Blood of the Old Kings

The Bleeding Empire #1

by Sung-Il Kim, Anton Hur (Translator)

Blood of the Old Kings begins an epic adventure in which three strangers journey through a vast Empire that uses the power of dead wizards to conquer and subdue, from award-winning author Sung-il Kim and translated by the highly-acclaimed Anton Hur.

Powered by the corpses of sorcerers, the Empire has conquered the world. It claims to have brought peace and stability to its conquered lands, but some see that peace for what it is—a lie—and will give everything in the fight against it.

Loran is desperate for revenge after the Empire killed her family, so much so that the swordswoman climbs the volcano where the legends say an ancient dragon slumbers and leaps in. She finds that the legends are true, and Loran leaves the mountain with a sword made of dragon’s fang and a great purpose before her.

Cain arrived in the Imperial Capital lost and orphaned, and it’s only thanks to the kindness of a stranger-turned-mentor that he survived on the city’s streets. When his friend is found murdered, he will leave no stone unturned to find those responsible, even if it means starting a war.

Arienne’s future has never been in question—born a sorcerer, she’ll be a Power Generator for the Empire upon her death. But when she starts to hear the voice of a powerful necromancer in her head, she realizes the only thing more terrifying than dying for the Empire is never getting to truly live in the first place.

When peace is a lie, there is power in truth—and as Loran, Cain, and Arienne hunt for answers in their own lives, any one of their small rebellions could be the stone that brings the Empire toppling down.

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons, Fiction, Adult, High Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Audiobook

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2016

About the author

Escribo ciencia ficción, fantasía y terror. Quería escribir una novela desde que era preescolar, pero el hecho de que revelara su deseo de ser escritor en la repetición del libro "Las aventuras del barón" escrito en el tercer año de la escuela Kookmin, y que escribiera varias obras de teatro para ser interpretadas en la clase de teatro cuando estaba en la universidad es una pequeña escaria.
Abandonó la facultad de derecho y estaba escribiendo y traduciendo un libro de TRPG mientras dirijaba una editorial de TRPG, debutó en 2016 con la recomendación de un editor de novelas que vio el libro frondoso. Ha estado activo en serio desde 2020.
El editor de fantasía más grande del mundo, Tor en los Estados Unidos, publicará "Mercia Trilogy" uno tras otro a partir del otoño de 2024. (Volumen 1 "La sangre del viejo Seng real" basado en octubre de 2024)
Vivo con gatos con mi esposa en el centro de Seúl.

Reviews

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 Stars
Video Review https://youtu.be/OwmDitabVpI

I really enjoyed the dark premise of this fantasy novel. The setup was exactly up my alley and reminded me of some of my other favourite media that have gone to similar dark places.

This might be the first time I have read a fantasy novel translated from Korean. I appreciated the unique perspective but I found myself wondering if any style was lost through the translation. The story was good but the actual narrative style was incredibly straightforward with very plain writing. I wish there had been more nuanced and complexity to the prose because this one had serious five star potential but fell a little flat.

Despite my criticisms, I still enjoyed this one a lot and would highly recommend to readers looking for a dark fantasy story.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was immediately drawn to this book because of its incredibly beautiful cover. But apart from that, I have to admit that I really liked how Kim started the story! I was immediately engrossed in the plot and became incredibly eager to read it.

The universe itself is extremely fascinating, containing parts of the traditional high fantasy setting. I really enjoyed how quickly the chapters moved along, switching between points of view often, and I never got tired of any one of them.

The tale was captivating, and there was a fair variety of interesting people. This novel is told from the perspectives of three main characters, each of whom has an unique background and set of goals. I adored Loran and Arienne so much. Fantasy books rarely feature deep female characters, and Kim does a fantastic job developing compelling, likable heroines in this book.

This is a beautiful world full of unanswered questions and a wealth of untapped potential. I'm excited to read more works from Sung-il Kim and will get them as soon as I can. Blood of the Old Kings is the perfect fantasy novel if you're searching for a compelling story with intriguing characters and a sinister magic system.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Nick Borrelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

The very first thing that attracted me to this book was the outrageously stunning cover artwork. I mean, it's absolutely gorgeous. So I guess you could say I judged this book (initially anyway) by its cover. Then I read the summary and the first line says something about the corpses of sorcerers being used to power the Empire and I knew that I wanted to read this book as soon as humanly possible. Couple that with the fact that this was written by a new author (for me anyway) from South Korea Sung-Il Kim, who I had not heard of up to this point, and there were just too many things pointing to the fact that me and this book were just meant to be together. Turns out it was quite a good match in the end and I thoroughly enjoyed so many aspects of this story and these characters.

Before I get to the cool and original magic system in this book, let's talk about the characters a bit. There are three main POVs in this story and they all have a unique background and varied motivations. As stated in the blurb, Loran is hell bent on avenging what the Empire so brutally took from her, that being her beloved family. She will stop at nothing to see that vengeance quenched, even if it means utilizing an all powerful sword bestowed upon her by a dragon to wipe out her enemies. The problem is there's a lot that she doesn't realize she's up against and there are powers that even a dragon-charmed sword might not be able to beat. Then there is Cain who is somewhat of a loose cannon. He knows a lot of seedy individuals and also has his own issues with the Empire. His POV chapters were very fun to read as he always seems to find himself in the most sticky of situations. Finally Arienne who hears the voice of a dead sorcerer in her head, which reminded me of the whole Rand al' Thor/Lews Therin situation. It is through Arienne that we get introduced to the brilliant magic system in this book as she is coaxed into discovering it through that mad inner voice.

And that's where I will segue into what I thought was a beautifully constructed magic system that in and of itself kept me turning the pages feverishly. I was so entranced by the concept of using the mummified corpses of sorcerers as power generators. And depending upon the skill level of the sorcerer, those on the high end are used for the most important aspects of daily life in the Empire, while those of lower skill power the more menial elements. Needless to say these dead sorcerers would need to be guarded very carefully (especially those connected to major infrastructure and essential defense) because if anything should happen to any number of them, the entire Empire could collapse resulting in utter chaos and potential disaster. Honestly, I couldn't get enough and this is just one of the more inspired and creative magic systems I have ever read. The closest thing that comes to it I think is David Farland's Runelords series. But even then, Sung Il-Kim does something quite different with his magic and it is all his own construct.

I would also be remiss if I didn't mention the wonderful translation by Anton Hur. Being an English reader I was wondering if there would be any points in the book that might feel a little bumpy to me as this book was originally written in Korean. I have to say that this story flowed so seamlessly and there was never a second where I sensed any hiccups or moments where certain words or sentences got lost in translation so to speak. It's a testament to Hur's proficiency at translation that the prose never stumbled but rather soared, ultimately carrying my enjoyment of the engaging plot right along with it.

