Despite its serious elements, Squire of Truth serves a light tale that will engage readers with its mystery and sympathetic hero.
Lorehaven review, 2025

Squire of Truth

Squire-turned-investigator Cole and aspiring songstress Mistel must unravel the mystery of a brutal murder before they become the next targets.
· January 2025 · for , ,

He never expected his next battle would being with a singer’s plea for help.

Cole Tanniyn, squire to the soon-to-be king, has journeyed far from his days as a stray stable boy in a distant mountain village. Haunted by the echoes of his failures on the battlefield, he seeks solace in music. But when the spirited songstress he spent a fleeting evening with shows up at his doorstep Cole may have gotten more than he asked for.

For too long, Mistel has been bound by a past of confinement and control. Now on her own, she toils tirelessly to make her mark, but the struggle to earn a living in a world that fails to appreciate her talents proves exhausting. So when she meets Cole, the future king’s squire, she sees an opportunity to change her future. And when she discovers her roommate murdered in their room, Mistel turns to the only man she thinks she can trust…Cole.

Despite his inexperience as an investigator, Cole vows to uncover the truth and together, they delve into the dark alleys of Armonguard, uncovering a sinister web of secrets and sorcery that threatens the kingdom. Can Cole and Mistel prevail against enemies wielding dark magic? Or will they become the next casualties in a deadly game of power?

Book 1 of the Blood of Kings: Legends series.

Review of Squire of Truth

· April 2025

The war is over, and the prince is about to become the king. Cole, as the prince’s squire, ought to be sitting pretty amid all the victory. But a charming girl comes to him with a murder to report, and his troubles proliferate from there.

Jill Williamson blends fantasy and mystery in Squire of Truth. This is book 1 of a new series called Blood of Kings: Legends, a standalone fantasy set in Williamson’s world that began in the 2009 novel By Darkness Hid. In this detective story, magic is the murder weapon, and the investigation winds through pagan temples and rumors of the occult. Political intrigue connects the mystery to the prince and his kingdom. Characters are colorful and likeable, while themes of post-traumatic stress disorder and self-esteem are light but persistent. Despite its serious elements, Squire of Truth serves a light tale that will engage readers with its mystery and sympathetic hero.

Best for: Young adult readers who enjoy fantasy and mystery.

Discern: A victim is murdered, some references to violence, people indulge in manipulation and deceit, someone has romantic relationships with multiple women at once, references to pagan gods or goddesses; and, although lightly handled, some magical practices mirror real-world witchcraft, such as harming people in effigy.

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