Kings of the Wyld
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder | Nicholas Eames |
| Products | Fantasy novels |
| Website | www |
Kings of the Wyld is a fantasy novel authored by Nicholas Eames, published in 2017, and marks the inaugural installment of The Band trilogy. The narrative centers on a disbanded group of mercenaries who reunite to save the daughter of one of their own.
Background
Nicholas Eames's first novel, Kings of the Wyld, initiates the three-part The Band series, which also comprises Bloody Rose and Outlaw Empire. The series is distinguished by cover illustrations created by Richard Anderson and design work by Lisa Marie Pompilio.
Synopsis
The plot revolves around Saga, a mercenary ensemble celebrated much like rock icons. The members include Clay "Slowhand" Cooper, "Golden" Gabe, Ganelon, Matrick Skulldrummer, and Arcandius Moog. After years of retirement and diminished vigor, they come together once more to rescue Gabe’s daughter, Rose, who is trapped within a city under monster siege.
Plot
Set in a realm where mercenary groups enjoy celebrity status akin to rock stars, Clay "Slowhand" Cooper leads a tranquil life with his family in Coverdale. His old companion Gabriel arrives, requesting Clay’s assistance to regroup Saga and undertake a mission to save Gabe’s daughter Rose from Castia—a city besieged by monstrous forces. Though initially hesitant, Clay agrees to join.
Their journey begins with an encounter with bandits led by Lady Jain; after being robbed yet allowed to keep Clay’s shield, they proceed to Canthas where they meet their former manager Kallorek, who possesses Gabe’s enchanted sword Vellichor. When Kallorek refuses to part with the sword, Saga escapes through a portal created by Arcandius Moog and locates Matrick Skulldrummer, now ruling as king. At a summit of monarchs, they confront Lastleaf—the leader of the hostile Heartwyld Horde laying siege to Castia. To advance their mission, they stage Matrick’s death.
Saga crosses paths again with Lady Jain and negotiates with Dinatra, a Gorgon noblewoman, to release Ganelon who has been turned to stone for nineteen years due to a murder accusation. Following victory over a Chimera in an arena trial, Saga recovers magical artifacts from Kallorek: Gabriel regains Vellichor; Clay acquires the indestructible Warskin armor along with the sledgehammer Wraith; Moog obtains a magical hat that produces food; Matrick receives an insect-launching horn. They commandeer Kallorek’s flying vessel and enlist Kit, a revenant bard.
While collecting resources and intelligence on Castia, they evade Larkspur—a bounty hunter pursuing Matrick. After expelling Kallorek for threatening Clay’s family, Saga ventures into the monster-infested Heartwyld forest. Ambushed during an aerial assault led by Larkspur’s skyship, Matrick is captured but later rescued with assistance from Taino, a troll witch doctor. Larkspur suffers amnesia following the attack and assumes the identity Sabbatha; she subsequently joins the group. They endure cannibal attacks and recruit allies Dane and Gregor.
Their skyship is destroyed by Larkspur’s minions; forced to traverse Heartwyld ruins on foot, they uncover Lastleaf’s sinister past involving the cursed sword Tamarat and his monstrous forces. Shadow—a trader allied with Lastleaf—attempts sabotage but is killed by Larkspur. The Band slays an Owlbear and adopts its cubs before embarking on the hazardous Cold Road through mountainous terrain.
During this leg of their journey, Kit discloses his execution for slaying a phoenix; meanwhile, Ganelon and Larkspur develop a romantic bond. An assault by Rasks results in Gregor’s death and Sabbatha betrays them—kidnapping Matrick and wounding Clay—but with Vanguard’s help, Matrick is rescued. Clay recovers while Matrick undergoes personal transformation.
At the War Fair mercenary gathering in Kaladar, Saga steals a key from the dragon Akatung to access a portal. Gabriel unites mercenaries against the Heartwyld Horde; after dueling Lastleaf and battling giants aided by Larkspur, they triumph over the horde. Lastleaf then resurrects Astra, known as the Winter Queen.
Matrick ascends as emperor of Castia; Moog publicly unveils a cure for the Rot disease. Ganelon returns home awaiting Larkspur and their child while Clay reunites with his family in Coverdale.
Characters
- Gabriel "Golden Gabe": As the frontman of Saga, Gabriel is the driving force behind their reunion after two decades apart. He is divorced from Valery and father to Rose, who joins a band and becomes trapped in Castia amid the Heartwyld Horde assault. Gabriel wields Vellichor, a mystical longsword originating from Vespian, Archon of the fallen Druin empire. His role parallels that of a lead vocalist.
- Clay "Slowhand" Cooper: Serving as the story’s perspective character and Saga’s hesitant leader, Clay is a large man with a troubled history. He lives a quiet life with his wife Ginny and daughter Tully until Gabriel enlists him. His weapon, Blackheart, is a shield forged from a defeated treant. Clay represents the indispensable yet often underestimated bassist figure.
