Review by Imscyg -- A Kingdom Forgotten
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Imscyg
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- Latest Review: "A Kingdom Forgotten" by Charles W. McDonald Jr.
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Review by Imscyg -- A Kingdom Forgotten
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Kingdom Forgotten" by Charles W. McDonald Jr..]
3 out of 4 stars
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A Kingdom Forgotten is a well-written beginning of what promises to be a winning series. Book one of A Throne of Souls by Charles W. McDonald Jr. goes beyond the typical, predictable, good versus evil fictional plot so often found today. Intelligently written, A Kingdom Forgotten introduces well-developed characters that guide the reader through multiple storylines that span across time periods as smoothly as they do worlds. Mr. McDonald successfully blends modern technology and verbiage with ancient settings and customs to create a magical tale in which beginnings and endings mix together in a puzzle well worth figuring out.
A Kingdom Forgotten begins by introducing the reader to some of the many interwoven story threads which continually crossover and influence each other as the lines between good and evil blur. The reader gets to know complex characters as they strive to adjust to changing circumstances and growing dangers in each of their own smaller parts of a much larger whole. Each reader must decide for themselves where the participants' allegiances lie and what their motivations are as the mystery and anticipation build, leading up to an unforeseen ending which opens the door to almost as many questions as it answers. Because predictability is not a word applicable to this book, I feel that giving any sort of specific summary would tell too much as every intricate detail is critical to the overall plot. Suffice to say, I feel this novel will be enjoyed by anyone looking for a thought provoking and compelling fantastical fiction that will keep them constantly on their game.
Charles W. McDonald Jr.'s style keeps his readers thinking and anticipating even beyond the last page. Mr. McDonald doesn't write down to his readers and there is nothing shallow about his book. First of all, the author's style makes good use of his extensive vocabulary. I enjoyed the fact that he didn't try to "dumb down" his story in fear of a reader not understanding. He does provide a glossary of the fictional and technical terms in which he even includes source information. I found this very helpful, as my background is not as diverse as his. The only thing that would make this feature better is placing it, or a note stating its inclusion, near the beginning. I believe reading the definitions before the story allowed me to better understand and follow the plot, which poses the question of how many readers lose this edge by not realizing the tool given them until reaching that page. If nothing else, the glossary will set the stage and prepare the reader's mind for all the story has to offer.
Another way Mr. McDonald's writing style will appeal to a more discerning audience is in the way he slowly builds strong, consistent characters his readers can relate to because they are not all cut and dry, good or evil just as most real people aren't. I felt like I was getting to know them personally as their actions revealed more and more of their character while they either adapted to the changes forced upon them and/or instigated those circumstances through their own power plays. Each ones' actions stayed consistent with their character throughout the story, further aiding the reader in figuring out how each one fits into the larger scheme of things. Another tool the author employs is working some of the characters through several different story lines simultaneously so the reader can watch the action unfold from multiple points of view. This technique adds to the ever-forming mystery while at the same time providing the context needed to fully understand the characters. Knowing their backgrounds and influences is immensely important to sorting out their motivations as you try to discover their ultimate goals and what paths they might take to get there. I believe readers will identify with, develop likes and dislikes for, and relish unraveling the many well-developed characters and fast paced progression of this novel.
The timelines in A Kingdom Forgotten are as varied and well crafted as the characters. While giving plenty of clues and information along the way, the author doesn't stoop to explaining every single detail for his readers. Instead, he crafts an intricate puzzle and skillfully leads his audience in solving it. One will find time periods from ancient to future and many in between that also cross between worlds - some familiar and some new. Mr. McDonald finds surprisingly convincing ways to mix diverse cultures, beliefs, technology, and scenery from all of these to create a tale that stretches his readers' traditionally accepted views without pushing any one ideal on them. Readers are presented with moral situations and perceptions that will bring into question their own personal values if one is willing to accept the challenge. Traditional Judeo-Christian influences are clear in the writing as are New Age philosophy, demon worship, middle and eastern religions and I'm sure many others. In addition, the author combines these with new and creative forms of magic; making this an extremely complex and interesting read that will keep you coming back for more.
On the other side of the coin, there are things about A Kingdom Forgotten that I do not like. On a strictly personal level, the book has more profanity and sexual imagery than I am comfortable with. I have tried not to let this influence my perception of the story as a whole, which I enjoyed immensely. I purposely chose not to consider this aspect of Mr. McDonald's writing when I rated his work 3 out of 4 stars because I fall on the extreme end of the spectrum for what is considered objectionable. The content in question is far from overwhelming or graphic and I believe the majority of people will not find it a problem. That being said, I also believe that the most traditional of readers might appreciate knowing this information going in. As for myself, I am giving serious thought to whether or not I will continue the series. My conscience is warring with my curiosity. Being purposefully vague so as not to give away a major theme of the book, some of the questions deal very closely with my personal, religious views. However, the answers are carried over into the remaining books so I am unsure as to which way the story is going. I really enjoyed the first installment and my expectancy is set for the rest of the series. I want to see how the moral questions are answered but am concerned in case the material I personally object to becomes more widespread. My own stringent views notwithstanding, I would definitely recommend this book. I believe it is an excellent story that fantasy/fiction fans can enjoy on multiple levels only limited by how far they are willing to stretch themselves.
