Are you tired of hype? Me too.
It’s the go-to sales tool of everything and it can lead to a lot of disappointment. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve opened a so-called five-star rated title that’s been showered with accolades like ‘brilliant’, ‘epic’, ‘page-turner’, or ‘book of the year!’ and discovered it is nothing of the sort. I get to the point where I start to question the value of reviews anymore.
At first, I thought this was going to be yet another over-hyped work that didn’t live up to the praise. In some ways, that proved correct (thank goodness); in others, the reviews don’t do it justice.
Look above. Five stars.
This is not something I hand out willie-nillie to every book I read. Far from it. I often don’t bother to rate all the ones and twos I’ve tortured myself with or failed to finish. Before writing this, I even considered knocking one star off, down to four stars, because the book wasn’t what all the hype said it was. Then I thought about how I personally felt about it when I arrived at the last line of the epilogue and appreciated what Eames accomplished.
But you won’t hear hype here. I’m going to strip away all that and talk about a good book instead.
This book is funny. No, it’s not ‘laugh-out-loud hilarious’. Nor will it have you ‘bowled over in stitches.’ And thank goodness it isn’t. Oh, how I hate hyperbole. You’ll laugh. At times, you’ll love the wit and dark humor. Eames doesn’t overdo it. It’s a great story, serious more than comic, and the doses of ubiquitous humor are served in teaspoons rather than vats. In other words, he doesn’t ruin the plot.
On the subject of plot, this is not a complex tale. Statements like ‘weaving intricate brilliance’ ‘awesome, unexpected plot twists’, and ‘epic in scope’ are almost laughable once you’ve read this book. Instead, it’s a somewhat predictable one, which the author makes no apologies about, not one for political intrigue, instead moving the action-packed story forward. If I can find any complaint at all it would be that at times there was too much exposition/narration over just bloody well showing me. Although a pro-published work and pro-edited and I found about two typos, which is impressive in any book these days, I was surprised that more hadn't been done to clean that up. With that said, I barely noticed. It is enjoyable the entire ride, with great, flawed, and diverse characters, a unique premise, and worthy entertainment. Basically, in my view, it’s a fantasy version of Spinal Tap, 47 Ronin, and The Dirty Dozen all wrapped into one. Gritty, entertaining, and a decent plot. Not epic. Not 'mind-blowing'. But yeah, I know. It sounds friggin' good, doesn’t it?
Well, it is.
Picture a bunch of mercenaries in a world where they’re the hot rock bands, where the gigs, the bookers, the live stage are all in line with the '90s hair band concerts but with gladiators fighting monsters instead of Lycra-clad, guitar-wielding love gods. Now, add the greatest ‘Band’ of all time, now disbanded, old, and somewhat domesticated, who are pulled out of retirement for one more epic comeback gig: saving one of the band’s daughters from certain death behind the siege lines of the largest horde of fantastical evil beasts ever amassed.
Again, fun. Again, a great story line.
What I liked the most was the humanity within it. It pulls at the heartstrings on occasion. It’s vulgar and crude when it wants to be. Body parts are often lopped off, guts are spilled, entrails are unspooled, and there’s a fair bit of substance abuse. You know, Heavy Metal comics with an injection of Led Zeppelin. But again, Eames skillfully manages to keep it all real.
This is not epic. This is not hilarious. This is not riveting. It has a bit of each to varying degrees and thus is a book that is a gas to read.
Ignore the hype. Ease up on any of the over-the-top claims, and buy the book. If you like a fun, adventurous, and rewarding take on the fantasy genre, you won’t go wrong with Kings of the Wyld.
---Simon Lindley, author of Mannethorn's Key
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![Kings of the Wyld (The Band Book 1) by [Nicholas Eames]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51H+XoP-wTL._SY346_.jpg)
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WHEN WE SEEK TO RULE ONLY OURSELVES, WE ARE EACH OF US KINGS.Highlighted by 637 Kindle readers- “Judge them for what they wished to be,” he begged the Father of Gods, “not what the world made of them.”Highlighted by 438 Kindle readers
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Top reviews from Canada
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It’s the go-to sales tool of everything and it can lead to a lot of disappointment. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve ...
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on March 19, 2018Verified Purchase
Top reviews from other countries
Adrian
Bring with you rock music, a sense of humour, and a loaded D20 (20 sided dice, not a gun!)
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 28, 2018Verified Purchase
Amazon Customer
None more front-loaded comedy with no sustain
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 14, 2018Verified Purchase
Tommye (The Fantasy Review)
A beautifully-written, emotionally-engaging fantasy novel
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on January 31, 2023Verified Purchase
FallenGrace
Getting the band back together.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 23, 2018Verified Purchase
J. P. Fuller
Fails to hit the right note....
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 21, 2022Verified Purchase
