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The Dark Storm Conan Chronology #28
Алената цитадела
РОБЪРТ ХАУЪРД
СЪЗДАТЕЛЯТ НА КОНАН ВАРВАРИНА
Роден е на 22 януари 1906 г. в Пийстър, щата Тексас. Започва да пише на 15-годишна възраст, а три години по-късно публикува първия си разказ в списанието „Weird Tales“ („Тайнствени истории“). В същото списание през декември 1932 г. се появява „Фениксът на меча” — началото на цикъла за Конан варварина. В течение на няколко години, до самоубийството на писателя през юни 1936 г., читателите имат удоволствието да се „телепортират“ заедно със своя герой в дълбоката древност и да съпреживеят невероятни приключения.
СЪЗДАТЕЛЯТ НА КОНАН ВАРВАРИНА
Роден е на 22 януари 1906 г. в Пийстър, щата Тексас. Започва да пише на 15-годишна възраст, а три години по-късно публикува първия си разказ в списанието „Weird Tales“ („Тайнствени истории“). В същото списание през декември 1932 г. се появява „Фениксът на меча” — началото на цикъла за Конан варварина. В течение на няколко години, до самоубийството на писателя през юни 1936 г., читателите имат удоволствието да се „телепортират“ заедно със своя герой в дълбоката древност и да съпреживеят невероятни приключения.
64 pages
First published January 1, 1933
11 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
About the author
Robert E. Howard
2,979 books2,643 followersRobert Ervin Howard was an American pulp writer of fantasy, horror, historical adventure, boxing, western, and detective fiction. Howard wrote "over three-hundred stories and seven-hundred poems of raw power and unbridled emotion" and is especially noted for his memorable depictions of "a sombre universe of swashbuckling adventure and darkling horror."
He is well known for having created—in the pages of the legendary Depression-era pulp magazine Weird Tales—the character Conan the Cimmerian, a.k.a. Conan the Barbarian, a literary icon whose pop-culture imprint can only be compared to such icons as Tarzan of the Apes, Count Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, and James Bond.
—Wikipedia
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
He is well known for having created—in the pages of the legendary Depression-era pulp magazine Weird Tales—the character Conan the Cimmerian, a.k.a. Conan the Barbarian, a literary icon whose pop-culture imprint can only be compared to such icons as Tarzan of the Apes, Count Dracula, Sherlock Holmes, and James Bond.
—Wikipedia
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
February 22, 2023
The Scarlet Citadel is a Robert E. Howard novella length, short story featuring Conan the Cimmerian, who has become king at this time. Conan takes his army to respond to the pleas of a supposed ally that has set a trap for Conan’s forces. The army is routed, and Conan is taken captive. Conan is placed in a dungeon by the wizard named Tsotha. Tsotha rushes away to offer support for the siege at Shamar. When a pirate attempts to enter the dungeon to kill Conan, a giant serpent kills the pirate and Conan winds up with both keys and a weapon to help him with his escape. Excellent longer story. I just love Howard’s writing and recognize this as a wonder-filled pulp, not all that believable a story unless you love this sort of thing, which I do. Hardcore sword and sorcery at its best with all the tropes that Howard was so great at utilizing to maximum effect complete with the mellifluous language that makes Howard a favored author.
May 5, 2018
Lana Kane, Malory Archer, Cheryl Tunt, Ray Gillette, Cyril Figgis, Pam Poovey, Dr. Krieger and Sterling Archer sit in Malory’s office, drinking and discussing Robert E. Howard’s 1933 Conan short story “The Scarlet Citadel”
Ray: He had a five foot long broadsword.
Lana: Er, phrasing.
Sterling: I mean COME ON! It’s freaking CONAN the FREAKING BARBARIAN – even more, in this one he’s King of Aquilonia.
Malory: Remind me again of why we’re discussing a 70 plus year old fantasy short story?
Pam: I thought you liked 70 year old short stuff?
Malory: And what is that supposed to mean, Ms. “I like sweaty barbarians”?
Cheryl: What’s wrong with that?
Cyril: Of course this is the first mention of the wizard Pelias and Conan’s relationship with him in terms of his kingdom’s well being.
Sterling: Are you kidding? Dude. Bros before apparent threats to national security.
