Kaschar’s Quartert: The Default King. Book 1 of the Kaschar’s Quartert by David Gowey.

Goodreads

Publication Date: April 1st, 2016

Pages: 267 Genre: Fantasy

Goodreads Blurb:

Matthieu Sartonné thinks he knows precisely where life will take him. However, like the rest of the world, he is not prepared for what will come next. 

Decades of fear and hatred have spilled over from the nearby city of Cyrnne. The armies of the Evangelical Brethren march under the sign of the falling star, destroying all in their path and bringing with them a deadly sickness unlike anything the world has ever seen. Heilicon, the cradle of Matthieu’s every ambition, is the first city to fall. It will not be the last, but if Matthieu is to see any conclusion to this war, he must escape by any means he can. 

He sets out into a larger world that owes him nothing and will never let him stay in one place for long. But he is not alone in his yearning for a better world. Along the way, he meets plunderers, refugees, islanders, sailors, zealots, a reluctant prophet, and a family he never knew he had. Will one of these be able to give him the peace he seeks, or are they merely imperfect men like himself? Are they even real? 

All he knows anymore is that some power wants him to stay alive; only time will tell if that power is God or simply his own will to survive.

This edition contains the same content as the previously released The Default King Volumes 1-4 (Kaschar's Quarter, No Darkness At All, A Mirror Improperly Cast, and In Mocking Effigy) as well as a brief appendix and preview of The Default King Book 2.

I was lucky enough to get a free copy of this book for an honest review.

This book has a lot of things going for it. It has a likeable, multi-layered protagonist, great world building and an interesting plot. Mathieu grows a lot throughout this book alone. I feel like this doesn’t happen enough in a first book. I liked the authentic supporting characters and how Mathieu dealt with the struggle of his beliefs.

I liked how well drawn out the world was, there is established religions, political structures, language and diversity. I liked how developed it was for a first book, without it being overwhelming.

I’m excited to see how Mathieu’s journey progresses, as he eventually becomes the empire! I will definitely be reading the next one, and will be recommending it to anyone who wants a well-developed world!