King’s Warrior – Audiobook Review

Who’s up for a cozy fantasy audiobook? My audiobook moods come and go, but late fall seems like the PERFECT time to listen to a kingdom adventure tale about warriors, prophecies, and dragons. So… allow me to introduce King’s Warrior by Jenelle Schmidt!

About the Book

Six hundred years ago the land of Aom-igh was threatened with invasion by the Dark Country across the Stained Sea; in their danger King Llian sought the help of the dragons and the myth-folk. Graldon, King of the Dragons, granted the human king with a gift that would help him defeat his enemies. Graldon also promised King Llian that the dragons would come to the humans’ aid should Aom-igh ever be in such danger again. Years passed, and Aom-igh remained safe and isolated from its enemies. The dragons slowly disappeared and faded into legend and myth, and people forgot magic had ever existed.

When her kingdom is threatened by the Dark Country once again, the headstrong Princess Kamarie sets off on a quest to find the man who may be able to save them all: the former King’s Warrior. Traveling with her are two companions: her eccentric maid, and a squire who resents his charge to travel with and protect the princess. However, finding the legendary hero proves to be the least of their worries. Together the companions encounter more than they ever bargained for. A beautiful gatekeeper, a sword fashioned by dragons, enemies who pursue them relentlessly and hound them at every turn, and an underground world full of mythical creatures are just the beginning of their adventures.

As they search for the answers to mystifying riddles and seek a way to save everything they hold dear the comrades will learn a little about courage, a lot about truth, and more about themselves than they ever imagined. But if they can succeed in their quest, they may join worlds together.

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An Ageless Adventure

I’ve been eyeing the Minstrel’s Song series for quite some time, but hearing that the first book has arrived in audio format—with the rest of the books to follow—gave me the push I needed to dive in.

Jenelle says she wrote King’s Warrior to be read aloud, and it shows! It struck me right away how the story is the sort that’s read one chapter at a time before being tucked into bed. It just has that cozy, ageless, adventuresome feel to it—along with a little humor, a little danger (or sometimes a lot), and the faintest whiff of future romance.

And the narrator, Benny Fife, was a perfect fit to the story with his grandfatherly voice and English accent. (You can actually hear a sample right here!)

The quest-style plot takes Princess Kamarie and her companions across mountains and below-ground, from castles to coves and everywhere in between. The company meets all manner of friends, enemies, and obstacles along the way, and it’s fun to see many of the main characters get their own moment to shine.

Some of my FAVORITE characters are…

Brant // Epic warrior, Aragorn-esque hero with a mysterious past, father figure, and often the grouch of the group (okay, he’s really more of the strong, silent type)… this guy was so loveable. Especially when Certain Events (TM) pull at one’s heartstrings right off the hop. (I don’t think I can forgive you for that, Jenelle.)

Kiernan Kane // I wish he’d had more page time! This wandering bard with a gleam in his eye and a song on his lips is definitely quirky… and also seems to know a tad more than he lets on. I’m so curious about his backstory and hope that later books divulge more!

Yole // Despite guessing a certain spoilery something about him, he’s just so ADORABLE. I find it’s hard to write convincing children characters, but Yole comes across both smart enough and young enough for his age. He’s a clever little kid, yet also clueless about some things and liable to grumble now and then about long journeys and rainy nights. He’s really sweet and deserves all the hugs.

Journey the land of Aom-igh…

With a few moments that surprised me with their emotional depth, a fantasy land that felt familiar and easy to get acquainted with, and a fun band of characters, King’s Warrior is just the sort of story to curl up with as the weather turns chilly.

4 stars from me!

P.S. If you’re in the UK, Jenelle might still have some free download codes left for you to snag! Head to her website to see for yourself.

Jenelle Leanne Schmidt

During the days, I wrangle four small hobbits and help them along on their adventures.

Basically, I’m Gandalf.

But come evenings, when the hobbits are sleeping… I become my alter-ego: PLOT WIZARD (still a wizard, just a different kind)… and adventures await in the pages I scribble upon.

I write fantasy, fairy tale retellings, hints of steampunk, and I have epic plans for a hybrid science fiction/20s detective story mashup at some point… it’s in the works. Mostly I stick with fantasy, though.

I’m a dreamer, a relentless opener of doors in the hope of someday finding passage to Narnia, and story girl.

I’m the author of the complete series “The Minstrel’s Song,” a four-book saga of epic adventure full of dragons, quests, magical swords, fierce warriors, friendship, loyalty, and an enigmatic minstrel. I won the second Rooglewood contest and my retelling of Beauty and the Beast, titled Stone Curse, was included in their Five Enchanted Roses anthology. I have two short stories published in Mythical Doorways and Paws, Claws, and Magic Tales with the Fellowship of Fantasy. I’ve had my flash fiction published with Havok three times. And I just released my first children’s picture book!