The only reason I took one star from A Kingdom Forgotten, giving it 3 out of 4 stars, is that the text does not seem to have been professionally edited. There are grammatical errors from beginning to end. For example look at this sentence in the prologue where "a" or "the" is needed before the word knife. "Creation stood on the edge of knife, and those waves..." Here is just a small sampling of the many other errors: "Made of out of a decommissioned cargo ship...” "... from the robotic arm into its alloy left alloy hand,..." and "... front waistguards as the two of the knights continued their patrol ..." [Excerpts From: Charles W. McDonald Jr. "A Kingdom Forgotten." Charles W. McDonald Jr., 2017/04/19. iBooks. This material may be protected by copyright.] In addition to the obvious typographical errors, the writing in places seems "clumsy" for lack of a better phrase. The most glaring of these is near the beginning of the prologue - the section headed with "Graelon Colonial Outpost, A Very Long Time Ago." I feel that printing this section would be a copyright infringement as well as giving away an important element of the plot. However, it can be referenced to better understand my meaning. This part of the story does not flow smoothly because it is made up of almost entirely extremely long sentences and contains excessive redundant word usage. Honestly, this word redundancy can be found in many places. Again, I don't feel free to provide a direct quote to illustrate as it would require an entire section of the book, but by this, I mean that the same word or phrase is used multiple times in a single, short passage where the use of synonyms would make the story flow more smoothly. The editing errors are widespread enough that I feel it does not warrant a full 4 star rating. However, as this is really the only downside of the work, I officially rate it 3 out of 4 stars.
To bring this all together, I thoroughly enjoyed A Kingdom Forgotten, book one of A Throne of Souls, by Charles W. McDonald Jr. and would recommend it to any fan of the fantasy/fiction genre. I believe many will appreciate the author's intelligent and thought-provoking, out-of-the-box creativity. I think almost anyone will find several characters, situations, beliefs, and values they identify with which will enable them to better connect to the story as a whole. I feel this novel will raise questions for the readers that will stretch them in their personal lives. I can confidently say that this is one book people will not regret purchasing and, further, will want to acquire the entire series.
******
A Kingdom Forgotten
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
Like Imscyg's review? Post a comment saying so!
3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
A Kingdom Forgotten is a well-written beginning of what promises to be a winning series. Book one of A Throne of Souls by Charles W. McDonald Jr. goes beyond the typical, predictable, good versus evil fictional plot so often found today. Intelligently written, A Kingdom Forgotten introduces well-developed characters that guide the reader through multiple storylines that span across time periods as smoothly as they do worlds. Mr. McDonald successfully blends modern technology and verbiage with ancient settings and customs to create a magical tale in which beginnings and endings mix together in a puzzle well worth figuring out.
A Kingdom Forgotten begins by introducing the reader to some of the many interwoven story threads which continually crossover and influence each other as the lines between good and evil blur. The reader gets to know complex characters as they strive to adjust to changing circumstances and growing dangers in each of their own smaller parts of a much larger whole. Each reader must decide for themselves where the participants' allegiances lie and what their motivations are as the mystery and anticipation build, leading up to an unforeseen ending which opens the door to almost as many questions as it answers. Because predictability is not a word applicable to this book, I feel that giving any sort of specific summary would tell too much as every intricate detail is critical to the overall plot. Suffice to say, I feel this novel will be enjoyed by anyone looking for a thought provoking and compelling fantastical fiction that will keep them constantly on their game.
Charles W. McDonald Jr.'s style keeps his readers thinking and anticipating even beyond the last page. Mr. McDonald doesn't write down to his readers and there is nothing shallow about his book. First of all, the author's style makes good use of his extensive vocabulary. I enjoyed the fact that he didn't try to "dumb down" his story in fear of a reader not understanding. He does provide a glossary of the fictional and technical terms in which he even includes source information. I found this very helpful, as my background is not as diverse as his. The only thing that would make this feature better is placing it, or a note stating its inclusion, near the beginning. I believe reading the definitions before the story allowed me to better understand and follow the plot, which poses the question of how many readers lose this edge by not realizing the tool given them until reaching that page. If nothing else, the glossary will set the stage and prepare the reader's mind for all the story has to offer.
