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Blood of Kings #1
By Darkness Hid
Given the chance to train as a squire, kitchen servant Achan Cham hopes to pull himself out of his pitiful life and become a Kingsguard Knight. When Achan's owner learns of his training, he forces Achan to spar with the Crown Prince--more of a death sentence than an honor. Meanwhile, strange voices in Achan's head cause him to fear he's going mad. While escorting the prince to a council presentation, their convoy is attacked. Achan is wounded and arrested, but escapes from prison--only to discover a secret about himself he never believed possible.
490 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2009
202 people are currently reading
8908 people want to read
About the author
Jill Williamson
70 books1,609 followersJill Williamson is a multi-passionate creative who loves the arts. She’s written over thirty books for readers of all ages and is best known for her Blood of Kings fantasy series, two of which won Christy Awards and made VOYA magazine’s Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror list. She produces films with her husband and teaches about writing at conferences. Visit her at www.jillwilliamson.com.
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Jill's author website.
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Click here for a FULL LIST OF Jill's BOOKS.
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Thirst Duology
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Writing books:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 362 reviews
October 24, 2024
Re-read 10/24
5/5 Stars ✨
Loved being in this world again. Still holds as being one of my favorite reads because of the major faith themes and allegory. It’s getting a little easier now to find clean, faith fantasy’s but this one was out when there wasn’t much competition. Mrs. Willamson was ahead of the game and I was so excited when I found this series. Due to its setting, I’m sure it will continue to age well and always be a great read. This time around reading it was even more special since I’m buddy reading it with my son. He is enjoying it and flying through them. He’s already started the second so it’s time for me to catch up! Still highly recommend.
***Original Review***
This was my first book by this author. She has a new fan- Loved the characters, the plot the world building, writing everything. The book cover is the only thing that could use a little work to make it a bit more appealing to people who like catchy covers but that’s my only complaint. It was very engaging and not at all what I expected. Definitely loved the magic system and can’t wait to see where the next book goes!
5/5 Stars ✨
Loved being in this world again. Still holds as being one of my favorite reads because of the major faith themes and allegory. It’s getting a little easier now to find clean, faith fantasy’s but this one was out when there wasn’t much competition. Mrs. Willamson was ahead of the game and I was so excited when I found this series. Due to its setting, I’m sure it will continue to age well and always be a great read. This time around reading it was even more special since I’m buddy reading it with my son. He is enjoying it and flying through them. He’s already started the second so it’s time for me to catch up! Still highly recommend.
***Original Review***
This was my first book by this author. She has a new fan- Loved the characters, the plot the world building, writing everything. The book cover is the only thing that could use a little work to make it a bit more appealing to people who like catchy covers but that’s my only complaint. It was very engaging and not at all what I expected. Definitely loved the magic system and can’t wait to see where the next book goes!
August 26, 2019
I've been following Jill Williamson for YEARS now, and can't believe it's taken me this long to read one of her books! But here I am, finally, on the other side of By Darkness Hid. It's a deceptively small-scale fantasy story that's actually a part of a much grander scheme, as we find out in the end.
What I Loved
-Achan really grew on me. He has a relatable blend of strength, fear, dry wit, fledgling confidence, and heroism about him. Branded as a stray (orphan), he becomes a squire and begins to learn bloodvoicing--which is this world's version of telepathy--and as it turns out, he is very, very powerful indeed. He just... needs a little help controlling that power.
-Vrell was great. Yes, she falls under the "girl dressing up as a boy to escape an arranged marriage" trope, but she's feisty and a smart herbalist to boot.
-Our teenaged heroes are actually scared when they have good reason to be scared, and they cry in moments anyone would naturally feel overwhelmed. I don't know why I'm pointing that out, but I felt their reactions to things were realistic.
-Speaking of realistic, I learned so much! Jill has really done her medieval research. I can't say for sure, because I'm not a historian, but this book feels like one of the most historically accurate medieval settings I've read about (even though it's a fantasy world). Not romanticized at all.
-Bloodvoicing! As the book went on, more and more of the rules and methodology of this magic came to light. I loved how people can "jump" through other bloodvoicers and use it to spy on others.
-The different religions were a nice touch. Achan has grown up believing in the goddess Cetheria, while Vrell follows Arman, the "father God."
-I loved Sir Gavin grumbling about never having taught a squire before and not being very good at it. (You did fine, sir.)
-That twist ending... I should've seen it coming, but it still took me by surprise.
What I Didn't Love
-The book at times felt a little long or slow-moving. But still interesting, somehow? I just wasn't always burning to turn the next page. (This was due in part to life being rather busy during the time I was reading it.)
Conclusion
I shall definitely be picking up the next two books in the series! This was a fun start to an adventure that's only just beginning.
What I Loved
-Achan really grew on me. He has a relatable blend of strength, fear, dry wit, fledgling confidence, and heroism about him. Branded as a stray (orphan), he becomes a squire and begins to learn bloodvoicing--which is this world's version of telepathy--and as it turns out, he is very, very powerful indeed. He just... needs a little help controlling that power.
-Vrell was great. Yes, she falls under the "girl dressing up as a boy to escape an arranged marriage" trope, but she's feisty and a smart herbalist to boot.
-Our teenaged heroes are actually scared when they have good reason to be scared, and they cry in moments anyone would naturally feel overwhelmed. I don't know why I'm pointing that out, but I felt their reactions to things were realistic.
-Speaking of realistic, I learned so much! Jill has really done her medieval research. I can't say for sure, because I'm not a historian, but this book feels like one of the most historically accurate medieval settings I've read about (even though it's a fantasy world). Not romanticized at all.
-Bloodvoicing! As the book went on, more and more of the rules and methodology of this magic came to light. I loved how people can "jump" through other bloodvoicers and use it to spy on others.
-The different religions were a nice touch. Achan has grown up believing in the goddess Cetheria, while Vrell follows Arman, the "father God."
-I loved Sir Gavin grumbling about never having taught a squire before and not being very good at it. (You did fine, sir.)
-That twist ending... I should've seen it coming, but it still took me by surprise.
What I Didn't Love
-The book at times felt a little long or slow-moving. But still interesting, somehow? I just wasn't always burning to turn the next page. (This was due in part to life being rather busy during the time I was reading it.)
Conclusion
I shall definitely be picking up the next two books in the series! This was a fun start to an adventure that's only just beginning.
September 23, 2015
Did I just really find a new Christian Fiction series that is amazing? Yes, yes I did. I actually read this book a few months ago but just now decided to do the review.
