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Abigail Gildersleeve has been writing stories since she was in the second grade. Her love of fantasy and science fiction also began early and was later expressed through her strong interest in folklore and literature while she earned dual degrees in History and English Writing. Abigail enjoys spending time with her family and friends, working with the family horses, and going to the movies with her husband, Johan. She resides in beautiful northern New Jersey.
Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite
Set in a land called Ainosia, Queen Aurora of Aranyhon has to find a worthy successor as the threats from her foes are lurking closer - Agron, ruler of Morkslott on the east and Jedah, the sorceress queen of Agorled from the north. A mysterious boy named Amon, who has no memories of his past and who is a talented apprentice of Veradella, Aurora’s friend and eccentric witch, holds the future of both Aranyhon and all of Ainosia in his hands. Kingdom of the Sun: Rise of a King is the first installment of an exciting saga by A. Gildersleeve.
What I love the most about this book is the length of the story. While it is not necessarily short, it is not that long either compared to other fantasy books out there. Perhaps 'comfortable' is the appropriate word to describe the length of its chapters and the book as a whole. The second strength of A. Gildersleeve’s fantasy story is the characterization. Each character, whether main characters like Amon and Aurora, or secondary characters like Marvino and Phober, are very well-rounded. Readers will enjoy Amon’s journey in discovering his magical ability. I found reading his participation in the Aranyhon’s tournament entertaining. I truly enjoyed his encounter with the shillykork, the round and fuzzy creature, which is my favorite ethereal being in the story. What’s more, the pacing of the plot is fast but not rushed.
Overall, a solid and a fairly quick read; it is definitely a great start for this epic fantasy saga. It can easily be enjoyed by both young adult and mature fantasy fans, even younger readers. I look forward to reading the next installment and getting to know the characters more, especially Amon.
