Book Review - KINGS OF PARADISE by Richard Nell

(Title: Kings of Paradise / Author: Richard Nell / Publisher: Self-Published / Publication Date: August 8, 2017)


I feel like I've been giving a lot of five-star ratings so far this year and I always kind of balk at that because I don't want to be seen as a reviewer who just arbitrarily gives out perfect scores for everything he reads.  At the same time I legitimately believe that the books I've read have all been five-star books and I don't want to short-change them simply due to my own self-consciousness.  KINGS OF PARADISE by Richard Nell is a book that is absolutely beloved by all of my favorite bloggers, so it is a book that I have understandably been dying to read.  It was also entered into Mark Lawrence's SPFBO4 and made some significant waves before eventually being eliminated (for what reasons I'm not entirely sure after having read it).  So when it finally came up next on my TBR, I happily jumped into this highly-touted first book in the Ash and Sand series.

KINGS OF PARADISE is equally divided between two separate lands with two separate storyline POVs.  Ruka was born with a deformity which resulted in him being seen as a demon by the local priestesses of the frigid wasteland of Ascom.  A barbarian living along the outskirts of the city, the only reason why he hasn't been killed already by the superstitious and very influential matriarchy is because his mother Beyla is a child of the gods who still carries with her an impressive reputation of her own.  So much so that the priestesses are hesitant to act against her and her tainted son.  

However, when Beyla succumbs to a mysterious illness that Ruka suspects may have been brought about by one of the priestesses, all bets are off and Ruka is now unprotected and left to fend for himself as he is hunted across the frozen tundra.  Ruka soon embarks on a journey far away from his homeland to try to evolve into the man he is supposed to become and maybe in the process uncover some small part of his past as well.  This shy unassuming boy must learn to be a hardened man and warrior if he hopes to wreak vengeance on those who have taken everything from him.  The only question is can he learn fast enough before he is captured by his pursuers.  

Kale on the other hand, could not be more different from the aforementioned Ruka.  Around the same age as Ruka, Kale is born into a royal family of privilege.  The problem is that he is a huge disappointment to his father the King of the sandy paradise island empire of Pyu.  The reason for this disappointment resides in the fact that Kale is a bit of a slacker who doesn't really fancy his role as the fourth prince in the inheritance line.  He and his father are like oil and water and they never seem to agree on anything.  This lands him a place in the lowest regiment in the Pyu Navy, an open slap in the face to his youngest son and a public shaming above all else.  

Kale has had everything in his life come easy to him until now and his current situation leaves him both defiant and also bewildered.  If he fails to prove himself in this rugged marine corps, he may eventually be cast aside and disowned by his father.  This is a real problem since Kale is in love with a young woman who he can never even hope to marry if he remains a lowly military grunt.  It's at this point that Kale needs to make a decision about what is really important to him and who he is as a maturing man of means.  Will he accept the challenge or wallow in his misery to the point where he just gives up?

What a glorious experience this book was to read.  At first it took me some time to get acclimated to the settings and both characters' individual conflicts.  But as the story unfolded I found myself reading in larger and larger chunks.  I actually read the last 250 pages in one sitting, which is unheard of for me because of the distractions that having two small children and a busy schedule bring.  That is a true testament to how great this story is though and I did not want to put it down for fear of having to wait to find out how it all wrapped up.  The first thing I will say is that the world-building is flat out second-to-none.  The two settings of Ascom and the Pyu Islands couldn't be more different in climate and economy.  Yet each was brilliantly rendered to the point that you could feel the sand between your toes and the frostbite stinging your fingers.  

Just as the settings were disparate, so were the main characters.  Each born from different backgrounds and upbringings, but each with their own trials and tribulations to attempt to overcome.  Ruka is one of my favorite characters of any fantasy book as his unwavering determination propels him forward at all times even when everything seems to be standing in his way.  His emotional allegiance to his mother is also unflinching and gives him a courage that makes him almost superhuman at times.  Kale is one of those characters in the mold of a Jaime Lannister.  You want to punch him in the mouth most of the time he is speaking, but there's also this subtle and underlying charm that makes you almost root for him against your better judgment.  That's a really difficult trick to pull off and Richard Nell should be praised for the depth that he brings to both Kale and Ruka.  

I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this book even when it got very dark, brutal, and violent.  And believe me, it does go there and Nell doesn't sugarcoat anything in this regard.  But the writing is just so absolutely beautiful that you can't help but continue to follow along on each characters' separate journeys of discovery and coming of age.  If you want to read one of the very best fantasy books of the new millennium, then pick up KINGS OF PARADISE immediately and enjoy the amazing ride you will undertake.  It will be well worth your time and effort, I promise.  Book two, Kings of Ash was just released a couple of months ago and I definitely plan on reading that one as well.  I can't wait to see where this story goes from the terrific finish of this first book.  Richard Nell has most certainly brought us a phenomenal new series to savor, we should all rejoice and embrace it.  Very highly recommended by yours truly.

(My Rating: 10/10)