Krieger: Not to mention Howard’s detailed and meticulous world building. Even in this short work we see the interworking and rivalries between Koth, Ophir and other Howardesque states. Really amazing when you think about it, and damned entertaining. Archer, are you drunk again?
Sterling: I'm scared if I stop all at once, the cumulative hangover will literally kill me.
Cheryl: I liked how he was a naked prisoner but didn’t give up and fought his way out of the dungeons – that was hot.
Sterling: CONAN THE BARBARIAN, KING CONAN!!! I can’t hear you over the sound of my giant, throbbing erection! But, wait, wait, you KNOW the best part don’t you?
Lana: Don’t say it –
Sterling: Conan was in the DANGER ZONE!
Ray: He had a five foot long broadsword.
Lana: Er, phrasing.
Sterling: I mean COME ON! It’s freaking CONAN the FREAKING BARBARIAN – even more, in this one he’s King of Aquilonia.
Malory: Remind me again of why we’re discussing a 70 plus year old fantasy short story?
Pam: I thought you liked 70 year old short stuff?
Malory: And what is that supposed to mean, Ms. “I like sweaty barbarians”?
Cheryl: What’s wrong with that?
Cyril: Of course this is the first mention of the wizard Pelias and Conan’s relationship with him in terms of his kingdom’s well being.
Sterling: Are you kidding? Dude. Bros before apparent threats to national security.
Krieger: Not to mention Howard’s detailed and meticulous world building. Even in this short work we see the interworking and rivalries between Koth, Ophir and other Howardesque states. Really amazing when you think about it, and damned entertaining. Archer, are you drunk again?
Sterling: I'm scared if I stop all at once, the cumulative hangover will literally kill me.
Cheryl: I liked how he was a naked prisoner but didn’t give up and fought his way out of the dungeons – that was hot.
Sterling: CONAN THE BARBARIAN, KING CONAN!!! I can’t hear you over the sound of my giant, throbbing erection! But, wait, wait, you KNOW the best part don’t you?
Lana: Don’t say it –
Sterling: Conan was in the DANGER ZONE!
December 28, 2017
Another exciting jaunt into King Conan's world. Conquering the kingdom of Aquilonia brings no rest to Conan as betrayal, treachery and warfare abounds in this second short story originally penned by Howard in 1933.
One thing I'm thoroughly enjoying about these classic pulp fantasy fiction stories is the way they defy expectations. Classic literature often invokes a sort of stodgy, historical feeling. The prose is undeniably different, and plot movement often didn't look the way it does now, with its constant movement and focus on action that we see in so many works of fiction today. In the two Conan stories I've read thus far, Howard has defied that expectation entirely.
The plotting is tight, and this story is chock full of action, magic and intrigue. One unexpected surprise is the amount of cosmic horror elements that Howard works into Conan's world. The bad guys are nefarious and dangerous at all times. The world building remains top notch, although it's definitely a world I would never want to step foot in given the sheer brutality of it.
There was a few pages of painfully dated and culturally insensitive material that did turn me off a tiny bit - but once the story advanced past that bit it picked up speed again in quick measure.
One thing I'm thoroughly enjoying about these classic pulp fantasy fiction stories is the way they defy expectations. Classic literature often invokes a sort of stodgy, historical feeling. The prose is undeniably different, and plot movement often didn't look the way it does now, with its constant movement and focus on action that we see in so many works of fiction today. In the two Conan stories I've read thus far, Howard has defied that expectation entirely.
The plotting is tight, and this story is chock full of action, magic and intrigue. One unexpected surprise is the amount of cosmic horror elements that Howard works into Conan's world. The bad guys are nefarious and dangerous at all times. The world building remains top notch, although it's definitely a world I would never want to step foot in given the sheer brutality of it.
There was a few pages of painfully dated and culturally insensitive material that did turn me off a tiny bit - but once the story advanced past that bit it picked up speed again in quick measure.
February 24, 2021
Great account of Conan's survival in and escape from a terrible underground dungeon where he staves off a giant serpent and other grotesque beings. The descriptions of the dungeon are genuinely creepy.
"The brass door let onto a narrow stair that seemed to wind down into the very bowels of the hill on which the citadel stood ..... The darkness pressed in on the guardsmen's torches like a sentient, animate thing."
There is also a disturbing account of the behavior of citizens when their already restive kingdom is attacked and there is no king to unite and lead them. But then, Conan is a barbarian. He longs for a flagon of wine when his enemies are defeated and not cry over the ruins of his kingdom.
