Blood for the Undying Throne

The Bleeding Empire #2

by Sung-Il Kim

From award-winning Korean author Sung-il Kim & translated by the world-renowned Anton Hur comes the sequel to Blood of the Old Kings, an epic fantasy adventure where the corpses of sorcerers power an empire and ordinary people rise up to tear it down.

Last seen under Loran’s command, Emere is now a member of the Commons Council. While giving a speech in the Capital, he survives an assassination attempt―and now must team up with the Ministry of Intelligence to discover who is behind it.

Arienne is on a mission to find out what really happened to Mersia. The land―destroyed a hundred years ago by a mysterious weapon known only as the Star of Mersia―is devoid of life, populated only by ghosts. But when she arrives at the ruined city of Danras, Arienne finds more than she expects.

One hundred and seventy years ago, Yuma is the Chief Herder of Danras, looking after the city’s aurochs every summer. After being punished for disobeying the Demon King, she meets Lysandros, who is on a mission to establish diplomatic relations between the Empire and the states of Mersia. But is there a cost of doing business with the Empire?

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons, Fiction, Asian Literature, Adult, Dark Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy

377 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 28, 2025

About the author

Sung-Il Kim was born in Seoul in 1974. Despite his lifelong dream of writing fiction, he only got around to it in his forties. He writes science fiction, fantasy, horror, or some blend of those. In South Korea, he is known for Blood of the Old Kings, I Will Go to Earth to See You, Wolf Hunt, and “The Knight of La Mancha,” the last two of which earned him a Grand Prize and an Excellence Award at the Korean SF Awards in 2024 and 2018, respectively. He spends most of his time in his downtown Seoul apartment with his wife and two cats.

Reviews

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
I loved the first novel so I was very excited to read this sequel. I loved the dark elements to this fantasy series that pulled me back to the game. I enjoyed this one but admittedly it didn't hit the highs of the first book. I found the story and characters a bit undeveloped which left me underwhelmed.

To be clear, this story didn't take a wrong turn but it felt incredibly average and safe which didn't hold my attention well.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart

Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

3.5 hearts

I'm pretty new to translated stories and Korean authors but I tried out Blood of the Old Kings last year and enjoyed the overall story, so I was excited to pick up another installment in the The Bleeding Empire series.  Blood for the Undying Throne picks up not long after the events of the first book and follows some of the characters we saw before while adding in a few new PoVs to get a fuller picture of the past and how one of the greatest cities was destroyed by the empire.

Our story is told via three different PoVs.  Emere and Arienne were two characters the reader saw in the first book but the addition of Yuma's voice from the past was the most interesting part to me.  Emere played a slightly more minor role in the first book.  He was following his brother the King in the rebellion before Loren came and changed his life.  Trying to follow a destiny he believes is his, he has spent years trying to be more than an outcast prince.  He helped to saved the city from the Circuit of Destiny in the prior story but where should he go from there. He has been tagged now by the Circuit to either become King if he can make the right decision when the time comes.  But the Circuit is tricky and seems to be disjointing in its desires so Emere is torn on what the correct course should be.

“The . . . work, that I do,” continued Septima, “allows me to become acquainted with a great variety of persons. The ones who are reckless with their own lives usually have no purpose in life, so they don’t care if they live or die. But there are also those who are reckless because their purpose is too clear. So clear, they don’t care if they die pursuing it.

Arienne once held the Grim King of the past, Eldred, in her mind and fought him in the prior book.  She ran away from the Empire so they could not use her body in death as a battery for the system.  Arienne now wants to find out the true story of Mersia and how the entire city was destroyed by the Empire so long ago.  I liked her journey and the discoveries she made, not only of the child battery she holds in her mind, but of the fates of all the people who were once free of the Empire and now act at the warning to any who might oppose Empiric Rule.

Yuma is the PoV that held my interest the most though.  Hers is the tale of how The Grim King ruled his lands, how an emissary from the Empire came and how Yuma fell in love and risked trading rule under the Grim King to rule by the Empire.  She shared the secrets of her land and in so doing changed the coarse of her people.  It was heartbreaking as the reader knows what will become of her land and people but the build up to those events was executed in such a way that you felt more connected to it and discovered the true horror of it.

I liked the exploration of different past events, the make up of the components of the Circuit of Destiny and why it is possibly so divided in the futures it predicts or the impacts it is trying to make.  There are some histories that are fleshed out more and characters that are explored.  I liked Blood of the Old Kings a little better in that it had a clear path and goal to what is trying to be accomplished and then there was the battle at the end.  In Blood for the Undying Throne it is more of a journey of understanding.  Yes there are battles throughout but not a definitive ending, just understanding that will better help the reading in future books.  Also Loren was a key character for me in the first story and while we do see her and what she is currently up to, we don't get PoVs from her and I missed that.

Overall, this is a good continuation of the series but was not as engaging or clear for me as the prior story.  I still look forward to seeing more translations of the series to see where the fight against the Empire goes and how the Circuit of Destiny filled with former sorcerers as batteries impacts the characters and their destinies.

[Angharad · Rating 4 out of 5]

⚔️I was given this review copy by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions are my own

⚔️Review: Meditative and full of regret for the past

The first book was pure adrenaline. This second one however is meditative, slow, somber, and lingers on regrets, the sins of history, and how there's rarely true good or evil in the world. Fans of the pacing of the first may dislike this second book because it is so very different. It's sobering and painful because if you read book 1, you mostly know what's going to happen here since most of this book is flashbacks and worldbuilding. It hurt my heart a lot and I think that's a testament to how good Sung-Il Kim is at writing characters the reader can grow to care about, even when they're not good people, and many of them in fact are horrifically bad people.

Just like the first book we have 3 POVs, and I was disappointed Cain and Loran aren't among them and are in fact barely in the book. However, Arienne's still got a POV. She spends most of hers wandering and was probably the weakest of the three this time around.

