Line #30 Literature/KingdomsDisdain


1	->''"But I don’t want to cure world hunger. I want to make [[BigCreepyCrawlies giant bugs.]]"''
2	-->-- '''Keltnin Savos''', ''Web of Bones''
3
4	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/b1g5udjsts_sy300_2.jpg]]
5	[[caption-width-right:350:The first three books in the series.]]
6
7	[[https://www.amazon.com/The-Kingdoms-Disdain-8-book-series/dp/B08RZDMBMF The Kingdom's Disdain]] (2020) is an ongoing series of fantasy novellas by Paul! Lang.
8
9	The first book in the sequence, "Web of Bones", follows a young man with partial amnesia who knows two things: that he's from our world, and that he's not in our world anymore. He is in the Kingdom of Laskmeer, a land of magic and monsters. He takes on the name Cardinal and teams up with the stoic elf, Mad Crossbones, to become [[MonsterOfTheWeek monster hunters]]. Also among the main cast is Sareash, the Princess of Aldroy, who's dealing with political conspiracies the looming threat of [[BigBad The Rot Lord]], a god of decay.
10
11	Cardinal doesn't remember his identity, but he does remember media and stories from our world. This makes LampshadeHanging very common, as he recognizes tropes in this story from the video games he used to play.
12
13	The first few books are about Cardinal and Sareash fighting monsters and learning new powers, but as the series goes on focus shifts to [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters human enemies]] and [[GreyAndGreyMorality complicated political divisions]].
14
15	! Books in the series so far:
16
17	!! Main Series:
18
19	* Web of Bones [[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CHMP1BF?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks]]
20	* Ten Thousand Teeth [[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FMVXLFB?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_1&storeType=ebooks]]
21	* House of Flies [[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08KWNNT2F?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_2&storeType=ebooks]]
22	* Blood Drain [[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08RZC3514?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_3&storeType=ebooks]]
23	* The Distants [[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B093QB4G41?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_4&storeType=ebooks]]
24	* Corpse Beetle [[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09GL85L83?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_5&storeType=ebooks]]
25	* Sick Butterfly [[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09LDGGF62?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_6&storeType=ebooks]]
26	* The Spokes of Decay [[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09V5MGPRH?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_7&storeType=ebooks]]
27	* The Nature of the Beast [[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BRYM1DK6?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_8&storeType=ebooks]]
28
29	!! Tie-In Books:
30	* ''The Tale of the Useless Prince'' (2021): A prequel set 10 years before the main story about the [[OriginStory young life]] of Minister Lacturn. [[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09HY12NYK?ref_=dbs_mng_crcw_0&storeType=ebooks]]
31	* ''Feast of Lights'' (2022): The [[YouMeanXMas holiday special]], set between ''Corpse Beetle'' and ''Sick Butterfly''. [[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BQJRJS8X?ref_=dbs_mng_crcw_1&storeType=ebooks]]
32	* ''The Chronicle of Quelk the Slime'' (2023) [[https://www.amazon.com/Chronicle-Quelk-Slime-Kingdoms-Disdain-ebook/dp/B0BVRV39RF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3M1KIC0SYIZJ2&keywords=quelk+the+slime&qid=1686285620&s=digital-text&sprefix=quelk+the+slime%2Cdigital-text%2C107&sr=1-1]]
33	* ''Bru-Nack the Giant and his Eternal Stew'' (2023) [[note]]Written by Charles Cannon rather than Lang[[/note]] [[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7JVTFR3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2CNM3IF1G1GJC&keywords=bru-nack&qid=1686285441&s=digital-text&sprefix=bru-nack%2Cdigital-text%2C106&sr=1-1]]
34	* ''Flydragon: A Tale of Evil in Noble Aldroy'' (Upcoming)
35	----
36	!This series provides examples of:
37
38	* AboveGoodAndEvil: Mad, if he bothers to even think about the concept at all.
39	* AccidentalMurder: [[spoiler: While slaying the Yellow Horned Dancers, Shareash unwittingly kills Thermavorous. This earns her a discreet exile.]]
40	* ActionGirl: Sareash would rather practice with her sword than talk politics.
41	* AffablyEvil; [[spoiler: Zaiveeur the Clokken]], in contrast to his partner [[{{Jerkass}} Worm]]
42	* {{Animesque}}: Combat is inspired by anime battle scenes, and Gamoriel takes the form of a chibi.
