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.

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.

BOTOK tells a story about the loyalty and protection of the people's beloved country, Arland, and their journey to keep it safe. Oh! And there are dragons.

BOTOK is a decent read. It was quick, the Fantasy elements weren't too complex, and the character-building is something most authors should take a page and study. The story started strong, reminding me of The Poppy War. The grit, hunger, and determination the first character's POV exuded gave me the impression that this would be an epic journey. However, as I continued to read, I think the synopsis gave more of an "Epic" feel than the story produced. I'm used to trials, and obstacle course work to get to the final battle, but BOTOK cut out a lot of the fluff and got straight to it. It left the desire for "epic," but I appreciated the story nonetheless.

What do a vengeful widow, a wandering investigator, and a runaway sorcerer-in-training have in common? Well, they’re the heart of Blood of the Old Kings, and they’ve all got a bone to pick with the Empire.

Let’s start with Loran. She’s the kind of character you’d root for in any rebellion. The Empire didn’t just conquer her homeland, Arland—it tore her family apart during one of its infamous crackdowns. Her mission? Track down the ancient dragon that once protected Arland, now chained and defeated, and see if it’s got one last roar left for the good fight.

Then there’s Cain. He grew up far from home, thanks to parents who wisely shipped him off to the Imperial capital to avoid the Empire’s routine purges. He doesn’t feel much for Arland itself, but his heart belongs to the exiled Arlandian community he grew up around. When his closest friend—an altruist with a penchant for stirring hope—dies under mysterious circumstances, Cain turns detective. What he uncovers might just shake the very foundation of the Empire.

And finally, Arienne, a student sorcerer with a ticking clock on her life. The Empire has this fun little system where sorcerers aren’t taught to wield magic freely. Instead, they’re turned into literal batteries after their "deaths," powering the Empire’s war machines from beyond the grave. Arienne? She’s not about to let that happen. Her story is all about survival, escape, and sticking it to the system.

The plot spins these three stories into a tightly woven tapestry of rebellion, mystery, and magic. Loran wants to lead Arland to freedom. Cain is hunting for truth. Arienne is dodging a fate worse than death. Together, their paths cross in surprising, and sometimes unexpected, ways. Some twists hit like thunderbolts, while others keep you guessing—or laughing—about what could have been.

Now, I was thinking, is this a standalone story or the start of a series? Honestly, it's got potential! It’s got all the makings of a self-contained tale, but there’s also plenty of room for sequels if the author decides to keep the fire burning.

All in all, I enjoyed reading this adventure, it had a good pace, great characters. Blood of the Old Kings delivered an exciting mix of intrigue, defiance, and heart, set in a world that felt both fantastical and deeply rooted in history. Highly recommend for anyone who loves layered characters and rebellion with a dash of dragons (duh!)

It was ok. I thought all the ideas were great and I want more. I do feel like it was missing a lot of world building and some character development but would be instead in another installment

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**TL;DR**: This was a sleeper hit for me - I loved it.
**Source**: eArc via Netgalley and a physical book via the publisher - THANK YOU!

**Plot**: Three PoVs each fight and rebel against the Empire that has conquered them in their own ways.
**Characters**: I found myself loving each and every PoV character and many of the side characters, I was very invested.
**Setting**: The setting felt very real and alive for me. I still think about this one, even days later.
**Fantasy:** A classic rebellion plot with dragons and some final fantasy style machines

**Thoughts**:

I would describe Blood the Old Kings as a classic rebellion fantasy meets Final Fantasy - specifically the machinery in FFXIV and the related games. I would also recommend this as similar to The Grace of Kings with a lot less bloat.

This follows three individuals who each end up fighting against a conquering empire in their own ways. One woman makes a deal with a dragon to become the next King, a young student ends up following a voice in her head who leads her down a dangerous path and straight into the empire’s crosshairs, and a young man working in an olive oil shop tries to solve the murder of his close friend.

For me each of these view points was radically different and I wasn’t completely sold on each of them till the final stages when it began to knit together. The pacing wasn’t quite perfect, and my interest lagged a tiny bit in the first half, but once you begin to see the connections - and connect they do, it becomes fantastic. The world perhaps needed a little bit of fleshing out, but it was vivid enough to support our characters wonderfully.

I’m also desperate for more of this story as it was teased there was more in store for our characters. I can’t stop thinking about this and I recommend for any Fantasy fans who are looking for something a little different.

