A Black Dragon on Red

The Drowned Kingdom #6

by P.L. Stuart

Nightsoul.

A name striking terror into the hearts of Eltnia’s people for decades. A mysterious, sinister ruler, buoyed by the foreboding magic of the malevolent sorceress Barbis. A haunting spectre, appearing out of mist, razing kingdoms to the ground, then vanishing like a ghost, leaving behind destruction, ruined corpses, and paralyzing despair.

And Nightsoul has never been defeated in battle.

Lord Othrun has always known one day Nightsoul would come, seeking bloody vengeance. For Othrun killed Nightsoul’s mother, Nulthe, once leader of mages, at her own coven. Since that fateful night of murder, Othrun was surely marked for death by Borenia’s shadowy monarch.

Now it seems, Nightsoul has finally moved against the Lord of Eastrealm, by attacking Othrun’s father-in-law, harmless King Irly of Badonia.

With his wife, the mage Sila at his side, Othrun must make the dreaded journey west, into the gloom, to try and save Irly. Finally, Eltnia’s renowned Warlord will confront a foe far more petrifying than any of the daunting enemies he has defeated during his many military campaigns.

Coping with grief over the loss of those dear to him, and his desperate armies quivering at the thought of marching to certain doom, Othrun has never been so beleaguered.

Yet, despite the evil powers of Borenia bearing down upon him, Othrun has no plans to fall without a savage fight.

Nightsoul is indeed the most horrifying presence in all the land.

But even the maleficent Nightsoul should beware he who flies the ominous banner of the black dragon on red.

For all who dare challenge Othrun, shall witness his wrath.

And it is terrible to behold.

Genres: Fantasy

648 pages, Hardcover

Published April 17, 2026

About the author

P.L. Stuart was born in Toronto. He holds a university degree in English, specializing in Medieval Literature. P.L. is an assistant editor with Before We Go Blog https://beforewegoblog.com/ . The Drowned Kingdom Saga chronicles flawed and bigoted Lord Othrun's journey towards change, and his rise to power in a new world after the downfall of his homeland, which is based on Plato's lost realm of Atlantis. The Bestselling 'A Drowned Kingdom' is mentioned in the prestigious Kirkus Magazine’s 2021 Indie Issue among “Four Great Examples of the Genre” of fantasy, and won the 2022 Picky Bookworm Award for Best Indie Book Based on Mythology. Book 4 'A Lion's Pride' won Bronze for the Fantasy genre in the esteemed Reader Views 2024 Literary Awards.

Reviews

[Janny]

The author boldly rolled the dice on this novel, pushing the story in unexpected directions with an unconventional approach. By now, sixth book along in this series, I have thoroughly learned to trust the author to pull the threads together for a bang up finish.

The first half of this book takes a side excursion into history, looking at the characters' experiences through an intensely internal eye's view. We come to know them, how they think, how they operate, how they make their choices, and how they exhibit their flaws. As the story progresses, the author adds secondary viewpoints, and develops the story through dialogue - not the usual method, but given the direction the story is driving, the reader experiences all of the internal and external logic that boils the pot and arrives at decisive action. Good people, doing bad things for good reasons, and bad people doing good for good reasons, however questionable their morals and motives. P. L. Stuart is a master of writing the flawed nature of humanity, and the self-reasoning that justifies choices.

When the side story merges with the main character, Othrun, the stakes are ramped in a truly original way - because we know both sides of the challenge he must fight and win. The ride to the finish is riveting, as all of the threads come to crescendo.

Expect this story to develop in the same, careful, slow-burn manner that A Drowned Kingdom did at the start. Trust the author to deliver, and he does, you will find a truly unique series building to its final volume in ways that are bound to become unpredictable.

This is a book that depicts humanity in unvarnished terms. The hero mixed with the villain, the selfless act twisted by impulse and desire. This is where an independent book truly shines, going where few stories dare to tread.

[P.L. Stuart]

My personal favourite book so far of my own series! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! Thank you so much for reading it! Published today!!!
https://books.friesenpress.com/store/...

[Anne-Marie Mawhiney]

I have been provided with an Advanced Reader Copy of Black Dragon on Red in return for an honest review.

Whether in fiction or the real world, conflict among groups typically occurs when there are different views about the world and others’ place in it. Wars are inevitably about acquiring and defending precious resources, fighting to increase power and diminish the other’s and, at times, mean-spiritedness. Conflicts can also be forged in misunderstandings, rumours, myths, intentional lies, greed, and past experiences. When the stakes include possible destruction of the world, it is imperative for third parties to determine with which side to join. This can be tricky at times and so crucial to get right.