I'm glad that I took a chance on this book because it was one of the more rewarding reads I've had in a while. The intense moments of action, impressive magic system, compelling characters, and magnificent worldbuilding really held me in their grip throughout and I breezed through this book at record speed because of that. The author also doesn't shy away from touching on some serious topics/themes such as the negative effects of colonialism and how living under oppression can shape the person that you are and eventually become. I really hope that everyone gives BLOOD OF THE OLD KINGS the readership it so rightly deserves because I believe it to be an outstanding debut by an author who I will definitely be looking to read much more from in the future. The good news is this book is the first in a trilogy, so there are a lot of cool things ahead to look forward to. Sung Il-Kim has written a story that should delight readers who have been searching for something outside of the usual predictable trope-filled fantasy. This was an incredibly entertaining read and you should definitely get your preorders in now so you won't miss it upon release in early October.

[Krysta ꕤ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ☆

kinda mixed on this one.. the magic and world building is somewhat unique but there’s something missing that kept me from fully getting invested in the story. the 3 main povs: Loran, Arianne and Caine are actually really interesting (especially Arianne) but i feel like there was a lack of attention given to their personalities individually and i needed more background on why each character was on the path that they were on. i know this book is translated from Korean so im wondering if some things got lost in translation with this new version of the story. the ending left in a place where i can’t tell if this is a standalone or the start of a series but either way, i would say i still had a good time but i expected more. also, i need to comment on how well produced the audiobook is, i always appreciate when there’s multiple narrators for the characters and the cover is beautiful!

↛ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Macmillan Audio for the arc, all opinions are my own.

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all]]

At this point my TBR is mostly “books involving Anton Hur” but also it’s thrilling to see more fantasy in translation from one of the Big Five publishers.

[Zana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

This is a pretty decent fantasy for readers who are new to the genre, or readers who don't have time to commit to a really long series. But I'm neither of those readers, so it was just an okay experience for me.

It hit all the story beats perfectly, utilizes all of the typical tropes found in fantasy (chosen one, heeding the call to adventure, etc.), had characters you could root for and were fleshed out, etc. It did all of those pretty well without truly subverting the established conventions in fantasy. The whole dead sorcerers being used as power generators was giving The Matrix, but I wasn't too put off by how unoriginal it was.

I did love the multiple narrators used in the audiobook. All three were very well done and made each character their own, which was why I enjoyed this book more than I probably would if I only read it with my eyes.

There's definitely an audience for this, and that doesn't include me, so take my review with a grain of salt.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for this arc.

[Sarah ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood of the Old Kings (The Bleeding Empire, #1) - Sung-Il Kim




تعرفت على الرواية لأول مرة في نهاية العام بعد أن شاهدت فيديو عنها في إحدى قنوات اليوتيوب... قرأتها مؤخرًا ولم تتسن لي الكتابة عنها إلا اليوم.


هذه الرواية عن ثلاثة غرباء ومغامرتهم في أرجا ء الإمبراطورية التي لا تقهر..
لوران تسعى للإنتقام لعائلتها التي قتلتها الإمبراطورية، كاين الذي وصل وحيدًا للمدينة ولكن غريبًا ساعده ويأخذ قرارات خطيرة بعد مقتل صديقة عزيزة، آريان كان مستقبلها مضمونًا بعد أن أخذتها الإمبراطورية من أهلها لتتدرب في أكاديمية السحر-وهو ما يحدث لكل الأطفال القادرين على استخدام السحر، حيث تخدم الإمبراطورية حيًا وميتًا.
تستمد الإمبراطورية قوتها من السحرة الموتى والذين يستخدمون كمولدات للطاقة لإنارة المدن واستخدامات مدنية أخرى أو عسكريًا لـ غزو الأمم الأخرى...
أظن هذه أكثر فكرة رأسمالية قرأتها في الفانتازيا... حتى بعد موتك ستكون جزءً من عجلة التنمية أو شيء من هذا القبيل.

تذكرني الرواية -الإمبراطورية تحديدًا بمالازان، وأتذكر الآن أنه حين قرأت النبذة لأول مرة قلت في نفسي هذا أول عمل أصادفه ويشبه مالازان، وهناك أحداث إحدى الشخصيات تشبه هاري بوتر-لن أذكرها تجنبًا لحرق الأحداث...
يذكرني المشهد الأول بمسلسل ميرلين؛ تذهب لوران إلى كهف عبر فوهة بركان حيث يحتجز تنين ضخم سعيًا خلف أسطورة قديمة..

هذه رواية رائعة، تبدأ ثورة من شرارة صغيرة؛ من رحلة إمرأة للثأر لعائلتها، حكايات كثيرة وشخصيات أكثر، بعضها لا نراها إلا لمامًا ولكن ما يجمع بينها كلها هو الظلم الذي عاشوه في ظل الإمبراطورية وعزيمتهم لتحرير أرضهم وشعبهم من قبضة الإمبراطورية ..
قرأتها بالإنجيزية؛ وأحب ترجمات أنتون هور، قرأت له أكثر من 4 أعمال إلى الان ولكن الرواية ترجمت للعربية وستصدر ترجمتها العربية في معرض الرياض هذا الخريف.

[Marc *Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!* · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure if I made my assumptions out of thin air or if something in the marketing led me there, but for whatever reason I thought that this translated novel must have been a sensation in South Korea, leading to its translation for English-reading audiences, but it turns out it's just some book. It was published in South Korea in 2016 but by a small publisher who couldn't afford to (or chose not to) put out any sequels, and there's no indication of great acclaim in its home country. The only reason we're getting it in English is that the author's agents shopped some translated chapters around and an editor at Tor decided to buy it, then had Anton Hur do a full translation.

I'm not saying this as a negative in any way, particularly since my assumptions were unfounded, I'm merely sharing my journey, such as it is.

Speaking of assumptions, the book is sized like a typical YA hardcover, but it's definitely not a YA book. It had to convince me of that to overcome the packaging's suggestion; the medium is the message, after all. In fairness, neither the cover art nor jacket text suggests YA-ness, it's just the size, which also matches many middle grade books. Are we seeing, or will we see more of adult releases in this format which presumably saves on production costs?

