I had high hopes for this but it felt flat for me. I couldn't get myself invested in any characters, and the plot felt disconnected to me

Confession, I have been on a manwha deep-dive for the last two years--both your regular contemporary read as well as historical and political fantasy. It was so nice to have another somewhat similar story to consume with my binge.

The main three characters are compelling and fascinating, often showcasing a level of depth that is rare in fantasy with a feminine-centric POV. I'm a sucker for Chosen One stories, so this scratched that itch, and I found the world and magic itself super fun to be immersed in.

My only nit picky complaint is I think there may have been some translation issues only in that sometimes things felt a bit flat? But honestly, it's a solid fantasy read for someone wanting a fun fantasy world to live in!

Blood of the Old Kings presents an intriguing world where the empire’s magic is powered by the corpses of dead sorcerers, an unsettling and unique premise that immediately caught my attention. The story follows three protagonists—Loran, Cain, and Arienne—each with their own rebellion against the empire’s oppressive rule. Loran, a vengeance-driven warrior, wields a dragon-forged sword. Cain is a street-savvy investigator searching for his friend’s murderer. Arienne, born to be a living battery for the empire’s magic, begins questioning everything when she starts hearing the voice of a necromancer.

The novel shines in its worldbuilding and political intrigue, painting a grim and fascinating landscape of rebellion, power, and oppression. The characters' struggles feel real, and the magic system is both dark and compelling. However, the execution sometimes falters—character development feels rushed, and certain emotional beats don’t land as impactfully as they should. Some sections also drag, making the pacing inconsistent.

Despite these flaws, I appreciated the unique setting and themes, especially the rare representation of an over-30 female protagonist with depth and agency. The book's ambition is commendable, even if it doesn’t always fully deliver. A solid read for fans of dark fantasy and rebellion narratives, but it may not leave a lasting impression.

Until very recently, science fiction and fantasy had a predominant flow of cultural borrowing that generally went from non-Eurocentric cultures, to America and Britain. This started with the idea of orientalism and places beyond the metaphysical Great Wall of Europe, if depicted at all, being done in an exoticizing fashion most of the time. As science fiction and fantasy has brought more global voices to Western audiences, that of course, has changed. We are now getting plenty of fantasy from beyond that Great Wall, from Africa and particularly from East Asia. Borrowings of tropes from Africa and East and South Asia have been moving toward more nuanced and less problematic directions on the whole.

But culture is never a one-way street. The world is not a game of Civilization where one country’s dominant culture overwhelms all others. There is give and take, and cultures borrow from each other all the time. And in this day and age, it seems logical that we can and will find Western SFF tropes in science fiction and fantasy written outside the West. But given publishing, such stories have been not easy to find or read in the West until comparatively recently.

Cover of Blood of the Old Kings, by Sung Il-Kim, featuring an Asian-style dragon looming over and coiling around someone reaching for a sword.
And so we come to Blood of the Old Kings by Korean author Sung-il Kim, translated into English by Anton Hur. It might look at first like just a typical epic fantasy novel, but a closer read reveals something rather different than you’d expect, even by the standards of modern fantasy epics.

This book is the epitome of a classic fantasy and though it’s a well-told story, it’s also one I feel as if I’ve read before.

We follow three POVs, each working in their own way to take down the Empire. The magic system is unique, coming as a power source from dead sorcerers, to which one of our characters is working with, so we have a first-hand account of how the magic works. I loved Loran, who embodies the power of a dragon, her story felt the most interesting to me, but some choices didn’t feel as if they made sense and I wondered if that was a bit of a plot-hole, or maybe something that didn’t translate well.

As far as I could tell, this is a phenomenal translation. I didn’t feel as if I was missing any of the plot or details because of translation, and went so far as to say the writing felt unique, I assume because of how closely the translation follows the original language.

I can’t say I’ll continue this series, but I would definitely recommend it!

