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The Serpent Knight Saga #1
Lords of Asylum
A vagabond knight. A lord’s dynasty massacred. Can a fallen warrior confront a mysterious assassin without becoming the next victim?
Sir Luther Slythe Krait walks a razor’s edge.
After falling from grace as the high-king’s justiciar, the freelance knight battles through the deadly schemes of a mad tyrant.
Loosed through a war-torn city like a rabid bloodhound on the elusive killer’s trail, Sir Luther vows to slay his quarry or forfeit his life.
With the monstrous murderer turning the tables and dark forces besieging him, Sir Luther kens but one certainty: he will bleed.
Lords of Asylum is the gripping first book in The Serpent Knight Saga fantasy series. If you like gritty heroes, realistic fight scenes, and witty dialogue, then you’ll love Kevin Wright’s medieval grimdark mystery.
Buy Lords of Asylum to unleash the dogs of war today!
Sir Luther Slythe Krait walks a razor’s edge.
After falling from grace as the high-king’s justiciar, the freelance knight battles through the deadly schemes of a mad tyrant.
Loosed through a war-torn city like a rabid bloodhound on the elusive killer’s trail, Sir Luther vows to slay his quarry or forfeit his life.
With the monstrous murderer turning the tables and dark forces besieging him, Sir Luther kens but one certainty: he will bleed.
Lords of Asylum is the gripping first book in The Serpent Knight Saga fantasy series. If you like gritty heroes, realistic fight scenes, and witty dialogue, then you’ll love Kevin Wright’s medieval grimdark mystery.
Buy Lords of Asylum to unleash the dogs of war today!
642 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 29, 2016
119 people are currently reading
557 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Wright
27 books66 followersKevin Wright studied writing at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell and fully utilized his bachelor’s degree by seeking and attaining employment first as a produce clerk and later as an emergency medical technician and firefighter. His parents are thrilled.
For decades now he has studied a variety of martial arts but steadfastly remains not-tough in any way shape or form. He just likes to pay money to get beat up, apparently.
Kevin Wright peaked intellectually in the seventh grade.
Kevin Wright wrote this bio, and this is how he actually refers to himself while speaking to people, in the third person like some steroid-addled NFL wide receiver.
He enjoys reading a little bit of everything and writing sci fi, fantasy, and horror. He does none of it well. Revelations, his debut novel, is his second venture into the realm of novel writing. His first was nigh-unreadable. Kevin continues to write in his spare time and is currently working on another full length novel.
For decades now he has studied a variety of martial arts but steadfastly remains not-tough in any way shape or form. He just likes to pay money to get beat up, apparently.
Kevin Wright peaked intellectually in the seventh grade.
Kevin Wright wrote this bio, and this is how he actually refers to himself while speaking to people, in the third person like some steroid-addled NFL wide receiver.
He enjoys reading a little bit of everything and writing sci fi, fantasy, and horror. He does none of it well. Revelations, his debut novel, is his second venture into the realm of novel writing. His first was nigh-unreadable. Kevin continues to write in his spare time and is currently working on another full length novel.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 21, 2019
4.5/5
LORDS OF ASYLUM by Kevin Wright is a book that I picked up on the recommendation of Grimdark Magazine and the Bookwyrm Speaks. As anyone who reads my reviews would know, I'm a huge fan of grimdark fiction and think it's more than edgy tryhard fiction. For me, it is a burgeoning genre that combines noir, horror, and fantasy fiction into a dark existentialist exploration of antihero protagonists in amoral worlds. If that sounds like a mouthful, I just like books where the heroes are jerks and the world isn't one where the central conflict is good versus evil but where their next meal comes from. I'm a big fan of Joe Abercrombie, Rob J. Hayes, Mark Lawrence, and Anna Smith Sparks.
The premise is that Luther Slythe Krait is a former bailiff (calling himself a Justicar) who has lost all of his self-respect and honor. He will gladly kill men, women, or children for coin and is living as a half-bandit. However, when a noblewoman and her entourage take him prisoner, he is given an interesting proposition: find the murderer of her family that may or may not have supernatural power. This leads him to the plague-ridden and war-torn city of Asylum, which is as close to hell on Earth.
Kevin Wright strikes me as someone who is going to be joining the ranks of well-regarded indie grimdark authors (if he hasn't already). Lords of Asylum is a fantastically moody and dark storyline that kept me enraptured from beginning to end. This is definitely a grimdark book with a cynical, uncompromising, and bleak look at both humanity as well as life in the late Middle Ages/early Renaissance but isn't afraid to challenge the principles of such either.
Asylum is a horrible place that has been ravaged by disease and a civil war between the English nobility as well as local lords. I have no idea if it's based on a real place but you can feel the cold desolation as our (anti)hero travels through it. He has few clues to go on and each one seems to lead him to an even worse group of people. Mad Bishops, arrogant fratricidal lords, corrupted handmaids, and psychotic mercenaries.
I actually like how the book challenges a lot of the notions of grimdark as well. While Luther is a traditional nihilist anti-hero, he's repeatedly confronted with people who try to make the world a better place regardless of its horror. It's an interesting twist on the cynicism of the genre that acknowledging the world has no point doesn't actually free you. It just leaves you every bit as miserable as before.
In conclusion, Lords of Asylum is a very solid piece of grimdark fantasy. There's a lot of good characterization, a deeply moody atmosphere, and a fascinating twisting plot. Those who like their fiction without mass graves, horrible abuses of power, and no clear answers should probably stay away. This is a dark book where bad things happen to good people and justice may be an illusion. But that's just how I like it.
LORDS OF ASYLUM by Kevin Wright is a book that I picked up on the recommendation of Grimdark Magazine and the Bookwyrm Speaks. As anyone who reads my reviews would know, I'm a huge fan of grimdark fiction and think it's more than edgy tryhard fiction. For me, it is a burgeoning genre that combines noir, horror, and fantasy fiction into a dark existentialist exploration of antihero protagonists in amoral worlds. If that sounds like a mouthful, I just like books where the heroes are jerks and the world isn't one where the central conflict is good versus evil but where their next meal comes from. I'm a big fan of Joe Abercrombie, Rob J. Hayes, Mark Lawrence, and Anna Smith Sparks.
