One of the Time 100 Best Fantasy Books Of All TimeTwo 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.
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The Grace of Kings (1) (The Dandelion Dynasty)
By Ken Liu
One of the Time 100 Best Fantasy Books Of All TimeTwo 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.
Popular Reviews(1)
Reviewed by ken<i>“The grace of kings is not the same as the morals governing individuals.”</i> <i>“The vagaries of the human heart are as hard to divine as the will of the gods.”</i> <i>“The right path is not revealed to us by the gods or ancient sages, but must be found by ourselves through experimentation.”</i> <i>“The more perfect the ideals, the less ideal the methods.”</i> I’m not even remotely close to being done with this epic novel just yet, but there are things that need to be written down before I lose the train of thought. Certain things beyond Liu’s storytelling, plot, and description fascinate me, and it is the multiple viewpoints that make up the novel. Sure, it’s easy to start comparing it to ASOIAF, so I won’t do that. The events that occurred in Mata Zyndu’s story especially, surprised me. I haven’t read a lot of fantasy novels, true, but out of the novels I have read, the story makes it a point to tell the story of the “civilized” side, but in regards to Mata, it was as if he and his army were the violent “barbarians” (for lack of better term), and Liu doesn’t shy away from that. Gotta say though. I’m what, 400 pages in when I wrote this review? Needs more Jia. The prominence of the gods in the story was a new thing for me, too. The Grace of Kings was true in showing that the gods are some of the biggest jerks humanity has faced, is facing, and will face in the history of ever. Assuming certain variables, of course. The loss of Kikumi was a blow as well. It felt as if the goddess Tututika hardly played a part in this game of her siblings. I was even looking forward to a fleshed-out seductress, but Kikumi’s story was rushed. Though of course, I understand why. They are, after all, fighting a war and the main protagonists are Kuni and Mata. Can’t blame me for desiring more of her presence. Her arc talks of using seduction and wit, and in a book about military fiction, that aspect always interests me. Politics. It is the highest art. Indeed. It cannot be denied that the theme of this novel is that “power corrupts”. The Grace of Kings is a remarkable read. Fluent storytelling, no slow parts, every word urging me to read on, read on, read on. It was a beautiful experience, and I wait in anticipation for its sequel.