anybody but I highly suggest you look into some other reviews. This is but one opinion and it is by no means definitive.
...more

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Sep 17, 2018 BriarGrey rated it it was amazing

Kingshold is a fascinating multi-character-focused story about a kingdom changing to a democracy, and a community learning how to have a voice, all while keeping you on the edge of your seat wondering about the characters and the outcomes. It takes all the stereotypical elements of a classic fantasy story and puts them together in new ways without feeling like anything was "broken". It's fun, exciting, and interesting, and well worth the time it will take you to read (which probably is short, ...more

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Feb 21, 2020 Lili Marcus rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, high-fantasy, epic-fantasy, 2020-reads

High fantasy is one of my most favorite genres though I seldom read it because this genre is known for long, complicated books. So having to read a high fantasy because I have to is a good chance for me. I jumped into reading this book with high expectations and excitement and Im not disappointed. Im really glad I joined this blog tour.

The story started with the end of the monarchy in Kingshold which sets the story right away. I dont think Ive ever read a story with a post-monarchy setting High fantasy is one of my most favorite genres though I seldom read it because this genre is known for long, complicated books. So having to read a high fantasy because I have to is a good chance for me. I jumped into reading this book with high expectations and excitement and I’m not disappointed. I’m really glad I joined this blog tour.

The story started with the end of the monarchy in Kingshold which sets the story right away. I don’t think I’ve ever read a story with a post-monarchy setting before, so this concept is very refreshing. I also always enjoy reading about political tales in fictional worlds. I enjoy the intrigues, and schemes and the motivations behind those schemes that political tales go with. Added with the fantasy side, the wizards and the pirates, Kingshold is surely a perfect read.

And oh, the idea of having pixies as means for voting is brilliant.

Kingshold itself as a setting is well-constructed. Right from the very beginning I got a vivid picture of this fictional world thanks to the author’s elaborate descriptions. I feel like I can walk through the streets of Kingshold with a perfect knowledge on where to turn (or maybe hide, if needed.) And the author did it without seemingly info-dumping and he definitely didn’t use flowery language. Just plain old tale narration and it’s perfect.

I’ve read others said the first half of the book is slow but I don’t know, I didn’t find it that way. Maybe because it’s already in my mind that with High Fantasy, it would take long before the real action begins. Like I said this is a favorite genre of mine. But I still agree with others and I think I know the reason why the pacing seems slow, it’s the characters POV.

First of all, I don’t have any problem with the characters. I love Mareth. A bard who once answered the call of adventure so he can tell stories of himself. I mean, wow. Wish I am THAT brave, and I don’t even care if I succeeded at something, the adventure itself is a big reward. This is what happens with Mareth. As the blurb said, he is a serial under-achiever and that makes his character even more interesting. He also appears a little cunning and opportunistic to me which is perfect for these kinds of stories. I just love how clever he is, taking the opportunity to gain things for himself when it’s presented by fate. (Just to be clear, I wouldn’t want this kind of cleverness in real life, just in stories such as this.)

My next favorite is the shape-shifting wizard, Neenahwi. I think her back story and skills and qualities make for protagonist-worthy character. She seemed like someone whose life events I would follow. I mean she’s a wizard and she shape-shift and now she’s in a place she didn’t even like and she has a purpose of righting a wrong. Complete ingredients for a perfect protagonist, if you ask me.

Now, actually there are more characters whose roles in the story are big but I wouldn’t name them for one reason. I feel like they’re a bit typical and I’ve read of them in other stories so I don’t find anything distinctive about their characters, or you know, something notable. But that doesn’t make them badly-written characters, I just don’t think I need to feature them one by one in my review for the reason I stated.

These characters, like I said, is the reason why it takes long for the story to REALLY begin. This is a multi-POV novel and even though I love multi-POVs, I think in Kingshold, it can do with lesser POVs. Maybe just two or three, Mareth and another. But this is just me. Besides, it is not uncommon for high fantasy to have multi POVs. Its just that some POVs here aren’t really interesting. This is the only reason why I didn’t end up rating this with five stars. ...more

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Feb 22, 2020 Elizabeth rated it really liked it

The novel Kingshold by self-published author, D.P Woolliscroft and is the first offering of the Wildfire Cycle series. If I could describe Kingshold in a few lines, it would be a beautiful but complicated tapestry. It is written in the vein of dark and intricate fantasy, much like the Malazan series or The Darkness That Comes Before. There are magic and fantasy aspects in Kingshold, but they come second to the political and societal maneuvers of the characters. Because of the breadth and scope ...more

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Apr 11, 2019 Kevin Potter rated it really liked it

At first I was wary of a female narrator for what seems to be predominantly male POV characters.

Thankfully, that fear was misplaced. Sheila Dearden is a brilliant narrator with some great voices and excellent control of tempo and vocal inflections.

Her one weakness, as is the case with a great many narrators, is the inability to create believable voices of the opposite gender.

