This book has:
- An angry trans witch boy who would win Sarcastic Dude of the Year
- A hot fae fiancé who is an actual cinnamon roll
- The queer secondary cast of characters of your dreams
- Fae and witch magic and a long-held rivalry between the two
- Dragons
- Plot twists, usurpers, manipulations, intrigue, betrayal and lies
- My whole heart
Review:
“The Throne needs us. Both of us. It can’t wait any longer.” “Unfortunately,” I retort, words sharp as my tongue flicks against my teeth, “my biology has decreed that the Throne can kiss my ass.”
Ehem, if anyone’s looking for me, I’ll be in my room, creating a shrine to the god that is H.E. Edgmon and praying that they will send me the sequel to The Witch King before I spontaneously combust with overwhelming love for this first installment.
I have a hard time articulating my thoughts about this book because it was just so flawless? Usually, in fantasies there is this kind of balance—you either have an extremely awesome action-driven plot but the characterisation suffers and you have flat characters, or vice versa. But The Witch King executes everything so well that you are wholly immersed into a fantastical world with a bonkers magic system and rivalry between fae and witches with characters that feel like, at any moment, they could jump right into your world because they are so real. The many plot strings that are in this book are interweaved seamlessly which makes for a perfect reading experience.
Wyatt, the protagonist, is my spiritual soulmate. He’s such a complex character and deals with so much—the blame and grief he feels for his parents’ demise, the pain and confusion in his past before he transitioned that morphed into anger over time, feeling like his future doesn’t belong to him, hating and loving himself too much to think he could ever be someone to lead others, and so much more. Wyatt has layers upon layers and I’ve rarely seen a protagonist in a fantasy who is this fleshed-out and realistic without coming across as preachy or overwhelming. Instead, Wyatt is a relatable, sarcastic AF boy who just wants to live his life away from the responsibilities that threaten to crush him. From his dark moments where he wants to give up to forming alliances with the wrong people, gawping at his sexy fiancé, or getting up to some shenanigans with the King’s dragon, Wyatt is the most memorable character I’ve read about in ages.
With that in mind, all the secondary characters in The Witch King were super interesting—from Wyatt’s best friend Briar who joins him in Asalin, to Wyatt’s fiancé Emyr who I want to see in a wet t-shirt contest AND pour his heart to me in a beautiful meadow, I would happily read an entire series about every single one of these characters. All of Emyr’s friends and foes, Wyatt’s old acquaintances and new queer friends and allies held so much potential and intrigue that I cannot wait to see who shows up in future books.
The worldbuilding was also so smooth, including the magic system of the fae, Wyatt being able to see energy (also known as auras) because he’s a witch is incredibly detailed without ever coming across as info-dumping. Imagery of Asalin, and its beauty as well as glimpses of other…places (no spoilers) were described in such an easy manner that you could picture it in your mind clearly without losing any of its “magic”. Edgmon has this talent of making it all read like a place you’ve been to a million times before and still appreciate all its wonders.
Beyond the incredible worldbuilding, there is also the politics that come into play in the story. Edgmon says this in their author’s note, but I just want to highlight how Wyatt’s struggles as a witch—the way he is treated by people with both fear and derision, contempt and outright discrimination—mirrors how queer people struggle in the real world. I loved how the story explored not only Wyatt being trans but also being a witch and mated to a fae prince and what that means in the eyes of the people of Asalin who have long been in a stand-off between these two magical creatures. There are so many layers to the history of Asalin and the throne and I am itching to learn more about it in the coming books. I don’t want to spoil too much of the plot, but let’s just say that the twists, the intrigues, the vying for the throne and the villain(s) in this one will take your breath away. Whether you guess one trajectory of the story or five, chances are you will still be caught off guard by at least one betrayal or secret that no one could have seen coming—yet the clues were there all along for you to agonise over in future rereads.
All in all, I can’t recommend this book enough. If you’re a fan of diverse, immersive, and unputdownable YA fantasies, you need this book in your life. And if you’re like me and haven’t really been reading fantasy because you thought everything has been said and done already? Ohoh, think again and pick this book up. I promise, it’s worth it.
Combining expert storytelling with effortless worldbuilding, The Witch King is an unforgettable, unapologetically queer, and compelling first installment in what promises to be one of the most rewarding fantasy series of the decade.
The Witch King is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of June 1st 2021.
Will you be picking up The Witch King? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Wyatt would give anything to forget where he came from—but a kingdom demands its king.
In Asalin, fae rule and witches like Wyatt Croft…don’t. Wyatt’s betrothal to his best friend, fae prince Emyr North, was supposed to change that. But when Wyatt lost control of his magic one devastating night, he fled to the human world.
Now a coldly distant Emyr has hunted him down. Despite transgender Wyatt’s newfound identity and troubling past, Emyr has no intention of dissolving their engagement. In fact, he claims they must marry now or risk losing the throne. Jaded, Wyatt strikes a deal with the enemy, hoping to escape Asalin forever. But as he gets to know Emyr, Wyatt realizes the boy he once loved may still exist. And as the witches face worsening conditions, he must decide once and for all what’s more important—his people or his freedom.
