Kings of the Wyld (The Band)

Fun idea, but it fell flat for me, it wasn't enough of an epic fantasy or fantastical satire. By that i mean, he needed to commit a little more to one or the other. I Understood what he was trying to do, but i didn't finish it. It was too long for the satire side to sustain and the flippancy undercut the epic fantasy side of it.

As a concept novel it's unique and fun, but in practice i think the two sides of it are made weaker for each other. Thinking about it, and i have thought about it more than i would have expected: i don't know how i would have rathered him write it, so i have a hard time casting any stones. I didn't finish it and i don't think it's really a viable novel because of that simple fact, but i don't know how he could have done the concept better.

I saw a lot of people expounding on how awesome this book was on facebook, and I was not disappointed. The characters being retired mercenaries coming back together for one more gig (and a noble cause at that) was refreshingly different. Eames created a world riddled with monsters, a cross between Greek mythology and Dungeons & Dragons. There is enough seriousness to make the reader invested in the characters while keeping the overtone of humor throughout the book.

This book is very engaging. Feels much like a modern movie, but with an actual plot. The wit also in this book is fun causing a great amount of chuckling. To be helpful to other readers (since I look for this also myself) this book is graphic in content. I am not keen to heavily sexualized content, and although this book doesn't describe sexual content detail for detail, it is much like you expect hardened warriors talking in the "locker room." The language is also pretty frequent and crude. And I could do without it. It always seems so cheap when thats the only way to make people speak. There seems to be a little of the author's personal belief/agenda pushing with Moog's sexuality as well.

All and all an enjoyable read. Kind of a weird mix of dark and light-hearted. The weird way mercenaries are basically treated like rock stars always kind of felt funny to me which is the only reason I am giving it 4 stars. That being said, that sort of vibe is why a lot of people love this book so don't let that scare you away.

This book surpassed all my expectations. Hard to believe that this is the authors first book. I try to save 5 stars for real literature, but this one deserves it. Treat yourself to a great adventure and read it. I think a prequel is in order Mr. Eames!

I saw a lot of people expounding on how awesome this book was on facebook, and I was not disappointed. The characters being retired mercenaries coming back together for one more gig (and a noble cause at that) was refreshingly different. Eames created a world riddled with monsters, a cross between Greek mythology and Dungeons & Dragons. There is enough seriousness to make the reader invested in the characters while keeping the overtone of humor throughout the book.

This book is very engaging. Feels much like a modern movie, but with an actual plot. The wit also in this book is fun causing a great amount of chuckling. To be helpful to other readers (since I look for this also myself) this book is graphic in content. I am not keen to heavily sexualized content, and although this book doesn't describe sexual content detail for detail, it is much like you expect hardened warriors talking in the "locker room." The language is also pretty frequent and crude. And I could do without it. It always seems so cheap when thats the only way to make people speak. There seems to be a little of the author's personal belief/agenda pushing with Moog's sexuality as well.

All and all an enjoyable read. Kind of a weird mix of dark and light-hearted. The weird way mercenaries are basically treated like rock stars always kind of felt funny to me which is the only reason I am giving it 4 stars. That being said, that sort of vibe is why a lot of people love this book so don't let that scare you away.

This book surpassed all my expectations. Hard to believe that this is the authors first book. I try to save 5 stars for real literature, but this one deserves it. Treat yourself to a great adventure and read it. I think a prequel is in order Mr. Eames!

Fantastic worldbuilding, as well as captivating, believable characters. Many touching moments intermixed masterfully with downright hysterical comedic value. Throw in some intriguing worldbuilding and a sarcastic, yet explosive narrative and you've got Kings of the Wyld. At no point did I find the book dry; I found myself reading for hours straight. This book is a legitimate page-turner and I very much look forward to the sequel. I recommend it to any fan of fantasy, and to be frank, I'd recommend it for non-fantasy enthusiasts- Kings of the Wyld just has that sort of charm to it.

Took a while to get "into" this book. I am not fond of the f word, nor some of the other phrases, but I was warned. (At 81, I prefer creative cursing!!!). Overall, the characters were diverse and interesting!

The book reads like a D&D game with a catalog of monsters and some improbable dice roles to keep the main characters alive, and healthy. Could have been a good story about aging heroes, and the idea of merc bands as rock band analogy was fun at times. The big battle at the end was tough to plow through.

Author Eames proves he is a solid writer in a lot of areas in his debut novel. Loved his concepts and play on words and meanings, such as for instance, 'getting the band back together again' - making this sound like a rock band than a mix of barbarians and sorcerers.
His heady mix of world building and character development was solid, along with his heavy usage of comedic writing style were well done.
So why only give this book only a 3 star rating?
After reading TONS of fantasy novels for over 40 years, from best selling authors to first-timers like this one, I found myself speed reading the last half of the book, due many in cause of too much showing but not telling, along with battle scenes that just didn't jive with me. I have read some badly written battle scenes, and even though author Eames doesn't fall into that category, he was mediocre in that department at best.
I loved the concept of this novel, and the main cast of characters were interesting, but the loads of cool and diverse characters and creatures were not enough for me to think at the end of this novel, it deserved more stars than I gave it.
Not a bad debut at all, reminding me strongly of the dark humor and fantasy tropes that the uber awesome Joe Abercrombie delivers, but unlike mentioned best selling author, the excellent action sequences were lacking.
Just my personal opinion.

The premise was great, but something kept me from being able to fully engulf myself in it. I ended up skipping multiple chapters at a time and randomly reading a few paragraphs to see where the story was. Too much an emphasis was made to show the sexuality of each character which just seemed odd as it had no bearing on the story.

I was excited to read this book when I purchased it. The reviews made it sound like the bastard child of the greatest epic and a great standup act. If the reviewers truly believe what they wrote, then a) they've never read a book, b) believe that a bit of pepper is truly the personification of "spicy," or c) took their money and ran while they could.

The novel is, sad to say, utterly predicable. A group of older mercenaries Jon back up. Will half the novel be spent in random flashbacks? Check. Will it attempt to inject some reality into common fantasy tropes? Check. Will the main character be filled with regret over past deeds? Check. Besides the details which are usually plucked from a D&D Monster Manual, the novel follows such a predetermined script that it nearly reads as an epic fantasy written from an exceptionally long mad-lib.

Looking for humor? After all, that was one of the selling points of the book. Well, besides some erectile magic, one will be hard pressed to find much. I did find it refreshing that the author didn't jam unfunny yet desperately trying to be paragraphs into every page, but that's the only silver lining I could find.

The first three quarters of the novel I had to force myself to continue reading. It did finally pick up the pace, butt the Calvary arrived much too late to save the day.

I can see why people loved this.
I'm torn between giving it 3 stars and 4, because while it wasn't what I want in a fantasy story, it is well-constructed for the type of story it is. Sadly, it's just not the type of story I like.

So what is it? It's a romp. A group of D&D archetypes in a world where D&D adventurers are treated like rock stars, quite literally. They're not just treated well: the story is framed as if they were a modern band in a medieval world, dealing with things a modern music act deals with. It is not a comedy, however, just a lighthearted adventure story.

It's packed with references to bands and music, which is not an area of trivia I'm great at, but I could identify things as references even where I wasn't sure what they were references to. Despite that, the plot bumps along at a decent pace, and the interactions are fun. The characters aren't particularly deep, but they're interesting and believably drawn for D&D adventurer archetypes.

If those elements alone seem good to you, then you'll have fun with this book and you should give it a read... but you should expect that there aren't really any other elements to the story.

As great as Eames's work is at the things it does, the grim specter of Chekov's Gun looms over the entirety of it. Not even the slightest thing is introduced unless it is part the plot; that's often hailed as a positive in a dramatic criticism, but in fantasy literature it saps the vitality of the world and leaves the background feeling two-dimensional, like the flat backdrop of a play that is wheeled in and out as the actors strut upon the stage.

The mysterious depths of Tolkien's mythos, the sprawling madness of Mieville's Crobuzon, the perplexing intricacies of Bancroft's Tower... those just aren't here. None of Eames's book concerns the ordinary citizens of his world, and so we learn nothing about their lives. There is no hint of history or mythology to the world which does not directly impact the lives of the characters. Even their own past lives are largely in service to the plot. Absolutely nothing extends the world beyond the pages.

For me, the essence of what I enjoy in fantasy is that sort of magical tourism. I love to wander the shire and imagine the smell of flowers baking bread, and to know that Sauron was apparently a problem for some ancient kingdom that never comes up again in the story. All those details and depth create an experience beyond a simple recounting of the plot, and Kings of the Wyld is missing those things. There's an ancient empire, but they go there, there's some gods, but they meet them, there's some grand mythic underpinning to the world, but only because their story traces to its origin. Nothing ventures beyond that. There's no menace of Jabba the Hutt and his gangsters hanging off in the corners; if it's mentioned, it shows up and is dealt with.
Everything is Chekhov's Gun.

It is, in essence, a pastiche of a random D&D campaign, run by a DM who loves music and doesn't have any particular setting information in mind. It excels at recreating that experience... but it doesn't do anything more than that. It's fun, but it's a bit shallow. If that's the kind of book you can enjoy, then you will love this. If you expect more, then it may be mildly disappointing, but otherwise unobjectionable.

I tried the sample and it seemed good, so I bought it. Unfortunately, I stopped reading at around 61%. I just could not get into the book. The characters, fight scenes and "so-called" story were putting me to sleep. I totally lost interest. It was boring, disjointed; all over the place.

Like a world class chef took my comfort food and turned it into a thousand dollar a plate meal.

A TL;DR: After 200+ books, this is the first one that is truly like Lies of Locke Lamora, except I like this one more.

This is a tale of a group of buddies that were great back in the day, nay, the greatest group of mercenary heroes in the land. Now, however, families and middle age have set in with the group having gone their separate ways. This was likely how it would end if not for the band's (oh yes, that is the pun and joke that drives this whole tale) frontman showing up on the doorstep of the protagonist of this tale, Slow-hand Clay. Of course, to get the band back together, they have to convince the Crazy wizard, the murderous thief turned king, the stone cold killer that was imprisoned, and maybe a bard that won't die first. Oh and if they do get the band back together, they have to avoid old enemies, old friends, a forest where dang near everything wants to kill you, and up and coming new bands!

Are you sold yet? No? There are bunny rabbit eared elves that are total jerks, a vicious fascinating world, and cunning (crazy) plans (dumb luck) to get them out of all those things when the greatest enemy is they are just getting too old for this [crap].

Do you like adventures? Humor? Wonderful tales? Interesting worlds? The Blues Brothers? Gentlemen Bastards? Silly wizards? Terrible odds that are defeated in actual believable ways? Then I recommend this book to you.

PS: It says this is part of a series, and I hope it is, but this book is effectively stand-alone.

I couldn’t stop reading this book. Every positive review is exactly on-point. The characters here are quite well-fleshed-out. The story is simple but in a good way. There’s no complicated scenario, no unnecessary wasted space on world-building and politics, as you would find in most other books of this type. Indeed, from the first pages to the last, the book has you hooked. I didn’t find a single chapter boring or dragging. I must say, Nicholas Eames did a brilliant job in keeping the story fast-paced.

The writing isn’t normally what you’d find in a fantasy novel. I love that. There’s a clear link between this other world Eames has created, and our modern themes and language. There were many times (several times in every chapter) where I laughed out loud because of the situation the characters found themselves—and the amazingly funny way Eames used his writing to convey humor or sarcasm or helpless stupidity. The book isn’t a comedy, but I has definitive and unhindered humorous undertones throughout.

I don’t want to ruin the book for anyone. Just read it. It’s one of those novels that I will definitely go back to year after year. It’s as good as the Gentlemen Bastard series. It’s as engrossing as any Rothfuss story. It’s simply great.

If you read only one book in the next few months, make it this one. Highly recommended.

This book had me chuckling by page two. Literally. After that, I pretty much never stopped.

Comedic fantasy is my new favorite sub-genre. I had a hunch I would enjoy this book, but I didn’t know how deeply I’d love it or how funny it would be! This book has a lot of sarcasm, swearing and heart.

Washed up up mercs getting together again to save the day is definitely a theme I can get behind. I think having Clay, the reluctant tough-guy and all-around gentle-hearted man as the voice of the story was a smart move. He’s a man of few words but strong feelings and the unofficially (ok, or maybe officially) second-in-command. It’s Gabe’s time of need, but it’s Clay who really reunites the band. His weapon of choice is also a shield (made from a giant treant the group killed in the past), which is interesting and says a lot about his character.

This book has awesome weapons, crazy creatures (like, every fantasy/mythical beast and then some), mercenaries galore, magic, murder, and a villain with furry bunny ears.

Yep.

I’m not going to go into the plot – it’s fairly standard fantasy fare. The characters and the world-building are what make this book. Here's one of the many quotes I flagged:

“’Really?’ Gabriel sounded skeptical.

‘Really!’ Matrick said proudly.

‘Really…?’ Moog stroked his chin, intrigued.

‘Really?’ snapped the queen. “I swear by the Summer Lord’s beard, I have laundry maids who talk less than you three.’ She gestured at Clay with a white-gloved hand. ‘Kale, at least, knows when to keep his mouth shut.’

