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Review by Mathew Bridle

4/3/2011

1 Comment

 
Mathew finished my book yesterday and he gave it 4 stars on Goodreads.com

I read this novel on the back of the Harry Potter books. Why do I mention this? Because my mind was away in another world of bickering teenage angst and dark lord this that and the others. King by Right is nothing of the sort. Magic is low key, more of a personal trait, and the hero is born to be king, kind of.
What we actually have is a future past: that is we have seen the world destroyed and then re-evolved into a medieval style world. I must admit that found the prologue a bit needless and would have been happy for it have been in a another realm altogether, that was until late in the story when it is referenced a few times – but that is just my personal view.
What I did enjoy was the story in itself, a very enjoyable yarn and even more so when I finally got myself away from the writing style of J.K. Rowling and into the style of Anna L. Walls. One thing is plain is that this is a first book. I’ll not dwell on writing as I’ve made many mistakes myself and if anyone thinks that they can write a novel and not make mistakes they are deluded and already living in a fantasy.
What Anna does a great job of is telling a story, I like the way that this unfolded without the key moments being predictable or the end result being overdrawn. The whole thing grew on me more and more and there is a high chance that at some date I’ll read it again.
On the whole the story is plausible, enjoyable and a good read, I actually enjoyed this more than some of the Potter books.
Congratulations Anna on a first outing well done. I look forward to reading more of which there is plenty.
1 Comment

Review by Dannye Williamsen, Breakthrough Bookstore

3/24/2011

1 Comment

 
Dannye Williamsen is the first person to request to review my book without my first offering or at least mentioning the fact, though I have had a couple simply post up a review and then tell me about it. But there are firsts for everything and this is one of them.

Review dated March 24, 2011 as seen on Amazon.com, Goodreads, as well as on the Breakthrough Bookstore website - http://www.selfpublishedauthorsmarketplace.com/html/spa_reviews.html - where you can find many other books of all sorts.

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When the moon was hit by an asteroid, the devastation that followed was catastrophic, not only to the very formation of the Earth but to its population. Billions were killed. Continents were reformed. Governments toppled. Nuclear waste spilled onto the land. Life eventually began again, but its society receded to a much earlier time.

King by Right of Blood and Might is at once a futuristic tale and a leap backwards into the political and social mores of medieval times--not necessarily the typical stage on which to play out a futuristic narrative, but Anna Walls carries it off with aplomb.

Prince Harris O'Aidyn, the central character, is a teenager thrust into the position of having to not only claim his crown but also regain his kingdom from those who had enslaved it. It is an evolutional journey. He must convince all the groups of people in his kingdom of Pennland as well as the kingdom of Carolinas to work together against the evil specter called Kain.

This may sound like an easy task, but the mutational effects of the nuclear waste over time brought out paranormal abilities in some, effectively segregating them and causing them to eventually become part of the fabric of fairy tales. Consequently, Prince Harris must break down both mental and physical walls separating the people. In his effort to accomplish this, he finds himself on a spiritual journey that proves essential to accomplishing the goals he has for his people.

This is a tale of determination, overcoming, and triumph, both physical and spiritual. Walls' adeptness at weaving together the elements in this story from the medieval patterns of their society to the paranormal to the spiritual evolution of Prince Harris takes the reader on a delightful ride.
1 Comment

Review by Terri Forehand

3/24/2011

0 Comments

 
Terry Forehand, from Writing and other ways into the heart of the matter...for kids - http://terri-forehand.blogspot.com/2011/02/book-review-king-by-right-of-blood-and.html - posted a great review on February 23, 2011

This book is the interesting and adventurous story of a world created thousands of years after a nuclear death of the old world. It has a long list of characters from the King and Queen of Pennland to their son, Harris, the Prince and a world full of unique beings the reader will meet. Each character has something to contribute to the new world as illness, anger, and both physical and emotional conflicts arise.



The plots are complex and well written depicting the life questions of the prince who will someday become king of the land. Poor Harris has no idea what that really means and sets off to find answers on his own. The storyline follows good and evil within the characters and their actions as the prince explores the new world and forms his own life values with those he encounters. It realistically depicts the characters and their mindset, their emotional and physical failures, and the healing that takes place on both levels. I found some places within the story that seemed to parallel Biblical examples, but I believe that was a personal feeling and not the intent of the author.



