Jeff Wheeler has created a fun and raucous medieval fantasy world that draws on the Arthurian legend propagated during the Middle Ages. The Kingfountain series is not a story of Arthur, but instead incorporates elements of the old myths scattered throughout his narrative, which adds a bit of whimsy to his story.
Wheeler doesn’t write dark fantasy that has become so popular with writers like George R.R. Martin and Joe Abercrombie, nor is it classic fantasy, teeming with elves and dwarves. His tales are more character-driven, staying focused mainly on a singular point of view. This connects readers to those characters.
The Kingfountain series is told from two separate points of view, but these are distinctly split between the first three books and the last three books. There isn’t any jumping back and forth between characters.
Why you should read the Kingfountain series
While Wheeler has a few series that take place in the same world, each is set at a different point on the timeline. The Kingfountain series has its own distinct time and place, until it doesn’t. More on that later.
There are two series in this world that predate the Kingfountain series. The First Agentines series takes place centuries before Kingfountain, and the Poisoner of Kingfountain series follows the early life of a character established in the Kingfountain series, Ankarette Tryneowy.
Wheeler has some classic themes that he loves and excels at writing. His battles have some intensity, but he doesn’t drag them out too long. His stories tend to have some nice twists, some of which are obvious and some that aren’t so much.
His biggest strength is character development. The characters who are the focus of the story and those close to them are fleshed out gradually over time. It is easy to connect with them and to feel what they are feeling. As readers, you are pulling for these characters to succeed.
The one area where Wheeler seems to struggle is developing his world of magic. It has a place front and center in his tales, but in the Kingfountain series, it was often vague and inconsistent. Who had magic powers and who didn’t frequently seem random. Those with magic can use up all their reserves in various ways, but this is often inconsistent. How they replenish their reserves is also somewhat vague and sometimes, even nonsensical.
The most obvious way to replenish it is to engage in something calming. One character plays with dominoes, while others can fill up their reserves by resting or taking quiet walks in their favorite places. It is all very odd and ill-explained.
Still, Wheeler’s stories are fast-paced and entertaining. Each book contains a story arc and can be connected to a broader arc for the series. There is one particular arc in the last book of this series that just didn’t fit with the other books in this series. Without giving away a major plotline for book six, The Forsaken Throne, it is a bit unusual and unexpected, but it came off as rather self-indulgent. In his author’s notes at the end of book six, Wheeler discusses this rogue storyline and how excited he was about it, but some readers may not like it.
There are six books in the series. The first three are The Queen’s Poisoner, The Thief’s Daughter, and The King’s Traitor. While each has its own storyline, they combine to form a broader tale. The last three books are The Hollow Crown, The Silent Shield, and The Forsaken Throne. These take place more than a decade later and, just like the first three, have a self-contained story arc and one that is broader.
The two sets of three books then encompass an even broader arc that wraps at the end of the series.
These books are easy to read and won’t bog you down or take much time. They move quickly enough to keep your interest, but the books are overly lengthy. You will connect with and like the characters, and there are some cleverly subtle villains mixed in with the obvious ones.
Overall, Wheeler’s books are enjoyable, and the Kingfountain series is no different. They are a terrific change of pace if you are reading a lot of dark fantasy. Wheeler has sold a lot of books, and he has refined his craft well. Enjoy!
More books:
To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and Twitter account, sign up for our exclusive newsletter and check out our YouTube channel.