‘It’s Clay, actually.’

Lillith pouted haughtily. ‘And you were doing so well.’”

This book isn’t all humor though. The boys (ok, old men) of the band all have dark and sometimes sordid pasts. Not to mention the quest they embark on is basically hopeless. There are definitely some heavy hitting chapters in the latter part of the book. Just enough to solidify the characters and story, so they don’t become too farcical.

I’ve only one sin to hit this book with: the accursed line!

“Clay let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding…”

Damnit, Eames! Clay’s too good for that!

All jokes aside, this book is hilarious with a dash of feels for good measure. Easily one of my favorite books of the year and definitely one of my favorite fantasy novels. Can’t wait for Bloody Rose in August!

I'll be honest, I've had my eye on this ever since I clapped eyes on the cover a few months ago... and I'm pleased to say it didn't disappoint.

As the story starts we meet our lead hero, Clay 'Slowhand' Cooper, former member of the titular Kings of the Wyld, the most feared and famous mercenary band of their time. That time is in the past though and he is now making his living as part of the Town Guard and spending the evenings with his wife and daughter. Retirement from The Kings is suiting Clay just fine... until the day he comes home to find Gabe, The Kings old gang leader on his doorstep, looking all the worse for wear and wanting to ask a favour.

As it turns out Gabe's daughter has taken up the role of mercenary, set up her own 'band' and ended up in a city under siege at the other end of land. Gabe is going to try and rescue her but he can't do it alone. He wants to reform The Kings of the Wyld for one last mission.*

It's time to get the band back together!

What follows from here is one of the craziest adventures it's been my pleasure to read in a long while. The world here is huge and populated with a vast array of races and creatures. The laughs come quick and often but it is not just a comedy novel, more an adventure with comedic elements.

The 'Kings' themselves (one of whom actually IS a king now) are a good fun bunch to spend time with, so much so that the nearly 500 pages flew past way too quickly. I'll be honest, I didn't want it to end.

How best to describe this book? I'd probably say Dungeons and Dragons meets Spinal Tap - and I guess that tells you all you need to know. The next time The Band reforms I promise you one thing - I'll be in the front row.

An excellent debut and a name to keep an eye out for in the future 5/5 stars

*Let's be honest though, this book is so damned good there's no way this will be the last mission.

Days of glory long belonging to the past, Grandual's once most celebrated band is scattered throughout the kingdom. 20 years passed by and not kindly for most of them. Clay Cooper lives a quiet, paceful life surrounded by his family, Moog spends his days researching and selling remedies for those in need, Matrick sits upon Agria's throne trying not to think too much about fatherhood and drinking, Ganelon is still petrified after committing a crime and Gabe tries to put his life back together. Which turns out to harder than he hoped, since his daughter, Rose following her dad's footsteps had become a mercenary. She put together her own band and when the call had come she hurried to save Castia from doom. And got herself trapped inside it. Leaving no choice for Gabe but to follow her with his old band mates in tow. Throughout their journey, they revisit several places holding memories of a life full of drinking, fighting, laughing, ravaging. They rekindle not only with each other but with old friends and enemies as well. Old feuds and scars are being opened, new ones are being received. All of it serving only one purpose: to prove Saga is not out of their game yet despite them being old men, that they are still Kings of the Wyld.

Nicholas Eames leads the readers through the story with a natural easiness, not leaving time to feel bored or let the mind wander to places it's not supposed to wander to. The world building is good, and although we only get glimpses of some parts, it's good to know they are there, that they can be visited in later books. The book also introduces a rather simple religious system, of wich Eames makes a good use. The author's imagination seems limitless, and we meet countless monsters roaming the Wyld. Some of them quite traditional, some come with a new twist, some are completely new. But all of them are capable of haunting your dreams if you are not careful enough.

The strongest feature of this book are the characters. They are all fleshed out, have their distinct attributes and work wonderfully together. If you can't find your favorite by the end of the book, then you're doing something wrong. An extra point goes for the female characters. There aren't many, but at least they are not the damsel in distress kind of characters, whom you'd like to slap to make them come to their senses. Some of them are kick ass indeed and not the idle side acts of a tour, I must add. Many of the side characters are worth mentioning, but then this review would never end. I will mention Moog however, because he is the most awesome of them all. Sure, Clay is smart and loyal, Matrick is cunning and fast with his beloved knives, Ganelon can hold up a small army on his own and Gabe can make anyone follow him to the end of the world. But at the end of the day Moog is the one who makes everything seem like fun and a great adventure, no matter how dire the situation is. And whose giving, caring nature will melt the hardest heart too.

The pace is great, it has the right rhythm with funny scenes lighting the mood here or there. The band analogue works greatly through the story, and honestly, it's hard to comprehend why no one thought of this before. The only criticism can be offered because of the ending. It seemed a tiny bit rushed and left some questions unanswered - not important ones, mind you, but just enough to make you wonder while you wait for the next book to come out, because then you most probably will get new questions to worry about.

If you are still hesitating whether you should read Kings of the Wyld, let me tell you what to expect: this book will make you laugh out loud, then will force you on your knees, will punch you in the face, will help you up with a smile just to kick you in the gut for an emphasis. And you will enjoy it all. This story is like a great song which makes you feel calm, angry, happy, sad, surprised with its melodies and lyrics. Kings of the Wyld most probably will lift Nicholas Eames up to be the new rockstar of the fantasy world in the coming years.

Legends are told, or sung, of Saga, the greatest band alive…but that was twenty years ago. Current events see their families and the world in danger, and Saga must get the band back together for one last gig, one that's sure to go down in history.

This was a really entertaining read from start to finish with never a dull moment. The characters all have their unique traits and play off one another very well and believably, and all show growth, even if it's growing back from a wasted shell of who they once were. The whole play on fantasy meets rock band is freakin' genius and I can't believe it took this long for someone to capitalize on that idea. Each band member kinda plays the role of an actual band, even down to the weapons they use (i.e. daggers for drumsticks).
This book pretty much has it all: action, adventure, long treks to save loved ones, comradery, pain, loss, love, hardship, finding oneself, humor, crazy and memorable characters (including an undead bard), tons of creatures, and baby owlbears...yes, I said baby owlbears!

I really loved this book, and would recommend to anyone who loves fantasy and is looking for a fresh take on the genre.

More like 4.5.

As I creep up on the big 4-0, I've been thinking more and more about what it means to get old and no longer be relevant. It's the easiest thing in the world to be strong and beautiful when you're young. Youth and beauty are essentially synonymous in Western culture. We seem to treat aging people (esp. celebrities) as if they've contracted some sort of disfiguring and embarrassing sexually transmitted disease.

Wait... what was I talking about? Oh yeah. The book. What's cool about Kings of the Wyld is it celebrates one of the main the strengths of getting older - experience. So yeah, at 25 my jeans were a size or two smaller, I didn't have any grey hairs, and my skin was as smooth as a baby's backside. But let's be real. I was a moron! I thought, said, and did things that literally make me cringe to this very day. You couldn't pay me enough money to go back to those days.

Beyond celebrating that people are in fact still people (and still evolving) even after they're past their "prime", this book is also chock full of humor, from subtle dry wit to full blown belly laugh moments. Loved the premise, loved the execution, and can't wait for more in this series.

As my kids have recently gotten slightly into roleplaying games and I've been hauling out all my old D&D books, it's sparked me to poke around and try some current fantasy authors. This one caught my eye and it's definitely a fun page-turner. The basic premise of this world is that the classic D&D adventuring parties work kind of like rock-and-roll bands, with booking agents, fans, and fame. In the opening chapter we meet the equivalent of the bassist of a once legendary band from twenty years ago -- he's living a quiet life in the country with his wife and child, when one dark night a stranger appears. Only, it isn't a stranger, it's his old bandmate, and he needs the band to get back together for one last adventure...

What follows is basically a super-fun writeup of a D&D campaign, as the weary warriors hit the road to try and convince the rest of the band to get back together. Suffice to say that many many wacky antics ensure as complications pile upon complications and various foes emerge along the way. There's quite a lot to like: the combat is clearly told and not overly heroic, there are dashes of real-life problems (I especially liked that the group's wizard had been spending two decades trying to discover a cure for a disease), a very colorful supporting cast, no elves, a good running gag about owlbears, completely unreliable magic, cannibals, and just a very strong sense of pacing. Yes, there's a lot of walking around (and a little flying), but it's all fun. I'll definitely read whatever's next from Eames.

Fantasy meets Classic Rock and turns it up to eleven! There, this review is essentially done. Nothing else really needs to be said. Now go get a copy of this book!

If that doesn't satisfy you then <sigh> fine I'll say a bit more...

In his debut novel Nicholas Eames explores what it would look like if mercenary bands in a fantasy setting were treated like rock stars in our world. And boy does he ever deliver. From the moment you open to page one until you read the final line you're taken on a reunion tour with a "band" of mercenaries who set out on the most important gig of their career. And as with any legendary touring band it's a road trip for the ages.

Clay Cooper, one of the five members of the legendary merc band Saga (if you don't count all the bards who died over the years...cuz the bards always seem to die) comes home one evening to find his old band mate Gabriel waiting on his doorstep. Gabe has come to beg Clay to help him get the band back together. He's asked this before, always wanting to round up the guys and head off on some great new adventure which Clay has always turned down. But this time it's different. This time Gabe needs them to help rescue his daughter who is besieged with her own band of mercs beyond the Heartwyld wilderness in the city of Castia by a horde of monsters who won't leave anyone alive. Clay soon discovers he can't refuse this request and together they set off to reunite the band one last time, on one last great adventure.

I absolutely loved the concept behind Kings Of The Wyld. In an interview included at the back of the book Eames is asked where he got the idea for the story and he says, "I thought, How cool would it be to read a book in which mercenary bands acted (and were treated like) rock stars?" The "bands" go on "tours," they have managers who get them jobs (and aren't always looking out for the band's best interest), there are scores of adoring fans, they get drunk, party, and burn down the house (literally), and as time goes on the classic bands of the previous generation have given way to newer younger bands who have a different style, but just aren't as good.

And the concept works perfectly. It isn't just the language Eames uses in describing the bands and their history and following. It extends into so much of the narrative detail such as veiled references to the new generation of bands, describing them like the glamrock bands of the 80's who followed the classic rock bands of the 60's and 70's; bands that had crazy hair, wore make-up, and were good, but not as good as the legends who preceded them. The weapons Saga utilizes are also symbolic of a rock band; Matrick wields two knives like a drummer and his sticks, Ganelon wields his great axe like a lead guitarist, and Clay with his great shield is on bass without whom the band would fall apart.

And to top it all off Eames completes the rock band theme by giving the book a soundtrack! Yeah you read that right, the book has a soundtrack with songs by The Who, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Neil Young, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, AC-DC, and many more. There are songs associated with the "imaginary opening credits," most chapters, and even specific characters. According to Eames the songs were the inspiration behind certain chapters and characters as he was writing. Listening to each song before starting a new chapter definitely helped set a mood for the whole book in a way that just reading the text would not. You can check out the soundtrack at Eames' website here.

But take away the rock band theme and Kings Of The Wyld is still a great fantasy adventure. It has what you'd expect - fighters, mages, rogues, and even bards (who die). It has monsters galore - I mean a ton of monsters, big ones (dragons) to little ones (monkey's with flaming poo). It has a quest because what's a good fantasy story without a quest? So yeah it's got a lot of what you'd expect. But Eames does a lot with it. The quest isn't the farm boy saving the world, instead it's a bunch of tired, old, out of shape, middle aged guys saving the world with a little help from their friends (see what I did there?). The crap ton of monsters serves a purpose in the world building and plot beyond just existing as foes to be vanquished. And the characters, lead or otherwise are at the heart of the story as if the plot serves them as much as they serve it.

Those characters are written beautifully even if a rock/mercenary band wouldn't want to be described that way. Eames takes care to continually paint his characters as what they are, middle aged and out of shape legends who are past their prime (with the exception of one that I don't want to give too much away about). These aged mercs have beer bellies and run out of juice much faster than they would've in their twenties. This plays into their fighting ability and provides even more suspense than the usual fantasy novel where the heroes are in their prime.

But their age gives them a wisdom and depth that you don't normally get to see in most fantasy heroes. They are on a quest to save a bandmate's grown daughter. That plotline drives everything they do. They approach it not with the rash bravado of youth, but with the caring camaraderie of old friendships and family ties. And because of that the heart of this book isn't really a rescue story; it's one about friendship and what it means to be a good man and to do the right thing. This aspect of Eames' main characters gives the story a deep, rich, well from which he continually draws forth some of the most touching and moving emotions I've read in a fantasy novel in a long time.

Now don't let that fool you into thinking this is a sappy drama meant to get you in touch with your feelings. For one it's more humorous than sentimental. In fact it's funny as hell! There weren't two pages that went by where I didn't laugh out loud at least once. Coming from me that is pretty impressive because I don't usually laugh at humor in books. I recognize it and laugh in my mind, but when a book actually makes me give sound to my chuckle that's a big feat. And I laughed constantly.

