REVIEW: The Uncrowned King by Rowena Cory Daniells

The Uncrowned King by Rowena Cory Daniells
Publishing Information: Paperback; 448 pages
Publisher: Solaris (5 Aug 2010 - UK, 27 Jul 2010 - US & CA)
ISBN 10: 1907519041
ISBN 13: 978-1907519048
Series: 2nd book of King Rolen's Kin
Copies: Provided by the publisher (Yagiz); Out of pocket (Tyson)
Reviewers: Yagiz and Tyson

Thirteen year old Piro watches powerless as her father’s enemies march on his castle. A traitor whispers poison in the King’s ear, undermining his trust in her brother, Byren.

Determined to prove his loyalty, Byren races across the path of the advancing army, towards the Abbey. Somehow, he must get there in time to convince the Abbot to send his warriors to defend the castle.

Meanwhile, the youngest of King Rolen’s sons, Fyn, has barely begun his training as an Abbey mystic, but he wakes in a cold sweat, haunted by dreams of betrayal...

Yagiz

Solaris did a great job in publishing King Rolen's Kin books back to back with only 4 weeks of waiting time in between installments (The King's Bastard: 8 July 2010, The Uncrowned King: 5 Aug 2010, The Usurper: 2 Sep 2010 in the UK). Therefore, if the reader likes The King's Bastard, as I think most of you would, you don't have to wait long before the next book becomes available in your favorite bookshop. There's also no need to worry about the ever-slipping publishing dates.

The story and the events of The Uncrowned King continues from the same point corresponding to the end of The King's Bastard. It is obvious that the installments are not meant to be read as standalones, which is also confirmed by the very close release dates. It feels like a one big continuous story that is broken into three pieces.

The Uncrowned King is considerably shorter than the first volume. Without the introductory type of chapters, it comes across like a faster and more action-packed book. However the plot has less twists and turns that surprise the reader. During our chats with Tyson, we both agreed that the most intriguing character of the book was Lord Dunstany. Without giving any spoilers, let's say that his motives are not clear so we are in for some surprises in the last installment of the series.

Usually it is easy to get disappointed with the second book of a trilogy as the excitement of the beginning and the curiosity of the conclusion are not there. But Daniells delivers a strong second book that is as enjoyable as the first one. If you liked The King's Bastard, this book won't disappoint you. And at the end, I am sure you will want to order your copy of The Usurper.

Plot: 8
Characters: 7
Style: 8

Overall: 8/10

Tyson

The second book in the King Rolen's Kin series is a quick and fast read. I really enjoyed book one and The Uncrowned King picks up right were the first book leaves off and it hits the ground at a sprint.

With the first book out of the way and the plot set up, The Uncrowned King has a chance to settle down and tell a story. We have a few new developments for some of our main characters that I do not really want to spoil but it does have a nod to A Song of Ice and Fire to a certain degree. We also gain more insight into the enemy. There is political intrigue at every turn.

My favorite character in this novel was Lord Dunstany. His motivation is unclear and just where he fits in the "Game of Thrones" is unknown. He seems to be much more than our average magic welder and he seems to have a better understanding of what is going on more then anyone else in the novel. Every time he was in a scene in the book he surprised me with his ability to command and delve into the truth of the matter and glean information that no one else in the room could. He will be the one I watch when the series comes to a close in the next installment.

I was expecting the book to be similar to most second installments in a trilogy with everything looking bleak and as dark as possible but by the end of The Uncrowned King there is light at the end of the tunnel for many of the players. That does not mean all is well, but there is hope for some. A lot has yet to be resolved and I look forward to seeing how that comes about. Daniells has managed to create a light version of A Song of Ice and Fire. Lots of political intrigue, constant backstabbing, large packs of wolves, a kingdom and realm in turmoil, and limited magic in a snow covered world. Best of all, the trilogy is complete so you don't have to wait the better part of a decade for things to come to a close. The Uncrowned King and the opening book in the series, The King's Bastard have their flaws. But it is a series that does what it is suppose to do - entertain you. It is a light read that looks to be coming to a spectacular close. Stay tune as we will bring you the review for the final book in the series soon, The Upsurper.

Plot: 7.5
Characters: 9
Style: 8

Overall: 7.5/10