"The brass door let onto a narrow stair that seemed to wind down into the very bowels of the hill on which the citadel stood ..... The darkness pressed in on the guardsmen's torches like a sentient, animate thing."
There is also a disturbing account of the behavior of citizens when their already restive kingdom is attacked and there is no king to unite and lead them. But then, Conan is a barbarian. He longs for a flagon of wine when his enemies are defeated and not cry over the ruins of his kingdom.
April 17, 2020
A nice, relatively long tale of our favorite barbarian, Conan the Cimmeri...cimerilian? ...cimerillon?... Silmarillion! This one has all the lovely fighting and monsters and sly wizards you could hope for!
August 28, 2015
This was another great Conan story, more complex than The Phoenix on the Sword. There is a battle described, and the consequences of treachery are explained more. There were more sorcery elements involved than with The Phoenix on the Sword.
The prose was fantastic as well. Some of the writing makes very good writing look stale: ‘As a thunderbolt strikes, Conan struck, hurtling through the ranks by sheer power and velocity’.
I must say, despite my observation that Conan stories tend to follow a predictable formula, they are getting better and are some of my most favourite sword-and-sorcery tales.
The prose was fantastic as well. Some of the writing makes very good writing look stale: ‘As a thunderbolt strikes, Conan struck, hurtling through the ranks by sheer power and velocity’.
I must say, despite my observation that Conan stories tend to follow a predictable formula, they are getting better and are some of my most favourite sword-and-sorcery tales.
November 1, 2019
Conan teams up with the mysterious sorcerer Pelias who happens to share Conan's desire for revenge against the man threatening his kingdom. After being captured through treachery and thrown into an eldritch dungeon, Conan escapes with Pelias's help and the two unleash chaos against their imprisoners. It's a massive battle sequence, an orgiastic clash of blades and magic. The story was on the weaker side but I enjoyed seeing the sadistic, shapeshifting sorcerer Pelias in action alongside Conan's usual chaotic antics.
November 14, 2023
A solid, fast read in the brutal world of Conan.
August 14, 2019
Ridiculously fast paced adventure with huge body counts, and tremendous amounts of blood and gore. Armies built and wiped in the span of days. Imprisonment and escape, giant snake, and gelatinous monsters. Sorcery and poison. Basically everything you need for an engaging pulp fantasy.
March 27, 2020
This story both starts and finishes in the best possible place for a Conan story - a bloody battlefield. Some time into his reign as the king of Aquilonia, Conan finds himself tricked into leaving his kingdom.
Traveling south with a small force seemingly in aid of King Amalrus of Ophir, the Cimmerian soon discovers that his former ally has betrayed him, decimating his overwhelmed army in concert with his supposed oppressor, Strabonus, king of Koth.
The two renegade kings are themselves controlled by the fear-inspiring Tsotha-lanti, the Kothian wizard, a keen librarian with an impressive shelf of 'dark works bound in skin flayed from living human victims'.
Captured and caged by the wily wizard, Conan is taken to Tsotha's imposing citadel. There his triumphant captors give him the choice of exile or death, to which he responds, "Free my hands and I'll varnish this floor with your brains!" Better than bleach, apparently.
While word of his death reaches his people, Conan is left alone in those nameless pits below the citadel, enchained and the intended prey of a venomous eighty-foot long snake, and one one made of rubber like Arnie faced.
A somewhat jarring interlude of racist epithets aside (and to be fair, they are bandied about by both black and white characters), The Scarlet Citadel is a rollicking ride of a short story, as weird and wonderful as any in the series.
Traveling south with a small force seemingly in aid of King Amalrus of Ophir, the Cimmerian soon discovers that his former ally has betrayed him, decimating his overwhelmed army in concert with his supposed oppressor, Strabonus, king of Koth.
The two renegade kings are themselves controlled by the fear-inspiring Tsotha-lanti, the Kothian wizard, a keen librarian with an impressive shelf of 'dark works bound in skin flayed from living human victims'.
Captured and caged by the wily wizard, Conan is taken to Tsotha's imposing citadel. There his triumphant captors give him the choice of exile or death, to which he responds, "Free my hands and I'll varnish this floor with your brains!" Better than bleach, apparently.