I enjoyed the story, although I have to admit I did get the long list of characters confused once or twice and had to reread to get them straight in my mind. That too is a personal issue I have when I am reading and reviewing outside of the normal genres that I write or read.

Keep in mind that my lack of focus does not take away from the fact that Ms. Walls is an excellent storyteller and writes with eloquence and style.  I think young adults/ adults will find the book facinating. This story will resonate in the readers heart long enough to wet their appetite for the next book and next world in Ms Wall's rich imagination.
0 Comments

Review by Frank Fiore

2/20/2011

0 Comments

 
As seen on Amazon - posted on September 25, 2009
Frank gave me 5 stars
I don't know how I missed this - sorry Frank

Imagine our world racked by natural disasters, earthquakes, tidal waves and radiation from reactors and nuclear waste spread by hurricanes across the globe. Add to that a global winter that caused glaciers to cover the earth wiping away the last vestiges of civilization - pretty much the worst parts of the Bible.

Ten thousand generations later, mutations developed on earth with strange and wonderful powers. Yet people survived and handed down stories of things that once were. Anna Walls book, `King By Right of Blood and Might', is one such story.

Anna's book is a coming of age story of a young prince who has to learn about himself, his country, his family - and above all - a great king. Like most Prodigal Sons stories, Prince Harris Penn must leave his home and country to learn the things that will make him a great leader when he returns to take command of his kingdom.

His adventures and education range far and wide. He learned to train his own warhorse and became a corporal in his foster father's army under the command of his foster sister. While stationed at one of the posts that guarded the southern border, the post was raided in an attempt to kill him. This event is pivotal in his development as an adult.

Who would be searching for him and why? His search for an answer brings him into contact with desert nomads, Shapeshifters and Truthsayers, all of which help in his discovery of himself and his destiny.

This a good first book from a new author who is just feeling out her steps into the world of fantasy fiction.
0 Comments

Review by Larry Buchanan

2/20/2011

0 Comments

 
As seen on Amazon - posted on January 15, 2011
Larry gave me 5 stars

I don't ususally enjoy this genre of fiction, but King By Right of Blood and Might captivated me. Finally, a book with characters of strength and courage, not wimpy, disfunctional like so many other books these days. Gotta see the movie.
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Review by Shellflower

2/20/2011

0 Comments

 
As seen on Amazon.com on January 2, 2011
She gave me 4 stars

King by Right of Blood and Might is an epic tale of a young man who was born a prince, yet was forced by circumstance to fight for his Kingdom rather than easily inherit it. This intricately-woven tale takes the prince from the palace that has kept him prisoner for most of his life out into the world that he has been aching to experience. What he finds is a shock. The Kingdom of Penn is not much of a kingdom at all; in fact, it's been taken over by bandits ruled by the evil Kain who has also gained control of the queen, Harris' mother. As the truth unfolds, Harris finds that his love for the Great Mother is rewarded by her blessing and he works to unite his kingdom and free its people from slavers, poverty, and Kain's grip of power. With the help of healers and truthsayers, shape-shifters, and nomads he wins over along the way, there is plenty of fascinating paranormal action and adventure to keep any reader turning the pages. Set in post, post, post-apocalypse America, this enchanting tale reads more like a Medieval adventure story than a post-apocalypse survival novel. I was slightly disappointed to find this out, as I am a huge apocalypse novel fan, but perhaps a prequel will come out to quench my curiosity over what happened just after the great disaster. I loved the healing with herbs and magic, the selkies, and the Mother Goddess religion in this story. The nomads were interesting, as well, reminiscent of Ghegis Khan and his people and also the Native Americans. Overall, this is a fun read that would suit young adults as well as adults interested in fantasy, knights, and adventure. It is also ripe for prequels and sequels, which I hope Ms. Walls plans on writing.
0 Comments

Review by Amos Lassen

2/20/2011

0 Comments

 
Learning to Rule
posted February 8, 2011 - http://amoslassen.wordpress.com/2011/02/08/king-by-right-of-blood-and-might/

We Americans love royalty but I wonder how we would feel if we had a King instead of a president. Be that as it may. We do love to read about how one becomes royal and here is just the book for that. It is the story of a young prince, Harris, who has to learn how to run his country from others aside from his father. The king, Aidyn, his father, has closed himself off from others and he has been this way since the death of his father and while he was set away, his country suffered. The infrastructure collapsed and citizens were either done away with or taken away. The king knew that he could not teach his son and so he sent him to live with another king in the south and it was there that he learned to build an army and go home to reclaim his country. His biggest task was to hold the country together. As he tried, his mother went mad and the young king fell in love.

