Final Rating:
Date of Completion: 24/09/2022
Cover:
This design is almost identical to that of the preceding book, Ace of Shades. While there are a few pattern changes, the main difference is in the colour scheme. The striking red colour of the previous design has been replaced with a subtle blue that makes this cover less eye-catching and appealing.
Writing:
Once again, Amanda Foody does a great job setting the tone and atmosphere of the story right from the start. Not only is a delightful undercurrent of tension and suspense established, but this deepens as the story progresses. The use of three different points of view (Levi’s, Enne’s and Jac’s) increases the complexity of the characters and the fascinating world of New Reynes. While little is done to expand the magic system, more is revealed about the northside gangs and southside politics. This information is flawlessly woven into the story but eventually becomes too convoluted for me to fully grasp.
Playing it safe isn’t really playing at all
Storyline:
The story begins a few days after previous events, and a gentle recap is incorporated into the first few chapters. Soon several ploys are set in motion, and a compelling web of political intrigue and gang conflict is established. Extensive details on the various personal challenges faced by the main characters mean that the story’s pace is constantly stalled. However, this is redeemed by the explosive climax littered with shocking twists, betrayals and numerous deaths.
Main character:
Levi is an underdog you cannot help but root for despite his constant mistakes in this story. His battles with insecurity and ambition also make his character very relatable. In contrast, I felt disconnected from Enne as her character suddenly became hyper-feminine with little depth. I wanted her (and Levi) to be far more fierce and cunning instead of being pawns with little power.
The world would always demand that a girl apologize for herself, but she would apologize for nothing.
Secondary characters:
Having Jac’s perspective brought his character into the spotlight. He becomes more than just Levi’s loyal friend as his character is given room to grow through various internal and external challenges. The remaining secondary characters are a diverse cast who help drive the storyline. However, only Vianca and Tock stood out to me as there is a lot of telling and not enough showing with the others.
Romance:
Compared to the previous book, Levi and Enne spend much less time together in this story. Their budding attraction is drowned by waves of politics and soon became too angsty for me. I found the other relationship introduced in this story far more interesting, as the characters had cute interactions with lots of banter. Unfortunately, this relationship fades into the background once the story picks up.
Despite its slow start, the intricate web of intrigue and ploys in ‘King of Fools‘ ultimately leads to a great climax with numerous twists and betrayals. However, I realise now that I had high expectations for the main characters, and I cannot help but feel disappointed since these were not met. My recommendation for those who enjoyed this story would be The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen.
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