⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book was an absolute masterpiece! From the moment I entered the world of Kingfountain, I was swept up in the high-stakes adventure and intricate web of alliances. The protagonist, Ankarette, is as fierce as she is cunning, embodying a mix of loyalty and moral ambiguity that makes her one of the most compelling characters I’ve read. The tension between family loyalty and personal duty creates heart-stopping moments, and the mystery around the lost widow adds layers of suspense and intrigue. The stakes are incredibly high, and every twist left me breathless. This is a tale of loyalty, power, and the sacrifices we make for those we love, set in a world that feels as real as it is magical. An absolute must-read!

This is the first book I've read by Jeff Wheeler and I NEED to read more of the Kingfountain universe! I was incredibly entertained with this story, as I'm a huge sucker for a Medieval setting and a good mystery. Having not read his other books, I was still able to follow the characters development with little issue, as Jeff Wheeler does a good job at giving a nod to the past. I would definitely recommend this story and will be reading more of his books!

Another addition to the Jeff Wheeler's incredibly well-developed fantasy universe is "The Widow's Fate," which readers can jump into and enjoy. I cherished the suspense and exciting turns of events. As Ankarette is entrusted with finding a kidnapped heiress, we get to know her better. The tension in the novel will keep you interested as the king and his brothers all have a stake in what happens to the widow. I should read Wheeler's works all the way through so I can get a deeper understanding of this universe! He tells amazing stories. I highly recommend this read.

I was first introduced to Jeff Wheeler through my nephew (I believe Jeff was actually his early morning seminary teacher). When I looked more into his books, I was excited to find that his “The Wretched of Muirwood” was something I had read a few chapters of years prior and then forgot the title and author. That little introduction was enough to impress me and stick with me for years, so I can attest that Wheeler is a very talented author.

“The Widow’s Fate” is another entry in the author’s extremely well-developed fantasy world, and the reader can dive right in and enjoy. I loved the intrigue and thrilling developments. We learn more about Ankarette as she is tasked with recovering a kidnapped heiress. The king and his brothers all have stakes in what happens to the widow, and the suspense will keep you engaged in the story quite nicely.

I really need to read Wheeler’s books from the beginning, so I can immerse myself more in this world! He’s a phenomenal storyteller.

My thanks to NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books!

The Kingfountain universe is one of my favorite fictional universes, and Ankarette is one of my favorite characters. I'm so glad Wheeler decided to revisit both. This was an absolutely wonderful book. It's definitely a little too hack and slash to be considered a "cozy mystery" type of fantasy, but there was a very cozy feeling to this book. Ankarette deserves some peace and joy, and she finally gets a bit.

Wow. Immediately intrigued when I started this book. Not to mention how my heart gets ripped out everytime there is an Ankarette story because it's gorgeously tragic.
This book was full of intrigue, suspense, mystery and I loved every second of it. Jeff Wheeler did it again with an intriguing storyline, added depth to beloved characters, and more insight into the Fountain and the magic of Kingfountain stories.

Ankarette Tryneowy is the King’s poisoner at Kingfountain in her second adventure by Jeff Wheeler. Nanette, an heiress, may have been kidnapped, and her sister’s husband who wants her inheritance may have taken part in her loss. But there’s more to The Widow's Fate (paper from Oliver Heber Books), There's an evil man who can drain Ankarette’s Fountain powers, and an attempt the rescue the former Queen from her tower and maybe restart the civil war. Ankarette. She is helped to find Nanette by a former soldier from the wrong side of the civil war, working as a nightwatchman John Thursby. Lots of excitement and fun.

I just reviewed The Widow's Fate by Jeff Wheeler. #TheWidowsFate #NetGalley

Jeff Wheeler is always worth reading! And this book is no different than others he has written. Fantasy based loosely on history and characters that jump off the page and live in your imagination long after you finish the book.

This read will leave you captivated and entertained!

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this book.

Another great story! Every book I read by Jeff Wheeler leaves me satisfied yet craving more. I started with the Kingfountain realm so it will always be my favorite to explore. I love how he builds upon each of his series and ties them together, with each book answering questions and at the same time causing more questions to arise. I didn't get the chance to read this the second I was approved for it on NetGalley like I usually do for his books and of course preordered a physical copy, and I'd say my only complaint is the physical copy is not the same size as the others in the series. Story wise though, I loved every second and can't wait for more!

I’m a big fan of Jeff Wheeler. I really like his stories and feel like he is an excellent story teller. That being said, I didn’t love this story. It seemed very task, accomplish, task, accomplish, and the story went. Not a lot of intrigue, mystery, or anything that really threw me for a twist. Maybe I just wasn’t into the story enough but not my favorite.

