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The Kingfall Histories #1
Kingfall
Be bright but do not burn. Embrace the darkness but do not live in the shadows. The powerful godblades were believed to be lost nearly half a millennium ago, when the Godswar ended. Now, however, one has been found by the unlikeliest of Sampson Gaard, a sheltered prince who's been told he'll never rule Teravainen. As his power grows, the only question is whether he controls the blade or the blade him. With an insidious evil lurking in the shadows, the answer may very well determine the fate of all Kingfall.Fans of A Game of Thrones, The Stormlight Archives, Legends of the First Empire and The Fatemarked Epic will enjoy The Kingfall Histories. Start your 5,000+ page epic adventure today.
818 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 14, 2021
3,711 people are currently reading
5,938 people want to read
About the author
David Estes
94books2,624followersGet a FREE short story from David Estes' #1 Amazon bestselling epic fantasy series, Fatemarked, when you sign up for his mailing list:
David Estes has written more than 40 science fiction and fantasy books. He loves chatting with his readers, all of whom he considers to be his friends. David lives in Hawaii with his beautiful Aussie wife, Adele, his moody cats, Bailey and Luna, and his rambunctious sons, Beau and Brody.
Join 3,000+ David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite in David Estes' official fan group at:
Books by David Estes:
-The Fatemarked Epic- For fans of A Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and The Way of Kings! Four kingdoms. A century-old war. One ancient prophecy that could change everything.
-The Kingfall Histories- a follow up series to the #1 Amazon bestselling series, The Fatemarked Epic
-Strings- “A wonderful retelling of the Pinocchio story…I simply couldn’t put this book down.”—Rysa Walker, bestselling author of TIMEBOUND
-The Dwellers Saga and the Country Saga. Voted books to read if you enjoyed the Hunger Games on Buzzfeed and Listopia.
-Salem's Revenge trilogy- the witch apocalypse begins!
-Slip Trilogy- "Someone must die before another can be born..."
-The Adventures of Nikki Powergloves- Kid superheroes? 'Nuff said.
David Estes has written more than 40 science fiction and fantasy books. He loves chatting with his readers, all of whom he considers to be his friends. David lives in Hawaii with his beautiful Aussie wife, Adele, his moody cats, Bailey and Luna, and his rambunctious sons, Beau and Brody.
Join 3,000+ David Estes Fans and YA Book Lovers Unite in David Estes' official fan group at:
Books by David Estes:
-The Fatemarked Epic- For fans of A Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and The Way of Kings! Four kingdoms. A century-old war. One ancient prophecy that could change everything.
-The Kingfall Histories- a follow up series to the #1 Amazon bestselling series, The Fatemarked Epic
-Strings- “A wonderful retelling of the Pinocchio story…I simply couldn’t put this book down.”—Rysa Walker, bestselling author of TIMEBOUND
-The Dwellers Saga and the Country Saga. Voted books to read if you enjoyed the Hunger Games on Buzzfeed and Listopia.
-Salem's Revenge trilogy- the witch apocalypse begins!
-Slip Trilogy- "Someone must die before another can be born..."
-The Adventures of Nikki Powergloves- Kid superheroes? 'Nuff said.
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July 20, 2021At long last, Kingfall is OUT. At 257,000 words, this is my longest book to date (though the first two sequels are even longer). Like all my work, I poured my heart and soul into the characters and their struggles. Kingfall is set on a different continent in the same world as Fatemarked, so fans of my previous series will be pleased to know there WILL be some cameos from some of their favorite characters. I truly hope you all enjoy the read and I look forward to reading your reviews. Happy reading and thanks for all your support! You can find the book here:
March 8, 2025
When I heard that David Estes was writing another epic fantasy series, I was thrilled. I’ve read everything he’s written to date, in several different genres, but I really think that high fantasy is what he really excels at.
I know David was a huge fan of Lord of the Rings, and it shows as his love of the genre is showcased in first his Fatemarked series, and now in his Kingfall series.
In Kingfall, there were the Godblades, 3 Shadowblades and 3 Brightblades which were lost. Lost, that is, until blind Prince Sampson Gaard is chosen by a Shadowblade.
As always in David’s books, you fall in love with the characters quickly. And then you can’t get enough of the book so you stay up way too late because you have to find out what happens next to one of your favorites.
And the twists�!! Oh my! I sat straight up late one night because I couldn’t believe what just happened.
And yes, here there be dragons and Dragonriders. And maybe, just maybe, they could be my favorites of this series� So far.