No one side in a conflict holds the whole truth or high ground. Indeed, enemies may even have some aligned beliefs and might even have created deliberate falsehoods intended to convince citizens and third parties to support them. And, even if it becomes clear who is the true architect of world destruction, is it not possible that an antagonist might change course? Are myths, foretelling, and current intentions always played out?
These are only two key questions raised in Book Six of P.L. Stuart’s stellar Black Dragon on Red

This part of P.L. Stuart’s brilliantly crafted and vividly imagined Drowned Kingdom Saga reveals a pivotal plot twist that sets King Othrun and his followers on a new quest with high stakes.
In the opening scenes, readers meet as yet unfamiliar characters in a context I briefly found confusing, uncertain in what time and place this story begins. The confusion drew me right in as I looked for clues. Before long, using his impressive attention to detail Stuart, with one simple action of adding the triangle to the circle, situates the timing of the first two parts of this book in relation to the previous five books.

The story that unfolds shifts everything readers have experienced thus far about King Othrun’s past adventures as he has recounted them. What we discover in Black Dragon on Red are complex, alternate viewpoints that place King Othrun, not as the hero he believes himself to be, but rather as an evil and dangerous antagonist. We also meet some characters we have previously heard about and become immersed in their life stories, which explain why they loathe Othrun.

In this book, the life stories of these new characters and the re-telling of some key, earlier parts of the Saga from different points of view offer touchpoints for readers to recall events from the past in ways that provide alternative perspectives. In looking back on the first five books, it turns out, readers have been given glimpses of these counterpoint views even though we may not have taken note of their significance in the absence of more context. But revealing too much earlier on in the Saga would have ruined the impact of this part of the story.

So much of what has happened in the past has strategically been masked from Othrun and his allies and followers by his opponents because the time was not right for all to be revealed. His standpoint, until this point, naturally, has put him at the centre of the story and as the hero. But now we learn that not everything may not be as Othrun experienced it. And, for readers, it becomes impossible to know where the truth is found. It’s like looking a piece of camouflage art and suddenly noticing the hidden figures and their roles in contributing to a new understanding of the whole picture.

Black Dragon on Red is the pivotal book in which the previous and current stories weave together so that past events coalesce into an epiphany of clarity, bringing into focus the Saga’s awesome complexity, along with a deep admiration of the unparalleled depth to P.L. Stuart’s imaginative writing.

In Part Three, the once hidden parts of the Saga merge with Orthun’s timeline, leading to an inevitable battle the likes of which King Orthun never expected to face, one even he realizes he is unlikely to win.

Throughout reading this epic part of the Saga, I was mesmerized, not only by the counterpoint stories, but also by Stuart’s way of crafting key moments from the previous books without being repetitive. These morsels not only help the reader recall the events but also add layers of complexity to what has previously occurred that will leave readers with new questions about Othrun and his place in the world.

Stuart has described himself as a detailed plotter in crafting this Saga. Still, it is mind-boggling to realize he knew precisely how to foreshadow, in the first five books, what is revealed in Black Dragon on Red. This has been so cleverly devised that it was possible for (many) readers to miss the significance of the glimpses he provided.

I am in awe of the virtuosity of P.L. Stuart in imagining and plotting Black Dragon on Red, and for having the presence of mind to have the whole Saga unfold in a way that introduces an unimaginable twist at this point. And there are still many questions begging answers left to unveil in the next installment of this enthralling Saga. I, for one, can’t wait.

[Debbie Campbell]

I received an ARC of this book for an honest review.

Well, I am nothing if not brutally honest.

PL Stuart gave us exactly the story we needed. But it was not the story I wanted.

For a book I could not put down, it was so good, I have issues.

I can't lie, this is NOT my favourite book of the series. I'm still giving it a five-star review. The issues I have with the book is that it would have been perfect as a prequel. Instead it's book 6 out of 7.

I do see what the author was trying to do. Because the execution was so good, it takes it up to a five-star. Otherwise it would be a 4-star, even a 3.5. Everything else is so good. Maybe some of those other parts of the book are the best yet in the series.

The romances are wonderful. Really believable, heartbreaking, each of the romances. They made me cry. You will cry over characters who are mostly evil, who you should hate. But Stuart forces you, somehow, to care about them, their loves, their lives. The ending is pretty well unmatched. So is the pacing.