If you're still with me, you probably want to know something about the book's content. It's good, it's fine, it's an epic fantasy of acceptable contemporary quality. There is a certain uniqueness to the worldbuilding, for those who care about such things, with its dead sorcerers in metal coffins acting as batteries and magic otherwise suppressed by empire-controlled technology and a burgeoning rebellion against empire and all of that, but the listing of those things is more dramatic than their functions in the storytelling. I suppose the book's construction is unique, but not highly unique, if you know what I mean. Don't go expecting a Sandersonesque worldbuilding and magic system extravaganza, if that's your thing. And for a novel translated from the Korean, don't expect Korean-inspired content in the style of so many books inspired by and illuminating various underrepresented cultures as their primary selling point. As I said at the outset, it's just some book, by some guy, with a standard path to publication.

All of those details are superfluous to good storytelling, as they should be. This book's story unfolds through three main characters: an angry widow risking a dragon's power for revenge without any real plan, a street-level amateur detective also in search of revenge over the loss of a friend, and a young woman seeking to flee the horror of a sorcerer's destiny in this empire. Their individual stories are interesting enough, with the main thrust of the book's events predictable but moderately satisfying. The endpoint is underwhelming, but it helps to know that this book is part of a trilogy, a hidden fact. There is no indication of its series status on the book or in the marketing, only in the author's acknowledgements.

The book's main limitation is its style of narration, which sets a fair distance for the reader from the characters and events. A closer POV would have enhanced the emotional journey and reader immersion. Key action scenes were often glossed over, and when they did happen on the page they usually lacked immediacy. This created a muted experience where there was a clear potential for thrill.

I enjoyed the book, more so in the second half when before that the distanced engagement had me wondering if I might DNF. I'm glad I didn't and, if published, I will probably read the sequels. It's a decent book and may appeal to someone looking for atypical but unchallenging fantasy.

[Willow Heath]

Written by Korean author Sung-il Kim, Blood of the Old Kings is a fantastic melding of old school fantasy tropes with a contemporary incorporation of social and political allegory. Set in a world which has been conquered by a great empire, the novel follows three characters from the annexed nation of Arland. Strangers at the beginning, their roads will eventually cross in unexpected ways.

Loran is a grieving widow who makes a promise to the dragon guardian of their land that she will become king and stand against the empire; in exchange for her eye the dragon gifts her a magical sword made from its own tooth. Arienne is a young student of magic who knows that little matters about mages but the batteries they will eventually become after death, and she is hearing a strange voice in her mind which guides her towards danger.

And Cain is a young man living in the capital, who has recently learned of the death of his friend and mentor. Why was she killed? What nefarious plans are hidden in plain sight? Cain will poke and prod until he uncovers the truth. And as he digs, the world becomes a more dangerous, volatile, and unpredictable place. Blood of the Old Kings revels in the excitement of the genre's tropes and comes at them from a fresh and bold new angle.

My full thoughts: https://booksandbao.com/best-fantasy-...

[Nils | nilsreviewsit · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

"Never have I forgotten the day the Empire's legions swarmed our land like ants," the dragon said. "Their chains bind me, and I have tried to pass my imprisonment in slumber. But sleep only brings dreams, and in dreams, I watch again and again as the king, riding on my back into battle, is slain. Perhaps you suffer as I do."

A world ruled by machinery of the Empire, a land completely obliterated, a race oppressed and persecuted. This is a story where underdogs rise and the fires of rebellion ignite. Loran has made a pact with a legendary dragon to avenge the execution of her husband and daughter, Cain is investigating the murder of his friend and unwittingly becomes entangled with the Empire’s Ministry, and Arienne is on the run after escaping the Imperial Academy for sorcerers but a voice inside her mind leads her on a dangerous path.

Blood of the Old Kings by Sung-Il Kim and translated by Anton Hur is a thrilling Korean epic fantasy novel with an inventive magic system and filled with reluctant but compelling heroes.

At first our three main protagonists appear to be on their separate journeys with very little connection to one another but as we read on and look a little deeper we discover their journeys intertwine. From the onset we learn that all three are from Arland bearing the tattoos of their heritage and that their race is under oppression by the hands of the Empire. Subsequently all three seek freedom from tyranny. Now whenever I read a book with multiple POV’s, I’m always drawn to some and not others yet surprisingly this wasn’t the case here as I really liked all of our main players equally and felt hooked by each of their journeys. I think that’s because each character bought in a different sub genre of fantasy creating a great blend of epic, political and murder mystery fantasy with a touch of dark academia. Part of my attachment to the characters also lies with Kim’s writing style and Anton Hur’s translation which reads so smoothly. Through descriptive prose we are given plenty of backstory with a rounded view of how our characters have suffered but survived, making each of them distinct and memorable.

Loran is the first character we meet and in the opening scene we see her confront and make her pact with the fabled fire-dragon who has been chained and bound. This scene is thrilling, filled with tension and peril and setting my expectations high as I knew this would lead Loran on her journey to becoming a powerful warrior. I appreciated that it was always made clear that Loran is not instantly a highly skilled swordswoman, her skills are average at best and she may also not have what it takes to be the princess of Arland she has proclaimed herself to be. Deep down she doubts if she will ever live up to such a standard, yet she grows into this role, she gains followers and slowly becomes the heroic figure that her race needs and seeing this side of her flourish despite her fears was gripping. Furthermore Loran had a magical connection with the dragon and a magically forged sword which oh my, I can only describe this as cool to see in use!

In fact I found Kim’s magic system nothing short of impressive. I was utterly fascinated by the concept of dead sorcerers' minds being used to fuel Power generators to aid and run the Empire. For example Power generators could light street lamps or power the sewage system, but they were also the sole source of power for the machinery that the Empire used to withstand the gods and dragons of old. The more we read on the more this developed and the true extent of how the Empire relied upon this to wage and win their war was revealed. For sorcerers such as Arienne, their fate is bleak, their destiny is to become a tool for the Empire even in death and so I rooted for her escape all the way. Although Arienne does not initially have an extensive amount of magical abilities, and the entity she has inside her head promises to teach her more, she does have a rather cool (yes I know I’ve used that word again but it is!) power involving her mind which again was another great addition that Kim incorporated within his construction of the magic.

Thrown into the mix between the magic system was also a fair bit of political intrigue, which we see developing through Caine’s character. As Cain resided in the Capital there was also a Victorian era feel present, with horse drawn carriages and lamplights illuminating the streets which I haven’t come across much specifically in an epic fantasy but felt it worked so well here to show the luxuries of the Empire compared to those living further afield. As Cain investigates the many connections to his murdered friend Fienna he becomes involved with The Ministry of Intelligence which leads him to uncovering dangerous rebellion plots within the Capital itself and beyond. At first a lot of the politics confused me as there seemed to be a divide between the prefects, the Senate and the Ministry but soon enough I realised that there is no one evil villain to hate within this story, it is more that certain agents of the Empire are the ones to be fought against. One aspect of Caine‘s character which I appreciated the most was that his goal was never to only help his own race and to oppress another, he just wanted to help the people that he cared for and save those who were important to him, which we see clearly at the end.

