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King's Envoy (Artesans of Albia) Paperback – November 15, 2013

by Cas Peace (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 67 ratings
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Taran Elijah's quest for knowledge uncovers a plot that threatens the world...In Albia, the fourth realm, the precious Artesan gift is dying. Although born to the craft, Taran is struggling to achieve his potential. Against his friends' advice, he embarks on a foolhardy plan to acquire the teaching he craves. Alone, he crosses into Andaryon, the fifth realm, but instead of finding a mentor, he stumbles upon a treacherous plot.In the wake of Taran's actions, Albia suffers a series of vicious raids. Major Sullyan of the High King's forces is sent to oppose them. But a dark and treacherous force is moving through the realms and both Taran and Sullyan will feel its power.Their craft, the lives of their friends, the very existence of their realm are under threat unless they expose and oppose the evil.
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    Artesans of Albia
  2. Print length
    378 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    November 15, 2013
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.95 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1939993253
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1939993250
  8. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
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Editorial Reviews

Review

KING'S ENVOY Awarded the HarperCollins Authonomy GOLD STAR in 2008! "Cas Peace's Artesans of Albia trilogy immediately sweeps you away into a world so deftly written that you see, feel, touch, and even smell each twist and turn. These nesting novels are evocative, hauntingly real. Smart. Powerful. Compelling. The trilogy teems with finely drawn characters, heroes and villains; with stories so organic and yet iconic you know you've found another home--in Albia." Janet Morris: author of The Sacred Band of Stepsons; the Dreamdancer series; I, the Sun; Outpassage.


"Cas Peace weaves her story with the skill of the most accomplished Artesan. If imagination were an element, she'd be a Master-elite."
Steven D Jackson: author of Shifter.


"A sequel that more than justifies this author's reputation. Peace's prose pulls you along at a pace that wants you to keep turning the page. No scene is wasted, there is no action without cause. I await its successor with barely restrained patience."
writeallthereviews Top 1000 Reviewer Vine Voice.

About the Author

Cas Peace was born in Hampshire UK, in 1957, and has lived there most of her life. Her first career was as a horse-riding instructor, and horses remain very close to her heart. She then spent 13 years working for the British Civil Service before leaving the UK to live in Italy for three years, 1991-1994. She speaks passable but by no means perfect Italian, and loves to return to Italy whenever she can. Her other great loves are anything to do with animals, especially dogs and horses, (she supports many animal charities) and also singing. Cas loves folk songs and along with her husband, who plays guitar, has performed in many a Southern England folk club. Sometimes they even asked her back! She writes folk songs to accompany her fantasy novels, and offers them as free downloads from her website, www.caspeace.com

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Albia Publishing (November 15, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 378 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1939993253
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1939993250
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.22 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.95 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 67 ratings

About the author

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Cas Peace

Cas Peace

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Cas Peace was born in Hampshire UK, in 1957, and lived there most of her life until a recent move to South Devon. Her first career was as a horse-riding instructor, and horses remain very close to her heart. She then spent 13 years working for the British Civil Service before leaving the UK to live in Italy for three years, 1991-1994. She speaks passable but by no means perfect Italian, and loves to return to Italy whenever she can.

Her other great loves are anything to do with animals, especially dogs and horses,(she supports many animal charities) and also singing. Cas loves folk songs and along with her husband, who plays guitar, has performed in many a Southern England folk club. Sometimes they even asked her back!

She writes folk songs to accompany her fantasy novels, and offers them as free downloads from her website, www.caspeace.com.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
67 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Cristina Chifane
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Debut of a Fantasy Trilogy
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2019
Verified Purchase
Book one in the Artesans of Albia fantasy trilogy, King’s Envoy, lures the readers with the promise of an original combination of magic, adventure, romance, betrayal, and life-threatening situations. Excelling in world building and character development, the novel focuses not only on Taran Elijah’s initiation journey, but also on Major Sullyan’s remarkable powers and extraordinary destiny. With detailed descriptions of the settings and a wide range of realistic characters, Cas Peace succeeds in keeping the readers tuned in.

The action takes place in Albia and Andaryon, two of the five magical realms imagined by the author. Artesans of different ranks use their incredible skills to create portways through the Veils and travel between realms. This is a great opportunity for the third-person narrator to familiarize the readers with the fantastic worlds and their inhabitants as well as the Artesan ranks and their attributes.