I talked about battles before. I don't read fantasy for battles. But I know enough to know that the author's battle scenes are elite. I don't think I've read a battle like the one in the end of the book before. And I don't think I'll read one as well-written as this one again. Unless somehow Stuart can top this one. There is a surprise near the end of part 1, and again at the very end. It cans everything I thought I knew about these books.

Back to what I really did not like about the book. The first 2/3 of the book turns back the clock. The focus is on lore and origins. This is all about some of the series' primary antagonists: Nightsoul, Nulthe, and Barbis. Again, I get the author was taking a calculated risk here, that readers would be ok with this. I know some will be. I was not.

By putting the main character, Othrun, on the backburner for a large portion of the book, Stuart was probably trying to do something new and fresh. Yes, it was that, and it was compelling, but I didn't want that in a book 6. I wanted a continuation of the characters I've grown to care about, including Othrun. And I wanted them in part 1.

Stuart put in all this work to make me actually like and care about Othrun. It took 5 books. In Pack of Wolves, he won me over at last. Going through reading hundreds of pages, then finally to end up caring about this horrible person. Then in book 6, Othrun does not show up until about the 80 % mark. That's tough to swallow.

No question, Stuart pulled it off, and he tied so many mysteries together, neatly with a bow. I learned answers to questions that had been bothering me, that I thought I'd learn those answers earlier in the series. Stuart saved it for now. It worked to make the book intriguing, and on the edge of my seat, but I almost forgot about Othrun and the main cast.

I don't think I'm the only reader this won't work for. I hear about books that do this, and some people love them, but they are not for me.

PL Stuart is still a great author. The book was a page-turner. The ending blew my mind. But I wish Stuart would have made most of this book a prequel instead of book #6. I am still all in on this series. I am still anxious for book 7. The one thing Black Dragon on Red did so well was set things up for the final book. I have no idea where it's going from here. I didn't think Stuart could do that, but he did. I can't wait for the last book!

[Tim Hardie]

“…the most renowned sigil in all Eltnia … was my banner. The banner of the black dragon on red. And the dragon was going to war, one last time.”

I’ve eagerly looked forward to each instalment of PL Stuart’s A Drowned Kingdom Saga since this series first began in 2021. Every year Stuart produces another book in a pleasingly reliable fashion, and with A Black Dragon on Red we reach the sixth novel in his planned seven-book series. Please note this review does contain some spoilers regarding the ending of the previous book. It’s been a wild ride so far, Stuart ably weaving together a complex historical narrative of how culture and religious beliefs survive and adapt in a new land alongside magic, fallen angels, and a fateful prophecy concerning the end of the world.

All this means the stakes are high going into A Black Dragon on Red, especially after the compelling and tragic events in the fifth book, A Pack of Wolves, which had been my favourite novel in the series so far. No stranger to a dramatic opening, Stuart delivers another gripping prologue in this novel, taking the reader back in time to a period early in Eltnia’s history. The Anib have long departed Acremia for their homeland but the people of Eltnia still remember their legacy as new kingdoms rise to take their place.

Although Stuart has played with time before in this series, what surprised me was his decision in this book to stay with events in the distant past not just for Part I of the novel but also for Part II as well. Every novel in the series is told in three parts and A Black Dragon on Red follows this pattern. We don’t return to the timeline of A Pack of Wolves until 70% in, when Part III begins, whilst Othrun doesn’t even make an appearance until 74% of the way through the novel.

Instead, we’re taken back in time hundreds of years and follow events concerning a whole group of new characters for the majority of this book. Stuart has not been afraid to take risks throughout this saga, but this is a big one in the sixth book of an ongoing series, since you lose so much shorthand when you move away from the established cast. As a result, it takes some time to become invested in this new storyline, especially since not all the new characters Stuart introduces survive.

I don’t want to spoil the story, so I’m going to refrain from explaining who these characters are. What I can say is that, as the tale unfolds, the reader gradually gets a much wider understanding of the context of events in the first five books of the series. In that regard we follow an established pattern, where each book has gradually drawn back the curtain, revealing more each time. Now Stuart tears it down completely.

