The River Kings' Road by Liane Merciel - Book review

The River Kings' Road

A Novel of Ithelas

By: Liane Merciel

Published: March 2010
Format: Hardcover, 400 pages
ISBN-10: 1439159114
ISBN-13: 9781439159118
Publisher: Pocket Books






The uneasy peace between the warring kingdoms of Oakharn and Langmyr is almost shattered, by a horrific attack by armed men and the horror of bloodmagic, on the Langmyr border village of Willowfield. Mercenary Brys Tarnell barely escapes, holding the heir to the Oakharn throne in his arms. He discovers a young peasant woman Odesse, and together with her baby and the infant noble, they begin their journey to find help. The ambitions of Laferic, an embittered Oakharn lord; a young priest of the Sun named Sir Kelland; and his champion archer and female companion Bitharn; and a powerful dark force called a Thorn, find their lives and the destiny of the kingdoms entwined in the magical, adventure fantasy The River Kings' Road: A Novel of Ithelas by author Liane Merciel.

The grand fantasy themes of love, war, destiny, good, and evil play out in elegant fashion in this first in a fascinating new fantasy series by Liane Merciel. The events in the novel, portrayed in a realistic manner, are propelled forward by logic and by events larger than the characters themselves. When the horrific attack on the village occurs, the mercenary Brys Tarnell acts realistically, in protecting the infant lord, as well as ensuring his own self preservation. When he convinces the young mother Odesse to join him in returning the baby home, she does so realistically and within character. Throughout the novel, the characters act as they should, based on their personalities and motives, that are often mixed in the gray area between good and evil. The nuances and shades of gray give the characters much more depth, and helps them to come alive on the page.



Liane Merciel (photo left) creates a world where events have consequences, and once placed in motion, take on a life of their own with unexpected results. The quest for peace between the long time warring kingdoms may be the end to which their rulers aspire, but the author raises the critical question of whether the means to achieve peace are justifiable. This theme is important in our world, as it is in the novel, where rulers very often consider some deaths to be acceptable in reaching their desired outcomes. The author presents an alternative concept where the least likely person, without power of ambition, can change the course of history in ways unforeseen by the leaders of the kingdoms. As the grand themes play out, the personal goals and motivations of the characters drives their actions, and very different outcomes are the result.

Sir Kelland and Bitharn discover that their unspoken love, in spite of Sir Kelland's vows, lead to events that may have disastrous results. Sir Kelland is torn between his devotion to his vows and ideals, and his love for Bitharn. Along the way, their story becomes part of the grand events unfolding in the world around them. Just as Brys Telland and Odesse find themselves unlikely protectors of an heir to a kingdom, individual motivations cause events to change in ways unexpected by their rulers. The author makes clear, and in convincing fashion, that the actions of ordinary people make as much difference in the world as those of the great and powerful. The lowliest of people can change the course of history through love, duty, and a sense of honor, even if that duty is thrust upon them by events beyond their control.

I highly recommend the enthralling and character driven fantasy novel The River Kings' Road: A Novel of Ithelas by Liane Merciel, to anyone seeking a new voice in the fantasy literature genre. This first book in the exciting new series is certain to entice readers to want to follow the further adventures of the people and their stories, as they unfold in the rest of the books. The power of the book is the realism of the characters, acting as real people would, both selfishly and for the benefit of others. The people are true to life, and are memorable for their humanity.

Read the exciting and page turning novel The River Kings' Road: A Novel of Ithelas by author Liane Merciel, and be whisked away to another time and place, where magic is real, and where the people are very much like us. The author's world is one of good and evil, love and sacrifice, and of people living out their destinies through their own actions. The novel is a wonderful and delightful first entry in a very promising new fantasy series.

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