Thank you to Saga Press and BookishFirst for this ARC of Kingdom of Liars.*
The Kingdom of Liars by Nick Martell has to be one of my favorite reads of 2020 it was absolutely fantastic! This epic fantasy debut centers around Michael Kingman. The guy you love to hate. He along with his brother Lyon and sister Gwen are part of the well-known now infamous Kingman family with their father famously killed for murder.
How do I describe the world? The story takes place in the kingdom of the Hollow a kingdom under strain from many wars in the midst of a rebellion. Where pieces of the moon or as it’s known Celona continue to be destroyed. This world is ruled by nobles and rebels alike dominated by a mysterious magic. When the story begins our “hero” Michael Kingman was on trial for murdering the king. He is a wreck when waiting for the verdict. Although he is more concerned with appearances and the family legacy than anything else.
Micheal is most definitely an anti-hero he is honestly a pain in the... arrogant and stubborn and can I just say a little clueless. What was Michael’s fate he was sentenced to die. He spends the rest of the novel trying to escape this fate. (The beginning scene is a flashback) Out of all of the three Kingman children he is the most proud of the name and firmly believes in his fathers innocence. His brother Lyon is the exact opposite of Michael all he wants to do is escape the family legacy.
Their sister Gwen is the glue that holds the family together. She works at the Hollows asylum looking after the vulnerable patients while also keeping a watchful eye over their mother. She hasn’t been right since their father was killed for treason. She isn’t all there her mind is “gone” Michael has many reasons to want to restore their name although the Kingman name is known they are not exactly well thought of.
Michael is assigned to by his own volunteering to look after the high noble Charles Domet. The latest asylum patient who is an eccentric drunk. I loved Domet he was my favorite character! Michael thinks this a golden opportunity he gets paid to look after the crazy guy. Michael who is obsessed with his father’s legacy is intrigued by Domet even more so when he tells him that his father is innocent. That is the whole reason Michael agreed to take Domet “on” for information.
That is a running theme throughout the book and I am guessing the series. Michael is selfish and absorbed who is all about himself. Domet agrees to teach Michael about magic to see if he is a fabricatior. His father was one and Domet wants to train Michael to see what kind he is but he is hard student to teach. All of a sudden Michael with Domet’s help is trust into the heart of The Hollow’s nobility and in the presence of such members such as the cruel prince and the king of the Hollow.
He has a lot to contend with his friend Trey is out for revenge after their friend Jamal is killed by rebels and Michael abandons them leaving him to die. I seriously cannot wait to hear more about the world in book 2. Although magic is a dominating force in the world it comes at a price. A persons memories which I found utterly fascinating. What is worse than death? A person does not remember their friends, family or anyone else. That would be gut wrenching. Lyon Michael’s brother is the exact opposite of him calm, kind and doesn’t care about the legacy.
He unlike his brother just wants to live a normal life. As normal as you can when you are an executor. Lyon is the sensible one unlike Michael. Michael looses it when he learns that Lyon is engaged to a high noble named Kayleigh not only that but he is also going to be a father. Lyon cares nothing for the family legacy something that Michael can not comprehend. One of my favorite scenes of the entire was when Domet took Michael to the Shattered Stones arena.
To witness the “ravens” fight between the Fletcher and the challenger Chole Mason. I can do totally see this fight in my head. It turns out that the fletcher is a “metal fabricator” you think at this point he would win because Chole was obviously the weaker opponent. Chole however used the fletcher’s magic against him there by winning the battle. I loved the way Martell set up magic and rules and we only have touched the surface of learning about the complexities of the magic and the world. I seriously cannot wait for book 2!
The Kingdom of Liars by Nick Martell has to be one of my favorite reads of 2020 it was absolutely fantastic! This epic fantasy debut centers around Michael Kingman. The guy you love to hate. He along with his brother Lyon and sister Gwen are part of the well-known now infamous Kingman family with their father famously killed for murder.
How do I describe the world? The story takes place in the kingdom of the Hollow a kingdom under strain from many wars in the midst of a rebellion. Where pieces of the moon or as it’s known Celona continue to be destroyed. This world is ruled by nobles and rebels alike dominated by a mysterious magic. When the story begins our “hero” Michael Kingman was on trial for murdering the king. He is a wreck when waiting for the verdict. Although he is more concerned with appearances and the family legacy than anything else.
Micheal is most definitely an anti-hero he is honestly a pain in the... arrogant and stubborn and can I just say a little clueless. What was Michael’s fate he was sentenced to die. He spends the rest of the novel trying to escape this fate. (The beginning scene is a flashback) Out of all of the three Kingman children he is the most proud of the name and firmly believes in his fathers innocence. His brother Lyon is the exact opposite of Michael all he wants to do is escape the family legacy.
Their sister Gwen is the glue that holds the family together. She works at the Hollows asylum looking after the vulnerable patients while also keeping a watchful eye over their mother. She hasn’t been right since their father was killed for treason. She isn’t all there her mind is “gone” Michael has many reasons to want to restore their name although the Kingman name is known they are not exactly well thought of.
Michael is assigned to by his own volunteering to look after the high noble Charles Domet. The latest asylum patient who is an eccentric drunk. I loved Domet he was my favorite character! Michael thinks this a golden opportunity he gets paid to look after the crazy guy. Michael who is obsessed with his father’s legacy is intrigued by Domet even more so when he tells him that his father is innocent. That is the whole reason Michael agreed to take Domet “on” for information.
That is a running theme throughout the book and I am guessing the series. Michael is selfish and absorbed who is all about himself. Domet agrees to teach Michael about magic to see if he is a fabricatior. His father was one and Domet wants to train Michael to see what kind he is but he is hard student to teach. All of a sudden Michael with Domet’s help is trust into the heart of The Hollow’s nobility and in the presence of such members such as the cruel prince and the king of the Hollow.
He has a lot to contend with his friend Trey is out for revenge after their friend Jamal is killed by rebels and Michael abandons them leaving him to die. I seriously cannot wait to hear more about the world in book 2. Although magic is a dominating force in the world it comes at a price. A persons memories which I found utterly fascinating. What is worse than death? A person does not remember their friends, family or anyone else. That would be gut wrenching. Lyon Michael’s brother is the exact opposite of him calm, kind and doesn’t care about the legacy.
He unlike his brother just wants to live a normal life. As normal as you can when you are an executor. Lyon is the sensible one unlike Michael. Michael looses it when he learns that Lyon is engaged to a high noble named Kayleigh not only that but he is also going to be a father. Lyon cares nothing for the family legacy something that Michael can not comprehend. One of my favorite scenes of the entire was when Domet took Michael to the Shattered Stones arena.
To witness the “ravens” fight between the Fletcher and the challenger Chole Mason. I can do totally see this fight in my head. It turns out that the fletcher is a “metal fabricator” you think at this point he would win because Chole was obviously the weaker opponent. Chole however used the fletcher’s magic against him there by winning the battle. I loved the way Martell set up magic and rules and we only have touched the surface of learning about the complexities of the magic and the world. I seriously cannot wait for book 2!