This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog

All I knew about The Gryphon King before going in was that it was promised to have (queer) sword-wielding female knights on winged, man-eating horses, and that was honestly enough to know I needed this in my life. Turns out, that is only one of the many (many!) aspects that make this dark, epic, political fantasy so wonderfully intriguing and breathtakingly brilliant. In a way, it reminds me of a mash-up of all the best elements of She Who Became the Sun, The Priory of the Orange Tree, and The City of Brass, except it’s also completely its own thing and truly unlike anything I have ever read.

We are transported into a vast, complex and masterfully crafted (queer-normative!!) fantasy world inspired by Turkic/Kurdish cultures that is as beautiful as it is brutal. And then it’s got all the most morally gray characters who you can love to hate and hate to love, cutthroat political intrigue and military scheming, all kinds of mythical monsters like gryphons, sea horses, pegasi, ghouls, and djinn roaming (or terrorizing) the lands, a deadly blood disease with a mysterious effect on the spirit, and just the most delicious dash of sloooow-burn queer romance that had my heart beating overtime; I know, almost sounds too good to be true, but I promise you it’s not!

Now, the early chapters of The Gryphon King felt a bit disjointed to me due to a few timeskips, the overwhelming depth of the history and complexities of the tense political landscape, and the heavy focus on action, but the intrigue factor just had me turning pages like crazy anyway. And then, around the 25% mark, I really found my footing as all the pieces started to click into place, and I was completely hooked from there on out.

Both my scarred and dangerously ambitious Bataar and my hot-headed, cunning warrior princess Nohra were just fantastic characters to follow (even if I sometimes wanted to strangle them for their actions), and I loved seeing the development of their dangerous dynamic as their paths grew ever more inextricably intertwined over the course of the story. Sometimes I found it a bit hard to really understand their emotions, motivations and actions, but instead of it feeling like weak character work, it almost felt like that was intentional; they are just so realistically flawed and frustratingly human, and we all know that human emotions do not make logical sense all the time.

Some of the side cast did admittedly pale a bit in comparison to these two powerhouse main characters (especially since we’re dealing with so many players on the board), but there were a few side characters who absolutely stole my heart. For me, my bisexual queen Qaira was the biggest highlight, and I ate up every scene that she was in, be that with her family with Bataar or with our lovely chaos queer Nohra (hello sapphic tensionnnnn!!). But then Darya, Tarken and a lot of the badass Harpy Knights also really got their time to shine, and I loved digging into all the complicated and beautifully complicated relationships at the core of this story, be they platonic, rivalrous, friendly, familial, romantic, or something altogether more confusing in between it all.

It was exactly the deadly schemes and dangerous games that these characters were playing with each other that kept me fully engaged, even in moments where the (military) action was a bit too intense for my personal tastes. See, as skilled as Omer is at writing pulse-pounding battle scenes or deadly monster attacks, I personally think all the more quiet moments when characters are fighting silent battles in their own minds or are wielding their words as weapons against each other are the absolute standout scenes in The Gryphon King, and I would have loved to see more of those to create an even deeper emotional connection and investment.

Ultimately, The Gryphon King was just an absolute rollercoaster of a story that excited, delighted and freaked me the hell out with each new turn of the page, and I can’t wait to see what Omer has in store in the rest of The Chaos Constallation; I’ll bet it’s going to be chaos, and I am SO ready for it. If this debut is anything to go off of, then I have no doubts that Omer is going to be an author to watch. What a wild ride, highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The Gryphon King is scheduled for release on July 8, 2025.

I really enjoyed this book, the world building was great, I loved learning about this world and how it’s magic works.

There is lots of lore to learn and excitement throughout as you read about the politics and war of this land. The characters are not your typical good doers but you can’t help but like them despite their flaws.

I would recommend this book for strong, deep characters and those wanting a fresh fantasy world.

I thought the world building was very strong and was the best part of the book. The world the author created felt realistic and lived-in. I was interested to read more about the history and the historical figures who are mentioned. I also liked the way the world’s myths and legendary creatures were included, it felt fleshed out and practical.

However, I personally had some real issues with the characters and plot. The opening chapters are gripping and had me hooked. But we then skip 10 years and as a result, miss some truly crucial character building moments. Why does Bataar want to conquer the world? The first answer we get is that he wants to create a better, safer world without war (while he is literally waging war to do this, if this conflict was better explored throughout the book I think I would have really loved that, but it’s not convincingly presented as a conflict in my opinion). We then learn that Bataar was in fact inspired to begin this war/revenge because of turning point in his past as a teenager!! This is only mentioned in passing!!! This moment literally spurred him to seek revenge and is what kicked off his war. To me, that feels like something that should be shown and not told to the reader 30% into the book.

