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The True Queen of the Lathai #1

The Last King of the Mountain

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Ever since her mother Queen Aramaris was killed by the Malda, Ariawyn has been raised to be the next Queen Of Lathai. But she feels unprepared for her role, and, to buy time before her coronation, she flees her kingdom, joining a group of wandering dwarves and returning to their homeland of Fighgaruhm.

All is not well, however, in Fighgaruhm, and as tensions rise, the dwarves’ newly democratic government is threatened by those who still remain loyal to the Disposed King.

Back in Lathai, Rune journeys to the capital city for the first time, where he quickly develops a friendship with the Regent Prince Luthitan and his niece, Naemyra. His loyalties will be tested, between his childhood friend Ariawyn, and the regent who seems to be a far better fit for the throne.

As Ariawyn finds herself embroiled in the politics of the dwarves, those she left behind grapple with a kingdom that has lost its heir, an over-ambitious regent, and unwelcome tidings from the Northern Isles.

With a cast of eclectic characters - including talking lizards, mischievous gods, and the ever troublesome Malda - The Last King of the Mountain is the first in an exciting new fantasy series, perfect for fans of The Lord of the Rings, Throne of Glass, and The Cruel Prince.

Kindle Edition

First published November 15, 2019

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About the author

Camryn Daytona

7 books49 followers
Camryn Daytona is the author of the upcoming fantasy novel The Last King of the Mountain.

She is a fan of all things fantasy, from books to movies to video games. As a child, she prefered to spend her time in fictional worlds including Zelda, LOTR, and Harry Potter.

She also hates writing about herself in third person.

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Profile Image for Dr. Andy.
2,537 reviews259 followers
January 26, 2021
I received an ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I signed up to review this book as an ownvoices ace reviewer. The main character, Ariawyn, is asexual though it is a word of god situation than overtly implied or stated on page. I really wanted to love this epic fantasy, but I was just so disconnected from the story.

Ariawyn has been raised to be the Queen of Lathai, but she doesn't feel close to being ready or deserving of being Queen. She decides to run away and ends up traveling with some dwarves to their home in Fighgarum. But back in Lathai not all is well: Her family is trying to keep word of her disappearance from spreading, keep an ambitious regent from taking total control and threats from the Northern Isles are slowly slipping into Lathai.

The main thing that made no sense to me was why Ari had to be Queen at that exact moment which caused her to run away. She is an Elf and is immortal, she admits she's not even a full adult elf, so like why couldn't she just go exploring. Why didn't her guard/adoptive father figure just be like "yeah Ari went off for a bit on a scheduled tour, she'll be back in a couple years." It just made no sense to me. Along with this, there wasn't a strong narrative force for me--Ari just HAS to come back to be queen, and some other things happen around this.

I may have just not been in the mood for this type of story, so one day I hope to reread it, and read the prequel before it. I think fans of LOTR would really enjoy this story.
Profile Image for abbie.
57 reviews10 followers
October 10, 2020
I received an ARC of The Last King of the Mountain from the author in exchange for an honest OV review for asexuality.

Please note: there is no on page representation or confirmation of asexuality in book 1.

Synopsis: Ever since her mother Queen Aramaris was killed by the Malda, Ariawyn has been raised to be the next Queen of Lathai. But she feels unprepared for her role, and instead flees from the elven lands, joining a group of wandering dwarves and returning to their homeland in Fighgarum. As Ariawyn finds herself embroiled in the politics of the dwarves, those she left behind grapple with a kingdom that has lost its heir, an over ambitious regent, and unwelcome tidings from the Northern Isles.

