Jenn Lyons (2019)

Synopsis:

When destiny calls, there's no fighting back.

Kihrin grew up in the slums of Quur, a thief and a minstrel's son raised on tales of long-lost princes and magnificent quests. When he is claimed against his will as the missing son of a treasonous prince, Kihrin finds himself at the mercy of his new family's ruthless power plays and political ambitions.

Practically a prisoner, Kihrin discovers that being a long-lost prince is nothing like what the storybooks promised. The storybooks have lied about a lot of other things, too: dragons, demons, gods, prophecies, and how the hero always wins.

Then again, maybe he isn't the hero after all. For Kihrin is not destined to save the world.

He's destined to destroy it.

Taken from the publisher's website

Review: Morally Offensive (O)

I know a family that talks a lot about poetics. Their concept of poetics plays very well into what we are trying to do with this website. There are good poetics and there are bad poetics. You are what you read, right? The Ruin of Kings is an example of a bad poetic done very well (as in, the worst kind of poetic that you could let your child be exposed to).

A bad poetic done well entices the reader to want to engage in sinful behavior because it is written in an enjoyable and easy way.

This book is very well written. The story is interesting, unique and well thought out, the world building is fantastic, and it is a quick read because it is very well paced. Oh, and there are dragons. Who doesn't love dragons?

Sadly, it is also mainly filled with material that is contrary to church teaching.

If you would not let your child watch or read Game of Thrones, (which hint you should not let your child do) you should not let them read this book. There is violence, torture, murder incest, fornication, homosexuality, profanity, demonic rituals... The list goes on. Name a sin and it is probably in there.

It further goes into social justice territory where it demonizes those who have opposing views to the authors especially concerning sexual orientation, (essentially if you don't have the opinion that everyone should be free to have sex with whomever they want to, there is something wrong with you).

There are good poetics out there. We just need to read about them, share them with our friends, and promote them. Want a book that has fantastic world building, is well-paced and also contains dragons? Read The Hobbit. Better yet, read it aloud to your children with different voices and inflections. Make them love reading, and make them love reading good books.

Poetics are not just books by the way. The movies you watch, the music you listen to, or the play you attend at the community theatre are all examples of poetics. We are a reflection of what we consume. So consume good things and share them with others. Together we can change the culture so that violence, sex and greed don't sell, but virtues too.

There has never been a better time to cozy up with a good book than right now.

Love in the time of Corona...

Or other such books. Happy Reading!