Blood of the Old Kings

Kim debuts with an epic underdog fantasy in which choice outweighs destiny. Running up against a world-spanning Empire that draws its powers from dead sorcerers, three outsiders become embroiled in rebellions and plots to free prisoners. Swordmaster Loran bargains with a captive dragon to fulfill its promise to preserve a kingdom conquered by the Empire. Sorcerer-in-training Arienne, tutored by an unliving mage, flees before the Empire can render her into a source of magic energy. Cain, an orphan in the capital, is haunted by the specter of a slain friend and strives to thwart the coup planned by her killers. The question that bedevils all three protagonists is how much their choices are driven by their own free will or forced by external powers. Kim avoids saddling his characters with the well-worn “chosen one” narrative, finding ways to make their destinies more a product of actions taken than of inheritance. Readers seeking an exciting new fantasy world to sink into will find this hits the spot. Agent: Toni Kim, Greenbook. (Oct.)