Inwardly, the king felt the darker tug of a greater concern: if Saebellus was not defeated by spring, perhaps the country would not survive.
Synopsis -
J.J. Sherwood’s debut novel KINGS OR PAWNS: THE KINGS, BOOK 1 is the first in a high fantasy epic series sure to please fans of both the science fiction and fantasy genres.
The year is 8994 P.E., and the city of Elvorium is corrupted—rotted to the core by the machinations of depraved politicians. With his father dead and the country facing a rebellion, Price Hairem becomes the king of the elven world of Sevrigel in one of its most turbulent points in history.
Young and daring, Hairem is determined to eradicate the corruption festering in Elvorium’s self-serving and all-powerful council, which thwarts his best intentions at every turn. But Hairem’s problems are far more sinister¬—and deadly—than merely political. The loyal members of the council are being savagely murdered by an assassin loosed within the city—an assassin whose brutality knows no bounds. Outside of the city, the Lord Saebellus wages a vicious rebellion against the capital. He has been thwarted thus far by the brilliant General Jikun, and Hairem is certain that the general can crush Saebellus.
But instead of continuing the campaign against the warlord, the council orders Jikun’s army to be split, sending him on a mission that furthers only their own wealth and power. Jikun knows that the council’s demands will leave Elvorium vulnerable to an attack from the formidable warlord. Although Saebellus has been recently defeated, he is far from vanquished. As corruption and death threaten to tear the city apart from within, the rebel Saebellus seizes the opportunity to lay siege to Sevrigel’s eastern capital and unleash his most powerful weapon yet: a demonic beast that neither weapon nor magic can kill. With the elven world crumbling around him, Hairem is grasping for his own power to fight against the forces that threaten Sevrigel.
Will Hairem overcome the council’s scheming and duplicity? Can General Jikun defeat the warlord Saebellus? Will this be the war that finally brings Sevrigel to its knees? KINGS OR PAWNS offers action, intrigue, mystery, and suspense—a thrilling story that will leave readers hungry for the sequel, Heroes or Thieves, to be published in February 2016.
Review -
It's been a long time since I curled up with a fantasy novel. In the past I've read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings at least three or four times, the Twilight vampire series, the Harry Potter magician series and more. Somewhere in the last few years I have moved away from this genre, so I picked up Kings and Pawns - a new series set in an elfin world - with great excitement.
J.J. Sherwood offers what I consider classic fantasy elements. There is a unique elfin world with unusual characters and landscapes. Even though most individuals are not human, they come to life as we turn the pages. They end up being real to as we follow their thoughts and personal journeys. There is conflict, danger, subterfuge, war, dark magic, intricate lies and more to be found. Also, as with most fantasy series, this is a long novel meant to be enjoyed over many nights into the wee hours and the ending scene is actually an opening for the next book.
Kings and Pawns is a great addition to the fantasy category and one that I am sure will find hit a mark with readers of this genre. I truly did not see the climax of book one coming and it was much darker than I expected. I wonder where the author will take the storyline in book two?
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Meet The Author -
To read a great interview with author J. J. Sherwood click HERE!
J.J. Sherwood lives in Ohio with her husband and four near-identical cats. KINGS OR PAWNS is J.J.’s widely anticipated debut novel, and is the first book of The Kings quartet. The series is set in the high fantasy world of Aersadore, home to hundreds of characters who all clamor for J.J.’s attention. To learn more about the trials and tribulations of General Jikun and King Hairem, visit StepsofPower.com. J.J. Sherwood will be at the tenth Fandom Fest Comic Con in Louisville, Kentucky this coming August 7th-9th.Connect with the author: Website Twitter Facebook
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