Looking for a YA fantasy that will leave you both confused and excited? Looking for a fantasy with an intriguing magic system and major family drama? Check out The Ruin of Kings!
Author: Jenn Lyons
Series: A Chorus of Dragons #1
Age: YA
Genres: Fantasy
Publication Date: February 5, 2019
Publisher: Tor Books
Source: ARC
Purchase: Hardcover | Paperback | Kindle | Audible | B&N | Kobo | Play Store | iBooks
Synopsis:
There are the old stories. And then there’s what actually happens.
Kihrin is a bastard orphan who grew up on storybook tales of long-lost princes and grand quests. When he is claimed against his will as the long-lost son of a treasonous prince, Kihrin finds that being a long-lost prince isn't what the storybooks promised.
Far from living the dream, Kihrin finds himself practically a prisoner, at the mercy of his new family's power plays and ambitions. He also discovers that the storybooks have lied about a lot of other things things, too: dragons, demons, gods, prophecies, true love, and how the hero always wins.
Then again, maybe he’s not the hero, for Kihrin isn’t destined to save the empire.
He’s destined to destroy it . . .
Uniting the worldbuilding of a Brandon Sanderson with the storytelling verve of a Patrick Rothfuss, debut author Jenn Lyons delivers an entirely new and captivating fantasy epic. Prepare to meet the genre’s next star.
My Rating:
Quote(s) I Like:
"A hero who has never had a bad thing happen to him isn't a hero -- he's just spoiled." - Goddess of Luck.
"Choices are rarely clean creatures without entanglements and complications." - Goddess of Luck
"Sometimes the things that protect us are the same things that limit our freedoms." - Kalindra
"One cannot fix a thing if you do not understand how it is broken, and you will not be able to recognize how it is broken if you do not know how it should normally function." - Lady Miya
"Nothing is gained without risk, young man. Sooner or later, you're going to have to take a chance on someone." - Tishar D'Mon
My Thoughts:
Let me preface this review by saying this definitely can be a complex and unorganized read for most. This book is not written in your usual linear or chronological way. Not at all. This is written in dual perspective at different starting points of the Kihrin's life. Talon tells the story from the very beginning before Kihrin was made a prince. Kihrin, himself, starts his story from his time as a slave after being a prince. The writing is seamless, but the style is wild. However, it does not take away from the beauty of the story. Once you get used to reading the story everything just flows smoothly as you read.
Jenn Lyons has such interesting characters and impeccable writing that pulls you into the story and makes you enjoy the story. The world building was pretty good. I felt like I was in the world with the characters. The descriptions were well written. I very much enjoyed the country of Quur.
The magic system was interesting as it was surrounded around jewels and stones. There was a big thing with reincarnations that definitely added to the whole confusion of the characters a bit as you never knew who was really who. The gods played a role quiet often and the magic was used in fighting as well. I definitely did enjoy the magic system.
Kihrin aka Rook is the sixteen-year-old son of a musician and a highly skilled thief. By day, he lives and works, alongside his father, in a whorehouse. By night, he steals from the rich to help his father retire. His simple, dark life is disrupted when a heist goes wrong and lies and secrets begin to unravel around him.
Kihrin is an amazing young man. With the writing of this story being dual perspective, you get to see his growth and the beginning when all the things in his life took place. Kihrin is a sweet kid that was given a terrible hand. He was told many things as a kid, but only thought that they were funny stories. However, the truths he thought were lies were the very things that shook his world. Kihrin is a strong character, especially after dealing with his life being turned upside down and his family's drama. He always had a witty remark to say no matter what was going on. I am interested in seeing him hone his magic and become a great man.
I totally enjoyed Talon because she was comical, witty and downright violent. She was the second pov as far the storytelling goes. She helped me to truly understand who Kihrin was and his beginning as a slave until the end. Talon had a knack for irritating people. I enjoyed how she bought a good laugh to me.
There were just so many characters to keep track of, but my favorites were Ola, Miya and the emperor. I also enjoyed Therin and Galen as well. Relos Var is still a character I'm on the fence about. I loved all the vanés characters as well. I totally loved Old Man and can't wait to see more of him. Every single characters seemed to be crucial to the development of this story and to Kihrin as a character.
The family drama was insane. Finding out he was a prince, but then the truth of his parents being unraveled was just insane. I am still lost at to who his true parents are because there was just too much back and forth and lies told. His family were a bunch of greedy, prideful people. Including his uncle and his father. The political schemes were ridiculous and added to the tension between the houses and characters.
Overall, this was a good start to an interesting series to come. This book setup the world and characters really well. Despite its complexity I am still excited to read the sequel when it get's released.
About the Author
Giveaway
- Ends February 19th
- Giveaway is open to International.
- Must be 13+ to Enter
- 2 Winners will receive an Exclusive THE RUIN OF KINGS by Jenn Lyons Gift Box (ARC, A Dragon Pint Glass and a Dragon Bookmark).
- 2 Winners will receive a Copy of THE RUIN OF KINGS by Jenn Lyons .
Are you planning on grabbing this awesome YA read?!
You definitely should!
You definitely should!