Emere is a returning character from book 1 and his POV hurt my feelings so much, dealing with regret for life choices when he was younger and the pain of not following love. He's extremely relatable, even though I found myself still wishing I had Cain in his place.

Yuma is where things are at their most interesting in this book however: her POV takes place more than a century in the past and covers events we heard of briefly in the first book. It's tragic, tender, and full of slowburning tension and romance at the same time. The most action happens in her chapters and her chapters were the ones I looked forward to the most.

It's going to be a long wait for the third book in the trilogy, but I'm not burning to know the same way I was after the end of the first book. At the end of the second, I feel myself grieving with the characters for all the pain they've been through and worrying about how they'll handle what's to come.

⚔️☆ Fun Factor 2/5 (It's a difficult read)
⚔️☆ Writing Style 5/5
⚔️☆ Characters 4/5 (side characters and main characters are wonderful)
⚔️☆ Plot 5/5
⚔️☆ Setting 5/5
⚔️☆ Feels 5/5 (tore me up and gutted me)
⚔️☆ Romance 4/5 (I think the whole book is about love to be honest)
⚔️☆ Spiciness 0/5 (absolutely 0 sex or anything more intimate than kisses)
⚔️☆ Gore 4/5 (extensive injuries and frequent deaths)

⚔️If this were a movie it'd be rated: R for dragon horror, body horror, war scenes, battles, all the fantasy action.

⚔️☆FOR FANS OF: Character heavy storylines that deal with grief and regret

⚔️Ultimate verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

⚔️☆☆☆Best Character Award goes to:☆☆☆ Lysandros and Eldred, surprisingly!

The Bleeding Empire trilogy ratings so far:
⚔️Blood of the Old Kings⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🐺Blood for the Undying Throne: Book Two of the Bleeding Empire ⭐⭐⭐⭐
[Book 3 in the trilogy] TBD


Bleeding Empire average score for me so far: 4.5

As of Nov. 7, 2025, this book and the prequel are both on Kindle Unlimited. Go check em out!

[Phoenix2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Big Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the Publisher for the advanced copy! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

'Blood for the Undying Throne' by Sung Il Kim is the second book in 'The Bleeding Empire' series.

This time around, the book takes a new spin, with less action and more lore. It goes deeper into the characters and their backgrounds, and it was especially nice to read more about Lysandros. However, I did miss Cain and Loran, though they were sometimes there.

It also took a while for the story to get engaging, but it was interesting after all.

The writing was enjoyable as well.

[Nils | nilsreviewsit · Rating 4 out of 5]

The conquers are about to face the rebels' wrath, but before this can happen, our heroes must discover the past.

Blood for the Undying Throne by Sung-il Kim and translated by Anton Hur is the second instalment in the Bleeding Empire trilogy. It is an epic fantasy which tells the story of a once strong and malevolent Empire now on the brink of collapse.

In the opening chapters of this novel
I immediately realised that this was a very unconventional sequel. Instead of moving forwards, the plot this time around is mostly looking back to past events and giving a clearer picture of what really happened when the Empire invaded Mersia. That isn’t to say we don’t have any progression at all as Kim does give the reader some intertwining complex politics and deepens the magic system which I loved exploring. There are still plenty of action scenes sprinkled throughout too and we still have a rebellion brewing in the background, but predominantly this is a book which spends much time revealing rather interesting historical truths. In doing this Kim overall conveys the theme that to conquer future wars we must understand and learn from the past and this was a sentiment I rather agreed with. So yes, you could say this instalment was a filler, but its contents were nonetheless fascinating and so I didn’t mind that. Another aspect that was a touch unconventional was that two central characters from the first book were largely absent in this one. Though I was disappointed by this at first, the characters that we did focus on strongly compelled me with their story arcs and by the end we do learn something of those who were missing.

“This place might have been absent of life, but there was a presence of something that should not exist. A chill of the soul. A spiritual hunger that permeated the air like fog. Mersia until that moment had been mere wasteland; now Arienne was reminded that it was where the Star had unleashed a massacre.

Through Arienne’s character we explore the barren wasteland of Danras in Mersia, a village that was utterly destroyed by the Empire’s invasion. In Arienne’s quest to find the Star of Mersia, the weapon responsible for the devastation, we learn so much more about Power generators, fuelled by dead sorcerers, and exactly how they were responsible for the destruction. Arienne’s powers grew in abundance, she became so adept at creating scenes in her mind and making them realised, her imagination became her strength, her weapon and armour. She even discovers she can communicate with ghosts and that they can enter her mind which was pretty cool when you see what she ultimately did with that. There was a lovely dreamlike quality to Arienne’s chapters as she treaded across the realms of reality, memory and imagination. Arienne had already been a favourite in the first book and in this book that definitely deepened.

Kim then introduced us to a new character, Yuma, Chief Herder of Merseh, in a time before the Empire changed it to Mersia. With Yuma’s timeline we learn how Merseh was ruled under the tyrant Grim King, whom we met in the first book but at a point when his powers were diminished. Seeing the true extent of the Grim King’s cruelty, his army of the undead, was truly insightful and his necromancer abilities were far beyond what I had previously envisioned. Yuma also reveals much about the character Lysandros and how he presented himself as the saviour not the destroyer of Merseh. Kim crafts Yuma’s character to flesh out the backstory of not only Merseh but also these two previously ambiguous characters. There is much regret and sorrow throughout her chapters, particularly as you witness the choices Yuma had to make, none of them were good. With the Empire��s invasion Yuma could see that her beloved home, her people, her culture and even her beliefs would be erased and understandably the weight of that was too much to bear.

“We hold everything that is and ever was. We are history, therefore we are the future."

