Description
The worst monsters live within us.
The warring island kingdoms of Calidore and Jardia are thrown into chaos when Calidore’s once prized, but now quite possibly half-mad, seer announces that young gravedigger Rigan North will one day capture the heart of the crown prince of Jardia—and lead Jardia to victory against Calidore. Together, Rigan and the prince will rid the Twin Kingdoms of the Shro Khan: deadly, mind-controlling monsters that terrorize the people on sand and at sea.
Desperate to maintain his stranglehold on power and prevent the prophecy from being fulfilled, the king of Calidore sends a troop of soldiers led by the legendary Aureus Corcoran to kidnap Rigan. Corcoran, who is rumored to be able to communicate with the Khan, wonders how this unremarkable, frustrating girl could ever ensnare the attentions of a would-be king even as he admires her clever attempts to escape him. But when her fiery ways and unexpected kindnesses begin to claim Corcoran’s heart, prompting him to second-guess his orders, he wonders how the prophecy could ever come true—until he learns that not only is he far more than he believed himself to be, but she may be too.
Bethany Aich –
Interesting from cover to cover, I am not sure how I feel about The Heart of a King as a solo book. (Keep in mind that it is book one of a continuing series, though the two MCs do get their HEA in this book.) In part, this is because—while this book has a happily ever after—it is definitely not a standalone. It wasn’t quite a cliffhanger, but there are so many unresolved plot points and now I have to WAIT…and I’m not good at waiting to find out how a plot resolves.
Another reason I feel a mite unsure is because it was just a wee bit darker than I had expected. Pretty much any story will hold me riveted, but I do especially love those I can finish with a smile on my face and a feeling of unicorns and roses, and this one wasn’t it. On the note of humour, however, there was a good deal of it offsetting the heaviness in this book. Perhaps I didn’t laugh, but I smiled several times, and highlighted several quotes and passages I found highly amusing. The female main character, Rigan North, is quite the character indeed.
Thankfully, there will not be a long wait for the rest of the books as there can typically be in traditional publishing, and good WILL eventually conquer evil.
While I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher, all thoughts and opinions within this review are my own.
Megan Schaulis –
J.J. Fischer has yet to let me down!
I was delighted to dive into a brand new series from my favorite fantasy author. The Heart of the King kicks off the Painted Wind series with a new world, new adventure, and new romance.
This first book takes us on an adventure across the island chain of the Twin Kingdoms, Calidore and Jardia. The world is well developed with political drama and royal legacies as well as fantastical creatures and botany. Though the ending left me excited and curious about the rest of the four-book series, I wouldn’t call this a cliff hanger. The main story resolved, but the door is wide open for new and continuing drama.
If you’re already a Fischer fan, this book was less serious than The Nightingale Trilogy and The Soul Mark duology, but less whimsical than Regency & Regicide. As always, the story is ripe with deeper themes, including self-worth, courage, discernment, and trust.
I received a complimentary eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.