Another way Mr. McDonald's writing style will appeal to a more discerning audience is in the way he slowly builds strong, consistent characters his readers can relate to because they are not all cut and dry, good or evil just as most real people aren't. I felt like I was getting to know them personally as their actions revealed more and more of their character while they either adapted to the changes forced upon them and/or instigated those circumstances through their own power plays. Each ones' actions stayed consistent with their character throughout the story, further aiding the reader in figuring out how each one fits into the larger scheme of things. Another tool the author employs is working some of the characters through several different story lines simultaneously so the reader can watch the action unfold from multiple points of view. This technique adds to the ever-forming mystery while at the same time providing the context needed to fully understand the characters. Knowing their backgrounds and influences is immensely important to sorting out their motivations as you try to discover their ultimate goals and what paths they might take to get there. I believe readers will identify with, develop likes and dislikes for, and relish unraveling the many well-developed characters and fast paced progression of this novel.
The timelines in A Kingdom Forgotten are as varied and well crafted as the characters. While giving plenty of clues and information along the way, the author doesn't stoop to explaining every single detail for his readers. Instead, he crafts an intricate puzzle and skillfully leads his audience in solving it. One will find time periods from ancient to future and many in between that also cross between worlds - some familiar and some new. Mr. McDonald finds surprisingly convincing ways to mix diverse cultures, beliefs, technology, and scenery from all of these to create a tale that stretches his readers' traditionally accepted views without pushing any one ideal on them. Readers are presented with moral situations and perceptions that will bring into question their own personal values if one is willing to accept the challenge. Traditional Judeo-Christian influences are clear in the writing as are New Age philosophy, demon worship, middle and eastern religions and I'm sure many others. In addition, the author combines these with new and creative forms of magic; making this an extremely complex and interesting read that will keep you coming back for more.
On the other side of the coin, there are things about A Kingdom Forgotten that I do not like. On a strictly personal level, the book has more profanity and sexual imagery than I am comfortable with. I have tried not to let this influence my perception of the story as a whole, which I enjoyed immensely. I purposely chose not to consider this aspect of Mr. McDonald's writing when I rated his work 3 out of 4 stars because I fall on the extreme end of the spectrum for what is considered objectionable. The content in question is far from overwhelming or graphic and I believe the majority of people will not find it a problem. That being said, I also believe that the most traditional of readers might appreciate knowing this information going in. As for myself, I am giving serious thought to whether or not I will continue the series. My conscience is warring with my curiosity. Being purposefully vague so as not to give away a major theme of the book, some of the questions deal very closely with my personal, religious views. However, the answers are carried over into the remaining books so I am unsure as to which way the story is going. I really enjoyed the first installment and my expectancy is set for the rest of the series. I want to see how the moral questions are answered but am concerned in case the material I personally object to becomes more widespread. My own stringent views notwithstanding, I would definitely recommend this book. I believe it is an excellent story that fantasy/fiction fans can enjoy on multiple levels only limited by how far they are willing to stretch themselves.
The only reason I took one star from A Kingdom Forgotten, giving it 3 out of 4 stars, is that the text does not seem to have been professionally edited. There are grammatical errors from beginning to end. For example look at this sentence in the prologue where "a" or "the" is needed before the word knife. "Creation stood on the edge of knife, and those waves..." Here is just a small sampling of the many other errors: "Made of out of a decommissioned cargo ship...” "... from the robotic arm into its alloy left alloy hand,..." and "... front waistguards as the two of the knights continued their patrol ..." [Excerpts From: Charles W. McDonald Jr. "A Kingdom Forgotten." Charles W. McDonald Jr., 2017/04/19. iBooks. This material may be protected by copyright.] In addition to the obvious typographical errors, the writing in places seems "clumsy" for lack of a better phrase. The most glaring of these is near the beginning of the prologue - the section headed with "Graelon Colonial Outpost, A Very Long Time Ago." I feel that printing this section would be a copyright infringement as well as giving away an important element of the plot. However, it can be referenced to better understand my meaning. This part of the story does not flow smoothly because it is made up of almost entirely extremely long sentences and contains excessive redundant word usage. Honestly, this word redundancy can be found in many places. Again, I don't feel free to provide a direct quote to illustrate as it would require an entire section of the book, but by this, I mean that the same word or phrase is used multiple times in a single, short passage where the use of synonyms would make the story flow more smoothly. The editing errors are widespread enough that I feel it does not warrant a full 4 star rating. However, as this is really the only downside of the work, I officially rate it 3 out of 4 stars.
To bring this all together, I thoroughly enjoyed A Kingdom Forgotten, book one of A Throne of Souls, by Charles W. McDonald Jr. and would recommend it to any fan of the fantasy/fiction genre. I believe many will appreciate the author's intelligent and thought-provoking, out-of-the-box creativity. I think almost anyone will find several characters, situations, beliefs, and values they identify with which will enable them to better connect to the story as a whole. I feel this novel will raise questions for the readers that will stretch them in their personal lives. I can confidently say that this is one book people will not regret purchasing and, further, will want to acquire the entire series.
******
A Kingdom Forgotten
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes | on Smashwords
Like Imscyg's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: "A Kingdom Forgotten" by Charles W. McDonald Jr.