These narrative choices do mean Parts I and II are a bit uneven, with some exciting scenes weighed down by a lot of exposition. Stuart has to cover an enormous amount of ground spanning hundreds of years with a relatively small cast, and at times the information is conveyed through extended passages of dialogue which become rather dense and convoluted. The result is there’s an overwhelming onslaught of information in Parts I and II. Part of me, as the reader, wishes that Stuart had weaved more of this into the earlier novels in the series. However, had he done so we would have missed the huge payoff in this novel, with the heightened impact of those revelations, as the reader gains a proper understanding of Othrun’s true position and who his real enemies are.

If Parts I and II are all exposition, then Part III confounds the reader once more as the concluding act races along, the plot unfolding so rapidly it can be hard to keep up. As a man of action, Othrun is usually at his best in a time of crisis. Yet when Othrun finally appears we meet a drunkard, fallen low from his high standing and proud bearing, a shadow of the man who first landed on Acremia's shores, leading the last of the Atalanteans. His second son Arclan is now the First Prince, destined to rule after Othrun the Younger was killed in battle. This becomes a tale of painful, broken relationships since Othrun the Younger’s death casts a long shadow. The gulf between Othrun and his wife, Sila, showing how love can sour in the face of tragedy and perceived betrayal is particularly well-written.

Overall, this is a difficult book to review. After struggling with Parts I and II, I enjoyed Part III the most, mainly because we return to characters I've grown to know so well over the years. Stuart really kept me guessing about where the story was going as well, which is no mean feat when you're six novels deep into a saga. The ending is so shocking and unexpected, with a thrilling climax featuring one of the best-written battle scenes I’ve ever read. Although A Pack of Wolves remains my favourite book in this series thus far, Part III of A Black Dragon on Red features some of Stuart’s best writing.

Sometimes the flaws in a gem are what give it character, somehow increasing its appeal in the eye of the beholder. That’s how I feel after reading this book. Whilst not perfect, I enjoyed this a great deal and remain in awe of the scale and ambition of this saga. Of course Stuart has left the biggest question of all unanswered. Who is the Black Dragon? We now have to wait until the seventh and final novel, Sure-Steel, is released in 2027 so we can find out.

I was kindly sent an advance copy by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Shawn Bruggeman]

A Black Dragon on Red took all my expectations, then tossed them out the window. Most of the book is NOT from Othrun's perspective, or even anyone in his timeline! This could make the book unreadable, in a big series. It did the opposite.
The worldbuilding is better than ever. There is an incredibly shocking twist at the end. To expand the scope of the universe right before the last book is risky. But it worked. It was amazing. I was hooked.
There are characters you should hate, but you'll end up crying for them, when they die. If you think about it, they should already be dead a long time ago. They are already dead, for centuries, by the time Othrun is born. In more ways than one.
I can't spoil all the backstory reveal though. I really can't even really review this book properly. Too much of it is just one big spoiler. So much of the book is about the past. It's also about present day characters. The back cover tells us it's about Othrun fighting Nightsoul. It's about so much more than that. But that's the main battle.
But I'm sorry, that was the best battle sequence I've read. I mean it. The best battle scene, ever. I get chills just thinking about it.
Take everything you thought you knew about how the series, and how it would end, and forget it.
There is no doubt anymore about the magic in this series. I was really satisfied about that.
Once I started to care about Othrun in previous books, now I am really worried for him. I don't know how he can make it through the last book. Now that I really KNOW what's going on, what powers are out there. And why he is doomed. It's terrifying what he's facing now.
Does he deserve to die? That's up to you. But I don't want him to. But how can he live?
Also, to think about all he's lost is so sad. I didn't think he could pay a heavier price than he's already paid. But he does. Never thought I'd be hoping for a happy ending for this character. But I am. But, I don't think he's going to get it.
Guess I'll have to wait a few more months to see. The last book is coming out early next year, according to the author. He's kept his promise and written a book every year so far. I believe it will be on time. But I don't know if I want it all to end. I'm not ready for it.
But I won't be able to stop it, so bring on Sure-Steel!

[Sancho]

Answers.

Stuart has masterfully left crumbs here and there, raising questions and leaving them unanswered, making us wonder in the best way possible.
But now, in book six, we finally get a lot of answers. And we get a very different story, a different perspective on this living, breathing world, full of history and mysteries. This world feels real, and that's what I love in fantasy. You lose me when it doesn't.

This book tried something different, and for me, it worked. It delivered in a big way. But it might not work for everyone.
But this is book six. If you've read the previous five books, you don't need a review to tell you to read this one. You already know you have to.