While word of his death reaches his people, Conan is left alone in those nameless pits below the citadel, enchained and the intended prey of a venomous eighty-foot long snake, and one one made of rubber like Arnie faced.
A somewhat jarring interlude of racist epithets aside (and to be fair, they are bandied about by both black and white characters), The Scarlet Citadel is a rollicking ride of a short story, as weird and wonderful as any in the series.
September 16, 2019
Fast paced orgy of sword & sorcery pulp.
August 8, 2022
Another really strong and fantastic Conan story that only adds to his legacy. It definitely shows the strength of Robert E. Howard as a writer that he can make even the dungeon scene feel so gripping and eerie.
January 19, 2017
A man's man type of book. Bring out the beast and fight back to reclaim what you lost. Indiana Jones would wet his pants if he had to face the snake Conan deal with.
November 11, 2024
A story that is basically redone in The Hour of the Dragon novel. This has so many great Conan tropes that the comics have done again and again.
King Conan goes to war and is destroyed by Ophir aided by a wizard Tsotha-lanti and taking prisoner in his citadel. He eventually escapes the dungeon with the help of another wizard prisoner.
Comics:
Two fantastic adaptations that I'll definitely want to revisit again soon.
Savage Sword of Conan #30 by Frank Brunner
King Conan The Scarlet Citadel art by Tomas Giorello
King Conan goes to war and is destroyed by Ophir aided by a wizard Tsotha-lanti and taking prisoner in his citadel. He eventually escapes the dungeon with the help of another wizard prisoner.
Comics:
Two fantastic adaptations that I'll definitely want to revisit again soon.
Savage Sword of Conan #30 by Frank Brunner
King Conan The Scarlet Citadel art by Tomas Giorello
April 28, 2021
Este ha sido intenso, y sobre todo completo. Conan recibe una petición de ayuda por parte del rey de un país vecino, que hasta ese momento había sido un aliado, debido a que otra nación intentaba conquistar su reino, pero todo era una argucia para arrebatarle Aquilonia al bárbaro. A pesar de su fiereza en el combate, la superioridad numérica de sus enemigos es abrumadora, y el rey Conan es derrotado y apresado, para posteriormente, ser llevado a la Ciudadela Escarlata, un lugar repleto de seres atroces y malignos.
No sólo me ha gustado por ser una historia que abarca varios temas ya vistos en un único relato (batallas, política, exploración de lugares mágicos y malignos...) sino porque, por primera vez, las desventuras del Cimmerio desencadenan verdaderas consecuencias. En otras ocasiones Conan se encuentra con peligros, pero más allá de un mal recuerdo y de algunos cadáveres sin mayor importancia no hay grandes secuelas. Sin embargo, en este caso, a pesar de la simpleza del argumento, hay verdadera tragedia en los sucesos que acaecen. Muchas personas sufren por los deseos egoístas de unos pocos, y hay belleza en ello.
Y tanto el personaje de Pelias como sus interacciones con Conan son muy interesantes.
No sólo me ha gustado por ser una historia que abarca varios temas ya vistos en un único relato (batallas, política, exploración de lugares mágicos y malignos...) sino porque, por primera vez, las desventuras del Cimmerio desencadenan verdaderas consecuencias. En otras ocasiones Conan se encuentra con peligros, pero más allá de un mal recuerdo y de algunos cadáveres sin mayor importancia no hay grandes secuelas. Sin embargo, en este caso, a pesar de la simpleza del argumento, hay verdadera tragedia en los sucesos que acaecen. Muchas personas sufren por los deseos egoístas de unos pocos, y hay belleza en ello.
Y tanto el personaje de Pelias como sus interacciones con Conan son muy interesantes.
January 6, 2021
Not as good as the last Conan one by Howard I read but still a strong fun read
. Howard does a great job describing bleak and brutal scenarios but during the large battle sequences things seemed to get a bit on the muddy side.
. Howard does a great job describing bleak and brutal scenarios but during the large battle sequences things seemed to get a bit on the muddy side.
