Book review: Kings of the Wyld

If you’re looking for an entertaining book that touches on darkness but has a surprising amount of heart, then look no further than Nicholas Eames’ Kings of the Wyld. Here’s my review of this book, in full:

The premise

Retired mercenary band member Clay Cooper is living out his twilight years when an old teammate shows up on his doorstep with a desperate plea for help. Their band, Saga, were the most renowned monster hunters of their day, the scourge of the Heartwyld! But now they’re older, slower and sporting aches and pains galore. Clay must gather the team together once more to come to this old friend’s aid. But re-assembling them will prove problematic, and then there’s the little problem of having to face down a murderous horde of magic creatures hellbent on destroying an entire city…

The review

As you can probably guess from the premise outlined above, Kings of the Wyld is very much a “blood and thunder” kind of book. It is chest-out, head-back, completely unashamed of what it is…and that is what makes it so brilliant. It combines the fun and heart of D&D storytelling and pairs it perfectly with a “get the band back together” narrative that will have you rooting for Saga until the final page is turned.

In short, if you’re looking for a fantasy novel with some grit—but you also want heaps of fun—then this book is for you. I’d even make comparisons, stylistically, between Kings of the Wyld and Christopher Buehlman’s The Blacktongue Thief, though the latter does feel darker in tone.

The story of Kings of the Wyld is fairly straight-forward, both in expectations and structure. We follow an episodic approach to the old mercenary band’s reformation, with the introduction of each member feeling like the greeting of an old friend (although often there is fighting, of some kind or another). Then, once Saga is suitably reassembled, we follow the team as they traverse the Heartwyld—a forest-like wilderness brimming with dangerous flora and fauna.

But the story plays second fiddle to what makes this book so much fun; and that’s the characters.

I have always been a fan of older main characters when it comes to fantasy books (so much so that my 2023 debut revolves around a team of ageing bounty hunters). There is something about the grizzled, weathered experience of characters who have lived in the fantasy world that makes it feel more real. It allows authors to write things with a sense of perspective, which then translates directly through to the reader and makes you feel like you’ve walked these paths before.

Better yet, the dynamics between the team members also feel very real. There are traits and shortcomings shared evenly across the group, and—like all friendships—their relationships are strained. They ebb and flow, which makes them much more enjoyable to read than if they were a sanctimonious team of flawless heroes.

And finally, there is the world-building itself, which is to be commended. Because of the experienced nature of our primary characters, the world feels well-realised and fleshed-out. The Heartwyld, and the places around it, feel lived-in and real. But what I really like about Kings of the Wyld is the way that Eames has written the mercenary bands into the culture of the world. Bands are treated like rockstars. They have notable frontmen and bookers, who secure them their next jobs. They have legions of diehard fans and they are venerated in the same way that some musicians are, in our world. And, when they get a bit older—like our cast of main characters do—they reach that interesting phase of being seen as both legendary and as over-the-hill has-beens. It’s such a fun approach to the whole situation, and it gives Kings of the Wyld yet another great angle to explore.

Criticism

My one criticism about the writing in Kings of the Wyld is that the pace is breakneck. Normally I like a fast-paced read (see my regular fawning over David Gemmell’s books) but this time it felt too quick. We jump from episodic set-piece to episodic set-piece very quickly, and it jarred a little with me sometimes. At times it also feels like the book is an exercise in trying to cram as many well-known D&D tropes/creatures as possible.

This is tied to another issue, which is that this episodic-approach lessens the stakes of the story itself. The band is up against the clock to get to—and rescue—one of their member’s daughter…and yet they seem to be fairly relaxed about making the journey. There’s a real lack of urgency sometimes. This isn’t something I expect every reader will pick up on, or even care about if they do (it’s only a mild criticism from me) but it is there.

Conclusion

Kings of the Wyld is an enjoyable, adventurous read, with moments of humour and genuine heart. It does have a follow-on novel in Bloody Rose, but—in truth—it’s probably best enjoyed as a standalone. Just have fun with this one!

📚✌🏻SP

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