"I am not saying we should not fight. Only that today, even if we should win, the Empire also has its tomorrow. That is what you need to prepare for. If we only take up arms and fight, we shall always lose."

Kim’s Blood of the Old Kings was gripping from start to finish and I can only hope it will pave the way for more international fantasy books to be translated and published.

ARC provided by Nazia at Orbit Books in exchange for an honest review—thank you for the copy

[Laura Díaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

La sangre de los antiguos reyes tiene ese aire de fantasía clásica que a veces se echa de menos. Desde el principio se nota que Sung-il Kim apuesta por una ambientación más tradicional, con una magia antigua, poderosa, que no necesita demasiadas explicaciones para funcionar. Esa elección le da al mundo un carácter muy definido, coherente con la historia que quiere contar: un Imperio oscuro que se alimenta de la magia de hechiceros muertos, y un grupo de personajes que, cada uno desde su rincón, empieza a mover los hilos del cambio.

[Tammie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publishers for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars

Easily one of the best new fantasies I've read in the last couple of years, and a very solid start to what I hope will be a series (based on the author's note at the end it seems like it will be a trilogy?). For readers who don't enjoy cliffhangers though, you don't have to worry here as it does end on a fairly satisfying note.

Blood of the Old Kings is a modern high fantasy novel following three main characters - Loran, Arienne, and Cain. Loran, driven by her desire for revenge against the Empire that murdered her husband and child, strikes a deal with a dragon to take back her home kingdom of Arland in exchange for magical powers. Arienne is a sorcerer-in-training in the capital city of the Empire, where all sorcerers are harvested after they die to become power generators for the Empire. Out of desperation to avoid this fate, she follows the instructions of a strange voice in her head and steals one of the bodies of a power generator in the basement of the Academy and goes on the run. Cain also lives in the city, and is a very well-connected Arlander. A close friend of his is found dead, and he wants to find out what happened to her.

From start to finish, this book was such an entertaining ride. The pacing was quick, flipping between POVs frequently, with short chapters, which reallly worked for me as I never got bored with any one POV. If I had one critique, it's that I do wish some scenes were a bit more fleshed out, especially towards the end, but that's really me nitpicking.

The worldbuilding is probably my favourite thing about this book. It's done in a very piecemeal fashion, and Kim only ever provides you with just enough information to keep you interested. I personally love this type of worldbuilding, as it makes me want to actively read more to learn about the world, and I never felt like I was getting a huge info dump at any given time. The world itself is also super interesting, with elements of gaslamp fantasy weaved in with the classic high fantasy setting. The magic system is definitely on the looser/softer side, so if you're someone who doesn't like magic systems with no rules at all, this might not be for you. I think it works here, and adds a sense of whimsy that I personally really enjoyed. I'm interested to see how the sequels will expand on the world.

As for the characters, I found the three main POV characters to be pretty well fleshed out considering how few pages are really in this book. In particular, I really loved Arienne and Loran, and I think that Kim does a great job at not falling into the trap of any character archetypes in general. Cain reminds me a lot of Grey from The Rook & Rose series by M.A. Carrick, so if you've read that series and you like Grey, I think you'd really like Cain as well. We also meet a few additional side characters that piqued my interest, but I don't think we got enough time with them, so hopefully we'll get to see more later on in the series.

In a genre that can often feel quite formulaic, Blood of the Old Kings felt new and refreshing, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this. The translation read very smooth to me, so I want to give props to Anton Hur for his translation as well. I highly recommend Blood of the Old Kings for anyone who is interested in dragons, gaslamp fantasy, colonial themes, strong female characters, and just a fun adventure.

[Matthew Galloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing I really loved about this one is that the three P.O.V. characters felt very distinct. They do come into contact a few times, but their observations don't overlap and their character arcs stay their own. It does an excellent job of broadening the world building and the conflicts without making the novel feel bloated.

So we have Loran, who makes a pact with a dragon to gain power so she can try to liberate her land from the brutal empire -- and gain some vengeance for her own losses. Then there's Cain, who's friend was likely murdered, but investigating her death puts him in the crosshairs of opposing groups. Lastly, there's Arienne who is confined to a sorcery school that doesn't teach spells, but rather prepares the students to be human batteries after they die. She escapes, having little knowledge of the world beyond her adventure novels, plus a malevolent voice in her head.

Each of their stories reveals different aspects of the empire that claims it's only bringing peace and civilization to the world (of course they say that).

I'd say this one balances world building, plot, and character arcs better than just about any book I've read recently. It's also fun that each of the character's stories feels almost like a different subgenre. Arienne has a touch of YA because of her naivety and the magic school aspect, Cain is definitely in a more investigator/heist style fantasy, and Loran is pure epic fantasy with an uplifting, heroic feel.

[Zoë · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m gonna be honest I was in it and then it all kinda fell apart but loved the ending yay ambiguity

[ren ☆]

i will give u a kidney for this please please please

[Maria reads SFF · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
A modern take on the clasic hero's story, a young sorcerer in magical academia and a local odd-job man, all in one action-packed Epic Fantasy novel.
I enjoyed it so much.

[Angharad · Rating 5 out of 5]

⚔️My top read of October 2025!!! Go check it out NOW!

⚔️Review: Fantasy done right

Hey you! Are you sick of the sci-fi/fantasy bookshelves at every store being dominated by ACOTAR and Fourth Wing? Do you miss the glory days of fantasy in the 1980s and 1990s when the plots were action focused, not romance focused? Are you tired of female protagonists that are involved in end of the world stakes, but all they can think about is how cute their Enemies to Lovers boyfriend is with his feathering jaw muscles? Are you bored to tears of slow paced, slow burn, 900 page behemoths that have nowhere to be in a hurry?

Then this is for YOU my friend! This book is a checklist of goodies, a return to action packed, high stakes, adventurous fantasy.

