Title:

The Shattered King

Author:

Charlie N. Holmberg

Category:

Science Fiction / Fantasy

Rating:

Date Reviewed:

April 23, 2026
have found that Holmberg reliably tells interesting fantasy stories. The Shattered King is another success. I liked the fantasy world, the characters and the plot. I read the entire book in a single day (while waiting in airports and flying two long flight segments.)

The Shattered King is the story of Nym, the eldest of eight children who were orphaned when their parents died in a carriage accident. Nym has the magical ability of healing craftlock. By touching a patient, Nym can look at their "lumis", (which manifests differently for each person). If a person is injured or ill, their lumis will appear distorted - perhaps the lumis color pattern will be damaged or a lumis object will be out of place. By fixing the lumis, Nym heals the victim. It is a powerful art.

Nym lives in the kingdom of Cansere, which is facing hostilities from the kingdom of Sesta. The youngest prince of Cansere, Prince Renn, has been desperately ill his entire life. His mother, Queen Winvin, has been commanding physicians and healers with craft-lock to come to the castle and heal Prince Renn. So far, no one has succeeded in healing him. Eventually, the Queen's summons reach the remote village where Nym lives - she must report to the castle to make an attempt to heal Prince Renn.

Arriving at the palace, Nym is ushered into audience with the Queen and the stricken Prince Renn. When Nym uses her craftlock on Prince Renn, she is astonished to discover a lumis more shattered than anything she has ever encountered. It is impossible determine what his correct, complete lumis ought to look like. Tentatively, Nym attempts to piece together some fragments, but the task is hopeless. Nym has failed, and she will now gladly be dismissed so she can return to her village and her siblings. But Prince Renn announces that his ankle suddenly feels much better - Nym's tweaks have slightly improved Prince Renn's condition - this tiny benefit is more than any other physician or health craftworker has been able to accomplish. Queen Winvin demands that Nym must stay and work ceaselessly to improve Prince Renn's health.

Nym is distressed. She wants to return to her family. Despite Nym's new status as Prince Renn's healer, she is treated badly. No wages. Cold cramped quarters. The Queen demands Nym work ceaselessly on Renn's lumis. But something seems odd about the shattered lumis - even when Nym manages to reassemble a few pieces into their original configuration, she will come back later to find her work undone, as if there is some active force destroying Prince Renn's lumis.

Meanwhile, Nym learns about the castle intrigue. Prince Renn's older brother, Prince Adrinn is an arrogant jerk. The kingdom of Sesta is threatening war. Queen Winvin might be involved in palace conspiracies. It is a dangerous situation for Nym.

Readers should be aware that The Shattered King tells only half of a story. The narrative ends with Nym in a desperate crisis. The story concludes in the sequel, The Half-Hearted Queen, which I intend to read.