But Kings Of The Wyld is more than emotion and humor. It's well written fantasy with a martial air, because how can you have a novel about mercenary bands without great battles? The fight scenes are very well crafted and there are plenty of them to keep the hack and slash readers happy. The descriptive combat choreography was vivid and exciting with numerous surprises woven into the narrative to keep you guessing what might happen next, especially in the case of one slightly off his rocker mage with almost anything in his bag of tricks.

Eames also seems to have put a lot of thought into his world building. Kings Of The Wyld takes place on a massive continent with diverse kingdoms and peoples supported by a common ancient history that shapes the course of events in the present. Set in the middle of the continent like a vast inland sea separating the kingdoms of the east from the republic in the west looms the Heartwyld, a great ancient forest populated by every monster of your fantasy nightmares. Eames drops in enough snippets of culture and history throughout the book to keep the reader interested without dumping so much background that the narrative gets bogged down. This isn't world building like George R. R. Martin's Song Of Ice And Fire series, but it doesn't need to be. Though Kings Of The Wyld takes the characters across the breadth of the continent the focus is still narrow, zeroed in on the small band of men and the immediate events surrounding them on their quest. It's that narrow focus on these friends that makes it so relatable and endearing.

Some readers may find fault with the fact that all of the main characters are men. Indeed, all of the female characters are minor with the possible exception of Larkspur a humanoid with birdlike wings who is something of a badass. Larkspur turned out to be my favorite character outside of the band itself and I found myself wishing to read more of her. In truth I like Larkspur more than some of the core five characters. There is diversity among the characters however and one is homosexual though his sexuality is discussed more than it is really experienced.

Eames may be making up for the lack of a main female characters in his follow-up book Bloody Rose which is due out in April I believe. Book two of what will be known as the Band series will focus on Gabriel's daughter Rose who may be more of an ass kicker than her old man. And that music theme is going to show up again according to Eames.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm really looking forward to an 80's rock inspired Bloody Rose!

Let me just say there isn't much I disliked about Kings Of The Wyld. In fact I can't really think of anything at the moment. At first I thought it might be kind of gimmicky but believe me when I say it wasn't. Eames has proven himself to be an author to keep an eye on and has gifted us with a thoroughly great and enjoyable read...one that I would recommend to anyone. Action packed, funny, and moving. Easily one of my favorite fantasy novels. Pick it up, you won't regret it.

I would really rate this a 4.5 stars - extremely enjoyable, humorous read, but I usually give out my 5 star ratings pretty rarely. That being said, I went ahead and rounded up because of how much I enjoyed this book and since it was a debut novel I gave it an extra little nudge.

On to the book itself - our main character is Clay Cooper, a pretty unassuming guardsman in a backwater town. We find out pretty quickly though that Clay was a pretty big deal in the past, even if he wouldn't advertise that fact himself. He and his "band mates" made up the mercenary group Saga, which was the biggest, baddest mercenary group around in their day. There's the "frontman" Golden Gabe, prior cutpurse-now King Matrick, pajama-wearing Wizard Moog, and fiercest axe-man of them all, Ganelon. Toward the beginning of the book (and later on too) there's a heavy reliance on all the rock n' roll terms the mercenary bands used (going on tour, frontman, band, I'm sure I'm forgetting a lot more). It's a little heavy handed but not to the point that it detracted from my enjoyment.

Anyhow, we quickly meet Clay's best friend and the frontman of Saga, Golden Gabe when he comes to Clay's backwater town to try to convince Clay to come out on tour one last time (get the band back together again!) to save Gabe's daughter, Rose.

In this secondary world pretty much every monster you've ever run across playing D&D, any RPG out there, and any fantasy novel written might make an appearance. There's a big swath of untamed wilderness in the middle of the world called the Heartwyld that houses every kind of nasty you can think of and then some.

A good portion of this book is spent gathering up the members of Saga, running across their old friends and companions, and journeying toward their final destination. It's a really fun journey with a lot of twists to it and at least there's a tangible purpose driving them onward, not just wandering for the sake of it.

Despite a lot of punny, humorous moments, there are some genuinely touching parts to the narrative too that shouldn't be overlooked. The characters, especially Clay, come across as genuine three-dimensional people even if their exploits are a bit larger than life (as they should be). The taste of the sequel was quite enjoyable (excerpt at the back of the book) and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Years ago, Clay Cooper was a member of Saga, an adventuring band beyond compare. They were heroes ploughing the depths of the Heartwyld Forest for treasure and adventurer, slaughtering monsters and rescuing captive princesses. They were legends. But they got old, they got fat, they retired and had kids. They grew up.

But now their frontman Gabe wants to get the band back together. His daughter Rose is a mercenary captain defending the city of Castia from a horde of monsters...but Castia is a thousand miles away beyond the treacherous Heartwyld and a forbidding mountain range. Worse still, the boys are not ready to get back on the road. One of them's got an incurable disease, another one has been unwisely made a king and another has been turned to stone. It falls, reluctantly, to the slow and steady Clay to get the guys back together for this one last gig.

Kings of the Wyld is a fast-paced, humorous sword and sorcery story. At its heart, this is a traditional story so familiar that it feels like a greatest hits of your favourite genre mashed together. On this basis it would be fun but forgettable, the fantasy equivalent of a Big Mac, if it wasn't for the book's masterstroke: in the world of Grandual, adventuring companies are treated like rock bands, putting on shows in gladiatorial arenas, splitting up acrimoniously, heroes going solo and of course getting back in their old age to make money when they realise they miss the old lifestyle.

It's a silly conceit but one that works surprisingly well and is sustained through the novel, which allows for commentary on things like ageing, the relationship between youngsters brimming with enthusiasm and their elders who've seen it all before and the dangers of falling prey to nostalgia. They things are handled fairly lightly though. This is a book that's more concerned with having fun.

There's a lot of inspiration from Dungeons and Dragons, particularly the less-copyright-infringing end of the Monstrous Manual, with revenants, ettins and ettercaps showing up (but not owlbears, obviously, as they are both dumb and completely mythical), but no elves or dwarves. The villain is surprisingly up-front and present in the novel and his motivations are quite well-drawn, and there's also a well-deployed cast of supporting characters such as the members of friendly rival band Vanguard who are as interesting as our main heroes and a remorseless angelic bounty-hunter who makes for a fearsome enemy, but also a worthy (if unreliable) ally.

Eames packs an enormous amount of plot, characters, battles and quips into a 450-page-long novel and the whole thing moves with verve, pace and humour.

On the minor side of things, if the rock band theme and influences don't work for you, then the novel never really rises about the serviceable. The prose is okay and the book is enjoyable, but undeniably lightweight.

Kings of the Wyld (***½) is a rollicking fun novel which acts as a good palate-cleanser if you've been reading some pretty heavy books recently.

This was fantastic! I listened to it on audio book due to having a credit on Audible and having been really wanting to read this one for a while now. It was funny, adventurous, and fantastical. I loved everything from the characters, to the villains, to the fantastical creatures, the world building down to the banter and sheer humor found among this Band. It was everything I expected from a band of guys who used to fight together and were Kings of the Wyld getting back together to go on one last adventure. Each character has his own unique backstory that is rich and fulfills the backstory bits we need to understand how each character is and why he's the way he is, to find out what drives them to go along in this last adventure. Even the side characters whom the mercenaries meet along their adventure are fleshed out and fun to learn and see weaved in and out throughout the book.

Kings of the Wyld is a fun and fast-paced adventure from beginning to end, and a book I'll gladly recommend to any fans of the fantasy genre.

On the surface the story is pretty straight-forward but it has deeper layers which Nicholas Eames explores mainly through his characters and world-building. The dynamic between our heroes feels natural and you really get the sense these mercenaries have known each other for many years before the book starts.

The prose is excellent and does a great job in reflecting the world and its inhabitants in a natural and fun way. I actually laughed out loud a few times while reading and the humoristic tone was perfectly evened out, managing to not become overbearing or cringy.

Kings of the Wyld is really an impressive debut by a talented author and I can't wait for what he comes up with next.

Imagine, if you will, the current Rolling Stones, The Who, Danzig, or any great band past its prime as a group of monster-slaying mercenaries. Imagine if instead of cash, fame, or one last tour, everything was at stake and they had to play like they did when they were in their prime. Imagine also a work of lowbrow fantasy akin to Michael Moorcock's drug addled Elric, but with heart and soul and a few manly tear jerking moments.
Kings of the Wyld slashes its way through the cliches and pays homage to its influences (including Gary Gygax)in a new and inventive way. It's a bit raunchy, a lot crude, and full of great hooks. It's rock 'n roll fantasy and here's hoping we get more great fantasy from Eames.

Kings of the Wyld reads like a book about what would happen if me and my group of friends set off on an ill-advised quest and the absolute hilarity and ridiculousness that would follow, complete with the requisite foul language.

I loved this book. My favorite fantasy novels have been the epics: Stormlight Archive, Wheel of Time, etc. This is not that. This is a light-hearted romp through the fantasy genre's most storied tropes and it subverts them left and right and it thankfully doesn't dwell on any of that high and mighty, holier than thou malarkey a lot of novels get bogged down into.

The men are bastards, The women are bastards, The beasts are bastards, and anyone who steps out of line is liable to get punched in the face regardless of gender or leg count. The pacing in this book can be quick at times, but i'd call 90% of the book just the right pace. Often those transitions that would make up chapters upon chapters of longer text are relegated to, "And then, being badasses, they did so." or something along those lines.

All in all, there's one word to describe the book. Fun. Genuinely hilarious , with people that don't speak like they're caught in a PG-13 fantasy, and a plot that interesting enough to keep the pages turning, Kings of the Wyld is one of the best and likely the most fun book I've read in years. My only complaint would be the entire novel is spent getting to a certain destination only to wrap up that whole affair rather quickly. But the book even kind of acknowledges that in a way that made sense for this text.

I eagerly await Book 2 of The Band, series, Bloody Rose.

I really enjoyed this book. You can tell the author is a big fan of Joe Abercrombie, but the writing is unique. Some parts are more silly than deeply funny, but overall, it's a fun read. I'd say his strengths as a writer lie primarily in character building and sentence structure. The plot is quite basic, with a few twists here and there. Read it like you are watching a fun action film, and I don't think you'll be disappointed. I'd give this book 5 stars if it had a stronger plot.

“There was something wrong about this moment. Like watching a beard-spider dance, or getting stabbed on your birthday.”

If you’re looking for the perfect balance of blues, you’re last D&D campaign, and a bunch of old dudes, then rest your weary toes and dive into Nicholas Eames’ debut novel. With a dark sense of humor and characters that surprise you with moments of earnest depth, “Kings of the Wyld” is a brilliant reminder that a story doesn’t need to be dark, moody, or even overly unique, to sweep you away in a new world and leave you aching to stay there for just a page more.

“Slowhand” Clay Cooper is a retired member of the legendary mercenary band “Saga.” Or at least they were legendary 18 years ago, but now Clay is married, has a daughter, and is undisputedly… old. When his best friend and former band mate Gabe shows up on his doorstep begging for help to save his daughter, Clay reluctantly leaves his family, helps Gabe gather the band back together. They bumble through aching backs, creatures pulled straight from the D&D monster manual, and face an enemy more deadly than any they did in their glory days.

Solid 8.5/10, and I would definitely recommend to a friend. A fantastic mix of Grimdark and Sword and Sorcery, for a story that will leave you laughing, and then suckerpunch you in the feels before you can recover.

Kings of the Wyld is a fast-paced fantasy adventure. The clever idea of a world where mercenary groups are treated like rock bands is a great start. But it’s where Nicholas Eames takes this concept that makes the book a real rock star.

Clay Cooper’s glory days are long behind him. He spends his days on watch looking out at a mountain where nothing ever happens and then goes home to a wife and daughter who love him. Then one day, Gabriel the former leader of Saga, Clay’s band of mercenaries, shows up at his doorstep. Gabe’s daughter Rose is a mercenary in her own right but she’s trapped in the walled city of Castia, surrounded by a horde of monsters and facing all but certain death. Gabe plans to rescue her but he needs Clay’s help. They need to put the band back together.

If just reading that line puts a smile on your face, then this is the book for you. It’s an adventure full of excitement and humor and surprising moments of real emotion. Most of the members of Saga have aged and settled into new lives, from Matrick who is now a king to Moog, the pajama wearing wizard who finances his arcane research with the profits from a magical erectile dysfunction cure he invented. Ganelon, the remaining band member, has been turned to stone for crimes committed around the time the band broke up.

Putting the band back together takes up the first part of the book and allows the opportunity to get to know the various characters. Once the band is reunited, they must cross the Heartwyld. A vast forest filled with every monster imaginable. On the other side is a horde laying seige to Castia. The forest and the horde is home to more monsters than I’ve seen in any three fantasy novels. That’s part of what makes this book so fun. It is over the top outlandish with great action, wonderful humor and emotional moments that touch you when you least expect them and keep everything grounded. Gabe’s rousing call to battle is a speech that almost made me want to take up a sword and charge onto the field.

This book is a tremendous amount of fun, all the more remarkable that it’s a debut novel. The conclusion wraps up the story arc nicely, while making it clear that this is a world where plenty more adventures are waiting to be had. The world-building is wonderful and populated, no stuffed, with fascinating creatures and characters. Buckle up for a wyld ride. Highly recommended.

I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book.