The kingdom of Er’rets is half covered in Darkness and the other half sees the sun. In a land full of ebens, poroo, and unique and terrifying creatures, there is the power of bloodvoicing. Some consider it a gift, one man thinks he’s gone crazy. Achan Cham is worse off than an orphan, he’s a stray. As a slave, he works in the kitchens of Sitna Manor and fulfills many different duties. He just wants his freedom. When a old knight requests that he trains with him to become a Kingsguardman, he great fully accepts. But sword training doesn’t help him learn about the voices in his head that plague him. Is he going crazy? Vrell Sparrow is a girl disguised as a boy in hiding. She hides from powerful people who want her hand in marriage at all costs. She feels compelled to this boy who is just discovering his bloodvoicing ability. But if she helps him, her secrets may be revealed.
Oh my, oh my. I loved this book so much. It was so good! It pulled me in from the start and never let me go. The mysteries about this new and exciting world was just the icing to the cake. The best part were the characters and their abilities and the plot. Let me just say everything was great! Achan is my favorite character, but that’s natural for me since I love male protagonists better than female protagonists. He was so heartfelt. I loved how everything he did felt so natural and right. Vrell was so neat. She kept it together through all the ups and downs for the most part. She was so touching and caring. Their abilities were very cool; I can’t wait to learn more about it! Sir Gavin is also another favorite. He can be harsh on the outside but he’s really soft on the inside. The plot was amazing and it’s still rolling out in the rest of the series. There’s such a big revelation at the end, that is so electrifying!
Well, I’d recommend this to those who love Christian Fiction and fantasy. This was really really fantastic.
You can check out this review on my blog too, at: https://aheartredeemed.wordpress.com/... Thanks!
The kingdom of Er’rets is half covered in Darkness and the other half sees the sun. In a land full of ebens, poroo, and unique and terrifying creatures, there is the power of bloodvoicing. Some consider it a gift, one man thinks he’s gone crazy. Achan Cham is worse off than an orphan, he’s a stray. As a slave, he works in the kitchens of Sitna Manor and fulfills many different duties. He just wants his freedom. When a old knight requests that he trains with him to become a Kingsguardman, he great fully accepts. But sword training doesn’t help him learn about the voices in his head that plague him. Is he going crazy? Vrell Sparrow is a girl disguised as a boy in hiding. She hides from powerful people who want her hand in marriage at all costs. She feels compelled to this boy who is just discovering his bloodvoicing ability. But if she helps him, her secrets may be revealed.
Oh my, oh my. I loved this book so much. It was so good! It pulled me in from the start and never let me go. The mysteries about this new and exciting world was just the icing to the cake. The best part were the characters and their abilities and the plot. Let me just say everything was great! Achan is my favorite character, but that’s natural for me since I love male protagonists better than female protagonists. He was so heartfelt. I loved how everything he did felt so natural and right. Vrell was so neat. She kept it together through all the ups and downs for the most part. She was so touching and caring. Their abilities were very cool; I can’t wait to learn more about it! Sir Gavin is also another favorite. He can be harsh on the outside but he’s really soft on the inside. The plot was amazing and it’s still rolling out in the rest of the series. There’s such a big revelation at the end, that is so electrifying!
Well, I’d recommend this to those who love Christian Fiction and fantasy. This was really really fantastic.
You can check out this review on my blog too, at: https://aheartredeemed.wordpress.com/... Thanks!
June 8, 2018
'By Darkness Hid' is a gripping fantasy read. It tells the story of the stray, Achan, who is considered the lowest of the low. He draws the attention of Sir Gavin, a knight, when he defends a young boy from being bullied and from thence his life changes, not always for the better. This is a pleasure to read as it is very well written. Achan is an underdog that refuses to be cowed and watching him handle very difficult circumstances with courage is what is most likeable about this book. I was less sold on the character of Vrell because I find it hard to believe a 17 year old Lady, living in such close quarters with men would really convince them that she is a boy, but that aside, her journey throughout the book is interesting. This is a Christian fantasy, but the faith themes are written in such a way as to enhance the book and would not be off-putting to anyone who believes differently. If you like medieval fantasy, with a touch of the supernatural, this is for you.
March 22, 2009
What I enjoyed most about Williamson’s style is her dialogue. Witty. Snappy. Humorous. The interaction between characters is entertaining and sometimes surprising. Williamson truly has a knack for clever conversation.
My favorite character is hero Achan Cham. Besides the fact that he’s handsome, this is one humble protagonist. He’s got his flaws all right, but he owns up to his shortcomings with a modest and sincere finesse. This is the kind of leading man every girl dreams of.
Williamson also weaves into her story a good amount of action/adventure as well. From reekat hunting to giant knights, there’s never a dull moment, and thrown into the mix are greedy, power-hungry nobles.
By Darkness Hid is definitely a jewel in the crown of Marcher Lord Press. Be sure to pick up this title for a great read.
My favorite character is hero Achan Cham. Besides the fact that he’s handsome, this is one humble protagonist. He’s got his flaws all right, but he owns up to his shortcomings with a modest and sincere finesse. This is the kind of leading man every girl dreams of.
Williamson also weaves into her story a good amount of action/adventure as well. From reekat hunting to giant knights, there’s never a dull moment, and thrown into the mix are greedy, power-hungry nobles.
By Darkness Hid is definitely a jewel in the crown of Marcher Lord Press. Be sure to pick up this title for a great read.
November 29, 2017
I NEED TO RE-READ THESE. <3
Originally read July 1, 2011
A very exciting book, alternating between Achan and Vrell's points of view until their stories meet at the end. Both of them are relatable and interesting characters, very easy to slip into the minds of--literally. I've always thought someone should do a story with mind abilities like they have in this book, and now Jill Williamson has, with Bloodvoicing. It's very cool and well thought out. I enjoyed following along on the adventure, as Achan learns about his ability--and other things besides--and as Vrell tries to steer clear of the evil prince while trying to hide her secrets. Full of action, intrigue, fun, faith, and discover, By Darkness Hid is another great addition to the world of fantasy novels. An excellent read!
Originally read July 1, 2011
A very exciting book, alternating between Achan and Vrell's points of view until their stories meet at the end. Both of them are relatable and interesting characters, very easy to slip into the minds of--literally. I've always thought someone should do a story with mind abilities like they have in this book, and now Jill Williamson has, with Bloodvoicing. It's very cool and well thought out. I enjoyed following along on the adventure, as Achan learns about his ability--and other things besides--and as Vrell tries to steer clear of the evil prince while trying to hide her secrets. Full of action, intrigue, fun, faith, and discover, By Darkness Hid is another great addition to the world of fantasy novels. An excellent read!
September 21, 2019
This book!! I came into the story knowing it was going to be good, but it was even better than I'd ever hoped!
