The Justice of Kings

Well somehow my cozy reading month turned into a fantasy reading month and I’m fine with that. Let’s review The Justice of Kings.

Synopsis

The Empire of the Wolf simmers with unrest. Rebels, heretics, and powerful patricians all challenge the power of the Imperial throne.

Only the Order of Justices stands in the way of chaos. Sir Konrad Vonvalt is the most feared Justice of all, upholding the law by way of his sharp mind, arcane powers, and skill as a swordsman. At his side stands Helena Sedanka, his talented protégé, orphaned by the wars that forged the Empire.

When the pair investigates the murder of a provincial aristocrat, they unearth a conspiracy that stretches to the very top of Imperial society. As the stakes rise and become ever more personal, Vonvalt and Helena must make a choice: Will they abandon the laws they’ve sworn to uphold, in order to protect the Empire?

My Thoughts on The Justice of Kings

The Justice of Kings is exactly what I needed as an easy transition back into the fantasy genre. The world was intriguing, the magic system was easy to grasp, and the narrative style was somewhat immersive. Since this was set up as Helena telling her life story it felt like listening to a tale at the feet of your grandmother (if your grandmother was in an exclusive order of Justices).

This started out as a murder mystery that quickly uncovered a threat to the Empire. I quickly realized that Vonvalt did not know the depths of the political machinations working against them, so watching the political structure dissolve right in front of his eyes made for an interesting read.

My only small critique with The Justice of Kings was that it lacked the depth I hoped for. Granted, I’m taking the narrative style into account because everything we’re given is from Helena’s memory. That can limit other feelings and depth that you would get from other points of view. But even still a few characters felt flat. I’m hoping they will develop more throughout the series. But ultimately this was a fun read, and I can’t wait to pick up book two.

Oh, also, I did not enjoy the insta-love romance. It felt super unnecessary. To the point that I forgot a romance was even brough up at all.

My Rating: 4/5