We also don’t get to see Nohra’s journey to become a Harpy Knight, which is her biggest dream. I think I would have been way more endeared to her character if we had been with her as she struggles to prove herself and gain the role she yearns for so much. She’s such an impulsive and stubborn character and if we had seen those characteristics develop, I think I would have understood her more. Because as I read, I was truly wondering how a knight for 8? years has remained so incredibly averse to taking other’s advice or even just listening to her fellow knights without outright dismissing what they say??

As for the characters themselves, I found myself struggling to connect with them. They here just fell flat and lifeless for me. I didn’t find their actions realistic and multiple times was wondering why they had decided to do something or why they felt that way about another character.

All in all, this was a bit of a disappointing read for me as the premise sounded cool and the world built here is genuinely so interesting!

2.75 rounded up to 3

This was a great epic fantasy. The political intrigue and world building was so immersive. I loved the dynamic between the characters. At times it was a little difficult for me to know which character was which but overall a great read

the gryphon king is absolutely phenomenal and blew my expectations away.

bataar and nohra are both very compelling protagonists. despite being on opposing ends, i couldn't help but root for both of them. bataar, with all his power, has a very kind and human side that drew me in. nohra is fiery and vengeful, and my heart broke for her a million times in this story. our two protagonists are not too different from one another, but they clearly walk on diverging paths.

the supporting characters were also all great, with everyone playing a very important part to the politics of the narrative. the court intrigue and twists are so so good and definitely the most enjoyable part of the story for me.

also - the romance subplot! it's a slowburn sapphic romance that looks to be brewing into a poly romance. the romance between qaira and nohra is perfect, even if qaira's intentions aren't fully clear to the reader. bataar and qaira's relationship is also so gorgeously written, with bataar's love for her so apparent in their every interaction.

i also love the queer rep in this book. i knew there was a sapphic romance from the blurb but i didn't expect the asexual rep. bataar's demisexuality was interwoven with his character so well especially.

the gryphon king is the perfect read for anyone who loves political fantasy. sara omer wrote a fantastic start to an epic fantasy trilogy and i cannot wait to read the next!

This is a difficult one to rate. Parts of it were really interesting and enjoyable, especially Bataar's POV...and I wish we'd seen more of Qaira. Ultimately - I understand Nohra's whole thing, but I couldn't connect with her much. It was one thing after another with her. The last quarter of this book fell really flat, unfortunately.

If you're looking for epic fantasy with lots of political maneuvering, prepare to become obsessed with this book! The Gryphon King features a richly detailed, expansive world, bloodthirsty mythological creatures, lots of gore, and morally grey main characters who want to both kiss and kill each other. The story took some twists I absolutely didn't expect! I also loved the sapphic and bi rep--the developments between Nohra and Qaira were one of my favorite aspects of the plot.

Definitely read the content warnings on this one--it's a pretty brutal story and world, with a lot of character deaths a la Game of Thrones.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book a lot, but it might not be for those who don’t want to read about war and fighting a lot.
It’s a nice change of pace from your typical fantasy myths and I enjoyed the characters.

DNF @ chapter 6.
I am lucky enough to also own the physical ARC of this book so thank you so much to the author and the publisher.
I kept trying to come back to this book as the premise sounds right up my street, and I desperately wanted to love it having seeing some amazing reviews. I simply could not get into it. I cannot pin point whether this is due to the writing style or all the complicated names. Making all the names so hard to pronounce made reading feel really 'clunky' as I found I was going back and re-reading the name several times. I also wasn't immediately grabbed by any of the events which occurred during the chapters I did read.

I finally want to add that I have connected with this author directly on social media and they are super lovely. I wish them all the luck with the publication of their debut book and hope it finds the right audience.

This book was unfortunately not for me. I really wanted to like this but I just didn’t.

The writing was a bit too clunky for me, I found it was taking me ages to get through it I ended up skimming some parts and I was just not wanting to pick it back up.

I don't know how others felt, but I was (an still am) getting tired of fantasy novels inspired by the same old myths, folklores, etc..., so I always get hyped whenever there is a new fantasy series like The Gryphon King. Like all books, some could be downers, but this wasn't the case at all!