- Arcandius Moog: The band’s quirky wizard and chief magic practitioner. A rare believer in the Owlbear and a seeker of a cure for the Rot disease that claimed his husband, Moog carries an endless bag filled with mostly unreliable magical artifacts. His role is akin to that of a keyboard player.
- Matrick "Matty" Skulldrummer: Once a rogue and alcoholic, Matrick has transformed into the benevolent King of Agria. He is married to Lilith, who confines him to the royal castle due to fears about producing an heir. Father to five illegitimate children, he wields two daggers named Roxy and Grace. Matrick fills the role of the rock drummer.
- Ganelon: The band’s primary enforcer and legendary warrior with an enigmatic background. Having been imprisoned in the Quarry for killing a prince, he has not aged during Saga’s 20-year separation. His weapon is Syrinx, a rune-etched battleaxe that only he can wield effectively. He serves as the rock guitarist archetype.
- Kallorek "The Orc": Formerly Saga’s band booker, Kallorek has become a wealthy music agent dominating most new monster-hunting contracts. Once a street thug, he manipulates Gabriel into selling Vellichor and seduces Valery, leading her into drug addiction. He possesses numerous magical items later confiscated by Saga and ultimately dies after threatening Clay’s family.
- Larkspur: A daeva bounty hunter employed by Lilith to capture Matrick. She wields compulsion abilities and commands red-robed monks aboard her skyship, Dark Star. Following amnesia, she adopts the name "Sabbatha," obtains Shadow’s scythe Umbra, allies with Ganelon, and eventually bears his child.
- Kitagra "the Unkillable": An ancient revenant bard who maintains intelligence unlike typical zombies. A longtime friend of Moog’s, Kit was once imprisoned within Kallorek’s collection before joining Saga. In life, he served the Emperor of Castia but was executed following an incident involving a phoenix.
- Gregor and Dane: Ettin brothers where Gregor guides his blind sibling Dane through harsh realities until both perish while crossing the Cold Road.
- Lastleaf: Known also as the Heathen and Duke of Endland, Lastleaf is a druin from another dimension who aided in constructing the Dominion empire using Vellichor. Though immortal, his numbers dwindle due to low birth rates. He rebels against his father Vespian’s dark rituals and wields three swords—Scorn, Madrigal, and Tamarat. He also possesses 'The Prescience,' an ability to foresee imminent events. His defeat by Gabe sets up the sequel narrative.
- Lady Jain: Former leader of the Silk Arrows bandit group who frequently crosses paths with Saga—initially robbing them but later fighting alongside them during Castia’s battle. She is noted for her eccentric fashion sense and friendly demeanor.
- Rose: Gabriel’s rebellious daughter, nicknamed "Bloody Rose," whose mercenary band is destroyed during Castia’s Heartwyld Horde siege. Her predicament prompts Saga’s reunion and she plays a major role in the sequel Bloody Rose.
Reception
Critics have likened the novel to a Dungeons & Dragons campaign akin to Forgotten Realms, featuring characters that mirror familiar D&D archetypes. It has also been compared to the Bethesda video game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim due to shared fantasy themes and the presence of adventurous mercenaries. Abdallah Mbajja from The Observer described the experience as reminiscent of "an online RPG brought to life."
Samuel Ruth, writing for Tufts Now, characterized the book as both "engaging" and "humorous," emphasizing how it simultaneously embraces and challenges conventional fantasy clichés. A review in Publishers Weekly commended its storyline as "emotionally fulfilling, inventive, and amusing."
On the other hand, Scott Marlowe of Out of This World Reviews expressed dissatisfaction with the frequent pop culture nods and deemed the protagonists' "juvenile behavior" exhausting. In contrast, Niki Hawkes from The Southern Utah Independent applauded these very aspects, highlighting the distinct, witty characters and plentiful geeky references that contribute to making it "one hella fun book!"
Awards
| Award | Date | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| The David Gemmell Awards | 2018 | The Morningstar Award for Best Fantasy Newcomer | Template:Won |
| r/Fantasy Stabby Award | 2017 | Best Debut Novel | Template:Won |
Adaptation
On November 12, 2019, Eames revealed via Twitter that the film rights for The Band had been acquired by an undisclosed party, though no production timeline was confirmed.[1] The pitch package included artwork created by Pierre Santamaria.[2]
External links
- ↑ Liptak, Andrew (November 13, 2019). "Two Grimdark Fantasy Series Might be Headed to Television". Tor.com. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Feast Your Eyes Upon the Official Kings of the Wyld TV/Film Pitch Artwork". Tor.com. July 2, 2020. Retrieved January 29, 2022.
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