I am so ready to find out how this story ends. But I also want more of this world than just one more book 😅

[Brian Heckman]

Too much time spent on backstory

[Eve Koguce]

After the previous book ended with a bang, I was anticipating the next one with certain trepidation. A controversial character he might be, but having made the journey with Othrun over the course of five books, I’ve grown to care about his fate. Someone might say that he deserves everything that has happened to him, and I wouldn’t argue with that. Yet, in my view, Othrun’s flaws and transgressions are inseparable from his background, and I can’t judge him based solely on them. Who he is, how he thinks, and which decisions he makes are the consequences of being born royalty. Had he been tolerant, self-deprecating, and always ready to sacrifice the interests of his kingdom for the sake of decency, he wouldn’t have been such a realistic character. And if that had been the case, I’d have had zero interest in him.

In the previous book, “A Pack of Wolves,’ Othrun receives a blow, which, although not harming him physically, threatens to maim him worse than any of the many wounds he’d received in his many battles. And I won’t lie, I was a little frustrated when I discovered that the sixth book opened with a story of some unfamiliar characters. Moreover, those characters were such that I couldn’t place where they might belong in a bigger picture. Frustration isn’t something that can deter me from reading the book, at least not when the book in question is a part of the series that I’ve been totally invested in so far. My patience and curiosity were rewarded. And rewarded they were tenfold. One of the greatest mysteries of the saga was revealed, and that felt extremely satisfactory.

The author treats us to the intelligent exploration of power, its implications, advantages, and the effects it has on different people. With his trademark attention to detail, P.L. Stuart shows how the insanity brought on by power isn’t in rash decisions, acceptance of risks, and arrogance displayed during meetings with other kings and queens. While one can accuse Othrun of all these things, he can hardly be considered unsuitable for his role as a ruler. In “A Black Dragon on Red,” we see someone truly unfit for the throne, whose actions bring dire consequences for the whole kingdom.

In book six of the Drowned Kingdom saga, we finally get to meet Nightsoul, the most terror-inspiring king in all Eltnia. His name sends chills down the spines of even the renowned warlords. And Othrun isn’t an exception. He had seen firsthand what Nightsoul is capable of. Having witnessed the most awful things on the battlefield, it is the Nightsoul’s committed atrocities that still haunt Othrun’s dreams. At Nightsoul’s will, whole kingdoms seem to be mercilessly obliterated in a flash, with even their soil made infertile.

To my surprise, and I believe that I might not be the only one who felt that way, Nightsoul turns out not to be pure evil. Once I learnt the story of the person who held in fear the whole continent, it was impossible to deny the logic behind the despicable deeds. Moreover, even the cruellest people love someone. But love is beautiful, even when it lives in the darkest of souls. Alas, my sympathy lasted only until the moment when an innocent and most likable character fell victim to Nightsoul’s vengeance. Although I understood why Borenia's ruler did this and also that pain can make even non-violent people do terrible things, my empathy can be stretched only that far.

When we meet Othrun in book six at last, it is to find him in a pitiable state. It is believed that people react to loss in two ways. Some seek the meaning, stepping on a spiritual path. While others focus on self-destruction. It wasn’t a surprise that Othrun chose the second way. Drowning his grief in a bottle, he pushed away everyone who wanted to help him. His victories brought out the best in him. Grief has brought out the worst. His accomplishments in the political arena and happiness in family life gradually smoothed out the rough edges of bigotry and prejudice. Before our eyes, Othrun has grown more patient, benevolent, and forgiving towards others. Sadly, the events of book five, “A Pack of Wolves,” overthrew this newly-found harmony, and Othrun descended into self-destructive gloom. As I said at the beginning of this review, some might say that he deserved no less. Yet, I couldn’t help but feel moved by his suffering. He had gone such a long way to be where he is, and so many people benefitted from his exploits that I simply can’t look at him through a one-sided, narrow lens.

Staying true to his style, the author doesn’t spare the gruesome details. Expect there to be gore and blood and soldiers losing limbs in battle. Every time, after reading a battle scene, too realistically portrayed to simply push aside, saying ‘It’s just fiction,’ I pause to reflect if it is worth it. If something so brutal, that brings so much devastation and pain, is worth the gain. If any victory, no matter how grand, justifies lives lost, bodies maimed, and young minds stripped of innocence.

“A Black Dragon on Red” by P.L. Stuart takes us closer to the finale of the Drowned Kingdom saga, which, I have no doubts, will be truly epic. The author masterfully knits together the threads that seemed to be left hanging loosely throughout the first books. The complex canvas of interconnected stories and characters comes together neatly as we approach the end of Othrun’s journey.

