Reviews - A Kingdom of Lies

101 reviews for:

A Kingdom of Lies

Ben Alderson

3.9 AVERAGE

hberg's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

just_crow's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

toastiimuffin's review against another edition

2.0

Why did I think the second book would be any better than the first?
I did have hopes after the first few chapters turned out better than expected, but after Robin's father's death the whole thing is just a complete mess.
Robin hasn't gained literally any character growth in this entire series and runs off to throw a giant tantrum that puts everyone's lives at risk. Not only that, but he completely gives up on Erix to bang a FAE HUNTER that he's known for 2 whole weeks MAYBE, all because this hunter is "different". (Idk how you justify "I just won't kill fae CHILDREN as "different" but I guess a weak plot point is better than no plot point

halfdryad's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 13%

I've read what I think is the majority of Ben Alderson books that are currently available for purchase, and I've enjoyed them all! I was very excited to read this one once I bought it, and I was turned off of it rather early due to the way there's descriptions of an antagonist being a fat man. The descriptions of him were deeply uncomfortable as a fat person, and at one point just unnecessary with just how much it was happening in a short span of time. It's a common trope in a lot of media and over the years in some corners of media, people have gotten better at not doing that because it's not a good look in anything. Seeing fatphobia from a writer I enjoy, from a community that I am apart of (lgbtq+) who is also a fat person, it made me sick to my stomach and I had to DNF the book there. And that's not something I do often.

Content Warnings

maybeitsmaryssa's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

ceruleanpages's review against another edition

4.0

A really amazing second part to this series, I was surprised by the many plot twists, I loved the action and the uncommon allies Robin found along the way and I can't wait for the next book!!!!
What I found to be a little disappointing was the sudden change in love interest, I felt like Robin hasn't really closed off his chapter with Erix, and personally I don't get why he let go of him that fast when Erix actions were actually plausible to me. Something still seems off about Duncan and while I understand the things Robin went through, the loss he suffered, and how all of that must have affected his longing for company, there's still something missing for me to make this new romance interesting to me. I also felt like the latter half of the plot was dragging on a little bit, that it was almost repetitive, Robin coming to a new town, getting captured, someone attacking, he flees and so on. And while there now was a tiny tiny tiny bit of backstory to some of the characters I'm still longing for more to really understand why the people do the things they do, how their upbringing, their past has shaped their decisions they are making now.
Still, a wonderful series that is right up my alley. I'm excited for what's next!!!!! <3