A Coronation of Kings (A Kingdom Divided #1) by S.C Stokes

Tyranny. Desperation. Rebellion.

While Tristan may be the heir to the House of Listar, at heart he’s more a lad than a lord.

Mad with power, the ruthless and scheming Baron of Belnair will stop at nothing to gain the crown. In the dead of night, the Baron massacres Tristan’s family and burns their home to the ground. Desperate and alone, Tristan must fight for his life and his people.

With everything at stake, Tristan must unite the unlikeliest of allies to block the Baron’s ascent. For the first time in his life, he must become the leader he was born to be.

The Baron’s armies grow as an ancient magic stirs in the mountains. If Tristan fails, the throne, his freedom, and the love of his life will be lost forever.

Where to Buy: Amazon.com

Goodreads: A Coronation of Kings

 

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Review

Rating: 5 stars

*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review*

Tristan is the son and heir to the House of Listar. Other than growing up with the expectations that come with his title, he leads a comfortable life. That all changes when his father is brutally murdered by Gerwold, the Baron of Belnair. Tristan is forced to go on the run, watching helplessly as his father’s killer takes his inheritance and Gerwold’s son steals away the girl that Tristan loves. Seeking refuge with a band of thieves, Tristan must avenge his father and prevent Gerwold from achieving his ultimate goal; to become King.

A Coronation of Kings is a fast-paced and action-packed fantasy novel. It is the first book in the A Kingdom Divided series and not only does a great job of setting up for later novels in the series but is a very enjoyable standalone read too. I liked how the author didn’t get overly bogged down with description. Whilst there was certainly enough that I could immerse myself in the world that he has created, too much can be distracting and the right balance was achieved here.

At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to like Tristan’s character. He seemed a little arrogant and immature when the novel started, but throughout his character developed as he was forced to grow up quickly due to events. I found myself liking him more and more as I continued to read, which shows the skill of the author; creating a main character who endears himself to readers over time rather than be instantly likeable. It was very refreshing and made me root for Tristan that much more because of it.

I really enjoyed reading A Coronation of Kings. It’s an excellent novel and a real page turner. I can’t wait to read further books in the series.