Blood of the Old Kings by Sung-il Kim is a super cool fantasy novel that mixes action, magic, and a bit of mystery. The story follows a young guy named Jeong, who’s thrown into this ancient world full of gods, kings, and dangerous power struggles. It’s one of those books where the world-building really stands out—you’ll get lost in this unique setting where every decision can change everything.

Jeong is a pretty relatable main character. He’s got his own struggles and feels out of place a lot, but he’s determined to figure things out. The plot moves fast, with twists and turns that’ll keep you hooked. There’s a lot of magic, battles, and moments where you’ll be like, “Whoa, didn’t see that coming!”

What I really liked was how the book mixes old legends and mythology with a modern kind of hero’s journey. There are parts that might feel a bit complicated, but overall, it’s an exciting adventure for anyone who loves epic fantasy with lots of action and cool world-building.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I love epic fantasy, and The Blood of Old Kings felt like epic fantasy scaled down into a story that is both shorter and more accessible to read for those who prefer a novel length tale.

The story is told from three points of views and weaves through separate time lines. The movement between the three is very easy to follow. Loran is a swordwoman who had made a deal with a dragon to become king. Arienne is desperate to escape her imprisonment and future as a living battery for the empire. Finally, Cain, a refugee, investigates the murder of a friend. This quickly pulls him in the middle of political espionage. Each of the three characters are unique and have their own voice.

The world building is very solid. Readers will find all sorts of magical creatures, fantastical machines, and magic. The story as a whole is very appealing. I really enjoyed the elements of rebellion and magic.

Overall, the book is solid. It’s an amazing read filled with intrigue, interesting characters and an engaging story line. Definitely one I will add to our library collection and certainly recommend.

There've been an increasing number of fantasy books translated to English recently, and I am absolutely here for them. I grew up on Tolkien et al, but it's just a joy to hear the different tones, vibes and voices from alternative (usually non-Western) cultures, which give a brilliant originality and freshness to what often seems a well-mined fictional vein.

The tenet of this book was fascinating: using the dead as a power source. Simple as a concept, and yet so very dark! Alternate viewpoints then expand as the book moves forward, with some excellent world-building and characterisation.

While it could be argued that we have a 'chosen hero' and a faction of rebels fighting an empire, the grounded humanity of the protagonists always keeps them relatable. Yes, dragon-gifted powers may be great, but they come with pain and obligation (plus the trauma of seeking out a dragon to help with revenge carries its own weight). This story isn't simple, and that kept me turning the pages because I simply could not see where these folk would go. Unpredictable fantasy may well be my new catnip!

Beautiful writing/translation, memorable characters and a fascinating adventure. Sung-il Kim is on my Watch list moving forward!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very unique fantasy story. The beginning completely drew me in - I loved how it started right away with a widow making a deal with an all-powerful dragon to become the next king. That captured my attention right away!
The story itself follows 3 POVs, each very different from each other. I loved them all, and they were woven together quite well. I was intrigued by the different cultures created here, the worldbuilding, and the unique system of magic that uses the bodies of dead sorcerors as power generators. Very unique!
But, the translation felt like it was missing something. I'm not sure how the prose was in Korean, but the English prose felt very straightforward and didn't lend itself to the story.

Really something else. Definitely the kind of unique fantasy epic I'd been needing near the end of this year. I was hooked from Page 1, and even during the slower bits (of which there were many), I was still very much taken by it. I absolutely love our protagonists, the action was never boring, the world (and basic premise of this world) are like nothing else, and I ended the book desperately wanting to start it again.

And the translation seems to have been quite good! I can't speak to how smoothly the transition from Korean to English was, but there was a distinctive authorial voice that I could still feel, so that's probably a good thing, yeah? I've read enough dull translations of non-English works in my youth to be absolutely thrilled with how Anton Hur has made this novel sing in English.

Actual rating: 3.75-4.0 stars.

