I was excited to see this as an option to review since I had just recently read the first book. Blood for the undying throne continued with an almost lyrical writing style that I appreciated from the first book. I enjoyed seeing the characters from book 1 progress and grow as well as meeting new characters. Getting a more in depth view of the history mentioned in book 1 was great and the flow between timelines was very nicely achieved and not at all jarring. This was a great follow up to the first book and has just made me more interested in reading future books set in this world to see how things continue to progress and eventually resolve.

When I tell you I squealed when I got approved to read and review the ARC for the second book of this amazing series... I mean it, I did; it was embarrassing standing in line for groceries, but I don't care.

I stayed up all night finishing this book. I don't regret it. I actually think I preferred the sequel. It is such a good follow-up! The characters have grown and are so well shaped already that I was surprised at how much more they were developed in the sequel. I never found myself bored during Blood for the Undying Throne; rather, I was more intrigued by the deepening plot and political aspects of the novel. I think this book was darker than the first, and honestly... I loved it. Everything was fast-paced, but not so much that you forget what is happening - and it was aided by the multiple POVs.

Sung-il Kim’s Blood for the Undying Throne is a gripping and worthy sequel to Blood of the Old Kings, continuing the saga with deeper character development, higher stakes, and an even more immersive sense of dread and destiny. As the second entry in this tale, it expertly builds on the political and magical foundations of the first book while expanding the world in satisfying and unexpected ways.

Kim’s prose remains rich, painting a world steeped in ancient power and lingering tensions. The pacing is measured but tense, letting the story breathe while maintaining a constant undercurrent of unease. This isn’t a story that races to its conclusion.. it coils slowly, tightening with every chapter, as characters are forced to confront the legacies they’ve inherited and the choices that define them.

The character arcs here are particularly strong. Familiar faces return more hardened and conflicted, shaped by the aftermath of the first book’s events. Loyalties shift, secrets unravel, and the sense of impending doom grows with each decision. The interplay between personal struggle and sweeping political drama is one of Kim’s greatest strengths, and it shines throughout this sequel.

While the world building is as layered as ever, some readers may find themselves wanting a bit more clarity around certain mythological elements or the finer workings of the magic system. But overall, these complexities serve the epic tone of the series and reward careful reading.

It’s a thoughtful, intense continuation that doesn’t just carry the story forward ..it deepens it, daring readers to confront the consequences of power, loyalty, and sacrifice. A strong and very timely tale, might I add.

Thank you to Sung-Il Kim for allowing me to continue this journey in this sequel. Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and Netgalley for making it possible!

When I saw book 2 of the series I HAD to get my hands on it. Blood of the Old Kings was an amazing read- quick paced, multiple POVs while being clear yet maintaining momentum. It was balanced wonderfully.

There's a new Yuma POV which was amazing and tragic and just hooked me in (even knowing what happened).

Each chapter had me hanging onto the edges of my seat, and it was so hard for me to put it down each time because I kept wanting more.

Kim does such a wonderful job with balancing character development, plot, and the fantasy elements I love so dearly. I'm truly hoping to get more out of this universe.

This is a gripping blend of dark fantasy and political intrigue that kept me turning the pages well into the night. The world-building is rich and immersive, steeped in ancient lore, betrayal, and the haunting legacy of power. The atmosphere is heavy with tension, and the setting feels both mythic and grounded, like a long-lost kingdom on the brink of collapse.

The characters are complex and compelling—especially the protagonist, who wrestles with both internal demons and the burden of destiny. The interplay between personal ambition and larger forces at work adds a compelling depth to the story. The prose is elegant, sometimes poetic, without losing momentum.

The only thing keeping it from a full five stars is the pacing in a few sections—it occasionally lingers too long on internal monologue or exposition, which slightly dulls the otherwise sharp narrative drive. A couple of side characters could have used more development as well.

Still, this is a powerful and imaginative read that fans of grimdark or epic fantasy will definitely appreciate. It’s a memorable tale of blood, legacy, and the cost of immortality.

I found the first novel enjoyable and well written but this one was so much more! More political intrigue, more necromancy and giant machines! This novel was darker, more vivid and felt completely immersive! I mean did I mention necromancy and giant machines! I loved the Asian Steampunk feel combined with the much more sinister practice of calling up the spirits of dead.

The empire continues to use the power of dead sorcerers through force and manipulation. Rebellion and Resistance are staring and igniting. Arienne is back and is investigating the weapon that destroyed the land of Mersia (Star of Mersia). Yuma is from Mersia's past and openly confronts the Grim King and rebels against the Empire's exploitation of its sorcerers and their magical abilities. Councilor Emere also finds himself caught up in the politics of the empire after rallying against it. All these character webs eventually come together in an amazing and exciting story.

Sung-il Kim is an amazing story teller with the ability to incapsulate the sense through the written word!

First, a thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this book.

Why are more people not talking about these two books!? Why don't I see these discussed in the bookish community??? Y'all are SLEEPING ON GREATNESS.

Okay, so - Blood of the Old Kings was one of my favorite books from last year (check out my review here So when I saw there was another book in the series, I knew I had to read it ASAP.

