The Ruin of Kings

December 1, 2018
Lyons' shelf-bending fantasy debut novel is an epic, breakneck-paced adventure structured largely as a dialogue between a jailer and her prisoner, a thief and musician who is much more than he appears to be.The story begins in a jail cell with a young man named Kihrin being guarded by Talon, a beautiful and monstrous shape-shifting assassin. Kihrin, awaiting what will surely be his death, begins telling her his life story. Talon complements Kihrin's tale with her own memories of the past few years, and, together, they weave a jaw-dropping, action-packed story of betrayal, greed, and grand-scale conspiracy. It all begins when Kihrin--a thief who has been raised in the slums by a compassionate blind musician--witnesses a horrific murder while robbing a house. The sudden target of a group of morally bankrupt, and terrifyingly powerful sorcerers, Kihrin finds himself on the run. During his flight, he discovers that he may be the son of a depraved prince--and that the necklace he wears around his neck may be much more than a sentimental object from his long-dead mother. While the comparisons to Patrick Rothfuss' The Kingkiller Chronicle will be unavoidable--in terms of story structure and general narrative content--the potential of this projected five-book saga may be even greater. Although a cast of well-developed characters and an impressively intricate storyline power this novel, it's Lyons' audacious worldbuilding that makes for such an unforgettable read. In a sprawling, magic-filled world populated by gods, dragons, krakens, witches, demons, ghosts, shape-shifters, zombies, and so much more, Lyons ties it all together seamlessly to create literary magic.Epic fantasy fans looking for a virtually un-put-down-able read should look no further.

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Awaiting execution in a prison with a beautiful, shape-shifting demon jailer, Kihrin tells the story of what led to this moment. A thief from the slums with little but the necklace left to him by his deceased mother, he witnesses a murder, goes on the run, and is claimed as the son of a treasonous prince of the D'Mon family. Told in two separate time lines by Kihrin and the demon Talon, with copious footnotes and intricate worldbuilding, Lyons's story is a well-crafted, elaborate tale of a thief-turned-prince. Those who enjoy the works of Brandon Sanderson and George R.R. Martin, with a grand cast of characters and a doublecross in every chapter, will find this on par with their beloved authors. VERDICT This stunning debut takes epic fantasy to a high level, portraying a world filled with magic, demons, gods, and dragons, in which politics and power plays are the laws of the land.--Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton

Starred review from January 1, 2019
Lyons's dazzling debut is an audacious start to an ambitious five-book series. Kihrin alternates narrative duties with a demonic mimic who knows parts of Kihrin's story he is no longer aware of because of her ability to devour brains to absorb power and memories. The twisting genealogies of a complex set of royal families add mystery to Kihrin's awakening to a portentous destiny that involves training in magic and swordplay as well as intrigues in the various courts of Capital City. His adventures include encountering a diverse range of fascinating races, summoning demons, suffering magical enslavement, serenading a dragon of immense proportions, and dealing with goddesses who walk among the peoples of the Known World, making for a multilevel thrill ride. Thoroughly modern in her use of dialogue and assured in her world building, Lyons eventually dovetails the two narratives into one with one stunning revelation after another that will leave the breathless reader wanting more. With the scope and sense of fatality of Patrick Rothfuss and well-choreographed action sense of Brandon Sanderson, Lyons leaps into the big leagues of epic fantasy and sticks the landing.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)