Cloaked in silent winter snow the Kingdom of Rolencia sleeps as rumours spread of new Affinity Seeps, places where untamed power wells up. Meanwhile, King Rolen plans his jubilee unaware of the growing threat to those he loves.
By royal decree, all those afflicted with Affinity must serve the Abbey or face death. Sent to the Abbey because of his innate Affinity, the King’s youngest son, Fyn, trains to become a warrior monk. Unfortunately, he’s a gentle dreamer and the other acolytes bully him. The only way he can escape them is to serve the Abbey Mystic, but his Affinity is weak.
Fiercely loyal, thirteen year-old Piro is horrified to discover she is also cursed with unwanted Affinity. It broke their mother’s heart to send Fyn away, so she hides her affliction. But, when Fyn confesses his troubles, Piro risks exposure to help him.
Even though Byren Kingson is only seven minutes younger than his twin, Lence, who is the king's heir, Byren has never hungered for the Rolencian throne. When a Seer predicts that he will kill Lence, he laughs. But Lence Kingsheir sees Byren’s growing popularity and resents it. Enduring loyalty could be Byren’s greatest failing.
Book two: The Uncrowned King
Book three: The Usurper
Reviews
‘The best thing about “The King’s Bastard” is the pacing. I can’t remember the last time I read a 600+ page book so fast.’ Fantasy & SciFi Lovin’ News & Reviews
‘It’s easy to mock high fantasy as a morass of improbable names, squiggly-line maps and reactionary cod-medieval world-building, strung out over endless volumes that gradually sink under the weight of their own obsessive detail. It’s easy to forget – perhaps because it’s become a bit scarce these days – what got many of us into reading fantasy in the first place: page-turning, plot-twisting, breakneck adventure.
The first in a new trilogy – stay with us! – The King’s Bastard scratches this itch with some panache. Rowena Cory Daniells has a splendidly devious way with plotting. She exploits her characters’ secrets, ignorance and prejudices to great effect as she charts the gradual breakdown of personal and political relations at the heart of a snow-bound kingdom.’ SFX UK
“It’s a story of kings and queens, beasts and warriors, magic and religion. If you like any of the aforementioned things, then you’ll probably join me in loving this book.” Den of Geek
“Simultaneously intimate and epic, this gloriously entertaining first novel presents a richly realized world with compelling, three-dimensional characters, an intriguing use of magic–referred to here as “Affinity”–and a densely complicated political situation that inspires a mindbendingly complex web of intrigue, manipulation, and misapprehension.” Rob Will Review
“The Kings Bastard is a cracking read and the pace never lets up through the 600 plus pages all the characters are well defined and the world building is comprehensive and believable throughout.” Nick Roberts, Geek Syndicate
