REVIEW: The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu

The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu
Publishing information: Hardback; 623pages
Publisher: Simon and Schuster; 1 April 15
ISBN: 9781481424271
Series: The Dandelion Dynasty #1
Copy: Out of pocket
Reviewer: Tyson

Amazon

Synopsis: "Two men rebel together against tyranny—and then become rivals—in this first sweeping book of an epic fantasy series from Ken Liu, recipient of Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy awards.

Wily, charming Kuni Garu, a bandit, and stern, fearless Mata Zyndu, the son of a deposed duke, seem like polar opposites. Yet, in the uprising against the emperor, the two quickly become the best of friends after a series of adventures fighting against vast conscripted armies, silk-draped airships, and shapeshifting gods. Once the emperor has been overthrown, however, they each find themselves the leader of separate factions—two sides with very different ideas about how the world should be run and the meaning of justice.

Fans of intrigue, intimate plots, and action will find a new series to embrace in the Dandelion Dynasty."

I have long been a fan of the mystical orient and every once in a while a book comes out that really speaks to that allure that I have. While the cover to Grace of Kings is quite simple, it speaks volumes and I knew I just had to read it.

Grace of Kings is really about the collapse of an empire and the reformation of a new kingdom. It all starts with two individuals Kuni Garu is a "bandit" but he is more of a lazy con man who is thrust into greatness. He is always swindling someone or talking them into a situation that will benefit himself and his friends. Kuni isn't a bad man, he is just waiting for his opportunity to be great. It doesn't take long before he gets his chance.

The other major player is Mata Zyndu, his family fell into disgrace and he was forced out of his ancestral home. His brother raises him and is constantly reminding him of his loyalty to his family and that one day their clan will rise from the ashes and reclaim their titles and all that comes with it.

Both Mata and Kuni are forces to be reckoned with and it doesn't seem likely that they would ever meet, yet alone become friends but that is what the story of Grace of Kings revolves around as the two men meet and form a bond with one another and yet at the pinnacle of their rise to fame they become enemies of separate factions. While their rise to power is a story in and of itself, the real story begins with the two men on opposite sides of a cold war.

The world building is also fantastic as the is a pantheon of gods that are bickering with one another and doing their best to show that they are staying out of the mortals wars, but in reality not quite able to as they secretly pick their champions and provide little advantages here and there.

The world Liu has created is distinctly Asian but the way in which is he able to get the reader so comfortable with the unique cultures is commendable and even the wary reader should find themselves unable to put the book down until it is done. Grace of Kings is one of my favorite books this year and while the action and political maneuvering is a little more obvious, I can't help but feel as if he has captured a similar world to Guy Gavriel Kay in its beauty and mysticism. Highly recommended.

9.5/10