Lastly there is Prince Emere who previously was a side character wrapped up in Loran’s quest to become King. Yet in this novel he became a central figure within the political affairs of both the Empire and the Rebels. At first I struggled to understand Emere’s role, I couldn’t quite grasp what his position was in the rebellion or as a councillor for the Empire. Yet slowly, around halfway through the novel, his purpose began to fall into place. Emere was shown to be a character always chasing his destiny, always sacrificing personal happiness for a cause and so he reflects a lot on his past and the choices that brought him to be in the midst of such powerful events. Emere chose to leave his beloved Rakel and when he reconnects with her, his loss is keenly evident. When his narrative arc then revealed much about the Circuit of Destiny, a machine built of hundreds of Power generators, we are shown the true extent of how every choice we make determines the course of the future which is a very powerful thing, but belief and hope, well that can be just as powerful.

“The Tree Lords had taught him that one could not pick the moment of choice, but at that moment, the future depended on the choice one made. This was a moment that he couldn't shirk. Destiny, it turned out, was a duty.”

Blood for the Undying Throne hits you with emotion and provides a fuller picture of this incredible inventive world. Kim’s story is one that is full of regret and sorrow and really showcases the importance of understanding our own history.

ARC provided by Nazia at Orbit Books in exchange for an honest review—Thank you for the copy!

[Kate (BloggingwithDragons) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Tor Books in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Blood for the Undying Throne is the sequel to one of my favorite books of last year, Blood of the Old Kings. That first novel in The Bleeding Empire series featured one of the most unique magic systems I’ve encountered in a fantasy book in years, where the corpses of sorcerers are used as power generators. Blood for the Undying Throne expands on that idea, exploring the events that led to this grim system’s creation. Like its predecessor, the story alternates between three perspectives. But unfortunately, one perspective belongs to a brand-new character and another to a character I never quite warmed to.

I was dismayed by the sheer lack of Loran in this book. I loved her character, a woman who had already hit rock bottom (her family was slaughtered by the Empire), and crawls into a literal volcano to make a deal with a dragon to get revenge. Naturally, one does not simply make a pact with a dragon without any benefits, so I was very invested to see what powers she obtained as the book progressed. Unfortunately, while Loran is mentioned and does make what feels like a mere cameo appearance, that’s about it.

"We are history, therefore we are the future."

Instead, readers are introduced to a new character: Chief Herder Yuma. It’s a little complicated, but Yuma is a character from the past, who lived during the heyday of the Grim King’s reign of terror and the Empire’s rise. I was a little bitter that I was “stuck” with Yuma instead of Loran, but I came to really enjoy the character. She was perfectly positioned to show not only how terrifying it was to live under the Grim King’s thumb, but also the emerging threat of the Empire—a conqueror cloaked in civility and smiles. Before Yuma realizes what’s happening, she’s watching the safety of her people and the very fabric of their way of life slip away, in a haunting commentary on colonization and cultural erasure.

"Grand Inquisitor Lysandros once said the Circuit of Destiny was the true power of the Empire. A god-like power, made by man. Perhaps the Empire needed its own god, after killing off every such being it encountered."

I found Yuma to be a really relatable character. Where Loran was someone who had nothing left to lose, and felt larger than life and almost mythic at times, Yuma felt like an actual adult struggling to make the best decision for her people with impossible choices—a deal with the devil one knows or a deal with a new one. It was really interesting seeing Yuma learn about power generators for the first time. Her horror at the discovery of something that is so normalized in current times really underscored just how much was at stake.

Plus, I really enjoyed seeing the Grim King, Eldred, at the height of his power. After reading about him in Blood of the Old Kings, when he’s reduced to a voice in Arienne’s head, it was wild to see him unleashed and deadly again. Blood for the Undying Throne does a fantastic and effortless job of making him terrifying at the very introduction of Yuma’s character. The scene where Yuma encounters one of his creatures is visceral and something straight out of a horror novel. This single scene shows how powerless they all are against him and just how brave Yuma is in trying to find a way to stand against him.

Outside of Yuma, Arienne remained my favorite POV. I was so thankful she was still a main character, especially with the loss of Loran. I enjoyed seeing Arienne come into her own and finding more confidence in her own power. The last perspective to read from is that of Emere, and he was my least favorite of all to read from. Even though he showed an important perspective—what living within the empire and trying to make change within the system was like—the sections felt heavy and frustrating. Emere seems helpless without Loran to guide him or tell him what to do. As another character puts it:

“But you are like a moth. Always flying off to whatever shines the brightest…What could I possibly hope for from a man like you?”

As a whole, Blood for the Undying Throne is a bit of an odd read. The novel reads more like a setup for the world and its history, something one would normally expect to encounter in the first entry in the series, not the second. It's isolating at times to be separated from a lot of the current events, as Yuma is a character literally living in the past and Arienne spends much of her time uncovering its mysteries to prevent another catastrophe. With so much focus on what happened before, (engrossing as it is), it sometimes felt like nothing of importance was happening in the present. I would have appreciated more balance between the two timelines, instead of Emere being our only bridge to the current world.

Because Blood of the Old Kings was such a gripping, fast-paced, plot-driven story, I definitely expected more of that momentum here. It might be my own fault for making that assumption, but I found Blood for the Undying Throne to be slower and more introspective. I usually love character-driven narratives, but I struggled with the pacing, especially with one (and sometimes two) perspectives set in the past. Most of the time, I wasn’t sure if I preferred Arienne’s or Yuma’s perspectives because they seemed to trade off being less action-packed, which made the pacing feel uneven. The mystery of the Star of Mersia and the devastation surrounding it just wasn’t as compelling as the question of Eldred’s identity and motives in the first book.

After finishing Blood for the Undying Throne, I have no idea where the series is headed next. Even though this installment didn’t hit as hard for me as Blood of the Old Kings, I’m still deeply invested in the world, the moral tension of its magic, and the characters caught in its machinery. Here’s hoping the next book returns to the present—and to Loran—because this world’s magic feels like it’s nearing its point of no return.