Thanks to NetGalley, Jeff Wheeler, and Oliver Herber Books for providing me an advanced reading copy.

Jeff Wheeler is author of a growing list of books, most of them fantasy and more recently, a thriller series.
But when it comes to the bulk of what he’s published, I tend to think of Wheeler more as a weaver than a writer. Though he has written different fantasy series, ranging from Kingfountain to Muirwood to Harbinger and Mirrowen, Wheeler often intertwines elements from one series into another.
That’s not to say that a new reader will feel like they’ve missed something. Wheeler writes in a way that anyone can jump in to one of the series and get right into the action without feeling lost. But the author has a knack for tying the different series together, so those who read all the series will see the bigger picture of the world the author has created.
Which brings me to “The Widow’s Fate,” Wheeler’s most recent offering and another addition to the Kingfountain series. It returns the focus to one of my favorite characters, Ankarette Tryneowy, a poisoner who serves King Eredur Argentine, leader of the kingdom of Ceredigion and head of a fractious family.
Many people who read Wheeler’s works start with the Kingfountain series and its first book, “The Queen’s Poisoner,” which prominently features Ankarette helping a young boy at a critical point in his life. That was true for me, and I quickly grew fond of poisoner who is both sage and sad, wily and wise. Though she is only featured in the first book of that initial trilogy, I always wanted to know more about her.
Eventually, Wheeler wrote other Kingfountain sagas. At some point after he completed the first three books, began to add stand-alone novels to what he called “The Poisoner of Kingfountain,” all focusing on Ankarette.
Although “The Widow’s Fate” is the most recent entry, it is classified as book 2 in the series, based on where the action falls in the history of the Argentine family. The book is a quick read, as Ankarette takes on the challenge of finding the missing widow at the heart of a conflict within the Argentine family. This time, Wheeler takes us into areas of the city of Kingfountain we’ve never visited before, completing a little more of the tapestry of his world.
And while previous readers will see some familiar faces and relics, we learn more about them, including a particular ring and a sword, a savvy thief and future king. And while we are reminded of a previous heartache Ankarette suffered, we also get to see her enjoy a little romance. Fountain magic guides her steps, as she battles a formidable foe, and the end of the book foreshadows events that Kingfountain fans will be familiar with.
I enjoyed this latest entry in “The Poisoner of Kingfountain.” Full disclosure, I received an early copy of the book and was asked to write an honest review. For Ankarette fans, the book will be a welcome return to her world and for new readers, “Widow’s Fate” will whet their appetite for more.

I read this book in a day—that’s saying something about how addictive it was! I’m quite new to Jeff Wheeler’s writing, but I have to say I’m already hooked.

Plot:
The Argentine brothers are at each other’s throat again, and King Eredur sends his master poisoner to find an enemy’s widow that both younger brothers want—one for money and power, and the other one for love. With the help of a disgraced soldier, Ankarette will reach into the darkest corners of the city to find the young heiress first.

This book is fast-paced, with non-stop action, sword-fighting, magic (and magical artefacts), betrayal, intrigue, and romance. While the villains in the first book were mostly political opponents, this book introduces a new villain who is both cunning and blessed with tremendous physical and magical strength. He’s a very good match for Ankarette, and I actually feared for her life more than once. This sense of urgency wasn’t as present in the first book, and it helped make this book very addictive. We hear very little about Ankarette’s archenemy, Lord Hux, so I guess I’ll have to read the rest of the series—and you should too!

Characters:
Ankarette’s character is a very great example of the “show don’t tell” narrative technique, where we understand through her actions (rather than through exposition) that she is a true master at what she does. By the time her “reputation” is mentioned in the book, we are already convinced that she is a master poisoner. THIS is what was lacking for strong FMCs like Celaena Sardothien and Delilah Bard, whose reputation or skillset was mentioned over and over and over, while there was little material to make it believable.

And John Thursby… LOVED him. I won’t say much, because I don’t want to spoil anyone, but I suspected him of being untrustworthy while I also had total faith in him. I was so conflicted about his character and his loyalty and motives, but I couldn’t help it but love him and hope he’d remain a “good guy” until the end of the book. For me, that only proves that his character was carefully crafted and well developed.

Writing:
There is something about Jeff Wheeler’s prose. It’s accessible and humble, and yet enchanting and compelling. There is so much wisdom in so few words.

Here’s another quote, just because it’s *chef’s kiss*:

“Water doesn’t complain. When a boulder falls in a river, the water finds a way around it. What stands in the way becomes the way. Just as nature takes every obstacle, every impediment, and works around it—turns it to its purpose, incorporates it into itself—so, too, a canny poisoner can turn each setback into the raw means to achieve her goal.”