Dark, uncompromising, and full of violence, “A Black Dragon on Red” is the book that makes a lasting impression on the readers. There are fewer characters whom one can love than those who are easy to hate. Still, it adds to the appeal of this book and the series in general. Sinister it might be, but irresistible nevertheless.

I am grateful to the author for providing me with the ARC of this book.

[Anne Smith-Nochasak]

The author provided me with an advance reader copy in return for an honest review, and I am pleased to provide one.

Once again, we are swept into the world of the Drowned Kingdom for a rich and exhilarating read.

'A Black Dragon on Red' opens with an intense combat scene, and we fly through the pages, propelled by its momentum. The pace and intensity continue in a harrowing chase as King Boren pursues the last possible challenger to his direct lineage, determined to eliminate her. Such a pace, should it continue, would exhaust the reader, but P.L. Stuart masterfully varies the pace, inserting a pastoral interlude of love and hope shared by two young hideaways. Then, as we journey through the centuries following the machinations of the Borenian leaders, the action focuses on the psychological elements, on the schemes and rationale for these; action and battles are alluded to, but we do not have “epic battle scenes” in this section. And in between there are moments of tenderness, revealing depths of character and complexity in each of the four involved. This works well, for there will indeed be a cataclysmic battle, and in that horrific battle—after hints of unbeatable armies, devastation in completed battles, legendary swordsmanship, powerful mage craft, and ruthless destruction—nothing is spared. We share the dread the troops experience on the brink of battle; we see the impossible unfold before us as they do. We stand with them in a time that demands total courage in the face of unspeakable horror. It sings!

In this book, Othrun makes his appearance in the final sections; the first sections supply the background to the period preceding his arrival. The history of his new homeland, and the reasons for the resistance he faces, become vividly evident. We learn the history of the great mage Nulthe, how she began, who she loved, and how she followed her vision of a return of the mages—and an elimination of the one prophesied to destroy the earth. Noble and lofty goals—but the implementation becomes questionable as the centuries slip by.

We also learn the story of the dreaded Nightsoul, the feared warrior-sorcerer. We will discover unexpected warmth in the family background. It is, in a way, a book of overlapping love stories. There is such tenderness, such devotion and commitment to family and loved ones on a personal level—but when it comes to enacting their plans to restore the mages and to rid the earth of the destroyer and his lineage, their propensity for violence and destruction, their unscrupulous use of blood magic, is limitless.

When they discuss Othrun, their fears for the earth can almost sway us to their side. For if Othrun, as they believe, is indeed the destroyer, the ultimate spawn of a fallen angel, should he not be removed from the world? Should not all precursors of this destroyer be eliminated? However, to eliminate individuals, they engage in slaughter of armies and brutal executions. This gives us pause: If their intentions are good, why do they employ this level of cruelty? Is this a case of good intentions gone astray? Can their actions be justified?

Othrun himself, when we join him in the latter part of the book, is an aging man who recognizes his shortcomings but does not attempt to rise above them. He is grieving, a shadow of his former self—a true tragic hero, his potential buried in his flaws. We worry for him, in his continual imbibing of the wine that blunts not only his pain, but also his mental and physical skills. We fear for him, for he will still go to war.

Can Othrun succeed? And should he? Is his quest noble or malevolent? Or does that depend on how it is achieved? These are among the questions that rise in our minds, even those of us loyal to Othrun. Is he the destroyer? And if so, is carnage justified to eliminate one threat? And where does righteousness lie, when no act occurs in isolation?

The line between good and evil is not finely drawn; it twists in a labyrinth as we debate.

Again we see the strength of this storyteller: love and tenderness mutating into a rage for vengeance, battle scenes of unprecedented horror framed against the rise of a gentle autumn morning, magic wielders of immense power for good and for ill. We witness anew the nobility of Ingersa and receive hints of unnamed powers known to his people. There will be revelations from one magic wielder that will reveal heretofore secret features of the Anibian race. (Spoiler note: Even if you read Shapers of Worlds, you will still not be ready.)

It is a magnificent story, boldly told and richly alive. There is appreciation for the feminine aspect of leadership and warcraft. It is a story true to the first books yet setting a new standard of excellence. I do look forward to Book Seven of The Drowned Kingdom Saga, although I regret that the journey draws to its ending.

Great stories have that effect.

[Wolfmantula]

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MY ⭐️ RATING: 3.75/5
FORMAT: Advanced Reader Copy

5 stars for the story, but it stings as book 6.

