Blood of the Old Kings Review

Evil empires are hardly new in fantasy and cultivating original stories based on this premise with something substantial to say is a challenging feat. Blood of the Old Kings didn’t inspire me with its characters or its fantasy, but it showcases a thought-provoking discourse on what it means to exist in this setting.

The book opens with an impressive in media res, skipping over any standard overland adventure to reach the dragon’s abode, going straight to Loran bargaining with the entity. The description of the dragon is awesome, a terrifying blood-red, multi-eyed beast that only treats with humans and would-be kings on its own terms.