Kings of the Wyld (The Band, #1)

by Nicholas Eames

[HekArtemis]

This book is pretty hyped up so I went into it expecting it to be good but not as great as everyone was making it out to be. Hyped books are often that way. I was wrong, this book is amazing. So amazing that I have actually ordered deadtree versions of this and Bloody Rose.

At one point, fairly early on, a certain sequence of events (they use the mirror and Moog throws the phylactery) had me laughing so hard I was actually crying. But not only that, I would be laughing, I would look away from the book to calm myself, then I would attempt to read again but would fail and break down into laughter. This went on for over 10 minutes, maybe even up to 20 minutes. It was getting late at night and my kids were asleep, so I was trying my best to be quiet as well. So there I was for like 20 minutes crying and choking near to death on my laughter. At what is admittedly juvenile humour. It was pretty bad, I probably looked like a lunatic.

It wasn't the only laugh out loud moment either. And I mean actual real out loud, not like social media "lol" but real loud laughter. It's been a long time since I read a book that made me laugh like this one did. I mean sure I have read several funny books, but most of the time they were quietly amusing and made me smirk at the satire or references. This one wasn't quietly amusing, it was loudly hilarious. And I even missed most of the references because I am an 80s baby and didn't recognise most of the band names and other stuff. Still funny despite being, I assume, constantly whooshed.

But there were many a serious moment too and I found I actually cared enough about the characters to get teary at several of those serious moments. This is good, sometimes funny stories don't really make you feel much for the characters except amusement. But not this one, I cared, I felt sad for them, I sympathised and empathised, I even felt the sting of betrayal and shock.

Shout out to Lady Jain who is fantastic, so amazing, I wish Eames would write a book about her. And can I gush for a second over Clay's daughter and her frogs. But what is with the frog that has wings? Not that the idea is absolutely terrifying or anything.