What I liked:
🏔 gender is not strictly a binary with the dwarves
🏔 the plot was very intriguing and held my attention throughout the book
🏔 I loved the magical aspects
🏔 the world building was very well done
🏔 there is no sex or romance in the story

What I didn't like:
⛰ it was hard to keep track of who all of the characters were
⛰ I would have liked to see some of the smaller characters fleshed out a bit more as they came to be more important towards the end
Profile Image for Kass.
33 reviews1 follower
July 16, 2020
The world built in this book is so unique and interesting. I loved the plot, and the ending hits you hard but it hits you well. It took me a bit to get into, but once I was in I was /in/. Also, the notes are very charming. Basically, this book is really good and it has me so excited for the next one, and I totally recommend it.
2,416 reviews
December 1, 2019
I really enjoyed reading The Last King of the Mountain. I found the story and characters well written and developed. I’m looking forward to reading the next book. I would recommend reading this book. (I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.)
Profile Image for Lori.
1,178 reviews10 followers
November 22, 2019
Having read the prequel novella, The Exiled Prince of the North, I was more than ready to delve into the diverse world that Camryn Daytona created in The Last King of the Mountain . Ariawyn, heir to the throne since her mother's death during the war, isn't sure she is ready to rule ... isn't sure she wants to rule at all. She slips away from her guardians and finds herself traveling with dwarves, meeting talking lizards, and becoming involved in the politics, and possible overthrow of the government of her new friends. Meanwhile, her childhood friend Rune journeys to the capital and meets the Regent Prince Luthitan. While there, he falls in love with more than just the city, and he begins to question if Ariawyn really does have what it takes to rule the Lathai.

A diverse, eclectic cast of characters await those who pick up this series. Reading the prequel novella is not a must but does give insight into a few of the characters who show up in both books. I look forward to the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Camryn Daytona.
Author 7 books49 followers
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December 9, 2019
This review was originally posted on Camryn DaytonaSince we're only a month away from the release of my debut novel, The Last King of the Mountain, I thought I would share some FAQs.

Is this the first book?
The Last King of the Mountain (LKOTM) is the first full length book.

There is a prequel novella, The Exiled Prince of the North, but you don't have to read that one first (it's just for fun).

Where can I buy LKOTM?
It is currently available for pre-order on Amazon.

What formats is it available in?
Right now you can only pre-order the ebook (because that's all that Amazon will allow me to make). However, if you'd prefer a paperback, those will be available starting on November 30th.

Why should I pre-order?
Because you love me?

Oh and there's also free stuff.

If you purchase the book before December 10th you'll get a postcard of the map (and if it's a physical copy you'll get a signed bookplate). Go here for more information.

Aesthetic Images

Profile Image for Batwoman.
534 reviews6 followers
September 17, 2020
I loved reading this book and can’t wait for book 2! Characters were well developed and fun to know. I love Siveril and Truz, they’re my favorite characters. Hope there is much more of them in book two. I can’t wait to learn more about this world and how the many character Ariawyn grows into her role.
Profile Image for Laurie Robertson.
881 reviews19 followers
August 30, 2020
An interesting start to the series, a few unexpected twists.
I could relate to the main character and feel their self confidence growing.
A fair few grammatical errors but overall they don't distract you from the story.
Profile Image for Pixie 🍜.
946 reviews30 followers
September 5, 2024
I dnfd this pretty fast. I was kindly given an arc from the author as an own voices asexuality reviewer. From what I can see this is never confirmed on page or even implied, which is one of my biggest pet peeves with asexuality in fantasy novels.

Personally I found the writing quite stilted and the narrative kind of hard to follow. Maybe it gets better, but if I found myself incredibly confused immediately and the characters dialogue not obvious I lose interest. Maybe I’ll give it another shot at a later date.
Profile Image for Bibliophileverse.
711 reviews43 followers
February 14, 2021
I would rather define my opinion about the story, the Last King of the Mountain in one line:" A world of magic perfectly woven around Mortals, Elves and Dwarves. "I was rather captivated and obsessed with dwarves and their culture. The writer has given a spellbinding description about the dwarven kingdom. Read full blurb on bibliophileverse.blogspot.com
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews

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