The book is clever, well written and managed to make me laugh out loud at probably the most inappropriate times, during some horrendous scenes,...it was that type of book. This book evoked moments of nostalgia, emotions, memories long forgotten, as I was swept away from the opening to the end of this book. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to more from Nicholas Eames. Work well done, Nicholas, well done.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were groan moments, and tropes, and huge battles. It was fun, funny, and heartfelt. There were deep moments in this book. I think those who did not enjoy it possibly have reading comprehension issues, as I feel it is written for a more mature audience. It is not clever, but it is witty, and a really fun read.

It may not be for everyone, but it was definitely for me!

This is a great story, with a nice pace. Its got great humor and characters. The only thing that threw me out of the story was the mention of Matrick siring "five children without unzipping his pants." Magical armor in this universe yeah, zippers not so much, but still a good read. Lots of sly humor and puns. I passed it on to my dad and he really likes it and from a retired Special Forces guy (Korea, Vietnam, etc.) who actually hired out as a merc as a young man this is a compliment.

If you liked the Black Company books by Glen Cook, you will like the Kings of The Wyld. It doesn't take itself as seriously as the Black Company series, whether or not that's good is up to you. The sense of humor is similar, the real-language-in-fantasy-world is similar. My only real complaint is that I thought the mercenaries-as-rockstars thing got pushed a little over the top into goofy territory in places. It was still WELL worth the read, and im recommending it to all of my friends.

This was old fantasy writing. No politics or got just straight delicious action fun and emotion. The kind of book you want to read if your heart needs a little life breathed into it. Highly recommend it. I just wish their wod be more of the charachters bit i dont see how. Moogs phylactery was a riot. Even my wife looked at me crosseyed when she heard my maniacal laughing. Good job Nick.

I purchased this book based solely on reviews. They were all great, the ones I read anyways. Well, that is a lesson learned. I believe that those people reviewing this book with 4 and 5 stars are being genuine, it's just a matter of tastes.

The story line is good, Overall it did not feel like a completely recycled fantasy story line. However, the author is infatuated with sarcasm and after he used the same set up 20 times in the first 20 minutes of the book, it grew stale... "The listener was grimacing, almost as if he was expecting a corny punch line, which of course he was."
Over and over.

I enjoy fantasy, and this book has it's place. But it is more Monty Python than Lord of the Rings.

I read this book because my son handed it to me. Since he's been being a good sport and trying books I have recommended to him (I have him totally sucked into Jim Butcher), I wanted to be a good sport and try his book. I loved this book. It is crazy funny, yet the characters are still perfectly written and full of heart and flaws and I love them. The plot is rich and unexpected. And I can't believe how well written it is for a first book for this author. It's a book I will be recommending wildly. Or rather, Wyldly. I guess I should warn that it's a book about fantasy world mercenaries, so there's a lot of killing in the book, mostly of evil fantasy creatures, not people, but still, you are forewarned.

This was a cracking read, with a great story driven by a very particular brand of humour. It’s like what you might end up with if Joe Abercrombie and Terry Pratchett sat down to write a book together while listening to Spinal Tap and early Black Sabbath on endless repeat.

I only have one real criticism that stops this from being a 5-star book – sure there’s a bit of a soggy patch in the final third and some of the worldbuilding is a bit iffy in places, but a truly magnificent ending more than makes up for that. The criticism is, oddly, the thing I most enjoyed about this book, and that’s the humour. I’m a big classic rock fan and I enjoyed every joke in the book. There are a lot of them and they’re brilliant, IF you get them.

If you’re not into rock music I have a feeling some of the best things about this work might pass you by, but as I say it’s still a damn fine read and a very worthy debut that has me looking forward to the next one in the series.

Though I don’t often read fantasy fiction, I’m glad I made an exception for KOTW. I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with Saga. Great character troupe; they are all “rock stars” and I would be hard pressed to choose my favorite. The author draws you into their world and you won’t be ready to leave them when you finish the book! Can’t wait for the next installment to delve deeper into the characters' lives and loves.

This is my new favorite book. I couldn't stop reading it. I can't wait for the second book in the Series Bloody Rose. I wish the author had more books because not only was the book fun, funny, action packed, and had a lot of heart, the author has a really good writing style that caused me to not want to put the book down.

Just finished Kings of the Wyld. Holy poop. I love these guys. Clay is my spirit animal. The whole book is like listening to my subconscious narrate my day.... Great job Nicholas Eames. I kindle good books. But great books go on my shelves. What a fun ride.

The book's pacing is fantastic. I bet it would be an easy movie adaptation.

The characters are memorable and the dialogue is excellent.

This was a very entertaining read and has catapulted Nicholas Eames to the top of my favorite authors. I can't wait to read more of his work!

You know what? I had a blast reading this book. Pure and simple, I had a blast. The author took every conceivable fantasy trope and cliché, took them all out on an extended pub crawl, and had one hell of a bash. It was funny, endearing, chaotic, silly at times...and I enjoyed every minute of it.

I'm sure theres a lot of people who would enjoy this story, but it definitely wasn't for me. I found this book trying to find something to replace my love for the A Song of Ice and Fire series, and was willing to go down a more fantastical route. I found this book to be too heavy with the fantasy, pushed even further than something like the Lord of the Rings series in the many many creatures and magical elements of the world. For older (probably married) readers, this book may be more interesting/relatable. The characters in this book are mostly married guys living under oppressive and sad marriages, and the author goes through great lengths to talk about the depressing life they live as fathers and husbands. As an unmarried younger guy, this story doesn't really do anything for me. One of the characters in this book, established as a very intelligent, strong, person who became the King of the land, is found to be living with his wife who literally tries to have him assassinated on the daily, TO HIS KNOWLEDGE, not to mention having several kids with his guards, and yet acts as if he's just resigned to this life and doesn't care. It makes no sense to me that someone would live in this situation so resigned, and it seems like the author is really pushing hard to an audience of married men who feel their wives oppress them. Just wasn't my thing, those are my thoughts.

This was fantastic! I listened to it on audio book due to having a credit on Audible and having been really wanting to read this one for a while now. It was funny, adventurous, and fantastical. I loved everything from the characters, to the villains, to the fantastical creatures, the world building down to the banter and sheer humor found among this Band. It was everything I expected from a band of guys who used to fight together and were Kings of the Wyld getting back together to go on one last adventure. Each character has his own unique backstory that is rich and fulfills the backstory bits we need to understand how each character is and why he's the way he is, to find out what drives them to go along in this last adventure. Even the side characters whom the mercenaries meet along their adventure are fleshed out and fun to learn and see weaved in and out throughout the book.

Kings of the Wyld is a fun and fast-paced adventure from beginning to end, and a book I'll gladly recommend to any fans of the fantasy genre.

On the surface the story is pretty straight-forward but it has deeper layers which Nicholas Eames explores mainly through his characters and world-building. The dynamic between our heroes feels natural and you really get the sense these mercenaries have known each other for many years before the book starts.

The prose is excellent and does a great job in reflecting the world and its inhabitants in a natural and fun way. I actually laughed out loud a few times while reading and the humoristic tone was perfectly evened out, managing to not become overbearing or cringy.

Kings of the Wyld is really an impressive debut by a talented author and I can't wait for what he comes up with next.

Imagine, if you will, the current Rolling Stones, The Who, Danzig, or any great band past its prime as a group of monster-slaying mercenaries. Imagine if instead of cash, fame, or one last tour, everything was at stake and they had to play like they did when they were in their prime. Imagine also a work of lowbrow fantasy akin to Michael Moorcock's drug addled Elric, but with heart and soul and a few manly tear jerking moments.
Kings of the Wyld slashes its way through the cliches and pays homage to its influences (including Gary Gygax)in a new and inventive way. It's a bit raunchy, a lot crude, and full of great hooks. It's rock 'n roll fantasy and here's hoping we get more great fantasy from Eames.

Kings of the Wyld reads like a book about what would happen if me and my group of friends set off on an ill-advised quest and the absolute hilarity and ridiculousness that would follow, complete with the requisite foul language.

I loved this book. My favorite fantasy novels have been the epics: Stormlight Archive, Wheel of Time, etc. This is not that. This is a light-hearted romp through the fantasy genre's most storied tropes and it subverts them left and right and it thankfully doesn't dwell on any of that high and mighty, holier than thou malarkey a lot of novels get bogged down into.

The men are bastards, The women are bastards, The beasts are bastards, and anyone who steps out of line is liable to get punched in the face regardless of gender or leg count. The pacing in this book can be quick at times, but i'd call 90% of the book just the right pace. Often those transitions that would make up chapters upon chapters of longer text are relegated to, "And then, being badasses, they did so." or something along those lines.

All in all, there's one word to describe the book. Fun. Genuinely hilarious , with people that don't speak like they're caught in a PG-13 fantasy, and a plot that interesting enough to keep the pages turning, Kings of the Wyld is one of the best and likely the most fun book I've read in years. My only complaint would be the entire novel is spent getting to a certain destination only to wrap up that whole affair rather quickly. But the book even kind of acknowledges that in a way that made sense for this text.

I eagerly await Book 2 of The Band, series, Bloody Rose.

I really enjoyed this book. You can tell the author is a big fan of Joe Abercrombie, but the writing is unique. Some parts are more silly than deeply funny, but overall, it's a fun read. I'd say his strengths as a writer lie primarily in character building and sentence structure. The plot is quite basic, with a few twists here and there. Read it like you are watching a fun action film, and I don't think you'll be disappointed. I'd give this book 5 stars if it had a stronger plot.

THE GOOD: Larger than life heroes kicking ass and (re)taking their names as the greatest mercenary band to tour the Wyld; more monsters than a Dungeons & Dragons careers’ fair; a high stakes adventure of friends, fiends and f*** ups; more heavy hitting battles than a greatest hits collection; and a hall of fame page-turning performance to make the Bat Outta Hell sit back, buckle up, and hold on for the god-damned ride of its life.

THE BAD: It had to end? Seriously, I have one hell of a book hangover after this. Though, and in favour of fairness, if I had to (nit) pick a downside to this cracking debut, it’d be elements of info dumping early on – but don’t let that stop you reading this story, as I’ll explain why it didn’t bother me below in the main review.

THE UGLY TRUTH: Good old-fashioned fantasy heroes, the loud, the proud, and never to be cowed, knocking back whiskies in a sticky-floored, dim-lit dive bar, moshing with every monster known to Dungeons & Dragons; all whilst Terry Pratchett hosts a lock-in of Rock-n-f***ing-Roll tribute bands belting out ear melting hits better than the original act ever did on stage, because they’re doing it for the love of the music, and they love what they do. But if I had to sum Kings of the Wyld in one sentence: They don’t make ‘em like this anymore.

Saga was once the greatest mercenary band to tour the Heartwyld. Golden Gabe the charismatic frontman, Clay ‘Slowhand’ Cooper the ever-reliable warrior, Moog the magnificent wizard, Matrick Skulldrummer the loveable rogue, and Ganelon the killer. But every star fades with time, and the five members of the band have retired. Since there last circuit, everything has changed. The world’s a new place, and Saga and its members are memories of the old ways, the way things used to be – which provides ample opportunity for plot twists, world building, and of course, madness and mayhem, in this rip-roaring rock’n’roll headbanger from debut author Nicholas Eames.

The action comes thick and fast, but so too does the humour. Not to point out every ‘funny’ as film trailers seem to these days (which would be impossible, as there’s so many in this book) but particular highlights for me include: Steve the doorknocker, Kit the unkillable, a staff that turns swords into something else, a kobold’s cock ring (even if only a mention, but my god, what the fu-?), and the melee involving combatants wielding a hammer, a shield and 3 raging erections. As mad as it sounds, it makes perfect sense. Some might even turn their nose up at that last particular mention, citing immaturity or toilet humour, but it’s not. KotW is mature, its grown up, but it’s still got that energy of a garage band breaking out onto the scene.

For me, KotW nails one theme above all others, which might go unnoticed by some, like the low range rhythm of the bass guitar during: the solo by the lead, or the drummer’s breakdown, or the vocal’s pitch at the finale; but like that same bass rhythm this theme runs start to finish, unending and unerring. And that theme is companionship. Speaking from personal experience, both having played in bands, and as a soldier in a section(/squad), there’s a certain familiar magic between the comrades in arms, and Eames casts a spell with it in the interactions between Saga’s members.

