A Different Kingdom

This is a fairly dark fairy tale which includes some of the standard tropes found in many fantasy stories: a young "hero" sets out on a quest to find a lost family member, he travels through a strange land, and is both helped and hindered by the characters he meets on his journey. He must stay ahead of the dark forces pursuing him, leading to a final confrontation with the "villain" of the book. What separates 'A Different Kingdom' from other, similar stories is Paul Kearney's writing.

Like 'The Wolf in the Attic', 'A Different Kingdom' showcases Kearney's lyrical prose. His descriptions of the wild paint a tangible picture of the world his characters inhabit. At times it was dark and grim, at other times bright and hopeful. The writing verges on being poetic at times, but is also earthy and real. The sights, sounds, and scents of the woods left a deep impression on me. It should also be noted that this book doesn't shy away from depictions of sex and violence, which I felt Kearney handled well.

During the first few chapters, the author shifts the narrative through time without feeling the need to include pointers or explanations. This could initially confuse readers, but it quickly becomes clear when and where the characters are as you read on. I liked this narrative choice by Kearney. It was refreshing to simply surrender to the story and let it take me when and where it would, trust that all would become clear, as it did.

The narrative builds to a truly tense and thrilling climax, and there are a few surprises in there, too. I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out. Kearney kept me guessing until the end and I felt very satisfied by the conclusion.

Recommended for fans of adult fairy tales or fantasy, descriptive nature writing laced with some grim-darkness.