Kingdom of Liars

By: Nick Martell

Narrated by: John Skelley

Length: 15 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's Summary

In this brilliant debut fantasy, a story of secrets, rebellion, and murder are shattering the Hollows, where magic costs memory to use, and only the son of the kingdom’s despised traitor holds the truth.

Michael is branded a traitor as a child because of the murder of the king’s nine-year-old son by his father David Kingman. Ten years later on Michael lives a hardscrabble life, with his sister Gwen, performing crimes with his friends against minor royals in a weak attempt at striking back at the world that rejects him and his family. 

In a world where memory is the coin that pays for magic, Michael knows something is there in the hot white emptiness of his mind. So when the opportunity arrives to get folded back into court, via the most politically dangerous member of the kingdom’s royal council, Michael takes it, desperate to find a way back to his past. He discovers a royal family that is spiraling into a self-serving dictatorship as gun-wielding rebels clash against magically trained militia. 

What the truth holds is a set of shocking revelations that will completely change the Hollows, if Michael and his friends and family can survive long enough to see it.

©2020 Nicholas Macdonald-Martell (P)2020 Recorded Books

Author shows promise but needs to work on a lot.

I wanted to like this book, granted that's partially just because it had a Sanderson quote on the front. The majority of this book isn't horrible, unfortunately there are bits of it that are, and those bits are arguably some of the more important ones.

The main character feels like Martell tried to make something new by taking pieces of several different archetypes and combining them. Unfortunately the result feels very forced as it lacks the rest of what makes those archetypes work.

Forced is actually a good word to describe the entirety of the book. The plot is runs by periodic reveals and twists, but there is little to no foreshadowing so they all feel hollow (pun intended). The magic system and world building are interesting, but again lack the refinement needed to really allow you to get invested.

All in all I probably won't be buying the second book when it comes out, but I hope he continues writing. Given some more time and practice I think Martell has promise.
Edit: actually I guess if I want him to keep writing I probably should buy the second book. Here's to hoping practice makes perfect!

Worthy listen with a hiccup or two

There are some very clear Kingkiller Chronicle Influences throughout the book, but it is well written and very well performed. Much of the story only getting 4 stars is how transparent and predictable it is, but it's still a fun adventure I'll continue with the next one.

Contrived, amateurish and boring

Started to get interesting around chapter 11. Stuck with it till around chapter 21. Noticed there was still 9 hours left and abandoned it. No original ideas, lame dialogue.

Excellent book. Great Start New Series

I was looking for a new series within SciFi and liked the idea of magic meeting the introduction of gunpowder. I enjoyed this book and strongly recommend it