"The King's Justice" by Stephen R. Donaldson. A Review
The King's Justice: Two Novellas by Stephen R. Donaldson My rating: 5 of 5 stars Stephen Donaldson bundles together two unrelated, but artistic tales that go different directions in the 307 page paperback, “The King’s Justice.” Both novelettes are easy to read, engrossing, and propel the reader’s imagination toward the climactic finale. These short stories can be enjoyed by both younger and older adults. The title tale, from which the book gains its label, swirls around Black, Settle’s Crossways and the gruesome, heartbreaking murder of a young lad. As things unfold, Black, a veteran of the Balance Wars, takes on the role of detective in a township that doesn’t want to disclose the murder to this stranger. Yet it becomes rapidly clear that there are sinister forces at work and lurking in the woods, and circumstances are showing that Black needs to act quickly. As a major structure in the storyline, the author does delve into a deity-less perspective that seems to echo the Buddhi...