43	* AntiVillain:
44	** Edreimelech, AKA Worm, is a haughty, racist, hypocritical assassin. [[spoiler: But he [[EnemyMine joins up with]] the heroes [[EvenEvilHasStandards when he disagrees with just ''how'' their other enemies behave]].]]
45	** [[spoiler: Lacturn]] wants every member of the royal family's head on a pike. However, his ultimate goal is a better Kingdom for the masses.
46	** [[spoiler: Zaiveeur is a hitman, but a pleasant guy who genuinely likes Cardinal.]]
47	* BadassBoast: Cardinal attempts this when he bravely confronts Edreimelech. Unfortunately, he's drunk off his ass, so all he says is, "If I had a sword, I'd stab you with it!"
48	* BlackAndNerdy: Cardinal's knowledge of fantasy tropes imply he was this before being transported to Laskmeer.
49	* BlendedFamilyDrama: Sareash doesn't get along with her stepmother, Lady Solth.
50	* BlueAndOrangeMorality: Zaiveeur, and Clokkens in general, has a moral code. It's just alien to most humanoids.
51	* BrattyHalfPint: When Sareash was little, she ran around hitting the servants over the head and calling them goblins. Subverted, in that a calm rebuke from Thermavorous sets her straight.
52	* BreakTheHaughty: Edreimelech/Worm over the course of the books; constantly bested by people he considers inferior and failing to manipulate the Princess in "The Nature of The Beast".
53	* BreatherEpisode: After all the loss, betrayals, and deaths throughout the series, ''Feast of Lights'' focuses on the members of Night Star simply celebrating the titular holiday.
54	* ChariotPulledByCats: When he and Cardinal enter Aldroy in ''Web of Bones'', Mad has animated [[DemBones four skeletons]] to pull their chariot. It causes a stir.
55	* TheChosenOne: Sareash and Cardinal... or maybe just one or the other. Maybe.
56	* ChristmasSpecial: ''Feast of Lights''.
57	* TheComicallySerious: Mad Crossbones and Trog.
58	* TheConspiracy: In House of Flies, Cardinal overhears what sounds like one. [[spoiler: Minister Lacturn has hired hitmen to kill the King]].
59	* CoolSword:
60	** The castle has a whole Hall of them. Valsrofen, the Untainted Blade, is the coolest; at least in Sareash's eyes. According to legend, it was forged by a Dragon God and won't strike anybody the wielder loves. (This has yet to be tested in modern times)
61	** Though it's described as rusty and "not that important", General Turp Glurbob’s Goblin Swatter has a cool name and may fit some readers' personal aesthetic more than the shiny Valsrofen.
62	* CrapsackWorld: The Island of Laskmeer is an untamed wild crawling with deadly monsters and ancient curses. Add to that government corruption, inequality, and assassins ready to pounce at any moment.
63	* CrystalDragonJesus: Almost literally; lampshaded by Cardinal:
64	-->''"...religion seemed to be part of everything they did here, like it was Alabama, only, Jesus was some kind of space dragon?"''
65	-->''"Good dragon Christians thought I was an evil wizard."''
66	* DarkIsNotEvil: Mad Crossbones I a necromancer who enchants skeletons to pull his chariot and experiments on dead bodies. He's not a villain, though, and frequently saves lives as both a physician and monster hunter; and though he [[LackOfEmpathy isn't exactly sentimental]], he has enough compassion to swiftly put victims of the mother leeches out of their misery rather than wait until later.
67	* DeadpanSnarker: Cardinal, especially in his narration chapters where we get to read his unfiltered thoughts.
68	* DemBones: Mad's "bone boys".
69	* DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife: Cardinal in the main series. Lacturn in "The Tale of the Useless Prince".
70	* DistractedByTheSexy: When he and Mad dine at the inn in Web of Bones, Cardinal spends a lot of time checking out the innkeeper.
71	* DragonsAreDivine: The people of Laskmeer primarily worship a Dragon God, Bal'zomest; while those on Alto-Samar worship Bal'zomest's son, Balsameth. They revere dragons so much that their units of measurements are based on dragon claws.
72	* DudeWheresMyRespect: In "Blood Drain", Cardinal runs off because he feels disrespected by his party members, despite risking his life for them multiple times.
73	* TheDungAges: In "Blood Drain", the village of Qe'Lam is smelly, poor, and implied to be covered in poop.
74	* EpicFail: Drunk!Cardinal trying to take on the assassin. The Elf doesn't even take him seriously.
