Name: Celeste Richardson's review of Kingdom of Liars by Nick Martell
Item: Kingdom of Liars
Rating: 3
Author: Celeste Richardson

Nick Martell

In this brilliant debut fantasy, a story of secrets, rebellion, and murder are shattering the Hollows, where magic costs memory to use, and only the son of the kingdom's despised traitor holds the truth. Michael is branded a traitor as a child because of the murder of the king's nine-year-old son, by his father David Kingman. Ten years later on Michael lives a hardscrabble life, with his sister Gwen, performing crimes with his friends against minor royals in a weak attempt at striking back at the world that rejects him and his family. In a world where memory is the coin that pays for magic, Michael knows something is there in the hot white emptiness of his mind. So when the opportunity arrives to get folded back into court, via the most politically dangerous member of the kingdom's royal council, Michael takes it, desperate to find a way back to his past. He discovers a royal family that is spiraling into a self-serving dictatorship as gun-wielding rebels clash against magically trained militia. What the truth holds is a set of shocking revelations that will completely change the Hollows, if Michael and his friends and family can survive long enough to see it.

Kingdom of Liars

Savannah Winchell

In this brilliant debut fantasy, a story of secrets, rebellion, and murder are shattering the Hollows, where magic costs memory to use, and only the son of the kingdom’s despised traitor holds the truth. Michael is branded a traitor as a child because of the murder of the king’s nine-year-old son, by his father David Kingman. Ten years later on Michael lives a hardscrabble life, with his sister Gwen, performing crimes with his friends against minor royals in a weak attempt at striking back at the world that rejects him and his family. In a world where memory is the coin that pays for magic, Michael knows something is there in the hot white emptiness of his mind. So when the opportunity arrives to get folded back into court, via the most politically dangerous member of the kingdom’s royal council, Michael takes it, desperate to find a way back to his past. He discovers a royal family that is spiraling into a self-serving dictatorship as gun-wielding rebels clash against magically trained militia. What the truth holds is a set of shocking revelations that will completely change the Hollows, if Michael and his friends and family can survive long enough to see it.

A Novel

The Kingdom of Liars

Celeste Richardson

Actual rating: 2.5 stars

I tried so hard to like this book. The premise was really promising. A magic system that feeds on memories? That’s a fascinating concept! But the magic was barely explored or explained in any meaningful way. And while this is billed as an adult fantasy, it felt so young adult in tone that I felt suckered into reading something I hadn’t actually agreed to. The setting was vague in its description to the point that I had a hard time putting myself into the action. The supporting cast was fine, but populated with vaguely intriguing cardboard cutouts instead of tangible characters with any depth. The main character, Michael Kingman, drove me absolutely insane. I wanted to shake him for constantly repeating the same mistakes and for being so blind to (very obvious) plot twists that he was constantly being blindsided. Speaking of those twists, most of them were so glaringly transparent that I audibly groaned dozens upon dozens of times. The plot didn’t feel in any way fresh, but instead reused tropes in a way that felt like an amateur band covering popular songs, if that makes sense. I’m in no way trying to belittle the book or the author; I’m just annoyed that there was so much potential here that, in my opinion, wasn’t ever met. It wasn’t a bad book, and I’m sure plenty of readers are going to love it. It was action-packed and full or drama, and it did keep me turning pages. But regrettably, it just didn't work for me.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sabetha Danes

I can't remember the last book that I read, that was this incredibly boring. I feel like I've read this exact story too many times. 

The magic in this story has strong vibes of that in Mistborn & Six of Crows, the cost of using your given skill being your memories. (but only sometimes?) The characters are predictable, and while everything is well written it's just boring. 

The storyline, plot and themes are perfectly planned out, it's a by the book story of a black listed family, and a plot of discovering the truth to get their namesake back. So it's not that I hated it, it's just over done tropes and I forced myself through many parts of the story. 

Michael is oblivious and child-like through many parts of the book, which doesn't really fit with the way he was raised. Many plot lines were left open, I assume to be resolved in the next book. I won't be continuing on, but hopefully others will discover the fate of like half the cast. 

I received this book via NetGalley.

Kelli Lynn

Nickie Mohler

3.5 stars

This one was hard for me to rate. I struggled with the first half. The mc Michael was very annoying. He made countless bad decisions, and I was over constantly hearing about the Kingman legacy. I was tempted to mark it as dnf. I decided to keep going and I'm glad I did. I felt like the second half was 5 star worthy. I can't say I grew to love Michael, but I did start to feel sorry for him a little. I would have liked more world building too. 
I am excited to continue on since the second half was so good.

Savannah Winchell &
Kingdom of Liars by Nick Martell

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Kingdom of Liars by Nick Martell