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adrienner's review
4.0
The Western King follows the children of Red Kian of Skai from The Kingmaker's Sword. One should read the reviews on Kingmaker's Sword first. The book, Kingmaker's Sword, should be read before The Western King.
This story furthers the struggle between Celi and the Maedun, and specifically between Red Kian's line and Hakkar's line. The focus is on the twins, Tiernyn and Donaugh. Tiernyn is fated to unite Celi under one banner to become The Western King. However, his sword, Kingmaker is destined to fail him when he needs it most. We see the trials that lead to the scarring of the sword. But more than showing Tiernyn's road, we follow the story of Donaugh. Donaugh has no bheancoran like his father and two brothers have, instead he has his magic. Donaugh must learn how to use his gentle Tyadda magic against the blood sorcery of the Maedun. It is his life and his trials that we follow. Donaugh finds his one true love, Eliade, who is the daughter of the enemy of Tiernyn. Torrey is another strong female character in Marston's story. She adds yet another aspect to the book. Torrey is my favorite character of this book.
Unfortunately, Marston tells this tale in third person, which is not as captivating as her first person telling. Granted, she uses many viewpoints for this story, making a first person telling more difficult. I did not find this story as captivating as her the first book in this series. I do recommend this story as the characters in this book are in the next. The third book in the series is a better book, more similar to Kingmaker's Sword.
This story furthers the struggle between Celi and the Maedun, and specifically between Red Kian's line and Hakkar's line. The focus is on the twins, Tiernyn and Donaugh. Tiernyn is fated to unite Celi under one banner to become The Western King. However, his sword, Kingmaker is destined to fail him when he needs it most. We see the trials that lead to the scarring of the sword. But more than showing Tiernyn's road, we follow the story of Donaugh. Donaugh has no bheancoran like his father and two brothers have, instead he has his magic. Donaugh must learn how to use his gentle Tyadda magic against the blood sorcery of the Maedun. It is his life and his trials that we follow. Donaugh finds his one true love, Eliade, who is the daughter of the enemy of Tiernyn. Torrey is another strong female character in Marston's story. She adds yet another aspect to the book. Torrey is my favorite character of this book.
Unfortunately, Marston tells this tale in third person, which is not as captivating as her first person telling. Granted, she uses many viewpoints for this story, making a first person telling more difficult. I did not find this story as captivating as her the first book in this series. I do recommend this story as the characters in this book are in the next. The third book in the series is a better book, more similar to Kingmaker's Sword.
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