Title: The Kings’ Despair
Author: Ed Cannon
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ASIN: B0D1MZ9GPS
Pages: 688
Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy
Reviewed by: Christina Avina

Read Book Review

It is often said that life is naught but a game, one in which people are the players and
each decision or moment in a person’s life is the next move on the board. For those
who look at life from a more religious or spiritual mindset, humanity is not the player but
the pawn, and those that a person chooses to worship, be it a god or other powerful
being, are the true players. Yet the question remains: what happens when mankind gets
tired of being pawns and decides to become players themselves?

A question such as this leads to The Kings’ Despair, the third and final book in author
Ed Cannon’s fantasy series. The story follows Sillik, a hero who has been on a mission
for vengeance against those who conspired to end his father’s life. As the final epic war
looms over this world, Sillik must gather his allies and face his enemies head on, just as
the gods of light and darkness use humanity to take control over the world and face one
another in a battle of good versus evil.

Manifesting as the epic conclusion to the iconic theme of the hero’s journey, this novel
does a remarkable job of capturing the magic and power of this world the author has
created. The sheer level of mythology and world building which went into this novel, let
alone the series, was remarkable to see come to life on the page. The detail and the
imagery found in the author’s writing style allowed the city of Illicia and the world to
really come to life, and the way the author was able to infuse new characters and story
arcs into the series without sacrificing the big payoffs for those who have been invested
in this narrative from the beginning was incredible to see play out.

For anyone who has ever found themselves searching for a means of escape, or a
means of getting lost in a fictional world, especially those who enjoy fantasy driven
world-building with sword and sorcery style storytelling, will instantly love this book. The
fact the author was able to give new readers a chance to get invested in the story while
also welcoming back a loyal readership who has followed Sillik’s journey throughout this
series is phenomenal. The shocking twists and turns in the story, especially the fate of
both the city and its leader Sillik, will stay with readers long after the book reaches its
epic conclusion. Especially when it comes to the complex relationship and actions
between Sillik and the gods themselves, which reaches a shocking conclusion.