I connected instantly with the characters - particularly Achan - and was so invested in their story that I didn't want to stop reading ever.
The plot also kept me turning pages, and though I at least partially guessed some of the twists and turns, it was still so gripping and I adored every second of it.
Highly recommend! Definitely another new favourite of mine.
I connected instantly with the characters - particularly Achan - and was so invested in their story that I didn't want to stop reading ever.
The plot also kept me turning pages, and though I at least partially guessed some of the twists and turns, it was still so gripping and I adored every second of it.
Highly recommend! Definitely another new favourite of mine.
April 20, 2016
The second half is really exciting, but I almost DNF.
October 1, 2024
This is the first book in the Blood of Kings trilogy by Jill Williamson.
To start, I need to say that I’m a big fan of immersive reading. I like to read and listen at the same time. I usually get the kindle version with the audiobook on discount and that’s my “chefs kiss” preferred way to read. This book has an audiobook but it’s not tied with the kindle version for true immersive reading. Actually the first several chapters are significantly different in the kindle version vs the audiobook which was a bit difficult to track. The narrator; Gillian Brontë Adams, does a great job with all the action and character voices but I struggled a bit with the “straight narration” but truly it improves greatly as the book progresses!
It took me the first several chapters to get engaged but about halfway through the story starts to come together in a very engaging way! I came to care deeply about Achan and Vrell and all their supporting characters.
There are some very interesting “powers” that are introduced that give this story a great sense of potential and tension and some of the twists are really quite satisfying!
This book does have some villains that are truly evil and capable of some terrible acts but having said that I don’t think it’s inappropriate for mid-grade readers.
No foul language or sexual situations but some definite romance and romantic tension.
I understand why Jill did it for the story but there is a certain strategy that Vrell uses that I wasn’t crazy about but it does work and creates some interesting dilemmas for that character to overcome which is fun.
Looking forward to jumping into Book 2 for October!
Special thanks to Jessica from our Faith and Fantasy community for recommending this series!
To start, I need to say that I’m a big fan of immersive reading. I like to read and listen at the same time. I usually get the kindle version with the audiobook on discount and that’s my “chefs kiss” preferred way to read. This book has an audiobook but it’s not tied with the kindle version for true immersive reading. Actually the first several chapters are significantly different in the kindle version vs the audiobook which was a bit difficult to track. The narrator; Gillian Brontë Adams, does a great job with all the action and character voices but I struggled a bit with the “straight narration” but truly it improves greatly as the book progresses!
It took me the first several chapters to get engaged but about halfway through the story starts to come together in a very engaging way! I came to care deeply about Achan and Vrell and all their supporting characters.
There are some very interesting “powers” that are introduced that give this story a great sense of potential and tension and some of the twists are really quite satisfying!
This book does have some villains that are truly evil and capable of some terrible acts but having said that I don’t think it’s inappropriate for mid-grade readers.
No foul language or sexual situations but some definite romance and romantic tension.
I understand why Jill did it for the story but there is a certain strategy that Vrell uses that I wasn’t crazy about but it does work and creates some interesting dilemmas for that character to overcome which is fun.
Looking forward to jumping into Book 2 for October!
Special thanks to Jessica from our Faith and Fantasy community for recommending this series!
June 12, 2015
This. THIS is how you write Christian Epic Fantasy. I’ll be honest, I usually hate these sorts of books. Christian fantasy (and Christian literature in general) tend to be…what is the word? Preachy. Overbearing. It pains me to say and I wish it weren’t so, yet it’s true. But none of that here.
I think I added this to my “Dear Santa” list over a year ago because it looked like my kind of trouble. Over vacation, I was browsing through my Amazon wish list and saw that it was free for Kindle. Fearing it was too good to be true, I prodded at the page for a bit before hitting “download.” A few days later, I went and bought the second. Now I’m reading the third and thinking there should be a bigger fandom for the series.
The plot:
Okay, so I did feel like the story was congested for the first two or three chapters. In the beginning, I was wondering where it was headed and thinking it was a little slow, but so many people on Goodreads and Amazon had loved it and I figured there had to be a reason. I quickly discovered that there was.
I’m one of those people who takes what happens to the characters personally. I spent plenty of time pacing, worrying, panicking, and putting down my Kindle because I couldn’t take the suspense. As soon as we got through the first few chapters, the story took off like a firework and swept me right up in it. I love it when a book does that and I admit there were a few twists I did not see coming.
The characters:
Achan is basically a punching bag for the local lowlife population. Poor baby. In essentially every other chapter, he’s getting punched, stabbed, shot, strangled, burned, poisoned, whipped, or something else horrible. (Spoiler: it does not get better as the series progresses.) He can be naive and occasionally self righteous, even temperamental, but all things considered, I think he turned out pretty fricking good. Sir Gavin is a knight who sort of takes Achan under his wing and I kept wanting to yell “DO NOT LEAVE HIM UNATTENDED!” every time Gavin walked off the page.
The other POV character is Vrell, a young noblewoman disguised as a foundling boy to avoid marrying the main villain. Their two storylines didn’t directly intersect until more than halfway through the book, I think, but still meshed together quite well. Vrell doesn’t take half the physical poundings Achan does (she’d probably be dead), but she still gets her fair share of trouble. She has her own set of faults and flaws and qualities and I thought she was a realistically structured character, just as Achan was.
At present, I’m trying to think of people I could coerce into reading this. I adored the story, greatly appreciated the author’s presentation of the religious elements, and I think my brothers and friends are going to have this shoved in their faces at the first possible opportunity.
I think I added this to my “Dear Santa” list over a year ago because it looked like my kind of trouble. Over vacation, I was browsing through my Amazon wish list and saw that it was free for Kindle. Fearing it was too good to be true, I prodded at the page for a bit before hitting “download.” A few days later, I went and bought the second. Now I’m reading the third and thinking there should be a bigger fandom for the series.
The plot:
Okay, so I did feel like the story was congested for the first two or three chapters. In the beginning, I was wondering where it was headed and thinking it was a little slow, but so many people on Goodreads and Amazon had loved it and I figured there had to be a reason. I quickly discovered that there was.
I’m one of those people who takes what happens to the characters personally. I spent plenty of time pacing, worrying, panicking, and putting down my Kindle because I couldn’t take the suspense. As soon as we got through the first few chapters, the story took off like a firework and swept me right up in it. I love it when a book does that and I admit there were a few twists I did not see coming.
