A Wall Street Journal bestseller.Owen Kiskaddon first came to the court of the formidable King Severn as a prisoner, winning favor with the stormy monarch by masquerading as a boy truly blessed by the Fountain. Nine years hence, the once-fearful Owen has grown into a confident young man, mentored in battle and politics by Duke Horwath and deeply in love with his childhood friend, the duke’s … friend, the duke’s granddaughter. But the blissful future Owen and Elysabeth Mortimer anticipate seems doomed by the king’s machinations.
A pretender to Severn’s throne has vowed to seize the crown of Kingfountain. But Severn means to combat the threat by using Elysabeth as bait to snare the imposter—and forcing Owen, as a pawn in the dangerous charade, to choose between duty and devotion. With poisoners and spies circling ominously, and war looming on the horizon, Owen must make painful sacrifices to beat back the advancing shadows of death and disaster. Will Owen’s conflicted heart follow the king’s path or will he risk everything for love?
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Like the first in the series, this one started off a bit too slow, I thought. But once it got going, I was again hooked.
Set in a high fantasy world, this series is nevertheless a lot more engaging to me than most high fantasy because the characterization is so good. Owen, the little boy from “The Queen’s Poisoner,” is now grown up at 17, as is his best friend, Lady Elyzabeth Victoria Mortimer (Evie for short). They are in love with each other, but he is a Duke and she a Lady of King Severn’s realm. Therefore, their duty to the king trumps their own personal desires–and the king decides to use Evie to form a marriage alliance with a neighboring, and threatening, kingdom. Owen is forced to go along, incognito, and pose as one of Evie’s bodyguards. His real purpose there is to use his fountain magic to determine whether or not the pretender to Severn’s throne, Aeric, is who he claims to be: the rightful heir.
Meanwhile, the poisoner from book 1 passed away, and now there is a new poisoner of the realm, Etayne (to whom the title refers). She, too, goes along incognito on their journey, and Owen discovers that she is also fountain blessed with a gift different from his own: Etayne possesses the gift of disguise. She can make herself appear to be anyone she chooses. Owen helps to train her in her gifting, and the two of them become close friends. Etayne develops deeper feelings for Owen, but Owen is too busy being jealous of King Iago Luellen, Evie’s intended.
Aeric turns out to be who he claims, but through his fountain magic (the Fountain will sometimes tell him things to come, usually in a cryptic single sentence), Owen learns that things are still not quite what they seem. There is a prophecy that an ancestor of their realm, known as the Dreadful Dead Man, will return and reclaim the throne. This insight changes Owen’s counsel to King Severn, and the outcome of Aeric’s bid for the throne.
The story ends sad, I’d say, and it seems rather final–but it’s book 2 of a four book series, so I’m curious to read on until the true ending. I also love the fact that the series is completely clean! That is so rare.
My rating: ****1/2
Sexual content: none
Political content: none (fantasy politics only)
Language: none
Violence: minor (there’s war but it’s not gratuitous)
Sequel to ‘The Queen’s Poisoner’ in the KingFountain series, this book continues the story of Owen Kiskaddon and his life as a one of King Severn’s most trusted advisors. Many of the same central characters feature alongside some entirely new ones, who add new dimensions and qualities to the story.
Time has passed, naturally, and Owen has grown from the child hostage and stranger in the royal court into a man, rewarded with a Duchy for his loyalty, and charged with the duty of serving the king and protecting those closest to him.
It is a magnificent and epic fantasy story, enriched with magic, deeply involving the reader in both the personal lives of the central characters the fate of the kingdom of Ceredigion, a kingdom that is richly and intricately detailed to the point where it seems real. The reader gains a deeper understanding of the complexities of the problems that face the king, fully aware as he is of the reasons why many distrust and fear him, yet also strongly motivated by his sincere love and concern for his kingdom and subjects.
Although the connections between this story and the elements of English history during The Wars of the Roses, particularly the life and personality of Richard III, are clearly discernible, the story maintains an original and unique plot that sets it apart from those events and ensures its distinction as a fine work of fantasy rather than historical fiction.
This book delivers a rich and deeply involving story that captivates the reader. It is difficult to put the book down once started, and as the momentum of the story builds, the story becomes even more compelling. It really is a most excellent read.
I have just devoured the second book in the series, and it only served to whet my appetite for more. These books have been exceptional examples of fantasy literature. You find yourself drawn in so completely that you are disappointed when the author’s world ends and you find yourself back in your own.
Ohh your heart will break. Loyalty, duty, & love are not always played out as one hopes or thinks it will. Battle, strategy, friendship, conquests, love recognized and lost, and a hope for a new and better future abounds in this story. Though this story could be enjoyed on it’s own, I recommend starting with book 1 first.