The premise is that Luther Slythe Krait is a former bailiff (calling himself a Justicar) who has lost all of his self-respect and honor. He will gladly kill men, women, or children for coin and is living as a half-bandit. However, when a noblewoman and her entourage take him prisoner, he is given an interesting proposition: find the murderer of her family that may or may not have supernatural power. This leads him to the plague-ridden and war-torn city of Asylum, which is as close to hell on Earth.
Kevin Wright strikes me as someone who is going to be joining the ranks of well-regarded indie grimdark authors (if he hasn't already). Lords of Asylum is a fantastically moody and dark storyline that kept me enraptured from beginning to end. This is definitely a grimdark book with a cynical, uncompromising, and bleak look at both humanity as well as life in the late Middle Ages/early Renaissance but isn't afraid to challenge the principles of such either.
Asylum is a horrible place that has been ravaged by disease and a civil war between the English nobility as well as local lords. I have no idea if it's based on a real place but you can feel the cold desolation as our (anti)hero travels through it. He has few clues to go on and each one seems to lead him to an even worse group of people. Mad Bishops, arrogant fratricidal lords, corrupted handmaids, and psychotic mercenaries.
I actually like how the book challenges a lot of the notions of grimdark as well. While Luther is a traditional nihilist anti-hero, he's repeatedly confronted with people who try to make the world a better place regardless of its horror. It's an interesting twist on the cynicism of the genre that acknowledging the world has no point doesn't actually free you. It just leaves you every bit as miserable as before.
In conclusion, Lords of Asylum is a very solid piece of grimdark fantasy. There's a lot of good characterization, a deeply moody atmosphere, and a fascinating twisting plot. Those who like their fiction without mass graves, horrible abuses of power, and no clear answers should probably stay away. This is a dark book where bad things happen to good people and justice may be an illusion. But that's just how I like it.
November 13, 2018
Lords of Asylum is a clever blend of political intrigue, murder mystery and noir thriller. Europe is in the grip of the Black Death, civil war is raging and the city of Asylum stands on the brink of utter chaos. The heir of the power hungry Lord Raachwald has been murdered under suspicious circumstances, and he is determined to find those responsible to enact his revenge. For this he enlists the services of Sir Luther Krait, a man he despises, but who has the necessary skills to get the job done. He also has the ultimate bargaining chip – Luther’s brother, Stephan. If Luther wants to save his brother from the axe, he must race against time to discover the killer and deliver them to Lord Raachwald.
One of the first impressions I have of Lords of Asylum is that it really punches you in the face with its noirish atmosphere – though it’s a tale of knights and lords set in Europe in the 14th Century, it largely uses modern dialogue with an American feel, which takes a little getting used to. However, it’s clearly a stylistic choice and for the most part I found that it worked. Here we have tough talking henchmen, lords who behave like mob bosses, and femme fatales galore. It’s a gritty and violent world given occasional levity through some amusing dialogue – Luther and Karl in particular have an excellent rapport. Luther himself is a sort of Sam Spade meets The Bloody Nine – part detective, part morally ambiguous knight… all cynic. His slow uncovering of the mystery is well plotted and thought out, and there are plenty of clues dropped along the way as to what’s going on. There are many colorful characters who would benefit directly from the murder and Wright did a good job at keeping me guessing throughout.
The worldbuilding is strong – beyond the immediate violence of the setting, the ever present threat of the plague lurks in the background, and the corpse fires around the city serve as grim mood lighting to a dark and brooding plot. The city and its characters are intensely hostile to Luther and so there’s a real sense of his struggle and desperation knowing that his brother’s life is on the line. The heavily stylized and evocative prose is reminiscent of both noir writers like James Ellroy and Raymond Chandler, and more recently in the fantasy genre, Anna Smith Spark. This was a big check in the plus section for me, as these are all writers whose work I enjoy a great deal. This might also be a sticking point for some readers, however, as this style doesn’t work for everyone – I’d recommend checking out the sample before purchasing to see if it’s for you.
There are also some elements that might make for uncomfortable reading for some, due to the novel’s grounding in the real history of Europe. The persecution of the Jewish people during the height of the plague is a major element of the novel, and there are some anti-semitic remarks from several of the non-Jewish characters, as well as use of the slur “dago” to refer to the Spanish. There are also some anachronisms, indeed, “dago” is one of them (not in use until the 1800s) – idioms are used that won’t be coined for centuries, in particular “pound of flesh” jumped out at me, being a well known Shakespearean phrase (late 16th C.). However, since Wright has clearly studied writing extensively (displaying knowledge of 14thC. Italian poets, amongst other things) and there are some clear parallels to The Merchant of Venice later in the plot, I have to assume that most of these, too, are deliberate choices. I’m just not sure how successful those choices are, since they disrupted my immersion in the story.
Overall I’d say that Lords of Asylum is a bit of a dark horse – I went in unsure of what to expect, and found myself engrossed in an unusual tale that blended elements of some of my favorite genres and was, for the most part, very successful. The snappy dialogue and morally grey protagonist were a delight to read, and the dark and oppressive backdrop was dripping with atmosphere. While it had a couple of problems, I’ll be interested to read more by this author. I think he’s one to watch.
One of the first impressions I have of Lords of Asylum is that it really punches you in the face with its noirish atmosphere – though it’s a tale of knights and lords set in Europe in the 14th Century, it largely uses modern dialogue with an American feel, which takes a little getting used to. However, it’s clearly a stylistic choice and for the most part I found that it worked. Here we have tough talking henchmen, lords who behave like mob bosses, and femme fatales galore. It’s a gritty and violent world given occasional levity through some amusing dialogue – Luther and Karl in particular have an excellent rapport. Luther himself is a sort of Sam Spade meets The Bloody Nine – part detective, part morally ambiguous knight… all cynic. His slow uncovering of the mystery is well plotted and thought out, and there are plenty of clues dropped along the way as to what’s going on. There are many colorful characters who would benefit directly from the murder and Wright did a good job at keeping me guessing throughout.