While I appreciate the opportunity to read this, unfortunately this is a DNF for me. I seem to be in the minority but this one didn't click for me. I didn't feel like a whole lot had happened in the first half and wasn't feeling the relationship/chemistry between the two characters.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Fantasy, Clean Fantasy
Violence: Low - Medium

We're back in the world of Kingfountain with this book!

This is a lot of fun! I enjoyed learning more about Ankarette (from The Queen's Poisoner). She was alway mysterious with this shady past. I didn't feel like anything in this book would spoil the others if you wanted to read this one then dive into the rest of the series.

In addition to Ankarette, I loved the nightwatchman who is honorable but not trusted by others because of his former allegiance. I thought they worked together as a great duo.

It's a fast-paced novel, high on fun, that teens and adults will enjoy.

Happy reading!

#TheWidowsFate #NetGalley #ThePoisonerOfKingfountain #AnkaretteTryneowy

**DISCLAIMER: I received a review copy on Netgalley in exchange for honest feedback**
But wanna know a secret? I signed up for the book on Netgalley because I had read the rest of the series and I wanted to get the book a month early! I am a big fan of Jeff W's books and believe me the month early part was really worth it! I preordered back in May, about 5 months ago. As an aside Kate Rudd's narration really makes the books come to life so I would recommend also listening to the audiobook. That said, I really enjoyed reading the book, the literal equivalent of drinking a rich cup of hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows. You have a good feeling afterwards. :-)

Background: In the Kingfountain series the first novel is called the Queen's Poisoner. Ankarette is this poisoner the book is named after. That series follows a different protagonist, and this series The Poisoner of Kingfountain follows Ankarette. This is the second book in the series, following The Poisoner's Enemy. In this world, a poisoner is like a superspy. They can slip in and out of rooms, castles, countries, etc. without being seen, and they can make concoctions to kill or to cause someone to tell the truth, or can heal. They go to a special school to learn all this stuff. Ankerette completed this school in the first book of the series. Her archenemy is Lord Hux who serves the King of Occitania.

This book: Ankarette serves Kingfountain and the ruling king is Eredur. In this book, his two younger brothers are having a brotherly spat and the king asks Ankarette to solve the spat before Kingfountain is torn apart. We follow Ankarette as she solves the mystery. There is so much to tell but I don't want to spoil it! Just take my advice and read it :-)

Glad the author decided to revisit Kingfountain and the poisoner again. Thursby was a good sidekick. Fun adventure story. I need to read the rest of the Kingfountain books to find out what happens with all the side characters.

I always love the chance to go back to Kingfountain. This was a great story and you get to see more of Kingfountain than just the palace and the Sanctuary. Ankarette learns the city from a Night Watchman and we are taken with them on a chase filled with intrigue, danger, and Dunsdworth being Dunsdworth. We get to know Ankarette so well that it’s hard to remember that she was only originally in the first Kingfountain book. I love that Jeff Wheeler keeps writing her story and hope he continues. There’s definitely more we need to know!

The Widow's Fate
by Jeff Wheeler
Pub Date: 17 Oct 2023

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Widow’s Fate by Jeff Wheeler is another amazing book.
Highly addictive, incredible world building, three dimensional characters..

A wise king keeps his friends close and his enemies closer, even if one is his younger brother. When a valuable heiress disappears from Kingfountain in the middle of the night, King Eredur summons the poisoner Ankarette to bring her back alive at all costs. Both of his younger brothers want her—one to control her fortune and the other for love.

With the help of a world-weary soldier from the Night Watch, Ankarette must delve into the darkest corners of the city before the wrong people find the lost widow first. Blood will be spilled. Brothers will come to blows. And once again Ankarette must try to stop her beloved kingdom from tearing itself apart.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
4.5 stars...this was a nice little toe dip back into the world of Kingfountain. Love love love Ankarette Tryneowy(sp?) She is one of my favorite characters. Love that she got a little extra time with this little sidestory and a little romance to boot since her first love is already taken. In this book she sets out on what seems to be a wild goose chase to find the missing Nanette, the widow to a dead prince and the sister of the Duke aka king Eredurs brother sister-in-law. There two different storylines that seem to coincide together but never fear Ankarette is on it.
This book had me engaged the whole time. No lulls. It was fast paced, lots of swordplay(not like that you dirty birdies) and poisoner/espion business. Fountain magic and also some other darker characters come into play.

I really enjoyed this prequel and hope as his authors note at the end says he might write some more but I look forward to all his other writings too. I recommend if you like historical/fantasy/adventure