The Never King

Abbott (a pseudonym for longtime fantasy author Mark Charan Newton) introduces a world-weary warrior who tries but fails to be the new Conan. Xavir Argentum was set up by malicious General Havinir: thinking barbarians were invading the kingdom of Stravimon, Xavir massacred them, only to be thrown in jail following the revelation that his victims were civilians in disguise. He is freed to stop Havinir and his other betrayers from turning Stravimon over to foreign worshippers of a new god. With his estranged daughter, Elysia; her suspicious witch mentor, Birgitta; and spymaster Landril, Xavir sets out to build a rebel army and to achieve rough justice. The work relishes in the grimdark style of fantasy, with bloody sword fights and bizarre magical rituals in abundance (alongside modern-sounding terms such as regime change and magic-user). Alas, the sense of Xavir’s vengeance being inconsequential to the deeper plot, along with his alienation from any warmer emotions not related to warrior honor, sidelines the reader’s investment in him apart from his ability to hew down his opponents “like blades of grass.” Experienced fantasy readers will find nothing new here. Agent: John Jarrold (U.K.). (May)