【 BLOOD OF THE OLD KINGS 】

book #1 in the Bleeding Empire series

Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Young Adult
Author: Sung-Il Kim
Published: July 2024
Publisher: Orbit
Pages: 368 (paperback)

This was super fun! Even better than expected, and I’m really blown away by the fact that this is translated, it reads as if it were originally written in English. So hats off to the translation work for a start!

There are three main perspectives in this novel, and the myth and legends of dragons are seeped in a key part of the plot – which is awesome. It was really interesting to see how the three perspectives came together, and while each was fascinating in its own right (and two came together beautifully), the third, I admit, I was scratching my head as to where its place in this story really was.

And that is probably the main thing that holds me back from a 5-star rating. It meant I finished this with a degree of hesitancy, feeling a touch unsatisfied, but also with full acknowledgement that this totally feels like an epic saga – and so the simple answer (hopefully) is that the overarching story has got a lot more to go, and all these players will come together in the end.

So, perspectives aside, I thought the world building was fantastic. The politics was not at all overwhelming, and yet it was so thoroughly and believably constructed that it completely immerses you in the nuances of the plot from the start. It’s easy to follow and richly woven. I’m hoping that the following instalments will take the reader on more of a journey where we can dive straight into more of this!

The magic system was interesting too. I think some readers might find it lacking in the sense that the technique is abstract – but that’s only because the one sorcerer perspective is very unique in her way of wielding magic. I found it super cool. It’s probably one of the more brilliantly imaginative ways that that an author has written magic, that I’ve encountered. It makes imagination in and of itself feel magical.

And I can’t review this without mentioning the totally epic strong-female hero archetype going on here! Roll out the feminists people, cos this story is upheld on the shoulders of mighty women. I loved the way that gendered roles were more or less pushed aside. The fact that one of the main (and most powerful!) characters was not only a woman, but a 30+ woman who’d had a child and husband, was actually so refreshing and perfect. On top of that, she’s striving for the title of king – not queen – and thus far, it’s not even clear if a king’s consort would be a queen. ‘King’ is simply a title, much in the same way ‘genera’ is. Let’s have more books like this, PLEASE.

Highly recommend this to the epic fantasy & dragon fantasy lovers out there. There’s just nothing not to love, and here’s hoping the sequel only reaches new heights!

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Title: Blood of the Old Kings
Series: The Bleeding Empire
Author: Sung-Il Kim
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Blood of the Old Kings begins an epic adventure in which three strangers journey through a vast Empire that uses the power of dead wizards to conquer and subdue, from award-winning author Sung-il Kim and translated by the highly-acclaimed Anton Hur.

Powered by the corpses of sorcerers, the Empire has conquered the world. It claims to have brought peace and stability to its conquered lands, but some see that peace for what it is—a lie—and will give everything in the fight against it.

Loran is desperate for revenge after the Empire killed her family, so much so that the swordswoman climbs the volcano where the legends say an ancient dragon slumbers and leaps in. She finds that the legends are true, and Loran leaves the mountain with a sword made of dragon’s fang and a great purpose before her.

Cain arrived in the Imperial Capital lost and orphaned, and it’s only thanks to the kindness of a stranger-turned-mentor that he survived on the city’s streets. When his friend is found murdered, he will leave no stone unturned to find those responsible, even if it means starting a war.

Arienne’s future has never been in question—born a sorcerer, she’ll be a Power Generator for the Empire upon her death. But when she starts to hear the voice of a powerful necromancer in her head, she realizes the only thing more terrifying than dying for the Empire is never getting to truly live in the first place.

When peace is a lie, there is power in truth—and as Loran, Cain, and Arienne hunt for answers in their own lives, any one of their small rebellions could be the stone that brings the Empire toppling down.