The worldbuilding is strong – beyond the immediate violence of the setting, the ever present threat of the plague lurks in the background, and the corpse fires around the city serve as grim mood lighting to a dark and brooding plot. The city and its characters are intensely hostile to Luther and so there’s a real sense of his struggle and desperation knowing that his brother’s life is on the line. The heavily stylized and evocative prose is reminiscent of both noir writers like James Ellroy and Raymond Chandler, and more recently in the fantasy genre, Anna Smith Spark. This was a big check in the plus section for me, as these are all writers whose work I enjoy a great deal. This might also be a sticking point for some readers, however, as this style doesn’t work for everyone – I’d recommend checking out the sample before purchasing to see if it’s for you.
There are also some elements that might make for uncomfortable reading for some, due to the novel’s grounding in the real history of Europe. The persecution of the Jewish people during the height of the plague is a major element of the novel, and there are some anti-semitic remarks from several of the non-Jewish characters, as well as use of the slur “dago” to refer to the Spanish. There are also some anachronisms, indeed, “dago” is one of them (not in use until the 1800s) – idioms are used that won’t be coined for centuries, in particular “pound of flesh” jumped out at me, being a well known Shakespearean phrase (late 16th C.). However, since Wright has clearly studied writing extensively (displaying knowledge of 14thC. Italian poets, amongst other things) and there are some clear parallels to The Merchant of Venice later in the plot, I have to assume that most of these, too, are deliberate choices. I’m just not sure how successful those choices are, since they disrupted my immersion in the story.
Overall I’d say that Lords of Asylum is a bit of a dark horse – I went in unsure of what to expect, and found myself engrossed in an unusual tale that blended elements of some of my favorite genres and was, for the most part, very successful. The snappy dialogue and morally grey protagonist were a delight to read, and the dark and oppressive backdrop was dripping with atmosphere. While it had a couple of problems, I’ll be interested to read more by this author. I think he’s one to watch.
February 28, 2022
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this after reading mixed reviews but I really enjoyed it. I don’t think these characters are the kind you “love” but I liked a few of them that include Nils, Abraham and the snarky MC, Krait. Honestly the only somewhat likable characters. This is a dark read but the dry humor helps. 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 6, 2018
Actual rating: 3.5/5
Lords of Asylum mixes political intrigue, a murder mystery and thriller. Black Death ravages Europe. The civil war breaks out. All these events, and more, throw the city of Asylum into chaos. Sir Luther Slythe Krait, compelled into the service of his arch-nemesis, Lord Raachwald, must solve a murder mystery involving black witchcraft.
While the storyline becomes unwieldy at times, Wright does a skilled job overall of keeping things focused and directed. Adeptly written and replete with dark imagery, this novel continually surprises. The overarching storyline isn’t exactly innovative, but readers who enjoy narratives that explore grey morality will find this novel — and its damaged protagonist — intriguing.
The world-building does the job well and allowed me to immerse in the events. Unfortunately, the stylised prose broke the flow for me more than once. Wright uses repetition and rhythmic sentences that will appeal to some readers, but discourage others. I’m in the middle. At times I enjoyed it, at times I felt tired of it.
Aside from strong, “visible“ prose, the novel is a little overweight - I can see it loosing 15-20% of the content without loosing direction.
But these are just minor complaints. If you’re into noir fantasy with clever plot, troubled characters and great twists, give this one a try.
Lords of Asylum mixes political intrigue, a murder mystery and thriller. Black Death ravages Europe. The civil war breaks out. All these events, and more, throw the city of Asylum into chaos. Sir Luther Slythe Krait, compelled into the service of his arch-nemesis, Lord Raachwald, must solve a murder mystery involving black witchcraft.
While the storyline becomes unwieldy at times, Wright does a skilled job overall of keeping things focused and directed. Adeptly written and replete with dark imagery, this novel continually surprises. The overarching storyline isn’t exactly innovative, but readers who enjoy narratives that explore grey morality will find this novel — and its damaged protagonist — intriguing.
The world-building does the job well and allowed me to immerse in the events. Unfortunately, the stylised prose broke the flow for me more than once. Wright uses repetition and rhythmic sentences that will appeal to some readers, but discourage others. I’m in the middle. At times I enjoyed it, at times I felt tired of it.
Aside from strong, “visible“ prose, the novel is a little overweight - I can see it loosing 15-20% of the content without loosing direction.
But these are just minor complaints. If you’re into noir fantasy with clever plot, troubled characters and great twists, give this one a try.
October 12, 2018
Full review is here on my blog!~
This is the story of Sir Luther Slythe Krait, a knight and former justiciar who is now making his way in the world as… a caravan guard. Well, the caravan he was guarding was attacked and pretty much everyone but him killed… look I never said he was a good caravan guard.
What he is good at though is investigating. One of the lords of the city of Asylum, Lord Raachwald’s heir (among other people) was horribly killed by something that is rather unexplainable, and Lord Raachwald would really like to know who or what did it. So, he coerces sir Luther Krait, a man he hates but grudgingly admits is good at what he does, to investigate what happened. And by coerce, I mean kidnap his brother Stephan and swear he’ll kill him if Krait doesn’t do what he wants. So he’s in a bind, and of course one of the other Lords of Asylum is pissed off that Krait is investigating something for his nemesis in his city. So he’s got two angry lords breathing down his neck.
So it’s up to Krait to try and figure this mystery out before all hell breaks loose in Asylum.
I really enjoyed this one for a couple of reasons, but those reasons are probably going to be reasons why other people won’t like it.
This takes place in actual 14th century Europe, which was not a really fantastic time to be alive, to be honest. This world is dark and full of all kinds of murder and war, and death and some more war on top of all the other death. The plague is running rampant, and Asylum is pretty much surrounded by fires consuming the corpses of those who have succumbed. So this setting, and therefore most of this book, is quite grim, and rather bleak.
