Great epic fantasy

l thought this was brilliant. I've not been keen on huge sprawling multi-POV books for a while, but these characters were fantastic, and the separate stories were all exciting and kept me hooked throughout. It is very dark, which I am a fan of, and you get a taste of that right from the start to set the tone. Good performance on audio.

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Sat on my TBR shelf for Years!!!!!!!!!!!

I will be honest, this book has been sat on my TBR shelf for years.... I would have probably ignored it if not for the fact I am currently having to go through said TBR shelf due to my dry spell of new books. My god, I am happy I got around to it.

Ralph Lister is an amazing narrator. Chefs kiss

I do love when a grimdark fantasy promises to be dark and have dark characters actually delivers and...This book was Capital "D" Dark and it was phenomenal.

Kings of Paradise is the first installment of a Grimdark coming of age fantasy trilogy. Dripping with magic, politics, conflict, betrayal and well...blood.

The two main characters are destined to eventually collide but the first installment is meerley the two growing into their roles:

Ruka, a physically deformed genius who is shunned by his pseudo scandinavian/Anglo-Saxon brethren. He is the living embodiment of the proverb "A child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth ". He was spared from being left exposed to die to the elements by a mother who loved him despite his deformities, he lives a life as an outcast dreaming and hungering for revenge against everybody and everything.

Across the sea lies the second protagonist, Prince Kale is fourth and youngest son of the Sorcerer King in a more Mediterranean setting- he is the more archetype wastrel pretty boy prince. I have to comment, he sometimes felt more like a Disney prince and I felt far less of a connection to him as a character. However, as events proceed and he begins to change I did like him more as a character.

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This is a great beginning for a good fantasy saga

Characters are well built and very interesting, the fictional world is appealing and the writing is concise and inspired. The narrator does a great job too and characters come to life. If you like the song of icea and fire, the ryiara chronicles and the Abercrombie's sagas, you'll love this.

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Brutal and intricate

The story is absolutely brutal yet human in many ways. First book I read that I knew I will finish all 3 books on without a doubt.

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The Beggining of a masterpiece

A real story. With complex characters and a living world. A true gem and a treat

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Good pacing and build up mainly…

I enjoyed this and am getting the next one. 3 main POV characters all different all 3 were good at the start and pacing was good, gradually increasing in ability. Then towards the end one of them made a massive jump in skill with no practice…to keep it spoiler free, it was like he found a piano played a few notes, a few days later finds the pedals and then a few days after played a masterpiece.
Hopefully book 2 will explain this somehow, because the main plot(s) and the story overall is very engaging and I want to find out what happens next

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WOLVES DONT HAVE ALPHAS LMAO

only outstanding issue tbh. it means it's very good.

wolves work in family units you see

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First Grimdark Experience and it was Fantastic

I found myself compelled by both of the main characters,seeing them come of age. One in a harsh land forced to fight for his survival and one from a more privileged position of a 4th prince. I did get somewhat lost when some years were read out and the characters seemed to age quickly, but I put that down to reading this on my work journey and only have 1 hour a day.

Overall the story twists and turns and left me wanting to know what was going to happen next in both their stories. I believe that just one main character would have been a great book but having two to follow makes it even better. I can't wait for the next audio book and to continue the story and see where these characters take us.

The audible narrator was Fantastic, he brought all of the characters to life and made it easy to distinguish between everyone.

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Not perfect, but damn is it good.

Does this book have some issues with pacing? yeah at times. Did I ever get annoyed with the authors choice of character decisions because It felt like it went against the characters personality he previously created? once or twice. Apart from those two issues, MY LORD is this a good book. Easily worth the time and money and I'm buying the next two now. Narration was great though apparently some didn't like the accent work so decide that for yourself.

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Gritty glorious

A hiddem gem! If you like Abercrombie, you'll love this! Brilliant narrator, very interesting world, characters have depth. It feels alive, and you're pulled along, and before you know it you've listened for 7 hours straight

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