The Kingdom of Liars (#1)
In this brilliant debut fantasy, a story of secrets, rebellion, and murder are shattering the Hollows, where magic costs memory to use, and only the son of the kingdom’s despised traitor holds the truth.
Michael is branded a traitor as a child because of the murder of the king’s nine-year-old son, by his father David Kingman. Ten years later on Michael lives a hardscrabble life, with his sister Gwen, performing crimes with his friends against minor royals in a weak attempt at striking back at the world that rejects him and his family.
In a world where memory is the coin that pays for magic, Michael knows something is there in the hot white emptiness of his mind. So when the opportunity arrives to get folded back into court, via the most politically dangerous member of the kingdom’s royal council, Michael takes it, desperate to find a way back to his past. He discovers a royal family that is spiraling into a self-serving dictatorship as gun-wielding rebels clash against magically trained militia.
What the truth holds is a set of shocking revelations that will completely change the Hollows, if Michael and his friends and family can survive long enough to see it.
Reviews
“An excellent fantasy debut, with engaging worldbuilding and a good mix between action and character. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, and look forward to following Nick’s sure-to-be lengthy writing career.”Brandon Sanderson, Bestselling author of Mistborn, The Stormlight Archive, and The Skyward Series
“An obvious strength of this novel is Martell’s worldbuilding prowess as well as his utilization of magic, which is subtle but powerful […] An impressive fantasy debut that creates a solid foundation for (hopefully) a much larger narrative to come.”
“[A] taut, clever debut [...] This smart, briskly told high fantasy entertains all the way until the unexpected end.”
"Intriguing and fascinating."
“For all the right reasons, THE KINGDOM OF LIARS resonated with Scott Lynch’s Gentlemen Bastards sequence, Joe Abercrombie’s First Law, and Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn novels, from the world, Domet, and the magic respectively […] an immensely absorbing fantasy debut.“
“THE KINGDOM OF LIARS is a tale of family, loyalty and leaving a legacy that none shall forget. This is certainly a book that you won’t be able to put down, and will linger with you long after you’ve read the last page.”
“Martell’s portrayal of his protagonist’s growth, from a cocksure chancer to a mature adult sobered by his discoveries, is just as impressive as the twisty plot.”
"A full cast brings a fantasy epic to life, replete with sound effects and music. Michael has been branded a traitor for the sins of his father and finds himself struggling to survive in the Hollows, a land where the price for using magic is memories. Every character is given a unique and lively voice. The story races forward, and twists are punctuated with sound effects, all scored with a subtle soundtrack. Action sequences unfold like a movie, with dramatic moments being given special attention. Michael's story becomes an explosive performance that's remarkably different from other versions of the story. This is ideal for newcomers and series fans alike."Audio File Magazine (Proclaiming Martell as winner of the Earphones Award)
“THE KINGDOM OF LIARS is a pretty impressive debut release [...] an exciting, action-focused fantasy thriller with intriguing mystery elements included too [...] Martell is an author whose career I’ll be watching.”
“An enthralling debut that melded intriguing mysteries, shocking revelations, costly magic, and deeply strong familial theme into its narrative."
"[THE KINGDOM OF LIARS] is for fans of epic fantasy who’re looking for a new spin on magic and a whole helping of mystery."
“Nick Martell is poised to become a promising and inspiring powerhouse in the fantasy genre.”
"There were so many interesting plotlines introduced and while most were resolved, their resolution led to more questions and mysteries that I look forward to delving into with the next installment of this trilogy."
“This is what Game of Thrones would look like, if it had a sense of an moral compass and heroism.”
"THE KINGDOM OF LIARS is an incredible, compelling, and deeply exciting novel."
“A fast-moving first-person story of magic, danger and skulduggery.”
“It’s an epic fantasy series, full of magic, politics, and the quest for the truth.”
“Martell does a good job of blending politics and mysteries into the plot […] a good fantasy debut.”
“Brilliant fantasy debut.”
"The story itself was so exciting, the characters so well written, that this is one of the stories you just can’t get enough of. I can’t wait to see how this story continues."
“A superb fantasy debut.”Adeel Reads and Reviews
"The world-building, character development, and diversity just made this such an amazing fantasy novel."
"This is an excellent debut from Martell who has created a unique world, mysterious characters, his own law system and a deep and yet, undefined completely magical system."
“A symphony of loyalty, greed, family, and betrayal set in an innovative culture!”Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Tempests and Slaughter
“A richly rewarding fantasy that seethes with mysteries, fuzed with a mindscrew of a magic system. This, dear readers, is the good stuff.”Jeremy Szal, author of Stormblood
“A roaringly good romp full of intrigue and mystery. Marvellous fun.”Edward Cox, author of The Song of the Sycamore
“With a smartly plotted story, great world-building, flawed but fascinating characters and plenty of mystery, THE KINGDOM OF LIARS is a terrific debut.”James Islington, author of The Shadow of What Was Lost, author of The Licanius Trilogy