Yosyph is a developmentally disabled, mixed-race man who is mute–in public–in this high fantasy abounding in metaphors about following God’s guidance instead of one’s own understanding. In private, Yosyph works with his adopted innkeeper dad to set up a rebellion against the oppressive, corrupt rule of Lansimetsa’s queen. He has the ability to walk unnoticed almost anywhere. That and his guise as a half-wit serving boy enable him to be an excellent spy.
He has the ability to walk unnoticed almost anywhere.
Halavant is a spoiled, arrogant prince who is impatient to turn eighteen and take the throne from his mother. The queen hates his fiancee and orders the highest general to arrange a hit squad on her.
As Yosyph serves the general in his dad’s inn, Yosyph hears that assassination plot as well as other horrific plots. Disguised as the Yorel, a mythical rescuer of people and shadow walker, Yosyph rescues the woman who fights him every step of the way. She insists that she is engaged to the wonderful prince and those soldiers can’t possibly be out to kill her. He ends up needing to drag her everywhere to keep her safe.
The fiancee is a strong character. She is excessively chatty and intrusive of Yosyph’s constant silence, but she is also logical and willing to face reality when she is exposed to truth.
As he’s carting the fiancee around, the leaders of the rebellion meet in a farmhouse. Yosyph comes up with a plan that will be grueling and dangerous. And the prince’s fiancee wants to go with him.
Yosyph comes up with a plan that will be grueling and dangerous.
I enjoyed much about this book, from the excellent writing to the full world and history displayed as well as the exciting plot to the interesting characters. I am looking forward to the next book.
I especially enjoyed Yosyph’s thought life as he contemplates the presence of God and his personal history of being raised a slave on a pirate ship. Having tried to learn sign language, his constant finger spelling intrigued me.
If you dislike scenes where God is talking with a character (which I usually do, but it worked in this book for me), then you might object to such scenes in this book. I cannot think of what else in the novel might cause consternation, unless it’s a bit of magic. What magic there is comes as genetic traits and training. There is no chanting or invoking of demons.
The book is for adults but suitable for teens down to thirteen or twelve.
Ratings
Heat: None, though Yosyph blushes from time to time.
Violence: Quite a lot. There is war, torture, beatings, and a trepanning. Nothing is graphic, though.
Profanity: None
The King’s Trial is available at Amazon.
Lelia Rose Foreman homeschooled her three boys for a total of fourteen years. They survived. She writes Christian science fiction. Under the name of Rose Foreman, she also writes general market fantasy adventure with her oldest son, Josh. The first of these is The Scarred King: Exile.
CIRCUS PHANTASM by Naomi P. Cohen
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