Thank you Netgalley for that eARC of this book.
I absolutely loved the story and the world building was magnificent with the many different perspectives.
It kept me interested, which can be hard for such a long read, but there were some faults in writing that would sometimes pull me out of the story so it could’ve used more beta reading.
It’s a good mix of fantasy, military and political history and the supernatural vibes were a lovely addition and also helped keep me interested as I read. This was intriguing enough for me to wait for the sequel.

*Thank you NetGalley for this eARC**

I’ve just finished The Conqueror’s Legacy by John Kerry, and honestly, I’m still reeling. This book delivered exactly what it promised—a gripping blend of history, fantasy, war, and deep, tangled relationships that kept me flipping pages late into the night.

Right from the start, Kerry’s clever mixture of humor and drama drew me in. The great emperor Sariel’s death by slipping in the bath might’ve seemed absurd at first, but it perfectly set the stage for the chaos that unfolded. The empire’s fate balanced on a knife’s edge, and I felt every moment of uncertainty right alongside the characters.

What I loved most was Kerry’s brilliant handling of multiple perspectives. Each character had their unique voice, struggles, and secrets, which wove together seamlessly despite being set across different times. Sariel’s legacy cast a long shadow, deeply affecting the people closest to him: Eugene, his reluctant heir who captured my sympathy instantly; Eliot, the ambitious illegitimate son whose desire for the throne kept me anxious; and Marcus, the cunning magistrate whose sister, Sariel’s betrothed, turned out to be the emperor’s assassin, plotting for power herself.

Then there were the characters whose quiet strength captivated me—Lothan, the steadfast knight who desperately wanted Eugene on the throne, and his adopted daughter Mia, who brought heart and depth to the story. Even Saied, the humble cook for the Order, added surprising emotional layers that enriched the narrative.

Admittedly, there were moments when the shifting timelines and numerous characters felt overwhelming. Yet as the story unfolded, I found that complexity became one of its greatest strengths. The relationships felt genuine and layered, and the twists were both unexpected and emotionally resonant.

The ending left me satisfied but still hungry for more. Kerry built a world I wasn’t ready to leave—a testament to how engaging and memorable this journey was. The Conqueror’s Legacy was everything I hoped for: dramatic, intense, moving, and impossible to put down. I’ll definitely be watching for John Kerry’s next book.

I do like military/history books but this one got a bit too much since I was expecting something more fantasy based. I enjoyed the multiple POVs, the characters and the dark humor but the writing wasn’t my favorite and the over explanation of simple sentences got a bit annoying at times. While the world building was solid the overall story left me wanting more and I’m sure writing 600 pages isn’t easy there were a lot of mistakes that could’ve been edited before publishing.

The writing was well done and the plot was well thought out. However , I did not finish the book. It was just not my ‘cup of tea.’

I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley, and although the story and world building were absolutely magnificent.. it left me wanting just a little more.
I want to start by saying it was a very good book, it kept me interested, that’s not easy for a 600 page book, but there were some faults in writing that should probably been edited out long before preparing to publish.
It’s a good mix of fantasy, military and political history, and the supernatural vibes were a very lovely addition.
It didn’t bore me, and it was intriguing enough for me to wait for the sequel, but I unfortunately don’t think it’s a favorite.

This was a very interesting book. There is a ton of action through out the entire book. there are multiple perspectives and each one is well written. The different perspectives help show the entire story while everyone is in different areas of the book world. I loved the characters and the different relationships that they had.

I absolutely loved this book! The cover had me hooked and I’m so glad I got the chance to read this!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️.5
Recommend? Conditional yes, would be a good entrance novel to the world of fantasy political intrigue and large-scale world building. Seasoned fantasy readers may find the writing style redundant
Finished: April 5, 2025
Format: Advanced Digital; thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC
Read this if you like: Intrigue, sweeping scale, human vs non-human war, tangled family dynamics
Triggers: death (main ensemble character and side character), alcoholism, gore, body horror

Sariel I united the human world under the Ashridge Empire to fight the forces of their non-human enemies, but with his death, will the empire crumble? His heir, Prince Eugene, and his bastard-born son, Elliot, were raised in very different circumstances, but both must March the path destiny has laid out for them: to save the Ashridge Empire and its inhabitants.

Kerry’s novel has a sweeping scope and a diverse ensemble cast of characters. Each chapter jumps between our main 6 characters and is a great technique to keep the plot jumps bite-sized enough to allow even the newest fantasy reader to grab hold and follow along. The book did leave off with a large cliffhanger, so I anticipate additional material in the future & will be interested to read more and see how Kerry develops both the world/plot and his writing style.

However, there were several instances where the writing became stilted and may give seasoned readers pause. Passages like: “His heavy steps stepped on the dirt with each step,” “As time passed, time passed slowly,” or “[he] stood on the battlements, his gaze beyond the battlements over the mottled battlements” were more frequent than I could overlook and took the book down another 1/2 star for me.

I did DNF the book. I couldn't get into it and I really tried! I wanted to love it but it just isn't for me. I did like the writing style, I just wasn't into the actual story itself.

This is a big book; it beautifully describes the world, the politics, and the military surrounding it, but going in, you need to know you're in for a journey. This is an excellent book for history lovers because it blends fantasy with the feel of real-world politics. If you're looking for a new series to get lost in, this is the book for you, 4 stars!

3.5 🌟

I can't imagine all the hard work that goes into a book this size.

The synopsis caught my attention right away. This is a bit of a heavier read with a lot of information and multiple POVs.

Sometimes I felt it was a little over worded, but overall paced well. I would still read the next installment.

The Conquerer's Legacy is the first volume in the The Dust of the Throne series. It's also John Kerry's debut novel.

The story is told from several POV, each chapter tells you which character narrates it. The story pulls no punches and gets gritty right from the beginning. It starts in the past with Sariel leading an army and destroying and looting Soren City.
Chapter Two onwards is set many years later with Sariel dead and a war of succession starting.

A lot of setup is happening in this volume so don't go in expecting a lot of fights and constant action.

This is a really strong debut with lots of intrigue and lots of political tension. I had a lot of fun reading and I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Kerry's 1st book in the dust of thrones series, is exceptional in it's characters, who drive the story through multiple perspectives.

The true beginning of the story begins with an almost silly accident occuring, which causes the death of the famous unifier of the old empires.

The chaos that ensures entwines the lives of a relatively diverse cast of characters including a knight, power brokers, a prince and even a cook who's passions are seen as unpopular.

All cast must rely on different decisions on whether to make changes to usher in a golden age or let the empire continue its chaotic path.

Intrigue and political skull duggery is aplenty in a medieval story that is real, complex, and done well.

This book is gonna be big for somebody who really enjoys military history and political history.
It’s a fantasy at heart, of course, but the political intrigue and the mechanisms that cause war are big themes just as much as the usually trappings of this genre. The magic and the plot surrounding the First Empire will give you a Lord of The Rings vibe but the book itself has almost a medieval feeling. Maybe that’s just me but that’s how I pictured it in my head.

On a personal level, this book was kinda hard for me to get into because I felt as if it very much leaned to the male audience.
I love military books and history books, but I imagine this book is going to evoke a lot more emotion from male readers than female readers. I feel the reader is able to find more empathy and sympathy with the male characters, than the female ones. The male characters feel fully fleshed out and grounded, the female feel kinda flat. That’s my main reason for the 4 stars.

a captivating tale of ambition, intrigue, and the fragile nature of power. this novel weaves political machinations, forbidden love, and the weight of legacy into an engrossing epic!