*All quotes taken from an ARC and subject to change at time of publication.

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[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.

One day at the library, I happened across Blood of the Old Kings on the new releases shelf, and because I’m doing a reading challenge for 2025 where one of the prompts is a translated SFF, I decided to snag the book. I finally read it about a week before it was due, and immediately knew I needed to get my hands on the sequel, and I’m so glad Tor approved my request for Blood for the Undying Throne.

The Bleeding Empire is a series doing so much I love with themes of colonialism, consequences, and a convergence of choices. The Empire has conquered many lands, in many ways from “peaceful” surrender to the murder of gods to create subjugation, but the most infamous is the complete destruction of Mersia a hundred years ago. Blood for the Undying Throne tackles the history that caused that destruction, as well as revealing the true events instead of just the imperial propaganda.

I really love how this book utilized time and location to tell the story. Emere was such an interesting perspective because in the first book he was the good brother, the kind prince, but mostly he’s a follower and supporter. Seeing him working towards what he believes to be his destiny, but still putting his faith into King Loran, was such an interesting story, especially with the background of being in the imperial capital, and the dangers he faced. Arienne is one of my favorite characters from the first book, and seeing her growth, both on a personal level and with regards to her Power, has been excellent and with that ending, I cannot wait to see what’s next for her. It’s interesting how much she is such a central figure to the effects and consequences of the Empire and Arland, when she’s “just” a young girl who ran away from the imperial academy because she didn’t want to become a Power Generator upon her death. Yuma was the most interesting perspective in Blood for the Undying Throne because she’s the past and we know the final results of what happened, the destruction of Merseh, but not the how or why. Through her part of the story we see how she fell in love and inadvertently created the perfect scenario for the end of Merseh as it had been and it becoming Mersia of the Empire.

This is such an excellent book and series, and I cannot wait to see how it’s going to conclude with all the choices being made and the revelation of what truly happened with the Star of Mersia. This is definitely a book I’m going to have on my mind because it’s a mastery in creating ripples and exploring the picture that comes from the expansion of effects.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Thank you to Tor and Netgalley for an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.**

This was a great sequel! I enjoyed it just as much as the first book, maybe even a little bit more? There was growth of characters and exploring more of the world. I really liked the POVs and the reveals that happened in this book. I really liked Arienne and Yuma's POVs and finding out how Yuma's story fit into the overall arching plot. This book had even more being uncovered in the larger sinister plot, and of course, more around the cool magic system and necromancy! I really like the magic system and how it fits into this story.
I am really looking forward to seeing where Sung-il Kim will take this story next!

TW: death, violence, injury/ injury detail, murder, violence, animal death, child death, body horror, colonisation, war, grief

[Arzada Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

more POVs and the ending, uhhh i need more

[fantasRiReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood for the Undying Throne is a haunting, masterful sequel that deepens the mythology of Blood of the Old Kings. We return to a world still echoing with the screams of broken dynasties and the whispers of sorcerers long thought dead.

What does it mean to choose universal ruin over an illusion of freedom?

Each character is not only fascinating but pivotal.

Emere’s struggle with destiny, guided by Loran and shadowed by the terrifying power of the Star of Mersia—leads to choices that are as devastating as they are unforgettable.

Arienne’s storyline is one of the most powerful elements of the book. What begins as a search for truth becomes a journey of political and magical consequence. Her mind is sharp, resilient, and unrelenting and it becomes a force of its own.

Yuma’s battle with the Grim King (a centuries-old entity who demands human sacrifices) is terrifying and tragic. The empire’s exploitation of these powers, especially the living power generators, is horrifying.

Blood of the Undying Throne delivers myth, prophecy, and grief woven into something unforgettable…this book was a wild ride and I can’t say I was ready for it to be over. I’m looking forward to continuing the series!

[Neeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!

Wow even with the lack of Loren’s pov in this sequel, I found myself loving it even more. Although, I still missed her voice❤️‍🩹 The world building and lore that continues to be carved out was astounding.

It focused on the historical repetition of destruction, colonialism erasing cultures, and sacrifices for the preservation of power.

Quite gritty! I enjoyed how effectively this challenges your own morals, values and who to sympathise with. Since every character seems to make morally questionable alliances and decisions. I LOVE when an author attempts this, and executes it damn well too. Because can a war be won without sinking to your enemies level?

I neeeeed the next book😭😭 had no clue this was a trilogy AHHHH

[Krista Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC in a giveaway, so thank you to the publisher and author.

This second book in The Bleeding Empire series is written much better than the first.

There is more nuance; I predicted less of what would happen; and the author wrote the internal lives of the characters better.

The first book is plot driven. I appreciated the characters but wasn't personally attached.

The second book is at least half character and half plot driven, which is a big improvement, in my opinion. I cared this time. 😂

Some themes:

- destiny / is it real / do our choices matter or not

- empire / is it good or bad or something in between / will it always last or can it be defeated

- resistance / is the point only winning or does it have a greater purpose / is resistance good or bad or somewhere in between

Other notes:

- tells the story from three different character perspectives, and they alternate every chapter

- translated from the Korean

- strong male and female leads

[Paul Fulcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blood for the Undying Throne is Anton Hur's translation of 메르시아의 마법사 (Sorcerer of Mersia) by 김성일 (Sung-Il Kim), sequel to Blood of the Old Kings / 메르시아의 별 (Star of Mersia). The Korean original of this second book was, I think, only published online.

This novel both picks up where the earlier one left off, but also travels back in time, exploring and explaining the reason for the 'bickering between Lysandros and Eldred' from the first novel, with each blaming the other for the legendery destruction of Mersia.

