Kings of the Wyld
Nicholas Eames
Orbit
$2.99 ebook, $15.99 print

If you haven’t read yesterday’s post heard the news, Kings of the Wyld won this year’s David Gemmell Morningstar Award for best first novel.  Congratulations to Mr. Eames.  Well done, sir.

I had attempted to read all of the nominees before voting closed this year, but Real Life got in the way.  I only managed to finish two (reviewed here and here).  I was part of the way through Kings of the Wyld when voting closed.  Travel started and somehow I didn’t get back to the book until this past week.  I’m glad I did.

The characters in this novel are retired mercenaries who go back on the road for one last adventure.  Clay Cooper is enjoying the comforts of home when an old band mate shows up.  Gabe’s daughter is in a bit of a fix.  She’s taken up the family business, and now she’s in a castle under siege on the far side of the continent.  Clay tells him no, but then Clay’s daughter asks him if he would go after her if she were the one in danger.  After being asked a question like that, how can Clay refuse.  Never underestimate the power of cute.

Getting the band back together isn’t as easy as it sounds.  One of their number is a stone column. He looked at a basilisk.  Another is a king, and heavy is the head that wears the crown.  Kings can’t just go traipsing off into countryside.

Then there are the obstacles to overcome.  They don’t have a minstrel to record their deeds in song.  They’re somewhat use to this, as none of their other minstrels lived very long.  They keep getting robbed by a band of girls.  The same band of girls.  There’s a vast forest full of monsters standing in their way.  There’s an agent who has put a bounty on their heads.

Let me explain that last part.  One of the fun things about this book is that mercenaries are treated like rock stars.  They have agents who book them on adventures and quests.  There are tournaments and gladiatorial games, put together by promoters.

Clay and the boys have some issues with the agent.  For one thing, he’s married to Gabe’s ex-wife, who is now a druggie.

Once they finally get on the road, there are a number of obstacles to overcome.  If they can get to their destination in time to lift the siege, then the real work will start.

There’s lots battle and monsters and excitement, but the thing I liked most about this book was the importance of family.  In many novels of this type, families are secondary.  Here family is the motivating factor that drives the characters.  Gabe is trying to rescue his daughter.  Clay wants to help him so he can return to his daughter.  The other characters, both in the band of mercenaries and more minor characters, have family concerns.  Even the main villain is motivated by his relationship with his dead father.

I enjoyed Kings of the Wyld.  Check it out.  It’s a worthy winner of the Morningstar Award.