75	* FantasticDrug: Slich-grog, made from the sedating toxins of Mother Leeches.
76	-->''"That made sense. They may have almost killed me and filled my body with eggs, but they made me feel damn good about it."''
77	* EvenEvilHasStandards: [[spoiler: Worm, who worships a God of Hate and prays for his enemies' agonizing downfall, is so horrified by Drathe's willingness to summon the Beast of the Gulch just to take over a hunting barrak that he drops his planned manipulations and joins his sworn enemies to stop her.]]
78	* FantasyCounterpartCulture: Laskmeer appears to be a combination of MedievalEuropeanFantasy and various [[ArabianNightsDays Middle Eastern/Arabic cultures]]. Most characters resemble the latter in physical appearance. The people of Calde are also said to be a partial stand-in for the occupied Israel of the Bible.
79	* FantasyCounterpartReligion:
80	** The Book of Law and Promises resembles ''Literature/TheBible''; specifically, the story of King Aheerum and his treasonous son, Accor, pulls directly from [[Literature/BooksOfSamuel David and Absalom]].
81	** The Element King's transition to Bal'Zometh worship resembles [[UsefulNotes/Akhenaten Atenism]].
82	* FoeRomanticSubtext: Sareash and Worm tread a fine line between pure disdain and sexual/romantic attraction.
83	* FoodPorn: Or alchohol porn; the Hot Swolt in "Blood Drain" is described as tasting like cinnamon and burnt wood; and feeling smooth and warm going down. Kind of like a hot Old Fashioned/Old Smokey.
84	* GenreSavvy: Cardinal applies fantasy tropes from video games and [=RPGs=] in our world to his life as a wizard in Laskmeer. However, he has about an equal chance of being this and WrongGenreSavvy.
85	* GiantBug: Most of the monsters so far are giant bugs. The Rot Lord apparently enjoys making them.
86	* GiantSpider: They "greet" Cardinal to this world and us to the story.
87	* GoldDigger: Lady Sloth's primary reason for marrying the King. Though she also at least likes him as a person and given her [[RagsToRiches background]], can you blame her?
88	* GrapplingHookPistol: Zaveur weilds dual harpoon guns and uses then to both attack and move in fights.
89	* HateSink: Worm the Elf Assassin is arrogant and mean whether you're his enemy or his ally, though he may cross into LoveToHate for some.
90	* HeroicFantasy
91	* HighFantasy
92	* HumansAreWhite: Averted. Most of the people of Aldroy are brown/tan, but some are darker or fairer and aren't seen as unusual. When it comes to humans, skin tone doesn't denote "Race" as much as culture and religion do.
93	* AnIcePerson: Some of Mad's go-to spells are ice based.
94	* IdentityAmnesia: Cardinal remembers most things from our world; video games, hamburgers, Luke Skywalker, etc. He doesn't remember his own name or much about his life.
95	* IJustWantToBeBadass: Cardinal's motivation.
96	* InnocentlyInsensitive: Due to her sheltered upbringing and headstrong nature, Sareash sometimes insults others without meaning to. This actually causes friction with Cardinal in "Blood Drain".
97	* {{Jerkass}}: Worm of the Shadow League stands out. Unlike Mad, who is simply apathetic to others' emotions, or the monsters, who kill from instinct, Worm actively seeks to belittle his opponents and is even unpleasant to his allies.
98	* JumpedAtTheCall: After some understandable terror at waking up with no memory in a giant spider's web, Cardinal decides pretty much immediately to join Mad on his quest.
99	* LivingClothes: Cardinal's red robes have the instinct to protect their wearer, and can produce teeth and claws.
100	* LizardFolk: The Clokken people.
101	* ManChild: The King, though it's downplayed.
102	* TheMentor:
103	** Thermavorous; he taught Sareash the way of the sword early on and in general acts as a guardian to her.
104	** Mad takes Sareash on as an apprentice while Cardinal is away.
105	** Gamoriel trains Cardinal in his magical abilities.
106	* MentorOccupationalHazard: [[spoiler: Thermavorous dies at Sareash's hand.]]
107	* MercyKill: Mad uses these exact words when he kills the mother leeches' victims in ''Blood Drain''.
108	* MetaGuy: Cardinal, mentioned above. Especially in his narration chapters.
109	* MixAndMatchCritters: The Yellow Horned Dancers are the color of bees or yellow jackets, chirp like crickets, devour like locusts, and are referred to in the title as "flies".
