Book Review – Kydona: From Ashes

Posted on 08/04/2013 by Wanda S. Paryla | Leave a comment

(4 of 5 stars on Amazon)

Hello Friends,

Here is another review for a really great book. If you like action, battle scenes and war stories with an underlying bit of romance and erotica, read on. As always, I try to refrain from using spoilers.

This latest blog is a review for Kydona: From Ashes, by T.K. Krug III. This is the sequel to Kydona which I reviewed in May, 2013. In case you haven’t read the first book, Kydona, you can read that review as well if you’d like to. You can find it on my blog here: https://wandasparyla.com/2013/05/15/book-review-kydona-7/

I think it’s important for you to read my review of Kydona because in Kydona: From Ashes you’ll get more of the same, but this time with more plot and more places to visit. Some things I liked most about the first book besides that it was written by an author who knew his subject, was how a few characters showed me there was more to them than meets the eye, and how the story closed was awesome too. The door just slammed shut. I know some won’t like that type of ending, but if there’s going to be a sequel, it’s fine and dandy by me. It was a nice little cliff hanger for this, the second story.

I can say little more than I already have in my earlier review of Kydona about the author’s incredible ability to bring one into war with him…or his characters…and force you to see and feel everything and everyone. This book is less about the development of some old character and more about development of a human being in the midst of the greatest despair to date in his history. It’s about how people under life-altering, horrifying distress can do one of two things, give up and give in, or reach for each other in support instead of lying down their sword to an enemy whether that enemy be foe or oneself. This is a book about a path to destiny. In this book we see the main character, Marcus, grow tremendously, even if unwilling at times, unfurling himself slowly like a military banner. And, this is exactly as it might have been for a man like him, in his situation, 1,000 years ago…or even today.

Marcus’ ability to go from drinking and binging like a teenager in the first book to overcoming his feelings toward unspeakable crimes against humanity, as well as his need to commit them for the common good, and live to the bitter end to make peace with himself, is heroic. In Kydona, he was tossed headlong into a war, to the frontlines, carelessly as a punishment and/or to be rid of him, yet in Kydona: From Ashes we champion him on as he prevails little by little overcoming his foes.

And, of course, there is no shortness of scheming. There are still methodical wenches and politicians, and military men…we just don’t realize what’s truly going on off scene until closer to the end. And well, there’s lies. The place that these lies put Marcus in regarding his father is maddening and sad.

This second book has quite a few twists and turns in it and despite Marcus being let down at nearly every turn, it is his men…who were first his comrades, then became his very own army… that showed him the respect and loyalty that carried him through. It was for their honor, and not his own, that he trudged onward through to the end of the book.

In Kydona, the two countries, Elessia and Kydona, are forced into a battle because their leaders refused to realize the one thing that would bring peace. Then in the end of Kydona: From Ashes, the story comes full circle (maybe seemingly accidental, if you don’t believe in fate) and peace is, for the moment, derived from the very thing first denied. Can’t tell…I don’t want to spoil.

Again, as in the first book, there is a character that proved that he was not just hogwash. For me, in Kydona it was Vernon. In Kydona: From Ashes, it is Roslene. I thought the whole time she was out only for Number One, and while even in the end it seemed so, I realize that maybe she schemed for love to actually raise someone above her. Devious, yes; shallow, no. But you all may find the characters that surprise you to be different from my picks.

We don’t see a huge difference in some of the lesser characters, but the growth of Marcus as a person is overwhelming enough in and of itself, and while we still catch glimpses of Vernon’s love of mischief, wine and women, as this story progresses, it becomes more of a joke. After all, even in our own lives, as we grow and learn out of pain, do we not wish for the good ol’ days? And really, would we truly go back if we could? Vernon continues to be a pertinent piece of this saga, even though he disappears for awhile, while Marcus makes his mark in Kydona and deals his hand with its tzarista, then Vernon reappears just as loyal as ever in the end.

I am still stumped as to the underlying theme of immortality that wades around in the last quarter or so of this book. I am wondering, will that go somewhere?

There are a couple of small things that kept me from giving Kydona: From Ashes five stars. Of course, these are just my opinion. I think the author should have given an introduction to the characters and a little back story for those who didn’t realize Kydona: From Ashes is a sequel. And it would also be a good refresher for those who might read Kydona but take several months to pick up the next book. This information could be given in a prologue or even in bits and pieces in the first couple chapters of the book with Marcus reminding us who these people are. The next thing along that same line is that perhaps on the back cover, or in the description, it should be revealed that this is a sequel so folks know to grab the first book.

