”The Price of a Throne” by Sean J Fitzgerald

Sean J Fitzgerald brings out the themes of power struggles, treachery, and atonement brilliantly in the colorful medieval background of the novel entitled “The Price of a Throne”. It began focusing on Prince Corin, a hardworking yet shameful man who wants to make the kingdom’s throne his own by overcoming the political color. This work’s plot is pronounced and painted graphically, taking the readers through the lives of the characters where any move matters.

The characters in the novella “The Price of a Throne” are well-developed and depict dynamic personalities oriented predominantly by their interests and sins. The way uncertainty gives way to conviction in Prince Corin is portrayed well, so the character transformation of the main hero, who is a leader, is quite tangible and touching. The main characters are surrounded by cohorts and opponents, which provide the readers with the complexity of the story, full of intrigue and doubtful intentions.

Fitzgerald is a fantastic prose writer; the battles are described vividly, the court politics are conveyed, and one’s internal struggle is portrayed. The main events are rich and follow one another quickly while the reader is kept captivated by secret affiliations and treasons. The author is thus able to paint a picture of a very active character but can interpose short periods of reflection amidst all the political goings-on.

‘The Price of a Throne’ can be pinpointed to Fitzgerald’s work and his twisting themes of duty, honor, and the unseen sacrifices involved in war amidst a kingdom on the edge of a war. The ethical issues that the protagonists of the novels are confronted with are timelessly significant, giving the readers a portion of food for thought about the price of the desire to rule and the hardships that one has to go through.

All in all, “The Price of a Throne” is an exciting read for all lovers of epic fantasy and all things political. The author, Sean J Fitzgerald, has done a brilliant job in making the narrative interesting with an exciting plot, good characterization, and outstanding world creation, making the audience look forward to the next part of the series.

Fantastic read! I don't often read stories set in Ireland, they are traditionally set in Scotland or England but I really enjoyed the different setting as well as the historical lessons in the book. There may have been a bit too much backstory in some places but I love history so it was right up my alley.

That being said, the story line was phenomenal and kept my attention the entire read. The characters truly came to life and brought your own emotions out. While some of the historical tidbits made me cringe, the reader gets a real feel for just how deeply these characters felt for their families and friends as well as the unjust treatment of people in the 12th century. I cannot wait to read the next book and find out what happens with Aoife, Strongbow, and Myler. I am grateful we got the true story behind the King's dark history with O'Rourke's wife so that I could really truly cheer for Aoife's entire family. But please for the love of everything would someone just go ahead and poison Montmorency?!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my unbiased review.