Book Review: Reckoning by Kerry Wilkinson

Hello, Fellow Book Worms,

  In 2015 St. Martins Press sent me an advanced reader copy of Kerry Wilkinson's latest novel, Renegade, for review. It was the second book in the Silver Blackthorn Trilogy, a dystopia-futuristic, young adult series set in England. Even though I did not read the first book, Wilkinson's writing was excellent enough to catch me up on the story thus far. After reading Renegade (my review can be found in my blog archives) I was left wanting more. I decided to track down the first book, and found it on Book Outlet at a very reasonable price.

 

  Reckoning begins an exciting and often heartbreaking coming of age story of Silver Blackthorn. She is an ordinary (to herself at least) girl living a quiet life in the post-war English village of Martindale. The world has drastically changed since her parents were children. Many wars have ravaged the world, and countries have fought against one another for years. King Victor has risen, almost god-like, to power in England, and has begun to rebuild the lives of his subjects. The kingdom is separated into four different Realms with all meeting at a hub in Middle Kingdom, a city of towering buildings. Here is the center of politics, trade, and more with each Realm represented by four enormous towers. 

  As tribute to King Victor, a Reckoning is held. During the Reckoning several teenage boys and girls are chosen to live out their lives in service to the kingdom. Stories of wonderful lives of the chosen "Offerings" reaches the ears of the people. Children aspire to be chosen to serve King Victor at Windsor Castle hearing stories of travel, exotic lives, and riches. But for Silver Blackthorn, now sixteen, the Reckoning is a sad and exciting event. If she is chosen to serve her kingdom at Windsor Castle, she will separated from her family and friends in Martindale. She hopes to serve the kingdom in Martindale, but she soon learns that is not to be. During the Reckoning it is announced who will serve at Windsor Castle. Silver's name is on that list.

  She leaves her family and love behind to embark on her new journey. No one that has been taken to Windsor Castle has been heard from again. But Silver is optimistic enough to go along with her kingdom's laws. But when she arrives at the castle and meets King Victor, it is obvious that her beloved king is a maniac. One by one the new offerings are raped, beaten, or killed and Silver decides that she will not be athe next victim of this evil ruler. Formulating a desperate plan, she leads several Offerings to freedom, but the King is one step ahead of her!

  Reckoning is a roller coaster ride of a book, that had me turning pages faster and faster to get to the next scene. Wilkinson is very talented at the first person narrative, and you often feel how Silver is feeling from the written word. The action sequences are motion picture worthy. There are several cliffhangers throughout the chapters that had me giving myself a manicure from all the nail-biting. The characters are very well constructed and third dimensional. The world building is unfolded slowly through the eyes of Silver and the stories of her people. I loved the protagonists and booed the loathsome antagonists. There was not one part of this book that I did not love. I plan to re-read Renegade before the third book, Resurgence, is released in May of this year.

  I give this book five out of five stars! An amazingly fun ride! 

  

Because there is always time to read,
Xepherus3

Reading Challenge: http://xepherusreads.blogspot.com/2016/02/updated-xepherus-reads-20152016-reading.html

At Twitter at: https://twitter.com/XepherusStudios

At Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/XepherusStudios

At Goodreads at: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/11975160-xepherus3

All written content (c) Copyright 2016 by Thomas Bahr II

Photo of cover is (c) Copyright by the publisher