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esop's review
5.0
When I (try to) read a short story collection, I always find it really hard to get invested in any characters or anything that's going on. It's much easier for me to immerse myself in a story and care about characters when the story is longer, so short story collections generally aren't my cup of tea.
But just like with his debut novel Kingshold, Woolliscroft crafted a book in a genre (previously political fantasy, this time a short story collection) that I went into unsure of due to my usual distaste in the genre and yet I walked away loving his version of it.
I believe that has a lot to do with the fact that a majority of the people and places in this collection have been introduced in Kingshold, so I was already invested in everyone and I had already gotten interested in the great world Woolliscroft has created (which I can't wait to see a different part of in the next book in the series).
Another thing that enhanced my enjoyment of this collection was how essential it felt. Woolliscroft calls this book #1.5 in his Wildfire Cycle, and it really is a continuation of book 1 that adds a lot to the story of Kingshold, not only in our understanding of the characters and their pasts, but also what the future holds for these characters and the larger narrative, which I won't get into due to spoilers, but I really appreciated how Woolliscroft crafted a collection of stories that felt vital to the larger narrative rather than just a random assortment of random stories. While that surely would have been fun to read, given how much I like this world, I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much, and I might've found myself thinking "Okay, great, but what's the point?"
Beyond furthering the story, this collection also did a great job of fleshing out elements of the first book that we only got a taste of before. We get to see more of the lifestyle of the dwarves living in Unedar Halt, we see the inner workings of the Hollow Syndicate (Kingshold's official assassin guild), and we get several excerpts of the infamous wizard Jyuth's notes on how magic operates in this world.
All in all, if you were a fan of Kingshold, I'd say this is an essential read to hype yourself up for the events of book 2. I'm ready to return to this world already.
But just like with his debut novel Kingshold, Woolliscroft crafted a book in a genre (previously political fantasy, this time a short story collection) that I went into unsure of due to my usual distaste in the genre and yet I walked away loving his version of it.
I believe that has a lot to do with the fact that a majority of the people and places in this collection have been introduced in Kingshold, so I was already invested in everyone and I had already gotten interested in the great world Woolliscroft has created (which I can't wait to see a different part of in the next book in the series).
Another thing that enhanced my enjoyment of this collection was how essential it felt. Woolliscroft calls this book #1.5 in his Wildfire Cycle, and it really is a continuation of book 1 that adds a lot to the story of Kingshold, not only in our understanding of the characters and their pasts, but also what the future holds for these characters and the larger narrative, which I won't get into due to spoilers, but I really appreciated how Woolliscroft crafted a collection of stories that felt vital to the larger narrative rather than just a random assortment of random stories. While that surely would have been fun to read, given how much I like this world, I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much, and I might've found myself thinking "Okay, great, but what's the point?"
Beyond furthering the story, this collection also did a great job of fleshing out elements of the first book that we only got a taste of before. We get to see more of the lifestyle of the dwarves living in Unedar Halt, we see the inner workings of the Hollow Syndicate (Kingshold's official assassin guild), and we get several excerpts of the infamous wizard Jyuth's notes on how magic operates in this world.
All in all, if you were a fan of Kingshold, I'd say this is an essential read to hype yourself up for the events of book 2. I'm ready to return to this world already.
queenterribletimy's review
4.0
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
You can find the full review on my blog
Tales of Kingshold is a collection of novelettes, short stories, letters and notes about events that happened before, after and during the election in Kingshold. We meet old and new characters, some of them likely to appear in later books. In my review I will focus on the novelettes and short stories, but let me note that I found Jyuth's thoughts on magic pretty interesting and it was a good addition, explaining how the magic in this world works.
Twin Lies
This short story tells the tale of how Florian ended up in the army, and in an elite team at that. A bittersweet thing about family, love and fate's fickleness. We didn't learn much about Florian in Kingshold, so it was nice to spend some time with him not surrounded by his friends, Motega and Trypp. It also added some depth to his personality and that's always a bonus.
