Two young men.
One with a dark past, the other with a bright future.
Cyrus is a storyteller frustrated by the mundane trappings of village life, while Prince Augustus struggles to meet high expectations after an upbringing of royal privilege in the bustling capital. As both try to forge their own paths, a royal assassination unexpectedly closes the gap between them. The nation of Easthaven is thrown into war with their oppressive neighbours, and so begins a conflict from which neither can walk away.
Will a young prince finally measure up to his destiny? Will a storyteller create a legend of his own?
Cyrus and Augustus’s lives may seem worlds apart, but perhaps they aren’t so different after all…
The Look of a King is a fast-paced, adventure fantasy for readers aged 12+. It is perfect for readers who enjoy the pacing of books like The Hobbit, but with the unpredictable ruthless quality of Game of Thrones, where nothing is as it seems. Readers have described The Look of a King as ‘enthralling’, ‘engrossing’, ‘fantasy without the waffle’. The book will suit reluctant or time-poor readers who want a book that is easy to pick up and dive into with movie-like action. Book II: No Place for Peace – coming October 11th, 2021.
Title : The Look Of A King
Author : Tom Dumbrell
Format : Paperback
Page Count : 262
Genre : Fantasy
Publisher : Self Published
Release Date : March 6, 2021
Reviewer : Micky
Rating : ★ ★ ★ ★
Micky’s 4 star review
Headlines:
Historical in a fantasy world
Coming of age in war time
Identity
The Look of a King was a fast and engaging read. It was historical, in a fantasy world but not a magical world. It had some themes I really enjoy like found family, familial relationships and all that happening during a time of great unrest and war in this world.
The protagonist Cyrus was very likeable, humble and lacking in self belief but due to the circumstances of the story, there was a lot of character growth. Cyrus was a young man, finding his way in the world, finding a personal route in life until holy twist on a stick, things happened.
Talking of twists the story had a smattering of them, none of which I saw on the horizon, so that kept me glued to the story. There were some great side characters, those to cheer for and those not so much. The two sides of the coin could not have been more different despite outward appearances and ugh, I did not like one character in particular.
I would say that this book is definitely a grower, it didn’t start with a boom but it got me on board in a few chapters. I’ve ended it really wanting to know what’s going to happen with the double crossing, double-faced characters and with those I’m rooting for. Tom Dumbrell has written a great debut with care; it’s definitely worth checking out.
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy, this did not affect my honest review.
A Take from Two Cities 