Only seven minutes younger than Rolencia's heir, Byren has never hungered for the throne. He laughs when a seer predicts that he will kill his twin. But the royal heir resents Byren's growing popularity. Across the land the untamed magic of the gods wells up out of the earth's heart. It sends exotic creatures to stalk the wintry nights and it twists men's minds, granting them terrible visions. Those so touched are sent to the Abbey to control their gift, or die. At King Rolen's court enemies plot to take his throne, even as secrets within his own household threaten to tear his family apart. Political intrigue and magic combine in this explosive first book in an exciting new fantasy trilogy.
The King's Bastard: King Rolen's Kin Series, Book 1
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About the Author
Rowena Cory Daniells is the renowned writer behind the 'Last T'en' trilogy. She lives in Brisbane with her husband and six children. 'King Rolen's Kin - The King's Bastard' marks the beginning of a major new fantasy trilogy.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Steven
Format:Paperback
There's a growing fashion in the publishing world to introduce new authors to the general public by releasing all three parts of a trilogy over successive months: Brent Weeks' Night Angel Trilogy found its way onto the shelves in this way, and now so has the Chronicles of King Rolen's Kin, our introduction to Rowena Cory Daniells.
The cover is immediately reminiscent of Solaris' other epic/dark fantasy series, the Chronicles of the Necromancer (and indeed features a blurb from Gail Z Martin, so you know where this is aimed). Unfortunately, it can't quite make the same weight as that series.
The premise is simple enough, and there are some nice touches with the ever-wintry "spurs" of the continent and the canals of Rolencia's basin, as well as the "seeps" and taint of wild magic. But, as others have already commented, the world-building doesn't seem complete and is in fact somewhat small and under-populated - the various main characters stumble over each other like a party in a small room.
My main problem is with the writing itself - at times stilted, and at times far too colloquial, as though the author (or her editor) hasn't been able to find her voice. The worst offender is the description of the Dovecote stronghold, on page 51 (your pagecount may vary): "Old Dovecote had been built and added to over the three hundred years since King Rolence united the valley people. It was dark and draughty and the plumbing was terrible." Perhaps this is one of the problems with trying to put a whole trilogy onto the shelves in one go?
This is not to say that the book - or the series - is irredeemable. But for me it just doesn't seem to be a finished work.
The cover is immediately reminiscent of Solaris' other epic/dark fantasy series, the Chronicles of the Necromancer (and indeed features a blurb from Gail Z Martin, so you know where this is aimed). Unfortunately, it can't quite make the same weight as that series.
The premise is simple enough, and there are some nice touches with the ever-wintry "spurs" of the continent and the canals of Rolencia's basin, as well as the "seeps" and taint of wild magic. But, as others have already commented, the world-building doesn't seem complete and is in fact somewhat small and under-populated - the various main characters stumble over each other like a party in a small room.
My main problem is with the writing itself - at times stilted, and at times far too colloquial, as though the author (or her editor) hasn't been able to find her voice. The worst offender is the description of the Dovecote stronghold, on page 51 (your pagecount may vary): "Old Dovecote had been built and added to over the three hundred years since King Rolence united the valley people. It was dark and draughty and the plumbing was terrible." Perhaps this is one of the problems with trying to put a whole trilogy onto the shelves in one go?
This is not to say that the book - or the series - is irredeemable. But for me it just doesn't seem to be a finished work.
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By R. M. Lindley
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
On the face of it, The King's Bastard is simple BSF (bog-standard fantasy). There is a map at the beginning. The king is old, starting to lose his grip on warlike vassals and there is an evil bastard prince stirring up rivalry between the arrrogant and implusive heir to the throne and his (marginally) younger-but-obviously-better-suited-to-rule brother. And all that wild magic is getting stirred up...
It is however better than that, mainly due to some good characterisation.
Minor gripes first: the "world" is way to small, comprising one big island and some smaller ones. We may get a wider sense of scope later on, but the main "continent" is tiny, assuming the map is to scale. There is a startling repetition of ideas too - in the first few pages, our hero hunts a wild magical beast, kills it, but is then suprised when another shows up, with serious consequences. A couple of chapters later, our hero hunts a magical beast, kills it, and is suprised when another shows up, with serious consequences. Said beasts are also seemingly ripped off from an AD&D Monster Manual with some vowel rearrangements to disguise the fact that we are dealing with cockatrices, griffins, wyverens and the like.
These are minor gripes however, and overall the setting is original, with "spurs" on the island ruled by dissenting warlords desperate for the food and riches of the central plains. The frozen north setting is not exactly new, and not quite as grim as Winterbirth or as detailed as JV Jone's ...Ice series, but it feels realistic. The characterisation is also very good, and I felt an immediate liking for all of the main characters. There are some suprising interpersonal developments in the opening chapters that immediately signal this is better in intellectual and emotional matters than most BSF.
Recommended if you like JV Jones and Robin Hobb.
It is however better than that, mainly due to some good characterisation.
Minor gripes first: the "world" is way to small, comprising one big island and some smaller ones. We may get a wider sense of scope later on, but the main "continent" is tiny, assuming the map is to scale. There is a startling repetition of ideas too - in the first few pages, our hero hunts a wild magical beast, kills it, but is then suprised when another shows up, with serious consequences. A couple of chapters later, our hero hunts a magical beast, kills it, and is suprised when another shows up, with serious consequences. Said beasts are also seemingly ripped off from an AD&D Monster Manual with some vowel rearrangements to disguise the fact that we are dealing with cockatrices, griffins, wyverens and the like.