All That Shimmers
I think this one was my favorite in this collection. Through Kyle's eyes, we get a glimpse into the life of Unedar Halt. The dwarf city under Kingshold. Kyle is working as a chiseler - someone who is responsible for carving new tunnels and chambers, decorating them - with the help of giant purple worm. One day they find a new cavern with a monster dwelling in it. A creature no one knows much about and there are only a few mentions of it in the archive. Kyle decides to get down to the end of the matter and finds a surprising alley to pull it off. Kyle is not exactly a hero type, but he is stubborn, determined and once he gets something in his head, he sees it through.
Of Buccaneers and Bards
I was actually surprised to find a pirate story in this lot. But that just proves how colorful this world is. Vin Kolsen is a pirate finding himself in trouble, waiting for his trial when first he gets a cellmate then another pirate ship arrives to the village to take everything they can get. Prisoners included whom they use as slaves on the ship. While Kolsen keeps his cool and knows his way around pirates and situations like these, Mareth is not one for physical work. Or piracy for that matter. But for him to get out of this mess and Kolsen to realise his dreams of becoming a pirate captain, they have to work together. There are some cool twists in the story and we can see Mareth in work too, using his extraordinary skills as a bard.
Narrowing It Down
It was an interesting little story about Petra and Alana trying to figure out why the two leaders of the Narrow were so angry with each other. To have a chance at the elections, the girls have to find a way to make peace between the two in order for them to work together. They set out to learn the two sides of the same story, visiting close family members, friends and finally those who actually know what happened.
The Working Dead
Okay, so, if I didn't expect pirates, then I definitely didn't see the zombies coming. Personally I'm not into zombies, I totally could do without them, but I didn't mind them this time around. The three friends, Motega, Florian and Trypp are hired to find out what's going on in Stableford, where the dead don't seem to rest in peace. The necromancer who once tried to occupy the town came back? Or someone else is behind these strange events? And will they be able to deal with him?
Hollow Inside
If I had to choose a top 3, Hollow Inside would be totally one of them. Through Fin's eyes we can look behind the scenes of how the feared Hollow Syndicate works. Specifically, how they choose their members. This story is a kind of Harry Potter meets The Hunger Games, where students train every day so when the right time comes they could fight their way into the higher circles of the Syndicate. Fin, being the only under trained for the challenge has something the others didn't: knowledge and the ability to read people. Will this be enough?
Circles
After the election, Neenahwi finally agrees to undergo the Quana to receive her purpose in life and to keep the traditions of her tribe alive. First she has to make her body and mind ready to receive the visions awaiting for her. She not only learns uncomfortable truths about her life but she also gets some answers as to what happened to the elves. How did they become an extinct race and why only Llewdon survived. The current emperor of Pyrfew, and former tormentor of Motega and Neenahwi. The things she sees, I'm sure they'll play some part in the coming events.
Tales of Kingshold is a fun read for those who read Kingshold and want to learn more about the characters and the world. And need something to kill the time with while waiting for book #2 in the series. Woolliscroft managed to put together a wide selection of genres, topics, characters ensuring everyone will find something endearing to them. Be it heartwarming tale, pirates, zombies, magical creatures, diverse cultures, plenty of fights, Tales of Kingshold has them all.
You can find the full review on my blog
Tales of Kingshold is a collection of novelettes, short stories, letters and notes about events that happened before, after and during the election in Kingshold. We meet old and new characters, some of them likely to appear in later books. In my review I will focus on the novelettes and short stories, but let me note that I found Jyuth's thoughts on magic pretty interesting and it was a good addition, explaining how the magic in this world works.
Twin Lies
This short story tells the tale of how Florian ended up in the army, and in an elite team at that. A bittersweet thing about family, love and fate's fickleness. We didn't learn much about Florian in Kingshold, so it was nice to spend some time with him not surrounded by his friends, Motega and Trypp. It also added some depth to his personality and that's always a bonus.