Our king faced problems and he must find his way to lead his people and secure his country. This is a tale of medieval characters that are set in the future so I suppose we classify this as fantasy. The author took the story of a king and set in a world where an asteroid nearly erased humanity as it brought about a nuclear winter that killed thousands of people. This story is set in North America in a country known as Pennland under the rule of an inept king, Aidyn, father of Harris who is soon to take the throne. When he does come to power, his country is decimated but he is determined to bring it back to what it once was. He has challenges ahead of him, the chief of which is Kain, an enemy who has convinced all to follow his lead.

This is quite a story and the idea that the price who should have inherited the kingdom but instead had to fight for it is a novel approach. Kain in all of his evil gained control of the kingdom through Harris’s mother, Harris is devout and he will restore his kingdom. And he does just that but I am not letting on how. You should want to read this charming story which is beautifully written.

A word of warning—it takes a while to get into the story but once you do you will not want to stop reading. For a first novel this is amazing and KI cannot recommend it highly enough.
0 Comments

Review by Coquille Fleur

1/2/2011

0 Comments

 
As posted on Goodreads.  Coquille gave this book 4 stars.

King by Right of Blood and Might is an epic tale of a young man who was born a prince, yet was forced by circumstance to fight for his Kingdom rather than easily inherit it. This intricately-woven tale takes the prince from the palace that has kept him prisoner for most of his life out into the world that he has been aching to experience. What he finds is a shock. The Kingdom of Penn is not much of a kingdom at all, in fact, it's been taken over by bandits ruled by the evil Kain who has also gained control of the queen, Harriss' mother. As the truth unfolds, Harriss finds that his love for the Great Mother is rewarded by her blessing and he works to unite his kingdom and free its people from slavers, poverty, and Kain's grip of power. With the help of healers and truthsayers, shape-shifters, and nomads he wins over along the way, there is plenty of fascinating paranormal action and adventure to keep any reader turning the pages. Set in post, post, post-apocalypse America, this enchanting tale reads more like a Medieval adventure story than a post-apocalypse survival novel. I was slightly disappointed to find this out, as I am a huge apocalypse novel fan, but perhaps a prequel will come out to quench my curiosity over what happened just after the great disaster. I loved the healing with herbs and magic, the selkies, and the Mother Goddess religion in this story. The nomads were interesting, as well, reminiscent of Ghegis Khan and his people as well as the Native Americans. Overall, this is a fun read that would suit young adults as well as adults interested in fantasy, knights, and adventure. It is also ripe for prequels and sequels, which I hope Ms. Walls plans on writing.
0 Comments

Review by fdfgdfg from http://srtertger.obolog.com/ (http://srtertger.obolog.com/review-king-by-right-blood-and-might-753246) 18 July 2010

7/18/2010

0 Comments

 
King by Right of Blood and Might, Anna L. Walls, 2008, ISBN 9781434368669

Most stories about knights and castles take place in the distant past. This one is set in the distant future.

Humanity is nearly wiped out by a large asteroid that strikes the moon, and breaks it into many pieces, sending the pieces toward Earth. If the initial earthquakes and tidal waves don't kill people by the millions, the later nuclear winter does.

Thousands of years later, eastern North America (where this is set) has reverted to a medieval level. Harris is the son of Aidyn, King of Pennland. Aidyn doesn't know (or seem to care) about conditions in his kingdom, and won't let Harris get on a horse to find out. Aidyn spends all day in his office, doing whatever monarchs do, and Lucida, his mother, rarely comes out of her rooms. Harris is very bored.

As a teenager, Harris is sent to the neighboring kingdom of Carolinas, to learn how to be a ruler. After several years of fighting battles, and recovering from a severe sword injury, Harris gathers an army and is determined to reclaim his kingdom.

