Blood of the old kings was an excellent read. The writing was propulsive and the character development was rich.

Coming off Onyx Storm I just wanted more dragons. So when I saw Blood of the Old Kings available for audiobook review, I decided to check it out. Even though I often read fantasy, this isn't the normal fantasy type of book I read. Having it on audio is probably the only way I finished Blood of the Old Kings. As a matter of fact, I listened to three hours in one day because I was driving my kids on a field trip out of town. This allowed me to get invested in the story a little. And then I just listened a little at a time here and there until I finished it.

There are three main characters and three audio narrators. Each did a wonderful job. I appreciated having different narrators for each POV. Eunice Wong, Major Curda, and Suzy Jackson were the narrators.

The book starts with Loran climbing into the volcano where the last fire dragon is chained. She makes a deal with him, and he gifts her a fang used as a sword. She then starts calling herself the Princess of Arland (*sp?). After taking on a group of legionary soldiers on her own and rescuing another man, people begin to spread the word of the Princess of Arland. Hope sparks anew in their bellies, and rebellion grows against the Empire.

Arienne is born a sorcerer and is on a path to becoming a power generator. Power generators are kind of terrifying. They are dead sorcerers hooked up to machines using their magic to power things from lights to machines to this mysterious circuit of destiny. Arienne hears a voice in her head of a long-dead sorcerer who has been turned into a power generator. The sorcerer has plans of his own, but in the process, he helps Airenne discover power she didn't know she had.

Cain is a collector of favors. He doesn't collect them for power, but because he genuinely enjoys helping people when he can. He's trying to carry on the gift given to him when he showed up in the capital alone. He does interact with Arienne. And then Arienne interacts with Loran. So in a way, all of the stories are tied together.

Overall, I enjoyed Blood of the Old Kings. It was entertaining. I didn't dread listening to it, but I didn't feel compelled to keep listening. I always prefer stories with romances, but this was missing a romance altogether. Not all stories need them. And it would have been weird for this book to have had one, I think. But I still prefer to read relationship-driven books over plot-driven ones. Blood of the OId Kings gets 3.5 Stars. I don't think I'll continue the series. Have you read (or listened to) Blood of the Old Kings? What did you think? Let me know!

*Since I listened to the audiobook, I have no way of knowing the spelling of various characters and places within the story. Goodreads provided me with character name spellings, but the places were not listed.

Blood of the Old Kings is a unique fantasy novel translated from Korean. We follow three different point of view characters, who each feel unique and were enjoyable to follow. The audiobook has three separate narrators and helps to clearly identify whose chapter you are listening to. While each character has different motivations and journeys, it was satisfying to watch them cross paths. This is a fast paced novel that keeps you engaged the entire time.

Those who enjoy the Foundaryside series by Robert Jackson Bennett will probably also love this one! This promises interesting magic, a journey towards revolution and revolt, a mystery, discussions on corruption and power, and so much more. I can't wait for the next book.

I thought this was...
- a fun and fast-paced high fantasy
- perfect for fans of king author-esqu retellings
- an engaging magical system

Blood of the Old Kings builds slowly until you're captivated. Featuring multiple POVs, and in the audiobook narrators, it's a story about justice and revenge. Kim does a great job at balancing the individuals and the larger and broader world plot. These micro and macro levels of intrigue. We see the ways we're just looking for answers about our friend, trying to survive the next day, and looking for revenge. At the same time, our individual desires end up falling into these larger broader world movements that are impacted by the smallest stone rolling. Blood of the Old Kings is full of sacrifices, quests, and the wary line between friend and enemy. There's something to love and grow attached to in each perspective and that's why I loved the multiple narrators in the audiobook. Eunice Wong, Major Curda & Suzy Jackson all bring something special to their respective perspectives. Not only does it help us figure out who is who, but it stops the book from feeling stagnant which multiple POVs book can if the pace isn't perfect.

I truly enjoyed this audiobook. Getting to know the three points of view made the story multidimensional. Adrienne, Cain, and Loran wee dynamic characters and their stories drew me in and held me captive. I'm looking forward to a continuation of the story in the next one.

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.

Book Review: Blood of the Old Kings by Sung-Il Kim

I loved Blood of the Old Kings by Sung-Il Kim. It’s an epic fantasy that pulls you in with its strong characters, intricate storylines, and a world filled with magic and rebellion.

The story follows three main characters: Loran, Arienne, and Cain. Loran is a widow seeking revenge for her family’s execution, willing to risk everything—even striking a dangerous deal with a dragon. Arienne, a mage, escapes from the Academy, where mages are used for energy after death, determined to avoid that dark fate. Cain, in the Empire’s capital, investigates his best friend’s murder, only to uncover secrets that could destroy both him and the Empire. Each character’s journey is filled with challenges, tough choices, and moments of personal growth.

What I enjoyed most was how their stories slowly came together as the Empire’s grip on power begins to crumble. The book is full of action, twists, and emotional depth. It also explores themes like power, sacrifice, and the lengths people will go to for justice and freedom.

If you’re a fan of epic fantasy with complex characters and high-stakes drama, you’ll enjoy Blood of the Old Kings. It’s a captivating read that kept me hooked until the very end. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ALC 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.

Told from three POV's (Loran, Cain, and Arienne), this book about going up against a menacing empire had me captivated at first. Unfortunately, I quickly lost interest. The story was so convoluted, the world building was confusing, and the characters lost the pizazz they had in the first three chapters. I really wanted to like this book, but in the end, it definitely wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. Eunice Wong, Major Curda, and Suzy Jackson were fine narrators, and they did the best they could with what they were given.

