The Ruin of Kings
by
Jenn Lyons
Imprint: Tor UK
Publication date: 5th February 2019
Pages: 560
RRP: $29.99
Format Read: Uncorrected proof copy
Source: Courtesy of the publisher
What if you weren't the hero?
Kihrin grew up on tales of long-lost princes and grand quests - despite being raised in a brothel, making money as a musician and street thief. One day he overreaches by targeting an absent noble's mansion, hunting for jewels. There he witnesses a prince performing a terrifying dark-magic ritual. Kihrin flees but he's marked by a demon and his life will never be the same again.
That night also leads to him being claimed as a lost son of that prince's royal house. But far from living the dream, Kihrin finds himself practically a prisoner, at the mercy of his new family's power plays and ambitions. He must also discover why his murderous father finds Kihrin more valuable alive than dead. Soon Kihrin attempts to escape his relative's dangerous schemes, but finds himself in far deeper waters
.
He becomes tangled in a plot to kill the Emperor, rob the Imperial Vaults, claim a god-slaying sword and free bound demons to wreak havoc across the land. Kihrin also discovers the old tales lied about many things: dragons, demons, gods, prophecies, true love - and the hero always winning. But maybe Kihrin isn't fated to save the empire. He's destined to destroy it.
Kihrin grew up on tales of long-lost princes and grand quests - despite being raised in a brothel, making money as a musician and street thief. One day he overreaches by targeting an absent noble's mansion, hunting for jewels. There he witnesses a prince performing a terrifying dark-magic ritual. Kihrin flees but he's marked by a demon and his life will never be the same again.
That night also leads to him being claimed as a lost son of that prince's royal house. But far from living the dream, Kihrin finds himself practically a prisoner, at the mercy of his new family's power plays and ambitions. He must also discover why his murderous father finds Kihrin more valuable alive than dead. Soon Kihrin attempts to escape his relative's dangerous schemes, but finds himself in far deeper waters
.
He becomes tangled in a plot to kill the Emperor, rob the Imperial Vaults, claim a god-slaying sword and free bound demons to wreak havoc across the land. Kihrin also discovers the old tales lied about many things: dragons, demons, gods, prophecies, true love - and the hero always winning. But maybe Kihrin isn't fated to save the empire. He's destined to destroy it.
The
story opens with Kihrin in prison guarded by Talon. Talon asks, I should say
forces, Kihrin to tell his story whilst she also narrates her part of Kihrin’s
story.
Kihrin’s
narration is in first person and starts as a 16 year old Kihrin is being sold
in a slave auction. Talin’s is in third person and starts a year earlier with
15 year old Kihrin living with adoptive parents in the slums of the lower
circle. He is musician by day and thief by night. The two narrations alternate
but I found them easy to follow. There were also footnotes by the author but I
skipped those because the printing was so tiny in my uncorrected proof I could
hardly read it.
Kihrin
is a likeable protagonist. He seemed to have morals in a world that had no
morals. He had a sarcastic sense of humour that managed to surface even in the
face of overbearing adversity. This slight lean towards humour took the edge
off some of the darker moments.
The
writing was exceptional and the world building was complex and intricate. There
was so much going on in this novel I felt at times that I couldn’t take it all
in. There was never a dull moment or a lapse in the action.
I
was a bit disappointed that the women were so subservient. I would have liked a
few more strong women. The men have little regard for women beyond their
pleasurable use. Even the wives were beaten and then healed by other women to
cover it up.
The
novel is filled with the type of action dark fantasy fans have come to expect;
murder, torture, demons, gods, dragons, kings, dark magic, undead, flesh eating
shape shifters and allusions to rape and incest all ending with a tantalising
cliff hanger.
The Ruin of Kings is a
dark fantasy that will grip you with its world building and squeeze the air
from your lungs with its unrelenting danger and battles.
Recommended
for 18+ years
My
rating 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
*This review is:
Book R in the Ginger Mom & Company AtoZ challenge
 |
| Photo credit: Goodreads |
Jenn Lyons lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband, three cats and a
nearly infinite number of opinions on anything from Sumerian mythology
to the correct way to make a martini. She is a video game producer by
day, and spends her evenings writing science-fiction, fantasy and
paranormal mysteries.
A long-time devotee of storytelling, she traces
her geek roots back to playing first edition Dungeons & Dragons in
grade school and reading her way from A to Z in the school's library.
