Where Are The Kings- Blog Tour

 

Author: Donal Ryan 

Publisher: Double Day 

Publishing Date: 13th August 2026 

Many thanks to Random Things Tours and the Publishing team for my copy of the book and a spot on the tour

Blurb 

Jack is just twelve years old when he rushes down the hill after his mother's car on his bike, desperate to reach her before she reaches the lake.

What happens next cannot be undone. Jack's life changes just at the moment he is entering those dizzying years when he will transition from boy to man; when nothing makes sense at the best of times.

Yet Jack is not, is never alone. Enveloped as he is by his extended family - his ferociously loving Nana; Grandad, given to sudden bursts of rage; his earthy uncles Haulie and Theo who want to show him what it means to be a man, and irascible cousin JJ who resents him. Then there is beautiful aunt Rose, whose mere presence ignites ever atom in his changing body.

But how can a boy with so many questions, in a family with so many secrets, understand the person he is becoming? Without his mother to ground him on the earth, will he spin off into the stars?

My Thoughts 

This was my first time reading this author, and I came away feeling genuinely impressed. There is something wonderfully distinctive about the writing here. It is beautifully lyrical without ever becoming difficult to follow, and the prose has a quiet intelligence that kept me completely absorbed. The language is elegant and thoughtful, but the story itself remains accessible, allowing the emotional moments to have the impact they deserve.

We follow Jack, a young boy whose life is suddenly turned upside down following the death of his mother. He leaves behind everything that has been familiar to him and goes to live with his grandparents and wider family in rural Ireland. At an age when a child should be surrounded by stability, Jack instead has to navigate an entirely new home, new surroundings and a very different way of life. I really felt the upheaval of that transition through his eyes, particularly because the story captures how overwhelming change can feel when you are too young to fully understand the circumstances that have caused it.

One of the things I found most affecting was the way Jack is shaped by the people he encounters. Every person who enters his life seems to leave something behind, whether it is a lesson, a memory, a piece of advice or simply a moment of kindness. These relationships become incredibly important to his development, and I loved watching how the people around him gradually influence the person he becomes. It also gives the novel a slightly dreamlike, almost speculative quality at times, particularly in the way memory, grief and the presence of those we've lost seem to overlap.

There is a real sense of place throughout the novel too. Rural Ireland isn't simply a backdrop; it becomes part of Jack's experience as he tries to find his footing in a world that suddenly feels unfamiliar. The slower pace and close-knit community provide an interesting contrast to the enormous personal upheaval he is experiencing, and there is something comforting in seeing how the people around him quietly come together to support him.

This is ultimately a story about grief, but it never feels as though grief is the only thing being explored. It is also about family, connection, identity and the ways in which we carry the people who have influenced us long after they have left our lives. I particularly appreciated that the novel doesn't try to make loss feel neat or easily resolved. Instead, it allows Jack to experience it in all its confusion and sadness while showing how love and belonging can slowly help someone find their way forward.

The writing is probably what stood out to me most. There is a poetic quality to the storytelling, yet the simplicity of Jack's voice makes the emotional moments feel even more powerful. The contrast between the straightforward narrative and the weight of what Jack is experiencing worked incredibly well for me. There are passages that feel gentle and almost beautiful, followed by moments that are quietly heartbreaking.

A tender, thoughtful and beautifully written novel about what happens when life changes before you're ready for it, and how the people we meet along the way can leave an imprint on us forever. It is a story about losing someone, but also about finding a sense of home, being cared for and discovering that even in the midst of grief, there can still be connection and hope.