The characters:
Achan is basically a punching bag for the local lowlife population. Poor baby. In essentially every other chapter, he’s getting punched, stabbed, shot, strangled, burned, poisoned, whipped, or something else horrible. (Spoiler: it does not get better as the series progresses.) He can be naive and occasionally self righteous, even temperamental, but all things considered, I think he turned out pretty fricking good. Sir Gavin is a knight who sort of takes Achan under his wing and I kept wanting to yell “DO NOT LEAVE HIM UNATTENDED!” every time Gavin walked off the page.
The other POV character is Vrell, a young noblewoman disguised as a foundling boy to avoid marrying the main villain. Their two storylines didn’t directly intersect until more than halfway through the book, I think, but still meshed together quite well. Vrell doesn’t take half the physical poundings Achan does (she’d probably be dead), but she still gets her fair share of trouble. She has her own set of faults and flaws and qualities and I thought she was a realistically structured character, just as Achan was.
At present, I’m trying to think of people I could coerce into reading this. I adored the story, greatly appreciated the author’s presentation of the religious elements, and I think my brothers and friends are going to have this shoved in their faces at the first possible opportunity.
September 10, 2025
This didn’t get off to a great start, but it sure finished well! I am totally invested now.😍 The unique “magic” system, the likable yet fallible characters, the twists and turns, and the Christian elements all drew me in.
I found it ironic and mildly amusing that the narrator of this audiobook read the words “fire and ash” in this story then went on to name one of her books “Of Fire and Ash”.🤭
I found it ironic and mildly amusing that the narrator of this audiobook read the words “fire and ash” in this story then went on to name one of her books “Of Fire and Ash”.🤭
September 30, 2022
I'm not familiar with Williamson's work, so it was exciting to discover this much beloved series and dive into an award-winning epic fantasy. I usually pause to review books after I read them, but I lowkey binged the entire trilogy XD So, now I'm going back to review each book.
I really enjoyed the social hierarchy that Williamson constructed for this book. The idea of strays, or orphans, being lower than even slaves intrigued me. And I definitely sympathized with Achan because of it. And the color association with the classes (orange for stray, among others) is something I've seen before, but it felt so natural and real here. A cool detail to incorporate for sure. The setting hinted at so many interesting world elements, like the Darkness on the horizon, and the magic of the blood voices. The rich world was definitely fun, and I greatly looked forward to book 2 because of that cliffie!
Because I attended a webinar with Williamson (that's how I heard about this series in the first place), I did have a few spoilers (namely Achan's plot twist and the romantic ships). But even still, I really liked Achan as a character. He was easy to root for and a fun medieval guy navigating the fantasy world. Gavin was a blast! He was a lot of fun and so many of the other characters rounded out a great cast. Sparrow intrigued me most by her actions. She chose to go into and face danger over and over again. Jax and Perspario and Gren and Noam were fun and all the side characters really made the world feel bigger and more realistic. I will say the first two parts were rather jarring; to go from Achan's pov to Vrell's for several chapters in a row for each chunk and then start swapping back and forth more consistently was hard on the brain and I didn't love that.
The pacing of the plot felt a little slow to me. It took about half the book for me to really get into it. But by the last two parts, I started to feel the momentum and got hooked in. As much as I enjoyed the world and the story, there were sooo many passages of description. Eventually I got tired of them and definitely felt like things dragged in some places because we stopped to see every detail of the scene.
Looking back, though, this feels kind of like an origin story a little bit and I recall the humble beginnings fondly. Also, thematically, I can see hints of Williamson setting something deeper up. I like the allusions to different cultures and views on religion and so forth. So, I'm intrigued to see where she takes the spiritual side of things. On to book 2!
Content: there's no foul language, but some fantasy violence (tournaments, swordplay, etc.), and some romance. The book deals with the idea of mistresses for nobility, arranged marriages, and socially unacceptable matches, etc. Nothing is graphic or explicit, but there are mature themes dealt with appropriately regarding romance. There are also themes of injustice, abuse, and evil vs. good, etc. The book has a lot of spiritual undertones and themes that would make for great discussion. I'd probably recommend the book for 15/16+
I really enjoyed the social hierarchy that Williamson constructed for this book. The idea of strays, or orphans, being lower than even slaves intrigued me. And I definitely sympathized with Achan because of it. And the color association with the classes (orange for stray, among others) is something I've seen before, but it felt so natural and real here. A cool detail to incorporate for sure. The setting hinted at so many interesting world elements, like the Darkness on the horizon, and the magic of the blood voices. The rich world was definitely fun, and I greatly looked forward to book 2 because of that cliffie!
Because I attended a webinar with Williamson (that's how I heard about this series in the first place), I did have a few spoilers (namely Achan's plot twist and the romantic ships). But even still, I really liked Achan as a character. He was easy to root for and a fun medieval guy navigating the fantasy world. Gavin was a blast! He was a lot of fun and so many of the other characters rounded out a great cast. Sparrow intrigued me most by her actions. She chose to go into and face danger over and over again. Jax and Perspario and Gren and Noam were fun and all the side characters really made the world feel bigger and more realistic. I will say the first two parts were rather jarring; to go from Achan's pov to Vrell's for several chapters in a row for each chunk and then start swapping back and forth more consistently was hard on the brain and I didn't love that.
The pacing of the plot felt a little slow to me. It took about half the book for me to really get into it. But by the last two parts, I started to feel the momentum and got hooked in. As much as I enjoyed the world and the story, there were sooo many passages of description. Eventually I got tired of them and definitely felt like things dragged in some places because we stopped to see every detail of the scene.
Looking back, though, this feels kind of like an origin story a little bit and I recall the humble beginnings fondly. Also, thematically, I can see hints of Williamson setting something deeper up. I like the allusions to different cultures and views on religion and so forth. So, I'm intrigued to see where she takes the spiritual side of things. On to book 2!
Content: there's no foul language, but some fantasy violence (tournaments, swordplay, etc.), and some romance. The book deals with the idea of mistresses for nobility, arranged marriages, and socially unacceptable matches, etc. Nothing is graphic or explicit, but there are mature themes dealt with appropriately regarding romance. There are also themes of injustice, abuse, and evil vs. good, etc. The book has a lot of spiritual undertones and themes that would make for great discussion. I'd probably recommend the book for 15/16+
June 29, 2013
By Darkness Hid is the first in the "Blood of Kings" trilogy by Jill Williamson. It is told in dual points of view, chronicling the adventures of Achan Cham, a lowly Stray who dreams of a better life, and Vrell Sparrow, a young noblewoman fleeing from a disastrous match with a despicable prince. Their stories intertwine in very interesting ways throughout the course of the novel.
