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A review by chakgilbert
The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This fantasy novel follows the journey of a traveling detective, judge, and executioner, Sir Konrad Vonvalt. As a justice, Vonvalt is responsible for upholding the law and delivering fair rulings, accompanied by his law clerk, Helena, who also acts as the scribe and the muscle, Dubine Bressinger. The story delves into themes of justice, morality, and the complexities of leadership as they investigate cases, some involving dark magic and treachery. The novel is told through Helena's eyes, looking back as an older woman, and we are along for the ride as she witnesses how these challenges change Vonvalt, and the empire seems to be on its way to crumbling. The story balances mystery with action and adventure while mixing horror. The narrative examines what it means to be just in an unjust world and the sacrifices one must make to pursue truth and fairness. I would recommend it.
Konrad Vonvalt, Helena Sedanka, Dubine Bressinger, Radomir Dragic, and Claver are the main characters. Throughout the book, I feel as if I learn a lot about Vonvalt and Helena, but the other characters aren't well fleshed out. Even so, I enjoyed the interactions between the characters, even with Claver on the opposing side. The blend of internal and external conflicts makes the mystery both complex and exciting. The power dynamics of each character become more important as the story progresses.
The world seemed to be built off of medieval Europe. It focused on common law and the conquerors' placing their ideals on the lands they had conquered. That fact seems to be implied to be good, as Konrad believes that common law ensures justice for all under it. Helena seems to have a different idea, but the story doesn't explore that much. There was some information dumping at the start and throughout the book. It slowed the pace down some. The exploration of the justices' power and Vonvalt's realization of losing that power is fascinating. This book set up that storyline, and I would be disappointed if that wasn't explored in the next book. The story had low magic: emperor's voice, necromancy, and telekinetics.
I have a few complaints. There were some pacing issues, especially in the first 100 pages or so, but after that, it was an easy and compelling read. The passage of time was hard to grasp, so if it was not stated, I had to infer. The characterization of women was not the best. More information regarding is in the spoiler section below.
Overall, this book exceeded my expectations, and I had a good time reading it. While it is not perfect for me, I can understand why it is loved by some readers. I enjoyed the mystery element and the conversation surrounding power and law. I would recommend it to those who like character-driven epic fantasy. Also, those who enjoy a mix of legal and political intrigue, an examination of morality and power, and strong character interactions.
Besides Helena, there was the woman who betrayed her, the daughter of the murder victim, and Justice August. Each woman was there to move the story forward, not necessarily to have any agency. Justice August seems to have some background with Vonvalt, but she really didn't have any agency. Vonvalt ignored her concerns until a man told him the same information, and then she was killed. Helena is the only woman around, and even though she's telling the story, it feels like she doesn't have much agency either. She is letting the world happen around her, and she's just following along, and that could just be because of her age in this first book, or it could just be because that's how the author is writing women.
Konrad Vonvalt, Helena Sedanka, Dubine Bressinger, Radomir Dragic, and Claver are the main characters. Throughout the book, I feel as if I learn a lot about Vonvalt and Helena, but the other characters aren't well fleshed out. Even so, I enjoyed the interactions between the characters, even with Claver on the opposing side. The blend of internal and external conflicts makes the mystery both complex and exciting. The power dynamics of each character become more important as the story progresses.
The world seemed to be built off of medieval Europe. It focused on common law and the conquerors' placing their ideals on the lands they had conquered. That fact seems to be implied to be good, as Konrad believes that common law ensures justice for all under it. Helena seems to have a different idea, but the story doesn't explore that much. There was some information dumping at the start and throughout the book. It slowed the pace down some. The exploration of the justices' power and Vonvalt's realization of losing that power is fascinating. This book set up that storyline, and I would be disappointed if that wasn't explored in the next book. The story had low magic: emperor's voice, necromancy, and telekinetics.
I have a few complaints. There were some pacing issues, especially in the first 100 pages or so, but after that, it was an easy and compelling read. The passage of time was hard to grasp, so if it was not stated, I had to infer. The characterization of women was not the best. More information regarding is in the spoiler section below.
Overall, this book exceeded my expectations, and I had a good time reading it. While it is not perfect for me, I can understand why it is loved by some readers. I enjoyed the mystery element and the conversation surrounding power and law. I would recommend it to those who like character-driven epic fantasy. Also, those who enjoy a mix of legal and political intrigue, an examination of morality and power, and strong character interactions.