One of the main concepts, the whole fantasy meets classic rock, doesn’t get old. It works, and it works so well that you don’t question it. As a matter of fact, unless it’s pointed out to you at the start, you’re not slapped about the head with it. Suddenly, as you read, you’ll have a eureka moment of ‘oh, I see what Eames has done here!’ Its’ brilliance lies in its simplicity, and the fact that it’s interwoven throughout the story, the characters, the world itself. Without spoiling anything, here’s a few examples:

Characters:
• Clay ‘Slowhand’ Cooper holds the (bass)line of the band (Saga) and the very story itself. A stoic warrior of old, armed with his fabled shield Blackheart and whatever comes to hand, Clay reminded me of Steven Erikson’s Fiddler, but with more heart, and Joe Abercrombie’s Logen Ninefingers, but with more hope. He’s a good man, not afraid to do the bad thing, if it means the difference between right and wrong.
• Gabriel ‘Golden Gabe’ is the charismatic frontman, the cover boy, and the voice (lead singer) of Saga. From the washed-up waste-of-space at the start of the book, to his return to the golden age by the end, his personal quest to save his daughter might be the goal, but his journey of self rediscovery is what gets him there.
• Arcandius Moog the mystical, maniacal, and above all moving keyboard player. A pyjama wearing wizard who supports his own life’s pursuit to cure ‘the rot’ (which claimed the life of his dearly loved husband) by selling Magic Moog’s Phallic Phyllactery. Read that again. Yes, you read it correctly. Moog sells a male performance enhancer that’ll turn you from ‘zero to hero’. I kid you not, you can’t make this shit up…and Eames has, which is testament to his creativity and innovation.
• Matrick Skulldrummer, the party’s ‘lively’ rogue with a penchant for drink, takes the role of drummer (it’s in the name) armed with his twin knives Roxy and Grace. He and Moog provide much of Saga’s comic relief, as well as one of its most heartfelt moments. Like all of them, Matty was at his peak in his yester year, when he saved the Princess of Agria and swiftly bedded his way to kingship. Now, he’s all but captive in his own kingdom, and only Saga can give him a way out.
• Ganelon the axeman. Big, bold and badass, he shreds his foes both as part of the band, or ‘solo’. Lead guitarist if you hadn’t guessed it. We’re not properly introduced to him until a little later on in the story, but when he arrives on stage he’s greeted by raucous applause, not in the least because he all but singlehandedly takes on one of the most fearsome monsters that the Wyld has to throw at Saga.

The World:
• Mercenary groups/parties are known as ‘bands’. Almost everyone with a sword, shield, spear, or a stone/stick/scrap of ambition wants to be in a ‘band’.
• The ‘bands’ score ‘gigs’ via ‘bookers’ who manage their careers.
• These ‘gigs’ for the most part take them on ‘tours’ of the Heartwyld.
• The ‘bands’ are welcomed by parades of screaming fans when they return from their ‘tours’.

Speaking of world building, I’d like to take a moment to discuss my one and only problem with KotW. And it’s not the world itself – hell no, Eames has absolutely smashed it with this; I for one normally turn-off to fantasy realms populated with goblins, orcs, slimes, owlbears, giants, wyverns, and every other usual host you’d expect to see in a DnD manual or one of the many B-grade straight-to-DVD-bargain-bucket movies. But not so with KotW, as Eames breathes new life into the old foes and fiends, either through reimagining or realism. That being said, I’ve strayed from the point – my one problem with KotW and its worldbuilding, is, at times, the execution of introducing the reader to the world. I’m talking info-dumps.

The info dumps are few and far between (and by a third of the way in I didn’t spot any more), and they’re actually pretty good as far as info dumps go, but once I read one, I can’t help but notice others. In a way, that’s a symptom of me as a reader and aspiring writer – it’s been hammered into me so many times that ‘info dumping is bad;’ ‘don’t info dump;’ or my personal favourite, shout out to 2 Unlimited: ‘no no; no no no no; no no there’s no limit (except on info dumps)’. In a way, info dumping stems from, or feeds into, or goes hand in hand, with the old ‘show vs tell’ debate/debacle.
But why don’t I take umbrage with these info dumps? Besides the fact that the info dumps are used to introduce us to a vast and richly populated world (including religion, history, politics to a lesser extent, and biology too – monsters!), I’m also dismissing my nit picking (and this is what I’m doing – in the grand scheme, this book is just that good) due to context. Context, yes. Because I know, from having spoken to the author, that KotW evolved over the stage of its life. Its ‘growth’ is fascinating, especially for an industry outsider looking in. It went a little something like this:

• First draft 114,000 words.
• Beta reading feedback pushed this up to 117,000 words.
• Agent amendments cut it back to 102,000 words.
• Publishing house picks-out and chops backstory excerpt chapters, opting to have them sprinkled throughout, cutting it down to almost 90,000 words.
• Additional additions/editorial edits pushed this all the way back up to 150,000 words.

So why the uplift right at the end? From what I understand, when Eames secured his book deal with the publisher, he ended up adding whopping 50k words (almost a third of the original’s length). Why though? The pacing of the first draft was pretty breakneck, but also barebones – and by adding to the wordcount Eames had the opportunity to: a) flesh out his scenes a little more, and b) world build, world build, world build. Needless to say, Eames wasted neither opportunity, and the scenes are all the more gritty, emotional, and real because of it, and the world…well, it’s a world¸ a living breathing world, and that’s praise enough itself.

And in my opinion, every single word is bloody brilliant.

Despite my misgivings of the info dumping, looking back, I couldn’t give a damn about it anymore. Every word brought this world to life; every word a charge in a synapse, a beat of a heart. And without them, this book would be just that – a book. Instead, it’s very, very real – or at least I wished it was!

Kings of the Wyld is one of those books that could easily transcend the written word, and easily be a summer blockbuster, a TV series (Netflix, I’m looking at you!), or a video game (Dragon Age style or MMORPG springs to mind). I mean, it’s already got its own soundtrack!
It kills me that I can’t give this book a 10 out of 10. Why? Because Eames cranked it all the way to 11. So f*** it, you know what? 11 out of 10. As the saying goes:

They don’t make ‘em like they used to.

But Eames did. And he made it better.

“There was something wrong about this moment. Like watching a beard-spider dance, or getting stabbed on your birthday.”

If you’re looking for the perfect balance of blues, you’re last D&D campaign, and a bunch of old dudes, then rest your weary toes and dive into Nicholas Eames’ debut novel. With a dark sense of humor and characters that surprise you with moments of earnest depth, “Kings of the Wyld” is a brilliant reminder that a story doesn’t need to be dark, moody, or even overly unique, to sweep you away in a new world and leave you aching to stay there for just a page more.

“Slowhand” Clay Cooper is a retired member of the legendary mercenary band “Saga.” Or at least they were legendary 18 years ago, but now Clay is married, has a daughter, and is undisputedly… old. When his best friend and former band mate Gabe shows up on his doorstep begging for help to save his daughter, Clay reluctantly leaves his family, helps Gabe gather the band back together. They bumble through aching backs, creatures pulled straight from the D&D monster manual, and face an enemy more deadly than any they did in their glory days.

Solid 8.5/10, and I would definitely recommend to a friend. A fantastic mix of Grimdark and Sword and Sorcery, for a story that will leave you laughing, and then suckerpunch you in the feels before you can recover.

Kings of the Wyld is a fast-paced fantasy adventure. The clever idea of a world where mercenary groups are treated like rock bands is a great start. But it’s where Nicholas Eames takes this concept that makes the book a real rock star.

Clay Cooper’s glory days are long behind him. He spends his days on watch looking out at a mountain where nothing ever happens and then goes home to a wife and daughter who love him. Then one day, Gabriel the former leader of Saga, Clay’s band of mercenaries, shows up at his doorstep. Gabe’s daughter Rose is a mercenary in her own right but she’s trapped in the walled city of Castia, surrounded by a horde of monsters and facing all but certain death. Gabe plans to rescue her but he needs Clay’s help. They need to put the band back together.

If just reading that line puts a smile on your face, then this is the book for you. It’s an adventure full of excitement and humor and surprising moments of real emotion. Most of the members of Saga have aged and settled into new lives, from Matrick who is now a king to Moog, the pajama wearing wizard who finances his arcane research with the profits from a magical erectile dysfunction cure he invented. Ganelon, the remaining band member, has been turned to stone for crimes committed around the time the band broke up.

Putting the band back together takes up the first part of the book and allows the opportunity to get to know the various characters. Once the band is reunited, they must cross the Heartwyld. A vast forest filled with every monster imaginable. On the other side is a horde laying seige to Castia. The forest and the horde is home to more monsters than I’ve seen in any three fantasy novels. That’s part of what makes this book so fun. It is over the top outlandish with great action, wonderful humor and emotional moments that touch you when you least expect them and keep everything grounded. Gabe’s rousing call to battle is a speech that almost made me want to take up a sword and charge onto the field.

This book is a tremendous amount of fun, all the more remarkable that it’s a debut novel. The conclusion wraps up the story arc nicely, while making it clear that this is a world where plenty more adventures are waiting to be had. The world-building is wonderful and populated, no stuffed, with fascinating creatures and characters. Buckle up for a wyld ride. Highly recommended.

I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book.

The book is clever, well written and managed to make me laugh out loud at probably the most inappropriate times, during some horrendous scenes,...it was that type of book. This book evoked moments of nostalgia, emotions, memories long forgotten, as I was swept away from the opening to the end of this book. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to more from Nicholas Eames. Work well done, Nicholas, well done.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were groan moments, and tropes, and huge battles. It was fun, funny, and heartfelt. There were deep moments in this book. I think those who did not enjoy it possibly have reading comprehension issues, as I feel it is written for a more mature audience. It is not clever, but it is witty, and a really fun read.

It may not be for everyone, but it was definitely for me!

This is a great story, with a nice pace. Its got great humor and characters. The only thing that threw me out of the story was the mention of Matrick siring "five children without unzipping his pants." Magical armor in this universe yeah, zippers not so much, but still a good read. Lots of sly humor and puns. I passed it on to my dad and he really likes it and from a retired Special Forces guy (Korea, Vietnam, etc.) who actually hired out as a merc as a young man this is a compliment.

If you liked the Black Company books by Glen Cook, you will like the Kings of The Wyld. It doesn't take itself as seriously as the Black Company series, whether or not that's good is up to you. The sense of humor is similar, the real-language-in-fantasy-world is similar. My only real complaint is that I thought the mercenaries-as-rockstars thing got pushed a little over the top into goofy territory in places. It was still WELL worth the read, and im recommending it to all of my friends.

This was old fantasy writing. No politics or got just straight delicious action fun and emotion. The kind of book you want to read if your heart needs a little life breathed into it. Highly recommend it. I just wish their wod be more of the charachters bit i dont see how. Moogs phylactery was a riot. Even my wife looked at me crosseyed when she heard my maniacal laughing. Good job Nick.

Everything was brilliant. I laughed, I actually cried on more than one occasion and I spent most of the time reading it, sitting on the edge of my seat excited to see where the kick ass characters went next.
The characters were incredibly likable, even the bad guys.. OK not everyone, the Queen of Agria's head would look great on a ferals stick. I can't even pick a favourite.
My heart breaks for Ganelon.

I can see what the author was aiming at: a fun, fast pace, fantasy adventure. You'll like it if you like his sense of humour, but it was painfully unfunny to me. And without the humour, its just two-dimensional characters following a clunky plot. Sadly couldn't finish it, and gave up half way through.

I purchased this book based solely on reviews. They were all great, the ones I read anyways. Well, that is a lesson learned. I believe that those people reviewing this book with 4 and 5 stars are being genuine, it's just a matter of tastes.

The story line is good, Overall it did not feel like a completely recycled fantasy story line. However, the author is infatuated with sarcasm and after he used the same set up 20 times in the first 20 minutes of the book, it grew stale... "The listener was grimacing, almost as if he was expecting a corny punch line, which of course he was."
Over and over.

I enjoy fantasy, and this book has it's place. But it is more Monty Python than Lord of the Rings.

I read this book because my son handed it to me. Since he's been being a good sport and trying books I have recommended to him (I have him totally sucked into Jim Butcher), I wanted to be a good sport and try his book. I loved this book. It is crazy funny, yet the characters are still perfectly written and full of heart and flaws and I love them. The plot is rich and unexpected. And I can't believe how well written it is for a first book for this author. It's a book I will be recommending wildly. Or rather, Wyldly. I guess I should warn that it's a book about fantasy world mercenaries, so there's a lot of killing in the book, mostly of evil fantasy creatures, not people, but still, you are forewarned.

This was a cracking read, with a great story driven by a very particular brand of humour. It’s like what you might end up with if Joe Abercrombie and Terry Pratchett sat down to write a book together while listening to Spinal Tap and early Black Sabbath on endless repeat.

I only have one real criticism that stops this from being a 5-star book – sure there’s a bit of a soggy patch in the final third and some of the worldbuilding is a bit iffy in places, but a truly magnificent ending more than makes up for that. The criticism is, oddly, the thing I most enjoyed about this book, and that’s the humour. I’m a big classic rock fan and I enjoyed every joke in the book. There are a lot of them and they’re brilliant, IF you get them.

If you’re not into rock music I have a feeling some of the best things about this work might pass you by, but as I say it’s still a damn fine read and a very worthy debut that has me looking forward to the next one in the series.

Though I don’t often read fantasy fiction, I’m glad I made an exception for KOTW. I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with Saga. Great character troupe; they are all “rock stars” and I would be hard pressed to choose my favorite. The author draws you into their world and you won’t be ready to leave them when you finish the book! Can’t wait for the next installment to delve deeper into the characters' lives and loves.

Absolutely a fun ride. Yes, it's point A to B, but as the Author has stated before - it's supposed to be. It's an awesome throw-back to the old style fantasy with a bit of humor thrown in. very well done! I'm ready for the sequel!

Incredibly fun read. A fantasy world that is easy to jump into. Filled with characters that are relatable, interesting, and just plain fun to go on an adventure with. 100% will be keeping an eye on this author.