The first book in a trilogy, Blood of the Old Kings by Sung-Il Kim, trans. Anton Hur, feels like an epic fantasy scaled down to average novel-sized proportions. Told from the alternating perspectives of several characters, this book follows three overlapping plotlines. Loran, a provincial swordswoman, makes a deal with a dragon to become king of Arland and overthrow the colonizing Empire in a revenge plot against the unjust execution of her spouse and child. Arienne seeks to escape the magic "school" in which she has been imprisoned until she is called upon to be a living battery for the Empire's capital city or war machines, but her method of escape involves getting in over her head with the Empire's dark past. Finally, Cain, an Arlander refugee who has assimilated into Empire life, is pulled into a major political espionage plot as he investigates the sudden murder of a dear friend.

There is something in this novel for everyone. As the plot thickens, so, too, will the reader be pulled into this intricately tangled web of politics, rebellion, battle, and magic. Kim has written for TTRPGs in the past, and it shows through his depiction of beasts and war mechanics--the many-eyed dragon and the seemingly mecha-esque Powered war machines of the Empire are just a couple examples of this. Kim also does a great job with the political subtleties as well, such as different names for the same region depending on one's alliance and perspective (ex. Arland versus Three Kingdoms versus Londeria), and the multi-faceted, complex experience of being a certain identity withing different contexts--each narrator is from Arland, but their ties to the region and their perspectives of Arland, its people, and its circumstances are all very different. Anton Hur is a master of translation as well--with some translated texts, the reader can more strongly feel the linguistic barriers that translations must overcome; with this book, that feeling is almost nonexistent until the reminder via Hur's translator bio at the end of the book. Bravo!

A few things I did have questions on, however--the magic in this world is both powerful and complex, in both use and history. While the history is somewhat explained in the novel, it would be helpful to have some clarification regarding the rules for magic usage, especially Arienne's rooms. They're really cool, but how exactly do they work? Also, while the battles are action-packed, there are certain points that feel very vague or rushed, such as the ending. I'm happy that this is a series, because I'm hoping that some of these lingering questions will be explained in the next book. This is a trilogy that I will definitely continue!

Readers who enjoy this book may also like: Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao, the Grishaverse books (especially Six of Crows) by Leigh Bardugo, The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang, She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan, and A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik. Other works by Anton Hur include Toward Eternity (author), Cursed Bunny and I Want to Die But I Want to Eat Tteokbokki (translator), among others.

I love me a book about characters who will do what it takes to survive and be better with an addition of dragons! This was the first translated fantasy fiction book I've read. Anton Hur did a fantastic job of translating this story!

Blood of the Old Kings is a high fantasy with three main character perspectives. It was so refreshing to read a fantasy book with a cast of characters with a wide age range. One of the female MCs is 35+ years old and full of rage against the empire (woo!). This book has a super interesting use of necromancers and sorcerers that I enjoyed. I didn't find myself loving the characters all that much. I think I couldn't connect to them due to the way the story is written. I wanted them to succeed and I was rooting for them in their own struggles but it was less about them personally and more about the greater objective good.

Thank you so much Tor for the eArc and final finished copy!

*Blood of the Old Kings* by Sung-il Kim is a captivating and ambitious epic that blends political intrigue, ancient mythology, and complex characters. Set in a richly imagined world, the novel follows multiple factions vying for power, each with its own secrets and agendas. Kim's world-building is impressive, offering a detailed and immersive setting, while the narrative’s intricate plotting keeps readers hooked. The characters are well-developed, with motivations that feel authentic and layered. Though the pacing can be slow at times, the depth of the story and its twists make *Blood of the Old Kings* a rewarding read for fans of epic fantasy.

3.5 stars rounded up!

This is a solid epic fantasy with an interesting world where the EMPIRE (I really dont' think it's every properly named?) utilizes necromancy in order to reign control over multiple lands. We follow the perspectives of three characters part of the Arland diaspora, a land once ruled by a King and protected by a now slumbering dragon. Loran, who awakens the dragon and declares herself the future king of Arland; Caine, a young man living in the Imperial Capitol who is determined to find out who killed one of his mentors; and Arienne, a student sorcerer who is determined to break free from an inevitable end.