Arienne, as calmly as possible, spoke of what had happened to Mersia after it had joined the Empire.
When Yuma heard of the death of Dalan the Host and the Star of Mersia turning the country into a wasteland, tears came to her eyes. At the end of the story, Arienne was asked the question she’d been dreading the most.
“What happened to Lysandros?”
Arienne only hesitated a moment before saying, “He died.”
“How?”
“I killed him,” Arienne said simply.
Yuma let out a surprised whisper. “Oh.”
“I’m sorry,” she apologized, without knowing what she was sorry about.
Yuma neither acknowledged her apology nor blamed her. Instead, she changed the subject.
“Do you know what happened to the Grim King?”
“He was turned into a Power generator, but then he came back, and then I killed him too.”
Did she have to apologize for this as well?

As the author states in his afterword, this book marks a change in pace from the first - less action, and more intro- and retro-spection - 'instead of triumphs, it has regrets.' And is I think the better for it, with less of the 'Myron Bolitar Syndrome' (my term, after Harlan Coben's execrable books) - where in the first books, there wasn't much jeopardy in the plot when faced with a army of thousands the heroine simply turned into a dragon and roasts them all to a crisp, whereas here we learn of the original defeat of the mighty Eldred at the hands of the Empire.

A welcome development from the first in the series. The Empire itself remains something of a vacuum at the heart of the novel, as in the first book, and I wonder if this will be explored if the promised third is written. 2.5 stars.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, a thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this book.

Why are more people not talking about these two books!? Why don't I see these discussed in the bookish community??? Y'all are SLEEPING ON GREATNESS.

Okay, so - Blood of the Old Kings was one of my favorite books from last year (check out my review here So when I saw there was another book in the series, I knew I had to read it ASAP.

Kim did not disappoint - one of my favorite parts about BotOK is how it could manage to be quick-paced, impactful, and clear while bouncing between multiple POVs. In a lot of multiple POV books, I find myself bored with certain characters, not caring about them, or feeling like they don't really contribute to the overall story. BotOK balanced perfectly, and Kim was able to keep the same momentum with this book.

I was a little sad that a character from the first book didn't have a POV in this one, but I understand why. I was just bummed since they're my favorite (iykyk).

HOWEVER... we did get a new POV from Yuma, and her POV was amazing. Not only was it interesting because she was in the past, and we knew what would happen. Her story was so tragic, and I really grew to love her over the course of the book - so even though I KNEW what was coming, I didn't want it to happen. I didn't want to see her suffer.

I was always on the edge of my seat at the end of each chapter, seeing how the three characters we followed went on their own paths, how they intersected and verged. This was a very difficult book to put down - I was only unable to finish sooner since my person life has been crazy hectic this month.

This book perfectly balanced character development, plot, intrigue, fantasy-elements, and emotion - I was so emotional at the end of this book. It also ended in such a way where I could see if we didn't get another book in this universe... but god, am I hopeful we do get more. What an interesting world, with interesting characters - and I feel like there could be more for us to explore in this universe.

Either way, I know Kim has written a few other books, and I desperately hope those get translated into English as well. I think the translator did a fantastic job with this book, and overall... just wow. Once again... WHY ARE Y'ALL SLEEPING ON THESE BOOKS??

[Mair Alys · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book, like book 1 was incredible.

it delved deeper into the lore of the world, giving us another perspective and I adored. and the characters we saw from the previous book, I fell in love with them all over again.

there were moments where I was terrified for the characters, moments where the descriptions of the world left me feeling spooky and creeped out, and moments that I adored.
I laughed and I cried.
I loved every second of it.

once again Sung-Il Kim had done it. another incredible book. I could go on and on about why I loved this book, but I think everyone should read it to find out for themselves.

one of the best sequels I've read.

[Thxlbx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this earc.

An interesting and intriguing follow up to Blood of the Old Kings.

Our story continues as Adrienne and Loran lead the fight against the Empire, but mixed in with our progress in the main storyline is a fantastic time shift, detailing events from the Empire's past. No spoilers, but suffice to say, this recounting of the past greatly affects the future of the Empire, and of their entire world.

Past and present are masterfully woven together here, and we get some insight into some of the characters past (one which was very surprising).

A wonderful mix of magic, fantasy, and a dash of science fiction for the Empire's technology, Blood for the Undying Throne was a thrilling, yet introspective read that advances our story, while also painting a vivid picture of this world, both past and present.

I look forward to the next book in this series.

4.15 STARS

[2TReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

I enjoyed the change of pace with this book. building on certain storylines mentioned in book 1, blood for the undying throne gave us historical background and context for the existence of the empire. we do get to see some of our favourites and see more of how they influence story and move the plot forward. even though the action is not as much here, the quiet relationships and tensions that lead to conflict and rebellion held my attention.

[Galatea Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

dnF

****** possible spoilers****

Did not finish. I read eight chapters and couldn't get into the story. Truly, the most interesting part I read was a discussion over a tea meeting. It had actual place setting, motivation for character backstory and future decisions, and a little humor.

Hope this book connected better for others.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for an advance copy of this work of fantasy, the second in a series, that tells of world under the thump of an all powerful Empire, and those who are plotting to bring it down, by unlocking the mysteries of the past.

The fantasy genre was always something I quite enjoyed when I was growing up. I read everything I could, played role playing and computer games and gorged on bad B-movies. This might have burned me out as after awhile I began to notice a certain sameness to the stories. People have to travel to get a thing, to use that thing and win a thing. One could almost look at a cover and know what books they were imitating. I didn't reach much fantasy for a long time, even when I was in bookstores. In the last few years I have stepped back into the genre, pretty hard. The stories have changed as more diverse writers bring new ideas and ways of telling stories. Really good stories like this one. Blood for the Undying Throne by Sung-il Kim and translated from the Korean by Anton Hur, is the second book in The Bleeding Empire series and tells a story about Empire, rebellion, love, gods, betrayal strange magic, the undead, and about getting so lost in a quest, one forgets how to live.