December 6, 2025
Another Conan story that borders on horror however perhaps the horror is less of the main focus as it is in something like God in The Bowl. The main point I really want to make is to further expand on some of my thoughts to do with Howard's writing (and literature in general's) approach to weird horror. A proffesor of mine once made a link between Weird horror (or cosmic/lovecrafrian/eldritch tak your pick of adjectives) with the Sublime, something primordial and beyond human understanding. Whilst there's certainly productive links to be made with the Burkian sublime in its focus on immediate bodily, affective reactions and obscurity, there is a strange complication to Kant's notion of sublime. Part of his formulation is that the danger of the dynamic sublime is Sublime because of mankind's realisation that even the bodily harm it implies cannot infringe upon the transcendence of pure reason. However, put rather pointedly in this piece the danger of the Weird is that it exists to disturb reason, I suppose the major question surrounding Weird fiction and the sublime is if this disturbance is located solely within the concepts of category crisis (and ergo it is still sublime) or an active violation of pure reason (and thus something that complicates the sublime). I don't have any real answers and excuse me if this is all a tad sophomoric I just have these concepts on the mind alot lately. I also like the gay wizard.
September 23, 2023
Entertaining reading 📘
I read this as part of the Conan: The Barbarian complete collection in 2017
Robert E. Howard is one of my favortite authors. I started reading the Conan paper back novels in the 1960s. I would highly recommended this novel and author to reads of action novels. 2017
I read this as part of the Conan: The Barbarian complete collection in 2017
Robert E. Howard is one of my favortite authors. I started reading the Conan paper back novels in the 1960s. I would highly recommended this novel and author to reads of action novels. 2017
June 2, 2016
In the tenth day of the month Yuluk, of the year of the Gazelle, the barbarian king finds himself trapped in the dungeons beneath the Scarlet Citadel of the foul sorcerer Tsotha-lanti:
"Of this Kothian wizard dark tales were told; tousle-headed women in northern and western villages frightened children with his name, and rebellious slaves were brought to abased submission quicker than by the lash, with threat of being sold to him. Men said that he had a whole library of dark works bound in skin flayed from living human victims, and that in nameless pits below the hill whereon his palace sat, he trafficked with the powers of darkness, trading screaming girl slaves for unholy secrets."
This fantastic short story contains a soul-torturing plant whose roots are set in Hell and a wizard named Pelias that Conan rescues while in the pits below the Tsotha's citadel.
I used this story as part of a D&D adventure. Statistics for Pelias can be found in CB2, Conan Against Darkness for first edition Dungeons and Dragons. I was delighted when the player using Pelias used an animate dead spell to have a the corpse of jailer unbolt a locked door--just like Pelias did in Robert E. Howard's story. I was then able to read this passage from the story:
"For the body of Shukeli stirred and moved, with infantile gropings of the fat hands. The laughter of Pelias was merciless as a flint hatchet, as the form of the eunuch reeled upright, clutching at the bars of the grille. Conan, glaring at him, felt his blood turn to ice, and the marrow of his bones to water; for Shukeli's wide-open eyes were glassy and empty, and from the great gash in his belly his entrails hung limply to the floor. The eunuch's feet stumbled among his entrails as he worked the bolt, moving like a brainless automaton. When he had first stirred, Conan had thought that by some incredible chance the eunuch was alive; but the man was dead—had been dead for hours"
"Of this Kothian wizard dark tales were told; tousle-headed women in northern and western villages frightened children with his name, and rebellious slaves were brought to abased submission quicker than by the lash, with threat of being sold to him. Men said that he had a whole library of dark works bound in skin flayed from living human victims, and that in nameless pits below the hill whereon his palace sat, he trafficked with the powers of darkness, trading screaming girl slaves for unholy secrets."
This fantastic short story contains a soul-torturing plant whose roots are set in Hell and a wizard named Pelias that Conan rescues while in the pits below the Tsotha's citadel.
I used this story as part of a D&D adventure. Statistics for Pelias can be found in CB2, Conan Against Darkness for first edition Dungeons and Dragons. I was delighted when the player using Pelias used an animate dead spell to have a the corpse of jailer unbolt a locked door--just like Pelias did in Robert E. Howard's story. I was then able to read this passage from the story:
"For the body of Shukeli stirred and moved, with infantile gropings of the fat hands. The laughter of Pelias was merciless as a flint hatchet, as the form of the eunuch reeled upright, clutching at the bars of the grille. Conan, glaring at him, felt his blood turn to ice, and the marrow of his bones to water; for Shukeli's wide-open eyes were glassy and empty, and from the great gash in his belly his entrails hung limply to the floor. The eunuch's feet stumbled among his entrails as he worked the bolt, moving like a brainless automaton. When he had first stirred, Conan had thought that by some incredible chance the eunuch was alive; but the man was dead—had been dead for hours"
November 8, 2017
Another wonderful tale of standing up and fighting for what's right. The story rips along at a fantastic pace. If anything, possibly a little too fast. The last chapter seemed a little rushed, hence only 4 stars. I love how well REH is able to express his world building in so few pages, just by giving hints or making brief references to past events. Conan is the only well developed character, though Tshotha wasn't badly done. Most of the rest barely had physical descriptions to go along with their short involvements to the plot.