All That Shimmers
I think this one was my favorite in this collection. Through Kyle's eyes, we get a glimpse into the life of Unedar Halt. The dwarf city under Kingshold. Kyle is working as a chiseler - someone who is responsible for carving new tunnels and chambers, decorating them - with the help of giant purple worm. One day they find a new cavern with a monster dwelling in it. A creature no one knows much about and there are only a few mentions of it in the archive. Kyle decides to get down to the end of the matter and finds a surprising alley to pull it off. Kyle is not exactly a hero type, but he is stubborn, determined and once he gets something in his head, he sees it through.
Of Buccaneers and Bards
I was actually surprised to find a pirate story in this lot. But that just proves how colorful this world is. Vin Kolsen is a pirate finding himself in trouble, waiting for his trial when first he gets a cellmate then another pirate ship arrives to the village to take everything they can get. Prisoners included whom they use as slaves on the ship. While Kolsen keeps his cool and knows his way around pirates and situations like these, Mareth is not one for physical work. Or piracy for that matter. But for him to get out of this mess and Kolsen to realise his dreams of becoming a pirate captain, they have to work together. There are some cool twists in the story and we can see Mareth in work too, using his extraordinary skills as a bard.
Narrowing It Down
It was an interesting little story about Petra and Alana trying to figure out why the two leaders of the Narrow were so angry with each other. To have a chance at the elections, the girls have to find a way to make peace between the two in order for them to work together. They set out to learn the two sides of the same story, visiting close family members, friends and finally those who actually know what happened.
The Working Dead
Okay, so, if I didn't expect pirates, then I definitely didn't see the zombies coming. Personally I'm not into zombies, I totally could do without them, but I didn't mind them this time around. The three friends, Motega, Florian and Trypp are hired to find out what's going on in Stableford, where the dead don't seem to rest in peace. The necromancer who once tried to occupy the town came back? Or someone else is behind these strange events? And will they be able to deal with him?
Hollow Inside
If I had to choose a top 3, Hollow Inside would be totally one of them. Through Fin's eyes we can look behind the scenes of how the feared Hollow Syndicate works. Specifically, how they choose their members. This story is a kind of Harry Potter meets The Hunger Games, where students train every day so when the right time comes they could fight their way into the higher circles of the Syndicate. Fin, being the only under trained for the challenge has something the others didn't: knowledge and the ability to read people. Will this be enough?
Circles
After the election, Neenahwi finally agrees to undergo the Quana to receive her purpose in life and to keep the traditions of her tribe alive. First she has to make her body and mind ready to receive the visions awaiting for her. She not only learns uncomfortable truths about her life but she also gets some answers as to what happened to the elves. How did they become an extinct race and why only Llewdon survived. The current emperor of Pyrfew, and former tormentor of Motega and Neenahwi. The things she sees, I'm sure they'll play some part in the coming events.
Tales of Kingshold is a fun read for those who read Kingshold and want to learn more about the characters and the world. And need something to kill the time with while waiting for book #2 in the series. Woolliscroft managed to put together a wide selection of genres, topics, characters ensuring everyone will find something endearing to them. Be it heartwarming tale, pirates, zombies, magical creatures, diverse cultures, plenty of fights, Tales of Kingshold has them all.
wheels630's review
4.0
4.5 out of 5
Tales of Kingshold is a delightful collection of short stories involving characters from Kinghold detailing events before, during, and after the events of Kingshold. I was surprised at just how well most of these stories drew me in as many of them are delightful tales that hold up quite well on their own. Highlights included and inside look at a training academy for assassin's, a swashbuckling pirate tale, and a visit to the world of the dwarves in Uneder Halt. Intermixed with these stories we get more information concerning the magic system in the form of short writings from Jyuth.
The only criticism I would give is that the last two portions of the book, Letters from Lord Eden and Circles, just didn't quite fit well with the rest of these stories to me. These sections really seem to be less a self contained story like much of the rest of the book, and serve more to set the stage for future events in th series. I can see why the author might have included them here, but to me I think they may have worked better contained in an Epilogue to Kingshold or a Prologue for the next book.
Bottom line, of you read Kingshold and plan on continuing with book two, you won't want to miss this wonderful collection of stories that strengthen the characters we've already met and add a layer of depth to this interesting world.
