Synopsis:
Twenty-four-year-old Liam is a traumatized warrior in a paradise free of war. He works his high-rise job. He is safe, comfortable, and free of suffering. For years, the portals to the brutal and magical world of Erentyr, where Liam came from, have been sealed, civilization protected. All that Liam wants is to live a normal life, to forget about his family’s slaughter in Erentyr before he escaped. But soon he learns that one of his family members is still alive. Flush with terror but clinging to hope, Liam illegally returns to Erentyr’s savage but Fairywild beauty. Once there, however, he finds that much more than fear and hope has awakened in him…
Review:
King of the Forgotten Darkness swept me off my feet into a grim fantasy world full of characters I would die for.
Starting out, I knew I was in for a fantasy read. I was surprised when the book began in a futuristic, sci-fi-like city. I soon learned that King of the Forgotten Darkness features two worlds that deeply contrast with each other.
You have Midworld, which is exactly as it sounds. Though it is peaceful and full of routine, it is uneventful. People work and socialize (mostly through technology), they train, dine, and enjoy their hobbies. There are no conflicts or political tensions.
Then there is Erentyr: a world full of clans, dragons, monsters, and strange phenomena.
The main character, Liam, is from Erentyr but escaped there to spend 15 years in Midworld until being called to return. Erentyr has been struck by a blight that only he can diminish because of his mother’s powers. His previous girlfriend, and long-time friend, Mia, joins him.
The adventure that ensues is harrowing, providing scenes of raging battles, deep character introspection, and constant attempts to overthrow the evils that rule over Erentyr.
Liam is a deeply troubled character, often battling the traumas that followed him from his childhood in Erentyr. Mia, though she grew up in Midworld, was abandoned by her parents and met Liam in foster care. They instantly developed a close relationship, eventually dating and then calling it off when they found it difficult to communicate through their pain.
The side characters in this were delightful. Sea Breeze, the helpful yet mischievous crow, was hilarious, and every time she showed up, I knew we were in for a conversation riddled with mystery and humor. Maple, the gnome, spoke exactly as I figured a gnome would, though I haven’t met many myself—using silly made-up words and overly positive, I think even Mia and Liam got tired of it at times.
There were some deep themes I picked up on in this book, and I loved the way they were depicted. Forget the typical good vs evil trope. The bones of it were there, but what Goodwyn constructed was something more realistic. Once Mia and Liam arrived in Erentyr, they were determined to crush evil and save the day. Yet, the ancient power that resided there called to them. It seduced them. And the decisions they made were not always the right ones.
Something else I enjoyed about this tale involved Liam’s character arc most. When he arrived in Erentyr, he had this view of Midworld being good and Erentyr being bad. His mission was to rid Erentyr of its evils, then return to Midworld where he and Mia could continue living their lives. While he did come to find valued friends and love the righteous bits of the dark world, he came to find that both worlds were two sides of the same coin. The familiar adages of not being able to have light without darkness, or joy without pain, resonate strongly here.
The prose is exquisitely written, each sentence bearing importance without the use of repetitive descriptions or phrases. The pacing was lovely, just enough downtime between action for me to fall deeper for the characters. The banter and dialogue were unique, especially between characters. There was never a question as to who was speaking.
I entered King of the Forgotten Darkness not knowing what to expect, especially after arriving in Midworld, a city full of robots and AI. I left this book with an intense appreciation for the characters’ journeys, a love for who the characters transformed into after such grueling feats, and all around satisfied with the adventure I went on.
Goodwyn’s writing is top tier. Fantasy fans need this on their TBR yesterday.
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