The Kinsman Chronicles is one of the series which I didn't really start enjoying until about halfway through the second book. I didn't dislike the first one, its just I didn't start to become really immersed in the story until now.

The series is meant to be a prequel to Jill Williamson's first trilogy, The Blood of Kings. I would not call it allegory, so much as a sort of fantasy retelling of some Biblical accounts. Its very very much like the Exodus and the Book of Judges some of the details, and some of the titles are very clearly Hebrew in origin.
There are prophets, priests and magicians, tribal kings and gods as well as human sacrifice in the indigenous religions.

Some parts are terrifying: demons walk the earth in the form of Shadir, making pacts with magicians and influencing the world, and in response some are gifted with the power to speak mind to mind. Just to make things more intersting though, there are also pirates and poltical intrugue thrown into the mix.

I finally found myself rooting for characters like Wilek who was developing as a character and finding his way. This book is building to an explosive conclusion in the final title in the series, and honestly, I want to get to it just to find out what is happening to my fave.

Thanks to Bethany House for giving me an ARC of this title. I was not required to write a positive review an all opinions expressed are my own.

I read the prequel to the series and was disappointed with the content. Too much talk of gods, concubines, and sex. Won't be continuing the series.

Picking up right where the last book left off, the five kingdoms are now at sea in search of their new home. Sar Wilek struggles to unite his people in a more and more polarizing community, where many worship pagan gods and spirits. Trevn and Mielle must fight for their love, while Wilek finds hope in loving again. Charlon is even more desperate than ever before to mother a royal child in order to place her claim on the throne. Kal struggles with the nightmares of his past, while Hinck and Grayson spy in the treacherous dens of evil in hopes of bringing light to their kingdom.

Since it had been a year since I had read the last book, it took some time for me to remember again who everyone was, which was a bit hard at first as it jumped from the perspective of one character to another. But once I was all caught up on everyone it was hard to put down. I really liked how much Wilek has grown and matured in this book, he sees things more clearly and is becoming the leader he was born to be.

There is definitely a lot going on, and so many characters to keep track of, plenty of action, and lots of great growth of character. I think my favorite characters to read about in this book were Grayson, Hinck, and Kal. Grayson is brave, adventurous and daring. He wants very much to be of help to the Armanians, as well as be true to his upbringing. Hinck is a good spy, though seemingly a pawn in a bigger game, his wheels are always spinning, and he is loyal to his friends. Kal is Wilek's ever faithful shield who is keeping secrets that have haunted him from the war, he is a man of honor and strength to the very core of his being.

There is deceit and treachery at every corner, and conspiracies abound for control of the throne. There is so much that happens throughout the book, it is a thoroughly engrossing read. I think that Charlon's passages are some of the best in the book, because whilst she is against Wilek and Trevn and everything they stand for, yet her story is compelling and well done. There is so much that happens in the book, that it is impossible to even generalize much of the plot.This is a great read for fans of fantasy, though you definitely need to read the books of the series in order. Highly recommend, but for adult readers because of adult themes in the book.



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I was so eager to read this daring sequel to an exciting new fantasy series that is absolutely riveting. This series is so complex and fascinating, filled with so many characters that it is hard to keep them all straight! I would suggest reading the two books closer together than I did as it was hard to remember where I left off!
These books are not an easy read and there is a bit of darkness to them, plenty of villains and magic so I wouldn't recommend them to a younger reader but they are good for more mature readers.
Well written, so detailed and with some very enjoyable characters (as well as some absolutely terrible ones!) this book is a must read.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

It's really good and I'm glad I read it. I'm also glad it's in ebook format that combines three books that make up the second half of this saga. I have a print copy of the first book and it's hard to read. The plot continues in this book, picks and doesn't slow down. Through the ups, and downs, the highs and lows I never got tired of reading this book.

Something that happened at the end was harder to deal with, but I can see why the author did that. I can't give this set of books, in one second volume anything other than 5 stars.

My copy came from Net Galley. My thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is left of my own free volition, and in this case, I'm glad to do so!

King's Blood
The Kinsman Chronicles #2
By Jill Williamson

If you are looking for an epic reading experience look no further than this series from Jill Williamson. The first book King's Folly took the reader on a journey through a land in the midst of religious and cataclysmic upheaval. King's Blood continues the journey of the survivors who managed to make it to sea before their world was lost forever. One would think the worst was behind them but the evil and the treachery that walked their land has followed them to the sea and it is determined to consume those who would stand against them.

Wilek has taken on many of the duties of his father - Echad is ill and failing. Janek has been detained because his royal ties are suspect, And Trevn is recovering from the attack that nearly cost him his life as the Five Realms fell. The Heir War appears to have ended but appearances can be deceiving and there are many deceivers hidden amongst the ships and not all of them are human or of the physical realm.

As the remnant of the Five Realms searches for a new land to call home the old suspicions vie with the desire of Wilek and Trevn to return the people to the ways of and belief in Arman. Meanwhile, the realms of the Mother are determined to assert their dominance over that of Armania and the Father.

But finding land will not end their troubles as they are bringing with them the evil that brought down their old home...

Often the second book in a series is a let down in both story and action, it's merely a bridge to the third book. But King's Blood is no such tool. The story is one that moves the story forward while building on what came before in such a way one would never feel as if the story was left behind. There are twists that one will never anticipate and at the end of the book, one will be going "No, you can't leave me hanging like this!" This is one series that I can see sitting by the side of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia. Without giving too much away be ready for some shocks and some separations that will be interesting to see play out in the future.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All expressed opinions are my own.

Having escaped a disaster of apocalyptic proportions, the people of the Five Realms travel the seas in search of a new land. Traitors abound, visible and invisible enemies lurk around every corner, and the One God Arman is leading them in a direction which to many passengers seems like madness.

Sâr Wilek and his brother Treyvn stand at the head of this journey. Officially their father is still king but he sinks into ever deepening madness. Wilek and Treyvn will need to forge their own paths if the remnant is to survive.

King's Blood was a fascinating read, but certainly not a stand-alone novel. It took a good part of the book before I had a grasp of what was going on, and by the end I still felt as though I needed to have read the previous book.

There were some elements which were confusing, such as a certain character's penchant for speaking and thinking in sentence fragments. Whenever this character appeared, the entire chapter from her perspective would dissolve into fragments. This was not the case for other characters, but I could not tell if this was due to editing issues or if it was something specific to that character which had been explained in the first book. As I have not read the first book I am willing to give it the benefit of the doubt.

The book ended rather abruptly and left me wanting to read the third in the series. I enjoyed it and would rate it a four out of five stars. I received a free copy of King's Blood from Bethany House. I was not required to give a positive review.