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The King's Buccaneer
860 pages
A classic, swashbuckling coming-of-age tale where sheltered youth meets the brutal realities of the high seas and dark magic.
What it feels like
Reading this feels like slipping into a comfortable, well-worn cloak of classic high fantasy, but with a distinctly salty breeze. It captures the quintessential coming-of-age arc, thrusting a sheltered protagonist out of a comfortable palace and into a sprawling, perilous world of pirates, dark magic, and high-stakes rescue missions. The narrative moves at a brisk, swashbuckling clip, trading the dense political maneuvering of some epic fantasies for straightforward, heroic adventure on the high seas. There is an earnest, nostalgic quality to the storytelling that delights readers looking for clear-cut heroism and the enduring bonds of camaraderie. It is a sweeping, action-packed journey that balances the tragedy of lost innocence with the triumphant thrill of stepping up to meet one's destiny.
- Mood
- swashbuckling
- sweeping
- perilous
- Tone
- earnest
- heroic
- adventurous
- nostalgic
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- coming of age · burden of leadership · loss of innocence · camaraderie and loyalty
- The writing
- Accessible and action-oriented, favoring clear descriptions and rapid dialogue over dense, flowery world-building.
- The arc
- Moves from the sheltered naivete of youth through the crucible of sudden tragedy, culminating in a hardened, resolute acceptance of duty.
- Who it's for
- Fans of classic, nineties-era high fantasy who love a good swashbuckling adventure featuring a young protagonist growing into their power.
Content notes
- fantasy violence
- kidnapping
- death of secondary characters
About the book
Long recovered from the ravages of the Riftwar, the land and people of the kingdom of the Isles thrive. Nicholas, the youngest son of Prince Arutha, is intelligent and gifted but vastly inexperienced. In hopes of hardening him, his father sends him and his irreverent squire, Harry, to live at Rustic Castle Crydee to learn of life beyond the halls of privilege. But within weeks of Nicholas and Harry's arrival, Crydee is viciously attacked by unknown assailants, resulting in murder, massive destruction, and the abduction of two young noblewomen. The raiders have come from a pirate haven and are no ordinary foe... but an enemy connected to dark magical forces that threaten the lands Nicholas will someday rule -- if he survives.
Set ten years after the events in "Prince of the Blood", this book is a remarkable adventure of mystery and magic.
In Amos Trask's ship, Prince Nicholas and Squire Harry set sail for a friendly visit to Uncle Martin in Crydee. But while the two are guests in Crydee, disaster strikes.��Nicholas, third son of Prince Arutha, is a gifted youngster, but sheltered by life at his father’s court in Krondor. To learn more of the world outside the palace walls, Nicholas and his squire, Harry, set sail for pastoral Crydee, where Arutha grew up.��Shortly after their arrival, Crydee is brutally attacked. The castle is reduced to ruins, the townspeople slaughtered and two young noblewomen – friends of Nicholas – are abducted. ��As Nicholas ventures further from the familiar landmarks of his home in pursuit of the invaders, he learns that there is more at stake than the fate of his friends, more even than fate of the Kingdom of the Isles, for behind the murderous pirates stands a force that threatens the entire world of Midkemia, and only he is destined to confront this terrifying threat.
Description from Open Library.
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