There were so many aspects of this book I really loved - how it talks about empire and subjugation, how it talks about resistance and rebellion - but many of the plotlines ended up feeling quite convenient and I'm wondering how this will build into a larger series (this is the first of three, I think). We are yet to really know who the big bad is, as the Empire is purely faceless and nameless. I'm looking forward to the second in this series, and have to give props to Anton Hurr on translating such a fast-paced read.

4.25 ⭐️ rounded down.

Ok first of all the world building is just so dang cool. Between the dragon in the volcano giving one of our protagonists a sword that summons dragon fire, to the crazy empire that has figured out how to turn mages into batteries to power their mechs…I was just so fascinated. The characters were just ok for me, but this twist on the native people of a land fighting the technologically advanced empire was just doing it for me. If you’re looking for fun sci-fantasy blends that are much more on the fantasy side you can read this and thank me later.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy to review.

I love that we're getting more Asian authors and representation in traditionally published books. I wish I loved this book more, but was a bit underwhelmed. The dragon magic was awesome, but unfortunately I wasn't invested in the characters enough.

Thanks Tor Publishing Group for an eARC in exchange for an honest review

DNF'd at 25%! Unfortunately, this story was not for me. I liked how we get to follow three different characters within this world, but I couldn't connect with any of them. Also, I didn't like the writing style. I am not sure if it was Anton Hur's translation or Sung-il Kim's main writing style, but I didn't like it. Also, the pacing reminded me of classic fantasy, which made me to quickly lose interest. I'm sorry, but I couldn't push myself to finish. I think this story would be great for fans of a classic fantasy story. I wish I could really enjoy this, but alas...

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this eARC and audio-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Victory or defeat matters less than the fact that we fight."

I had a great time reading Blood of the Old Kings. The worldbuilding was probably the best part of the book for me. The unique world and the magic system kept me entertained the entire time. Between the three POVs, Cain's POV was a little lackluster compared to Arrienne's or Loran's.

Excited to see what happens with this series in the future!

<i>First, a thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this book.</i>

Holy shit, what an amazing opening chapter. This book had me hooked literally from page one, which was such a breath of fresh air for all of the meh books I have read lately.

Reading the acknowledgements and how Kim praised another author for teaching him the value of crisp prose… I can see it. This prose is crispy AF. No wasted words here. And while I am a bitch who loves flowery prose, I love equally as much writing that gets to the point and eats, no crumbs. And folks, this is it.

Does this book have several fantasy/action tropes? Well, yeah. If you boil it down, someone finding out they have power they didn’t know before, going on a hero’s journey, heading the call, etc, are not groundbreaking. But listen, they are <i>classic</i> for a reason, and this book does it well.

Sometimes I really hate multiple POV books and find them tiresome. Other times, they add so much to a story and provide such a fun amount of antici- (such as [book:Six of Crows|23437156] or any of the GoT books) -pation, <b>especially</b> when shit is popping off and going crazy.

This book had me hungry for more. Hungry for the next chapter. Hungry for the next page. Hungry for the next paragraph. I haven’t felt the <i>need</i> and the rush of reading that this book gave me in… I don’t know. A while.

So with that being said, even if at its core it’s a basic bitch fantasy/adventure/action novel, with a DRAGON, of course… I don’t fucking care. Sometimes you just want to be entertained. And oh boy, was I entertained. And it was done well!

I cannot wait for the next book in this series; I did appreciate that there wasn’t an earth-shattering cliff hanger, because I absolutely DETEST that in a series (first of all, your first book should stand as a good story on its own without it being 3 or 400 pages of set up for a book two, and second of all, it’s just lazy! You don’t have to be like that!) - sure there was a little surprise at the end, but nothing that leaves me feeling unsatisfied.

The empire has its tomorrow, and that’s what we need to prepare for - I can’t wait to see what Kim has in store for us next.