The Empire has been seizing countries one by one, becoming more powerful and more entrenched in numerous societies as time passes. The power of the Empire comes from their technology and magic. The ability to use the corpses of magicians as batteries to power their giant war machines, and powered armies, as well as their streetlights and other amenities. 100 years earlier the Empire wiped out a country for acts of rebellion that no one knows about, using a weapon called the Star of Mersia. Arienne a mage who has defeated two powerful magicians travels across the continent to find out what the Star was, and if it can be used against the Empire. What she finds is far more than anyone expects. In the heart of the Empire, Emere, once leader of a rebellion group discovers that not all is peaceful in the leadership of the Empire. One group is planning to seize power and Emere most dodge assassins, old loves and new associates in an attempt to stop this powerplay, and learn more about the power at the heart of the Empire. 150 years earlier Yuma of Mersia meets a spy/diplomat from the Empire who promises to help her and her people be free of the evil King they have, if they only give up som freedoms, for the Empire's assistance.

This is the second book as I stated, and one should really read the first, as it is a good read, and also that much will be confusing to new readers. I do wish publishers would let authors add a synopsis of what came earlier. I am reading a lot of fantasy, and sometimes I can't remember events from a book a year earlier. Well that and I am also old. This is a minor peeve. I really enjoyed this series, one for the creative magic, the storytelling, and the way that people do things, knowing that they are not making the best decision, but the best decision for right now. There is a lot of regret in this book. Lost time with a loved one, the end of a way of life. Letting evil continue. Watching a country die. One doesn't see that much in fantasy. It really is refreshing.

The characters are very well written, the plot moves and even with three narrative views the book never loses readers, nor bores them. Everything holds up, people have real character arcs, things happen, and as in life, sometimes the results are not what one wanted. A really good series, one that fantasy fans will enjoy and role players will want to adventure in. I look forward to more by Sung-il Kim.

[Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sequel to Blood Of The Old Kings which I had high hopes for but was disappointed by. Book 1 was average fantasy, nothing exciting or new. Book 2, Blood For The Undying Throne, is unfortunately worse.

To begin with, there is a two year timeskip from the end of book 1 to the beginning of this one, which is ridiculous given how book 1 hinted strongly at Loran's immediate return to visit Arienne. You expect me to believe that Loran disappeared yet again and did nothing to help her people for two entire years? No fights against Imperials, no sightings or even rumours for two years? It doesn't work.

We also lose two of the three POV characters from book 1. Only Arienne continues as POV, with Emere replacing Cain as our Imperial City POV (but with no emotional storyline or even any real motivation), and Yuma as a flashback POV to retell the entire story of Eldred vs Lysandros, which we basically already know from book 1 anyway. Unless you had a crazy infatuation with psycho villain Lysandros, the man willing to use his own infant son as a battery to make himself an immortal cyborg (it's so much less interesting than it sounds, I promise, and isn't that the main problem with this series), then you're not going to care about rehashing the catfight of these long-dead men. And although I enjoyed Arienne's sections and arc in book 1, she is decidedly more bland in book 2 and just seems to move from random place/event to another random place/event. She is supposedly searching for answers about the mass weapon of destruction The Star of Mersia, but it's Emere back in the capital city who actually finds those answers from the mouth/s of those responsible. By the end of the novel I'm not sure there was a point to anything that happened in Arienne's POV this book, or that it will mean anything going forward.

Even the prose is worse than book 1. There is so much Telling, and so much RETELLING of book 1 as if scared we didn't read it and just picked up book 2 in a series for fun. There is no longer any emotional through-line or reason to care about what any of the characters are doing - it feels like they all ricochet from one event to the next without any real motivation or meaning. In fact the entire novel feels a bit filler, like the author decided he HAD to tell a prequel story and made up some filler POVs/actions in the present to pad it out and pretend it was a sequel instead. There is precisely one action/decision in the novel, right at the very end, that will actually matter to the world going forward and it could easily have been written to be made by Cain at the end of book 1, rather than a new POV at the end of a mostly-meaningless book 2. This could have been a duology and it probably would have been much better for it. Instead I spent a full book bored, waiting for something I could care about or that would actually impact the novel's world.

I will be dropping the series here. There is still nothing original happening in this series, and book 2 was so bland and boring -- and such a quality drop from book 1-- that I have no faith that book 3 won't just be a further drop in quality.


Rating: 1.5 stars, rounding up for once because I didn't DNF but omg was I ever tempted.

[Robert Goodman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood for the Undying Throne is the second book in Sung-il Kim’s epic fantasy Bleeding Empire trilogy, once again translated by Anton Hur. It follows up Blood of Old Kings, a book that took a while to find translation but then was successful enough to warrant continuation. This second book spends most of its time world building. Filling in backstory and building understanding of the world, deepening and shifting alliances before what is likely to be a more epic confrontation in the final book of this trilogy.
As with the first book in the series, Kim follows three characters, although only two of these are in the story’s present time. Prince Emere lives in Imperial Capital. When the book opens he is told in a dream by Loran that he is destined to be King. He is quickly drawn into imperial intrigue and uncovers a plot to take over the Empire and make it even more despotic. Meanwhile, Arienne, one of the main characters from the first book, is on her own mission to Mersia. This was an area of the country that was completely decimated by a mysterious weapon a hundred years before and she is trying to find out more about that event. Arienne’s journey is counterposed by the story of Yuma. Yuma lived in a time when the area was called Merseh and under the rule of a tyrant called the Grim King, whose soul Arienne contended with in the first book. Yuma’s story is about the coming of the Empire and the events that led up to the destruction of Mersia.
As noted, there is only really one thread of this story that keeps the main narrative moving. While the stories of Arienne and Yuma do eventually dovetail with that story, they are more about deepening reader’s understanding of the history of the country but also some of the aspects of the magic system. Arienne can see and interact with ghosts, for example, which is one way she gains information that she needs for her quest. These narratives are never dull, however, and give some much-needed context to some of the character motivations from the first book while also revealing where some of the conflict will come from in the next.
Blood For the Undying Throne is an unusual middle book for a trilogy. While most will spend some time deepening the broadening the world that the characters inhabit, not many will spend so long on backstory and context. In fact, we have seen authors recently, putting out novellas which contain some of this type of information that they didn’t have space for in their main narrative (Samantha Shannon’s Among the Burning Flowers and Adrian Tchiakovsky’s Lives of Bitter Rain are two recent examples). That said, Kim does a good job of integrating the information from these flashbacks into the main narrative and it sets up Arienne to be an even more important character in the finale.
While the Bleeding Empire series feels like epic fantasy that comes from a very Western tradition, Kim continues to bring a new slant on common tropes. With a fairly twisted magic system, and some interesting politics he is well positioned to deliver a fascinating conclusion to this trilogy.

[Cayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sung-il Kim’s Blood for the Undying Throne is a gripping and worthy sequel to Blood of the Old Kings, continuing the saga with deeper character development, higher stakes, and an even more immersive sense of dread and destiny. As the second entry in this tale, it expertly builds on the political and magical foundations of the first book while expanding the world in satisfying and unexpected ways.

Kim’s prose remains rich, painting a world steeped in ancient power and lingering tensions. The pacing is measured but tense, letting the story breathe while maintaining a constant undercurrent of unease. This isn’t a story that races to its conclusion.. it coils slowly, tightening with every chapter, as characters are forced to confront the legacies they’ve inherited and the choices that define them.

The character arcs here are particularly strong. Familiar faces return more hardened and conflicted, shaped by the aftermath of the first book’s events. Loyalties shift, secrets unravel, and the sense of impending doom grows with each decision. The interplay between personal struggle and sweeping political drama is one of Kim’s greatest strengths, and it shines throughout this sequel.

While the world building is as layered as ever, some readers may find themselves wanting a bit more clarity around certain mythological elements or the finer workings of the magic system. But overall, these complexities serve the epic tone of the series and reward careful reading.

It’s a thoughtful, intense continuation that doesn’t just carry the story forward ..it deepens it, daring readers to confront the consequences of power, loyalty, and sacrifice. A strong and very timely tale, might I add.

Thank you to Sung-Il Kim for allowing me to continue this journey in this sequel. Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and Netgalley for making it possible!

[Sandra Ruttan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Blood of the Old Kings, so I was eager to read Blood For the Undying Throne. I received an ARC and have since reviewed the finished hardcover I purchased.

Blood for the Undying Throne went in directions I did not expect. At all. And I love that. I think it’s a very realistic book 2, where people are floundering in the wake of a successful rebellion. There are several POV characters, so the story moves around and gives you a wide angle view of what’s happening in the world and how beloved characters from book 1 are faring. It also includes different timelines and new characters. I really liked the fact that the starting points were unexpected, and that this book explored regrets and we got to see how prior events unfolded, so we understand more about the fears people have and the potential consequences of their actions.

For me, the structure and storyline worked brilliantly. I was completely hooked, I was in tears at parts, and I am more nervous than ever about what awaits in book 3. With a series like this, I think it can be easy to fall into the trap of building on the success at the end of book 1 and continuing the fight and showing our heroes achieving victory after victory. We don’t get that here. We get a cold, hard dose of reality. Fighting for freedom is never easy, and the empire will do whatever it takes to retain power. This means there will be losses and tough choices, and unexpected consequences. If anything, the revelations in Blood for the Undying Throne raise the stakes for book 3. Will the sacrifices and consequences be in vain, or will the ends justify all the losses? We have to wait for book 3 to find out, and I, for one, can’t wait to get my hands on it.

[Rachel Feeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I'll confess I started out remembering very little from the first book, the three interwoven storylines commanded my attention all on their own. Emere navigates assassins and politics, empowered yet conflicted by his role as subjugated prince and the rebellion in Arland. Arienne faces the wastelands with only a cantankerous donkey and the ghosts in her mind for company, and what she encounters there sheds light on a history between the empire and two men Arienne fought to vanquish as villains. The final perspective belongs to Yuma, Chief Herder of Merseh in the time before it was subsumed by the empire. Caught between two seemingly indomitable forces, she must seize the moment to do what's best for her people and family, and I was most drawn into her story of hope, despair, and the eventual tragedy which is ever looming from our perspective of looking back at history.

As is often the case with the middle of a trilogy, this book feels very much like a bridge for what came before and the conclusion that is yet to come. I loved diving into the lore and motives behind the various factions at play, and how individuals can be both heroes and villains. I've also grown to like the writing style and how the authoritative narration gives the unfolding epic the gravitas of history. It takes its time and doesn't play favorites, and all players have a rough road to walk. However, anyone craving the dramatic rebellion and urgency which made the first book so satisfying is going to end up waiting for the final installment.

**Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC**

[MizzyRed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved returning to this world where the Empire rules over most, using the bodies of dead sorcerers to power their gigantic machines that can fight against gods and monsters and usually win. And while that is cool and awful, it makes me glad to see that Loren and others are rising up against them with some success.

This book is less about fighting though and more of a dive into the past with Arienne traveling to Meresh to discover the truth about its destruction by the Star of Mersia. She was my favorite viewpoint to follow. I love how much she has grown in the two years since she freed the dragon and helped Loren defend Arland. She has so much depth and power and she really shines. The other viewpoint I really liked was Yuma with her historical perspective and her relationships with both the Grim King and Lysandros and how it shaped the present that that Arienne is dealing with. The third one, Emere, was interesting but not quite as compelling as Yuma and Arienne. But as his viewpoint contains more about the rebellion and the Circuit of Destiny, it was definitely necessary. I must say I was sad to not get as much Loren in this book, she is more of a cameo in the world events occurring both in Mersia and the Capital.

