A dark, propulsive, and thoroughly addictive tale of family, faith, and power.
SG launches the Kingdoms of God and Men series with an ambitious political fantasy steeped in dynastic rivalry, religious tension, forbidden desire, and the complicated bonds of family. A slaughtered lion washes ashore beneath Whitestone, its mane shorn and its body gutted. Soon, King Martimus is poisoned, forcing a kingdom already divided by old religious and political grudges to confront a dangerous question of succession. His daughter Imogen, marked since childhood by the bloodscales covering her body, finds herself caught between family loyalties, court intrigue, and a society where tradition may matter more than a ruler’s wishes.
SG gives the story plenty of political muscle, but the family tensions are what make it work. Imogen is smart and capable without always being wise; pride, anger, and longing sometimes lead her into choices with consequences she fails to anticipate. Her relationship with her brother Romonn is especially well drawn. Years of jealousy, hurt, and parental favour make their rivalry painfully personal.
The court teems with nobles, advisers, lovers, and religious figures, all with something to gain or lose. Lady Roxana proves especially formidable as she maneuvers to secure her son’s future in a society that affords women little direct power. The many houses, faiths, and old grievances demand attention, but family remains at the heart of the story. SG deftly traces how prejudice, religious division, and parental failures become inheritances of their own, passed from one generation to the next. The novel also asks what makes a ruler legitimate: blood, law, tradition, or the ability to command loyalty.
Fans of sprawling dynastic fantasy and ruthless court politics should find plenty to sink their teeth into.
***
ISBN: 978-93-345-4144-1
Publication Date: February 1, 2027
Publisher Jatayu Press
Book design Journey Bound Publishing