Also, as the story opened, I was wary of the sheer number of POV characters that were introduced right away. The first ...more

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Jun 17, 2018 Jessica rated it liked it

Shelves: kindle-unlimited

"The people of this city have no balls! For hundreds of years, they've let a few rule them when they have the greater numbers. A chieftain on the plains of my home would be challenged and killed for being as useless as these kings and queens. Now, the people are growing balls. Finally."

Kingshold is a unique story that's more about a city, and an electoral process than it is any particular person. The story begins with a wizard named Jyuth who kills the current (very corrupt) monarchs. With "The people of this city have no balls! For hundreds of years, they've let a few rule them when they have the greater numbers. A chieftain on the plains of my home would be challenged and killed for being as useless as these kings and queens. Now, the people are growing balls. Finally."

Kingshold is a unique story that's more about a city, and an electoral process than it is any particular person. The story begins with a wizard named Jyuth who kills the current (very corrupt) monarchs. With the royal monarchs dead, the wizard decides to introduce the people of Kingshold to the idea of democracy in the hopes of bringing about a brighter, more independent future for all. Any head of house within the kingdom who can come up with enough gold pieces is allowed to vote, and there are plenty of people that want to become future lord protector.

There are a lot of things to like about this book. Kingshold features a wide range of characters with very different personalities, and the secondary characters were just as entertaining. Another thing that this book did really well was craft an entire story around a very politically driven situation. There's some love, family bonding, and coming of age stuff thrown in there too, but 90% of the story focuses on the complications of a city running it's first ever honest election.

My only complaint would be about some of the chosen lingo that was used. Alana is this strong, smart, independent character who plays a huge part in keeping the wizard informed and in helping with the election, but she also kicks boys in the "goolies" and compares people to skittles. There are also people that get the boots taken to them, which immediately made me laugh and think of Metalocalypse. Obviously this won't happen with everyone and the majority of people won't find the line funny like I did, but it felt worth mentioning.

But honestly all of that was pretty minor. The amount of characters can be a little overwhelming in the beginning and I definitely got confused a time or two, but by the end I had it pretty well figured out. The change over from a monarchy to a democracy isn't an easy one, yet D.P. Wooliscroft does a good job at covering all the bases and imagining how a change like that might go down. Despite the fact that I was occasionally bored by some of the politics and confused at first about who was who, I'm still curious and excited to see what might happen in the next book.

(Full review with more quotes from the book available on my blog http://bookstocombattherain.blogspot....) ...more

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Jun 20, 2018 Rinaldo rated it liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: people who loves medieval and political fantasy

Shelves: fantasy, british, united-states

3/5

This review is a part of TBRindr initiated by Weatherwax Report. I received a copy of this book in exchange to an honest review.

Kingshold is a story about transition of monarchy to democracy in a fantasy kingdom of Edland. Jyuth is the founding father of Edland and advisor wizard to the kingdom. He becomes embittered over centuries with the constant cycle of corruption of the descendant of the people he chose as kings. After the recent murder of corrupt and sexually deranged King and Queen in ...more

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Sep 22, 2018 Adam Wheeler rated it really liked it · review of another edition

An intriguing debut with a unique premise and interesting characters

I picked up Kingshold because I was intrigued by the idea of a democracy emerging in a fantasy world. While I was ready for a heavy political plot, instead I found myself reading a book that was driven by it's characters.

Sure there are some political happenings going on, but these mostly serve as a device to bring together an interesting cast of characters who rally together to elect one of their own who will govern their city An intriguing debut with a unique premise and interesting characters

I picked up Kingshold because I was intrigued by the idea of a democracy emerging in a fantasy world. While I was ready for a heavy political plot, instead I found myself reading a book that was driven by it's characters.

Sure there are some political happenings going on, but these mostly serve as a device to bring together an interesting cast of characters who rally together to elect one of their own who will govern their city with the little guy in mind. From Mareth the Bard utilizing his oratory skills to rally the populace, to Sisters Alana and Petra who are an immense help with organizing the uniting the poorer districts of the city, Kingshold offers us some unique characters that are different from the typical Fantasy fare. At the same time, our group includes some more conventional character types that could even work great off on their own. Motega and his crew reminded me of Royce and Hadrian from Michael Sullivan's Riyria books, while Jyuth and Neenahwi add some magic to the cast as the Wizened old wizard prepares to leave the City he has helped mold for generations and leave behind his adopted daughter whom he has apprenticed and groomed to continue molding and shaping events to influence the future of the country.

While this book focuses on the election for new leadership in Kingshold, it has also setup potential for greater conflict in the surrounding world and I will be very interested to see how our band of characters move forward to deal with not just the outcome of the election, but also the brewing conflicts that surround their city.