It is very difficult to find Christian fantasy that has it all: faith, adventure, a dash of mystery and romance. The first book had it all, in varying amounts. While the story it tells has been told before in different ways, I enjoyed the characters and the author's realistic outlook on love. Though the main character, Achan is thwarted time and again and your heart breaks along with him. However, this is only the first book in the trilogy and there is lots of room for his character to grow and come into a happier ending.
Vrell, on the other hand, was just my type of girl--a girl who did what she had to do to survive, without embracing the mindset that often comes with it. She stayed compassionate while also being brave and practical.
One thing I am slightly concerned with are the amount of tropes used--the girl disguised as a boy, the return of the king, etc. However, I definitely still enjoyed it, because those archetypes are still powerful time and again. Well, the return of the king one, at any rate. Personally, I would have hated being in Vrell's position.
The author has put a lot of work into this book, and it shows. She's mapped out her world very well visually, though some of the details included bogged down the pace of the book tremendously. The number of chairs in a given room isn't something I'm usually concerned with. But I loved exploring the various corners of Er'Rets with the characters; I felt as though I were in Skyrim or one such other of my younger sister's fantasy video games--the world was very easy to immerse oneself in.
By Darkness Hid is a wonderful read for those Christians who want fantasy that isn't all abracadabra, and gives insight into how to handle the Christian walk as though it truly were an epic adventure. The characters struggle just like any real person would. That being said, non-Christians may enjoy this series too, if they don't mind the obvious Christian worldview of the story.
All in all, a promising start to a series that I hope will only get better!
Four stars!
Find reviews and more on my blog:
www.thewriterofdreamthings.blogspot.com
It is very difficult to find Christian fantasy that has it all: faith, adventure, a dash of mystery and romance. The first book had it all, in varying amounts. While the story it tells has been told before in different ways, I enjoyed the characters and the author's realistic outlook on love. Though the main character, Achan is thwarted time and again and your heart breaks along with him. However, this is only the first book in the trilogy and there is lots of room for his character to grow and come into a happier ending.
Vrell, on the other hand, was just my type of girl--a girl who did what she had to do to survive, without embracing the mindset that often comes with it. She stayed compassionate while also being brave and practical.
One thing I am slightly concerned with are the amount of tropes used--the girl disguised as a boy, the return of the king, etc. However, I definitely still enjoyed it, because those archetypes are still powerful time and again. Well, the return of the king one, at any rate. Personally, I would have hated being in Vrell's position.
The author has put a lot of work into this book, and it shows. She's mapped out her world very well visually, though some of the details included bogged down the pace of the book tremendously. The number of chairs in a given room isn't something I'm usually concerned with. But I loved exploring the various corners of Er'Rets with the characters; I felt as though I were in Skyrim or one such other of my younger sister's fantasy video games--the world was very easy to immerse oneself in.
By Darkness Hid is a wonderful read for those Christians who want fantasy that isn't all abracadabra, and gives insight into how to handle the Christian walk as though it truly were an epic adventure. The characters struggle just like any real person would. That being said, non-Christians may enjoy this series too, if they don't mind the obvious Christian worldview of the story.
All in all, a promising start to a series that I hope will only get better!
Four stars!
Find reviews and more on my blog:
www.thewriterofdreamthings.blogspot.com
March 4, 2019
Jill Williamson has been a HUGE inspiration to me as a writer for a long time now, all thanks to the epicness of the Go Teen Writers blog and the amazingness of the GTW book. I've been meaning to pick up some of her fiction, specifically Blood of Kings, for quite a while now, so I'm excited I finally got around to By Darkness Hid and that it didn't disappoint!
What's to love about this book, you ask? Well...
- A girl of nobility disguises as a peasant boy (or rather, a "stray" boy - the lowest of ranks in this world) and goes into hiding to escape marriage with an awful, nasty Crown Prince.
- A real stray boy enters into a sudden apprenticeship with a Kingsguard knight, and things spiral into craziness after that. (His relatively short apprenticeship was reminiscient of the Ranger's Apprentice, btw. ^_^)
- THE WORLD-BUILDING IS SUPERB. Not that I expected anything less from Jill Williamson, lol. By reading the GTW blog and book, I'd already developed a deep appreciation for her world-building skills!
- Plot twists and swordfighting galore. 'Nuff said.
- The writing style is perfection. The author tossed in so many details at just the right times, while at the same time keeping her style simple and easy to follow at a comfortably quick pace.
- I ADORED THAT ENDING. It was such a perfect tense moment to close the story with. I can't wait to pick up book two!
I took one star off because although the last third or so of the story was great and the climactic plot twists were stunning (I sort of guessed one of them, but not really XD), I feel like the ending portion of the book was executed in such a way that I wasn't quite as engaged as I feel I should have been. Maybe I just read that part at the wrong time or something, in which case it's just me, but... I don't know. *shrug*
Also, I'm trying to be protective of my five-star ratings, and I wouldn't classify By Darkness Hid as a new favorite - even though every aspect was done sooooo well and I very much enjoyed it! So there's that too.
This is EXCELLENT Christian fantasy, guys. I highly recommend it!
What's to love about this book, you ask? Well...
- A girl of nobility disguises as a peasant boy (or rather, a "stray" boy - the lowest of ranks in this world) and goes into hiding to escape marriage with an awful, nasty Crown Prince.
- A real stray boy enters into a sudden apprenticeship with a Kingsguard knight, and things spiral into craziness after that. (His relatively short apprenticeship was reminiscient of the Ranger's Apprentice, btw. ^_^)
- THE WORLD-BUILDING IS SUPERB. Not that I expected anything less from Jill Williamson, lol. By reading the GTW blog and book, I'd already developed a deep appreciation for her world-building skills!
- Plot twists and swordfighting galore. 'Nuff said.
- The writing style is perfection. The author tossed in so many details at just the right times, while at the same time keeping her style simple and easy to follow at a comfortably quick pace.
- I ADORED THAT ENDING. It was such a perfect tense moment to close the story with. I can't wait to pick up book two!
I took one star off because although the last third or so of the story was great and the climactic plot twists were stunning (I sort of guessed one of them, but not really XD), I feel like the ending portion of the book was executed in such a way that I wasn't quite as engaged as I feel I should have been. Maybe I just read that part at the wrong time or something, in which case it's just me, but... I don't know. *shrug*
Also, I'm trying to be protective of my five-star ratings, and I wouldn't classify By Darkness Hid as a new favorite - even though every aspect was done sooooo well and I very much enjoyed it! So there's that too.
This is EXCELLENT Christian fantasy, guys. I highly recommend it!
December 6, 2018
What did I think? One of the best books ever. All the hearts. 😄
August 1, 2024
Third time reading this book and it's still a favorite. I love this book series so much.