I got right into it and only stopped because I was forced to because otherwise I wouldn't have put it down. Yes, I thought it was good.

I loved the inspiration behind it. I loved the characters. I loved the setting and tha magical aspect. Basically, I loved every tiny comma in it.

This was an interesting read. I would first warn anyone to first read the trigger warnings before reading this book, as it is quite brutal and there is a lot of death happening throughout most of the story. It starts even in the prologue where a child is brutally killed by a gryphon.

It really is a fantasy heavily focused on war, conquest, and political intrigue, and I think it does do a good job writing it in a cohesive story that keeps it interesting. I think the more fantastical elements helped keep it interesting as well such as there being gryphons, pegasus, ghouls, demons, etc. However, I felt that the explanation and worldbuilding of some of those aspects were lacking. The main thing I was confused about was the religion/afterlife most people followed as it seemed like it varied depending where someone was from but I don't think it was ever explained. Nor Bataar and his ability to see souls even though it's mentioned from the beginning, we only get small hints regarding the ability.

I liked that there was not a lot of romance throughout because I think it would have felt out of place, and the romance that was included was incorporated well. This was because the main relationship was already established between Bataar and Qaira, and so it focuses more on the emotional relationship between husband and wife. But also in addition the relationship Qaira tries to form with Nohra, and I am curious to see how this further plays out.

I will admit that I was confused throughout the book since there are so many characters mentioned, with some playing big roles and other minor ones, but that is mostly a me issues and there is a guide at the beginning that would be useful if reading a physical copy. I'm quite curious as to what will happen in the next book based on how this one ended.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC copy in exchange for a review!

The press and early praise for this book enticed me to pick it up, though I do not read a lot of fantasy. I don't know the tropes, and I haven't read a lot of the titles this book is compared to, so this review is rather virginal in that sense.

I was intrigued by the promise of a Southwest Asian/Turkish-inspired world, a grisly opening (look, I normally read women's fiction and romance, so this surprised me too, maybe it's like the car crash you can't look away from), and an intriguing romance (there we go).

The book satisfied on all counts. I started reading at the exact right time because the author had just posted the world's map on her Instagram, so I was able to track the conquering armies and the main kingdom where the action took place. The descriptions of the landscape, people, animals and monsters, and culture were immersive while remaining relatable. (That's pretty hard to do.)

The grisly opening set the tone for the whole book, and I was here for it. This is a story about a man obsessed with conquering the world so he can make it the way he thinks is best. And about a woman who is raised to fight against invaders like him. They get bloody. I especially appreciated the careful way the author treated disabilities (in general and from injuries) and called out ableism. I don't expect that kind of thing in stories like this. It felt true to the characters and the place/time.

The romance...it's so good. It sneaks up on you. It wasn't what I expected. I need the next book(s) as soon as possible, please, to see this out.

Unfortunately this just isn't for me. I enjoyed the start but then it abruptly jumps 10 years and I just didn't take to the characters from then on. The writing style didn't work for me it felt jerky at times and so much description given to food or gore where I would of rather had info on say the 10year jump! I found the actions/reactions of the characters a bit weird and just didn't really care for how they were going to move forward.
Thanks to Titan Books and Netgalley for the arc, all thoughts are my own and left voluntarily.

This book was not at all what I expected with such a heavy focus on battle and violence, but once I settled in I found it to be a deeply compelling and epic read. The prose was excellent and really established a strong voice that I was instantly drawn to. The story flowed well and kept me needing to know more about Bataar and the brutal battles that he wages across his world. Overall it felt like reading a movie, and while I think that led to a bit of emotional detachment from the characters it made for a very satisfying reading experience. I never quite knew what was coming around the corner and I was hooked for the whole read.

This was a really good, immersive read. The worldbuilding is really rich and detailed full of fabled beasts and monsters, impressive lore, religion, politics, and war. It's super grimdark, so it won't be for everyone, but I really enjoyed it.

The characters were fascinating. And well written. The shift in perspective in the last chapter was incredibly well done.

I loved Qaira and Nohra and their dynamic. Nohra is so bound up in her faith and her oaths, but she's also incredibly headstrong and brash and doesn't think things through like she should. Qaira, when we first meet her as a child, is timid and shy, but she really blossoms as a grown woman.

