Kingmaker [Kindle Edition]

Matthew Schick (Author), Eric Zawadzki (Author)

Book Description

In the desert land of Turuna, every child possesses powerful magic, and only an ancient treaty prevents the clans from recruiting them as soldiers. Now, rumors swirl that an artifact has appeared that grants childlike magic to an adult, and some clans will stop at nothing to seize its power.

In the tiny Ahjea clan, Butu has had no time to listen to rumors. His childhood sweetheart has caught the eye of the most powerful man in Turuna. Even worse, his magic has suddenly become unreliable, failing him at the most embarrassing moments. The only good news he's had all day is he's being allowed to join his clan's army despite his youth.

When his squad of young recruits is sent on a mission they can't complete without magic, Butu begins to grow suspicious. It soon becomes clear that if he doesn't figure out the truth and find the artifact first, an all-powerful tyrant will rise up and conquer Turuna.

86,000 words

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

ERIC ZAWADZKI

Eric spent his Midwestern childhood reading fantasy, so it probably isn’t surprising that he came to idealize stories of going to a far-off land. When no wizard showed up to tell him he was the heir to some otherworldly throne or the only one who could defeat the nefarious designs of a dark god, Eric took this whole questing hero thing into his own hands.

While backpacking alone in Poland without so much as a phrasebook, he met many strangers who gave him advice and directions. One family even took him in for the night, feeding him and asking him about his travels. No bandits or wolves, but that’s probably for the best. He still has nightmares about that wolfman from The Neverending Story.

He lived for a time among the majestic mountains of Colorado before seeking his one true love, Beth, on the frozen wastelands of Minnesota. They married on a beautiful spring day and are in the process of living happily ever after.



MATTHEW SCHICK

Indiana had a slogan in Matt's childhood: “There’s more than corn in Indiana.” Driving around the state, he agreed — there were also soybeans and vast, flat skies. He found inspiration because there was so much room for it, inspiration to explore, to fill himself with variety, and to write with them in mind.

He now lives in Charlottesville, Va., with his lady, whom he met while working as a journalist in Hawaii. He ended up in Hawaii after doing similar work in Colorado and Virginia, and going to college in Wisconsin. In his explorations, he has found people, food and experiences that made each place an inspiration for the worlds in which he writes.

Product Details

• File Size: 544 KB
• Print Length: 288 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0615549225
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Four Moons Press; 1 edition (September 25, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005PK8ACK
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #725,041 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A good start.... April 30, 2012

By Clem

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

The good:
The writing is pretty good for their first book; it's well organized and well told, though a little bit choppy on the many chapter breaks. The writing really begins to shine in the second half (incredibly well, I think) of the book, though this may be incidental (I'll explain below). The writers clearly focus on a single character. Thankfully, they avoid having everything revolve around him so one's suspension of disbelief doesn't get stretched too far. If you're not used to fantasy, this isn't a bad way to start: they don't throw dragons and fireballs at you from the get go. In fact, I'd argue it takes a bit to even really establish as being in the genre. For those already familiar with fantasy the book should prove a welcome change of pace. As the book progresses it proves to be innovative which brings a certain joy to reading as it less predictable than much of what is out there, while still remaining familiar enough to be easy to digest.

The Bad:
As noted, the writing takes a while to really start infecting your imagination, though this may be incidental: most of the story is set in a barren desert. The characters can be a bit hard to deal with since the focus is on one character who's not as easy to relate to as I suspect the authors believed (I personally identified more with one of the supporting characters and was a little disappointed they didn't write more for him - that might be on me). Additionally, the intrigue and regional politics are not really well fleshed out or explained until much closer to the end and some of the questions are not answered at all, thought that's not necessarily a bad thing.

The Other;
I'd have liked a map.... I'd also have liked a list of countries and kings, or something like that (for my own personal gratification, neither are truly necessary).

Conclusion:
It's a good book, and worth buying as more are on the way (I believe they just released the second). It's not a masterpiece (such as Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, or Martin's Song of Ice and Fire) but it's a good book. The plot makes sense, the characters are believable, the writing flashes of brilliance, and doesn't try to force your belief (though it is still fantasy) and almost everything I did not like can be attributed to a writers growing pains, or simply to the fact that this is the first story in growing universe (a valid point to anyone that's noticed the inconsistencies between the original version of The Hobbit and LotR). Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Imaginative and creative January 6, 2012

By mountainmama

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'll have to first admit that I am not a big fan of young adult high fantasy, but a friend sent me a copy of this book for Christmas. In spite of my lack of interest in the genre, when I started reading, I found myself drawn into the world of magic that Eric Zawadzki and Matthew Schick have created.

In an ancient time, children possessed various magical powers until they "fell" into adulthood. Treaties prevented armies from using these children, but a group of recently fallen has been recruited and sent on a secret mission to recover an artifact that will tip the balance of power among the tribes. The story follows this group through their perilous journey to distant realms, encountering seemingly insurmountable obstacles along the way, requiring them to "remember" their childhood abilities in order to survive.

The authors have done a fantastic job of weaving this story. They use words beautifully and artfully to create a world of fantasy. It was extremely well-edited, which is a big plus in my book! I recommend it highly to any fans of the genre.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Creative Take on Magic December 26, 2011

By Eric

Format:Kindle Edition

Eric Zawadzki and Matthew Schick's book Kingmaker was a very interesting read that was full of twists along the way. Also, the creative take on how magic works in their world was something I hadn't seen done in the fantasy genre before, which made for a breath of fresh air. The characters were easy to like, and it was clear that a lot of work had been put into the creation of not just their characters, but the world itself. I'm eagerly awaiting the next book these two authors publish! Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy. You won't regret it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ready for a magical adventure? March 21, 2012

By Scott

Format:Kindle Edition

I'm a 22-year-old who isn't really into Fantasy books, but after reading this--I'm getting hooked on the genre! It's one of those books that you can't put down (I compare it to The Hunger Games), and the writing is sharp and vivid with imagery.

What a magical adventure, and can't wait for the next books!

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Read February 8, 2013

By monica ponder

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Heard about this book at a Sci Fi Con and purchased in Kindle format when I returned home. Characters are interesting and plot is unique.