Picked this up last week at Barnes and Noble. And finished it, in a weekend. What an incredible, fast pace story. Full of remarkable characters. And the world in which they inhabit, Is dazzling.I can't wait to read more stories told in this world.

A Must Read!!!!!!!!

I loved the book. It was a wonderful read. The author has a great voice. I am definitely going to read his next book , and probably anything he wrights. Has some salty language. No a complaint, just a fact.

I loved this book! It made me laugh and cry, laugh and gasp, laugh and cry some more. I don't know if it could be any better...oh wait there is a book 2 on the horizon so maybe it can get better!!! Nicholas Eames is an amazing story teller, that wraps you up in the cocoon of a new fantasy world! Love the first book and can't wait for the next!

If I could give this book 10 Stars, I would!!! This book is absolutely fantastic!!! Brilliant, funny, wickedly exciting and teeming with heart, drive and a stellar cast of characters! Engrossing from the first page to the last. I never wanted this book to end! Excellent excellent job done by a fabulously talented writer!

Bought this book half on a whim and half on one of the authors reviews on the book, also purchased it at another book dealer. Great read, the pacing, and style are definitely fun and pull you in, a great romp for sure! The characters and the setting are well developed and will have you rooting and cheering.

Buy it, you will not regret!

As amusing as epic fantasy gets, filled with snark and heart. Imagine Robert Plant ate some mushrooms, played some D&D, fell asleep and had a dream: that dream would be this book. Lots of neat allusions, silliness and seriousness. Looking forward to the sequel.

I apparently am in the minority here but I read about 1/2 of this book and quit (DNF). I read a lot of fantasy so as a rule I really like this particular genre. I thought the 'humor' of this book wasn't funny and the story was implausible.

Nicholas Eames...you're first book is an ass-kicker! Great story telling. Fast paced. Funny. Your second book has big shoes to fill...no pressure though. I will be very sad if Clay Cooper doesn't make it into any of your future books. There will be future books...right? Great job!

It is impossible to write a review that would do justice to Kings of the Wyld. It is an incomparable masterpiece; the literary world is now standing in the shadow Nicholas Eames. With a story that never lags, always entertains, the bar for excellence has been raised above all other triumphs. Kings of the Wyld is the new standard of perfection.

Absolutely a fun ride. Yes, it's point A to B, but as the Author has stated before - it's supposed to be. It's an awesome throw-back to the old style fantasy with a bit of humor thrown in. very well done! I'm ready for the sequel!

Incredibly fun read. A fantasy world that is easy to jump into. Filled with characters that are relatable, interesting, and just plain fun to go on an adventure with. 100% will be keeping an eye on this author.

Picked this up last week at Barnes and Noble. And finished it, in a weekend. What an incredible, fast pace story. Full of remarkable characters. And the world in which they inhabit, Is dazzling.I can't wait to read more stories told in this world.

A Must Read!!!!!!!!

I loved the book. It was a wonderful read. The author has a great voice. I am definitely going to read his next book , and probably anything he wrights. Has some salty language. No a complaint, just a fact.

I loved this book! It made me laugh and cry, laugh and gasp, laugh and cry some more. I don't know if it could be any better...oh wait there is a book 2 on the horizon so maybe it can get better!!! Nicholas Eames is an amazing story teller, that wraps you up in the cocoon of a new fantasy world! Love the first book and can't wait for the next!

If I could give this book 10 Stars, I would!!! This book is absolutely fantastic!!! Brilliant, funny, wickedly exciting and teeming with heart, drive and a stellar cast of characters! Engrossing from the first page to the last. I never wanted this book to end! Excellent excellent job done by a fabulously talented writer!

Bought this book half on a whim and half on one of the authors reviews on the book, also purchased it at another book dealer. Great read, the pacing, and style are definitely fun and pull you in, a great romp for sure! The characters and the setting are well developed and will have you rooting and cheering.

Buy it, you will not regret!

As amusing as epic fantasy gets, filled with snark and heart. Imagine Robert Plant ate some mushrooms, played some D&D, fell asleep and had a dream: that dream would be this book. Lots of neat allusions, silliness and seriousness. Looking forward to the sequel.

I apparently am in the minority here but I read about 1/2 of this book and quit (DNF). I read a lot of fantasy so as a rule I really like this particular genre. I thought the 'humor' of this book wasn't funny and the story was implausible.

This book was loads of fun. Didn't take itself too serious but the serious moments were relatable and emotional. I wasn't fond of the take on fathers versus mothers in the mind of the main character but by the end, at least three fathers proved valiant. Best way to describe the band of brothers is with the author's own words:

"A tiger, however fearsome, could be hunted into a corner. It fought alone, so it died alone. But to hunt a wolf was to constantly look over your shoulder, wondering if others were behind you in the dark."

A fantastic romp into fantasy land. The author clearly loves Dungeons and Dragons, and heavy metal, and lets it show in this book. A real page turner, its filled with great comments and references and jokes that the D&D nerds will love. Don't miss this one, its a blast.

A bunch of old mercenaries come out of retirement to have one last epic adventure. This book is awesome, the characters are a bunch of lovable scumbags, the antics are hilarious, and the action is non-stop.

Fantasy meets Classic Rock and turns it up to eleven! There, this review is essentially done. Nothing else really needs to be said. Now go get a copy of this book!

If that doesn't satisfy you then <sigh> fine I'll say a bit more...

In his debut novel Nicholas Eames explores what it would look like if mercenary bands in a fantasy setting were treated like rock stars in our world. And boy does he ever deliver. From the moment you open to page one until you read the final line you're taken on a reunion tour with a "band" of mercenaries who set out on the most important gig of their career. And as with any legendary touring band it's a road trip for the ages.

Clay Cooper, one of the five members of the legendary merc band Saga (if you don't count all the bards who died over the years...cuz the bards always seem to die) comes home one evening to find his old band mate Gabriel waiting on his doorstep. Gabe has come to beg Clay to help him get the band back together. He's asked this before, always wanting to round up the guys and head off on some great new adventure which Clay has always turned down. But this time it's different. This time Gabe needs them to help rescue his daughter who is besieged with her own band of mercs beyond the Heartwyld wilderness in the city of Castia by a horde of monsters who won't leave anyone alive. Clay soon discovers he can't refuse this request and together they set off to reunite the band one last time, on one last great adventure.

I absolutely loved the concept behind Kings Of The Wyld. In an interview included at the back of the book Eames is asked where he got the idea for the story and he says, "I thought, How cool would it be to read a book in which mercenary bands acted (and were treated like) rock stars?" The "bands" go on "tours," they have managers who get them jobs (and aren't always looking out for the band's best interest), there are scores of adoring fans, they get drunk, party, and burn down the house (literally), and as time goes on the classic bands of the previous generation have given way to newer younger bands who have a different style, but just aren't as good.

And the concept works perfectly. It isn't just the language Eames uses in describing the bands and their history and following. It extends into so much of the narrative detail such as veiled references to the new generation of bands, describing them like the glamrock bands of the 80's who followed the classic rock bands of the 60's and 70's; bands that had crazy hair, wore make-up, and were good, but not as good as the legends who preceded them. The weapons Saga utilizes are also symbolic of a rock band; Matrick wields two knives like a drummer and his sticks, Ganelon wields his great axe like a lead guitarist, and Clay with his great shield is on bass without whom the band would fall apart.

And to top it all off Eames completes the rock band theme by giving the book a soundtrack! Yeah you read that right, the book has a soundtrack with songs by The Who, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Neil Young, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, AC-DC, and many more. There are songs associated with the "imaginary opening credits," most chapters, and even specific characters. According to Eames the songs were the inspiration behind certain chapters and characters as he was writing. Listening to each song before starting a new chapter definitely helped set a mood for the whole book in a way that just reading the text would not. You can check out the soundtrack at Eames' website here.

But take away the rock band theme and Kings Of The Wyld is still a great fantasy adventure. It has what you'd expect - fighters, mages, rogues, and even bards (who die). It has monsters galore - I mean a ton of monsters, big ones (dragons) to little ones (monkey's with flaming poo). It has a quest because what's a good fantasy story without a quest? So yeah it's got a lot of what you'd expect. But Eames does a lot with it. The quest isn't the farm boy saving the world, instead it's a bunch of tired, old, out of shape, middle aged guys saving the world with a little help from their friends (see what I did there?). The crap ton of monsters serves a purpose in the world building and plot beyond just existing as foes to be vanquished. And the characters, lead or otherwise are at the heart of the story as if the plot serves them as much as they serve it.

Those characters are written beautifully even if a rock/mercenary band wouldn't want to be described that way. Eames takes care to continually paint his characters as what they are, middle aged and out of shape legends who are past their prime (with the exception of one that I don't want to give too much away about). These aged mercs have beer bellies and run out of juice much faster than they would've in their twenties. This plays into their fighting ability and provides even more suspense than the usual fantasy novel where the heroes are in their prime.

But their age gives them a wisdom and depth that you don't normally get to see in most fantasy heroes. They are on a quest to save a bandmate's grown daughter. That plotline drives everything they do. They approach it not with the rash bravado of youth, but with the caring camaraderie of old friendships and family ties. And because of that the heart of this book isn't really a rescue story; it's one about friendship and what it means to be a good man and to do the right thing. This aspect of Eames' main characters gives the story a deep, rich, well from which he continually draws forth some of the most touching and moving emotions I've read in a fantasy novel in a long time.

Now don't let that fool you into thinking this is a sappy drama meant to get you in touch with your feelings. For one it's more humorous than sentimental. In fact it's funny as hell! There weren't two pages that went by where I didn't laugh out loud at least once. Coming from me that is pretty impressive because I don't usually laugh at humor in books. I recognize it and laugh in my mind, but when a book actually makes me give sound to my chuckle that's a big feat. And I laughed constantly.

But Kings Of The Wyld is more than emotion and humor. It's well written fantasy with a martial air, because how can you have a novel about mercenary bands without great battles? The fight scenes are very well crafted and there are plenty of them to keep the hack and slash readers happy. The descriptive combat choreography was vivid and exciting with numerous surprises woven into the narrative to keep you guessing what might happen next, especially in the case of one slightly off his rocker mage with almost anything in his bag of tricks.

Eames also seems to have put a lot of thought into his world building. Kings Of The Wyld takes place on a massive continent with diverse kingdoms and peoples supported by a common ancient history that shapes the course of events in the present. Set in the middle of the continent like a vast inland sea separating the kingdoms of the east from the republic in the west looms the Heartwyld, a great ancient forest populated by every monster of your fantasy nightmares. Eames drops in enough snippets of culture and history throughout the book to keep the reader interested without dumping so much background that the narrative gets bogged down. This isn't world building like George R. R. Martin's Song Of Ice And Fire series, but it doesn't need to be. Though Kings Of The Wyld takes the characters across the breadth of the continent the focus is still narrow, zeroed in on the small band of men and the immediate events surrounding them on their quest. It's that narrow focus on these friends that makes it so relatable and endearing.

Some readers may find fault with the fact that all of the main characters are men. Indeed, all of the female characters are minor with the possible exception of Larkspur a humanoid with birdlike wings who is something of a badass. Larkspur turned out to be my favorite character outside of the band itself and I found myself wishing to read more of her. In truth I like Larkspur more than some of the core five characters. There is diversity among the characters however and one is homosexual though his sexuality is discussed more than it is really experienced.

Eames may be making up for the lack of a main female characters in his follow-up book Bloody Rose which is due out in April I believe. Book two of what will be known as the Band series will focus on Gabriel's daughter Rose who may be more of an ass kicker than her old man. And that music theme is going to show up again according to Eames.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm really looking forward to an 80's rock inspired Bloody Rose!

Let me just say there isn't much I disliked about Kings Of The Wyld. In fact I can't really think of anything at the moment. At first I thought it might be kind of gimmicky but believe me when I say it wasn't. Eames has proven himself to be an author to keep an eye on and has gifted us with a thoroughly great and enjoyable read...one that I would recommend to anyone. Action packed, funny, and moving. Easily one of my favorite fantasy novels. Pick it up, you won't regret it.

Saga were a world famous band containing five legendary mercenaries who were feared, respected and completely admired. Bards' sang their praises, ladies wanted their babies, and children wanted to emulate them. Essentially, everyone throughout the lands of Grandual knew the tales of this crew's awe-inspiring exploits when they tackled the unbelievable dangers in the notorious Heartwyld but that was nineteen years ago…

Then, Clay Cooper receives a knock on his door from the band's ex-frontman Gabriel who looks aghast, dishevelled and like a ghost of his former self. He had approached Clay because he truly believed that there were no other options. The news which Gabriel presented to him was harrowing. The task proposed being completely preposterous. However bizarre that all seemed to Clay - his once best friend and former band mate pathetically pleaded to him, stating that "it's time to get the band back together." And so it begins…

The main positives to me in this narrative were the brilliant humour throughout which makes Kings of the Wyld a hell of a lot of fun and also the main ensemble that we follow, the way that they have been excellently crafted and their "friendly" banter. Such conversation is usually along the lines of how they have aged, are stupidly drunk, have gotten fat and occasionally the humour is just caused by certain individuals downright weirdness. Moog is the only person over the age of eight who believes in Owlbears! It isn't all humour and bags-of-laughs though, otherwise this wouldn't have made me care as much if I thought that I was following the adventures of five comedians. Every individual in the band has had more than ten lifetimes worth of horrors, confrontations, and sometimes heartbreaking moments. This juxtaposition made me really empathise with and root for these guys. perhaps even made me feel as if I was in the crew myself. Much like an 80's metal band, the individuals flaunt and worship their instruments. The Saga members each have distinctive weapons (Blackheart, Vellichor, Syrinx...) for their tours and gigs, some of which even hold legendary status and in addition, Moog the magician and my favourite character has a magical hat. He is this world's equivalent of a keyboard player after all. ;) Do not get confused though. Saga do not get up on stage and play amazingly atmospheric renditions of November Rain. Tours and gigs in this world usually mean destroying monsters or almighty foes for a fee.