I knew going into this that this work may be along the standard fantasy fare of these days (big bad empire that only little people can take down) so I didn’t mind the predictability of the plot. Unfortunately, there were many other aspects of the book working against its quality. The writing style of this work is weak. The sentence structure was generally simplistic, which made the whole read feel more boring than it needed to. There was also an odd number of similes that were unnecessary. The author also told us everything, which combined with the writing style made it impossible to connect with the characters or become immersed in the story. This work was translated from Korean, which may have added to these issues.

The worldbuilding and setting development were minimal. There were a few unique aspects incorporated that were interesting, but these little gems were scattered sparsely throughout. Nothing ever came to life or felt immersive, which is always disappointing in a fantasy. Similarly, the characters were flat and relatively standard with minimal development or depth.

There honestly wasn’t anything positive that stood out about this book aside from the gorgeous cover. While it is readable, it didn’t stand out or do anything particularly well. It’s also the beginning of a trilogy so do keep that in mind before starting. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for this arc. I enjoyed listening to this ARC immensely. In addition, the cover is just perfect! The telling of these three strangers journey is captivating. No book could go wrong when you throw in sorcerers, swordswomen, and dragons. If you love fantasy then this book is for you.

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!

3.5 ⭐️
The cover art is the first thing that drew me to this book and then I found the description intriguing. It was challenging for me to get into the book at first because I’d prefer a bit more background as the book moved from different viewpoints. Once I was able to get the viewpoints established in my mind I enjoyed the book. This is the first book I’ve read that’s been translated from Korean, so I don’t know if any of the nuances were lost in the translation.
The magic system was unique in that it the Empire uses the power of dead wizards. I do love the multiple viewpoints, and something that is interesting the different POVs don’t really overlap much, which gives a broader view of the story.
The audiobook is well produced and I love that there are multiple narrators for the various characters, that kept me engaged throughout the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance audiobook- all opinions are my own. Sorry it took me a bit to get to this review!

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.

I chose to attack this novel via audio, with a multicast featuring the voices of Eunice Wong, Major Curda, and Suzy Jackson. I blazed through this narration in 9 hours and 45 minutes, only stopping to sleep and to catch some quiet time in my house.

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.

For Fans of:
- Between Dragons and Their Wrath
- The Sky on Fire

This book includes:
- themes of colonialism, racism, systemic oppression, poverty, refuge
- multiple POVs with characters whose storylines merge and diverge
- dragons duh
- a classic hero's journey
- political subterfuge
- who done it

This book has so many great themes and takes an honest look at the impacts of imperialism on vulnerable populations. If you're the type of thinks fantasy reading is independent from politics, this book will prove you wrong several times over. While you will encounter dragons and other fantastic supernatural elements in this book, what really struck me was social and cultural depth.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Sung-il Kim, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted to GoodReads check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863 and it will be posted to my bookstagram account https://www.instagram.com/tinynightingales/ and booktok https://www.tiktok.com/@tinynightingales?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me a copy of this audiobook! All opinions are my own!

For lovers of complex fantasy, this is going to be the new series for you! I absolutely adored learning this world and how it felt familiar in the realm of dragons and magical schools but that it was different and unique enough to be engaging and fun to discover! It felt very confusing at first (sometimes a little more than fantasy generally is), but it really came together to be fun and keep you on your toes with each new page!

I can't wait to see where this series goes, and I think it is going to become a new great fantasy series of the decade!

A widow who lost her young child as well determines to rebel against the oppressive conquerors who killed them, and seeks out the defeated dragon that used to protect her country for help. Meanwhile, a young sorcerer determines to escape her fate of being used as an undead power generator for the same empire, and a young man seeks to find the murderer of his friend, no matter who he angers in the process. The widow, Loren, doesn’t spend too much narrative time contemplating what she’s lost, although she does share a few memories; she’s too busy finding out that politics are complicated even in a rebellion against a terrible enemy. Unusually for the fantasies I tend to read, there’s also no romance or really sexual energy at all.

Blood of the Old Kings is a relatively unique take on the classic epic fantasy genre, where heroes must quest to save the world and wizards must work world-bending magic to support them. The magic system was not unfamiliar. Though unique in how it was approached, it bears the familiarity of magic systems built upon through the genre. The (spoiler) use of deceased magic users as batteries for magic fueled machines was a creative and unique touch that brought a refreshing twist to the classic genre. That the “king” rising from the proverbial ashes was not a long lost/forgotten/banished prince or royal cousin but a woman who just wanted to help her people was also a refreshing and enjoyable take. I personally got lost a little in the drama with our third main character and I couldn’t quite keep up with what his deal was. At times feeling like a private detective and at others like someone just trying to survive. Overall still a well written and entertaining novel

This was a fun fantasy for people looking for a good read without committing to a full series.

This story takes place in a time where evil is on top. The Empire rules and is powered by the dead. Loran jumps into the action immediately bargaining with a dragon to take down the Empire together for her to become king. Loran has a reason to despise the Empire as they killed her family.

We follow Cain, who was abandoned by his parents for his own safety as they were wanted for treason. Arienne is a sorcerer working for the empire who starts hearing Eldrid, the necromancer, in her mind. And Loran who is seeking for revenge from the empire.

We get the POV of each of these characters and their journey to survive and fight for what is right.

The translation wasn’t clunky at all. I loved all of the narrators.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.