We got:

✅A dragon that's actually dangerous, cool, and exciting
✅Magic swords that catch on fire
✅Revenge plots!!!!
✅A society powered off the dead bodies of sorcerers like batteries
✅A Roman Empire inspired setting with sci-fi elements
✅Giant magic powered robots shaped like animals and bugs
✅Three great POV characters with 3 different story lines in the vein of ASOIAF in the good ol' days
✅An absolute badass female main protagonist in her late 30s
✅A detective POV character so there's so mystery elements too!
✅ABSOLUTELY ZERO romance. None whatsoever!
✅Intense stakes, constant action, twists and turns, every chapter is a cliffhanger

I LOVED this book. THIS is what we should be hyping up. THIS is what should be dominating the fantasy shelves. It's so creative and different than anything we're getting here from American authors. It reminded me of being a teenager again and devouring my way through A Game of Thrones, anxious about the fates of my favorites, but it comes with the more high fantasy trappings I love and adore like dragons, elves, sorcerers, and wicked villains.

Our three POV characters are distinct from each other in their goals, ambitions, design, and personality.

-Loran is in her 30s and is following a revenge plot against the Empire that destroyed her family for daring to sing a song. Loran's arc very quickly becomes about becoming the king of her people (King not Queen by the way!) and makes a deal with a dragon. An eye for a dragon's tooth which becomes a fiery sword that causes devestation to anyone who gets hit by the blade. Her plotline is a hero's journey from village bumpkin and grieving mother to an absolute badass warrior king.

-Cain is in his late 20s and gets involved in political plotlines that he has to solve in order to save himself and the rest of the Capital, while trying at the same time to find out who murdered his best friend. His chapters are slower and more mystery oriented than high fantasy, but he really grew on me. A detective in a magical world is a really cool idea.

-Arienne is 16 and she's a sorceress in training in a world where magicians aren't valued when they're alive, but rather when they're dead, their bodies are used as a Power source like batteries. Sick of that type of treatment, Arienne flees the prison-like school for sorcerers with the mysterious Eldred in tow. Her plotline forces her to examine herself and she experiences the most growth on page as she slowly learns the real history of her world. She grows into her magic over time, using her imagination to change reality to the way she wants it to be. Minor spoilers maybe but she's a main POV in the sequel so I imagine her plotline is the one that's going the furthest.

ANY of these three protagonists are so well developed they could be the main lead in a solo book and their individual plotlines are interesting enough to carry a book. However, the three of them meet from time to time and their individual plots influence the other two in interesting ways. This was character writing at some of it's best and you never knew what was going to happen. Plot twists were satisfying and made sense for each of the characters.

The translation from Korean is extremely readable; many books translated into English from Korean, Japanese, or Chinese can be difficult to read because the languages are so different to English. That issue is not here whatsoever and if I didn't know this was a translation I never would've guessed.

Every character has their purpose, the book is fast paced and economical. Every plot line is going somewhere and I was never bored from beginning to end. I would've read all roughly 400 pages in one sitting if I hadn't picked the book up late at night. It's just that good. This book is highly tailored to my tastes. I want more of this! More, I tell you!

⚔️☆ Fun Factor 5/5 (an absolute blast)
⚔️☆ Writing Style 5/5
⚔️☆ Characters 4/5 (side characters and main characters are wonderful)
⚔️☆ Plot 5/5
⚔️☆ Setting 5/5
⚔️☆ Feels 4/5
⚔️☆ Spiciness 0/5 (absolutely 0 romance HURRAY)
⚔️☆ Gore 4/5 (extensive injuries and frequent deaths)

⚔️If this were a movie it'd be rated: R for dragon horror, body horror, war scenes, battles, all the fantasy action.

⚔️☆FOR FANS OF: People who are sick of Romantasy dominating the fantasy shelves and want a return to action first books. Vampire Hunter D fans will enjoy the over the top prose and wild premises. I got some glimmers of Elric of Melnibone here too. ASOIAF fans will enjoy the split plot lines and POVs.

⚔️Ultimate verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

⚔️☆☆☆Best Character Award goes to:☆☆☆ Every single character in this had me interested, but I think Cain or Loran became my ultimate favorite.

The Bleeding Empire trilogy ratings so far:
⚔️Blood of the Old Kings⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🐺Blood for the Undying Throne: Book Two of the Bleeding Empire ⭐⭐⭐⭐
[Book 3 in the trilogy] TBD


Bleeding Empire average score for me so far: 4.5

[Stevie · Rating 5 out of 5]

korean translated fantasy with revolution, dragons, and complicated magic that could easily be a new favorite

likes:
- 3 pov that were mostly separate but it was so fun when they did cross paths
- the characters and their own development
- lauren is a fascinating character and she's so honor and revenge driven i loved her arc
- arienne is so loveable cause she's like a little dumb but unknowingly so powerful
- cain is sooooo endearing with his revenge mission for his friends death and the way he stuck to his principles in the end
- writing style is really imerseive and keeps you so hooked
- no romantic plots
- revolution and revolt plots, themes about how revolutions have to be violent
- dragons <333333

the style of this book really reminded me of Robert Jackson Bennett like a little bit foundryside and the tainted cup. i really hope that more books from Kim get translated because i'm eager to read more of his work!!

[Camille · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edit: updating this to 4.5 ⭐ because I haven't been able to stop thinking about it

This book might win the 2024 award for the best opening scene ever. The first chapter had my jaw on the floor! I loved the take on the Evil Empire trope; the multi-POV felt like a jigsaw puzzle in all the best ways.

We have Loren, fighting for vengeance and working with an ancient dragon to make herself a king; Arienne, a sorcerer doomed to be made into a necromantic power source (!) who accidentally gets possessed; and Cain, the street savvy man-of-all-trades trying to solve his friend's murder. All of these stories look so different and don't intersect for much longer than typical, so we're not just getting the same events from three different angles. I loved this style of unfolding the story.

Although I was super interested in the plotlines, the worldbuilding, and the magic system, I never really felt emotionally invested. I think it might be because of the prose -- it was quite textbook-y rather than emotive. The climax fizzled a bit for me for this reason. I honestly wish this book had been 2 or 3 books, so we could have had more time to wallow in backstories and build the conflict more organically. But I still highly recommend and plan to buy a hard copy to reread. There is so much gold in this story!

Big thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for letting me read this early! All opinions are my own.

[fer bañuelos · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5*

You know what estuvo padre pero siento que le falto algo . No se si fue porque llegue esperando una vibra tipo Final Fanatsy que solo yo me inventé y que este no me dio.

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart

Review copy was received from . This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Blood of the Old Kings is a Korean novel translated to English.  As I've found with other writers from other countries there is a distinct type of storytelling/flow that  wasn't specifically what I'm used to in American novels but might be more prevalent in Korean ones.  I don't think if you didn't know the original was in Korean, you would be able to tell in the translation as it was smooth.  I just want to mention the cover is fantastic and 3/4 of the reason I picked the book up .

