Cory Daniells - The King's Bastard [Apr 19, 2020]

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

The King's Bastard - Rowena Cory Daniells

April 19, 2020.
Requested by Elizabeth.

[Shaitarn]

Starting a few hours early.

[Shaitarn]

So 11 chapters in and I'm starting to enjoy it. The first 150 pages were a struggle, and I thought I'd DNF at one point but managed to overcome that 'this is crap' section.

At the start the story seemed high on the rolling-my-eyes scale; (view spoiler)[a mad old seer turns up for no apparent reason and starts gibbering prophecies at three of the king's children before vanishing mysteriously. Seriously, author? Is that the best you can do? (hide spoiler)]

The author has the habit of making up their own creatures which is something that always irritates me - so far a lincis, grucranes, and leogryf have all shown up, as well as the princess' pet foenix, which I assume from the description is actually a phoenix.

One theory I'm pondering is (view spoiler)[ if this is actually set in some sort of post-apocalyptic arctic future and all the names are from half-remembered names of animals from the past. (hide spoiler)]

[Elizabeth]

I'll be starting tomorrow, hope it gets better for you.

[Elizabeth]

I'm on chapter 7 and I'm enjoying it so far, no thoughts of DNFing for me. I feel like once I have time this one will be a quick read for me. (view spoiler)[ I don't trust Cobalt at all. I feel like he has eyes on the throne. I don't believe he's telling the truth with his story either. (hide spoiler)]

[Shaitarn]

Just finished. After my slightly rocky start it definitely grew on me and overall it was an enjoyable read. I don't want to say too much about the story as I don't want to risk spoiling (spoilering?) anything for you, but it didn't end as I expected and I will almost certainly read the other books in the trilogy at some point.

Out of the main characters I would say I actually ended up liked Fyn the most; it's nice to have an advange character for once - he's not an exceptional swordsman, doesn't have powerful magic, just a young guy doing the best he can with his modest talents.


I liked the setting as well - I liked the winter travel, with the skates along the canals and the 'snow-caves' they built (crude igloos in my head).

[Elizabeth]

Chapter 26 (view spoiler)[ I can't believe how stupid the king is being. why believe Cobalt over his son when his son has explanations, says he has people to vouch for him when Cobalt got his 'proof' by snooping around where he shouldn't have been. The advisors too, they've known Byren his whole life, not Cobalt. Now distrusting the Queen too when she's spent more of her life in Rolencia than Merofynia. (hide spoiler)]

[Elizabeth]

One more thing, this was a few chapters back, don't remember where exactly (view spoiler)[ I have a feeling that the manservant that Cobalt lent the king is poisoning him. (hide spoiler)]

[Shaitarn]

Elizabeth wrote: "Chapter 26 [spoilers removed]"

Yes, this is the kind of behaviour that makes me roll my eyes and shout at books (view spoiler)[(usually stuff like 'They're your family, moron! Of course they can be trusted!'). (hide spoiler)]

[Elizabeth]

So I finished, I do think I'm interested enough to continue. What about you?

[Shaitarn]

Sure, I will - after the rocky start I really enjoyed it.

[Elizabeth]

I'm already overbooked for BR next month, so are you good to continue in mid June maybe?

[Elizabeth]

Shaitarn? Mid June work for you?

[Shaitarn]

Whoops, sorry i didn't get a notification of your last post for some reason! I have two buddy reads in June (both starting on the 10th - I've got a knack for doing that) so any time before then or from about 14th/15th onward should work.

[Elizabeth]

Haha I have two starting on Friday, I started one a little early today. 15th of June sound good?

[Shaitarn]

Sounds fine to me!