If you haven’t read Fatemarked yet, it’s ok. But if I could offer any words of wisdom, I think you’d enjoy Kingfall more if you had read the Fatemarked books first. Kingfall is set in the same world, but in a different continent with a whole new cast of characters and all new magic, so you’ll be fine if you start out with Kingfall. I’m betting that if you enjoy Kingfall, you will probably grab Fatemarked.
At the end of Kingfall, you then get 4 bonus stories/novellas that are just as enjoyable as the book. In fact, I had tears with the last page of the last story. Very powerful emotional stuff!
I listened to this book on audiobook and one of my favorite narrators performs the Kingfall series, Tim Gerard Reynolds. TGR is AMAZING!!! I’m so excited that book 2, Dragonfall, drops at midnight, and you can bet that I’m staying up late tonight so I can continue my grand adventure with David’s newest series.
I know David was a huge fan of Lord of the Rings, and it shows as his love of the genre is showcased in first his Fatemarked series, and now in his Kingfall series.
In Kingfall, there were the Godblades, 3 Shadowblades and 3 Brightblades which were lost. Lost, that is, until blind Prince Sampson Gaard is chosen by a Shadowblade.
As always in David’s books, you fall in love with the characters quickly. And then you can’t get enough of the book so you stay up way too late because you have to find out what happens next to one of your favorites.
And the twists�!! Oh my! I sat straight up late one night because I couldn’t believe what just happened.
And yes, here there be dragons and Dragonriders. And maybe, just maybe, they could be my favorites of this series� So far.
If you haven’t read Fatemarked yet, it’s ok. But if I could offer any words of wisdom, I think you’d enjoy Kingfall more if you had read the Fatemarked books first. Kingfall is set in the same world, but in a different continent with a whole new cast of characters and all new magic, so you’ll be fine if you start out with Kingfall. I’m betting that if you enjoy Kingfall, you will probably grab Fatemarked.
At the end of Kingfall, you then get 4 bonus stories/novellas that are just as enjoyable as the book. In fact, I had tears with the last page of the last story. Very powerful emotional stuff!
I listened to this book on audiobook and one of my favorite narrators performs the Kingfall series, Tim Gerard Reynolds. TGR is AMAZING!!! I’m so excited that book 2, Dragonfall, drops at midnight, and you can bet that I’m staying up late tonight so I can continue my grand adventure with David’s newest series.
February 21, 2022
Very fun read, even the well-telegraphed tragic relationships had interesting developments. All the PoV characters were compelling, and the world and story were engaging. It's a relatively quick read, even though the page count is high. The writing is smooth and quite good with the exception mentioned below.
The ending was surprising and satisfying, plus the extra material was well worth reading, especially learning the tragic backstory of the godling.
Every other page had overused idioms; it was irritating enough to deduct one star from the otherwise five star rating.
The ending was surprising and satisfying, plus the extra material was well worth reading, especially learning the tragic backstory of the godling.
Every other page had overused idioms; it was irritating enough to deduct one star from the otherwise five star rating.
August 17, 2021
This is a well written masterfully told story that manages to capture all of your common tropes of fantasy while introducing it’s own unique twist. I listen to this on audible so I really got to enjoy the artistry of the telling. I felt sucked in and well invested, like watching a master painter work on a blank canvas. The story managed to invoke all manners of feelings from anger, sadness, fondness remorse and joy. I think I will go back and read more books from this author.
August 20, 2022
When a terrible war ended a millennia ago the powerful Godsblades were lost. They now resurface. The balance of power in the realm begins to shake.
Yet another amazing David Estes book! The realms and characters this guy creates are so great.
Yet another amazing David Estes book! The realms and characters this guy creates are so great.
January 5, 2024
4.5/5
A stellar series opener with compelling characters and immersive world building
Seriously, I have no idea why this book is not talked about a lot on social media.
This book has almost everything I hope for in an Epic Fantasy book.
An array of intriguing characters in troubling situations. Proper world building with lores and everything. Neat action scenes with some surprises sprinkled.
The only minor nagging I had in this book was the humor sense of different characters felt like one and the same. And there is some drag in the middle. I don't want to spoil it but you'll see that when you start your reading which you should start ASAP.
I'm diving into book 2 right now.
A stellar series opener with compelling characters and immersive world building
Seriously, I have no idea why this book is not talked about a lot on social media.
This book has almost everything I hope for in an Epic Fantasy book.
An array of intriguing characters in troubling situations. Proper world building with lores and everything. Neat action scenes with some surprises sprinkled.
The only minor nagging I had in this book was the humor sense of different characters felt like one and the same. And there is some drag in the middle. I don't want to spoil it but you'll see that when you start your reading which you should start ASAP.
I'm diving into book 2 right now.