November 22, 2015
By Darkness Hid . . . a brilliant novel by Jill Williamson . . . Why didn’t I dive into this epic fantasy world sooner?? :D
When I first started By Darkness Hid, it was interesting and all, but I was pretty deep in a reading slump and nothing much was really catching my interest. But, I forged on. And I’m so, so glad I did! This story soon mesmerized me, and now I sit here wishing I had the sequel! ;)
Achan and Vrell are our main characters. I quite adore Achan and his interesting personality; though guy characters aren’t always my favorite to follow. It was a delight to be introduced to Vrell (Vrella, I believe, is her actual name), and know that we had a female protagonist as well!! ;) She was a bit frustrating at first actually, but soon enough grew to be another character that I, yes, adored. Both of them are great!! Loved journeying and having intriguing and terrifying adventures with them!
Ooh, I really like Jax! ^__^ And there’s some others here and there that I quite liked.
The fantasy world of this story is really just . . . wonderful. I love fantasy!! <3 We have a medieval sort of setting, but giants, a place called Darkness, and big, scary creatures lurk around. There’s also this ability that some people have called bloodvoicing. (It’s called bloodvoicing because it’s a trait passed down through blood—passed from one generation to the next. Just thought I’d clarify, *wink*). This ability is a gift from Arman (represents God) to So yes, they kind of talk to each other without talking. Talk inside each other’s heads almost, read people’s thoughts, and things like that. (I’ve read of an ability like this in other books too, such as Serena Chase’s). I never thought too much about it before; but it did occur to me recently that this is sort of telepathic way of communicating . . . I don’t really know much about telepathy in the real world, but reading about it, even in fantasy worlds, does kind of weird me out sometimes. I will say that, as the story went on, it was clearly shown that this was a gift from God—you know, no dark magic being learned or used or anything. But still, I thought I’d mention it in case anyone doesn’t feel comfortable reading about a telepathic sort of communication. Not sure what the Bible says about telepathy . . . but I shall keep looking into it! :)
So, besides that niggling uncertainty, By Darkness Hid was an incredible fantasy story!! And I just am so extremely excited to see what happens next!! I can see a wonderful Christian allegory unfolding, and not to mention, a romance? ;) And it’s just too fantastic! :D After reading kind of slowly through the first 30% or so of By Darkness Hid, I suddenly was captivated and eagerly going back into Achan’s and Vrell’s world time and again.
Epic, epic, epic! Just writing this review has me wondering longingly what’s going to happen next . . . How many times have I said that already? ;) You guys know it’s a superb tale now! Lol!
Real quickly mention here that though the romances of this book were sweet and all, it does have a little more of a mature feel. I would say about sixteen and up. No graphic violence that I noticed. And yeah, little warning about the bloodvoicing, as I mentioned above.
Otherwise . . . Epic adventure, shrouded identities, blossoming could-be romances, dangerous battles, darkness creeping in . . . I’m very much looking forward to seeing how this story continues! Amazing!! :)
When I first started By Darkness Hid, it was interesting and all, but I was pretty deep in a reading slump and nothing much was really catching my interest. But, I forged on. And I’m so, so glad I did! This story soon mesmerized me, and now I sit here wishing I had the sequel! ;)
Achan and Vrell are our main characters. I quite adore Achan and his interesting personality; though guy characters aren’t always my favorite to follow. It was a delight to be introduced to Vrell (Vrella, I believe, is her actual name), and know that we had a female protagonist as well!! ;) She was a bit frustrating at first actually, but soon enough grew to be another character that I, yes, adored. Both of them are great!! Loved journeying and having intriguing and terrifying adventures with them!
Ooh, I really like Jax! ^__^ And there’s some others here and there that I quite liked.
The fantasy world of this story is really just . . . wonderful. I love fantasy!! <3 We have a medieval sort of setting, but giants, a place called Darkness, and big, scary creatures lurk around. There’s also this ability that some people have called bloodvoicing. (It’s called bloodvoicing because it’s a trait passed down through blood—passed from one generation to the next. Just thought I’d clarify, *wink*). This ability is a gift from Arman (represents God) to So yes, they kind of talk to each other without talking. Talk inside each other’s heads almost, read people’s thoughts, and things like that. (I’ve read of an ability like this in other books too, such as Serena Chase’s). I never thought too much about it before; but it did occur to me recently that this is sort of telepathic way of communicating . . . I don’t really know much about telepathy in the real world, but reading about it, even in fantasy worlds, does kind of weird me out sometimes. I will say that, as the story went on, it was clearly shown that this was a gift from God—you know, no dark magic being learned or used or anything. But still, I thought I’d mention it in case anyone doesn’t feel comfortable reading about a telepathic sort of communication. Not sure what the Bible says about telepathy . . . but I shall keep looking into it! :)
So, besides that niggling uncertainty, By Darkness Hid was an incredible fantasy story!! And I just am so extremely excited to see what happens next!! I can see a wonderful Christian allegory unfolding, and not to mention, a romance? ;) And it’s just too fantastic! :D After reading kind of slowly through the first 30% or so of By Darkness Hid, I suddenly was captivated and eagerly going back into Achan’s and Vrell’s world time and again.
Epic, epic, epic! Just writing this review has me wondering longingly what’s going to happen next . . . How many times have I said that already? ;) You guys know it’s a superb tale now! Lol!
Real quickly mention here that though the romances of this book were sweet and all, it does have a little more of a mature feel. I would say about sixteen and up. No graphic violence that I noticed. And yeah, little warning about the bloodvoicing, as I mentioned above.
Otherwise . . . Epic adventure, shrouded identities, blossoming could-be romances, dangerous battles, darkness creeping in . . . I’m very much looking forward to seeing how this story continues! Amazing!! :)
June 7, 2009
I have heard a lot about this new publisher of Speculative/Fantasy Christian books called Marcher Lord Press and I've been very interested in the books they have published so far but haven't gotten one to read until now. Hold onto your hats fans of Christian Spec/Fantasy - Marcher Lord Press may be the best thing that has ever happened to us (the fans) and it all starts with "By Darkness Hid" by Jill Williamson!
Kings, politics, orphans (called strays), knights, squires, bloodvoicing (mind reading), darkness and light. This book is packed full of everything you could possibly ask for. We follow two different characters - Achan is worse than a slave, he is a stray and is beaten almost daily when Sir Gavin of the old Kingsguard comes along and decides that Achan needs to train as his squire. He undergoes the training along with all his kitchen slave duties and things just seem to get worse as the prince hates him and makes no attempt to cover that up. He ends up traveling with the prince who seems set on getting him killed. In the meantime we are also seeing life through Vrell's eyes as he is parading as a stray but is not all he is cracked up to be. Vrell gets hijacked to Mahanaim where the prince is supposed to be named king. Vrell runs into Achan and things only start getting more and more interesting. Some twists I figured out and some I didn't - all the way around I was totally intrigued from page one to the end and I can only hope that book #2 comes out soon (very soon!). I love this book and highly recommend that you check it out and all the books available with Marcher Lord Press!