Tales of Kingshold is a delightful collection of short stories involving characters from Kinghold detailing events before, during, and after the events of Kingshold. I was surprised at just how well most of these stories drew me in as many of them are delightful tales that hold up quite well on their own. Highlights included and inside look at a training academy for assassin's, a swashbuckling pirate tale, and a visit to the world of the dwarves in Uneder Halt. Intermixed with these stories we get more information concerning the magic system in the form of short writings from Jyuth.
The only criticism I would give is that the last two portions of the book, Letters from Lord Eden and Circles, just didn't quite fit well with the rest of these stories to me. These sections really seem to be less a self contained story like much of the rest of the book, and serve more to set the stage for future events in th series. I can see why the author might have included them here, but to me I think they may have worked better contained in an Epilogue to Kingshold or a Prologue for the next book.
Bottom line, of you read Kingshold and plan on continuing with book two, you won't want to miss this wonderful collection of stories that strengthen the characters we've already met and add a layer of depth to this interesting world.
bighomer's review
4.0
I really liked it. My only issue was that I had a hard time placing the many characters that exist in this series, as it's been a while since I read Kingshold. But now I'm more than prepared to read Ioth
Also, at times the writing seems to be rambling as the sentences are connected by semi-colons and dashes more often than not.
Also, at times the writing seems to be rambling as the sentences are connected by semi-colons and dashes more often than not.
its_justine's review
4.0
“Stay flexible like the reed, bending in the wind of life; continually question your destination.”
Tales of Kingshold is a beautifully crafted series of novelettes and short stories that are both a blast to read and also the perfect way to add rich depth to The Wildfire Cycle series we've all come to know and love. Short journal entries and letters brilliantly and concisely explain some of the finer points of the world that were touched upon in book one, such as the inner workings of magic, or the current status of the relationships between people and countries. Longer novelettes and short stories further develop characters, describe the behind-the-scenes aspects of the plot we’re familiar with from Kingshold, and introduce new players into the game, whom I believe will have a great impact on the future of Edland and beyond.
I usually go into anthologies and collections with an open mind, because there's bound to be parts that I love, and others not so much, but I didn't run into that issue at all with Woolliscroft's intermediate installment in his debut series. I will admit, that while I enjoyed all the stories, some stood out to me more than others, but each of the tales feels vital, as if, no matter how small, there is a significant piece of the puzzle buried within. The unexpected histories are entertaining, the adventures are exciting, and the revelations and stellar foreshadowing are executed flawlessly.
Woolliscroft continues to deliver well-written stories with a perfect blend of humor and sincere gravity - the slapstick comedy in The Working Dead in contrast with the darker elements of Circles makes for an enjoyable read of a highly aggregate collection. I don't want to get into each tale for fear of spoiling, but I’ve read a few of the reviews posted by other readers and it's exciting to see that everyone has their own opinions on their favorite story, proving there's a little something for anyone who decides to dive in.
Tales of Kingshold is a wonderful distraction if you're like me and anxiously awaiting book two of the series. There's certainly no shortage of the fantastical to intrigue and keep the pages turning, and the character-centric stories allow for better understanding of those we've been previously introduced to. The final story wrapped up so magnificently with such a feeling of urgency, I can't wait to get my hands on Ioth, City of Light for more! If you haven't yet given Kingshold a try, I highly recommend you do, then promptly crack this one open.
Tales of Kingshold is a beautifully crafted series of novelettes and short stories that are both a blast to read and also the perfect way to add rich depth to The Wildfire Cycle series we've all come to know and love. Short journal entries and letters brilliantly and concisely explain some of the finer points of the world that were touched upon in book one, such as the inner workings of magic, or the current status of the relationships between people and countries. Longer novelettes and short stories further develop characters, describe the behind-the-scenes aspects of the plot we’re familiar with from Kingshold, and introduce new players into the game, whom I believe will have a great impact on the future of Edland and beyond.