It’s also quite noir, which was interesting, but may be a sticking point for some people. Again, this takes place in 14th century Europe, however much of the dialog is often very modern and uses vernacular which would not have been in use at the time. For me, it gave the book a quality that I really enjoyed, because I can guarantee I would have liked it less were this dialog more historically accurate. Krait is sort of a 14th century morally-grey detective. He’s not a good guy, not really. But he’s not inherently the worst guy around either. He’s in the middle somewhere. He’s quite snarky at times, and he’ll throw out a witty comeback here or there that worked for me, but might not work for everyone.
His dialog made me legitimately laugh a few times, which was nice, given the super-dark atmosphere that the setting provides. The titular Lords of Asylum, most especially one of them, act very much like mob bosses, sending their thuggish henchmen out to do the dirty work, like summoning Krait in for a nice… uh… chat. Krait’s partner in crime, so to speak, a Norseman named Karl was also a great character. The banter between him and Krait was excellent and quite entertaining all on its own.
As modern as the dialog sounds, there is a fair bit of historical accuracy here, as there was indeed plague and war running rampant through much of Europe at this time in history. The persecution of the Jewish people of Europe during the plague was a pretty major part of this story as well. So, there are a fair amount of anti-semitic slurs and remarks thrown at the Jewish characters from various sources, on top of the fair bit of swearing that takes place already. Just throwing that out there, for anyone that might find things like slurs and the f-bomb uncomfortable. This one doesn’t shy away from horrible things that actually happened, nor does it shy away from language that portrays those things in a realistic way.
The mystery kept me in the dark until the big reveal, despite dropping some pretty big hints, which was nice. That kept me really interested, as I wanted to find out the whodunnit. I didn’t find the book boring at any point, and usually found myself excited to pick it up and read it when I had time, but it admittedly felt rather like some parts were unnecessarily long or drawn out more than was really necessary to convey what needed conveying. At the same time, most of these parts were entertaining in their own way, but they still felt as if they were padding the word count a bit. All the same, I thought the prose was very well done, and this book was really well written. Kevin Wright obviously has some serious writing skills.
This is the story of Sir Luther Slythe Krait, a knight and former justiciar who is now making his way in the world as… a caravan guard. Well, the caravan he was guarding was attacked and pretty much everyone but him killed… look I never said he was a good caravan guard.
What he is good at though is investigating. One of the lords of the city of Asylum, Lord Raachwald’s heir (among other people) was horribly killed by something that is rather unexplainable, and Lord Raachwald would really like to know who or what did it. So, he coerces sir Luther Krait, a man he hates but grudgingly admits is good at what he does, to investigate what happened. And by coerce, I mean kidnap his brother Stephan and swear he’ll kill him if Krait doesn’t do what he wants. So he’s in a bind, and of course one of the other Lords of Asylum is pissed off that Krait is investigating something for his nemesis in his city. So he’s got two angry lords breathing down his neck.
So it’s up to Krait to try and figure this mystery out before all hell breaks loose in Asylum.
I really enjoyed this one for a couple of reasons, but those reasons are probably going to be reasons why other people won’t like it.
This takes place in actual 14th century Europe, which was not a really fantastic time to be alive, to be honest. This world is dark and full of all kinds of murder and war, and death and some more war on top of all the other death. The plague is running rampant, and Asylum is pretty much surrounded by fires consuming the corpses of those who have succumbed. So this setting, and therefore most of this book, is quite grim, and rather bleak.
It’s also quite noir, which was interesting, but may be a sticking point for some people. Again, this takes place in 14th century Europe, however much of the dialog is often very modern and uses vernacular which would not have been in use at the time. For me, it gave the book a quality that I really enjoyed, because I can guarantee I would have liked it less were this dialog more historically accurate. Krait is sort of a 14th century morally-grey detective. He’s not a good guy, not really. But he’s not inherently the worst guy around either. He’s in the middle somewhere. He’s quite snarky at times, and he’ll throw out a witty comeback here or there that worked for me, but might not work for everyone.
His dialog made me legitimately laugh a few times, which was nice, given the super-dark atmosphere that the setting provides. The titular Lords of Asylum, most especially one of them, act very much like mob bosses, sending their thuggish henchmen out to do the dirty work, like summoning Krait in for a nice… uh… chat. Krait’s partner in crime, so to speak, a Norseman named Karl was also a great character. The banter between him and Krait was excellent and quite entertaining all on its own.
As modern as the dialog sounds, there is a fair bit of historical accuracy here, as there was indeed plague and war running rampant through much of Europe at this time in history. The persecution of the Jewish people of Europe during the plague was a pretty major part of this story as well. So, there are a fair amount of anti-semitic slurs and remarks thrown at the Jewish characters from various sources, on top of the fair bit of swearing that takes place already. Just throwing that out there, for anyone that might find things like slurs and the f-bomb uncomfortable. This one doesn’t shy away from horrible things that actually happened, nor does it shy away from language that portrays those things in a realistic way.
The mystery kept me in the dark until the big reveal, despite dropping some pretty big hints, which was nice. That kept me really interested, as I wanted to find out the whodunnit. I didn’t find the book boring at any point, and usually found myself excited to pick it up and read it when I had time, but it admittedly felt rather like some parts were unnecessarily long or drawn out more than was really necessary to convey what needed conveying. At the same time, most of these parts were entertaining in their own way, but they still felt as if they were padding the word count a bit. All the same, I thought the prose was very well done, and this book was really well written. Kevin Wright obviously has some serious writing skills.
February 13, 2017
Grim, gritty and oh so good.
I came across Kevin on a social media page we both follow. Generally, when I see a new Author hawking his wares I will give him a shot. Unfortunately, this is often a nauseating waste of time. However, I know how difficult it is to make your idea a reality on the page and I want to support the effort, good or bad.
This novel absolutely defines the reason I do this. Kevin has written a superb novel. It took a bit of acclimation to his writing style but once I settled in the pages flew.
The story is told in the first person and has the feel of fantasy noir. I personally favor noir for the opporunity it affords the writer to truly define the character. Kevin does this in spades with Luther. He is the quintessential anti-hero with a slick wit and warped morality. Luther must navigate the dangerous streets of a city on the brink of war. Investigating the murders of three children in order to save his brother and keep his head attached.
