Korrigan Grimm

This engrossing if formulaic grimdark adventure from the prolific Moore (The War Born), who died in 2024, provides red meat for sword-and-sorcery devotees. The eponymous protagonist is introduced looking back on his time as a prisoner of the Alhakka, a reptilian people at odds with his bloodthirsty father, Forris Grimm, who has already sacrificed the lives of Korrigan’s siblings by not adhering to the terms of a truce with his foes. During his years in captivity, Korrigan became enamored of Whisper, an Alhakkan princess, who trained him to fight. When he was 19, Korrigan escaped, with the help of pearls produced from the glands of dragons, after Whisper warned him that his execution was imminent. Following a brief reunion with Forris before his death, Korrigan seeks out the mightiest dragon, the immortal Great Wyrm, to gain immortality for himself. The prose can be clunky, but there’s never a dull moment as Korrigan fights battle after battle, utilizing magic to take on legions of foes. Readers looking for high fantasy with a classic feel should check this out. (May)