Title: Conan: The Halls of Immortal Darkness

Author: Laird Barron

Release date: August 20th, 2024

After reading Shaun Hamill’s ‘Conan’ entry into Titans The Heroic Legends Series, I saw Laird had one as well and knew I absolutely had to read it. So, I snagged it, loaded it onto my Kindle and devoured it last night in one frantic, Basil Poledouris fueled session.

Laird and Shaun have very different writing styles and storytelling styles, so it was interesting to see how Shaun wrote more of a comic book entry, while Laird’s was a full throwback to the days or yore with even the language and words used dripping with Cimmerian influence.

What I liked: In this one, Conan is older than in the previous entry I read, but still seeking adventure and employment. The book picks up just as Conan kills his current employer and takes his wages and heads to a bar to drink and ponder his next steps.

Along the way, he’s bitten by a venomous snake, which puts him at death’s doorstep. While in the throes of agony, he’s visited by an old crone, one who isn’t exactly as she seems.

Conan comes through, aided by a wandering merchant, who was sent by the crone. Conan rides with this man to the next town, at which time he heads to the nearest tavern. After spending a week there, he’s out of coin and moves on, only to discover a priestess being attacked in an alleyway. After killing her attackers, she thanks him and offers him a job, to act as her security. Wanting new adventure, more coin and a way out of the town, he agrees and they head out, flanked by her assistant, an older man whom Conan distrusts.

Barron easily slides from page to page, showcasing Conan as the introspective brute we all know and love. The barbarian grows more and more untrusting of the man, more so after the priestess takes him to a secluded grassy area and seduces him, all the while whispering an odd thing into Conan’s ear.

Once they arrive at the mysterious Halls of Immortal Darkness, the truth is revealed and Conan must fight for his life – and the priestess’ – and somehow find his way back out. Barron writes this final quarter with gusto, and again, Poledouris’ soundtrack rumbled throughout my brain as I read, flipping every page faster than the last.

This was all flexing muscles, spraying blood and swords clanging, making for yet another amazing visit into Conan’s world.

What I didn’t like: For me personally, I was a bit confused by the crone’s visit at first, as well as the priestess’ assistant. I was trying to figure out if they were the same person or not and it made for some confusion on my end, but that purely might’ve been me mis-reading some of the descriptions when they arrived. As well, I wished we learned more about the Halls of Immortal Darkness. The myth/lore behind the place wasn’t explored near enough for what I wanted.

Why you should buy this: Conan fans have surely already read this, but I’ve not seen many people posting about this who I usually see post about Laird’s stuff frequently, so if you’re a Laird fan and haven’t read this yet, get on it, even if you’re not a Conan fan. Laird handles the barbarian with ease and makes him come alive on the page.

This one was another really fun Conan story, but also a really engaging sword and sorcery story, which I’m always down for!