September 25, 2021
Estes never fails to entertain.
I read all 5 Fatemarked books and am thoroughly delighted with Kingfall. I'm very much looking forward to the rest of the series. If you love sword and sorcery fantasy full of drains and knights and royalty as well as sprites abs terrifying taking swords this serious is for you.
I read all 5 Fatemarked books and am thoroughly delighted with Kingfall. I'm very much looking forward to the rest of the series. If you love sword and sorcery fantasy full of drains and knights and royalty as well as sprites abs terrifying taking swords this serious is for you.
July 20, 2021
This book was so good! It had adventure, deception, and so many amazing characters. I am super excited to see the changes David made from Beta. Can’t wait to have this on my shelf!
September 8, 2023
Loved seeing Peony's character having a cleft lip, with no negative characteristics. Great book regardless.
Want to read
July 17, 2024🍒 I won this on ŷ giveaway 🍒
February 7, 2025
Review originally posted on the SFF Insiders website:
I had the book of Kingfall by David Estes on my shelf for a long time, picking it up based on the premise of an epic fantasy series that rivals the worlds of many well known authors. As I began to read this large novel, I could easily see why it is compared to a lot of them. It is epic in scope and it has a lot going on that will thrill the epic fantasy enthusiasts who pick this one up. It follows a number of points of view, each different and interesting in their own way. They are blended in a way that you are able to see each character in a different way as well. This provides a lot of different perspectives on what is going on with the characters, as well as throughout the world. I found myself drawn to the perspective of the blind prince the most, finding it very intriguing and overall a lot twists and turns that made me want to keep reading.
The strength of the novel is definitely the world where the whole story takes place. It is deep, rich, and very beautifully brought to life through the variety of areas that we are able to see. There are a variety of cultures that are also put on display throughout this novel. A variety of kingdoms and creatures are introduced to readers in vibrant and exciting ways, often with a thrilling battle of one type or another. The issue that I had while reading the novel is that it is over-explained. I felt that there was nothing that was left as a question for me as the reader, almost as if I wasn’t trusted to figure out what the author had in mind. The nice thing is that there is no question as to what is happening or what happened to the character, but it pulled me out of the story and I felt that it eliminated the excitement of guessing what could happen as I knew it would be explained in the next few sentences.
Overall, this is a beginning to a tale that is epic in scope with demons, dragons, and wars galore. There are a lot of positives to be taken away and it is very well thought out and planned. This is an epic fantasy story that will be remembered for its epic scenery and epic battles. I encourage those who love that type of story to give this one a chance as it has the chance of becoming a cult favorite of many.
Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!!
I had the book of Kingfall by David Estes on my shelf for a long time, picking it up based on the premise of an epic fantasy series that rivals the worlds of many well known authors. As I began to read this large novel, I could easily see why it is compared to a lot of them. It is epic in scope and it has a lot going on that will thrill the epic fantasy enthusiasts who pick this one up. It follows a number of points of view, each different and interesting in their own way. They are blended in a way that you are able to see each character in a different way as well. This provides a lot of different perspectives on what is going on with the characters, as well as throughout the world. I found myself drawn to the perspective of the blind prince the most, finding it very intriguing and overall a lot twists and turns that made me want to keep reading.
The strength of the novel is definitely the world where the whole story takes place. It is deep, rich, and very beautifully brought to life through the variety of areas that we are able to see. There are a variety of cultures that are also put on display throughout this novel. A variety of kingdoms and creatures are introduced to readers in vibrant and exciting ways, often with a thrilling battle of one type or another. The issue that I had while reading the novel is that it is over-explained. I felt that there was nothing that was left as a question for me as the reader, almost as if I wasn’t trusted to figure out what the author had in mind. The nice thing is that there is no question as to what is happening or what happened to the character, but it pulled me out of the story and I felt that it eliminated the excitement of guessing what could happen as I knew it would be explained in the next few sentences.
Overall, this is a beginning to a tale that is epic in scope with demons, dragons, and wars galore. There are a lot of positives to be taken away and it is very well thought out and planned. This is an epic fantasy story that will be remembered for its epic scenery and epic battles. I encourage those who love that type of story to give this one a chance as it has the chance of becoming a cult favorite of many.
Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!!
October 2, 2021
Great read!
First read David Estes� Fatemarked series, and couldn’t get enough so continued with Kingfall and it did not disappoint. I highly recommend this author!
First read David Estes� Fatemarked series, and couldn’t get enough so continued with Kingfall and it did not disappoint. I highly recommend this author!
July 17, 2024
Expect sharp-talking swords, witty dragons, demons, godlings, clever princesses, evil Kings, fast-paced arena fights, and a sassy 12-year old.
