Altethlon Chronicles A Compelling Read

The Altethon Chronicles is an enrapturing fantasy novel written by Zee Gorman. The book features Nikolas, a rebel leader who makes a powerful enemy by capturing the future king of Ubion, only to set him free.

Princess Ximia is a spirited young woman with a strong rebellious streak, whose sole motivation seems to be to do anything different than conventional wisdom would dictate that the daughter of King Fazhab should be doing. Fazhab has trouble figuring out women (don't we all, Your Magesty?) but his youngest daughter is particularly vexing. He is at his wit's end to determine the best way to break her. In that regard, early in this book a more apt title might have been the Misadventures of Ximia. How long would the king's patience will be tested before he gives her some serious consequences?

That turns out when the king's forces capture his adversary, Nikolas, who is supposed to be executed. Overcome by curiosity, Ximia goes to his cell, and finds him barely alive, chained to the floor, drugged to the point of unconsciousness. The princess is moved to see if the skills she has gained as an Ancient Dark Medic apprentice have advanced enough to be able to revive him. Of course, she is successful in that endeavor, which affords Nikolas the opening he needs to escape a painful execution.

During this brief interaction, the seeds of love are sewn. Unfortunately, Ximia is led to believe that in his escape attempt Nikolas was killed by the king's forces. The reality is that he escapes and goes into hiding, only to find out that the princess married the Lord General of her father's military.

Years go by and the two advance in stature, until both are leading their respective armies, and it was inevitable that their paths would cross.

There are many subplots and twists that make the Altethlon Chronicles a compelling read. The stormy marriage with Lord General D'Moore, which kicks off in rocking fashion with the general forcing his new wife to have sex with him, hardens the princess, compelling her to enter the military academy, where she emerges as a Dark Knight. Her desire to buck the expectations of her father leads her to study the art of ancient dark medicine, under the toutelage of an eccentric hermit who figures into the intrigue at the end of this book in a real way.

Then there is the mysterious force that is raiding the kingdom, killing people, destroying property but no one can seem to figure out what exactly it is, or how it is doing its dirty deeds.

For a debut novel, Zee Gorman has acquitted herself exceedingly well. Purchase Altethlon Chronicles and you will finish the book longing for more!