This novel is grim, very grim at times but it is tempered with descriptive imagery and dialogue that truly bring the story to life.
Get it while you can on Amazon Prime. It is definitely worth your time.
I came across Kevin on a social media page we both follow. Generally, when I see a new Author hawking his wares I will give him a shot. Unfortunately, this is often a nauseating waste of time. However, I know how difficult it is to make your idea a reality on the page and I want to support the effort, good or bad.
This novel absolutely defines the reason I do this. Kevin has written a superb novel. It took a bit of acclimation to his writing style but once I settled in the pages flew.
The story is told in the first person and has the feel of fantasy noir. I personally favor noir for the opporunity it affords the writer to truly define the character. Kevin does this in spades with Luther. He is the quintessential anti-hero with a slick wit and warped morality. Luther must navigate the dangerous streets of a city on the brink of war. Investigating the murders of three children in order to save his brother and keep his head attached.
This novel is grim, very grim at times but it is tempered with descriptive imagery and dialogue that truly bring the story to life.
Get it while you can on Amazon Prime. It is definitely worth your time.
April 19, 2022
If you like dark worlds, gritty violence, and main characters that are terrible but somehow likeable, you should read this.
The world of Lords of Asylum is a very dark world. The word bleak, comes to mind. Yet there’s just enough action, (dark) humor, and (rare) glimpses of good nature that it stays engaging throughout.
The central plot of the book is framed as a mystery, and while I am not typically a fan of mysteries, this one was done well and really, the central plot often takes a backseat to focus on the main character and his interactions.
The violence was great and felt realistic. The imagination and fantasy elements of this book (some magic, but not a ton) were great. The characters were very interesting, most of them terrible, yet I ended up very much rooting for the main characters and wanting to read the next book.
The writing is really, really great. I was skeptical about it being in first person but got used to it quickly and ended up enjoying it.
Highly recommended IF you want a story with a very dark world. If you want something light or moral-ly, look elsewhere.
The world of Lords of Asylum is a very dark world. The word bleak, comes to mind. Yet there’s just enough action, (dark) humor, and (rare) glimpses of good nature that it stays engaging throughout.
The central plot of the book is framed as a mystery, and while I am not typically a fan of mysteries, this one was done well and really, the central plot often takes a backseat to focus on the main character and his interactions.
The violence was great and felt realistic. The imagination and fantasy elements of this book (some magic, but not a ton) were great. The characters were very interesting, most of them terrible, yet I ended up very much rooting for the main characters and wanting to read the next book.
The writing is really, really great. I was skeptical about it being in first person but got used to it quickly and ended up enjoying it.
Highly recommended IF you want a story with a very dark world. If you want something light or moral-ly, look elsewhere.
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April 16, 2023
Non era certo il libro che mi aspettavo!!!
Dalle recensioni lette si evinceva che era un brutale, violento e oscuro dark fantasy..
Non lo è!
Nel senso che non è praticamente un fantasy.
La vicenda si svolge tutta nella fittizia città di Asylum, collocata da qualche parte nell'europa centro nord, nel medioevo ai tempi della peste.. tra cristiani, ebrei e cavalieri teutonici, Krait, un cavaliere in disgrazia, più avvezzo alla fuga che al coraggio, verrà suo malgrado incaricato di scoprire chi ha compiuto l efferata strage nella fortezza di Coldspire, simbolo del potere tra i 5 signori di Asylum.. un romanzo d investigazione, mistery e noir, dal sapore grimdark, pieno di trame politiche, economiche e religiose, con poca azione, ma con tanti ribaltamenti di trama, che non lo rendono mai noioso..
La cupezza dell'ambientazione data dalla peste e dalla miseria che porta con sé, rendono la storia più interessante e intrigante..
L azione, benché poca e sporadica, è gestita benissimo, con crudezza e ferocità..
Nelle ultime 40 pagine fa capolino l aspetto più fantasy, con una bella accelerazione delle vicende verso lo scoppiettante finale.. da leggere anche i seguenti capitoli della serie, anche se ognuno Praticamente autoconclusivo...
(Difetto più grande: inizialmente si capisce poco di certi avvenimenti o personaggi, che poi vengono sviluppati o svelati successivamente.. se questo di solito per me è un pregio, qua invece no, dovuto al fatto che non è stato gestito benissimo, e quindi più che creare attrazione genera confusione! Per questo la stella in meno.. Comunque basta tener duro un po' per essere ricompensati alla grande dal resto della storia!!)
Dalle recensioni lette si evinceva che era un brutale, violento e oscuro dark fantasy..
Non lo è!
Nel senso che non è praticamente un fantasy.
La vicenda si svolge tutta nella fittizia città di Asylum, collocata da qualche parte nell'europa centro nord, nel medioevo ai tempi della peste.. tra cristiani, ebrei e cavalieri teutonici, Krait, un cavaliere in disgrazia, più avvezzo alla fuga che al coraggio, verrà suo malgrado incaricato di scoprire chi ha compiuto l efferata strage nella fortezza di Coldspire, simbolo del potere tra i 5 signori di Asylum.. un romanzo d investigazione, mistery e noir, dal sapore grimdark, pieno di trame politiche, economiche e religiose, con poca azione, ma con tanti ribaltamenti di trama, che non lo rendono mai noioso..
La cupezza dell'ambientazione data dalla peste e dalla miseria che porta con sé, rendono la storia più interessante e intrigante..
L azione, benché poca e sporadica, è gestita benissimo, con crudezza e ferocità..
Nelle ultime 40 pagine fa capolino l aspetto più fantasy, con una bella accelerazione delle vicende verso lo scoppiettante finale.. da leggere anche i seguenti capitoli della serie, anche se ognuno Praticamente autoconclusivo...
(Difetto più grande: inizialmente si capisce poco di certi avvenimenti o personaggi, che poi vengono sviluppati o svelati successivamente.. se questo di solito per me è un pregio, qua invece no, dovuto al fatto che non è stato gestito benissimo, e quindi più che creare attrazione genera confusione! Per questo la stella in meno.. Comunque basta tener duro un po' per essere ricompensati alla grande dal resto della storia!!)
