REVIEW: "The Wayfarer King" by K. C. May

In the first book in The Kinshield Saga, “The Kinshield Legacy,” warrant knight Gavin Kinshield claimed the right to be King by secretly separating sacred gems from a tablet hidden in a cave. In this second book, he hasn’t yet made his official claim for the throne; he has a few things he wants to take care of first. As Gavin puts his affairs in order, he comes to a horrifying realization: ever since he began collecting the gems, the Beyonders have been crossing into the human realm and destroying all who are unlucky enough to get in their way. In order to stop them, Gavin has to find a way to close the rift between the realm of chaos and his own realm. He needs to learn to summon and battle the most powerful one of all, Ritol, to keep all Beyonders in their own dimension. Unfortunately, as if that weren’t enough, Gavin also has to contend with Brodas Ravenkind, and Brodas has a debt to settle. Can Gavin save his new kingdom, especially all those he holds dear to his heart, and rise to his rightful place as King in time to keep his loved ones alive?

“The Kinshield Legacy,” the first book in this saga, was one of my first reviews on this blog and one of my subsequent Top Four Reads of 2010. At the time I reviewed the first book, I didn’t think I really liked the fantasy genre, but was willingly to give it a shot. That book really changed my perception of the realm of fantasy. It surprised me in a good way, and this second book does the same.

When starting this book, I got off to a bit of a slow start. It had been long enough that I’d forgotten some of the storyline in the first book, and there weren’t a lot of reminders placed in the narrative to catch me up to speed. For this reason, I’d recommend reading through the first book again before tackling this one. But catch up I did, and it wasn’t long before I was enthralled in Gavin’s new adventure. Gavin is a bit of a rough character. He has a kind heart, but very little class, and this somehow makes him all the more lovable. His champion, Daia, remains strong and capable, even when Gavin himself can’t quite keep up. Several new characters join the cast, but I loved that it was filled with the characters we got to know -and love- in the first book. It was like slipping back into a cozy world. The characterization is such that you get a good feel for motivations and relationships, but the story is really more about the adventure Gavin experiences in his quest to come to terms with his own life enough to take on his new role as King. As such, Gavin shows some growth as he begins to become more comfortable in his new role, and starts to allow himself some happiness. I was sad (and shocked) to see some characters go, but those events served to propel the storyline forward.

Although the characterization and the plot are both sound, the story truly shines in the world that is created. I loved the concept of the other realms, and I wish Gavin had dome some more travel through them. I found his encounter with the Elyle fascinating. The idea of complements to balance out personality was thought-provoking and gave me a moment of self- reflection. Additionally, I have always been fascinated by storylines that involve time travel, and Gavin travels back in time to gain important information. He even manages to find some peace at the same time. The wayfaring that he did do made me hungry for more, and I wish I could have experienced more of that in this story. The ending left me feeling satisfied, even if it felt a little too neat.

As with the first book, the writing style is very fitting to the genre. It flows smoothly, pulling the reader along in a way that allows complete engagement without the distraction that results from awkward prose. I did do a double take when Gavin used the word “crap” several times, as it felt incongruous to the feel of the rest of the dialogue. That may be my own issue, but it just felt “wrong.”  In general, this fantasy has everything I like – magical abilities, adventure, purpose, unusual beings. It was not a complex read, layered with hidden meaning. Rather, it is a straightforward and engaging fantasy, and I was completely immersed in the adventure.

This book is sure to please fans of the first installment. I’ve said before that the enjoyment factor is worth a lot when it comes to the awarding of stars, and this story was immensely enjoyable. It shines, in part, because of its style that manages to be well-developed while maintaining a certain simplicity, which allows the reader to become fully engaged. The development of the fascinating world Gavin inhabits really pushed my enjoyment up a notch.

5 /5 stars

Now for the GIVEAWAY information! As my readers know, I adore simple giveaways. In order to win your very own digital copy of this book, you just need to leave a comment on this post (link on the top right) with your email and your digital format of choice. TWO lucky winners will be randomly chosen to WIN this ebook! As always, please help get the word out by sending a tweet, posting this on facebook or your own blog, or otherwise sharing the information! It’s not required for entry, and it won’t give you extra points (remember, I like simple), but it would help support a fantastic author! Giveaway ends August 23rd.

If you just can’t wait to get your own copy, the book is currently:

Available at Smashwords and Amazon

(I’ve also reviewed K. C. May’s science fiction thriller, “The Venom of Vipers.”)