All the King's Traitors

Highwings, Book One

By: Keylin Rivers

Narrated by: Matt Gardner

Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's Summary

Over a thousand years have passed since the first Godstones ripped through the skies and mangled the earth. With their fall came centuries of chaos and destruction, but also immense power. 

Power that separates humans from Gods. 

Now, in the Kingdom of Azanthea, two adoptive brothers flee from unjust conscription. 

A fugitive heiress of a slaughtered people struggles to truly be free. 

A double-crossing warrior must choose where his allegiances lie: with his wife or with his daughter. 

A traitorous heir to the Kingdom’s throne roams the lands in search of an army to call his own. 

A prodigy in the House of Historian competes in a gruelling trial to prove her loyalty. 

And one God-King rules over them all.

©2019 Keelin Elwood (P)2020 Keelin Elwood

Intro to a new dystopian world

Listened to audio narrated by really well Matt Gardner. It's not easy to bring life to so many characters but Gardner made it easy with a variety of characterizations that fit each character. I got goosebumps a few times.

After humans overburden Earth many areas are dead zones but the stars bestowed gifts dropping godstones that give a wielder power over an element. King Apollyon was once human but the godstones turned him into a godking. He promises peace for the world if you follow him and he collects wielders for his army to retain his power over all. The problem is not every kingdom nor all the people want his sort of leadership. Everyone must follow the godking doctrine or face the consequences.

This is first book is really an introduction to the major players in what looks like an epic fantasy, set in a world remade after the world collapsed.

The cast is varied in this introduction to the Godking and the major players against him:
-Kingdom of Azanthea, Apollyon - Godking
-Kuba (godstone wielder), Ion - Two adoptive brothers flee from unjust conscription
-Aurelia - fugitive heiress, northern rebel
-Rohan - double-crossing warrior must choose between his wife a Free-Wielder or his daughter who is under the godking's thrall.
-Vallich -Was the godking's heir until a truth is revealed, provoking him to leave the king's army and seek out one of his own.

Kari Sangdroi - Was a House of Historian prodigy. After Vallich's defection she is one of the few selected to competes in a grueling trial to become the new heir and prove her loyalty. She is the last of King Apollyon's bloodline and potential heir to the throne, if she pasts all the trials and tests.
There's a lot of characters to keep track of but narration was on point and helped keep things straight. Things are just getting warmed up at the end of this first book in the series but I really appreciated getting an in depth look at all the characters. I can't wait for the next book.

Interim review

Circumstances right now prevent me from writing an extensive review. I will update my review as soon as I am able.

Fantastic!

A truly wonderful experience. A version of post apocalypse that I have never heard. In my opinion a true original. The narrator was spot on, and character voices very distinctive. It was a pleasure to listen. I can’t wait for the follow ups.

I received this audiobook free at my request for an unbiased review.