The powerful godblades were believed to be lost nearly half a millennia ago, when the Godswar ended. Until Sampson Gaard, the youngest princess, blind but ambitious. However, the sword whispers evil in his mind, but tempts him with unspeakable power and the ability to see again.
In the opposing kingdom, High Commander Andovier Helm, leader of the Odinian forces, is captured and his whole family murdered. He is forced to fight in the arena until he is killed.
Aisling Brightshine is one of the few remaining godlings, able to heal and sense pain. She is sold to her worst master yet: King Gaard.
There’s a lot to wrap your head around, but I think seasoned fantasy readers should be fine. With the multi-pov, you are fed a lot of information quickly.
Not to mention, there appears to be a rich history of gods wars and Rifts which keep the number of demons breaching manageable. Of course, these Rifts grow larger as our cast fight against each other and otherworldly monsters.
”What you must understand about power is that it's like a piece of fruit.
It will satisfy you for a time, but then it's gone and you must get another piece of fruit. Or you can save that piece of fruit with the intention of enjoying it another time. Alas, when you return to eat the fruit, it's shriveled and rotten, suitable only for a pig's trough. No, the only way to ensure you never go without fruit is to grow your supply.�
The women were especially interesting to read about. They were not amazing warriors, yet they did not balk from what duty and opportunity demanded of them.
I was also rooting for the romance! I know, who me?!!
If I were to continue the mammoth series, it would be for this.
Not 'You look beautiful, Peony noticed. 'You are beautiful, like it was something permanent and unchangeable and not only relegated to the superficial surface of her skin. Deeper, like he could see into the core of her and deemed her worthy of such a compliment.
Interestingly, the last 20%, about 200 pages, is taken up by postludes. Basically stories from the past of characters to bulk up their history without impeding on the pacing of the main story and plot.
This was an interesting approach, but I felt slightly put off by having to read this after finishing the main part of the book. Once I’ve finished the main part, I don’t want my kindle to tell me I still have an hour and a half left.
Didn't living require changing, adapting, becoming something different than the caterpillar clinging to a branch and nibbling on leaves, bursting from one's cocoon to test out the wings of a butterfly?
Overall, the action scenes were incredibly well-done and I felt there was complexities to the characters. However, it didn’t stand out and I feel like I’ve read this book in different forms already.
The powerful godblades were believed to be lost nearly half a millennia ago, when the Godswar ended. Until Sampson Gaard, the youngest princess, blind but ambitious. However, the sword whispers evil in his mind, but tempts him with unspeakable power and the ability to see again.
In the opposing kingdom, High Commander Andovier Helm, leader of the Odinian forces, is captured and his whole family murdered. He is forced to fight in the arena until he is killed.
Aisling Brightshine is one of the few remaining godlings, able to heal and sense pain. She is sold to her worst master yet: King Gaard.
There’s a lot to wrap your head around, but I think seasoned fantasy readers should be fine. With the multi-pov, you are fed a lot of information quickly.
Not to mention, there appears to be a rich history of gods wars and Rifts which keep the number of demons breaching manageable. Of course, these Rifts grow larger as our cast fight against each other and otherworldly monsters.
”What you must understand about power is that it's like a piece of fruit.
It will satisfy you for a time, but then it's gone and you must get another piece of fruit. Or you can save that piece of fruit with the intention of enjoying it another time. Alas, when you return to eat the fruit, it's shriveled and rotten, suitable only for a pig's trough. No, the only way to ensure you never go without fruit is to grow your supply.�
The women were especially interesting to read about. They were not amazing warriors, yet they did not balk from what duty and opportunity demanded of them.
I was also rooting for the romance! I know, who me?!!
If I were to continue the mammoth series, it would be for this.
Not 'You look beautiful, Peony noticed. 'You are beautiful, like it was something permanent and unchangeable and not only relegated to the superficial surface of her skin. Deeper, like he could see into the core of her and deemed her worthy of such a compliment.
Interestingly, the last 20%, about 200 pages, is taken up by postludes. Basically stories from the past of characters to bulk up their history without impeding on the pacing of the main story and plot.
This was an interesting approach, but I felt slightly put off by having to read this after finishing the main part of the book. Once I’ve finished the main part, I don’t want my kindle to tell me I still have an hour and a half left.
Didn't living require changing, adapting, becoming something different than the caterpillar clinging to a branch and nibbling on leaves, bursting from one's cocoon to test out the wings of a butterfly?
Overall, the action scenes were incredibly well-done and I felt there was complexities to the characters. However, it didn’t stand out and I feel like I’ve read this book in different forms already.
