2 out of 4 stars
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To summarize the plot of Charles W. McDonald, Jr.’s A Kingdom Forgotten in just a few sentences is an ambitious undertaking. The same can be said for the book itself. This first book in the series A Throne of Souls is a sprawling epic that spans multiple time periods and straddles three different planets, including Earth, in a tale of Creation against Destruction. For McDonald, it's the fulfillment of a dream decades in the making. For the reader, it’s a confusing muddle with occasional gems of brilliance sprinkled here and there.
First off, A Kingdom Forgotten is a demanding read. The nonlinear storytelling style requires rapt attention on the part of the reader. McDonald’s narrative backtracks, wanders down back alleys and takes side trips before bringing everything together. In particular, the first third of the book is a test of readers’ patience, as the events take their time in unfolding and bounce from one planet and time period to another before the action starts to heat up. At times, the story feels on the verge of collapsing under its own weight from carrying so many different plot lines. Still, McDonald manages to prop it up and hold it together, gradually hooking readers’ interest by bringing together pieces of his puzzle one at a time.
This leads to perhaps the biggest obstacle in making A Kingdom Forgotten a really great book. Like other would-be fantasy authors, McDonald falls into the trap of “bigger is better.” Nowhere is that more evident than in the story’s mammoth cast of characters. They spring up by the dozen at such a dizzying pace the audience’s heads spin just to keep track of who’s who. Also, with the possible exception of the rogue mage Damon, almost none of the characters are well and truly developed. Indeed, by the end of the book, it’s still up in the air as to who exactly is “good” and who is “evil.” That’s a shame, since not getting to know any characters robs readers of a chance to fully invest in the story. The omniscient point-of-view further complicates matters by leaping from one character to another after only three or four sentences. As a result, the reader doesn’t get to form the emotional connection so essential to a really good story, of any genre.
But for readers willing to wade through the bog, there are some well-done bits and pieces. Clunky plotting and characterization aside, A Kingdom Forgotten has all the basic elements that fantasy readers look for. Godlike mages, seductive sorceresses, warriors, dragons, magic weapons and quests are all on the bill of fare. Scenes of modern-day Earth mix fantasy and reality with a King Arthur-like ruler figure participating in military battles against ISIS and the Chinese, offering an interesting contrast. McDonald also displays a flair for inventing complex systems of magic combined with hard science, and includes a handy glossary of terms at the end of the book.
McDonald also has a fine ability to create detailed descriptions of fantasy settings. Imposing fortresses and castles, luxurious mansions, snowy mountain peaks, and void wastelands are all rendered in exquisite detail. He also shows creative use of heraldry and crests, adding a further regal air to his story. And while his characters’ personalities may not be as developed as they could be, he still makes their physical characteristics stand out with interesting hair and eye colors, especially his mage Damon’s “Black Mirrors of the Soul.”
With some tighter editing and stronger characterization, A Kingdom Forgotten has potential. For now, though, it’s lacking that special “something” in order to truly stand out. I’ve rated this book 2 out of 4 stars for this reason, though it could easily reach 3 out of 4 stars if its weaknesses are addressed. Maybe these wrinkles can be ironed out in the following books as well.
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A Kingdom Forgotten
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