In this first book of the Legend of Tal series, A King’s Bargain, I strive for a similar effect through the veiled and competing stories surrounding the protagonist, Tal Harrenfel, and the world he fights to save. As readers, we know this world-story will influence our beloved protagonist at some point, and it grants each individual telling all the more poignancy. One fantastic example of this is The Kingkiller Chronicle, where a greater story beyond Kvothe’s journey is revealed in pieces through the stories told by characters like Skarpi. Not only does the series pay homage to fantasy classics like Lord of the Rings and The Wheel of Time, but it’s brimming with interweaving tales that are essential to the characters and the plot.Īs a long-time reader, I’ve always loved the myths within fantasy worlds, but most of all when they’ve not only fleshed out the cultures, but the story and cast at hand. Legend of Tal is, at its heart, a story about stories. If you like The Wheel of Time, The Dragonbone Chair, or The Stormlight Archive, you’ll love the captivating world of LEGEND OF TAL! Name of the Wind meets Witcher in A KING’S BARGAIN, an intertwining sword and sorcery adventure and coming of age tale.

Now Tal must live up to his legend, and Garin discover his own power, to survive the forces pitted against them… Soon, they become embroiled in the plots of monarchs, on the frontlines of an ancient war, and at the mercy of a fabled sorcerer. When Tal receives a mysterious visitor, both he and Garin find themselves thrown into a sojourn across the kingdom. Running from the deeds of his past, he retreats to his home village under a different name and meets an unlikely companion: Garin, a village boy who dreams of making a name for himself and seeing the world beyond their sleepy town. I enjoyed it quite a bit, even though it does very much include many tropes that you can find in a whole host of epic fantasies from time. Old Hero takes Young Apprentice on Coming of Age Journey to kill an Evil Magician on The King’s Orders. But though he’s declared a hero by his King, Tal has never claimed to be more than a man…Īfter three decades of fighting warlocks, killing mythical beasts, and hunting enchanted treasure, Tal has had enough. This was the sort of epic fantasy that I enjoyed reading when I was young. The legend of Tal Harrenfel is sung across the Westreach – and with each telling, the tales grow taller.

A King's Bargain by J.D.L. Rosell