January 22, 2018
This is the second or third time I read this story. Solid Howard Conan. If any complaint, the events are rushed and many times a bit forced, but a great story overall.
April 29, 2015
Intense imagery and very deep lore.
September 30, 2018
Much darker and grittier in theme than the first story. I enjoyed this one too, though maybe not quite as much as the first.
June 28, 2019
Many weird horrors in this one. Fantastic.
February 13, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, a story about Conan when he was King of Aquilonia. The story starts strongly and throughout it contains elements of what I like most in the REH Conan tales, action, high adventure, mystery, dark sorcery, horror and atmospheric imagery. REH was a superb storyteller at such a young age. One cannot but wonder how he may of become even better if he had lived to age naturally. If there is any criticism I can point at this story it is this, the ending perhaps was a tad rushed. It isn't a deal breaker, it ends well enough. I won't spoil it, it is a minor criticism and just my opinion. Overall a top tier REH Conan story. Crom!
July 29, 2025
4.25/5 stars
Howard's January 1933 Scarlet Citadel was the 2nd ever published Conan story, and it was even better than the first. Like Phoenix on the Sword, The Scarlet Citadel takes place later in Conan's life when he is the King of Aquilonia. Once again, treacherous forces have conspired against him and Aquilonia, and his army lies defeated. But that is only the beginning of this story's adventures, which includes weird and clearly Lovecraft-inspired beings. Since this is a short story I won't get too much into it, but I will say that the ending is absolutely epic! I could practically hear the clash of steel, see the cavalry charges and Conan indefatigably hunting his foes.
Howard's January 1933 Scarlet Citadel was the 2nd ever published Conan story, and it was even better than the first. Like Phoenix on the Sword, The Scarlet Citadel takes place later in Conan's life when he is the King of Aquilonia. Once again, treacherous forces have conspired against him and Aquilonia, and his army lies defeated. But that is only the beginning of this story's adventures, which includes weird and clearly Lovecraft-inspired beings. Since this is a short story I won't get too much into it, but I will say that the ending is absolutely epic! I could practically hear the clash of steel, see the cavalry charges and Conan indefatigably hunting his foes.
November 11, 2024
This was particularly spooky for me as Conan saves a man from being imprisoned in the tendrils of a giant vine, the flowers of which keep him in a stupor. The story has a novel portrayal of sorcery given the pulp that gets published beginning in the ‘70s, for most of the tricks are reliant on special knowledge of poisons and creatures by the sorcerer, and the phantoms could just as easily be conjured by Conan’s frightened mind.
Also gives good insight into Conan as a character, since Aquilonia falls apart as soon as news of his death reaches the capital, the common folk seeing their barbarian king as the only bulwark between them and grasping nobles.
Also gives good insight into Conan as a character, since Aquilonia falls apart as soon as news of his death reaches the capital, the common folk seeing their barbarian king as the only bulwark between them and grasping nobles.
January 23, 2022
Oh wow, this one didn't hold up to the previous story sadly.
We started to get into problematic territory, which I was anticipating given having read and authors work before and the time period. I still am unresolved on how to respond to that, so for now I'm noting that it was present here both in terms of race & gender.
I will have to think on it before deciding on if I will continue reading the series.
We started to get into problematic territory, which I was anticipating given having read and authors work before and the time period. I still am unresolved on how to respond to that, so for now I'm noting that it was present here both in terms of race & gender.
I will have to think on it before deciding on if I will continue reading the series.
June 21, 2025
Much better than the first novella of Howard's. Here Conan is captured as the lone survivor of a battle and taken to a dungeon full of creatures and other mysterious figures. In the longest Conan chapter yet, he escapes with the help of magic and then there's a big battle at the end. Very fun Conan story overall.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews