This year I’m going to host an Advent Book Calendar event, where Jen and me are going to pick one book every day until December 24th. Books we’ve read this year, and tell you why you should pick it up. You can check our progress in the Advent Book Calendar 2018 introduction post, where you can “open” the windows every day and find out what we have for your reading pleasure!
This book was also one of my early requests. I didn’t really think through when I said yes, I was pretty much sold by the word ‘bard’. Then I had doubts, because books revolving around politics aren’t exactly my cup of tea. I was genuinly surprised how much I enjoyed the story of an election after Kingshold’s king died by the hands of the wizard, Jyuth. And with a twist he doesn’t want to set up another king, but lets people decide their fate themselves. I loved how the story played out, how fantasy elements got mixed with political intrigues. But my absolute favourite thing about Kingshold were the pyxies. Partly because they were interesting and partly because around the time I read this book I’ve got the nickname pixie (which would make a nice coincidence, if I believed in coincidences. Spoiler: I don’t).
“D. P. Woolliscroft pulls the strings effortlessly, making an otherwise boring election into something exciting like a car race. You never know what will happen next and which candidate will have to take a break a little too early. Or when a monster or other enemy pops up to make the race a little more interesting in general. If you like your book heavy with political intrigues and schemes, a few monsters here and there with some other fantasy creatures (strawberry blowing pyxies!) appearing, spiced with a little magic, then don’t look more, Kingshold is for you!”
Read my reviews of Kingshold, the short story collection about events before and after found in Tales of Kingshold, my interview with D. P. Woolliscroft and get Kingshold on Amazon!
Mareth is a bard, a serial under achiever, a professional drunk, and general disappointment to his father. Despite this, Mareth has one thing going for him. He can smell opportunity. The King is dead and an election for the new Lord Protector has been called. If he plays his cards right, if he can sing a story that will put the right person in that chair, his future fame and drinking money is all but assured. But, alas, it turns out Mareth has a conscience after all.
Neenahwi is the daughter to Jyuth, the ancient wizard who founded the Kingdom of Edland and she is not happy. It’s not just that her father was the one who killed the King, or that he didn’t tell her about his plans. She’s not happy because her father is leaving, slinking off into retirement and now she has to clean up his mess.
Alana is a servant at the palace and the unfortunate soul to draw the short straw to attend to Jyuth. Alana knows that intelligence and curiosity aren’t valued in someone of her station, but sometimes she can’t help herself and so finds herself drawn into the Wizard’s schemes, and worst of all, coming up with her own plans.
Chance brings this unlikely band together to battle through civil unrest, assassinations, political machinations, pirates and monsters, all for a common cause that they know, deep down, has no chance of succeeding – bringing hope to the people of Kingshold.
I need to get the short story collection
Yup, it’s good 😉