Kings, politics, orphans (called strays), knights, squires, bloodvoicing (mind reading), darkness and light. This book is packed full of everything you could possibly ask for. We follow two different characters - Achan is worse than a slave, he is a stray and is beaten almost daily when Sir Gavin of the old Kingsguard comes along and decides that Achan needs to train as his squire. He undergoes the training along with all his kitchen slave duties and things just seem to get worse as the prince hates him and makes no attempt to cover that up. He ends up traveling with the prince who seems set on getting him killed. In the meantime we are also seeing life through Vrell's eyes as he is parading as a stray but is not all he is cracked up to be. Vrell gets hijacked to Mahanaim where the prince is supposed to be named king. Vrell runs into Achan and things only start getting more and more interesting. Some twists I figured out and some I didn't - all the way around I was totally intrigued from page one to the end and I can only hope that book #2 comes out soon (very soon!). I love this book and highly recommend that you check it out and all the books available with Marcher Lord Press!
September 10, 2024
This book was such a formative part of my younger years, and I’m so glad to say it holds up for me as an adult. I devoured it even though I was supposed to be reading only a few chapters a week for the readalong. I am not generally a medieval fantasy reader anymore, but Achan and Vrell’s stories are so compelling. Both go through such difficulty and make such mistakes—especially Achan—and they come out stronger on the other side. The world is also fascinating, with half of it in light and half in darkness. And of course I love books about characters with telepathy (“bloodvoicing”)! Though Vrell’s storyline premise is somewhat cliche—girl has to masquerade as a boy—its execution in my opinion is so unique. And I loved unraveling the mystery surrounding Achan alongside the characters. So glad this series exists.
May 10, 2020
This is a wonderful example of Fantasy. Williamson creates an intriguing main character, Achan, and an equally interesting supporting character, Verra. I love how she keeps you guessing until the very end and even though I suspected the way it would end, I was still surprised. This is only the first of the series and I definitely want to read the rest to see what happens to Achan and Verra.
December 30, 2024
Dec. 2024: there’s a reason this is one of my favorite series. Love this book so much!
Sept. 2022: SOOOO worth the reread and honestly I enjoyed it even more the second time. So many times I was doing *Mushu voice* “you like him” at Vrell. 😂 It’s just such a great book.
Original 2019 review: I wasn't hooked until close to the end, but now that I am...man, it's so good.
Sept. 2022: SOOOO worth the reread and honestly I enjoyed it even more the second time. So many times I was doing *Mushu voice* “you like him” at Vrell. 😂 It’s just such a great book.
Original 2019 review: I wasn't hooked until close to the end, but now that I am...man, it's so good.
February 2, 2016
Such a wonderful story! I can't wait to read the next book.
Read
August 22, 2015One of the better Christian fantasies I've read in the past few years. Will probably check out the sequels.
January 21, 2025
Full of all the elements that make up the best fantasy, this first Blood of Kings book satisfies those expectations while still keeping them fresh and unique to this story. That combination ensured that each character, each place, and each nuance stood on its own instead of feeling like a copy of something else.
As much as I loved and rooted for the characters (they are all awesome--even the ones you love to hate), the way Williamson used faith in this first novel is what made the biggest impression. We're in a world with the equivalent of I AM as well as the various gods we've seen throughout history (with their own names here). What stood out so much is how I could feel the way even as a believer and child of I AM myself, I often behave as if I don't know in Whose strength my security lies. Williamson showed this in the lack of faith others who don't know I AM without ever stating it. In fact, I don't know if she even tried to do it. I just felt it.
Additionally, this is the twistiest fantasy I've ever read. Just as you're sure you know what's going to happen in a scene, she jerks the rug out from under you, and you find yourself sliding down a path you had no idea you'd go. Well done!
I'd planned to read through it slowly over the next week or so. Instead, I plowed through it in just a couple of days and am ready to start book two.
As much as I loved and rooted for the characters (they are all awesome--even the ones you love to hate), the way Williamson used faith in this first novel is what made the biggest impression. We're in a world with the equivalent of I AM as well as the various gods we've seen throughout history (with their own names here). What stood out so much is how I could feel the way even as a believer and child of I AM myself, I often behave as if I don't know in Whose strength my security lies. Williamson showed this in the lack of faith others who don't know I AM without ever stating it. In fact, I don't know if she even tried to do it. I just felt it.
Additionally, this is the twistiest fantasy I've ever read. Just as you're sure you know what's going to happen in a scene, she jerks the rug out from under you, and you find yourself sliding down a path you had no idea you'd go. Well done!
I'd planned to read through it slowly over the next week or so. Instead, I plowed through it in just a couple of days and am ready to start book two.
September 20, 2013
I enjoyed this book quite a bit and like the characters alot. That being said, I really didn't like book 2 and haven't decided whether I will even bother to read book 3. The books left the entertaining realm of fantasy and became very, very pushy on religion and duty. I stopped even liking the characters at that point. This book isn't really a stand alone book, it is meant to be part one of a series. I would not recommend the entire series, so it is hard to support the first book, which I'd originally enjoyed.
January 4, 2020
What in the world did I just read?
I'm speechless.
I'm speechless.
November 15, 2021
HOW IN THE WORLD DID I FORGET TO WRITE A REVIEW FOR THIS BOOK??????
No clue, but according to Goodreads, I did.
Let's just start off by saying that it is amazing. The characters are amazing, the world is amazing, the morals are amazing... *sighs with pleasure* a good Christian fantasy all the way around, with a plot twist I didn't see coming. It's been a little while since I read it, but if I remember right, there was some humor in there as well.
Definitely looking forward to the second book :)
No clue, but according to Goodreads, I did.
Let's just start off by saying that it is amazing. The characters are amazing, the world is amazing, the morals are amazing... *sighs with pleasure* a good Christian fantasy all the way around, with a plot twist I didn't see coming. It's been a little while since I read it, but if I remember right, there was some humor in there as well.
Definitely looking forward to the second book :)
June 28, 2025
I finally finished this and I don’t have time to start the next in the series yet, but I feel like I’m going to combust if I don’t find out what happens next *delicate swoon*
June 29, 2021
A solid novel, and an engaging read! Definitely the best part about this story was the characters. The plot was good, but quite slow moving at the beginning. The twist at the end was well done though. I thought I had the twist figured out right from the start, but the actual reveal was far more multi-layered and put all of my expectations on their heads, which came as a pleasant surprise.
