Title: Where Are The Kings

Author: Donal Ryan

Genre: Literary Fiction

Publisher: Doubleday

Publication Date: 13th August 2026

Rating: 4.5/5

Cover:

Summary:

Something terrible has happened to Jack but no one seems to want to talk about it.

His uncles can tell him about everything from quantum physics to how to hunt for deer, but they can’t seem to tell him anything about their own sister or why Jack doesn’t feel sad for her in the way he should, or why Grandad tries to shoot Jack’s dad when he gets out of the hospital.

Still, there’s work to be done in the oily wonderland of his uncles’ garage; there’s his beautiful aunt Rose to hypnotise him and his loving grandparents to console him; then there’s JJ, who wants to fight him one day and save him the next.

But with so many questions, in a family with so many secrets, it is difficult for Jack to understand the person he is becoming. How can a simple boy learn to become a king?

Review:

Where are the Kings is a poignant, emotional, and sometimes funny coming of age story following a boy named Jack, after the loss of his mother. His father is also gone for related reasons, and Jack is sent to live with his quirky and characterful extended family. What is particularly affecting and moving about Where are the Kings is its ability to portray the trauma of grief and loss through the lens of a child on the cusp of growing up. Donal Ryan does this beautifully and in a way that can be both achingly sad at times yet also tender, humorous, and empathetic throughout. The writing style is quite unique and it does take a little while to get into the lyrical and almost rhythmical cadence of it, but once you do it’s a beautifully crafted read which looks at family, loss, the after effects of trauma, and the rawness of growing up and coming to terms with big overwhelming events. It’s a book that feels very authentic which makes it feel all the more relevant and, despite being a fairly short read, it makes a serious impact. Where are the Kings is full of layered, flawed, and unique characters, most of whom I found incredibly compelling but I think it is the narrative voice of Jack which make this such a memorable and vulnerable read. I would absolutely recommend this if you enjoy literary fiction from a beautifully executed perspective. 

★★★★.5 

Thank you so much to Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours for inviting me on this tour and organising it. I kindly received a copy of the book from the publisher. My review is entirely my own honest opinion.

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