November 7, 2022
5 stars.
I read his first series at the start of quarantine a few years back and loved it. Bought this book about 4 months ago and have had it staring at me since.
This was just incredible. Epic, gritty, fascinating. The world building was top notch; this world feels so unique and alive. The characters are intriguing; though one for sure feels like it's been done before, though their chapters had plenty of action and enjoyable side characters to overcome the character's shortcomings in originality.
I want to keep gushing over this book, but I also want to go grab n start book 2. Choosing the latter, byeeeeee
I read his first series at the start of quarantine a few years back and loved it. Bought this book about 4 months ago and have had it staring at me since.
This was just incredible. Epic, gritty, fascinating. The world building was top notch; this world feels so unique and alive. The characters are intriguing; though one for sure feels like it's been done before, though their chapters had plenty of action and enjoyable side characters to overcome the character's shortcomings in originality.
I want to keep gushing over this book, but I also want to go grab n start book 2. Choosing the latter, byeeeeee
August 5, 2021
Pure magic!
As usual, David Estes takes us away to his mystical worlds with in-depth character development and vivid descriptions of their surroundings. Its so easy to get totally lost in Kingfall and it's many lands and amazing inhabitants--I find myself falling in line into battles, walking down castle halls, and wandering through canyons, camps, and caverns. David has a way of drawing you deeply into his world. You'll experience all the emotions as you read through the pages of this first book in the Kingfall Histories, love, fear, anger, hate, sorrow, longing, regret, and wonder. I can't wait for the next book to be released! Thank you, David, for giving us this newest of your magical series'. If you enjoyed the Fatemarked series, you will love this book. If you haven't read the Fate marked series you will still love this book but you're missing out! Get those and all of David Estes' books, they are a joy to read. One last note, you may want to print out a copy of the map of Kingfall for reference as you are reading. Enjoy!
As usual, David Estes takes us away to his mystical worlds with in-depth character development and vivid descriptions of their surroundings. Its so easy to get totally lost in Kingfall and it's many lands and amazing inhabitants--I find myself falling in line into battles, walking down castle halls, and wandering through canyons, camps, and caverns. David has a way of drawing you deeply into his world. You'll experience all the emotions as you read through the pages of this first book in the Kingfall Histories, love, fear, anger, hate, sorrow, longing, regret, and wonder. I can't wait for the next book to be released! Thank you, David, for giving us this newest of your magical series'. If you enjoyed the Fatemarked series, you will love this book. If you haven't read the Fate marked series you will still love this book but you're missing out! Get those and all of David Estes' books, they are a joy to read. One last note, you may want to print out a copy of the map of Kingfall for reference as you are reading. Enjoy!
December 8, 2024
4.5 Stars
For the full review:
What's the story about: Kingfall is a multiple POV story of characters in several different but deeply interconnected stories. The first follows a young man who seeks greatness in a formidable quest with an unexpected weapon. The next follows a grizzled commander who's life is broken and finds himself captured and forced to fight for the opposing nation in a war. The third follows a captured godling as she tries to survive her way through being a slave of the king that has bought her. The fourth POV, who's quest includes being married off to a man as a way of making an alliance, but soon discovers an adventure of her own. And the fifth and final character is about the man the fourth POV is slated to marry; his is one of duty and courage as being lead dragonrider to his people. This all sounds more convoluted than it actually is.
Side Note: It would be advantageous to note that the main storyline is only 700 pages of the book, even though the book is 800+ pages. Estes includes a number of "postludes", or rather, short stories of a few characters he deemed essential to read. While the main story ends a little abruptly, these stories appear to be crucial to the overall story and must be read for future installments. I found this odd, but didn't take away from the overall enjoyment of the novel. Just lessened the impact of the ending a little.
Kingfall does one thing better than most other fantasy books I've read recently: balances many POVs with perfect precision and execution. But that's not all that it has to offer. Compelling characters soar off the page as each one has their own struggles, hardships, and goals to achieve. Estes takes on the lofty responsibility of bringing them all together in a satisfying way that is fun and enjoyable, even if the ending is a little abrupt. The world-building is natural and fluid while the individual stories are valued above all other aspects. Kingfall takes familiar tropes and freshens them up with great dialogue and dilemmas that make you think. Would definitely recommend this story and I'm excited to see where it leads!
