The King's Peace
Jo Walton
The King's Peace
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Jo Walton
The text is written at a 5th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for teens (ages 13+), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
At just seventeen, Sulien ap Gwien faces a brutal attack that fuels her fierce desire for justice. Her journey weaves through deep family ties to a fallen empire and into the heart of a kingdom striving for unity under King Urdo's leadership. Filled with magic, conflict, and vivid characters, this tale explores bravery and loyalty in a land torn by war.
Themes
Quick Assessment
This is a Level 5-6 book with moderate content intensity. Content themes include fantasy violence, physical danger. Written for readers ages 13+.
Why we rated The King's Peace 10MP
The King's Peace is written at a Level 5-6 reading level across 416 pages (approximately 184,732 words). Strong independent readers around grade 6.7 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The King's Peace works for readers up to grade 7.7.
Read aloud, The King's Peace runs about 20.5 hours — long enough to span several bedtime sessions.
We rate The King's Peace as 10MP ("Moderate — Physical") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from physical peril — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
Specific content flags noted by reviewers: Fantasy Violence, Physical Danger.
Thematically, The King's Peace explores women soldiers, adventure, fantasy world-building, family, and coming of age — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 13+ range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Readers ready to talk through themes after they finish — there's enough substance for a meaningful conversation.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about women soldiers, adventure, fantasy world-building.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Children who are sensitive to violence, even when handled at age-appropriate levels.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
10MP — Moderate — PhysicalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Content Flags
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
2/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
4/10Good conversation starter with themes worth exploring together.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 0312872291
- Pages
- 416
- Publisher
- Tor Books
- Published
- 2000
- Type
- Fiction
- Word Count
- 184,732
- Read-Aloud
- ~20h 32m
- Text Density
- Very Dense