The story is experienced through three different characters.  Each with their own arc in the story that impacts the others at some point.  Through them the reader explores different parts of this Feudal world and some of the magic in it.  With a foe powered by powerful magic that is harnessed from sorcerers after they die to run mechanical chariots, tanks and sometimes city killing machines.

Loren has gone into the volcano where the last dragon is held prisoner to make a bargain.  She will bond with him and go after the people who captured and occupy her land.  She will attempt to drive out the people who killed her husband and daughter and so doing become King of Arland.  The effects of her bargain are subtle at first but as the story goes on the reader gets to explore how her transformation is changing her and how a former teacher of the sword could become king of a nation.

"A sword needs a scabbard, as fury needs restraint."

Cain lives in a large city in the heart of the empire.  He came there as a child when his parents were going to be killed for being part of a rebellion.  Left in a strange city with no family, he has become the person other refugees and lower members of society come to when they have a mystery to solve.  Now he is trying to solve the murder of a friend, the woman that first helped him when we came to the city.  But, there is danger around every corner and Cain quickly finds that whatever she was caught up in might just get him killed too.  As he uncovers a plot in the city, he sees how it is tied to the Princess who would become King of Arland and has to decide who he helps, the people in the city he has lived in most his life or the country of his birth.

Arienne was taken from Arland as a child to go to the sorcerer school.  It used to be a place where they were trained in spells and magic.  The school is no longer that, it is more of a holding pen and brainwashing camp to keep people with magic because when they die they are turned into generators for the Empire to power cities and the war machines.  She is doing the unthinkable; she is escaping the school and stealing one of the generators. If she is caught they won't wait for her to die, they will turn her into a generator now, which seems like a fate worse than death.  The voice of the generator she stole is in her head and while he might have a use for her now and promises of teaching her magic, he has an agenda of his own as well.

"Have you already forgotten what I said about that book?  Think of who it was that wrote it.  The wretch Lysandros, as befits an agent of the Empire, conquers through lies."
Arienne scoffed. "This book doesn't read like lies.  I'd say the author's tone is very sincere."
"Nobody conquers the world with insincere lies."

Overall this is a pretty interesting fantasy story.  I liked the characters and the journeys they are on, that are all transforming them into something more.  Loren was one of my favorites as she accidentally inspires a broken nation to rise up against their oppressors.  I do wish that a few of the battles had a little more detail to them but I think if you aren't a huge fantasy reader  those will actually flow better for you.  This read like the first book in a series, with the opportunity in future books to explore more nations and more stories of the primary characters.  However, it ends in such a way that this could also be a standalone and left to the readers imagination the world the characters build after.   In Korean, this is a planned trilogy so I assume if it does well in the US we will see two more books in this world.

"Destiny may offer men and women who would be kings, but only the people may exalt them."

[Chantaal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came out of this appreciating the straightforward and interesting fantasy story we get, but feeling a little disappointed that it didn't really bring much new to the table.

Blood of the Old Kings takes place in a fantasy world where the all powerful empire maintains its power with magic. This magic is powered by the corpses of dead sorcerers, who keep being magical batteries forever and ever. Fucking fantastic magical premise, right? In this world we follow three characters who are bucking against the weight of the Empire and how it has affected their lives. Loran lost her family, and the story kicks off with her visiting a dragon and gaining power and a pretty rad sword from it and a destiny to become the next king of her conquered homeland. Cain lives in the capital, laying low and surviving as much as he can as he investigates the death of someone close to him. Arienne is magic student, taken from her home and put into school, except all this school really does is prepare their students to take care of themselves so they'll be very good, strong batteries for the Empire when they're dead.

Having three different main characters like this allowed for the story to explore this fantasy world and the politics and magic and revolution in three different ways...but the characters themselves mainly fell flat, and that's where the biggest disappointment stems for me.

Arienne probably had the most interesting storyline, as it digs into the weird, creepy, awful magic system. Her backstory and her motivations were the most interesting - she runs away because she doesn't want to spend her whole life under the thumb of the Empire, preparing for death. Unfortunately, Loran and Cain paled in comparison. Loran has a typical hero plot line (with some interesting magic), and Cain had a shadowy politics storyline that I was incredibly bored with.

The writing I think was the weakest part of the book as a whole, and led to the weak character work. I don't think this is a translation issue. The prose is serviceable. It's fine. It's so Just Fine that I didn't once feel any sort of expanded emotion toward anything except moments of huh and wow, okay. I didn't feel truly connected to the plot or characters or world whatsoever, and I spent the last third of the book mentally checked out - which is terrible, because that's when all the action stuff happens. I just didn't care! Which is disappointing!

This story ends in a way that leaves things very much open for a series, but even if it doesn't continue on, then it still wraps up fine.

I keep thinking about how I wish I had enjoyed this more, and how much more interesting the story would have been if it had been much more about Arienne.

Anyway! A solid 3 stars, a decent fantasy romp. Nothing bad here, but nothing super great. This is actually a really good beginner level fantasy for anyone looking to get into the genre, now that I'm thinking about it.

Thanks to Tor Books and Net Galley for the advance reader copy in exchange for this review, and HUGE double thanks to Tor Books for sending me a finished copy. Blood of the Old Kings is available now.

[Paperback Mo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this but the convoluted plot just got me so confused. I couldn’t even keep track of what was happening or who the villains were.
2.5 stars

[Steph | bookedinsaigon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Tor Books and NetGalley for the free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

DNF at 48%. First off, I appreciated that this was a vaguely Eurofeudal fantasy world written by a non-European author. It's important to note that this story has little bearing on Korean culture, and good on the author for writing the type of high fantasy that is usually assumed to be the purview of white/European authors! Additionally, Hur's translation was impressively smooth, and thanks to his work the writing holds up well against traditionalist fantasy expectations.

I struggled over whether or not to DNF this (and I may indeed still change my mind in the future), but about halfway in I realized that I still had not learned very much about the world or the three characters, and that, combined with the slow pacing, made it all too easy for me to put this down and walk away. I got the gist that Arland (as well as some other kingdoms?) had been conquered and under the Empire's rule for about 20 years, but found it difficult to distinguish between the culture and values of all the different people that mixed together as a result. I didn't get a good sense of the empire as villain, which made me struggle to invest in the story.

All three main characters, unfortunately, sounded similar and were inadequately developed, despite having supposedly fascinating storylines. The book starts with a fantastic scene of Loran claiming the dragon's blessing as the rightful heir to Arland, but rather than provide us with more backstory about the dragon or the history of Arland, or even about Loran herself, we simply follow her on a series of similar-sounding battles. Arienne also has an interesting storyline which is hampered by a lack of sufficient backstory and plodding pace.