I usually go into anthologies and collections with an open mind, because there's bound to be parts that I love, and others not so much, but I didn't run into that issue at all with Woolliscroft's intermediate installment in his debut series. I will admit, that while I enjoyed all the stories, some stood out to me more than others, but each of the tales feels vital, as if, no matter how small, there is a significant piece of the puzzle buried within. The unexpected histories are entertaining, the adventures are exciting, and the revelations and stellar foreshadowing are executed flawlessly.
Woolliscroft continues to deliver well-written stories with a perfect blend of humor and sincere gravity - the slapstick comedy in The Working Dead in contrast with the darker elements of Circles makes for an enjoyable read of a highly aggregate collection. I don't want to get into each tale for fear of spoiling, but I’ve read a few of the reviews posted by other readers and it's exciting to see that everyone has their own opinions on their favorite story, proving there's a little something for anyone who decides to dive in.
Tales of Kingshold is a wonderful distraction if you're like me and anxiously awaiting book two of the series. There's certainly no shortage of the fantastical to intrigue and keep the pages turning, and the character-centric stories allow for better understanding of those we've been previously introduced to. The final story wrapped up so magnificently with such a feeling of urgency, I can't wait to get my hands on Ioth, City of Light for more! If you haven't yet given Kingshold a try, I highly recommend you do, then promptly crack this one open.
cpark2005's review
4.0
Many thanks to the author for providing a copy of this work for review.
Tales of Kingshold is a fun collection of novelettes and short stories set in the world of D.P. Woolliscroft’s Kingshold. Short story collections are always a little challenging to review, since one’s enjoyment can vary greatly from one story to the next. While I’ll mention specific stories in the review below, the rating reflects the entire collection. These stories give us glimpses of characters before, during, and after the events of Kingshold, so if you enjoyed that novel and want some tidbits before the second book comes out, Tales of Kingshold will satisfy that itch.
The same humor and tongue-in-cheek take on things that Woolliscroft used in Kingshold is on display in Tales of Kingshold. One of my favorite stories in the collection involves a trio of characters hunting down a necromancer who had previously used Zombies to take over a town and dubbed the subsequent fledgling kingdom Zomtopia. It’s definitely a tongue-in-cheek take on necromancers—basically what I’d imagine if my college roommate became a necromancer—but it was very entertaining. There were several laugh out loud moments for me in that one. There is also variety, however. One of my other favorites from the collection was Hollow Inside which let us see the internal workings of the Hollow Syndicate, basically a guild of assassins. This introduced us to a new character I hope we’ll see more of in the future and had a much more serious tone. This one was more of a character story with a more standard fantasy tone, but I really enjoyed both the look at gave us at the Hollow Syndicate as well as the character it introduced. There was a good variety in both tone and setting to the stories, which helped to keep things fresh.
Some of the stories included in the collection did feel a little like filler. There are a series of brief interludes in the form of a letter Jyuth has written detailing how magic works. I normally really enjoy magic systems, but I didn’t find the descriptions here overly gripping. There was also a series of letters from Lord Eden, which serves to finish out his own storyline post Kingshold and no doubt set things up for book two. While it was interesting, it didn’t capture my attention much. In fact, that may be the issue for me in several of the stories, particularly the shortest ones. They just didn’t do enough to draw me in. This isn’t uncommon in short story collections I’ve read. Some of them grab you, others you forget.
Tales of Kingshold is sure to please those who enjoyed Woolliscroft’s debut. If you haven’t yet read Kingshold pick that up first and then enjoy these short stories that further the characters and set things up for book two.
3.75/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
Tales of Kingshold is a fun collection of novelettes and short stories set in the world of D.P. Woolliscroft’s Kingshold. Short story collections are always a little challenging to review, since one’s enjoyment can vary greatly from one story to the next. While I’ll mention specific stories in the review below, the rating reflects the entire collection. These stories give us glimpses of characters before, during, and after the events of Kingshold, so if you enjoyed that novel and want some tidbits before the second book comes out, Tales of Kingshold will satisfy that itch.