The main reason this book doesn't warrant a 5 star rating is that I felt that the worldbuilding didn't bring anything unique to the epic fantasy scene. Nearly everything about the world I've seen before, which I found slightly disappointing. Bloodvoicing was neat, but the concept is something that I see fairly regularly.
All in all though, this is a well written Christian fantasy book, and I would certainly recommend it to anyone looking for a book in that niche.
The main reason this book doesn't warrant a 5 star rating is that I felt that the worldbuilding didn't bring anything unique to the epic fantasy scene. Nearly everything about the world I've seen before, which I found slightly disappointing. Bloodvoicing was neat, but the concept is something that I see fairly regularly.
All in all though, this is a well written Christian fantasy book, and I would certainly recommend it to anyone looking for a book in that niche.
February 2, 2014
Recently on the web site Speculative Faith, there was a debate about the tone of fantasy and other “speculative” Christian fiction, and how “gritty” or “realistic” it should be. This debate can apply to secular speculative fiction, as well. It was basically the debate over whether something had to be “darker and edgier” to be real and true to life. I took up the argument that, sometimes, yes it did. I was wrong. I see that now after reading By Darkness Hid, the first book of The Blood of Kings series by author Jill Williamson.
Williamson tells a story that is believable and has a sense of authenticity, despite it's fantasy elements; and she also makes no use of pointless swearing, sexual innuendo, gory violence, or scatological references to do so. There are some darker elements, but they are presented tastefully, and not in a gratuitous manner. More on this in a few moments.
The basic story, without giving too much away, is that a “stray” (an orphaned boy or girl who are banished into a status of slavery even lower than that of other slaves), named Achan Cham, yearns for a better life so he can marry the peasant girl he desperately loves. Yet this is impossible, he knows, for strays can never be anything more than what they are, especially since some of them were implicated in the murder of the king nearly two decades earlier.
As he goes about his horrible life, enduring constant menial tasks and endless beatings that seem to be done just for sake of beating him, he is surprised when he is chosen for squire training by perhaps the most renowned knight of all of Er'rets (the country where this takes place), Sir Gavin Lukos, called the “Great White Wolf”. He wonders why Gavin would risk the trouble of breaking the law (against training strays for knighthood), and if Gavin truly can pull him out of his bad situation.
In another place in Er'rets, a young woman named Avarella is pretending to be a boy named Vrell Sparrow. The current Crown Prince wants to marry her, but not out of love. Instead, he wants the power of her mother's land and money. If this were not bad enough, the Crown Prince is a cruel and heartless young man, who mistreats and abuses all those around him. Vrell and Achan are about to meet as a story begins that will change both their lives, and the lives of everyone else in their land, forever.
This was a terrific, incredible read. As I said, the content is quite mature and contains much “realism” that everyone is so obsessed with these days, but not with anything gratuitous. For this, Williamson deserves high praise. She can pull the reader in without having to use childish gimmicks or devices. To put it in perspective by comparison to secular writers, she is probably closer to writers like Brandon Sanderson than Terry Goodkind. In fact, that was my error in my earlier-mentioned debate, in that I seemed to have forgotten that Sanderson never uses these “darker and edgier” devices, and he is a brilliant author; while Terry Goodkind, who has gratuitous scenes sometimes, is.... not.
Not to give too much away, but Vrell is basically terrorized, and Achan undergoes much suffering, but neither are shown in graphic detail, and the reader does not find himself needlessly “shocked” by the author, as happens too often in literature, or rather, what passes for literature these days.
It is largely this series that has reminded me that, yes, an author really, truly can be realistic without tons of sex, swearing, and what not. They can reference, but need not be referenced in graphic detail. The trick is to do this without it seeming like a “cop-out” or somehow being “prudish”. Williamson exhibits the writing chops to pull this off. “Real” doesn't have to mean darker and edgier when you have a talented author such as Jill Williamson.
Williamson tells a story that is believable and has a sense of authenticity, despite it's fantasy elements; and she also makes no use of pointless swearing, sexual innuendo, gory violence, or scatological references to do so. There are some darker elements, but they are presented tastefully, and not in a gratuitous manner. More on this in a few moments.
The basic story, without giving too much away, is that a “stray” (an orphaned boy or girl who are banished into a status of slavery even lower than that of other slaves), named Achan Cham, yearns for a better life so he can marry the peasant girl he desperately loves. Yet this is impossible, he knows, for strays can never be anything more than what they are, especially since some of them were implicated in the murder of the king nearly two decades earlier.
As he goes about his horrible life, enduring constant menial tasks and endless beatings that seem to be done just for sake of beating him, he is surprised when he is chosen for squire training by perhaps the most renowned knight of all of Er'rets (the country where this takes place), Sir Gavin Lukos, called the “Great White Wolf”. He wonders why Gavin would risk the trouble of breaking the law (against training strays for knighthood), and if Gavin truly can pull him out of his bad situation.
In another place in Er'rets, a young woman named Avarella is pretending to be a boy named Vrell Sparrow. The current Crown Prince wants to marry her, but not out of love. Instead, he wants the power of her mother's land and money. If this were not bad enough, the Crown Prince is a cruel and heartless young man, who mistreats and abuses all those around him. Vrell and Achan are about to meet as a story begins that will change both their lives, and the lives of everyone else in their land, forever.
This was a terrific, incredible read. As I said, the content is quite mature and contains much “realism” that everyone is so obsessed with these days, but not with anything gratuitous. For this, Williamson deserves high praise. She can pull the reader in without having to use childish gimmicks or devices. To put it in perspective by comparison to secular writers, she is probably closer to writers like Brandon Sanderson than Terry Goodkind. In fact, that was my error in my earlier-mentioned debate, in that I seemed to have forgotten that Sanderson never uses these “darker and edgier” devices, and he is a brilliant author; while Terry Goodkind, who has gratuitous scenes sometimes, is.... not.
Not to give too much away, but Vrell is basically terrorized, and Achan undergoes much suffering, but neither are shown in graphic detail, and the reader does not find himself needlessly “shocked” by the author, as happens too often in literature, or rather, what passes for literature these days.
It is largely this series that has reminded me that, yes, an author really, truly can be realistic without tons of sex, swearing, and what not. They can reference, but need not be referenced in graphic detail. The trick is to do this without it seeming like a “cop-out” or somehow being “prudish”. Williamson exhibits the writing chops to pull this off. “Real” doesn't have to mean darker and edgier when you have a talented author such as Jill Williamson.
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