Still, I'm going to give this 3 stars because of the fluidity of the writing/translation. It's just that I'm on a mission to DNF more books that I know will just end up being 3 stars for me. This is a serviceable high fantasy that I wish had done more in terms of character development, world-building, and pacing to capture my emotions.

[Paul Fulcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

“나는 아를란드의 공주다. 왕이 될 것이다.”
“I am a Princess of Arland. And I shall become King”

Blood of the Old Kings is Anton Hur's translation of 메르시아의 별 (Star of Mersia) by 김성일 (Sung-Il Kim), the first part of what is known in the original as the Mersia Trilogy, but in English The Bleeding Empire series.

Upfront I need to acknowledge my grandiose entirely-self-appointed role as reviewer of translated-from-Korean fiction on Goodreads means I read books of a type I wouldn't read if in English or translated from any other language, and this, a YA fantasy story, is a prime example, indeed one where I should have drawn the line, as even George Martin's works leave me cold. But even with that issue, I'm not sure this is a strong example of the genre (or I hope so for the genres sake).

The book's blurb contains the worldbuilding and I will simply repeat it:

Powered by the corpses of sorcerers, the Empire has conquered the world. It claims to have brought peace and stability to its conquered lands, but some see that peace for what it is—a lie—and will give everything in the fight against it.

Loran is desperate for revenge after the Empire killed her family, so much so that the swordswoman climbs the volcano where the legends say an ancient dragon slumbers and leaps in. She finds that the legends are true, and Loran leaves the mountain with a sword made of dragon’s fang and a great purpose before her.

Cain arrived in the Imperial Capital lost and orphaned, and it’s only thanks to the kindness of a stranger-turned-mentor that he survived on the city’s streets. When his friend is found murdered, he will leave no stone unturned to find those responsible, even if it means starting a war.

Arienne’s future has never been in question—born a sorcerer, she’ll be a Power Generator for the Empire upon her death. But when she starts to hear the voice of a powerful necromancer in her head, she realizes the only thing more terrifying than dying for the Empire is never getting to truly live in the first place.

One distinctive decision the author has made is to open the book in media res - with Loran (로란), a widowed swordswoman in her late 30s, awaking in the chained and slumbering dragon's lair, where the beast is surprised (and a bit offended) to find she is not royalty:

“I am common-born. Not a princess.”

Loran tried not to cringe as the dragon’s enormous face closed in on hers. It squinted all seven of its eyes and shifted its attention a little downward. It was examining the t’laran inked around her neck. She bore clan tattoos like all Arlanders, though since the Empire came the concept of clans had lost its hold over Arland, especially in Kingsworth, where she lived. But the dragon was looking for the royal markings designed in its own image, and her t’laran certainly didn’t have them. She could smell the sulfur on the dragon’s breath as it spoke.

“Not a princess? Do you not know that only those carrying the blood of kings may survive crossing the threshold?”

Loran knew what the legends said, but still she had come.

“Arland is an old country, and the royal blood has spread to many of its people. I have come here in the belief that I, too, have a little of the blood of the old kings.”

But he soon overcomes his disappointment, both proclaim her destiny is to be royal (if the book has one historical message, it is that a royal position is earned by deeds not blood and evidenced by the loyalty of the people, not genetic testing) and furnishes her with a weapon that essentially renders her invincible.

And the downside of the editorial decision is we get no real understand of how Loran is, or what might make her exceptional. Perhaps the novel's lesson is that she isn't, she is just an ordinary person who took action, but then we get no real sense of why no one else had gone to find the dragon (it doesn't seem very hard) and, more significantly for my taste, the weapons she has give this book Myron Bolitar Syndrome (after Harlan Coben's execrable books) - there isn't much jeopardy in the plot when faced with a army of thousands the character simply turns into a dragon and roasts them all to a crisp.

And if that doesn't work she can always team up with Ariane (아리엔) and her all powerful magic and ability to simply wish people dead (despite apparently being a failed magic scholar, but handily she has a necromancer inside her mind).

The other sub-story of Cain (케인) is a little more intriguing as though ostensibly on the same side - all three are Arlander from a province opressed by the Roman-like Empire - he lives in the imperial capital and actually spends much of his time thwarting a plot by a rich sponsor of the Arlander rebel forces to destroy the capital, and everyone it it including a community from Arlander, with a magical equivalent of a nuclear bomb, the (in Korean) eponymous Star of Mersia.

Cain also doesn't have any particular power, other than his intellect and streetsmarts, and so struggles more to overcome his opposition (which comes from both the Empire's secret police and the extreme Arlander rebels), although rather disappointly at the novel's end he comes up against an apparently invincible agent of the Arlanders, and defeats him in a fair fight - it felt like the author forgot he didn't have some dragon-Necromancer-forged tool, or couldn't be bothered to think of a clever trick he could use, although there are hints that he now has at his disposal, and/or is being used by, an other worldy power that appears to him in the form of his murdered friend.

I tend to reserve 1 star for books that are overhyped and I had expected to be good, so I will generously award this 2 stars for living down to my expectations.

[Christian Guerrero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pues bastante sorprendido por este libro, últimamente no conectaba mucho con autores asiáticos y con este me lo he bebido practicamente los ratos que tenía. Librazo aunque si que es verdad que el final es un poco apresurado y algo predecible pero el camino y los personajes se disfrutaron mucho!

[Caitlin G · Rating 2 out of 5]

Final review: 2.5/ 5 Stars.

In an Empire literally powered by the bodies of dead mages, three unconnected individuals begin journeys that could bring that empire to its knees. First there's a swordswoman out for revenge who is granted a magic sword by a dragon; in return, she vows to rise up, overthrow the empire, and become her homeland's king. Then there's a young man from the streets investigating his friend's murder and what it has to do with a secret resistance group in the capital. Lastly, there's a mage trying to escape the clutches of the empire, determined to avoid her fate of becoming just another battery to power the Empire's oppression. Their fates are intertwined, but will it be enough to destroy the Empire that conquered magic?

Despite a fascinating and unique premise, BLOOD OF THE OLD KINGS fails to deliver a memorable experience. To the book's credit, it starts out with its best foot forward. Each of the first three chapters starts in media res as our three POV characters are at a crucial juncture in their lives. We meet Loran, for instance, when she is already negotiating with a dragon for the sword that will give her the strength to battle the empire. I was immediately intrigued by all the storylines and couldn't wait to see where they went.

