The Gryphon King by Sara Omer

Book Review

Elloise Hopkins

When he was just fourteen, Bataar killed a gryphon, though the price he and his friends paid was high and none of them survived unscathed. Bataar should have died at birth, but somehow he survived and harboured a secret all his life – he can see spirits when they leave a body, and he can see the face of the Preeminent Spirit high above them. Now grown, they call Bataar The Gryphon King, and he has his sights set on Dumakra next.

Dumakra, a rich kingdom where the Harpy Knights ride pegasuses and guard the zultam who rules over the kingdom. When Nohra, the queen’s daughter, was young, she dreamed of becoming a harpy knight. Now she is one. A formidable warrior, rider, and above all determined to stop Bataar Rhah from taking her home.

As the war lord arrives, Nohra had not been prepared for just how many secrets lay within her home – from kitchen to harem, from stables to throne room. Everything familiar becomes rocked by betrayal and war. There will be death, there will be panic, and not every enemy will be human. Nohra’s world quickly becomes more dangerous and more confusing than she had ever imagined.   

The Gryphon King is the first part of The Chaos Constellation, and brings us an enticing fantasy adventure in which Bataar and Nohra not only face great beasts of sea and air, but also the magics and tricks of djinn, the threat of ghouls and deadly rot, and of course the tanglings of desire and the lusts of rule.

The pace is excellent, perfectly balancing action with lushly written worldbuilding, that brings a uniquely refreshing backdrop into modern epic fantasy. The story begins with the young Bataar and Nohra, so that the reader can immediately understand their motives and backgrounds. As adults, the developing relationship between Nohra and Bataar, and between Nohra and Bataar’s closest companions, injects tension and conflict into the narrative.

Along with the setting, the characterisation is magnificently crafted. Every character is visible, believable, and intriguing. Bataar is coldly ruthless, contrasting perfectly with his wife, Qaira, who is warm and powerfully compelling. Nohra and Bataar are both equally determined, skilled as warriors and strategists, and fiercely protective of those around them. There are enough surprises along the way to keep the reader engaged, and all in all, we have a gripping opening to what will no doubt be a stand out series.