The Justice of Kings

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?

POV: you’re the emperor’s justice (a detective, judge, and executioner all in one) accompanied by your clerk and protégé Helena who’s writing a book about you and your travels together (you don’t know this).

One of the things I love about fantasy is the way it can seamlessly work with other genres. The Justice of Kings is a murder mystery thriller and character memoir rolled into one with a dollop of necromancy.

The book follows the story of Sir Konrad Vonvalt, the most feared Justice from the Order of Justices but told from the perspective of his clerk Helena. I thought this was such an interesting and clever choice and I loved learning about Vonvalt this way.

I also adored Helena. Taken in by Vonvalt when she was an orphan living in the streets, their mentor-mentee vibe is something the book explores and one I really appreciate. Helena is thankful for everything Vonvalt has done for her but she’s also a young 19 year old who wants to see other paths she could take outside of being a Justice’s clerk. It sort of gives Joel and Ellie vibes from The Last of Us and I’m here for it.

The book can be grim at times but it also had moments of humor and banter among the characters. Vonvalt believes no man is above the law but things happen that definitely question his stand on things, and that’s what I’m here for. 👀

The Justice of Kings is such a strong debut and I look forward to seeing how Vonvalt and Helena change as people the more we get into the trilogy.

Thank you Orbit Books for my review copy! All opinions my own.