Unfortunately, there wasn't a lot of substance to support the setup. Everything about the world-building felt very surface level, even as it tries to have complexity. There's different factions trying to overthrow the empire, for instance, each with different lengths they are willing to go to in order to win. But the leaders of those factions felt one dimensional, or sometimes barely appeared on the page at all.

Likewise, the plot and the characters felt very uneven. The story of Loran the swordswoman, for instance, would take sporadic time jumps. That wouldn't be bad itself if it didn't seem to also skip over things that felt like they should be big set pieces or sequences, like Loran's first fights with her new swords or a battle to take a key fort. And while a couple of the POVs do intersect with each other, two major storylines end up being largely separate from each other, resulting in a book that didn't feel like it had a cohesive narrative.

Loran did have the most interesting character arc as she wrestles with the notion of what it means to be king. When she starts the story, she feels like a fraud for declaring herself king because she has no royal blood. Her emotional journey of realizing what it means to assume responsibility for a people was one of the more compelling aspects of the story.

There are enough good pieces in this book that I thought I'd write a review recommending a flawed but interesting new entry in the epic fantasy space. I liked Cain's investigation into his friend's murder, especially as it runs him afoul of both an extremist group and the Empire's secret police. I liked Arienne's strange memory magic and watching her learn to warp reality around her.

Unfortunately, the ending of the book left me underwhelmed. At least two characters made some truly baffling decisions at major story points. The final chapter, which jumps forward in time and serves almost as an epilogue, felt like a poor attempt to tie a neat bow on the story. Perhaps the author was going for a realistic ending, but it left me deeply frustrated and unsatisfied.

BLOOD OF THE OLD KINGS reads like a book where the broad story beats have been laid out, but it really needed another writing pass to deepen the world and the relationships. I will still fully credit it for a creative idea for a premise, but unfortunately, that alone was not enough to hold my interest. At the end of the day, this sadly isn't a read that I recommend.

Note: I was provided a free ARC by the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.

[Alexa (Alexa Loves Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s important to note that I flew through this book despite picking it up to read at a time when I was actually quite distracted by responsibilities in my real life. It’s a testament to how smooth the translation is, and how decently paced the unfolding of the plot is as well.

That being said, it didn’t feel like there was a lot about this world, plot or even the characters that really stood out for me as being well-developed or unique. While there is definitely some solid legs to build an entire novel upon (and a novel that, as already mentioned, was easy to read), it didn’t really end up being a story that earned my personal investment.

[Darren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me an advanced copy for an honest review.

I was really excited to read this as it had a lot of promise: great cover art, three POV characters - a princess leading a rebellion with a dragon sword, a murder mystery and an escaping sorceress. But the characters were pretty flat so I didn't connect with them, the plot was fairly linear and there was a lot more telling than showing, so a big disappointment overall. I won't be continuing with the series.

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart

Review copy was received from . This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Blood of the Old Kings is a Korean novel translated to English.  As I've found with other writers from other countries there is a distinct type of storytelling/flow that  wasn't specifically what I'm used to in American novels but might be more prevalent in Korean ones.  I don't think if you didn't know the original was in Korean, you would be able to tell in the translation as it was smooth.  I just want to mention the cover is fantastic and 3/4 of the reason I picked the book up .

The story is experienced through three different characters.  Each with their own arc in the story that impacts the others at some point.  Through them the reader explores different parts of this Feudal world and some of the magic in it.  With a foe powered by powerful magic that is harnessed from sorcerers after they die to run mechanical chariots, tanks and sometimes city killing machines.

Loren has gone into the volcano where the last dragon is held prisoner to make a bargain.  She will bond with him and go after the people who captured and occupy her land.  She will attempt to drive out the people who killed her husband and daughter and so doing become King of Arland.  The effects of her bargain are subtle at first but as the story goes on the reader gets to explore how her transformation is changing her and how a former teacher of the sword could become king of a nation.

"A sword needs a scabbard, as fury needs restraint."

Cain lives in a large city in the heart of the empire.  He came there as a child when his parents were going to be killed for being part of a rebellion.  Left in a strange city with no family, he has become the person other refugees and lower members of society come to when they have a mystery to solve.  Now he is trying to solve the murder of a friend, the woman that first helped him when we came to the city.  But, there is danger around every corner and Cain quickly finds that whatever she was caught up in might just get him killed too.  As he uncovers a plot in the city, he sees how it is tied to the Princess who would become King of Arland and has to decide who he helps, the people in the city he has lived in most his life or the country of his birth.

Arienne was taken from Arland as a child to go to the sorcerer school.  It used to be a place where they were trained in spells and magic.  The school is no longer that, it is more of a holding pen and brainwashing camp to keep people with magic because when they die they are turned into generators for the Empire to power cities and the war machines.  She is doing the unthinkable; she is escaping the school and stealing one of the generators. If she is caught they won't wait for her to die, they will turn her into a generator now, which seems like a fate worse than death.  The voice of the generator she stole is in her head and while he might have a use for her now and promises of teaching her magic, he has an agenda of his own as well.

"Have you already forgotten what I said about that book?  Think of who it was that wrote it.  The wretch Lysandros, as befits an agent of the Empire, conquers through lies."
Arienne scoffed. "This book doesn't read like lies.  I'd say the author's tone is very sincere."
"Nobody conquers the world with insincere lies."

Overall this is a pretty interesting fantasy story.  I liked the characters and the journeys they are on, that are all transforming them into something more.  Loren was one of my favorites as she accidentally inspires a broken nation to rise up against their oppressors.  I do wish that a few of the battles had a little more detail to them but I think if you aren't a huge fantasy reader  those will actually flow better for you.  This read like the first book in a series, with the opportunity in future books to explore more nations and more stories of the primary characters.  However, it ends in such a way that this could also be a standalone and left to the readers imagination the world the characters build after.   In Korean, this is a planned trilogy so I assume if it does well in the US we will see two more books in this world.

"Destiny may offer men and women who would be kings, but only the people may exalt them."

Narration:
All three PoVs have a very district voice.  Suzy Jackson is one of my favorite narrators for characters that are 16-25,  She made Arienne's voice stand out in this narration capturing the strength and the unsurity the character has about her journey.  Eunice Wong as Loren was able to make be feel for the mother who lost everything and the future King that wants better for her people.  She was able to capture the essence of what I thought Loren character represented.  Major Curda as Cain gave a really good performance as well.  He is still so young in this tail and he was able to capture both his youth and the experience of his hard knock life in a major city of the Empire.  All narrators brought the characters to life and performed their parts with clear diction and cadences that helped the story flow even when the PoVs changed.  I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.