A warlock in a cursed kingdom by Nathan Taylor

Immediately following on from the Aurealis Award nominated The Non-Magical Declan Moore by Nathan Taylor, A warlock in a cursed kingdom finds Declan Moore in the kingdom of Vedmark, where Ava has left him. It is a land of myths and legends, a land where eagles soar overhead and where a demon prowls in the forest. Declan is a warlock but has no notion of how to use his power and no one in the kingdom wants to know him or teach him. However, he is determined to stop the Fatesmiths and rescue his friends. His country Euryma needs him.

I picked this up at once after reading the first book as I wanted to find out what had happened to Declan and his friends. (It is important that the reader starts with the first in the series as it is a direct continuation of the action and characters from the first book.) The reader is taken on a thrilling ride as Declan finally finds someone to teach him his powers. Meanwhile Ava has much to do both in Vedmark and Euryma, and readers will learn about her background and magical abilities. Leading members of the Kings College are slow to realise the danger that their country is in and find that the countryside is being destroyed.

I enjoyed A Warlock in a Cursed Kingdom. Taylor builds a world that is complex and magic that is unique. There are many twists and turns in the book and a stunning surprise at the end which will have readers avidly waiting for the next in the series.

Themes: Fantasy, Magic, Coming of age, Witches and wizards.

Pat Pledger