These are minor gripes however, and overall the setting is original, with "spurs" on the island ruled by dissenting warlords desperate for the food and riches of the central plains. The frozen north setting is not exactly new, and not quite as grim as Winterbirth or as detailed as JV Jone's ...Ice series, but it feels realistic. The characterisation is also very good, and I felt an immediate liking for all of the main characters. There are some suprising interpersonal developments in the opening chapters that immediately signal this is better in intellectual and emotional matters than most BSF.
Recommended if you like JV Jones and Robin Hobb.
Format:Paperback
A fantasy novel.
First in a trilogy.
With a map of the land in which it is set at the front.
There are many books like that.
This one runs for six hundred and forty pages and is divided into thirty one chapters.
It's main character is Byren. One of the children of the King of Rolencia. Not the oldest. And quite happy to live his life and never rule.
But fate has other plans for him. As his elder brother starts to turn against him, his sister has to struggle with a secret, and his younger brother has to survive the power struggles in a place where those with magical talent are trained, he also has to cope with a change in the relationship with his best friend. And his unrequited love for said friend's sister.
Forces are stirring. And his world will never be the same again...
Does this have anything to make it stand out from the fantasy pack?
Just about.
It has decent prose that does hold the reader from the off and draw you in. And it does have, in the shape of Byren, a very affable lead character who is likeable and appealing from the off. So you keep reading to find out what will happen to him.
He is the viewpoint character for a lot of the story, but his siblings do have their scenes as well. Thus after the opening which is solely Byren focused, it does feel as if it loses focus at times, as there are a lot of plot strands slowly developing.
Do hang on in there though because everything does come together very well in the final third, with some good plot twists and a very strong villain. Plus an ending that will leave you desperate to find out what happens next.
There are some mild adult themes and a few bloody moments, but nothing gratuitious.
It's not a classic of the genre but it's a pretty decent and involving read. If you're looking for another trilogy to get into, then this should more than suffice.
First in a trilogy.
With a map of the land in which it is set at the front.
There are many books like that.
This one runs for six hundred and forty pages and is divided into thirty one chapters.
It's main character is Byren. One of the children of the King of Rolencia. Not the oldest. And quite happy to live his life and never rule.
But fate has other plans for him. As his elder brother starts to turn against him, his sister has to struggle with a secret, and his younger brother has to survive the power struggles in a place where those with magical talent are trained, he also has to cope with a change in the relationship with his best friend. And his unrequited love for said friend's sister.
Forces are stirring. And his world will never be the same again...
Does this have anything to make it stand out from the fantasy pack?
Just about.
It has decent prose that does hold the reader from the off and draw you in. And it does have, in the shape of Byren, a very affable lead character who is likeable and appealing from the off. So you keep reading to find out what will happen to him.
He is the viewpoint character for a lot of the story, but his siblings do have their scenes as well. Thus after the opening which is solely Byren focused, it does feel as if it loses focus at times, as there are a lot of plot strands slowly developing.
Do hang on in there though because everything does come together very well in the final third, with some good plot twists and a very strong villain. Plus an ending that will leave you desperate to find out what happens next.
There are some mild adult themes and a few bloody moments, but nothing gratuitious.
It's not a classic of the genre but it's a pretty decent and involving read. If you're looking for another trilogy to get into, then this should more than suffice.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Traditional epic fantasy
Set in a secondary, medievalish world, one might complain that the foundations for the world of King Rolen's Kin aren't very original. Read more
Published 11 months ago by W.M.M. van der Salm-Pallada
1.0 out of 5 stars
Marred by poor writing.
I bought this and the second book in the trilogy because I was looking for something new to read and I wanted something where magic is vilified - an aspect which is featured quite... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Nereiad
1.0 out of 5 stars
OH NO! NOT AGAIN!!!
I must be a glutton for punishment. I actually struggled my way through another of Ms Daniells offerings, The Last T'en Trilogy, and as infuriating as that series was, I doggedly... Read more
Published on 18 May 2011 by CeNedra Red
4.0 out of 5 stars
Appears similar to chronicles of the necromancer series by gail z....
Not started reading this yet (along with a few more books) due to university work which is so time consuming, but i am definately looking forward to diving into the realm created... Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2011 by Gem
2.0 out of 5 stars
Good start ultimately fails to deliver
This book starts well, the main character starts building the plot gets going and then... well it falls into the classic fantasy trap. Read more
Published on 28 Dec 2010 by Alun Thomas
1.0 out of 5 stars
Deserves 0 ...
As some one else mention I couldn't finish it - it bored me, I wasnt interested in the characters and it seemed to me to be the same old story. Read more
Published on 4 Dec 2010 by M. White
3.0 out of 5 stars
Competent if predictable fantasy novel
In the kingdom of Rolencia those with Affinity (a type of magic that manifests in different ways) must separate themselves from society. Read more
Published on 1 Nov 2010 by I Read, Therefore I Blog
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great start
This book is the reason why I love fantasy. It swept me away, it had me biting my nails and when I tried to do other things I couldn't stop thinking about it. Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2010 by Blodeuedd
1.0 out of 5 stars
I'm afraid I didn't even finish it...
As one reviewer above mentioned, this is the perfect example of 'bog standard fantasy'. The world is minature and, far more significantly, there are simply not enough people in it! Read more
Published on 4 Sep 2010 by ToastBongo
4.0 out of 5 stars
a great opener
Epic fantasy is fast clawing its way back up the charts and with this offering from Rowena, its pretty easy to see why. Read more
Published on 1 Aug 2010 by Gareth Wilson - Falcata Times Blog
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