Gremlin's Book Review

2. The Kingmaker

Book written by YouCanCallMeCorn

I've been using Wattpad since 2014, immersing myself in countless fanfictions to the point where I've lost count of how many I've read.

However, I was completely unprepared for this one. It's hands down the best fanfiction I've ever come across, and I genuinely believe I'm not overstating it.

"The Kingmaker" takes its cues from Tadatoshi Fujimaki's manga, "Kuroko no Basuke," which has also been adapted into an anime. I've heard plenty of positive buzz about it, so it's definitely worth giving a look.

Now, turning our focus back to "The Kingmaker," this book kept surprising and impressing me from start to finish.

Even if you're unfamiliar with the manga, you'll still thoroughly enjoy this book. Not only is it distinct from the original, but trust me when I say it's a completely, and I mean COMPLETELY, different experience.

Right from the beginning, I can confidently say that there's nothing about this book that I didn't enjoy.

All the descriptions were wonderfully crafted, immersing you in the scene as if you were right there. The pacing was spot-on, and the story flowed effortlessly.

The descriptions are not only visually vivid but also enhanced by the author's use of onomatopoeic structures to highlight random sounds throughout the story, rather than solely relying on comparisons.

It's truly admirable that the author incorporated significant cultural customs, such as when Kuroko wears white as he embarks on his mission, a color traditionally associated with mourning in Japanese cultures (and most likely, not just in this one).

In addition to the flawless descriptive passages, the dialogue is also skillfully crafted. The author employs an archaic style of writing that suits the story perfectly.

The character relationships are expertly portrayed, allowing you to easily discern their thoughts and emotions as the author switches between different points of view. To signify whose perspective you're reading, the author cleverly incorporates emojis, a refreshing departure from the generic "character's name POV." While this detail might be easily overlooked, I believe it's primarily the reader's responsibility. This book demands your full attention; it's not something you can casually read and then stop in the middle of a chapter. In my opinion, fully immersing yourself in the story is the best way to appreciate the world the author has crafted for you.

Returning to the story, there are numerous moments where the tension is so palpable that you might find yourself holding your breath. For instance, consider the chapter titled "The Letter." The gripping tension throughout the narrative leaves you yearning for more, yet it's perfectly balanced and never overused. "The Kingmaker" maintains an ideal level of suspense throughout.

Let's not even dive into the topic of cliffhangers. In my view, there are two types: those thrown in because the author couldn't figure out how to conclude the chapter or story, and those strategically employed for impact. This book uses the second type of cliffhangers. Consider, for instance, the chapter titled "The Rotting Kingdom."

Unconsciously, I've mentally divided the book into two parts - up to now, I've only discussed the first portion. Clearly, I thoroughly enjoyed the first part and wouldn't alter a thing about it.

But let's talk about the so-called second part... oh my goodness. Words fail to express how utterly amazed I was by the remaining chapters. Starting from the chapter titled "The Crossing," I felt like I was reading a superior version of Game of Thrones (and I'm a huge fan of GoT, except for that last season. It was a letdown).

Apologies for the tangent, let's return to discussing this masterpiece.

The tension and intensity that have been building up until now are only going to escalate further. It truly takes a skilled author to seamlessly integrate certain customs without resorting to what's commonly referred to as an info-dump.

Few fanfictions incorporate historically accurate events or information, but this one does. There's a character who explains the process of naming individuals, and it's entirely historically accurate.

The characters possess flaws that make them feel authentic - anyone can find something to relate to in them. In my opinion, each character has a tragic background, which not only adds depth to their personalities but also illustrates that life in such an environment is never simple, not even for the Crown Prince.

Last but certainly not least, if you're a fan of yaoi, you're in for a treat. However, it's important to note that this isn't the explicit type (not that there's anything wrong with that), but rather depicted in a poetic and almost heart-wrenching manner by the author.

In addition to everything I've mentioned, the author thoughtfully included a glossary chapter. Here, you can find definitions for any terms you might not be familiar with.

I give this book a perfect score of 10 out of 10; it's an absolute masterpiece. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and I highly recommend that you check it out. Trust me, you won't want to miss out on this.

With that being said, I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this fanfiction. I most enjoyed the descriptions - those intrigue me in every book - but this one has something for every taste.

If you'd like to know, my favorite chapters were "The Storm", "The Fog" and "To Eat".

There's also a quote that you'll find on chapter "The Crossing part 2", if I remember correctly, that goes like this:

" (...) peace can only be attainted with blood on your hands (...)"

It really makes you ponder that even as time changes, some things will always remain the same. And we already have contemporary examples, don't we?

As a little side note to the author, please keep writing. You're truly talented, and I would love to read a book entirely crafted by you. On another note, a fanfiction based on Attack on Titan wouldn't be a bad idea at all.