The first installment of an epic fantasy trilogy, “Blood of the Old Kings” unfolds in a world where an empire maintains its power through necromancy, the exploitation of magic from deceased sorcerers. The dynamic and plot-driven novel was written by acclaimed Korean author Sung-il Kim, who focuses on science fiction, fantasy, and Lovecraftian horror. It is translated by Anton Hur, a Korean author and translator who has worked on several notable books, including the NYT bestselling “Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS” and Bora Chung’s “Cursed Bunny.”
At the heart of the story are three unlikely heroes: Arienne, a young woman born with magical abilities who discovers an unexpected ally in the voice of a long-dead sorcerer; Cain, a young man intent on finding who murdered his mentor and why; and Loran, a middle-aged, widowed warrior who seeks aid from an ancient, enchained dragon. Set against a backdrop of dark magic, political intrigue, and ancient legends, these heroes confront the empire and reshape their world.
The setting is surprisingly familiar, reminiscent of typical Western heroic fantasies like Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn saga (particularly The Wax & Wayne series) — except, Kim’s opening lead character is a middle-aged mother. I talked to Kim and Hur about the translation of “Blood of the Old Kings,” which I found to be compulsively readable with a light tone and rich world-building that doesn’t get bogged down in endless descriptions.
Not Your Average “Korean” Fantasy
Let’s get this out of the way: This is not a “Korean” fantasy. Though the novel was originally written in Korean, Hur emphasizes that the story is not set in Korea, does not have Koreans, and is set on a completely different planet in a completely different world.
While that may seem obvious — after all, no one thinks the world of “Game of Thrones” is set on Earth (it is, in fact, not) or in an English-speaking civilization just because the…
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