June 20, 2018
George R R Martin meets Raymond Chandler, in the Lovecraft wing of Machiavelli's villa.
Kevin Wright delivers an engrossing read that is part horror, part medieval political struggle and part noir detective story. The pacing is tight, the plot complex and carefully constructed and the voice is engaging.
Asylum City has been wracked by the changing tides of the Hundred Years War, religious schism and the plague. And the protagonist, justicar Sir Luther Slythe Krait has been dragged into the deadly quagmire by perhaps the most frightening of a rogue's gallery of nobles and clergy struggling for control. Krait has to solve a seemingly impossible and brutal murder in a hostile city on a tight timeline, or see his brother executed.
A gritty world; a suspicion of black magic; deep, dynamic and fully realized characters and a tightly wound mystery, all told in an engaging insightful fashion by a cynical detective. If Sam Spade or Spenser buckled on a sword and sought clues among the throne rooms and plague pits of 14th Century Europe, this is probably what it would look like.
As always, Wright has given us a story that's a fun read, so long as you don't mind getting your hands a little dirty.
Kevin Wright delivers an engrossing read that is part horror, part medieval political struggle and part noir detective story. The pacing is tight, the plot complex and carefully constructed and the voice is engaging.
Asylum City has been wracked by the changing tides of the Hundred Years War, religious schism and the plague. And the protagonist, justicar Sir Luther Slythe Krait has been dragged into the deadly quagmire by perhaps the most frightening of a rogue's gallery of nobles and clergy struggling for control. Krait has to solve a seemingly impossible and brutal murder in a hostile city on a tight timeline, or see his brother executed.
A gritty world; a suspicion of black magic; deep, dynamic and fully realized characters and a tightly wound mystery, all told in an engaging insightful fashion by a cynical detective. If Sam Spade or Spenser buckled on a sword and sought clues among the throne rooms and plague pits of 14th Century Europe, this is probably what it would look like.
As always, Wright has given us a story that's a fun read, so long as you don't mind getting your hands a little dirty.
Want to read
November 12, 2018A great review of Lords of Asylum, a runner-up from #TeamWeatherwax in SPFBO'04.
https://tomeandtankard.com/2018/09/27...
July 4, 2022
Damn that was excellent, Grimdark and deliciously written. Kevin Wright's Lords of Asylum is the first book in the Serpent Knight trilogy set in the dark medieval days of Europe.
Kevin Wright delivers an engrossing read that is part horror, part fantasy and detective story, a medieval political struggle between Christianity and Jewish settlers. The worldbuilding and plot is brilliant, from the very first page the author draws you in with its erie setting and nefarious characters. The Main protagonist Sir Luther Slythe Krait is a justiciar, a judge, jury and executioner, whose sense of justice, honed by long training and hunting outlaws, have forged him into a peerless warrior and merciless hunter. When he is set upon by a Lord and Lady and their hench men, they have captured his brother and in return for his life he must find the Killers of their murdered sons. With no other option he must endure his new task and find these would be assassins. Let the hunt begin. If you love Grimdark fantasy, I highly recommend...😁🔥🖤💥
Kevin Wright delivers an engrossing read that is part horror, part fantasy and detective story, a medieval political struggle between Christianity and Jewish settlers. The worldbuilding and plot is brilliant, from the very first page the author draws you in with its erie setting and nefarious characters. The Main protagonist Sir Luther Slythe Krait is a justiciar, a judge, jury and executioner, whose sense of justice, honed by long training and hunting outlaws, have forged him into a peerless warrior and merciless hunter. When he is set upon by a Lord and Lady and their hench men, they have captured his brother and in return for his life he must find the Killers of their murdered sons. With no other option he must endure his new task and find these would be assassins. Let the hunt begin. If you love Grimdark fantasy, I highly recommend...😁🔥🖤💥
July 9, 2023
Grimdark Horror Fantasy
This is a really dark book with a really dark protagonist that a lot of people aren't going to like because he's very dark he doesn't really care men women children anybody that gets in the way he's asked to solve a murder in a city called Asylum and it's just as crazy as its name a very brutal place there's a lot of good things happening in this book any Grimdark lover is going to love this I think more people need know about this author...Read it
This is a really dark book with a really dark protagonist that a lot of people aren't going to like because he's very dark he doesn't really care men women children anybody that gets in the way he's asked to solve a murder in a city called Asylum and it's just as crazy as its name a very brutal place there's a lot of good things happening in this book any Grimdark lover is going to love this I think more people need know about this author...Read it
February 9, 2021
Is this series a trilogy? Or is it over?
January 30, 2025
So glad I found this series, and easily the best independent book series I’ve encountered. Feels like Abercrombie meets Dresden Files without feeling cliched or stylistically derivative. Dark, often violent, often hilarious, relentlessly pushing forward, with just enough intrigue and twists to feel compelling without turning into an overthought, overdone conspiracy-driven mess that many mysteries creep towards.
The ebb and flow between fast paced, brutal action and tense, noir investigation is a real highlight across all the books in this series, and the pacing feels masterful. Similarly, the balance between grim, plague-ridden atmosphere, witty dialogue, and self-deprecating humour is nigh on perfect.
Neither epic fantasy nor intricate detective mystery, but a fabulous blend of both, that takes the best of both, while avoiding–or at least subverting–the tropes of either.
The ebb and flow between fast paced, brutal action and tense, noir investigation is a real highlight across all the books in this series, and the pacing feels masterful. Similarly, the balance between grim, plague-ridden atmosphere, witty dialogue, and self-deprecating humour is nigh on perfect.
Neither epic fantasy nor intricate detective mystery, but a fabulous blend of both, that takes the best of both, while avoiding–or at least subverting–the tropes of either.
May 29, 2023
Firstly, the atmosphere in this book is brilliant. I'm always suckered by books that immerse and draw me into the world. If I like the prose and descriptions, I'm generally sticking with a book to its end.
