Laura (crofteereader)'s Reviews > Blood of the Old Kings

A solid standalone fantasy (that I definitely thought was going to turn out to be a series starter) with a group of very interesting characters. Loran is a pretty standard fantasy heroine, making a pact with a dragon to become her occupied homeland’s champion and wage war on the empire.

Cain filled the “detective” role, with his desire to solve his friend’s murder. Through him, we saw what lives were like for immigrants in the heart of the occupying empire, which did a good job at providing context for what Loran was doing.

Arienne was the most interesting character, a fugitive sorcerer whose destiny was to become a magical battery. Through her we got bits of history and legend as well as the basics for how magic works in this world.

All this without needing to be a doorstop. It was a very economical fantasy novel in that sense.

{Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review; all thoughts are my own}