4 out of 4 stars
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It is a fact that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. The members of the ruling family of the Vratigrand Kingdom have vested interests. This is causing an imminent threat to the stability of the family. Will it stand the test of time?
A Light to the Ruined was written by Kenneth Britton Jr. It is a book in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy genre. It is a gripping book. There are times when something is so good that one can hardly find the right words to describe it. This is what I can say about this book before I delve into its nitty-gritty.
For two hundred years, the Ruined has been desolate. The Ruined was once a peaceful and united land. War broke out and some clans began establishing kingdoms. The weaker clans were left moving from one place to another. King Roland, who was a chief, led an army in conquering one of the strongest kingdoms, Vratigrand. This war resulted in heavy losses for both sides. Eventually, the kingdom was conquered. King Roland declared himself king. The thought of that war arouses the hurtful past that has been haunting him. He is trying to eliminate everything that reminds him of that war. This led him to send his daughter, Princess Lyssa, to a war front. He thought that Lyssa would be killed. The wars that are erupting are being caused by the clans outside the kingdom who feel that they have been left out. They rally behind Chief Aden who promised them a share of the Vratigrand Kingdom once it had been conquered. To get more on this, you have to grab a copy of this book.
The style of writing in the book is very simple. The words used are easy to understand. I liked how the author was able to bring life into every sentence. There is a commendable use of imagery in the book too. The conversations are very lively and are centered on various topics. It is also good to note that the story is fascinating from the start to the end. The author is able to inject portions of the past of various characters in small bits. Therefore, the reader is not overwhelmed with a lot of historical information. Another interesting aspect is the use of the various characters to narrate the story. It enables the reader to understand the conflicts that are ongoing between them as one gets to read their views in their different chapters. By enabling every character to narrate the story in their own words also, the reader is able to read about different events happening at the same time in different places. The level of imagination is astounding. Despite being a fictional story, the characters are relatable. Their strengths and weaknesses are revealed by either themselves or other characters.
The book centers on various thematic areas. There is the issue of war, family, leadership wrangles, religion, revenge, and teamwork in this book. It is, therefore, very probable that every reader will have something to enjoy in this book. One thing that left me bemused was how love relationships were in the past. They were very pure and passionless. It was also very interesting to learn how different characters responded to and handled challenges.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It is properly edited and there are no typos. The plot is also well developed. All the characters are brought in for a certain purpose. It was very good seeing how they developed and changed over time. This book can actually be adopted into a movie. I hope it will be one day. I recommend this book to every reader who enjoys reading fantasy books. The book will certainly be beneficial to anyone who is open-minded. It is able to challenge one’s motive for doing things and at the same time persuade anyone to ponder wisely before taking any step in life.
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A Light to the Ruined
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