King's Blood

WARNING: THE NOTES OF THIS REVIEW CONTAIN ONE PARTIAL

SPOILER ALERT!!!

Arman’s ways are beyond understanding.

Zeroah’s favorite verse came softly. Wilek could not recall the reference, but he pondered the words for a very long time. In the end the words did placate him some. He could not wallow in despair over the lost ships nor could he rail in anger. His father was bedridden aboard the Kaoday. Janek was dead. And Wilek would meet with the Wisean Council in a few hours to combat a potential mutiny. He must remain strong. What was left of the fleet looked to him. He must lead well, with confidence and strength. He would have to tell Miss Amala and Zeroah. Worse, he would have to tell Treven.

Book: King’s Blood by Jill Williamson, Bethany House Publishers, 2017

Genre: Fantasy

Target Audience:

Target Audience: Boys and Girls 16+

Subjects: Truth, Judgment, Love, Loss

Summary: With their homes completely destroyed in the woes, all the survivors of the five realms sail the seas in desperate hopes of finding a new land, one big enough to hold all of them. As the expedition continues, the evil that managed to make it’s way onto the ships with them continues fighting for control. Things disappear. Entire ships disappear. People disappear. Murderers appear. Yet, all is not lost as Wilek studies more and more of the ancient texts translated by Treven and gains a deeper understanding of Arman and His ways. And Arman is blessing them with a new gift of mind-speaking. But just as things start to look up, the enemy strikes again, and this tragedy will take even more to recover from than the last.

Notes: King’s Blood is actually three books combined into one volume. The three were originally released as separate e-books. Now Kingdom at Sea, Maelstrom, and Voices of blood make up the second book in the Kinsman Chronicles series.

This series would be classified as a mixture of fantasy and apocalyptic. The characters are facing the end of their world. There are strange beings and creatures that have supernatural abilities. It’s not really fantasy animals as much as it is two supernatural powers – one good and one evil. And these supernatural powers grant power to humans. The evil power indwells like a demon possession. The good increases an ability beyond what is natural.

The storyline is about the slow unveiling of a one true god who created their land and now brings judgment on it for turning its back on its Creator. It works out the story through two princes trying to survive their father’s impulsive decisions to elevate one son above another at any given time and worse still his willingness to offer as a sacrifice to the gods anyone he is currently displeased with – including a prince.

In this book the spiritual focus is much stronger. The characters know who the one true God is and have determined to follow Him. His words are what guide them. And when they receive the mind-speaking ability it is as a direct gift from Him.

Now, for the SPOILER ALERT: At the end of this book, the main character, the one driving the story all the way through the first two huge books is killed. So if you don’t like reading tragic endings, avoid this book. Or just stop reading at page 563 before all sorts of tragedy occurs.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 3/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Romans 2:5 – But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed.

Thank you to the publishers for providing me with a free review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.