Picking up where A Betrayal of Storms left off, Ben Alderson throws the reader into a banter-fueled training session between the newly crowned king of the Icethorn court, Robin, and his tender-hearted, mysterious cinnamon roll of a bodyguard, Erix in A Kingdom of Lies.
War is on the horizon, and Robin, thrust into a world of political upheaval and magic, finds himself unprepared – hence the training session. To survive, he needs to learn to protect himself, as everyone is out to get him, and try as he might, Erix may not always be around. Swordplay is a comfort and an omen here, one the propels the narrative forward quickly, teasing quips brought to a sudden standstill when the duo are summoned to the throne room. Power-hungry Doran, king of the Oakstorm court, will not sit idly by while his son’s murderer parades around the Cedarfall court, not when Robin’s newly acquired throne holds unspeakable power up for the taking.
And so begins a fast-paced romantasy that throws everything you thought you knew from the previous installment out the window. Enemies remain the same – the Hunters, led by the Hand, are still very much in open war against the fey; the Children of the Asp are still a direct threat to Robin’s life; and, the Oakstorm court is dwindling, a lone father and his monster spawn left to decay in the ashes of Taron’s fall, fueled by Erix’s unwavering will in fulfilling his duty as Robin’s protector. When Doran threatens Robin’s father, Erix – sweet, self-sacrificing Erix – will do anything to make Robin happy, which means doing anything in his power to return his father to safety, no matter the cost.
Circumstances shift, relationships falter, and a bone-deep betrayal rattles Robin, sending him on a path toward destruction when Doran sends ultimatum after ultimatum. Lulled in by false promises and revenge, Robin departs from the Cedarfall court – alone – in the hope of amassing an army to fight with – and for – him in Wychwood.
High stakes and even higher emotions propel the reader – and Robin – on a journey toward the unknown, and it is in characterization and internalization that Alderson excels. Although he does make use of tropes that are rather cliché in Doran – (greed, personified through body size and weight, for example, which I found to be quite off-putting) – the character is downright vile, creating a visceral response in the reader, who wants nothing more than to see his downfall. Emotions jump off the page, allowing the reader to feel alongside Robin: broken, brittle, and burning with rage, intent on taking down what little remains of the Oakstorm court, even if it means running into the arms of his enemy with nothing more than shared detestation and a dream.
“What good is an army if I have no one to fight for?”
– excerpt from A Kingdom of Lies by Ben Alderson
Althea – the feisty, fiery princess of the Cedarfall court, and Robin’s closest ally – and Gyah, a shapeshifting legend of a woman that has accompanied them on previous excursions into Hunter territory – follow close behind, unwilling to leave Robin alone. What unfolds thereafter is somewhat predictable: the trio is captured by the Hunters, monstrous creatures called Gryvern (a reoccurring threat to Robin throughout the series) attack, and Robin finds himself in the midst of yet another love triangle when Duncan, a compassionate man that is sympathetic to his cause and secretly against the Hunters that he works for, helps him to avoid the worst of the cult-run encampment.
While I don’t hate multiple relationships unfurling throughout a series – and am all for exploring opportunities – I was a little surprised to see Robin pursue someone new romantically, even if I did appreciate the enemies-to-lovers relationship that unfolds between Duncan and Robin as they slowly get to know one another. Compared to Erix, the dynamic between the two builds at a slower pace and does not happen instantaneously, instead building over time, even if the two are driven together by the frantic need to feel something – anything. What starts as a frantic distraction turns into a relationship built on trust, understanding, and shared common values. Duncan is gentle and sweet, and is very much a romantic at heart, whereas as Erix comes across as protective to the point of stifling. Duncan, on the other hand, gives Robin the freedom to act – to feel – to stand up for himself.
“Robin, stop fearing what could be, and enjoy what is.”
– excerpt from A Kingdom of Lies by Ben Alderson
Where Erix is tragic and teasing, Duncan is gentle and respectful. Both men are capable of amusing banter, but Duncan feels like a genuine partner, whereas Erix comes across as a protector. One wants to protect, but is willing to let go; the other would do anything to keep Robin safe, sacrificing Robin’s own desires – even at the cost of himself. Sex between them feels more intimate: frenzied and frantic, yet passionate, though I personally am still not a fan of Alderson’s writing style, which feels a little disjointed, clunky, and off-putting even in the throes of passion, wherein phrases like “mounds of muscle” and “lumps of flesh” are used, bringing the reader out of the moment and taking away from the sexual tension. The same goes for descriptions outside of sex scenes as well, and left me confused and unsatisfied as a reader, especially for a book that falls within the fantasy genre.
Add in the fact that Robin feels inexperienced and immature, and things become even more complicated from a reader’s perspective. For every moment that added complexity to his character, another made me question his actions. While there’s something to be said for his status as an inexperienced intruder, purposely kept in the dark about his heritage and bloodline, his thought processes were often contradictory, and I often found myself frustrated with his emotional development. He’s brash and inexperienced, and his reliance on his father (who goes largely unnamed until halfway through the second book), made him feel like a young adult. In many ways he is, but for a book with explicit scenes that is marketed as an adult fantasy romance, it wasn’t the best look. If Robin had goofy himbo energy, I’d be all for it, but instead, he comes across as entitled, whiny, and deeply immature – both mentally and emotionally.
That being said – Alderson continues to excel in two areas: action scenes and magic development. He also does a great job creating an emotional response in the reader through complex internal dialogue, even if the plot itself proves to be somewhat predictable and occasionally contradictory. For every moment of the plot that felt rushed or predictable, however, Alderson counters with a surprising plot twist or interesting revelation.
While A Kingdom of Lies is by no means perfect, it was a quick read with a charming romance and incredible elemental magic. Fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Sarah J. Maas, and Rebecca Yarros will enjoy this queer romantasy that doesn’t take itself too seriously and isn’t too heavy handed on world-building or politics. Built on immersive elemental magic and climactic fight scenes, Alderson pens a series that is deceptively simple, yet packed full of romance, perfect for readers that enjoy exploring multiple love interests – and tropes – throughout a series.
Leave a Reply