110	* MonsterOfTheWeek: The first few books, at least, are each named after a monster the heroes must take down; the [[GiantSpider Mountain Recluse]], [[PantheraAwesome Zarklago]], [[TheSwarm a group of giant Yellow Horned Dancers]], and [[ParasiticHorror Mother Leeches]].
111	* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: Nobody called "The Rot Lord" is good news. Subverted by Mad Crossbones, who you only really need to fear if you're a monster; and "Heretic Wizard, Bloodmage", because... see NonIndicativeName.
112	* {{Necromancer}}: Mad is a rare heroic(ish) example.
113	* NonIndicativeName: Because he rode into Aldroy wearing all red in a chariot pulled by skeletons, Cardinal is given the rather frightening title of "Heretic Wizard, Bloodmage". This is despite the fact that (at the time) he knows no magic and it's Mad who controls the skeletons. This actually prompts Cardinal to learn magic, so that he can [[SureWhyNot "live up to" his title.]]
114	* ObfuscatingStupidity: "The key to getting away with manipulation was to always act the fool, and [[spoiler: Lactrun]] made sure to do that at all times."
115	* OddNameOut: Most of the books are named after a monster that the group battles, but "The Distants" comes from a Clokken word for unclose acquaintances, instead.
116	* PantheraAwesome: In Ten Thousand Teeth, the Zarklago.
117	* ParasiticHorror: The Mother Leeches.
118	* PestController: The Rot Lord is said to create and command plagues of bugs.
119	* ThePowerOfHate: Both Valsrofen and the Decay Beam can only be used if one truly hates their opponent.
120	* RagsToRiches: Lady Sloth was born to peasants before she married the King.
121	* RunningGag: Cardinal's swords breaking in battle and him having to get a new one.
122	* ShockAndAwe: One of Mad's spells lets him create and control electricity.
123	* ShoutOut: Due to Cardinal being something of a geek from our dimension he:
124	** Names his first shortsword [[Franchise/StarWars Luke Skywalker and his third one Ewok]].
125	** Names a spell that allows him to jump high [[Franchise/{{Mario}} "Mario Jump"]].
126	** Names his new horse [[Franchise/MyLittlePony Rainbow Dash]].
127	* ShroudedInMyth: The Rot Lord. Apparently, no concrete lore exists around him, but he was adopted from a figure named "The Dirt King" by the Goblins who inhabited Laskmeer before humans took it. Current residents blame him for misfortune, but nobody has a concrete perception of him.
128	* SmugSnake: Or, Smug Worm in this case. Worm talks a big game, looks down on humans and has some talent; but he's actually the apprentice assassin and [[spoiler: eventually beaten by a human]].
129	* TheSwarm: In House of Flies: The Yellow Horned Dancers; giant, highly territorial black-and-yellow crickets/locusts. They are herbivores, but highly territorial and when in a large enough group are capable of killing multiple people at once. Sareash finds some in the castle, even bigger than normal, who had killed at least two servant girls.
130	* SwordsAndSorcery: The two most prevalent studies of combats are swordsmanship and spellcasting.
131	* TakeThat!: One of Cardinal's few personal memories is being annoyed by a classmate who wouldn't stop talking about WebComic/{{Homestuck}}.
132	* TrappedInAnotherWorld: Cardinal, technically; though much like [[WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}} Phillip J. Fry]], he seems to get on BETTER in Laskmeer than he did in our world.
133	* TraumaCongaLine: Both Cardinal and Sareash go through this in Blood Drain. Cardinal because of the graphic fight against the mother leeches and [[DudeWheresMyRespect perceived lack of respect from his party]]; and Sareash due to witnessing [[TheDungAges true poverty for the first time]] and [[BreakTheHaughty general tiredness]].
134	* WalkingWasteland: The Rot Lord, probably.
135	* WickedStepmother: How Sareash views Lady Solth. [[spoiler: She's not wicked, their personalities just clash; but she saves her stepdaughter's life]]
136	* WideEyedIdealist: Sareash.
137	-->''"The world that played itself out in her eyes might have been preferable to the one we occupy—a world where everyone has a place and a purpose, where hard work is rewarded in equality, and where justice shines down like the sun."''
138	* WhatYouAreInTheDark: [[spoiler: BloodKnight Sareash ultimately spares Worm, a man she fully intended to murder as brutally as possible; while Cardinal, normally the group's NiceGuy, masters enough raw hate to kill Zaiveeur, an opponent he previously regarded as a friend.]]

Context Literature / KingdomsDisdain