The story develops at a steady pace. Tension builds up gradually with moments of high climax such as Taran’s duel, the confrontation between Captain Tamsey’s men and the Andaryan plunderers, or the five friends’ search-and-rescue mission. Apart from the inexperienced Taran, Sully is the female protagonist whose overwhelming presence decides the fate of the other characters. Rienne, the healer, is an equally interesting female character who turns out to be an empath and has an unusual bond with Major Sullyan. Although Sonten and Duke Rykan were predicatable in their roles as villains, Taran and Sully were unlikely heroes, but extremely relatable due to their inner doubts and understandable mistakes.

Despite the cliffhanger ending, fans of fantasy fiction will not be disappointed. On the contrary, I think they will be delighted to follow the protagonists’ adventures in the next two books of the series, King’s Champion and King’s Artesan. Wonderfully edited, the book is Cas Peace’s invitation to travel through imaginary worlds and enjoy the ups and downs of a rollercoaster ride.
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JBenoist
4.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable!
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2013
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Great effort! The story was engaging and well told. I was kept interested right up to the end! Very good proof reading, and an excellent freshman effort. If you want to start writing fantasy, this is the way to come out the gates!
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Lori A Myers
5.0 out of 5 stars I picked this up on a whim because I liked the cover- it sat in my tbr pile until
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2014
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I picked this up on a whim because I liked the cover- it sat in my tbr pile until, finally, one day, it was time to delve into it. Gotta say, I loved it. I adore fantasy/sci fi books where the mind is one of the strongest powers, so I was not disappointed in that area. I found myself wanting to overlay my psyche onto Taran's to help him...I am very glad she put a nice glossary in the back, containing the character names, naming and describing the 5 realms, terms and artisan ranks.
King's Envoy pulled me in from the beginning and left me gasping for breath at the end. Well plotted, well thought out characters-full of emotions, 5 realms to explore (only two are mentioned in this book though) and vivid descriptions that are not too wordy make this a book well worth the money. I cannot wait to dive into the next one, having a suspicion who the mysterious Baron is...but needing just a few more clues...Good thing the King's Champion is next on my tbr pile- otherwise, some discreet shifting around of the titles may have been quite necessary.
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Chels
3.0 out of 5 stars A Great Fantasy Read
Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2011
Readers will love this fantasy world carefully crafted by Cas Pearce. The difference between the "fourth realm" and the "fifth realm" is both intriguing and disturbing-the reader will get to visit both. Taran, the main character, acts as the reader's guide. He is slightly reckless, caring, and strong-willed. He is mostly a likable character; he is flawed, but his flaws add to the story. The reader will get to know Taran very well during the novel...almost to the point of guessing his next decision/action.

The plot is interesting, especially to fantasy readers. It concerns otherworldly skills, mentors, and intrigue. To help him to better understand his craft, Taran ventures into the fifth realm in the hopes of finding a mentor. Instead, he meets evil, unusual characters, and a very different place than his home. When he discovers a very underhanded plot, he knows he must do everything in his power to prevent the plot from succeeding. This is the catalyst for the story and where it truly takes off. This book is recommended to fantasy readers, young adult/adult.

*Complimentary copy received for this review, does not affect my opinion in any way*
6 people found this helpful
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SiamSam
5.0 out of 5 stars World Building Mastery
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2014
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From page 1 Cas Peace's mastery at creating a completely original world is clear. She incorporates lavish descriptions and rich characterizations without slowing the pace of the story, which is considerable. This is a world rife with magic and the arcane, and the author pulls no punches with it--from the outset the characters demonstrate mind and body control of the elements, other-worldly travel and in-human races. There is a fine balance of characters, from the mystical Artesans, to the snake-eyed Andaryans, people of both high and low means are on bold display. There is also a fine balance of male and female characters. Excellent fight scenes and proper use of horsemanship is demonstrated throughout.

The King's Envoy is an enticing entry to the Artesan of Albia trilogy, and once you start you will not wish to stop. The people inhabiting this world will become dear friends and you will thrill at their triumphs and despair and their perils. I give this a 5-star rating only because I cannot give it 10 stars.

What are you waiting for? The world of Albia awaits.
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Top reviews from other countries

David Powers
5.0 out of 5 stars Get the box set
Reviewed in Australia on August 19, 2023
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In the fourth Realm, Albia, the Artesan powers and gifts are all but gone. Taran Elijah has the gift, and an apprentice but no mentor. He sees no choice to but to venture to the fifth realm, Andaryon, and challenge to win the right to be trained.

But things don't go to plan, and he survives only by wresting a strange and dangerous Staff from his opponent. Back home, he has barely survived, and the Staff is a problem he can’t deal with. Also, it turns out, all is not as it seemed in Albia either. With Apprentice Cal and Healer Rienne, he sets out in search of a Major Sullyan who just might have the answer to some of his problems, who at least needs to know what he did, who just might be able to halt the incursions that follow his disastrous duel. But Major Sullyan is not what they expect.