Kinghold is a great tale that I'd recommend all fantasy fans to take a look at. With Demons, Dwarves, Wizards, a giant giant turtle with a pirate fortress on it's back, and Assassin's who are shrugged off as a perfectly legal part of the election process, this is much more than just a political story. Danger and conflict are weaved throughout a story of organizing a community to rally for the election of someone to represent the masses and not just the elite nobility. ...more

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Apr 30, 2018 D.P. Woolliscroft added it · (Review from the author)

7/7/19

Kingshold is available for your vote for the 2019 Epic Fantasy Fanatic EFFY awards. If you would be so good as to head over to https://epicfantasyfanatics.com/kings... and cast your vote, it would be greatly appreciated! Voting ends on July 14th.

12/18/18
Kingshold is part of PrimeReading for the next 90 days. That means if you are in the US and an Amazon Prime member then you read Kingshold for free! What are you waiting for?

4/30/18

Kingshold is now available! Happy book birthday to ...more

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May 25, 2019 Dustin rated it really liked it

3.5⭐
Kingshold is a fun, light read with several POVs, some cool magic, and decent world-building. Or should I say City building because the city of Kingshold is where most of the story takes place. This is a story of what happens when a monarchy is dissolved forcefully and an election is put forth to choose a new leader. The gallery of characters that find themselves in the middle of this shaky political climate include a serving girl, a bar owner, a wizard and his daughter, a bard, and a trio ...more

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Oct 14, 2018 Weezing rated it really liked it

Firstly I should talk about my expectations going in. I expected to be political fantasy about power struggle between different factions competing in the elections with a darker tone. Actually it's a fun adventure book, where the election is just a backdrop, rather than focus of the book. Protagonist are more or less good guys, who team up against the unpopular general, who is the main contender to win the elections.

Protagonists are fun to read about (there is 5 of them) and because of that I ...more

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Feb 13, 2020 A Voracious Reader (a.k.a. Carol) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book, fantasy, tour, 4-5-stars, year-2020

4.5

Book source ~ Tour

Jyuth is an ancient wizard who founded the Kingdom of Edland and put the butt of the first king on the throne in Kingshold. Over the great span of years hes had to return to kill a corrupt king and put a new one in place, so this time is no different. Except this king and queen are exceptionally corrupt and perverse and have left no heirs to inherit the throne. So, a weary Jyuth declares that there will be no more kings. There will instead be a Lord Protector and anyone can ...more

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Aug 25, 2018 William rated it really liked it

Shelves: spfbo-4

An intriguing story of a fantasy kingdom brought into democracy by wizardly fiat.

The concept really hooked me; there may be other stories of fantasy-world democratization, but I don't really recall them, and certainly the idea of the Merlin-type getting sick of having to anoint new kings was a great spin on the genre.

Although the concept was great, a couple of the conventions chosen, while skillfully executed, were not to my personal preference, thus a 4 from me rather than 5. I'll discuss them An intriguing story of a fantasy kingdom brought into democracy by wizardly fiat.

The concept really hooked me; there may be other stories of fantasy-world democratization, but I don't really recall them, and certainly the idea of the Merlin-type getting sick of having to anoint new kings was a great spin on the genre.

Although the concept was great, a couple of the conventions chosen, while skillfully executed, were not to my personal preference, thus a 4 from me rather than 5. I'll discuss them below and I encourage you to read them as either criticism or praise depending upon your own preferences.

First, the story leans on RPG class tropes in world where 'adventurer' is a profession and the various cast can easily be identified by character-classes. It's not mired in the rules of any particular game, but there's definitely the feel of that sort of game-like structure to the world, much as you may have read in Nicholas Eames's celebrated Kings of the Wyld. Such tropes often provide an excellent short-hand to frame the story around, and most of my friends love stories like that, so I can hardly fault the author for choosing that approach even if it isn't one I particularly love.

Second, the narrative voice was very casual and modern. Again, it calls to mind other recent much-beloved works, so if that suits you, I think Woolliscroft uses it effectively. It's a medieval world where people say 'ok', and if that is not something that jars you, then you will probably find this a five-star adventure. If it is, well, that's an element to consider, but I think there is still much else to recommend this book.

Those elements aside (they may even be your preference), there are a lot of exciting twists and turns to Kingshold's budding democracy. Wizardly fiat alone is hardly sufficient to ensure a smooth transition of power from royal mandate to popular acclaim, and Wolliscroft's tale considers class issues between nobility, a rising merchant class, and the great unwashed masses.

While many elements of the world are assembled from a familiar collection of tropes, it is not cliché by any means. The various bards and assassins and dwarves and etc each have a flavor distinct to the setting and Wolliscroft paints and intriguing world that continues beyond the pages. I've compared him to Eames above and in this regard I think he excels that author, managing to avoid the perils of Chekov's gun by giving us a world that feels very extensive; distant vistas abound, and provide welcome texture to the setting.

Kingshold is a fun read with a very creative premise, and is a debut that promises even more great stories to come. ...more

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