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Young Richard Drumm, King of the Milky Way, returns for more galactic thrills and chills in the second installment of Hickman’s high fantasy/space opera series. While the fifteen-year-old boy from Ohio has much to learn before his coronation, he’s definitely made of the right stuff, considering his DNA profile includes the DNA of the humanoid ET Plantagenet dynasty. But Richard’s physical origin on barbaric and primitive planet Earth is kept secret, and his romantic attraction to Amber, a gorgeous human-fox hybrid from the planet Beowulf, isn’t exactly a popular topic on the planet Krel, his ancestral home, where he was prematurely revealed as the heir to the throne in the first book of the series.
If all this fuss isn’t enough trouble for one short lifetime, Richard’s double, Henry, had to be created to replace him on Earth because his family has no clue about what he’s been up to. At least Richard has excellent guidance from AAL, his artificial alien lifeform advisor. Not only does AAL keep the young royal informed and on task, but he also keeps Richard safe from the predations of Senator Spartacus, who wants a swift end to Richard’s line of succession in favor of democratic elections. AAL prepares Richard for his ascension to the throne with both practical lessons in etiquette and diplomacy along with metaphysical abilities such as teleportation and other skills useful for a galactic warrior threatened by known and unknown enemies. However, Richard is more than a bit distracted by Amber and spends much of his time courting and bedding the furry damsel, as one might expect of an inquisitive, randy teenage boy who is hopelessly in love and lust. The situation soon becomes drenched in intrigue, with assassination attempts, space-borne battles, near-death tragedies, and tearful, relieved reunions.
Hickman’s lively, fast-paced thriller's plots and subplots are simply but capably written. Although seemingly targeting a young adult audience, the book has somewhat steamy sex scenes that move it into the adult audience arena. Richard is also inclined to visit his privy chamber often, and so the frequent bathroom humor will tickle the funny bone of youthful readers and adults who enjoy a fantasy universe populated by youthful characters and their quirky concerns. The text would do well in a comic book or graphic novel since it often lacks descriptive nuance, but that should please readers who prefer to visualize their personal versions of characters and settings. The volume can be read as a standalone but is likely more fully understood by reading the first installment. With its prominent romantic subplot, the tale is definitely also embraceable by readers enthralled with the drama of sorting out the unique interspecies relationship between a king and his “foxy” subject.
As Richard matures and deals with ever more complex issues, so does his sense of responsibility expand for the well-being of the galaxy and the future of his hybrid progeny, whose existence must also remain secret even though nothing in the galaxy seems to stay confidential for long. Hickman spins his imaginative tale well, with ever-increasing tension, upping the odds that Richard and Amber may never live to experience their union as king and queen or see their unborn progeny survive. To relieve the suspense, fans will undoubtedly rush to seek out the third volume of the series once they finish this one.