King's Envoy is Book 1 of the Artesans of Albia trilogy, itself the first of three trilogies. The major arcs set in motion are still building and this Book 1 finishes suddenly after a relatively minor climax that is really a setup for a significant cliffhanger.

The start is also a little unprepossessing with an infodump disguised as a vague conversation between Journeyman Taran and Apprentice Cal. This could perhaps have been much tighter and raised the stakes by being more precise about the nature of the challenge and the dangers and risks faced, but that might reduce the impact of the duel - which is foreshadowed in only the most shadowy of terms. Being clearer about the challenge and the expectations of a fair and honorable duel would show the risks and risk-taking as reasonable without diluting the impact of the duel itself, or its outcome and consequences.

So while I really enjoyed the saga, and its is generally well written and immaculately edited, the start and end of this volume had an unsatisfactory flavor. Thus I will award it 4 out of 5 stars.

However, I do strongly recommend it - though would suggest getting the trilogy as a 'box set' as volume 1 finishes mid-stride.
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Andy Angel
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Fantasy To Get Lost In
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 21, 2012
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This book, the first in a series, is the fiction debut of Cas Peace but you wouldn't know that - the writing and descriptive ability of Ms. Peace are those of an accomplished author.

The story is set in a land of 5 realms, all different and all seperate but the main setting here are the 4th and 5th realms of Albia and Andaryon.

At the start we meet Journeyman Artesan Taran Elijah. In an effort to increase his knowledge and further his Artesan abilities he crosses over from Albia to Andaryon but while there he stumbles on a plot (although he is unaware of just what it is). He barely escapes back to Albia with his life, and carrying an artefact.

Taran and his apprentice Cal try to send the artefact back but are unable to so go to the military for help - and this is where an already good book really picks up!

At the Manor, where the army are based we meet the characters of Bulldog, Robin and Major Sullyan - characters so well fleshed out you feel like you know them personally. The interaction between all the characters comes across really well and sits comfortably with the reader. Major Sullyan is, in my opinion, one of the best female characters in fantasy fiction today.

The nasty characters also come across as exactly what they are - the plots, machinations and general downright nastiness all hold up well.

The magic system is an interesting and clever one but also believable.

The book ends on a cliffhanger that will leave you aching for book 2 (King's Envoy - available soon).

So, short version - a beautifully told tale with characters you will want to go adventuring with again. An amazing talent with a lot of promise for the future. I will be following the career of Ms. Peace with interest.
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jenniepennie
5.0 out of 5 stars An exciting and feel-good read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 8, 2013
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I was never a fan of fantasy until I read this book.

From the beginning, Cas Peace's fabulous characters became my friends, and I couldn't put the book down as they went through terrifying adventures.

Sullyan is, of course, the woman all women want to be, or know they are deep inside. Brave, strong and capable of coping with anything while also being beautiful and desirable.

And Taran, who is faced with trying to become really good at his Artesan skills, leads us through his journey to finding a master to train him in metaphysical skills.

I just loved this book and was SO grateful that after midnight, when I reached the end, with Sullyan in deep trouble, that I had bought the next in the series, Kings' Champion, to carry on with.

Cas Peace is now on my list of favourite authors for her wonderful ability to write fascinating, fast and furious yet deeply moving novels with larger than life, yet truly real characters.
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Matthew Ashworth
5.0 out of 5 stars Battle of the Realms
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 16, 2012
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King's Envoy: Artesans of Albia is a brilliant epic fantasy novel. The story begins with a really intense action scene that completely immersed me into the setting, and then it does its magic with really well developed characters and chemistry between them. As the reader goes through the story, they get to know the story's world bit by bit and how it operates, ranging from 5 different realms of existence, each with its own intelligent race, the political interactions between these races, as well as the ranks of those who can utilise magical abilities. The book keeps building up throughout, especially in the second half, delivering lots of tension and adventure, and we really start to understand what's at stake. Looking forward to book 2.
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D. Gamble
5.0 out of 5 stars An enticing and thoroughly enjoyable first installment
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2012
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A mixture of cover art and back cover blurb really caught my attention with this book, something that doesn't happen very often these days and I wasn't disappointed in my choice. What is really a first instalment of a far wider story, King's Envoy really delivers on the high points of intrigue, suspense, strong characterisation, politics, relationships and an interesting system of magic, and makes it a great debut in the fantasy genre for Cas Peace. Given this as a benchmark, I have to say I believe I will become an avid reader of the series as it develops. A highly recommended novel, you'll be enthralled by it.
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