This is a fast-paced, excellently written, and extremely enjoyable fantasy story. I will go so far to say that it could even be some fantasy book readers wet dream especially with the amounts of monsters, mythological creatures and races presented here. At some points, it was as if I was reading a Final Fantasy game, including Skyships! Truth be told, this isn't recreating the genre or pushing it in extravagant new directions by any means, but imagine this if you will. Eames is a crazy fantasy writing chef. He has a pot preparing a meal/book over his self-made fire in a Heartwyld-like forested area where he plans to rest beneath the stars for the evening after he creates and then eats some grub. He enthusiastically throws in his favourite genre influences and then some unfamiliar bizarre fantasy tropes into this metaphorical mix, stirs it up with the good characters, spices it with the humour, and throws extra obscure ingredients in that he finds lurking around and befitting his taste (a talking doorknob anyone?) Perhaps this composed mixture shouldn't work but fortunately, it really does. That being said, for someone brand new to the genre, I would say that this isn't the best place to start and that isn't a negative; I just think Kings of the Wyld wouldn't be fully appreciated by that person yet.

A few final points: To begin with I believed that the whole band terminology usage here would get slightly annoying but it stayed on the right side of awesome and was original. The finale was excellent but I think it ended perhaps a bit too promptly and could have been fleshed out to focus slightly more on characters feelings following the conclusion rather than just the outcome itself. The pacing throughout the whole story was excellent with shortish, action packed chapters that gave me the "just one more chapter" buzz. In addition, I thought I would point out that there are some very cool and strong women characters in this book as I haven't mentioned them so far. This book is a complete standalone so if you are a reader who has to have all six books about before beginning them then do not worry. The world here is huge and the map is beautiful. The Band #2 when it is released will throw more adventures our way in this realm but who knows if it will be Saga we follow or a new up and coming band many generations later.

Like my pal, Peter Tr at Booknest stated, this could very well be the debut of the year. If I hadn't read Ed McDonald's Blackwing already then I would agree now. Both are brilliant, both taking completely different directions with the stories they wish to present and of course, it isn't a contest, it just shows avid readers and fans like me that the fantasy scene is in excellent hands with these great new authors.

THE GOOD: Larger than life heroes kicking ass and (re)taking their names as the greatest mercenary band to tour the Wyld; more monsters than a Dungeons & Dragons careers’ fair; a high stakes adventure of friends, fiends and f*** ups; more heavy hitting battles than a greatest hits collection; and a hall of fame page-turning performance to make the Bat Outta Hell sit back, buckle up, and hold on for the god-damned ride of its life.

THE BAD: It had to end? Seriously, I have one hell of a book hangover after this. Though, and in favour of fairness, if I had to (nit) pick a downside to this cracking debut, it’d be elements of info dumping early on – but don’t let that stop you reading this story, as I’ll explain why it didn’t bother me below in the main review.

THE UGLY TRUTH: Good old-fashioned fantasy heroes, the loud, the proud, and never to be cowed, knocking back whiskies in a sticky-floored, dim-lit dive bar, moshing with every monster known to Dungeons & Dragons; all whilst Terry Pratchett hosts a lock-in of Rock-n-f***ing-Roll tribute bands belting out ear melting hits better than the original act ever did on stage, because they’re doing it for the love of the music, and they love what they do. But if I had to sum Kings of the Wyld in one sentence: They don’t make ‘em like this anymore.

Saga was once the greatest mercenary band to tour the Heartwyld. Golden Gabe the charismatic frontman, Clay ‘Slowhand’ Cooper the ever-reliable warrior, Moog the magnificent wizard, Matrick Skulldrummer the loveable rogue, and Ganelon the killer. But every star fades with time, and the five members of the band have retired. Since there last circuit, everything has changed. The world’s a new place, and Saga and its members are memories of the old ways, the way things used to be – which provides ample opportunity for plot twists, world building, and of course, madness and mayhem, in this rip-roaring rock’n’roll headbanger from debut author Nicholas Eames.

The action comes thick and fast, but so too does the humour. Not to point out every ‘funny’ as film trailers seem to these days (which would be impossible, as there’s so many in this book) but particular highlights for me include: Steve the doorknocker, Kit the unkillable, a staff that turns swords into something else, a kobold’s cock ring (even if only a mention, but my god, what the fu-?), and the melee involving combatants wielding a hammer, a shield and 3 raging erections. As mad as it sounds, it makes perfect sense. Some might even turn their nose up at that last particular mention, citing immaturity or toilet humour, but it’s not. KotW is mature, its grown up, but it’s still got that energy of a garage band breaking out onto the scene.

For me, KotW nails one theme above all others, which might go unnoticed by some, like the low range rhythm of the bass guitar during: the solo by the lead, or the drummer’s breakdown, or the vocal’s pitch at the finale; but like that same bass rhythm this theme runs start to finish, unending and unerring. And that theme is companionship. Speaking from personal experience, both having played in bands, and as a soldier in a section(/squad), there’s a certain familiar magic between the comrades in arms, and Eames casts a spell with it in the interactions between Saga’s members.

One of the main concepts, the whole fantasy meets classic rock, doesn’t get old. It works, and it works so well that you don’t question it. As a matter of fact, unless it’s pointed out to you at the start, you’re not slapped about the head with it. Suddenly, as you read, you’ll have a eureka moment of ‘oh, I see what Eames has done here!’ Its’ brilliance lies in its simplicity, and the fact that it’s interwoven throughout the story, the characters, the world itself. Without spoiling anything, here’s a few examples:

Characters:
• Clay ‘Slowhand’ Cooper holds the (bass)line of the band (Saga) and the very story itself. A stoic warrior of old, armed with his fabled shield Blackheart and whatever comes to hand, Clay reminded me of Steven Erikson’s Fiddler, but with more heart, and Joe Abercrombie’s Logen Ninefingers, but with more hope. He’s a good man, not afraid to do the bad thing, if it means the difference between right and wrong.
• Gabriel ‘Golden Gabe’ is the charismatic frontman, the cover boy, and the voice (lead singer) of Saga. From the washed-up waste-of-space at the start of the book, to his return to the golden age by the end, his personal quest to save his daughter might be the goal, but his journey of self rediscovery is what gets him there.
• Arcandius Moog the mystical, maniacal, and above all moving keyboard player. A pyjama wearing wizard who supports his own life’s pursuit to cure ‘the rot’ (which claimed the life of his dearly loved husband) by selling Magic Moog’s Phallic Phyllactery. Read that again. Yes, you read it correctly. Moog sells a male performance enhancer that’ll turn you from ‘zero to hero’. I kid you not, you can’t make this shit up…and Eames has, which is testament to his creativity and innovation.
• Matrick Skulldrummer, the party’s ‘lively’ rogue with a penchant for drink, takes the role of drummer (it’s in the name) armed with his twin knives Roxy and Grace. He and Moog provide much of Saga’s comic relief, as well as one of its most heartfelt moments. Like all of them, Matty was at his peak in his yester year, when he saved the Princess of Agria and swiftly bedded his way to kingship. Now, he’s all but captive in his own kingdom, and only Saga can give him a way out.
• Ganelon the axeman. Big, bold and badass, he shreds his foes both as part of the band, or ‘solo’. Lead guitarist if you hadn’t guessed it. We’re not properly introduced to him until a little later on in the story, but when he arrives on stage he’s greeted by raucous applause, not in the least because he all but singlehandedly takes on one of the most fearsome monsters that the Wyld has to throw at Saga.

The World:
• Mercenary groups/parties are known as ‘bands’. Almost everyone with a sword, shield, spear, or a stone/stick/scrap of ambition wants to be in a ‘band’.
• The ‘bands’ score ‘gigs’ via ‘bookers’ who manage their careers.
• These ‘gigs’ for the most part take them on ‘tours’ of the Heartwyld.
• The ‘bands’ are welcomed by parades of screaming fans when they return from their ‘tours’.

Speaking of world building, I’d like to take a moment to discuss my one and only problem with KotW. And it’s not the world itself – hell no, Eames has absolutely smashed it with this; I for one normally turn-off to fantasy realms populated with goblins, orcs, slimes, owlbears, giants, wyverns, and every other usual host you’d expect to see in a DnD manual or one of the many B-grade straight-to-DVD-bargain-bucket movies. But not so with KotW, as Eames breathes new life into the old foes and fiends, either through reimagining or realism. That being said, I’ve strayed from the point – my one problem with KotW and its worldbuilding, is, at times, the execution of introducing the reader to the world. I’m talking info-dumps.

The info dumps are few and far between (and by a third of the way in I didn’t spot any more), and they’re actually pretty good as far as info dumps go, but once I read one, I can’t help but notice others. In a way, that’s a symptom of me as a reader and aspiring writer – it’s been hammered into me so many times that ‘info dumping is bad;’ ‘don’t info dump;’ or my personal favourite, shout out to 2 Unlimited: ‘no no; no no no no; no no there’s no limit (except on info dumps)’. In a way, info dumping stems from, or feeds into, or goes hand in hand, with the old ‘show vs tell’ debate/debacle.
But why don’t I take umbrage with these info dumps? Besides the fact that the info dumps are used to introduce us to a vast and richly populated world (including religion, history, politics to a lesser extent, and biology too – monsters!), I’m also dismissing my nit picking (and this is what I’m doing – in the grand scheme, this book is just that good) due to context. Context, yes. Because I know, from having spoken to the author, that KotW evolved over the stage of its life. Its ‘growth’ is fascinating, especially for an industry outsider looking in. It went a little something like this:

• First draft 114,000 words.
• Beta reading feedback pushed this up to 117,000 words.
• Agent amendments cut it back to 102,000 words.
• Publishing house picks-out and chops backstory excerpt chapters, opting to have them sprinkled throughout, cutting it down to almost 90,000 words.
• Additional additions/editorial edits pushed this all the way back up to 150,000 words.

So why the uplift right at the end? From what I understand, when Eames secured his book deal with the publisher, he ended up adding whopping 50k words (almost a third of the original’s length). Why though? The pacing of the first draft was pretty breakneck, but also barebones – and by adding to the wordcount Eames had the opportunity to: a) flesh out his scenes a little more, and b) world build, world build, world build. Needless to say, Eames wasted neither opportunity, and the scenes are all the more gritty, emotional, and real because of it, and the world…well, it’s a world¸ a living breathing world, and that’s praise enough itself.

And in my opinion, every single word is bloody brilliant.

Despite my misgivings of the info dumping, looking back, I couldn’t give a damn about it anymore. Every word brought this world to life; every word a charge in a synapse, a beat of a heart. And without them, this book would be just that – a book. Instead, it’s very, very real – or at least I wished it was!

Kings of the Wyld is one of those books that could easily transcend the written word, and easily be a summer blockbuster, a TV series (Netflix, I’m looking at you!), or a video game (Dragon Age style or MMORPG springs to mind). I mean, it’s already got its own soundtrack!
It kills me that I can’t give this book a 10 out of 10. Why? Because Eames cranked it all the way to 11. So f*** it, you know what? 11 out of 10. As the saying goes:

They don’t make ‘em like they used to.

But Eames did. And he made it better.

THE GOOD: Larger than life heroes kicking ass and (re)taking their names as the greatest mercenary band to tour the Wyld; more monsters than a Dungeons & Dragons careers’ fair; a high stakes adventure of friends, fiends and f*** ups; more heavy hitting battles than a greatest hits collection; and a hall of fame page-turning performance to make the Bat Outta Hell sit back, buckle up, and hold on for the god-damned ride of its life.

THE BAD: It had to end? Seriously, I have one hell of a book hangover after this. Though, and in favour of fairness, if I had to (nit) pick a downside to this cracking debut, it’d be elements of info dumping early on – but don’t let that stop you reading this story, as I’ll explain why it didn’t bother me below in the main review.

THE UGLY TRUTH: Good old-fashioned fantasy heroes, the loud, the proud, and never to be cowed, knocking back whiskies in a sticky-floored, dim-lit dive bar, moshing with every monster known to Dungeons & Dragons; all whilst Terry Pratchett hosts a lock-in of Rock-n-f***ing-Roll tribute bands belting out ear melting hits better than the original act ever did on stage, because they’re doing it for the love of the music, and they love what they do. But if I had to sum Kings of the Wyld in one sentence: They don’t make ‘em like this anymore.