4.75 out of 5 Eight Eyed Dragons

3.5 stars

Another difficult-to-write review. The first chapter of this book really was fantastic, and it made me really like Loran's character. She is brave and wants to get her vengeance on the Empire that took her family. Arienne is a young girl who has lived the majority of her life in a school, preparing to serve the rest of her life as a sorcerer and then become a magic battery when she dies. She runs away and the Empire is now tracking her down. Cain is a man on a mission to discover who killed his friend and why. Each of these characters is interesting and has a dangerous journey ahead of them.

This book is confusing because the concept is so interesting, but the translation really lets it down. I think I would have liked it better if I could read in the original language, but as I am not fluent in Korean, that's not possible. What was lost in translation made it hard to connect completely with the characters. I found Cain's chapters to be the least interesting, and that's always when I would put the book down and find it hard to pick it back up.

The climax was really well done, except for the fade-to-black final scene with Loran. I was really disappointed not to get the whole fight scene. The time jump was surprising and threw me off. The last chapter gives us some hope, and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. I hope to see more of what happened to Loran and Arienne. I hope we are able to connect and feel more invested in the characters in book two.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Blood of the Old Kings has an interesting premise, a dark empire run solely on the blood of dead mages and a 7-eyed dragon! We meet three main characters at different turning points in their lives, Arienne, Loren, and Caine. While each of their stories are unique, I didn’t really feel connected to any of them in particular. One the other hand the world building for such a dark fantasy is fantastic. I enjoyed reading this book mainly because I like books by Asian writers. However, I think a lot got lost in translation, the main reason why I wasn’t in love with their characters even though they have high stakes. This has happened before while reading translated Japanese books. Sadly I just don’t think the English language has the right words or concepts to describe the originals.

Right off the bat the premise of the story caught my attention and it just kept building from there. Blood of the old kings has fantastic and rich world building and characters that are compelling and interesting to follow.

This was a translation of a Korean novel (translated by Anton Hur) that I am happy to say I enjoyed quite a lot.

The three protagonists (Loran, Cain, Arienne) are all from Arland, a small kingdom which was conquered by the all-encompassing Empire several decades before the story begins. I’m assuming Arland is meant to be inspired by Korea, and there were a number of things that suggested to me it was inspired by the Three Kingdoms period specifically, but I don’t know enough about Korean history to be sure or even say anything intelligent here. Moving on.

Loran’s husband and daughter were killed by the Empire during a crackdown against unrest (which they were not involved in). She seeks out the dragon that is the guardian of Arland. The dragon was defeated and chained when the Empire conquered the kingdom, but she still hopes to get the dragon’s help or at least its blessing.

Cain was sent to the Imperial capital when he was young, before his parents could be swept up in the same kind of crackdown (they seem to be a semi-regular thing). He doesn’t feel a strong connection to Arland as such, but he does connect strongly to the Arland expatriate community in the capital. He is seeking to learn who killed a dear friend who devoted herself to helping her fellow Arlanders, and why she died.

Arienne is a student sorcerer. The power of the Empire depends on sorcerers, though not in the sense one usually finds in a fantasy story. They are not taught magic, save for some very specific ways that can serve the Empire. But upon their deaths (at least what the Empire says is their deaths) their bodies are locked in lead sarcophagi and provide the power for the Empire and its war machines. Arienne will do anything to avoid this fate.

What follows is three interwoven stories, as Loran seeks to lead Arland in rebellion and become king, Cain tries to find out what happened to his friend, and Arienne tries to flee the academy where she lives and/or is imprisoned. The three together form a greater story, with some surprising connections (and some connections I was expecting but was surprised not to find).

I’m not certain if this is intended to be the first in a series or not. I’ve seen it described as book 1 in some places, but not others. There’s room for sequels, but it also works perfectly well as a standalone. Overall strongly recommended.

Sung-il Kim (translated by Anton Hur) creates a world in which the bodies of dead sorcerers are the engines that power civilization.Arienne, who has sorcerer ability has to go to an academy that really doesn’t teach much. Then she starts hearing the voice of an ancient sorcerer who wants her to recover his body. To do so he teaches her some spells, and when she gets his corpse, she has to run to her homeland of Arland and learn more sorcery to protect her from Cain, an ancient sorcerer barely alive. In Arland a widowed swordswoman decides she has nothing to lose by confronting the ancient, chained dragon who once protected Arland and is given a flaming sword. Thus starts a rebellion against the Empire that can only succeed with the Blood of the Old Kings (hard from TOR). Lots of fun

DNF. I really wanted to like this book, I tried. But I just couldn't get into it. I don't know if it was the translation that threw me off. I might try it again sometime later in life, but it just wasn't the right book for me right now. I think the story has potential so it might be someone else's book.