King of the Rising

by Kacen Callender

Overview

King of the Rising is the searing conclusion to an unflinching and powerful Caribbean-inspired fantasy series about colonialism, resilience, and defiance. 

A revolution has swept through the islands of Hans Lollik and former slave Loren Jannik has been chosen to lead the survivors in a bid to free the islands forever.

But the rebels are running out of food, weapons, and options. And as the Fjern inch closer to reclaiming Hans Lollik with every battle, Loren is faced with a choice that could shift the course of the revolution in their favor — or doom it to failure.

Praise for Islands of Blood and Storm:

"A powerful look at colonialism, oppression, and rebellion, and all that it can cost the individuals involved." —Library Journal (starred review)

"The book's absorbing setting, captivating lead, and relevant themes of race and class complement each other with alternating delicacy and savagery."—NPR Books

"King of the Rising puts readers firmly into the minds of Callender’s unforgettable characters as it answers a spine-tingling set of questions: At the end of the war, who will survive and who will rule?” —BookPage

Islands of Blood and Storm
Queen of the Conquered
King of the Rising

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316454940
Publisher:	Orbit
Publication date:	12/01/2020
Series:	Islands of Blood and Storm , #2
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	1,081,776
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Kacen Callender was born two days after a hurricane and was first brought home to a house without its roof. After spending their first eighteen years on St. Thomas of the US Virgin Islands, Kacen studied Japanese, Fine Arts, and Creative Writing at Sarah Lawrence College and received their MFA from the New School. Kacen is the author of the middle grade novel Hurricane Child and the young adult novel This Is Kind of an Epic Love Story.

Editorial Reviews

08/24/2020

The plodding second Caribbean-inspired historical fantasy in Callender’s Islands of Blood and Storm series (following Queen of the Conquered) turns the focus onto Loren Jannik, a former slave and the son of a slave owner. With all the Fjern colonizers of the island nation of Hans Lollik either dead or imprisoned, the indigenous islanders have seized control, but must immediately begin preparing for the inevitable arrival of more Fjerns coming to reclaim the land. With preparations for war underway, Loren contends with wavering trust among the revolutionaries; the unpredictable, power-hungry Sigourney Rose (the heroine of book one); and a possible traitor leaking the islanders’ plans to the Fjern. As the islanders are barraged with attacks from the Fjern, leaving them with dwindling resources, Loren is forced to consider who to trust and how his evolving magic could possibly help them win the war. As in the previous installment, the reader is somewhat trapped in the narrator’s mind, and the narrative momentum drags through long-winded expositional spiels and repetitive inner conflict. Even readers who enjoyed the first in the series will find this a slog. Agent: Beth Phelan, Gallt & Zacker. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

"Graphic action and violence; flawed protagonists; and a stark, storm-filled setting all combine into a riveting read. The second half of this duology is a powerful look at colonialism, oppression, and rebellion, and all that it can cost the individuals involved."—Library Journal

"Callender's heart-wrenching work is a story that refuses easy answers, trope saviors, or all-is-well endings. Lofty as it seems, if you imagine Hamlet and Agatha Christie's Ten Little Soldiers fused in a narrative that finds its soul from the pain of our cruelest histories, you'll have captured a piece of the powerful fantasy Callender has wrought in Queen of the Conquered."—Evan Winter, author of The Rage of Dragons on Queen of the Conquered

"A brilliant analysis of power and privilege set against an alternately beautiful and brutal background, you will root for Sigourney even as you question both her actions and motives. Searing and painful, Kacen Callender has managed to create a book that will stick with you long after the last page."—Justina Ireland, New York Times bestselling author of Dread Nation on Queen of the Conquered

"Kacen Callender depicts colonialism, rage and the terrible price of power with haunting, unflinching eloquence. Queen of the Conquered is a heart-stopping masterpiece."—Tasha Suri, author of Empire of Sand on Queen of the Conquered

"A fascinating exploration of how power corrupts and drives a person toward self-betrayal."—Kirkus (starred review) on Queen of the Conquered

"An ambitious, courageous, and unflinching novel that uncovers the rotten core of our colonial heritage and yet also celebrates the fierce resistance and heroic endurance of the most abused and exploited."—Kate Elliott, author of Black Wolves on Queen of the Conquered

"Callender's first adult novel draws race relations, conquest, magic, and politics into an imaginative, layered story that will keep readers twisting until the end. The author's personal experience growing up in St. Thomas lends to the rich setting and postcolonial themes."—Library Journal (starred review) on Queen of the Conquered

"An utterly compelling look at slavery, power, and complicity. Uncomfortable, heart rending, and utterly necessary."—Aliette de Bodard, Nebula Award-winning author on Queen of the Conquered

"From the very first paragraph, Callender's adult debut stuns. A complex and furious examination of colonialism, Queen of the Conquered is a storm of a novel as epic as Alexandre Dumas's The Count of Monte Cristo. I've been looking for this book half my life."—Tochi Onyebuchi, author of Beasts Made of Night on Queen of the Conquered

"Gripping and emotionally compelling; a stunning novel about power, privilege, and survival in a world where you must fight even after everything has been taken from you. If you can only read one book this year, make it Queen of the Conquered."—K. S. Villoso, author of The Wolf of Oren-Yaro on Queen of the Conquered

"Queen of the Conquered is intricate, powerful, and brilliant, with vivid worldbuilding, compellingly flawed characters, and a plot full of exciting action and creepy twists!"—Melissa Caruso, author of The Tethered Mage on Queen of the Conquered

"Sinks its teeth in early and forces the reader to confront privilege and revenge through an electrifying voice. With an unforgettable ending, Queen of the Conquered is one of the most refreshing fantasies you'll read this year. There is simply nothing else like it."—Mark Oshiro, author of Anger is a Gift on Queen of the Conquered

From the Publisher

★ 10/01/2020

Former slave Loren Jannik was kept under the thumb of his Fjern father and brother for all his life, but now revolution has begun to topple the islands of Hans Lollik. Chosen to lead the rebels, Loren is faced with a group that is running out of food and supplies, and divided by others that want results and decisions. Torn between his devotion to his people and his own doubts, he still lets the imprisoned Sigourney Rose live. They are tied together by their past roles and the power they both have to be inside others' heads. Led by characters that have their own agendas, this story goes in directions that may surprise readers, but the emotional impact will linger. Graphic action and violence; flawed protagonists; and a stark, storm-filled setting all combine into a riveting read. VERDICT The second half of this duology (after The Queen of the Conquered) is a powerful look at colonialism, oppression, and rebellion, and all that it can cost the individuals involved.—Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton

Library Journal