For the Killing of Kings by Howard Andrew Jones
Published by St. Martin's Press (2019)
660 words
Howard Andrew Jones's For the Killing of Kings, published by St. Martin's Press (2019), stands out not only as a superb fantasy novel, but also one that fully embraces the sword and sorcery influences of the genre. This is the first book in his recently concluded Ring-Sworn trilogy, and with prose that is razor sharp and succinct as a blade, Jones readily distinguishes himself from the crowded contemporary field. While phone-book sized epics have become the standard convention for fantasy stories these days, Howard instead utilizes a style and brevity mostly relegated to the serialized adventure pulps of the past, and does so to marvelous effect.
We are introduced to a world still reeling from the effects of a past war, and with the shadow of a new conflict fast approaching. Thrown directly into the narrative in media res, the reader never feels bogged down by the languid drip-feeding of exposition. Within the first pages, there begins a mystery from which the rest of the narrative flows: a conspiracy that reaches all the way up to the highest positions of authority within the kingdom. From early on the reader is forced to wonder: what dire consequences are in store for those who happen to get too close to this mystery? Action builds upon action, threat builds upon threat, until the true machinations working in the shadows are briefly revealed--but only for a moment, and only to foreshadow the horrifying scope of things to come.
This tantalizing momentum is carried across the novel all the way to the conclusion. Backstory, both in terms of the setting's history and that of the characters, is woven naturally into the progression of the plot, and is delivered precisely when needed or when appropriate, so as to not arrest the story's forward momentum. Action scenes are especially visceral in their construction as well. Each set piece is highly detailed and intricately choreographed, without ever becoming too ponderous in length, and Jones' rendering of hand-to-hand combat was a particular highlight.
Shining equally bright are the characters. Each one of them are instantly memorable and endearing in their own unique way. The standout for me was probably Kyrkenall, an irreverent and jaded warrior who seeks solace at the bottom of a wine bottle, yet is a ruthless force to contend with on the battlefield. His quippy recitations of poetry or lines from various stage plays were both enjoyable and offered a striking degree of verisimilitude to the world, a hint of the everyday and the normal in contrast to the high-stakes, world-altering conflict on display. Elenai was equally likeable as the wide-eyed, initially idealistic squire thrust into a role far larger than anything she could have ever conceived of, and who is then forced to drastically mature by the necessity of survival against powers conspiring against her. Almost all the primary characters can be described in the same richness and textured layer of dynamic growth, and it makes me incredibly excited to see where their journeys take them in the subsequent books.
One minor point of contention with this otherwise fantastic novel is that the dialogue and banter between characters is sometimes a little too close to contemporary, modern-day speech. Admittedly, this is more a personal preference than an outright critique; nevertheless, some of the character interactions might have benefited from a brushstroke of antiquity to separate it from our present, everyday style of conversation. This was especially notable with Rylin, who at one point, when talking about the friendship between two other characters, describes them as being "tight" with one another.
This quibble aside, For the Killing of Kings is an excellent introduction to a unique and compelling fantasy series that I'm excited to finish. There's a lot this book has to offer, both for fans of modern epic fantasy and of the sword and sorcery niche alike, and I'm very eager to see where the series goes!
About the Reviewer: Chase A. Folmar is an aspiring writer of speculative fiction and weird fantasy, with an avid interest in the craft of storytelling. He lives in Virginia with his wife and their horde of rescued pets. His writing and other collected thoughts can be found on his website, chaseafolmar.com
About Spiral Tower Reviews: The authors who maintain the pulp genres of sword and sorcery and cosmic horror merit support. Financial support is key but there are other ways the cash-strapped can show support: engaged reading and thoughtful analysis. Literary movements emerge through the interactions of editors, authors, publishers, and amateur literary journalists. Learn more about contributing your review here. Note: We are specifically interested in working with amateur reviewers.
