The action comes thick and fast, but so too does the humour. The world’s a new place, and Saga and its members are memories of the old ways, the way things used to be – which provides ample opportunity for plot twists, world building, and of course, madness and mayhem, in this rip-roaring rock’n’roll headbanger from debut author Nicholas Eames. Since there last circuit, everything has changed. But every star fades with time, and the five members of the band have retired. Golden Gabe the charismatic frontman, Clay ‘Slowhand’ Cooper the ever-reliable warrior, Moog the magnificent wizard, Matrick Skulldrummer the loveable rogue, and Ganelon the killer. Saga was once the greatest mercenary band to tour the Heartwyld. “I know, right? Who the fuck rides a manticore? Those things are dangerous! Well, I don’t need to tell you.” There’s even one guy – I shit you not – who rides a manticore into battle!” And most of these mercs aren’t even in real bands! They just hire a bunch of nameless goons to do their fighting while they paint their faces and parade around with shiny swords and fancy armour. ‘Kids these days…they’re obsessed with mercenaries, Clay. But if I had to sum Kings of the Wyld in one sentence: They don’t make ‘em like this anymore. THE UGLY TRUTH: Good old-fashioned fantasy heroes, the loud, the proud, and never to be cowed, knocking back whiskies in a sticky-floored, dim-lit dive bar, moshing with every monster known to Dungeons & Dragons all whilst Terry Pratchett hosts a lock-in of Rock-n-f***ing-Roll tribute bands belting out ear melting hits better than the original act ever did on stage, because they’re doing it for the love of the music, and they love what they do. Though, and in favour of fairness, if I had to (nit) pick a downside to this cracking debut, it’d be elements of info dumping early on – but don’t let that stop you reading this story, as I’ll explain why it didn’t bother me below in the main review. THE BAD: It had to end? Seriously, I have one hell of a book hangover after this. THE GOOD: Larger-than-life heroes kicking ass and (re)taking their names as the greatest mercenary band to tour the Wyld more monsters than a Dungeons & Dragons careers’ fair a high stakes adventure of friends, fiends and f*** ups more heavy hitting battles than a greatest hits collection and a hall of fame page-turning performance to make the Bat Outta Hell sit back, buckle up, and hold on for the god-damned ride of its life.
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