I want to say thank you P.L. Stuart for trusting in me for providing me with an advanced copy and to give an honest review. I wouldn’t say that A Black Dragon on Red requires reading the short story, Forest Dark, from The Shaper of Worlds, vol. 5, but I recommend doing it as Stuart introduces a bit of supernatural elements that get explored deeper within this novel.

The hardest part of reviewing this book is how much I genuinely love Stuart’s work. His world-building is incredible, his storytelling phenomenal, and his character development among the best in fantasy, and this novel is no exception in those areas. The problem, for me, was its structure, roughly 70% of the book is a prequel, with only the final 30% returning to the main timeline with characters I knew and loved. In the penultimate installment of a seven-book saga, I felt that choice hurt my overall enjoyment.

That said, the prequel part of this story was arguably needed. Through five books, Nightsoul has loomed as this mysterious, feared antagonist, more myth than person, and that needed to be fleshed out. Stuart takes a bold risk by devoting most of the novel to Nightsoul’s origin and the painful history that shaped the King of Borenia. It massively expands the world and gives real weight to the conflict.

”Power is not about what one can destroy. It's about what one can create."

Learning Nightsoul and Barbis’s full stories is masterfully done. Stuart makes you question your assumptions about them. You start wondering if you truly hate these supposed villains, or if you sympathize with their mission and the tragedies that drive it. By the time the timeline has made it back to Othrun’s era, the lines Stuart created blur beautifully. Who is the real antagonist? It’s two sides of the same coin, both fighting fiercely for deeply held beliefs and neither feels purely evil. That moral complexity is vintage Stuart, and it’s executed brilliantly.

With that said, I can’t fully shake my disappointment. Everything I praise is here, the stunning prose, rich characters, and themes of moral ambiguity, the cost of unyielding beliefs, prophecy, and grief that linger. But as book 6, the heavy prequel focus felt jarring. After investing in Othrun, his family, and their immediate stakes across five novels, suddenly shifting to a mostly new cast in ancient Acremia threw me. I struggled to care about Bore, Ethlun, and young Nightsoul at first, even though Stuart eventually made me understand their goals and ache for their losses. He humanizes the enemy army so well that the final battle hits with real tragedy.

If this had been a standalone novella or companion volume, I’d have loved it without any reservations. Of course that would’ve taken away from Stuart’s detailed style and lost some of the magic he brings to the table. Still, dropping it as the bulk of the penultimate book felt like a misstep in my eyes. It’s like watching a tv show with 2 episodes left and the last one you watched got you super excited to see what happens next and then the penultimate episode is a flashback. I’m honestly torn on my rating because of it.

Ultimately, this is a 5-star story trapped in a structural choice that, for me, cost it momentum at the worst possible moment. I still believe Stuart fans will appreciate the deeper lore and moral shades, but be prepared for a long detour before the payoff. I’ll still be first in line for book 7, because Stuart’s talent remains undeniable.

[S. Bavey]

A Black Dragon on Red, book 6 of the Drowned Kingdom Saga, was a departure from previous books in the series. It begins long before the unlikeable main protagonist of the series, Othrun, came to power, or Atalantyx was drowned. Indeed, the boorish and now alcoholic Othrun does not appear as a PoV until the final quarter of the book, after many centuries have passed.

Instead, we are thrown into a prologue set in a somewhat recognizable world, with completely new characters. This was a little jarring, but I soon found myself gripped. The characters were wonderfully described, and it becomes clear as the story progresses how this all fits into the history of the world which Othrun now inhabits. In the prologue alone, we have regicide, fratricide, political machinations to rival the Machiavellians, and all with these new characters whom we do not yet care about. I was confused by the prologue and impatient to know the purpose of these new characters in the series, but before long, it all became clear. There are layers upon compelling layers in this book.

The unspeakable tyrant, whose horrific deeds we witness in the prologue, is necessary for our main female character, Ethlun, to become the strong, fearless woman that she proves herself to be throughout the book. Her character develops in fascinating ways, and her story arc is fabulous. But how can a story that describes the life of a lowly goatherd girl with untutored mage powers figure in the making of a fearsome leader whose reputation is known throughout the world in Othrun’s time, centuries later? For that, you will need to read the book.

I highly enjoyed Ethlun’s romance arc and the inclusion of a well-recognized creature from fantasy, which might be a big surprise to readers who have not yet read P L Stuart’s short story: Forest Dark (found in the anthology, Shapers of Worlds Vol. 5).