In passing, this book could use a bit more editing but the oversights did not distract me from the story, but I’d urge the author or a proof reader to have another go at sprucing it up.

Overall, the story is engaging, the feeling of camaraderie stays with you as you read. If you want to know how people make it through war…maybe this is it. My assessment of the first book, Kydona, stands true for From Ashes as well (don’t forget to read my Kydona review!). Once again Krug’s work reads as well-researched historical fiction from the start. Nothing about what goes on in this book seems forged or overblown to me.

Feel free to check out an interview I did with T.K. Krug III here: https://wandasparyla.com/2013/05/15/t-k-krug-iii-an-author-interview/

Happy Reading!

T.K. Krug III – An Author Interview

Posted on 05/15/2013 by Wanda S. Paryla | 1 Comment

This interview is with the author of Kydona, T.K. Krug III.
I hope you enjoy the interview.

Please check out the book review here after you read the interview: https://wandasparyla.com/?p=454&preview=true

*Tell us a little about Kydona.
Kydona is a hard fantasy told through the eyes of Marcus Audric de Pilars, a prince who stands to inherit a nation teetering on the brink of collapse. Why this is the case, you see playing out as Marcus explores a court mired in debauchery and conspiracy. It’s a human story, meaning it’s built around its characters. The plot moves to their beat. Whoever likes a twisting, character-driven story would like Kydona. If I had to compare it to another series, I’d say it possesses the elegant setting of Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel’s Legacy series, married to the raw grit and pragmatism of Joe Abercrombie’s First Law trilogy.

*Why did you choose this particular cover art? (Feel free to plug the cover artist.)
Sam Carr at SamCarr.net was kind enough to draw this up for me. It’s a picture of Kaelyn, one of the main characters of the book. Why did I choose picturing her over the actual protagonist? A combination of factors. She was, in several cases, one of the key plot drivers. She’s the cause of a lot of angst and turmoil, and she’s actually my favorite character in the book. And also, I had to be realistic and admit to myself that few things draw attention as well as sex appeal. A thumbnail of an attractive woman will get people clicking to, at the very least, see her in more detail. Women will sense a romantic subplot, possibly some steamy love scenes (which Kydona has) while men will likely go, “Oh hey, pretty girl!” and bam, click. I have to say, the gambit has worked well, so far.

*Tell us a something about yourself both on a personal level and as an author.
It’s tough for me to talk about myself but I guess that’s everyone, too. I’m currently riding out the last few months of my U.S. Army deployment in Afghanistan, and I’m really looking forward to getting home to my fiance, Cait. Between her and the Army, I have plenty of inspiration to base my writing on. People I’ve met in real life directly inform my characters. So be careful of getting on my bad side; you might just find your name immortalized forever. And not in a good way.

*Do you outline or write a synopsis before you begin an actual story?…Or do you just start writing to see where it goes?
I just write and see where it goes, but that didn’t work so well. The first two books of Kydona took 7 years to write. Jeez. I think it’s time to switch gears for book 3. I think that’ll speed the pace much more.

*Please tell us about any current projects you are working on.
I’m set to publish Kydona: From Ashes on June 1! Book 3 is in the works. The first chapter is partially written and there’s a vague outline in shape. I know exactly how I want the book to end and how to get there. It’s the interim between plot points that gets me.

*If your book(s) was being made into a movie or TV show/series, who would you choose for the main character role of Marcus? I honestly have no clue! It’s kind of embarrassing, but I’d have trouble picking an actor or actress for any of my characters.

*If Marcus was a real man today, who would be his favorite author? (Besides you, of course.) Joe Abercrombie. I think he’d learn a thing or two from the fight scenes.

*What advice do you have for writers who are struggling with getting those first lines down on paper, or are filled with self doubt about the potential quality of their work?
I’ve learned that it’s very difficult to write a story from start to finish. While I was writing Kydona, I always had this certain scene floating around in the back of my head–a scene that would define both books. It nagged at me constantly. I fell asleep ruminating on that unwritten scene. What I ultimately did was pause in my manuscript, create a new word document, and punch out that nagging scene. Then I filed the document away. What do you know, getting those words down on paper brought my muse roaring back, and my writer’s block just evaporated. And when it came time to finally cut-and-paste that scene into the manuscript, it wound up being the best part of the entire series–without any edits at all! So my advice to new writers like me: just write the part of the story that inspired you to write in the first place. Get it out, and the rest of the story will soon follow.

