From the author of I Am King: I Am King is a fantasy adventure about a young boy named Beau and his best friend Julius. They are thrown unexpectedly into a world of war and politics, as great powers beyond their young minds vie for supremacy. They struggle to survive the trials they are faced with and must depend on one man, who only wishes to keep them alive for personal profit.
First Impressions: Nisila’s desire to save Beau was a pleasure to see. From the very start, I admired her bravery. The first two chapters raised the stakes by showing the conflicting motives of the different characters. This helped me realize how much danger Beau was in because of the selfish ambitions of the people around him. Before I even met him as a character, I wanted things to work out for him.
Cover and Setting: The cover captured my curiosity right away. I was immediately impressed by the confident stance of the little boy in the middle, who I assume is Beau. He carries himself like a king, although he is still a child. The image of Royce hovering in the background is undeniably eerie. I like how Beau’s companions are standing between him and Royce. The setting of I Am King is rather bleak, which serves to highlight the comparative beauty of the Middle Islands. The longing of both Nisila and Royce for the Middle Islands was especially poignant because they are opposites in may ways, and yet, they have a common love for their native land.
Plot: I Am King has a multi-layered plot that promises to unfold throughout the series, although it is well-contained within the book. A solid foundation was established in I Am King, but there are still so many questions to be answered! This story is not exclusively action-based or character-based: it is a combination of the two. My favorite parts were Gavin’s interactions with Beau and Julius. Seeing their quirks and conflicts made me care about them as people. The only thing I didn’t understand was Nisila’s rationale for wanting to bring Beau back to the Middle Islands instead of hiding him somewhere else. It seemed like a dangerous strategy, especially if the loyalty of the people in the Middle Islands lay primarily with Beau’s nemesis Rancine. Still, the fact that Nisila believed his return would change things for the better shows she had faith in him.
Characters: From the beginning, the characters in I Am King were complex and intriguing. One of the most interesting things about the story was watching Beau, a sheltered child, learn how to stand up for himself—something he doesn’t always manage to do correctly. His vulnerability made him both realistic and likable. By the end of the book, I both pitied him and respected him. Julius was charming, also, if rather impulsive. I liked how he was a younger version of his father. Gavin was both terrifying and lovable. I was never sure when he was going to be a scoundrel and when he was going to be a hero, and I was delighted to see him change throughout the story. Royce was infuriating, but in a good way. Sometimes I felt sorry for him, and sometimes I hated him. The conflict within his character was delightful to read.
Final Thoughts: I enjoyed I Am King, and I’m excited to see how the story progresses! Beau will need to find more allies if he is to survive. Despite being the rightful king of the Middle Islands, I suspect he will face many additional dangers and challenges as he comes to terms with his royal responsibilities. I look forward to seeing how he matures throughout the series, but I hope he maintains his goodness. In a back-stabbing world, his innocence is refreshing.
FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book reviewed above.
Damien Shillingford
Author photograph by Stephanie Dribus
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