TL;DR Review: Action, intrigue, rebellion, and dark legends abound in this epic, addictive historical-feeling fantasy story.
Synopsis:
The first in a stunning Southwest Asian-inspired epic fantasy trilogy brimming with morally ambiguous characters, terrifying ghouls and deadly monsters.
Combining cut-throat dynastic politics with expansive worldbuilding and slow-burning romance, this book is perfect for fans of Godkiller and Samantha Shannon.
Bataar was only a child when he killed a gryphon, making him a legend across the Red Steppe. As an adult, he is the formidable Bataar Rhah, chosen by god to rule the continent that once scorned his people. After a string of improbable victories, he turns his sights on the wealthy, powerful kingdom of Dumakra, whose princesses rule the skies from the backs of pegasuses.
When rumours reach the capital that the infamous warlord is moving on Dumakra, Nohra Zultama prepares to face him. She and her sisters are feared warriors, goddess-blessed and mounted on winged, man-eating horses. But as deceit and betrayal swirl through her father’s court, Nohra soon learns the price of complacency. With her city under Bataar’s rule, Nohra vows to take revenge. But her growing closeness to Bataar’s wife, Qaira, threatens to undo her resolve.
When rioting breaks out and mythic beasts incite panic, Nohra must fight alongside Bataar to keep order, her mixed feelings towards the man she’s sworn to kill becoming ever more complicated. Old evils are rising. Only together will Nohra and Bataar stand a chance against the djinn, ghouls, and monsters that threaten to overrun their world.
Inspired by the diverse Turkic cultures of Southwest Asia, this gorgeously written fantasy is sure to sweep readers off their feet.
Full Review:
The Gryphon King reads like something ripped right out of the history pages, but colored beautifully dark with twisted creatures and dark magic.
From the first two chapters, it’s clear that we’re dropped into a world that feels like the Mongolian horde on one side, and the Ottoman or Byzantine Empire on the one side. The clash between the two is inevitable, and having characters on both sides makes for a fascinating story.
Bataar is the Gryphon King, a Genghis Khan-esque conqueror “burdened with glorious purpose” and driven to rule the world by Preeminence, the almighty, soul-devouring being in the sky that only he can see.
Curiously, there is a fascinating reluctance in him at the same time. He doesn’t necessarily want to conquer, but he cannot escape the divine mandate he carries, and now that he has set the wheels of his mighty war machine in motion, it would take a miracle for them to stop. In a way, he’s almost pulled along by his own creation (his vast conquering horde) as much as he is commanding it.
Nohra is daughter of the zultam, born and trained to be a Harpy Knight in service of her father’s kingdom. From an early age, we see the spark of defiance and strength within her, as well as her impulsive nature. She is a fierce fighter and a loyal daughter and sister both, and she carries herself as a knight should.
Even when Bataar’s horde conquers her city, she remains defiant and works to build a rebellion to overthrow him, but she is willing to outwardly pretend subservience and acquiescence to keep her people safe.
There is so much color and culture to the world in this book—it feels like we’re cast hundreds of years back through time to when Genghis Khan lived and conquered. While the story draws on real life kingdoms and takes inspiration from history, it sets itself apart by adding its own unique flavor to everything.
One particularly fascinating aspect of this book is its use of mythological creatures. From the beginning, we are introduced to gryphons, who are effectively this world’s giant ravaging pests who are wild, untameable, unpredictable, and will kill anything and anyone with no known reason. We also see Pegasi, but we’re treated to fascinating insights that feel like they’d be taken from actual zoological textbooks (for example, some Pegasi are born with hollow bones, and so have no strength to run and are too weak to fly).
There are also other creatures ripped out of lore and myth that make an appearance (no spoilers) and a zombie-like plague that adds a bit of dark and horror to the world. All of this is used to marvelous effect around the characters and their struggle to maintain peace in this newly conquered corner of the world.
The Gryphon King has action in spades, but it focuses primarily on the people and politics of governing a conquered nation. You’ll fall in love with the characters—both the primary and supporting cast—and the unique-feeling world.
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