The same humor and tongue-in-cheek take on things that Woolliscroft used in Kingshold is on display in Tales of Kingshold. One of my favorite stories in the collection involves a trio of characters hunting down a necromancer who had previously used Zombies to take over a town and dubbed the subsequent fledgling kingdom Zomtopia. It’s definitely a tongue-in-cheek take on necromancers—basically what I’d imagine if my college roommate became a necromancer—but it was very entertaining. There were several laugh out loud moments for me in that one. There is also variety, however. One of my other favorites from the collection was Hollow Inside which let us see the internal workings of the Hollow Syndicate, basically a guild of assassins. This introduced us to a new character I hope we’ll see more of in the future and had a much more serious tone. This one was more of a character story with a more standard fantasy tone, but I really enjoyed both the look at gave us at the Hollow Syndicate as well as the character it introduced. There was a good variety in both tone and setting to the stories, which helped to keep things fresh.
Some of the stories included in the collection did feel a little like filler. There are a series of brief interludes in the form of a letter Jyuth has written detailing how magic works. I normally really enjoy magic systems, but I didn’t find the descriptions here overly gripping. There was also a series of letters from Lord Eden, which serves to finish out his own storyline post Kingshold and no doubt set things up for book two. While it was interesting, it didn’t capture my attention much. In fact, that may be the issue for me in several of the stories, particularly the shortest ones. They just didn’t do enough to draw me in. This isn’t uncommon in short story collections I’ve read. Some of them grab you, others you forget.
Tales of Kingshold is sure to please those who enjoyed Woolliscroft’s debut. If you haven’t yet read Kingshold pick that up first and then enjoy these short stories that further the characters and set things up for book two.
3.75/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
kartiknarayanan's review
4.0
Read the full review at my site - Digital Amrit
Introduction
Tales of Kingshold is a pleasant surprise in a couple of ways. The first is in its importance to the series and the second in how it makes the world of the Wildfire Cycle richer.
Tales of Kingshold happens to weigh in at approximately 320 pages (not the 50-60 I was expecting) and consists of multiple short stories as well as generally lore related chapters.
Importance
The series numbering in Goodreads is misleading (it is currently 1.5) since fractions are generally used to indicate novellas, short stories or stories adjunct to the main story-line. Tales of Kingshold is anything but.
Read the full review at my site - Digital Amrit
Introduction
Tales of Kingshold is a pleasant surprise in a couple of ways. The first is in its importance to the series and the second in how it makes the world of the Wildfire Cycle richer.
Tales of Kingshold happens to weigh in at approximately 320 pages (not the 50-60 I was expecting) and consists of multiple short stories as well as generally lore related chapters.
Importance
The series numbering in Goodreads is misleading (it is currently 1.5) since fractions are generally used to indicate novellas, short stories or stories adjunct to the main story-line. Tales of Kingshold is anything but.
Read the full review at my site - Digital Amrit
tawallah's review
4.0
This is a short story collection which follows the events of Kingshold. As part of the r/fantasy group, I was asked to review this book.
Short story collection can be more often hit and miss due to poorly crafted tales or seem like a marketing strategy to keep the reader invested until the next book is released. I’m happy to state upfront this is neither. The author has successfully thought about the role of this book in his series. The aim as stated is to provide background on certain characters from Kingshold and introduce new characters. And he delivered. These are more interconnected tales that explain the magic system as well as show the variety of the world to be explored. Seeing the painstaking attention to detail without losing the gem of storytelling made it easy to digest. On the downside, I need book 2 sooner. Questions need to be answered.
Thanks to r/fantasy group and D.P. Woolliscroft to introducing me to this world.
Short story collection can be more often hit and miss due to poorly crafted tales or seem like a marketing strategy to keep the reader invested until the next book is released. I’m happy to state upfront this is neither. The author has successfully thought about the role of this book in his series. The aim as stated is to provide background on certain characters from Kingshold and introduce new characters. And he delivered. These are more interconnected tales that explain the magic system as well as show the variety of the world to be explored. Seeing the painstaking attention to detail without losing the gem of storytelling made it easy to digest. On the downside, I need book 2 sooner. Questions need to be answered.
Thanks to r/fantasy group and D.P. Woolliscroft to introducing me to this world.
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