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  • Knight's Ransom (The First Argentines Book 1)
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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
5,658 global ratings
5 star
68%
4 star
25%
3 star
5%
2 star
1%
1 star
1%
Knight's Ransom (The First Argentines Book 1)

Knight's Ransom (The First Argentines Book 1)

byJeff Wheeler
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Top positive review

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HarryLime
VINE VOICE
5.0 out of 5 starsReminds me of THE QUEEN’S POISONER
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2021
I’ve read every Jeff Wheeler book, a big fan, however his last two “world building” efforts left me a bit underwhelmed. His Victorian Steampunk series started out brilliantly but faded and for the first time ever, couldn’t finish one his books, the last of the Asian inspired series. But this is a return to form! I read it in two sittings. Page turner. The hero Ransom has some psychological depth, a good back story, and one really cares for him. The fight scenes and battles are excellent and exciting. The fitful narrator in this series is Lady Claire and she is delightful and the love story, if you can call is that, is fun when you add the lusty, scheming Naomie and mysterious Cloaked Lady to the mix. Perhaps most appealing to me is that all the characters aren’t just black and white, they are intriguing shades of gray. Returning to Kingfountain yet again could have been a retread of past tales. But I left the book with that fresh feeling I always feel when he is at his best. I wish he would stop releasing his books in thirds or fourths. It robs the reader of the full experience of the tale. If he would release a full sized novel with this kind of quality, he would be favorably measured with The Name Of The Wind or Game of Thrones. I dare him to release something other than his predictably bite sized books! That said, you are surely going to like this book. Highly recommended.
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100 people found this helpful

Top critical review

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Constant ReaderTop Contributor: Fantasy Books
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
3.0 out of 5 starsDisappointing Bloodbath
Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2021
I did not enjoy reading this book for several reasons. First, Ransom begins as an interesting and sympathetic character, but he does not stay that way. His “fountain blessed” superpower is killing and doing battle. The body count and level of violence are both beyond tolerable levels. As much as it is gruesome, it also becomes tedious and uninteresting as he hears the waterfall and enters a killing trance. Second, the characterization is thin. So thin, that the reader does not believe them, care about them, or feel anything about the budding romance. Even the villains are so thinly drawn that they are ineffective. Third, part of the plot remains confusing. The key confusing component is the inconsistent action of a mysterious female character. It is not that it is unresolved (which it is) but that her actions are odd instead of intriguing. Third, the writing style and pacing are uneven. Jeff Wheeler is a very successful author with many titles to his credit and a legion of fans. I respect his success, but we are not on the same wavelength, and I will not be reading more of this series.
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61 people found this helpful

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From the United States

Constant ReaderTop Contributor: Fantasy Books
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing Bloodbath
Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2021
Verified Purchase
I did not enjoy reading this book for several reasons. First, Ransom begins as an interesting and sympathetic character, but he does not stay that way. His “fountain blessed” superpower is killing and doing battle. The body count and level of violence are both beyond tolerable levels. As much as it is gruesome, it also becomes tedious and uninteresting as he hears the waterfall and enters a killing trance. Second, the characterization is thin. So thin, that the reader does not believe them, care about them, or feel anything about the budding romance. Even the villains are so thinly drawn that they are ineffective. Third, part of the plot remains confusing. The key confusing component is the inconsistent action of a mysterious female character. It is not that it is unresolved (which it is) but that her actions are odd instead of intriguing. Third, the writing style and pacing are uneven. Jeff Wheeler is a very successful author with many titles to his credit and a legion of fans. I respect his success, but we are not on the same wavelength, and I will not be reading more of this series.
61 people found this helpful
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Bryan
3.0 out of 5 stars Good,fast moving, if clumsy at times
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2021
Verified Purchase
Pro - pacing. It is very direct throughout. All transitions in story are direct and too the point. And extra context never feels needed. I despise when unnecessary context is forced on the reader that is beyond serving it's purpose. Which brings me to my next pro

Pro - world building. Not on par with some epic fantasies. But it isn't trying to be. Despite how direct it is with its story telling you don't feel out of place anywhere. At least through the experiences of our protagonist which brings me to my next pro

Pro - not constantly changing point of view. One reason the pacing is good is I am not sharing the headpace of a dozen people where the story and locale are constantly changing. Worldbuilding isn't on par with the epic tales that use this tactic - it mechanically can't be. Yet it is great where it is limited to our protagonist point of view. Story flow and pace over world building is a trade I will take every time. I have personally grown fatigued on stories with a constantly changing PoV.

