King of Malorn
About the Book:
Title: King of Malorn | Author: Annie Douglas Lima | Pages: 553 | Genre: Fantasy | Recommended Age: Young Adult
Book Description:
Life as the king’s younger sister should be exciting.
Not for Princess Kalendria. She’s sick of the dissent and of constantly having her family undermined by those who think they could rule Malorn better than King Korram.
Hoping to lighten the mood in the palace, Kalendria plans a ball to celebrate her seventeenth birthday. It doesn’t hurt that their handsome Alasian ally King Jaymin has promised to attend, and she’s been waiting for him to notice her for as long as she can remember.
But unfriendly forces have their own party plans. When Kalendria, Korram, and Jaymin barely survive an assassination attempt, their only recourse is to flee into the wilderness. Tracked by unknown assassins, they must figure out whom they can trust and who is behind the plot. Can Kalendria help her brother reclaim his throne – oh, and catch Jaymin’s attention while she’s at it – before they are all killed and war destroys both kingdoms?
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My Review:
King of Malorn is the most riveting of the books in the series and also the longest. Even after reading the epilogue, I still wanted more! I was happy to hear from the author that this isn't the final book. It does have a good ending, but there are some loose ends too. I can't wait to find out what happens next!
The story mostly follows the adventures of three royals and a bodyguard as they flee for their lives and try to regain control of their kingdoms. The challenges they face seem insurmountable and assassination attempts are a constant threat. The pace is good with vivid descriptions, compelling dialogue, a little bit of romance, and lots of twists and turns. We also get a glimpse into the lives of a few other interesting side characters. You don't have to read the other books in the series, but I do recommend reading the previous books first as they fill in the backstory. This book has a young adult style, so it will relate to younger audiences too.
I received an ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Related Reviews:
The Nameless Soldier
In the Enemy's Service
Prince of Malorn
The Collar and the Cavvarach
The Gladiator and the Guard
The Nameless Soldier
In the Enemy's Service
Prince of Malorn
The Collar and the Cavvarach
The Gladiator and the Guard
Series Information:
King of Malorn is book 5 in the Annals of Alasia. But don't worry if you haven't read the others; it will still make sense on its own.
Each of the first four books can stand on its own as well. They each deal with events surrounding the same major political incident: the invasion of the kingdom of Alasia by the neighboring kingdom of Malorn.
Prince of Alasia begins on the night of the Invasion and describes what happens to twelve-year-old Prince Jaymin after he is forced to flee for his life.
In the Enemy’s Service features a girl as the protagonist and tells the story of those who were not able to escape from the Alasian palace when the enemy invaded.
Prince of Malorn begins several months earlier and focuses on the Malornian perspective of the events leading up to the Invasion.
The Nameless Soldier shows how a young Alasian soldier lives through the Invasion but then has to survive and make a name for himself in enemy-occupied Alasia.
In each of the books, main characters from the others make brief appearances and interact with each other at the point where the time frames and settings overlap.
I also have a short ebook of “interviews” that I conducted with the characters in the other three books. Annals of Alasia: The Collected Interviews is not available on Amazon, but I send a free copy to anyone who signs up for my mailing list (to receive updates when I release new books or occasionally offer them for free).
About the Author:
Annie Douglass Lima
Annie Douglass Lima spent most of her childhood in Kenya and later graduated from Biola University in Southern California. She and her husband Floyd currently live in Taiwan, where she teaches fifth grade at Morrison Academy. She has been writing poetry, short stories, and novels since her childhood, and to date has published seventeen books (four YA action and adventure novels, five fantasies, a puppet script, six anthologies of her students’ poetry, and a Bible verse coloring and activity book). Besides writing, her hobbies include reading (especially fantasy and science fiction), scrapbooking, and international travel.
