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Blood of the Old Kings

an unmissable epic fantasy where three heroes stand against an empire powered by necromancy
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( 2,245 ratings, 580 reviews)
Brief Description
Thrilling, inventive, and fierce - a tale of malevolent empire and those who stand against it. Not to be missed - Max Gladstone There is no escaping the Empire. Even in death, you will serve. In an Empire fuelled by necromancy, dead sorcerers are the lifeblood.... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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Blood of the Old Kings opens an enthralling new epic fantasy series from award-winning South Korean author Sung-il Kim (translated by Anton Hur) perfect for fans of John Gwynne, Andrea Stewart and James Islington

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Thrilling, inventive, and fierce - a tale of malevolent empire and those who stand against it. Not to be missed - Max Gladstone

There is no escaping the Empire. Even in death, you will serve.

In an Empire fuelled by necromancy, dead sorcerers are the lifeblood. Their corpses are wrapped in chains and drained of magic to feed the unquenchable hunger for imperial conquest.

Born with magic, Arienne has become resigned to her dark fate. But when the voice of a long-dead sorcerer begins to speak inside her head, she listens. There may be another future for her, if she's willing to fight for it.

Miles away, beneath a volcano, a seven-eyed dragon also wears the Empire's chains. Before the imperial fist closed around their lands, it was the people's sacred guardian.

Loran, a widowed swordswoman, is the first to kneel before the dragon in decades. She comes with a desperate plea, and will leave with a sword of dragon-fang in hand and a great purpose before her.

Blood of the Old Kings begins an epic fantasy adventure in which three strangers fight back against an all-powerful Empire, from award-winning author Sung-il Kim and translated by the highly-acclaimed Anton Hur.

A woman's burning quest for vengeance and power leads to a thrilling magic-filled adventure. Absolutely captivating - K.S. Villoso

Fast, fun and fabulous! Truly imaginative fantasy with a story that speeds along like a bullet train fueled by sorcery - Dyrk Ashton

Epic underdog fantasy in which choice outweighs destiny . . . Readers seeking an exciting new fantasy world to sink into will find this hits the spot - Publishers Weekly

A magnificent tapestry . . . If you're looking for something to scratch that sprawling epic itch, give Blood of the Old Kings a chance - Lightspeed

Full on fantasy delight . . . expansive and excitingβ€”it's a book that so clearly loves fantasy and gives readers classic elements of the genre in a totally new way. Blood of the Old Kings is just a goddamn blast to read - Reactor

An immersive world that's sparking towards war - Library Journal

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780356525099

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 02 September 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Orbit

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 32.0mm

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 260g

Pages: 384

About the Author

Sung-il Kim was born in Seoul in 1974. Despite his lifelong dream of writing fiction, he only got around to it in his forties. He writes science fiction, fantasy, Lovecraftian horror, or some blend of those. In South Korea, he is known for Star of Mercia, I Will Go to Earth to See You, and The Knight of La Mancha, the last of which earned him an Excellence Award in SF Awards 2018. He spends most of his time in his downtown Seoul apartment, with his wife and two cats.

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