The Kingdom of Liars by Nick Martell
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacts my opinions.
Before I get on with the book, I’d like to comment on the previous statement, which I’ve typed a significant number of times over the years. I write fairly lengthy and in-depth reviews. Not as long as some, and certainly not literary journal quality, but I think they’re lengthy enough for Amazon (let’s be honest, it’s all about Amazon), to not throw my review on their dumpster fire. I could write the above statement and then “loren ipsum” the rest of the way and it would probably be acceptable, but I’m not going to test it because no one who’s gone through the whole gong show of writing a book (even a not-so-good one) deserves that. So, I’m not posting it on my non-Amazon reviews anymore.
Speaking of reviews, I’m so far behind right now (I read Kingdom of Liars in May), I’m surprised Netgalley hasn’t (haven’t?) blacklisted me. This whole pandemic thing is crazy. While many complain of boredom, I don’t think I’ve ever been busier. Between working (with limited staff), school, and homeschooling my kids, I’ve barely had time to read, and I’ve been going to bed early as I’m pooped by 9pm. Maybe I’m just getting old. Still, I’m trying to be far more picky in my ARCs so I can actually read books I’ve bought and review them too. I also work in a library, so I’ve to deal with a barrage of great new books almost daily. Anyway, enough whining, on with The Kingdom of Liars.
Apart from the cool title, it was the blurb that sold me on this one. The plot wasn’t particularly original, but all the talk of murder and magic affecting memory made me want to give it a look. It was worth it. The story revolves around David Kingman, the son of a traitor (and therefore deemed a traitor), who seeks to find out the real story behind his father’s treachery, as he refuses to believe all was as it seemed. This takes him down a rabbit hole that includes said magic, dickish royalty, and all matter of reprobates David has to associate with as the treacherous son of a noble.
TL;DR: It’s pretty darn good.
Here’s my take on the best and less best of the book:
The Pacing – it borders on blistering. It’s one of those “one more chapter” kind of books. For 600 pages, I feel like I tore through it. The chapters end on cliffhangers or big reveals of plot points, and David is a very engaging narrator who strikes a great balance of knowing his strengths and weaknesses and compensating where need be. The thing I love most about first-person, is we are at the mercy of the MC for all our knowledge, and while that can be a negative in some books, this author hit it just right.
The Plot (minor spoiler) – dang, this is the literary version of Snakes and Ladders. It twists and turns, backtracks, drops in new characters, and just rattles along, hoping you can keep up. Just another good reason to read it quickly. As for the minor spoiler (don’t worry, it’s not a book-ruining one), remember earlier when I mentioned magic affecting memory? Well, this makes any character a potentially unreliable narrator, which I know some of ye hate. Like the pacing tools used by Martell, the author also uses this to great effect, and it adds to the overall atmosphere.
The Characters – the characters are a likeable bunch, even the oafish prince and MC’s mentor, who has his own motivations. There’s also David’s sister, who just wants to get on with life while he chooses to bear his family’s cross, to his detriment. Then there’s the brother who works as the King’s executioner, and is constantly at odds with David. The stepfather is a kind sort, who took the kids in after their father’s death. These are just a small number of a large cast, all of whom have a part to play.
The Worldbuilding – fantasy novels set in cities aren’t new, but there seems to be a lot lately. The one’s I’ve read have been good though, and have successfully squeezed a diverse world into their walls. The Kingdom of Liars is no different, with a diversity (and it’s accompanying issues) that modern cities possess. on display. I particularly liked the broken moon, the threat of moon rocks destroying part of the city, and the ensuing madness as people raced to the destroyed sights to get their hands on said rock. I found it to be quite original.
But (yeah, the bit I didn’t like) – you know in some books where (for example) the MC’s house is being attacked by recently turned vampires and the author suddenly drops in the fact that the MC is a former marine and world class karate expert, then sends him on a vampire-butt kicking rampage (actually happened in a book I read)? I feel like there’s much of this in the book. David goes through a high level of peril throughout the story, and often, particularly later on, he pulls a rabbit our of his hat. The overuse of MacGuffins really chaps my ass (technical term).
Verdict
A very enjoyable fast-paced read from a new author to watch out for.
Just finished: Write Like Hell volume 3: Kaiju
Currently Reading: Mythos by Stephen Frey and Recall Night by Alan Baxter
Currently Listening: Undecided