*Give us any links to learn more about you and your books (i.e. Amazon links, personal pages &/or websites, etc.).
My blog: http://kydona.blogspot.com/
My twitter tag: https://twitter.com/TKKrug
Amazon purchase link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C7VZTGU
Smashwords purchase link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/302931 (it’s free!)

Book Review – Kydona

Posted on 05/15/2013 by Wanda S. Paryla | 1 Comment

Greetings, once again, my readers and friends.

My latest read is Kydona, by T.K. Krug III.

I must say, I should stick to reading new and/or indie authors. They seem to be the ones surprising me at every turn.

If you like hard fantasy without a straight and forward plot, and are not shy about a bit o’ erotica…written by a man, real life possibilities, and twisted egos…this one’s for you. You will enjoy it for the hard romance, a handsome prince, a war-worn king, royal friends who act more like court jesters, and then there’s those scheming wenches and the mystery and intrigue that surround them all. Much of which they create themselves, I must add.

Kydona is a character-driven tale that reads like historical fiction based on true past accounts. The author’s knowledge of what I perceive to be ancient weaponry and war, and history all together leads me to believe he’s done his homework and/or research. That is important to me. I kept trying to read between the lines thinking that the backdrop of this story…the area, the people, the languages…have to based upon something that already happened. Just the search in my mind for the real life countries, wars and Kings kept my interest as I constantly wondered…is Kydona maybe Russia in fantasyland?

T.K. Krug’s knowledge of what he wrote about and his ability to describe it and make one “see” is amazing in this book. In fact, when he describes the defense mechanisms of a fort, not only did I see that clearly, I recalled reading some of that in my own studies years ago. He just didn’t make that stuff up.

I enjoy character-centered stories. You know, there doesn’t have to be a well-thought out plot to everything we read. As a sociology major I tend to prefer character driven. I want to know as much about the people as I do plot. I like themes, or the “prize” types of tales.

You might find that the story drags on a bit here and there if you are a plot lover. If you are a lover of characters and their plights and lives, you’ll like this story. You’ll want to follow some of them into the future.

As for characters, I think Vernon is the one who surprised me the most… I won’t tell you why, of course. I don’t want to spoil. But let’s just say…I thought for the longest that he was terribly superficial. It turns out he’s actually more faithful and brave than shallow.

Truthfully (& for your information), I did not realize that there was to be a sequel for this book. So this brings me to my reactions at the end. When I was about 90% done with the book, I was a bit weary. I thought, wow, I’m nearly to the end, but I don’t see an ending in sight. When I read the last words of this book I had a couple different reactions. The first was shock…it felt like the book slammed shut on me because I expected a final ending (not a beginning) so the final words hit me like a brick. Maybe I was disappointed after the shock. Then the realization hit me that there is to be a sequel…actually, I would call this book and its forthcoming counterparts a “saga” as this book’s ending actually, for me, is the beginning of what’s to come next.

Regardless, when I realized that there will be another, I felt relief because I do want to read it. I have to read it. And I hope if you read Kydona, you’ll have the same feelings when you read the last word. Let’s follow these characters to their futures.

Admittedly, the cover art, while lovely as it is, threw me for a loop as did the title. I’m just going to throw this out there to get it out of the way because while reading the book – for the longest – I wasn’t truly sure why there was a graphic of a female on the cover. I did recognize her quickly as probably being Kaelyn. After reading the author’s interview I see why he chose that cover art. However, I cannot say I would’ve gone that route, but his explanation makes sense.

Next is the name of the book, Kydona. It’s seems the beginning through to the middle is more about the characters and their ongoing drama (which is how character-centered stories go usually) and less about anything else. I did not see Kydona as the focal point right off the bat. However, I seen by the last quarter of the book that everything these characters did has propelled Marcus and Vernon to Kydona, so the country does become the focal point. But the name threw me off at first as the subject.

On Amazon and Goodreads, I awarded this book 4 stars for great character development, colorful characters with huge selfish agendas, the author’s wonderful knowledge of all things ancient war and his ability to keep me searching my mind for these places in real life. And I have to say, despite my shock at the end, I am glad that there will be more books because I have come to care for some of these characters and I have to know how it turns out in Kydona. If you like steadily moving sagas like I do, this one is for you.

Oh yes. I just have to mention for a bit o’ fun… I asked the author in the interview if his book(s) were going Hollywood, what actor would he choose to play the main character, Marcus. You can read his reply on the interview blog. But, my vote goes to Theo Thomas (Golden Boy). Hey…I just thought I’d throw that in to give the ladies something to dream about as they read.