I really love P L’s writing style. He draws you in with richly layered characters and intricately described intrigue. You know that every little detail he mentions is going to be important somehow later on. Nothing is there without a reason. He also deals with sensitive subjects carefully. In this book, he is building fearsome reputations of characters who commit unspeakable crimes. (How else could they have earned their fearsome reputations?) Sexual violence is often threatened or reported – but, thankfully, never described. Wartime violence is described in gruesome detail, so anyone squeamish should beware the battle segments. There are many emotional moments in the deaths of various characters’ loved ones, and PL leads the reader through all of this expertly, with perfect pacing and just enough handholding.

The novel as a whole was surprising and intriguing, and the final battle was absolutely gripping. I can’t wait to see what the consequences will be in the next book!

I was given an unedited review copy by the author. Thank you, P L Stuart!

[auricle]

[There are no explicit plot spoilers in this Advance Review Copy (ARC) review.]

A Black Dragon on Red is the sixth book (out of a planned 7) in The Drowned Kingdom saga by P.L. Stuart. It has an unusual trajectory, with an early thread that might feel like a side trip steamrolling into the main storyline with perfect intent and impact. I could not put this book down -- where earlier books in the series often took me weeks to read, I finished both Books 5 and 6 in just a few days each.

After Othrun's devastating loss at the end of the previous book, Book 6 starts at some indefinite time in a coastal region of Acremia that has loomed heavily over the entire story. Readers can be assured that this is much more than a "delay the climax with unnecessary backstory in the penultimate Netflix episode" device, as everything eventually influences present day events. As this plot thread develops, it intertwines with events from previous books at key moments in history and colors a new layer of understanding over what occurred. I appreciated the light touch in Stuart's choice of moments to revisit -- had he written too many, I probably would have been frustrated by retreads instead of enlightened and eager to continue.

The first two Parts of the book move quickly and sometimes have the feel of a parable more than a feudal epic. Part II concludes with a beautifully written scene of two familiar characters debating one of the series' key themes: When does right corrupt into righteousness? Does doing good make you a good man? What is the tipping point where the end stops justifying the means?

The book returns to present day in Part III with Othrun at his lowest and most unlikeable. There's a good balance of getting back into Othrun's head while also making meaningful everything set up in the first two Parts. I enjoyed Othrun's deep conversations with old friends and former enemies. The progression of the story from here to the end hits all the right notes and widens the aperture to encompass ancient powers now in play.

A Black Dragon on Red is unequivocal proof that P.L. Stuart has grown and mastered his craft, perfecting the development of each character and the slow drip of perspective-shifting reveals. This mastery has convinced me that the last book will be a perfectly fitting conclusion to a series that has drawn a meaningful, relevant story from a complex morass of politics, mysticism, and human fallibility.

[Timothy Wolff]

“I supposed that truly made me monster. But I was not the only monster in the world.”

Let me start by saying I have a blurb on the back of this book and it’s a huge honor. This is one of my favorite ongoing series and this book did not disappoint.

It’s Malazan-like in the beginning, starting with a prequel several hundred years before the primary series. I have to give credit for how the POV’s flow. I thought Boren would be the primary character (and I wasn’t sure why) but so many different things happen and follow a large cast of characters.

I’ll admit I didn’t expect to get such a detailed account of Nightsoul’s backstory. I figured “he” would be one of those ultra powerful mysterious monsters that defied explanation. The story eventually goes back to Othrun, but he’s understandably depressed and heavily drinking. It was a wise move to not make him the primary focus of the book despite being the main character, as it probably wouldn’t have been a great time to follow him, though I want to add it’s fascinating to consider all this character has been through after 6 books.

I’ll avoid spoilers (there are MANY) and say the final 20% of this book is legendary. Very excited to see how this all wraps up.

A big thanks to PL for offering me an early access copy!

[Blaise]

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC from the author. The penultimate book in The Drowned Kingdom saga and it knocked me on my ass again and again. A book that takes you back to the origins the world and many secrets will be revealed you are not ready for. Nothing is what it seems and the fate on the world is held in different hands for many reasons. Don't blink because you might miss the drop in temperature this book will put you through. Enjoy!

[Andre Boone]

Another satisfying instalment in the Drowned Kingdom series. Every time I think I have something figured out with the plot, I'm proven wrong... in a very good way. Looking forward to the finale in 2027!