In her spellbinding narrative, The Buried King, Kilayla Pilon takes readers on an exhilarating journey through the complex themes of familial betrayal and alienation. The central plot revolves around Princess Elika and her brother, Silas, both entrapped in a dangerous game of survival against their ostensible father, Icear.

The saga unfolds with Elika, and Silas ensconced within the sanctuary of a forest camp, escaping the onslaught of their father. Icear, in his pursuit of absolute power, aims to extinguish any threat to his reign, mainly stemming from Elika’s intriguing magick. This world is imbued with a palpable division between those possessing magick, identifiable by their eyes, and ordinary citizens, thereby augmenting the stakes for our protagonists. Icear’s fear of Elika’s magick is not without reason, given its veneration since childhood, fueling rumors of her possibly being another’s progeny.

Throughout their ordeal, Pilon introduces elements of loyalty and friendship, embodied in characters like Ash, who plays an instrumental role in safeguarding Silas and Elika. The plot further thickens as Ash and Silas are abducted and transported to Eris, a bustling city under Icear’s rule. As Elika embarks on her daring quest to rescue her brother and friend, she encounters allies who aid her in infiltrating the fortified city.

Meanwhile, Ash and Silas endure harsh penalties, with Silas publicly chastised and ultimately succumbing to his inflicted wounds. This propels Elika into a wrathful confrontation with Icear. Armed with her magick and guided by the enigmatic Queen Velissa, who appears as a fox, Elika challenges her father. Velissa’s cryptic mantra, ‘find the truth,’ resonates deeply with Elika, driving her to seize the throne and embark on a journey to uncover her obscured past.

Pilon employs a unique narrative technique, shifting perspectives primarily between Elika and Ash. While providing depth, this method might pose a challenge to less vigilant readers. The narrative also flits between different timelines, and the mysterious visions from Queen Velissa can be disorienting. Despite these potential impediments, Pilon’s impressive imagination lends an extraordinary richness to the story.

Teasingly, Pilon leaves Elika’s true origin unresolved, hinting at a possible sequel, where readers might finally uncover the hidden truth. This suspenseful choice stirs up anticipation for Pilon’s future work, proving that The Buried King is a highly engaging tale worthy of any avid reader’s bookshelf.

Pages: 167 | ASIN : B0BK2DBP71