Review of A Kingdom Forgotten
Posted: 23 Aug 2024, 11:35
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Kingdom Forgotten" by Charles W. McDonald Jr..]
Charles W. McDonald Jr.'s A Kingdom Forgotten, the first book of the A Throne of Souls series, is a complex and ambitious novel. It is set in a multiverse where magic and technology are intermingled, thereby generating an intricate world that is captivating but challenging. From the word go, McDonald gives a hint of the dark and mysterious tone that runs throughout the narrative through a prologue. The characters all go through different experiences as they are involved in cosmic wars that endanger not just their existence but also those of other parallel universes out there.
This book deserves 4 out of 5 star rating because the complexity of its plot stands out in A Kingdom Forgotten. McDonald skillfully creates a story with numerous timeframes and places which requires readers to pay attention while it unfolds in an unconventional manner. The boldness behind this approach was rewarded with good results since it resulted into both thrilling and thought provoking reading experience. Moreover, the thematic analysis on power destiny or after effects has been executed well which makes this book more than just any other usual fantasy story.
Another strong point for this book lies in its character development element as well. Michael Anthony Day, the central figure of attention is a fully developed protagonist whose intimate quest anyone can relate to very easily; whereas Damon, as an enigmatic villain brings some interesting moral ambiguity into play through his complex motivations and actions. The editing of the book brilliant. I can’t find any typos or error in it.
I deducted one star from it because of the complexity that overwhelms, and also its non-linear narrative which might alienate readers who are more used to a straightforward way of telling the story. Notwithstanding being impressive, sometimes an intricate storyline and the great numbers of characters can be puzzling and seem too much for comprehension requiring considerable attention from a reader. Furthermore, there are moments when the descriptions in the book are so detailed that they may break the steady flow of action and distract readers who find themselves having to work harder than usual to keep focused on what is happening in the novel.
However, despite these minor drawbacks, A Kingdom Forgotten is a highly captivating read that bodes well for the rest of the series. Through this book, McDonald has created a universe full of myths with characters whose stories are extremely engaging; thus he has given birth to an epic saga. This book will be most appreciated by fans of epic fantasy because it comes with complex plotlines and lots of character development. For its ambitious storytelling and what we can expect from future books in the series, A Kingdom Forgotten obtains a very strong four star rating.
******
A Kingdom Forgotten
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
Charles W. McDonald Jr.'s A Kingdom Forgotten, the first book of the A Throne of Souls series, is a complex and ambitious novel. It is set in a multiverse where magic and technology are intermingled, thereby generating an intricate world that is captivating but challenging. From the word go, McDonald gives a hint of the dark and mysterious tone that runs throughout the narrative through a prologue. The characters all go through different experiences as they are involved in cosmic wars that endanger not just their existence but also those of other parallel universes out there.
This book deserves 4 out of 5 star rating because the complexity of its plot stands out in A Kingdom Forgotten. McDonald skillfully creates a story with numerous timeframes and places which requires readers to pay attention while it unfolds in an unconventional manner. The boldness behind this approach was rewarded with good results since it resulted into both thrilling and thought provoking reading experience. Moreover, the thematic analysis on power destiny or after effects has been executed well which makes this book more than just any other usual fantasy story.
Another strong point for this book lies in its character development element as well. Michael Anthony Day, the central figure of attention is a fully developed protagonist whose intimate quest anyone can relate to very easily; whereas Damon, as an enigmatic villain brings some interesting moral ambiguity into play through his complex motivations and actions. The editing of the book brilliant. I can’t find any typos or error in it.
I deducted one star from it because of the complexity that overwhelms, and also its non-linear narrative which might alienate readers who are more used to a straightforward way of telling the story. Notwithstanding being impressive, sometimes an intricate storyline and the great numbers of characters can be puzzling and seem too much for comprehension requiring considerable attention from a reader. Furthermore, there are moments when the descriptions in the book are so detailed that they may break the steady flow of action and distract readers who find themselves having to work harder than usual to keep focused on what is happening in the novel.
However, despite these minor drawbacks, A Kingdom Forgotten is a highly captivating read that bodes well for the rest of the series. Through this book, McDonald has created a universe full of myths with characters whose stories are extremely engaging; thus he has given birth to an epic saga. This book will be most appreciated by fans of epic fantasy because it comes with complex plotlines and lots of character development. For its ambitious storytelling and what we can expect from future books in the series, A Kingdom Forgotten obtains a very strong four star rating.
******
A Kingdom Forgotten
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords