The Blood of Kings

by C.B. Hoffman, Michael Gallagher (Narrator)

He Was Betrayed to Keep a Conspiracy Secret, Now He's Seeking Justice. Valdaur's golden age under the Marthalen kings is a fading memory, brought to an end by the tyrannical sorcerer, Bathlemar. Despite his own defeat by an alliance between the wizards of the High Council and the noble houses, his corruption lingers over the kingdom for generations. With Valdaur now ruled by an aged and weakening king and a sickly prince due to inherit the throne, a sense of both desperation and opportunity raises the specter of civil war over the kingdom. Born into these troubling times, orphaned in boyhood, Donan faces a miserable death starving in the streets of Solium, or rotting chained to the wall in King's Prison. He is saved from this fate when he taken in as an apprentice to the Order of the Black Falcon, a guild of spies and assassins in service to the King. Exceptionally skilled, Donan embraces his life in the shadows and becomes a protector of the throne. His world falls apart, however, when he becomes the target of an assassination attempt by the very man who saved him. Having discovered that the head of his own guild is part of a conspiracy against the king, Donan is framed as a traitor and finds himself hunted by his own brethren. Determined to expose his guildmaster as the real traitor, Donan must find a way to survive long enough to gather the needed proof. Hunted at every turn, Donan receives a surprise visit by the last remaining wizard of the outlawed and disbanded High Council, who gives Donan one narrow, precarious path to justice.

Audiobook

Published May 12, 2022

Reviews

[LG Schiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun surprise this book was! Received an advanced copy of this from a friend of a friend who knew me as “the fantasy guy”… I had my reservations, but they were quickly subsided. I found Donan to be an extremely well written and engaging character (a mix of Rothfuss’ Kvothe and Lynch’s Locke Lamora). If I had one grievance it was only that I wanted for more. **Spoilers** The Blood of Kings felt like two distinct books with the first half that of the assassin and the second that of political aspirations. I would have enjoyed more time spent in both areas, ideally more on the adventure to procure the amulet to allow the audience to have greater appreciation for Donan’s allies… but alas I’m knit-picking… glad to give this book its first review. Couldn’t recommend any higher.