If you're drawn to a dystopian Medieval England, one in which Black Plague is rampant, plague fires burn every night, and the remaining nobles are squabbling for the last vestiges of power (and thereby, safety), you will love this book. Whenever someone coughs or sneezes...watch out. Whenever anyone sees a corpse wagon or a plague fire...it's just another day in paradise.
As far as plot, this is primarily a murder mystery, almost like a detective novel. The protagonist is sent by another lord to unravel the murders of several high-ranking individuals in what appears to be a power play for the central keep. Therefore, dynamic character arcs are not necessarily expected, as most arcs are sacrificed in favor of more twists for the murder mystery. It holds its share of surprises, so you don't have to worry about the plot.
At least...you don't have to worry about it until the end. I can't spoil the ending, but suffice it to say that it was my least favored aspect of the book. While we were following a murder mystery, the final act suddenly escalates everything toward an apocalyptic confrontation far beyond what I expected or wanted. If you like EPIC dark fantasy (specifically "epic") the ending probably won't bother you...I just don't believe it meshed with the wider story very well.
All in all, this is strong writing in a brilliantly defined world that will have me eyeballing this author for future reads.
If you're drawn to a dystopian Medieval England, one in which Black Plague is rampant, plague fires burn every night, and the remaining nobles are squabbling for the last vestiges of power (and thereby, safety), you will love this book. Whenever someone coughs or sneezes...watch out. Whenever anyone sees a corpse wagon or a plague fire...it's just another day in paradise.
As far as plot, this is primarily a murder mystery, almost like a detective novel. The protagonist is sent by another lord to unravel the murders of several high-ranking individuals in what appears to be a power play for the central keep. Therefore, dynamic character arcs are not necessarily expected, as most arcs are sacrificed in favor of more twists for the murder mystery. It holds its share of surprises, so you don't have to worry about the plot.
At least...you don't have to worry about it until the end. I can't spoil the ending, but suffice it to say that it was my least favored aspect of the book. While we were following a murder mystery, the final act suddenly escalates everything toward an apocalyptic confrontation far beyond what I expected or wanted. If you like EPIC dark fantasy (specifically "epic") the ending probably won't bother you...I just don't believe it meshed with the wider story very well.
All in all, this is strong writing in a brilliantly defined world that will have me eyeballing this author for future reads.
June 7, 2021
Odd book in that it's not my favorite, but I'm very interested to see where it goes from there. I liked the characters, Luther and Lorelai's thing was fun, and more. Pretty dark storyline too! Not bad, not the best, but excited for the second book!
December 23, 2018
Detective work features prominently in many urban fantasy novels, but it is rather less common in a more traditional fantasy setting and yet that is exactly what we have with this book with the flawed knight, Sir Luther being forced into investigating a crime in order to save his captive brother and it works rather well as a premise.
The author does a good job of setting the scene, in a historical Europe rather than an invented world with the various characters and factions all helping to add to the feeling of it being a real and very flawed place.
The style of the narrator also helped to add to the overall feel of the world with his tone effectively conveying the cynical and world-weary nature of the main character while also being suitably distinctive with the rest of the cast too.
Overall, this was an interesting and enjoyable listen that made a nice change for me since most dystopian novels tend to go with a sci-fi setting instead. One very slight complaint, the suffix to the title seems a little unwieldy whether it is the book or audiobook version and just keeping it as Lords of Asylum would have seemed better.
[Note - I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.]
The author does a good job of setting the scene, in a historical Europe rather than an invented world with the various characters and factions all helping to add to the feeling of it being a real and very flawed place.
The style of the narrator also helped to add to the overall feel of the world with his tone effectively conveying the cynical and world-weary nature of the main character while also being suitably distinctive with the rest of the cast too.
Overall, this was an interesting and enjoyable listen that made a nice change for me since most dystopian novels tend to go with a sci-fi setting instead. One very slight complaint, the suffix to the title seems a little unwieldy whether it is the book or audiobook version and just keeping it as Lords of Asylum would have seemed better.
[Note - I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.]
February 20, 2019
I enjoyed this audiobook quite a bit.
Sir Luther Krait has fallen on hard times because he’s not a good guy. The knight who was once somewhat of a known jailer, has had to take to security jobs, offering safe passage to merchants and lords moving product across the lands. His reputation has also put a bit of a smudge on this brother’s standing as well, but not enough to be unable to convince a Jewish banker in Asylum to hire him as protection for some cargo he’s having brought into the city. Unfortunately, the caravan was attacked not long after Krait and his brother’s heated exchange of words, and his whole crew has been murdered and the good stolen. After being roused from a drunken stupor by his secret partner who has finally caught up to the shipment, he is warned of a grip of men coming upon him. Because Krait has the best of luck, it’s his arch nemesis, a powerful Lord from Asylum. He has his brother held captive for the confession of his the murder of his heir and the children of a recently widowed Lady of Asylum. Krait is also suspect of planning the murders and convinced the Lord to let him figure out who is behind the seemingly black magic killings.
Colorful writing and emotional narration kept me intrigued through the whole book. Paul Jenkins is great. There are quite a few side characters but not so many you can’t keep up. The train-wreck of a life Krait has put himself in is tragically funny.
FYI, the usage of the term “Jesus Christ!” is used without abandon in this book. I’ve got nothing wrong with that, but in case it is a deal breaker for others, here’s your warning.
I received a free copy of this audiobook by request in exchange for an unbiased review.
Sir Luther Krait has fallen on hard times because he’s not a good guy. The knight who was once somewhat of a known jailer, has had to take to security jobs, offering safe passage to merchants and lords moving product across the lands. His reputation has also put a bit of a smudge on this brother’s standing as well, but not enough to be unable to convince a Jewish banker in Asylum to hire him as protection for some cargo he’s having brought into the city. Unfortunately, the caravan was attacked not long after Krait and his brother’s heated exchange of words, and his whole crew has been murdered and the good stolen. After being roused from a drunken stupor by his secret partner who has finally caught up to the shipment, he is warned of a grip of men coming upon him. Because Krait has the best of luck, it’s his arch nemesis, a powerful Lord from Asylum. He has his brother held captive for the confession of his the murder of his heir and the children of a recently widowed Lady of Asylum. Krait is also suspect of planning the murders and convinced the Lord to let him figure out who is behind the seemingly black magic killings.