Saga was once the greatest mercenary band to tour the Heartwyld. Golden Gabe the charismatic frontman, Clay ‘Slowhand’ Cooper the ever-reliable warrior, Moog the magnificent wizard, Matrick Skulldrummer the loveable rogue, and Ganelon the killer. But every star fades with time, and the five members of the band have retired. Since there last circuit, everything has changed. The world’s a new place, and Saga and its members are memories of the old ways, the way things used to be – which provides ample opportunity for plot twists, world building, and of course, madness and mayhem, in this rip-roaring rock’n’roll headbanger from debut author Nicholas Eames.

The action comes thick and fast, but so too does the humour. Not to point out every ‘funny’ as film trailers seem to these days (which would be impossible, as there’s so many in this book) but particular highlights for me include: Steve the doorknocker, Kit the unkillable, a staff that turns swords into something else, a kobold’s cock ring (even if only a mention, but my god, what the fu-?), and the melee involving combatants wielding a hammer, a shield and 3 raging erections. As mad as it sounds, it makes perfect sense. Some might even turn their nose up at that last particular mention, citing immaturity or toilet humour, but it’s not. KotW is mature, its grown up, but it’s still got that energy of a garage band breaking out onto the scene.

For me, KotW nails one theme above all others, which might go unnoticed by some, like the low range rhythm of the bass guitar during: the solo by the lead, or the drummer’s breakdown, or the vocal’s pitch at the finale; but like that same bass rhythm this theme runs start to finish, unending and unerring. And that theme is companionship. Speaking from personal experience, both having played in bands, and as a soldier in a section(/squad), there’s a certain familiar magic between the comrades in arms, and Eames casts a spell with it in the interactions between Saga’s members.

One of the main concepts, the whole fantasy meets classic rock, doesn’t get old. It works, and it works so well that you don’t question it. As a matter of fact, unless it’s pointed out to you at the start, you’re not slapped about the head with it. Suddenly, as you read, you’ll have a eureka moment of ‘oh, I see what Eames has done here!’ Its’ brilliance lies in its simplicity, and the fact that it’s interwoven throughout the story, the characters, the world itself. Without spoiling anything, here’s a few examples:

Characters:
• Clay ‘Slowhand’ Cooper holds the (bass)line of the band (Saga) and the very story itself. A stoic warrior of old, armed with his fabled shield Blackheart and whatever comes to hand, Clay reminded me of Steven Erikson’s Fiddler, but with more heart, and Joe Abercrombie’s Logen Ninefingers, but with more hope. He’s a good man, not afraid to do the bad thing, if it means the difference between right and wrong.
• Gabriel ‘Golden Gabe’ is the charismatic frontman, the cover boy, and the voice (lead singer) of Saga. From the washed-up waste-of-space at the start of the book, to his return to the golden age by the end, his personal quest to save his daughter might be the goal, but his journey of self rediscovery is what gets him there.
• Arcandius Moog the mystical, maniacal, and above all moving keyboard player. A pyjama wearing wizard who supports his own life’s pursuit to cure ‘the rot’ (which claimed the life of his dearly loved husband) by selling Magic Moog’s Phallic Phyllactery. Read that again. Yes, you read it correctly. Moog sells a male performance enhancer that’ll turn you from ‘zero to hero’. I kid you not, you can’t make this shit up…and Eames has, which is testament to his creativity and innovation.
• Matrick Skulldrummer, the party’s ‘lively’ rogue with a penchant for drink, takes the role of drummer (it’s in the name) armed with his twin knives Roxy and Grace. He and Moog provide much of Saga’s comic relief, as well as one of its most heartfelt moments. Like all of them, Matty was at his peak in his yester year, when he saved the Princess of Agria and swiftly bedded his way to kingship. Now, he’s all but captive in his own kingdom, and only Saga can give him a way out.
• Ganelon the axeman. Big, bold and badass, he shreds his foes both as part of the band, or ‘solo’. Lead guitarist if you hadn’t guessed it. We’re not properly introduced to him until a little later on in the story, but when he arrives on stage he’s greeted by raucous applause, not in the least because he all but singlehandedly takes on one of the most fearsome monsters that the Wyld has to throw at Saga.

The World:
• Mercenary groups/parties are known as ‘bands’. Almost everyone with a sword, shield, spear, or a stone/stick/scrap of ambition wants to be in a ‘band’.
• The ‘bands’ score ‘gigs’ via ‘bookers’ who manage their careers.
• These ‘gigs’ for the most part take them on ‘tours’ of the Heartwyld.
• The ‘bands’ are welcomed by parades of screaming fans when they return from their ‘tours’.

Speaking of world building, I’d like to take a moment to discuss my one and only problem with KotW. And it’s not the world itself – hell no, Eames has absolutely smashed it with this; I for one normally turn-off to fantasy realms populated with goblins, orcs, slimes, owlbears, giants, wyverns, and every other usual host you’d expect to see in a DnD manual or one of the many B-grade straight-to-DVD-bargain-bucket movies. But not so with KotW, as Eames breathes new life into the old foes and fiends, either through reimagining or realism. That being said, I’ve strayed from the point – my one problem with KotW and its worldbuilding, is, at times, the execution of introducing the reader to the world. I’m talking info-dumps.

The info dumps are few and far between (and by a third of the way in I didn’t spot any more), and they’re actually pretty good as far as info dumps go, but once I read one, I can’t help but notice others. In a way, that’s a symptom of me as a reader and aspiring writer – it’s been hammered into me so many times that ‘info dumping is bad;’ ‘don’t info dump;’ or my personal favourite, shout out to 2 Unlimited: ‘no no; no no no no; no no there’s no limit (except on info dumps)’. In a way, info dumping stems from, or feeds into, or goes hand in hand, with the old ‘show vs tell’ debate/debacle.
But why don’t I take umbrage with these info dumps? Besides the fact that the info dumps are used to introduce us to a vast and richly populated world (including religion, history, politics to a lesser extent, and biology too – monsters!), I’m also dismissing my nit picking (and this is what I’m doing – in the grand scheme, this book is just that good) due to context. Context, yes. Because I know, from having spoken to the author, that KotW evolved over the stage of its life. Its ‘growth’ is fascinating, especially for an industry outsider looking in. It went a little something like this:

• First draft 114,000 words.
• Beta reading feedback pushed this up to 117,000 words.
• Agent amendments cut it back to 102,000 words.
• Publishing house picks-out and chops backstory excerpt chapters, opting to have them sprinkled throughout, cutting it down to almost 90,000 words.
• Additional additions/editorial edits pushed this all the way back up to 150,000 words.

So why the uplift right at the end? From what I understand, when Eames secured his book deal with the publisher, he ended up adding whopping 50k words (almost a third of the original’s length). Why though? The pacing of the first draft was pretty breakneck, but also barebones – and by adding to the wordcount Eames had the opportunity to: a) flesh out his scenes a little more, and b) world build, world build, world build. Needless to say, Eames wasted neither opportunity, and the scenes are all the more gritty, emotional, and real because of it, and the world…well, it’s a world¸ a living breathing world, and that’s praise enough itself.

And in my opinion, every single word is bloody brilliant.

Despite my misgivings of the info dumping, looking back, I couldn’t give a damn about it anymore. Every word brought this world to life; every word a charge in a synapse, a beat of a heart. And without them, this book would be just that – a book. Instead, it’s very, very real – or at least I wished it was!

Kings of the Wyld is one of those books that could easily transcend the written word, and easily be a summer blockbuster, a TV series (Netflix, I’m looking at you!), or a video game (Dragon Age style or MMORPG springs to mind). I mean, it’s already got its own soundtrack!
It kills me that I can’t give this book a 10 out of 10. Why? Because Eames cranked it all the way to 11. So f*** it, you know what? 11 out of 10. As the saying goes:

They don’t make ‘em like they used to.

But Eames did. And he made it better.

Everything was brilliant. I laughed, I actually cried on more than one occasion and I spent most of the time reading it, sitting on the edge of my seat excited to see where the kick ass characters went next.
The characters were incredibly likable, even the bad guys.. OK not everyone, the Queen of Agria's head would look great on a ferals stick. I can't even pick a favourite.
My heart breaks for Ganelon.

I can see what the author was aiming at: a fun, fast pace, fantasy adventure. You'll like it if you like his sense of humour, but it was painfully unfunny to me. And without the humour, its just two-dimensional characters following a clunky plot. Sadly couldn't finish it, and gave up half way through.

Before reading I thought this was a grim tale about grim old timers in a grim world. I didn't realise it was, to quote the author, "a book that didn't take itself too seriously". About a dozen laugh-out-loud or shake the seat (if in public) moments, a score of giggles, and countless snorts of mirth. I don't want to hype it too much as that always leads to lofty epectations, but if you fancy a break from serious and dark tales, give this a go! Just don't take it seriously (Moog's hat, flying machines, endless luck) and you'll be surprised that there are a good few emotional kickers in there with the laughs.

I'm sure theres a lot of people who would enjoy this story, but it definitely wasn't for me. I found this book trying to find something to replace my love for the A Song of Ice and Fire series, and was willing to go down a more fantastical route. I found this book to be too heavy with the fantasy, pushed even further than something like the Lord of the Rings series in the many many creatures and magical elements of the world. For older (probably married) readers, this book may be more interesting/relatable. The characters in this book are mostly married guys living under oppressive and sad marriages, and the author goes through great lengths to talk about the depressing life they live as fathers and husbands. As an unmarried younger guy, this story doesn't really do anything for me. One of the characters in this book, established as a very intelligent, strong, person who became the King of the land, is found to be living with his wife who literally tries to have him assassinated on the daily, TO HIS KNOWLEDGE, not to mention having several kids with his guards, and yet acts as if he's just resigned to this life and doesn't care. It makes no sense to me that someone would live in this situation so resigned, and it seems like the author is really pushing hard to an audience of married men who feel their wives oppress them. Just wasn't my thing, those are my thoughts.

This book had me chuckling by page two. Literally. After that, I pretty much never stopped.

Comedic fantasy is my new favorite sub-genre. I had a hunch I would enjoy this book, but I didn’t know how deeply I’d love it or how funny it would be! This book has a lot of sarcasm, swearing and heart.

Washed up up mercs getting together again to save the day is definitely a theme I can get behind. I think having Clay, the reluctant tough-guy and all-around gentle-hearted man as the voice of the story was a smart move. He’s a man of few words but strong feelings and the unofficially (ok, or maybe officially) second-in-command. It’s Gabe’s time of need, but it’s Clay who really reunites the band. His weapon of choice is also a shield (made from a giant treant the group killed in the past), which is interesting and says a lot about his character.

This book has awesome weapons, crazy creatures (like, every fantasy/mythical beast and then some), mercenaries galore, magic, murder, and a villain with furry bunny ears.

Yep.

I’m not going to go into the plot – it’s fairly standard fantasy fare. The characters and the world-building are what make this book. Here's one of the many quotes I flagged:

“’Really?’ Gabriel sounded skeptical.

‘Really!’ Matrick said proudly.

‘Really…?’ Moog stroked his chin, intrigued.

‘Really?’ snapped the queen. “I swear by the Summer Lord’s beard, I have laundry maids who talk less than you three.’ She gestured at Clay with a white-gloved hand. ‘Kale, at least, knows when to keep his mouth shut.’

‘It’s Clay, actually.’

Lillith pouted haughtily. ‘And you were doing so well.’”

This book isn’t all humor though. The boys (ok, old men) of the band all have dark and sometimes sordid pasts. Not to mention the quest they embark on is basically hopeless. There are definitely some heavy hitting chapters in the latter part of the book. Just enough to solidify the characters and story, so they don’t become too farcical.

I’ve only one sin to hit this book with: the accursed line!

“Clay let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding…”

Damnit, Eames! Clay’s too good for that!

All jokes aside, this book is hilarious with a dash of feels for good measure. Easily one of my favorite books of the year and definitely one of my favorite fantasy novels. Can’t wait for Bloody Rose in August!

The book has overwhelmingly positive reviews with a few negative ones. I read a lot of the negative reviews and definitively see their points. Here is my quick rundown without spoilers.

I loved almost everything about the book. It's seriously a fun read and I found myself laughing at some parts, tearing at others, and flipping the pages to find out what was going to happen next. The characters are very relatable and not your average knight in shining armor. I also love the chemistry between the characters in the book. A few times I cheered out loud for some of them.

The only thing I disliked about the book was lack of consequence. From the beginning, I was actually fearful for some of the characters. The author does a good job of putting them in situations you're not sure how they will get out of unscathed. The characters also feel scared and the author does a great job of showing that, so as a reader you're even more in suspense. However, that feeling goes away about 3/4 of the way through because they do get out unscathed every time or the repercussions for their actions end up going away too.

I would recommend this book to every fantasy reader with a small forewarning: Don't take it too seriously.

Eames' debut novel comes out from backstage sliding on its knees and power screaming like Steven Tyler.

It's rock and roll, it's DnD, tongue-in-cheek and heartfelt at the same time.

I can say strongly enough just how f****** rad this book is.

Just go read it.

An excellent book, one with plenty of humor, drama, action, and emotion. I tend to pick out books at random whenever I'm looking for something new, and this book is a hidden gem, truly something everyone who likes fantasy books should try at least once.