Kim did not disappoint - one of my favorite parts about BotOK is how it could manage to be quick-paced, impactful, and clear while bouncing between multiple POVs. In a lot of multiple POV books, I find myself bored with certain characters, not caring about them, or feeling like they don't really contribute to the overall story. BotOK balanced perfectly, and Kim was able to keep the same momentum with this book.

I was a little sad that a character from the first book didn't have a POV in this one, but I understand why. I was just bummed since they're my favorite (iykyk).

HOWEVER... we did get a new POV from Yuma, and her POV was amazing. Not only was it interesting because she was in the past, and we knew what would happen. Her story was so tragic, and I really grew to love her over the course of the book - so even though I KNEW what was coming, I didn't want it to happen. I didn't want to see her suffer.

I was always on the edge of my seat at the end of each chapter, seeing how the three characters we followed went on their own paths, how they intersected and verged. This was a very difficult book to put down - I was only unable to finish sooner since my person life has been crazy hectic this month.

This book perfectly balanced character development, plot, intrigue, fantasy-elements, and emotion - I was so emotional at the end of this book. It also ended in such a way where I could see if we didn't get another book in this universe... but god, am I hopeful we do get more. What an interesting world, with interesting characters - and I feel like there could be more for us to explore in this universe.

Either way, I know Kim has written a few other books, and I desperately hope those get translated into English as well. I think the translator did a fantastic job with this book, and overall... just wow. Once again... WHY ARE Y'ALL SLEEPING ON THESE BOOKS??

Blood for the Undying Throne is a haunting, masterful sequel that deepens the mythology of Blood of the Old Kings. We return to a world still echoing with the screams of broken dynasties and the whispers of sorcerers long thought dead.

***What does it mean to choose universal ruin over an illusion of freedom?***

Each character is not only fascinating but pivotal.

Emere’s struggle with destiny, guided by an entity and shadowed by the terrifying power of the Star of Mersia—leads to choices that are as devastating as they are unforgettable.

Arienne’s storyline is one of the most powerful elements of the book. What begins as a search for truth becomes a journey of political and magical consequence. Her mind is sharp, resilient, and unrelenting and it becomes a force of its own.

Yuma’s battle with the Grim King (a centuries-old entity who demands human sacrifices) is terrifying and tragic. The empire’s exploitation of these powers, especially the living power generators, is horrifying.

Blood of the Undying Throne delivers myth, prophecy, and grief woven into something unforgettable…this book was a wild ride and I can’t say I was ready for it to be over. I’m looking forward to continuing the series

One day at the library, I happened across Blood of the Old Kings on the new releases shelf, and because I’m doing a reading challenge for 2025 where one of the prompts is a translated SFF, I decided to snag the book. I finally read it about a week before it was due, and immediately knew I needed to get my hands on the sequel, and I’m so glad Tor approved my request for Blood for the Undying Throne.

The Bleeding Empire is a series doing so much I love with themes of colonialism, consequences, and a convergence of choices. The Empire has conquered many lands, in many ways from “peaceful” surrender to the murder of gods to create subjugation, but the most infamous is the complete destruction of Mersia a hundred years ago. Blood for the Undying Throne tackles the history that caused that destruction, as well as revealing the true events instead of just the imperial propaganda.

I really love how this book utilized time and location to tell the story. Emere was such an interesting perspective because in the first book he was the good brother, the kind prince, but mostly he’s a follower and supporter. Seeing him working towards what he believes to be his destiny, but still putting his faith into King Loran, was such an interesting story, especially with the background of being in the imperial capital, and the dangers he faced. Arienne is one of my favorite characters from the first book, and seeing her growth, both on a personal level and with regards to her Power, has been excellent and with that ending, I cannot wait to see what’s next for her. It’s interesting how much she is such a central figure to the effects and consequences of the Empire and Arland, when she’s “just” a young girl who ran away from the imperial academy because she didn’t want to become a Power Generator upon her death. Yuma was the most interesting perspective in Blood for the Undying Throne because she’s the past and we know the final results of what happened, the destruction of Merseh, but not the how or why. Through her part of the story we see how she fell in love and inadvertently created the perfect scenario for the end of Merseh as it had been and it becoming Mersia of the Empire.

This is such an excellent book and series, and I cannot wait to see how it’s going to conclude with all the choices being made and the revelation of what truly happened with the Star of Mersia. This is definitely a book I’m going to have on my mind because it’s a mastery in creating ripples and exploring the picture that comes from the expansion of effects.

I cannot get enough of this series—Blood for the Undying Throne somehow manages to raise the stakes even higher than Blood of the Old Kings, and it absolutely delivers. Sung-il Kim’s world is dark, unrelenting, and full of razor-sharp commentary on empire, faith, and resistance. Every chapter peels back a new layer, and the way past and present timelines weave together had me fully hooked.

Emere’s unraveling of the Empire’s rot, Arienne’s journey into forgotten ruins, and Yuma’s heartbreaking defiance over a century earlier, each thread feels urgent and massive in scope, yet so personal. Add in Anton Hur’s flawless translation, and the prose feels cinematic in the best way. This isn’t just epic fantasy, it’s a battle cry. The kind of book that grips your throat and refuses to let go. Absolutely cannot wait to see what comes next.