Town by town, and district by district, Harris finds utter devastation. Most places are nearly deserted, because everyone has been enslaved, or killed, by a barbarian/rebel leader named Kain. Harris and the army spend time in each place, helping to rebuild. He shows the people that he is for real, instead of merely ordering them to obey them. Even then, some people are very reluctant to accept him as king. When he gets home, he finds more utter devastation. Aidyn is dead, poisoned by Lucida, who has descended into full-blown insanity. The castle itself is beyond filthy and disgusting. It is as if a combination of an invading barbarian horde, and the ultimate in wild and drunken parties, happened several months ago, and no one has bothered to clean up. Will Harris be able to remove Kain, the cause of all this, once and for all?

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Review by Samantha Bottoms

7/12/2010

0 Comments

 
11 May 2010

This is Ms. Walls first published manuscript. It tells the story Harris O’Aidyn from his childhood throughout his adulthood as he learns how to be a king and a ruler of his kingdom which was Pennland. Harris was the prince of Pennland who became the king after his father was murdered by his mother. King Aidyn sent his son, Prince Harris, to live with King Carroll who was the King of Carolinas so that Prince Harris would learn how to become a king while also getting to know his betroth, Princess Kandy. King Carroll had his third son, Prince Jon, come to stay with King Aidyn for a time while Prince Aidyn was learning what it was that he needed to learn to become a successful king and ruler.

Now to be honest this book was rather hard for me to get completely into but once I did after the first three or four chapters, it was hard to put down. Ms. Walls takes you on a tour of the fantasy world, aka your imagination, like no one that I have ever read has done before her. She teaches of love, betrayal, loyalty, and faith in everyone of her chapters. I like books with happy endings and that could possibly become trilogy or more. King by Right of Blood and Might could definitely be one of those books that have other books that come after it and it has a happy ending. 

King Aidyn was a prisoner of his own castle and his kingdom had been run down and ruined by Kain and many others so until Prince Harris went to King Carroll, he knew nothing about how to be a king or a even a husband. King Carroll taught Prince Harris how to be a great warrior, king, ruler, and husband. Prince Jon was sent back to his father by Queen Lucida, Prince Harris’ mom, with a fine box quilted with leather and embossed with the royal crest that held the royal scepter, a short staff of intricately decorated gold with the royal crest carved out of ivory and inlaid at one end. Next to it was a heavy ring - the king’s signet ring. Heavy felt held everything securely in place. This fine box and the treasures within it were to be taken by Prince Jon back to his father, King Carroll, to be passed on to Prince Harris. Queen Lucida then sent Prince Jon with her maid, Daniella, through a secret passage with instructions given to Daniella to kill Prince Jon and to return home. Daniella then led Prince Jon through the secret passage way and told him of Queen Lucida instructions and begged him to take her safely home before he returned safely to his home, the Carolinas. Thus, Prince Jon did help Daniella get home safely and he then returned to his home safely as well.      Meanwhile Prince Harris was in the military as a Corporal with Princess Sorsha, King Carroll’s oldest daughter, as his commanding officer. They had been attacked, specifically Prince Harris and because of Prince Harris, by Kain’s people. Kain was Queen Lucida’s true love that she wanted to be with and eventually killed herself after giving birth to his child, going insane, and being rejected by Kain. Thus, to keep King Carroll’s people safe, Prince Harris who was by this time was King Harris, decided to take off towards home to get his kingdom back under his control and safe once again. There were many trails, wars, trickery, and the such as King Harris started to take over his kingdom and to rule it properly.     

King Harris became allies with the lords of the many districts of his kingdom. He also became allies with Desert Nomads, Truth Sayers, Healers, Speakers, Shape Shifters, Watchers, Farmers, Ranchers, and many more. Everyone pulled together to help King Harris to get all of the districts in Pennland pulled together, functioning, and safe again after a lot of injuries, time, death, and the such. Finally, though in the end the good won out over the evil.     

King Harris was finally able to be reunited with his betroth, Princess Kandy, and they had a beautiful wedding. Their castle and lands were being remodeled, updated, functioning, and safe again in a very royal style. All of Pennland’s districts were also remodeled, updated, and safe again while also functioning. The Kingdom of Pennland was beginning to flourish at the end of Ms. Walls’ book and I am hoping to see another book or two coming from the ending of this book, King by Right of Blood and Might, that tells the stories of King Harris’ and Queen Kandy’s children. I loved this book and I will continue to recommend it to others to read. I love Ms. Walls’ style of writing as well.
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