Synopsis
In a realm oppressed by a tyrant, a legendary commander seeks vengeance and a kingdom's salvation in The Never King, an epic fantasy adventure by James Abbott.
Xavir Argentum, once poised to inherit a kingdom, now rots in the squalor of Hell's Keep, serving a life sentence for an atrocity he didn't commit. His elite warriors are dead, and the land he was to rule suffers under the reign of the tyrant who framed him. For five long years, Xavir has governed nothing but a prison gang.
Yet vengeance comes to those who wait. When a former spymaster infiltrates the Keep with news of his old enemy's treachery, plans are forged. An unlikely alliance of rogues and heroes, including an exiled queen and an outcast witch, unite to restore peace. But peace and vengeance make uneasy companions. First, Xavir must escape his prison confines and confront the tyrant who wronged him. In a world of betrayal and secrets, can Xavir reclaim his destiny and save a kingdom on the brink of ruin?
Details
18 May 2017
9781509803118Reviews
James Abbott is a great fantasy writer, a huge talentPaul Cornell
Engaging heroic fantasy in the vein of Gemmell and GwynneAdrian Tchaikovsky
Flashes of Joe Abercrombie-style grit . . it also boasts a modern sensibility: an ugly despot on the throne, religious strife, refugees, the role of propaganda . . . with likable characters and well-paced battles, it's an accomplished taleSFX
Abbott does his world-building on the move, dropping us straight into prison with Xavir and broadening the scope once he and his gang break free . . . he creates a world that's clearly rich enough for further storiesSciFiNow