Con - hard to explain without a spoiler but let me just say the drama as it unfolds near the end of this book was cringeworthy. I was 90% in and almost decided to quit reading. The human motivations and described reasoning behind chosen actions were simply unbelievable and totally absurd. The reader was also being led down a very predictable path. So you know where this is headed while at the same time the path to this known conclusion was just painful and worse than the worse preadolescent drivel you can find.

Con - while it’s directness is a pro for me it on the other hand lacks in nuance and shock value. If you enjoy intricacies in motivations and morality and a story with twists and turns that are jarring in their effect then this isn’t for you.

Bottomline line is i want to read the next book which is most important. It is 3.5 stars to me and commendable if flawed
10 people found this helpful
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Ned5clark
3.0 out of 5 stars A good read
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2022
Verified Purchase
Well put together world, but it was so full of betrayal and intrigue that I had a hard time with it. Just when you thought the “hero” would be on top, another betrayal or downfall and then redemption. It is a good book but I’m not sure I will continue the series. I read this because it was recommended by a favorite author.
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Fan reader
3.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2022
Verified Purchase
A good listen
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CJones
1.0 out of 5 stars Flat. Disjointed. Superficial. Immature
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2021
Verified Purchase
There was not one character, situation or place that took my imagination with it. I kept reading hoping that it would evolve into more. It didn't. I gave up 25% in.

Everything was SO superficial...

* Why begin the story with 12 year olds and then absolutely nothing about them for five years?!! Have them make a small appearance and then nothing for two more years. And then after seven years they magically meet again.
* Claire's "journaling."
* Ransom's first "fight" as a Knight. He slew a soldier. Then another. And another. Etc. Etc. Etc. He didnt count how many, but the others did?
* After Ransom's attack in the barn. He doesn't arrive back to the bridge til the next morning and the Knight that greets him WHISTLES??? about it?! Too nonchalant.

I've wasted enough time with this. I'm out.
8 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
2.0 out of 5 stars Unreal
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2021
Verified Purchase
Unrealistic.
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Aksel Beymer
1.0 out of 5 stars Boring Inconsistent Melodramatic
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2022
Verified Purchase
I found it almost unfathomable how bad this novel was, given all the good ratings. Unexplained magic powers drive every plot point. Ever character is a wilting idiot. There is nothing here that hasn't been done far better by writers with actual talent.
2 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Slow
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2021
Verified Purchase
Not my ideal book but readable if people like to read about knights I dont so gave up on it!!
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EH
1.0 out of 5 stars The layout on Kindle app for iPadOS is unreadable.
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2022
Verified Purchase
The margins are so wide that only a few words fit in the narrow column. This makes many words break across lines and makes this book unreadable. I really wanted to enjoy this book. Is there some other format available? WHY WHY WHY are the margins so fricking wide?!?
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Paige G.
3.0 out of 5 stars book review
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2022
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Knight’s Ransom

Author: Jeff Wheeler

Book Series: The First Argentines Book 1

Rating: 3/5

Recommended For...: high fantasy, magic

Publication Date: January 26, 2021

Genre: High Fantasy

Recommended Age: 16+ (violence, gore, romance, slight language, slight sexual content, death)

Explanation of CWs: There is violence, death, and gore in this book. The language is very G rated in this book. There is also some romance and some very slight sexual content.

Publisher: 47North

Pages: 433

Synopsis: Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. A brutal war of succession has plunged the court of Kingfountain into a power struggle between a charitable king who took the crown unlawfully and his ambitious rival, Devon Argentine. The balance of power between the two men hinges on the fate of a young boy ensnared in this courtly intrigue. A boy befittingly nicknamed Ransom.

When the Argentine family finally rules, Ransom must make his own way in the world. Opportunities open and shut before him as he journeys along the path to knighthood, blind to a shadowy conspiracy of jealousy and revenge. Securing his place will not be easy, nor will winning the affection of Lady Claire de Murrow, a fiery young heiress from an unpredictably mad kingdom.

Ransom interrupts an abduction plot targeting the Queen of Ceredigion and earns a position in service to her son, the firstborn of the new Argentine dynasty. But conflict and treachery threaten the family, and Ransom must also come to understand and hone his burgeoning powers—abilities that involve more than his mastery with a blade and that make him as much a target as his lord.

Review: For the most part this book was ok. The book did well with the plot. The characters were well developed and the world building was ok. I also really liked how multilayered the characters were and how honest the author was about the characters good and bad traits. I also like the political intrigue of the read.

However, I really couldn’t connect to the book and it felt like it dragged for me. I felt like some of the things went into too much detail and I just couldn’t keep myself entertained with this read.

Verdict: It’s not for me, but maybe for you!
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