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A review by bookph1le
Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
4.0
4.5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which frankly took me by surprise, because I have a very hard time finding fantasy novels that click with me. What really did it for me was that this book doesn't fall into the trap of insistent, ponderous seriousness that plagues so much sci-fi and fantasy these days. Despite that this book is packed chock-full of impactful emotion, it not only resists the temptation to tip over into grimdark and/or nihilistic territory, it laughs in temptation's face. Eames understands and proves that even heavy subject matter such as the fraught relationship between a parent and a child, or a man facing his own failures in his marriage, or a man grappling with an overwhelming sense of loss, or a man struggling with his darker nature, etc. does not have to become a hopelessly grim and depressing story. In fact, I'd argue that the lighthearted moments in this novel make the more serious ones even more of a gut punch.
Eames also does characters extremely well. Each of the members of the band has his own distinct personality--and that's not even to touch on the varied and wide-ranging cast of secondary and tertiary characters. He doesn't shy away from creating complex, nuanced characters, some of whom have some very serious flaws. I was impressed by how adroitly he showcases the grace in humanity, the way even those who have done monstrous things can rise to the occasion and make of themselves a hero in the end.
Plus, this book is just plain funny. I mean laugh-out-loud-snicker-and-snort-as-quietly-as-you-can-so-you-don't-wake-your-sleeping-partner-while-you're-reading-in-bed funny. There are several glorious running jokes, some downright silly and slapstick moments, and some just plain great one-liners, and none of these detract from the emotional impact of the book. As I said, they really serve to reinforce it. I felt like I got to know these characters so well and to care about them deeply, so I could find myself laughing at one page, sniffling a few pages later, and then laughing again. There aren't even words to express how much I would love to see more of this lightheartedness in the sci-fi and fantasy I consume. There's only so much grim, grim grimness I can take before I have to cash it in, but when a story is told in as clever, fun, and funny a way as this one is, I am all in. It took me four days to read this book not because it was too slow or too long, but because I was savoring it. It was such a pleasure for me to read that I didn't want it to end and so was doling it out in smaller chunks than I might otherwise have done.
If you haven't figured it out by now, I really loved this book. I had a few minor quibbles with it that aren't really worth mentioning here that kept me from giving it a full five stars, but it's definitely one of the most enjoyable books I've read this year. I am absolutely looking forward to reading the next installment in the series, and as strong as this book is, I suspect Eames's writing will only get stronger as he continues. Here's hoping Bloody Rose is every bit as funny and irreverent as this book was.
(P.S. In case you're wondering, Moog was everything to me. I adored Clay too, but Moog was just...Moog. I refuse to explain in any more depth because if you're read the book, you understand, and if you haven't, WHY AREN'T YOU READING IT RIGHT NOW?)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which frankly took me by surprise, because I have a very hard time finding fantasy novels that click with me. What really did it for me was that this book doesn't fall into the trap of insistent, ponderous seriousness that plagues so much sci-fi and fantasy these days. Despite that this book is packed chock-full of impactful emotion, it not only resists the temptation to tip over into grimdark and/or nihilistic territory, it laughs in temptation's face. Eames understands and proves that even heavy subject matter such as the fraught relationship between a parent and a child, or a man facing his own failures in his marriage, or a man grappling with an overwhelming sense of loss, or a man struggling with his darker nature, etc. does not have to become a hopelessly grim and depressing story. In fact, I'd argue that the lighthearted moments in this novel make the more serious ones even more of a gut punch.
Eames also does characters extremely well. Each of the members of the band has his own distinct personality--and that's not even to touch on the varied and wide-ranging cast of secondary and tertiary characters. He doesn't shy away from creating complex, nuanced characters, some of whom have some very serious flaws. I was impressed by how adroitly he showcases the grace in humanity, the way even those who have done monstrous things can rise to the occasion and make of themselves a hero in the end.
Plus, this book is just plain funny. I mean laugh-out-loud-snicker-and-snort-as-quietly-as-you-can-so-you-don't-wake-your-sleeping-partner-while-you're-reading-in-bed funny. There are several glorious running jokes, some downright silly and slapstick moments, and some just plain great one-liners, and none of these detract from the emotional impact of the book. As I said, they really serve to reinforce it. I felt like I got to know these characters so well and to care about them deeply, so I could find myself laughing at one page, sniffling a few pages later, and then laughing again. There aren't even words to express how much I would love to see more of this lightheartedness in the sci-fi and fantasy I consume. There's only so much grim, grim grimness I can take before I have to cash it in, but when a story is told in as clever, fun, and funny a way as this one is, I am all in. It took me four days to read this book not because it was too slow or too long, but because I was savoring it. It was such a pleasure for me to read that I didn't want it to end and so was doling it out in smaller chunks than I might otherwise have done.
If you haven't figured it out by now, I really loved this book. I had a few minor quibbles with it that aren't really worth mentioning here that kept me from giving it a full five stars, but it's definitely one of the most enjoyable books I've read this year. I am absolutely looking forward to reading the next installment in the series, and as strong as this book is, I suspect Eames's writing will only get stronger as he continues. Here's hoping Bloody Rose is every bit as funny and irreverent as this book was.
(P.S. In case you're wondering, Moog was everything to me. I adored Clay too, but Moog was just...Moog. I refuse to explain in any more depth because if you're read the book, you understand, and if you haven't, WHY AREN'T YOU READING IT RIGHT NOW?)