Bataar is another interesting character as we see the moment he becomes a man and then later watch him as a man lead a campaign to unite the continent in a bloody war. He wrestles with his conscience as he makes the questionable decisions he must take in war.

My biggest complaints were the pacing through the middle was quite slow. I never wanted to stop reading, but I did find myself losing focus.

I also struggled with the sheer number of characters. It was hard to keep track of who was who sometimes and their roles and relationships. In a society where multiple wives and concubines is common, it's easy to get lost in siblings and cousins. I think the book could have done without quite so many secondary characters.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eArc in return for an honest review.

Unfortunately I DNF'd after 3 chapters.

What I loved
The female characters in chapter 2
The set up of some complex religion, philosophy and family dynamics (I love this in a fantasy)

What I disliked.
Every other page is violence.
Bataar. I didn't click with his character at all.
There is something about the pacing that is off for me.

I'm glad that others have enjoyed this. The premise sounds great, but it just wasn't for me. Tempted to maybe come back to it another day and try again

I think it's full of fantastic ideas but ultimately the writing was really clunky and distracting. I've been putting it down and picking it back up over a couple of weeks and only reading a couple of pages at a time before wanting to quit again.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

very well written fantasy work. the influences are clear but the story pulls unique ideas out of everywhere. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of The Gryphon King.

***Review Summary:***
Unfortunately, although I was really excited about this book, I'm DNF'ing it on page 115 due to it being too stomach-turning for me. Although I am the wrong reader for this book, I am sure others will love it — this is just a case of the book being a bad fit for the reader.

I knew this book was going to have violent and potentially gory scenes, but I didn't expect them to be anywhere near as frequent. On page 72, I jotted down a note that we had yet to experience one entire scene without either violence or gore, including graphic descriptions of animal death by hunting and a small child being eaten alive by animals.

Additionally, the characters are described as morally ambiguous in the book description, but I want to stress that the book goes hard with this. The main POV character was so devoid of redeeming features (at least, up until page 115) that I couldn't enjoy reading his sections.

Of course, these two points could be the exact reason why another reader loves the book. As I said, bad fit, not a bad book, which is why I haven't given it a lower score.

***Detailed Review:***
Let's start with the positives. There were some things that I liked about the book: the setting, the mythical creatures, the bi and sapphic representation, the relationships between the sisters Nohra and Safiya and between Nohra and her friends. I also appreciated the lack of sexual assault and rape — although one character is chemically castrated.

However, our main POV character for the first 115 pages is Bataar, the Gryphon King, and I couldn't stand him.

The book was marketed as having morally ambiguous characters, but by page 115, I still hadn't seen any ambiguity in Bataar. What I personally consider "morally ambiguous" is something like Game of Thrones. I expect characters in impossible situations forced to choose between two evils, or doing bad things to protect others, or at least having a compelling reason for their actions. Instead, in The Gryphon King, we get a man who invades country after country just because he wants to — not even because there are ongoing border raids or anything like that, but because he can. And that's all he does, i.e. there's nothing good to balance that with, beyond one thing he does as a child. If I'm honest, I couldn't help but think of Putin during some of Bataar's POV scenes.

To be fair to Bataar, on page 88 he does give a moral excuse for all the violent battles he's been waging, but I'm saying excuse for a reason: it's utterly unconvincing. It's a throwaway thought that there won't be as many social wrongs in his empire (never mind all the people he's already slaughtered), and then he goes back to planning his invasions.

I also found Bataar to be prejudiced and just outright annoying. There's an ally that he needs but dislikes, so Bataar starts a juvenile pissing-contest (metaphorical, not literal) with him, insulting his ally, attacking his ally's hunting birds, and taking his family heirloom off him.

Bataar isn't the only flawed POV character. We also get some scenes with Nohra, who is dogmatic and xenophobic. However, the book showed how she came to be that way so I was left hoping to see character growth from her, while I just found Bataar to be distasteful.

Leaving aside the characters, I also found that the writing was at times awkward. And although it might sound contradictory, I also found it both over- and under-explains. Social interactions? Over-explains. Big picture things? It under-explains, meaning that large sections of the book felt in media res. It also felt like the characters were keeping big-picture secrets from the reader, like who Nohra is going to marry. It states several times in the text that Nohra isn't happy about her upcoming marriage before we finally discover who she's going to marry. And at one point, we learn that a decade has passed a full nine pages into the new time period. But of course, I might have had more patience for this had I not disliked Bataar so much.