Book Review: ‘Blood for the Undying Throne’ by Sung-Il Kim translated by Anton Hur
In Blood of the Old Kings by Sung-Il Kim, Arland struck a decisive blow against the Empire. But that doesn’t mean that they’re safe in the next installment of the Bleeding Empire Trilogy, titled Blood for the Undying Throne.
The last time a territory tried to break away from the Empire, the Empire unleashed the Star of Mersia and wiped the rebels off the map. To keep that from happening to Arland, Arienne is going deep into that cursed land to find out exactly what the Star of Mersia is and how to stop it. At the same time, rebel forces led by King Loran continue to join up in the heart of the Empire, seeking a freedom that feels impossible. Still, Emere holds out hope, certain that he is destined for greater things if he just keeps reaching.
[Note: While I am reviewing this novel independently and honestly, it should be noted that it has been provided to me by Tor for the purpose of this review. Warning: My review of Blood for the Undying Throne contains some spoilers! You can find our review of Blood of the Old Kings here.]
Blood for the Undying Throne follows three action packed story lines
In Blood for the Undying Throne, we once again follow Arienne in her magical rebellion. She has successfully thrown off those who wanted to contain and control her magic and is now on a special mission for King Loran.
If the Arlanders are going to survive their break from the Empire, they must learn everything they can about the empire’s most deadly weapon, the Star of Mersia. The only time the Empire used it, it killed every living thing in the territory of Mersia and cursed the land so badly that even a hundred years later nothing can live there.
Arienne uses her special magical talents to survive in this dangerous place as she searches for answers. Can she find out what the Star of Mersia is, and more importantly, how to stop it, before the Empire strikes out against Arland?
While Arienne is searching through the wastelands of Mersia, Emere is wasting away in the capital. As the Councillor of the Imperial Commons (think diplomat) for his home, Kamori, the former prince is feeling both trapped and disappointed. He’s certain that he has a greater destiny, but after searching for it for years, he’s not sure if he’ll ever find it.
Then an assassination attempt is made on his life, and he’s thrown into the midst of a secret rebellion that’s growing right in the heart of the Empire. Reenergized, Emere once again believes that he has a great destiny to fulfill, but there is a difference between great and good.
While we follow those two modern story lines, we are also given some essential backstory through the life of Yuma, the last Cheif Herder of Danras. Danras was the capital of Merseh (later known as Mersia) before the Empire took it over.
Through Yuma’s eyes, we see the final days of Danras, how it joined the Empire, and what that ended up meaning for her country. This isn’t just a fun jaunt to the past though, we gain important clues and insights from what we learn that will have a big bearing on the Empire’s future.
Sung-Il Kim delivers a powerful story, aided by Anton Hur’s excellent translation
Blood for the Undying Throne was originally written in Korean. After taking the Korean world by storm, it was decided that English audiences would be just as entranced by Sung-Il Kim’s story. So the talented translator (and author in his own right) Anton Hur was brought on to bring Blood for the Undying Throne to the English-speaking world.
The combination of a great story and wonderful translation worked out to bring Blood for the Undying Throne to life.
Strong characters drive the story in Blood for the Undying Throne
Kim’s story is a powerful tale that draws you in. Arienne’s determination and quiet strength are quite remarkable to see as she flirts with death over and over in her quest to find the truth. At the same time, her kindness is the real secret to her power. She cares about those she comes in contact with, even those who are no longer alive, so much that she literally rearranges the world to help them.
Yuma is another fantastic character. She loves her people and her country above all else. She does whatever she can to protect them. But she’s not too proud to admit a mistake. When she realizes that she’s misplaced her trust, she finds a way to try and fix things. It doesn’t work out like she wants it to, but she still tries to do the right thing, and that’s important.
Emere isn’t as intriguing of a character, but he’s useful. He’s more selfish than Arienne or Yuma. His main concern is his destiny. He’s spent his life convinced that he has a greater purpose and has traveled the world to seek it out. That’s not bad in and of itself, but it feels like his glory is more important to him than the actual way he earns it. But that drive is very useful for the story, as long as the right person is pointing him on his path.
A strong second act for the Bleeding Empire Trilogy
When I read Blood of the Old Kings, the first book of the Bleeding Empire Trilogy, I loved it. I wrote in my review that I couldn’t wait for the next book to come out, and I was not disappointed.
My rating for this book: 10/10
I think I enjoyed Blood for the Undying Throne even more. I love the strong characters; they kept me connected to the action and eager to keep turning the page. Furthermore, I highly recommend Blood for the Undying Throne for anyone who likes fantasy, dystopia, rebellion, or character-driven stories. Absolutely can’t wait for the finale!