This was a great second book, different in style but still moves the story along and makes me eager for the next book to see if the great Empire will fall, by whose hand, and how it will change the world for better or worse. I love that these translated books are becoming more easily available and this is a great series!

[JemeryInPrint · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sung-Il Kim levels up in Blood for the Undying Throne, delivering a sequel that surpasses Blood of the Old Kings in nearly every way. While the first book laid a compelling foundation with its intricate world-building and brutal political dynamics, this installment takes those elements and sharpens them into a truly gripping narrative.

The pacing is tighter, the character arcs deeper, and the stakes—both personal and political—are raised to a fever pitch. Characters who felt promising but underdeveloped in Blood of the Old Kings come into their own here and we can see the paths taken carry emotional weight and moral complexity. Kim’s prose has also matured; the dialogue is more natural, the action scenes more vivid, and the quiet moments more resonant.

Where Blood of the Old Kings sometimes struggled under the weight of its own lore, Blood for the Undying Throne wields that history with purpose. The world feels lived-in rather than laboured over. And the twists—oh, the twists—are executed with a deftness that shows Kim has grown more confident in his storytelling.

It's not a perfect book—some secondary plotlines still feel a little stagnant—but the overall narrative momentum more than makes up for it. If the first book showed promise, this one proves Kim is delivering on it.

Thank you Sung-Il Kim, Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a highly enjoyable sequel to “Blood of the Old Kings,” which I didn’t initially know was going to be a series! I especially enjoyed how “Blood for the Undying Throne,” expanded upon the world from “Blood of the Old Kings.” Learning more about the destruction of Mersia- and by extension Lysandros- was something that I was not expecting in the sequel or the time jump of two years. Instead, I was anticipating “Undying Throne” to be directly following “Blood of the Old Kings” and focus more on the characters of Loran, Arienne and Emere. Granted, two of those three named characters were POV’s in this book but I was expecting Loran to be more of a presence than she was. I’m not sure if it’s just due to the series being translated, but I do find my ability to connect to the main characters a little challenging. Yuma was my favorite of the three POV’s in this book and I found it the easiest to be in her head. I especially enjoyed how we got more of a backstory of Eldred and Lysandros and the Circuit of Destiny with how the deceased sorcerers of the Empire play into the magic of the universe. Overall, very much looking forward to the third book in the series and seeing how it all wraps up!

[Story Eater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tor really hit it out of the park with this one—I love all the things about this series, and I love that a fantasy giant like Tor (and Orbit in the UK) picked it up and put it out in the English-speaking world. The Bleeding Empire series (or the Mersia Trilogy), with the first two books, takes a solid spot on my favorite fantasy shelf. Faint hints of historical events tickled the back of my brain, and my mind constantly wondered and guessed at possibilities for plot points and character arcs, which only happens for me when I feel I'm reading an excellent book. Lovers of epic fantasy with complex plots, non-linear timelines, multiple POV's, and fully-immersive writing should definitely give this series a try.

My profuse thanks to Cassidy Sattler at Tor for the beautiful print galley and NetGalley for the DRC, for which I willingly give my own, honest opinion.

See the full review on my blog:

Blog / Instagram / BookBub

[Jensen McCorkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the first novel enjoyable and well written but this one was so much more! More political intrigue, more necromancy and giant machines! This novel was darker, more vivid and felt completely immersive! I mean did I mention necromancy and giant machines! I loved the Asian Steampunk feel combined with the much more sinister practice of calling up the spirits of dead.

The empire continues to use the power of dead sorcerers through force and manipulation. Rebellion and Resistance are staring and igniting. Arienne is back and is investigating the weapon that destroyed the land of Mersia (Star of Mersia). Yuma is from Mersia's past and openly confronts the Grim King and rebels against the Empire's exploitation of its sorcerers and their magical abilities. Councilor Emere also finds himself caught up in the politics of the empire after rallying against it. All these character webs eventually come together in an amazing and exciting story.

Sung-il Kim is an amazing story teller with the ability to incapsulate the sense through the written word!

[Katelin Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

See more reviews at Spellbound Reviews

3.75 stars

I enjoyed this book once I was able to get into it. It took a bit for the book to find its pacing. Once I realized it was a slower-paced book, I was able to adjust my expectations. I really enjoyed the expansion of the world-building as we learned more about the history of the Empire and the cause of Mersia's destruction.

The author continues with the style of three different POVs. Arienne continues her journey and is investigating what happened to Mersia. They say the Empire created the Star of Mersia, but is that really true? Merisa is now a wasteland, and it's a dangerous journey. This was my favorite POV. I didn't really like Arienne as much in the first book because I really enjoyed Loran's view better. This time, I enjoyed Arienne's adventure, and I liked learning more about the history of the world and the cause of the tragedy. Arienne's magic is truly unique, and I am very interested to see what happens with everything she learned.

Emere is another POV that we have. His chapters were my least favorite. I appreciated the struggle he had, and in the end, I was drawn into his story. I just had a harder time staying connected to his character. I will say these chapters tended to have a little more action because Emere's life is in constant danger. Someone is trying to assassinate him, which leads to the discovery that the Office of Truth is heading towards authoritarianism. Maybe that's why his chapters were a little more difficult, as it was reflecting our current reality.

Finally, we have Yuma's POV. She is the Chief Herder of Danras during the time of the Grim King Eldred. She's fighting back against his tyranny in her own small way. These chapters were interesting as we saw a time before the Empire had sunk its claws into the country and wiped out its culture. It was heartbreaking to watch as the people suffered under Eldred's rule, and how they saw some hope in being part of the Empire. Unfortunately for them, that was not going to be a happy ending. The ending chapters really broke my heart. There was a bit of a love story woven in, and it really was very good to read.

This book is much slower than Blood for the Old Kings. I think it's a good middle book, and it has me excited for book three. I actually liked this book better than Blood of the Old Kings, but I think I was in a different place for that one. I may go back and re-read it as I want to give it another chance with what I know now.