For the full review:
What's the story about: Kingfall is a multiple POV story of characters in several different but deeply interconnected stories. The first follows a young man who seeks greatness in a formidable quest with an unexpected weapon. The next follows a grizzled commander who's life is broken and finds himself captured and forced to fight for the opposing nation in a war. The third follows a captured godling as she tries to survive her way through being a slave of the king that has bought her. The fourth POV, who's quest includes being married off to a man as a way of making an alliance, but soon discovers an adventure of her own. And the fifth and final character is about the man the fourth POV is slated to marry; his is one of duty and courage as being lead dragonrider to his people. This all sounds more convoluted than it actually is.
Side Note: It would be advantageous to note that the main storyline is only 700 pages of the book, even though the book is 800+ pages. Estes includes a number of "postludes", or rather, short stories of a few characters he deemed essential to read. While the main story ends a little abruptly, these stories appear to be crucial to the overall story and must be read for future installments. I found this odd, but didn't take away from the overall enjoyment of the novel. Just lessened the impact of the ending a little.
Kingfall does one thing better than most other fantasy books I've read recently: balances many POVs with perfect precision and execution. But that's not all that it has to offer. Compelling characters soar off the page as each one has their own struggles, hardships, and goals to achieve. Estes takes on the lofty responsibility of bringing them all together in a satisfying way that is fun and enjoyable, even if the ending is a little abrupt. The world-building is natural and fluid while the individual stories are valued above all other aspects. Kingfall takes familiar tropes and freshens them up with great dialogue and dilemmas that make you think. Would definitely recommend this story and I'm excited to see where it leads!
August 12, 2021
4.7/ As a long-time epic fantasy aficionado, I can say with confidence Estes hit his book out of the park! With all the great works in this genre, all their magic and mythical creatures, expansive world building, political twists and turns, it is rare I am truly impressed.
Estes creates special bonds between flawed protagonists and ambitious blades, dragons and their riders. I have never encountered such intimate relationships between magical swords, people and dragons. It is a nice spin on the standard Martin/Sanderson/Rothfuss/Tolkien etc themes that traditional sentient beings create all the emotional politics. While diametric blades should theoretically define the true human heroes and villains, their impact on their wielders is not linear throughout their personal growth arcs. We never know the blades true influence on wars as their power is often too much for their bearers. In any case, the constant GOT-level human politics intermingled with wise, ancient dragons and these influential blades creates an epic thriller. I am so excited for book 2 in the series.
August 9, 2021
Ill start by saying this was easily the most anticipated book of the year for me and with good reason i might add.After devouring the Fatemarked series i knew this world and these characters were super special.Being a essential worker during the pandemic the Fatemarked series was my escape.Even when putting in 80 hour weeks i found myself picking up my kindle and not wanting to put it down.However this review pertains to The Kingfall Histories so here we go.
From cover to cover i was immersed in this opening book.Filled with a bevy of characters that each one evokes such emotion in you as your learn their stories.They come off the page as realistic as possible.Each with their own set of strengths and flaws.Some you come to love others you learn to despise.My emotions were all over the place as i turned page after page.The friendships that developed and the love that grew between certain characters was extremely powerful.The ingenious way the author tied these characters stories together was outstanding.Just in this first book alone you got to witness so many of the true wonders of this world.The history you learn of is rich in myth and legend.I purposely have not named names or places in the hopes that when you start this adventure you go in fresh and wide eyed as i was.
I have heard some wonder aloud if they should read Fatemarked before starting Kingfall.Its not a must but i personally absolutely think you should.Its one of the best fantasy series ever written and i truly believe Kingfall will be its equal.Cannot wait for the next book to release at the end of August.
Lastly i like to speak directly to David Estes the author.I wont go in to details but this man is everything us readers want in a writer.Hes a amazing storyteller and a helluva nice guy and i believe his most valuable trait is that he actually cares about his readers and works incredibly hard to release books as quickly as possible but never letting that take away from the quality of his writing.I can say their is no other author writing today that i more eagerly anticipate book releases from then David.
In closing there is one last thing to say without actually saying it.David thank you so much for putting my absolute favorite fantasy couple into The Kingfall Histories oh how i have missed them!
From cover to cover i was immersed in this opening book.Filled with a bevy of characters that each one evokes such emotion in you as your learn their stories.They come off the page as realistic as possible.Each with their own set of strengths and flaws.Some you come to love others you learn to despise.My emotions were all over the place as i turned page after page.The friendships that developed and the love that grew between certain characters was extremely powerful.The ingenious way the author tied these characters stories together was outstanding.Just in this first book alone you got to witness so many of the true wonders of this world.The history you learn of is rich in myth and legend.I purposely have not named names or places in the hopes that when you start this adventure you go in fresh and wide eyed as i was.