Colorful writing and emotional narration kept me intrigued through the whole book. Paul Jenkins is great. There are quite a few side characters but not so many you can’t keep up. The train-wreck of a life Krait has put himself in is tragically funny.
FYI, the usage of the term “Jesus Christ!” is used without abandon in this book. I’ve got nothing wrong with that, but in case it is a deal breaker for others, here’s your warning.
I received a free copy of this audiobook by request in exchange for an unbiased review.
November 16, 2025
I didn't like it.
Mostly because I need to like characters and with this book, I didn't. Especially not Sir Luther
It’s also sort of noir, It is set in 14th century Europe,but the dialog is often too modern, ok no need for Ye Olde Speech but this complete 20th/21st century jars at times.
Luther is sort of a 14th century detective as the book progresses. He’s not a good guy.
I REALLY liked all Abercromies First Law books, with Logen and the other characters -Ferro, Monza, Glokta, Rikke, Javre and Shevdieh. Logen isn't always nice. However he is sometimes. He can be philosophical, regretful, helpful, and isn't stupid either. Glokta was entertaining and often funny. And so on...
This book is only Luthers POV and straight out unpleasant characters put me off, especially drunks who think they are so wonderful. And that's what Luther is.
So I'll pass. Many will quite enjoy this so I haven't marked it down too much but it wasn't for me.
Mostly because I need to like characters and with this book, I didn't. Especially not Sir Luther
It’s also sort of noir, It is set in 14th century Europe,but the dialog is often too modern, ok no need for Ye Olde Speech but this complete 20th/21st century jars at times.
Luther is sort of a 14th century detective as the book progresses. He’s not a good guy.
I REALLY liked all Abercromies First Law books, with Logen and the other characters -Ferro, Monza, Glokta, Rikke, Javre and Shevdieh. Logen isn't always nice. However he is sometimes. He can be philosophical, regretful, helpful, and isn't stupid either. Glokta was entertaining and often funny. And so on...
This book is only Luthers POV and straight out unpleasant characters put me off, especially drunks who think they are so wonderful. And that's what Luther is.
So I'll pass. Many will quite enjoy this so I haven't marked it down too much but it wasn't for me.
April 16, 2023
Kevin Wright has a command with words and visuals. And he has a way of developing a lead character. I wasn't sure what I thought about Luther. Off the bat you're immediately thrown into a situation with this knight, and it's not a pretty one. Neither is he.
Lords of Asylum shows a great story, visuals, characters, and Mr. Wright's knowledge in the body, weapons, and fighting. I had a hard time putting the book down, even though I couldn't tell if I liked Luther or not.
My first Grimdark read was a disappointment, so I will say I'm glad I decided to give the genre another chance by picking up this book. My only nitpick is that, while being immersed in a historical setting, idioms and slang far too young for the era really pulled me from the story.
Lords of Asylum shows a great story, visuals, characters, and Mr. Wright's knowledge in the body, weapons, and fighting. I had a hard time putting the book down, even though I couldn't tell if I liked Luther or not.
My first Grimdark read was a disappointment, so I will say I'm glad I decided to give the genre another chance by picking up this book. My only nitpick is that, while being immersed in a historical setting, idioms and slang far too young for the era really pulled me from the story.
November 24, 2020
This is the first book I read from this author and let me tell you that I loved it! Such a good book with great characters that keeps you obsessed with every page since the first one. The ending of this book.. come on! I just didn´t expect it! Can´t wait to read other books from this great writer! Amazing job! a must-read!. A fantastic book that has it all!
I happily endorse this story to any and all who are looking for a fantasy enjoyable read and a completely different experience than anyone could imagine on their own. A really good read if you like a medieval grimdark detective story with a touch of occult thrown in for good measure. I highly recommend Kevin books
I happily endorse this story to any and all who are looking for a fantasy enjoyable read and a completely different experience than anyone could imagine on their own. A really good read if you like a medieval grimdark detective story with a touch of occult thrown in for good measure. I highly recommend Kevin books
August 26, 2020
There are elements of this book, that I really enjoyed. Sir Luthor Krait is a very enjoyable character. He is a smart-ass, cynical, but capable despite protestations otherwise. I really enjoyed the hard-boiled detective feel to this novel.
Downsides - the political machinations of the novel seemed too convoluted. The book dragged at times. The big reveal was exactly what I expected it to be, but was a much larger scale than I expected.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and am thinking I will pick up the next in the series.
Downsides - the political machinations of the novel seemed too convoluted. The book dragged at times. The big reveal was exactly what I expected it to be, but was a much larger scale than I expected.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and am thinking I will pick up the next in the series.
February 20, 2025
Murders with a Mystery
Not your normal murder mystery. All the squalor of the plague ridden middle ages, with the detective work of a dead knight who wrote a journal. The hero follows the bread crumbs. Great writing, plenty of twists, turns, and maimings.
Not your normal murder mystery. All the squalor of the plague ridden middle ages, with the detective work of a dead knight who wrote a journal. The hero follows the bread crumbs. Great writing, plenty of twists, turns, and maimings.
May 7, 2020
A really good read if you like a medieval grimdark detective story with a touch of occult thrown in for good measure.
July 29, 2020
Gritty medieval noir
I loved this - fantastic action, dark humor, fast-paced. Already downloaded the second in this series and anticipate staying up way too late.
I loved this - fantastic action, dark humor, fast-paced. Already downloaded the second in this series and anticipate staying up way too late.
April 26, 2025
Very good
A great medieval/fantasy grimdark novel. Gritty with good characters, action and mystery. Will certainly be reading the next jn the series. Excellent
A great medieval/fantasy grimdark novel. Gritty with good characters, action and mystery. Will certainly be reading the next jn the series. Excellent
May 22, 2025
Good
It was a little slow at first. But I'm glad I stuck with it. I am eager to start the next book...
It was a little slow at first. But I'm glad I stuck with it. I am eager to start the next book...
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