I have heard some wonder aloud if they should read Fatemarked before starting Kingfall.Its not a must but i personally absolutely think you should.Its one of the best fantasy series ever written and i truly believe Kingfall will be its equal.Cannot wait for the next book to release at the end of August.
Lastly i like to speak directly to David Estes the author.I wont go in to details but this man is everything us readers want in a writer.Hes a amazing storyteller and a helluva nice guy and i believe his most valuable trait is that he actually cares about his readers and works incredibly hard to release books as quickly as possible but never letting that take away from the quality of his writing.I can say their is no other author writing today that i more eagerly anticipate book releases from then David.
In closing there is one last thing to say without actually saying it.David thank you so much for putting my absolute favorite fantasy couple into The Kingfall Histories oh how i have missed them!
August 29, 2021
Wow! What a start to a new series. David's writing and story telling have always been great, but he has become stronger in both of those areas with this book. The story has a great cast of characters that have interesting arcs and he really develops them well. While there are several storylines with multiple POVs, he balances them all out nicely. Plus they overlap enough or run parallel so you never feel like the storylines are independent of each other.
David does a wonderful job building and expanding the world and its politics. All the charactes are swept up into one way or another. And if not swept up in the politics, they are certainly impacted by them. The over-arching thread of the God Blades and the role they play are woven into the story naturally and slowly reveal how they are fitting into the story. Love this concept of the God Blades and how he is using them.
Lots of plot twists, character surprises and a few gut punches along the way. If you've read David's books before, you know not everyone makes it to the end of chapter, let alone the end of the book. There are real stakes in the story with consequences to actions and choices made by the characters.
I can't wat to read Dragonfall and see how this all continues. I puposely stayed away from naming characters so as not to have any spoilers. But I will say there are 5 characters that I'm really invested in what happens to them in the fututre.
David does a wonderful job building and expanding the world and its politics. All the charactes are swept up into one way or another. And if not swept up in the politics, they are certainly impacted by them. The over-arching thread of the God Blades and the role they play are woven into the story naturally and slowly reveal how they are fitting into the story. Love this concept of the God Blades and how he is using them.
Lots of plot twists, character surprises and a few gut punches along the way. If you've read David's books before, you know not everyone makes it to the end of chapter, let alone the end of the book. There are real stakes in the story with consequences to actions and choices made by the characters.
I can't wat to read Dragonfall and see how this all continues. I puposely stayed away from naming characters so as not to have any spoilers. But I will say there are 5 characters that I'm really invested in what happens to them in the fututre.
July 20, 2021
I was lucky enough to be a beta reader for Estes, and can I just say…this may be my favorite series from him ever?! I’ve been a fan for years, and his books hold a special place in my heart, but this one is just what you would hope from a fantasy saga of this size: EPIC.
There are so many layers, from characters of all sorts of backgrounds and personalities—ones you hate and ones you love and ones you’re not sure whether you should hate or love—to a rich world full of culture and history that you feel you could lose yourself in. And DRAGONS!
If you want:
-Epic action
-Lucious world-building
-Characters you adore (and some you love to loathe)
-DRAGONS
-Romance
-ALL THE EMOTIONS
-Disability rep (your fierce heroines and heroes aren’t all from the typical mold)
-PLOT TWISTS. HOLY PLOT TWISTS.
-A cliffhanger that will leave you SCREAMING (thank God book 2 releases next month)
…Then BUY THIS BOOK. Trust me. It is SO GOOD. If you’re intimidated by big books, believe me when I say this one is such a page-turner and so incredibly immersive that you will devour it as fast as a book less than half its size. It is THAT good.
PS You don’t HAVE to read Estes� Fatemarked epic before reading this one, but let me say that, as they’re set in the same world, I highly recommend it. You’ll seriously love the cameos you get from some of our beloved characters from Fatemarked!!!
There are so many layers, from characters of all sorts of backgrounds and personalities—ones you hate and ones you love and ones you’re not sure whether you should hate or love—to a rich world full of culture and history that you feel you could lose yourself in. And DRAGONS!
If you want:
-Epic action
-Lucious world-building
-Characters you adore (and some you love to loathe)
-DRAGONS
-Romance
-ALL THE EMOTIONS
-Disability rep (your fierce heroines and heroes aren’t all from the typical mold)
-PLOT TWISTS. HOLY PLOT TWISTS.
-A cliffhanger that will leave you SCREAMING (thank God book 2 releases next month)
…Then BUY THIS BOOK. Trust me. It is SO GOOD. If you’re intimidated by big books, believe me when I say this one is such a page-turner and so incredibly immersive that you will devour it as fast as a book less than half its size. It is THAT good.
PS You don’t HAVE to read Estes� Fatemarked epic before reading this one, but let me say that, as they’re set in the same world, I highly recommend it. You’ll seriously love the cameos you get from some of our beloved characters from Fatemarked!!!
July 23, 2021
The beginning of a GREAT new fantasy. I absolutely loved this book! Demons and dragons and dastardly deeds, oh my! Este’s damsels are definitely not in distress though—In fact his women characters are very strong and I greatly appreciated that. I find David’s writing incredibly intriguing. There are always hints of things to come and that makes me look forward to reading more. The world he has created rivals that of Tolkein’s Middle Earth in terms of detail—I really felt like I had been there as I read. And his character development is superb—I became so attached to them—crying for those who were lost and cheering for those who succeeded. It’s been quite a while since I found an author that I know I will continue to read—David Estes is definitely one. Don’t miss this book! I guarantee you will look forward to others that will come.
November 3, 2021
Effortlessly artful, with flowing prose and multi-faceted characters, KINGFALL shines as a prime example of how modern fantasy should be done. Constructed and executed in a way that I felt was quite Brandon Sanderson-esque, but still certainly unique, the Kingfall Histories are an account I'm going to keep reading.
(The cover makes me think of THE FORGETTING MOON by Brian Lee Durfee. That one's good too—check it out.)
(The cover makes me think of THE FORGETTING MOON by Brian Lee Durfee. That one's good too—check it out.)
June 9, 2023
Well that came out of no where !!!! This author’s works always show’s up on my Amazon feeds, so I decided to try it out. This book has it all that I like. Dragons, demons, sentient swords, warring kingdoms. A writing style that’s easy to follow and brings the evil. I love the grit this story brings, but also the humor and heartwarming elements that tie everything into a balanced narrative. I’m not sure where the main plot is going with all that’s happening, but I’ll be on the ride with the next book.
September 7, 2021
How does this have so few reviews? I finished all of Malazan and was looking for something new. I don’t say this as a comparison - just to give a sense of where I was coming from. If I were to compare this entry to a new series to anything, it would be the Riyria Chronicles. The banter is wonderful, the fights are fun, and the characters are well written. As with all of my favorite fantasy, women aren’t merely used as tools to further plot or as eye-candy. I don’t want to spoil anything, but this one is worth picking up.
July 12, 2023
This was pure gold, epic fantasy! The writing was rich, bold, and flowed beautifully. Every character was distinctly unique and dimensional, with their storylines easily connecting the overall world of Kingfall. And there were dragons! Charming, witty, loveably lethal dragons.
I initially started this series thinking I would read the first book, take a break, and then start the next after reading something light and easy. Nope! Not happening. Immediately diving into book 2!
I initially started this series thinking I would read the first book, take a break, and then start the next after reading something light and easy. Nope! Not happening. Immediately diving into book 2!
August 23, 2021
Solid Read!
I'm looking forward to the next book in this series Estes is a great storyteller with top notch characterization that will pull you into the book. Definitely worth your your time!
I'm looking forward to the next book in this series Estes is a great storyteller with top notch characterization that will pull you into the book. Definitely worth your your time!
October 26, 2021
Wow, a wonderful beginning to one of the greatest Fantasy Epic Sagas of our time, similar in nature to Wheel of Time and Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight archives, great length and volume for your money!
March 17, 2024
Arguably the best morals in any fantasy book I’ve read. I like how the bad ass princess had a cleft palate because it’s different from main characters lookin like actors. Also like how the genocidal protagonist acknowledged his genocides and went as far as trying to off himself to keep from going evil
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2022
I loved this book so much! I got this on audio and I couldn't wait to go to work or leave work knowing I was about to listen to it. This is everything I love in high fantasy. Dragons, magical swords, new races, the list goes on and on.
The writing was crisp and kept me engaged. The plot was just enough to make me want more. I want to know where it is going in the sequels. The characters were absolutely fantastic. Good aligned characters had flaws and could be chipped at morally. The author also doesn't shy away from writing a truly evil character. I love a terribly evil character in my fantasy novels. The world building was so good. While I could tell things were borrowed from elsewhere, the author made it his own.
Everything was just so entertaining in this book. I cannot wait to jump back into this world.
The writing was crisp and kept me engaged. The plot was just enough to make me want more. I want to know where it is going in the sequels. The characters were absolutely fantastic. Good aligned characters had flaws and could be chipped at morally. The author also doesn't shy away from writing a truly evil character. I love a terribly evil character in my fantasy novels. The world building was so good. While I could tell things were borrowed from elsewhere, the author made it his own.
Everything was just so entertaining in this book. I cannot wait to jump back into this world.
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