SCORE: 4/5

Author: Ken Liu

Dates read: July 24 – August 10, 2017

Version: Audiobook by Simon & Schuster published April 7, 2015

Categories: fantasy, adventure, high fantasy

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The Grace of Kings is an epic fantasy told from several perspectives, both on the stage and from the Gods’ views; it follows a vulnerable society after the fall of an emperor undergoing multiple transfers of powers among a myriad of unique characters. The storytelling style is refreshing, coming off as oral telling of an old legend with both historical and mythological origins.

It’s a welcome change to medieval fantasy epics by being based on East Asian history and culture as opposed to European. Liu manages to create a new world that doesn’t feel like a pseudo-China, but it’s own history and culture. An epic story begins to unfold by weaving together numerous characters, until you find yourself deeply immersed in a legend about humanity and societal growth.

There is one standout weakness in the storytelling, and that’s women characters (bare with me, I recognize Liu make a conscious choice here as a way to evolve/critique the Fantasy genre). While the male characters are wide and varied, the women are completely overlooked to the point that we briefly see three domestic female characters for the first 400 or so pages; it can be argued for historical accuracy of the treatment and perception of women, but it comes off as an ultimate failure to write them as if all women lacked presence outside the historically prescribed role as a servile wife and mother.

Liu recognized the struggle of women’s role in society and in the late stages of the story included a strong female character, one that brings along the presence of more women – this was intentional, to truly reflect on a progression within a misogynistic society by keeping women unmentioned and in the background unless for the purpose of traditional roles, then bring them all out together after making the point of their treatment and representation.

The biggest problem with the way this issue was addressed – the book became much better once women were included. The world became more realistic, the ranges of humanity and character further explored – so why not represent women for 450 pages? One point appeared to be that many male readers of Fantasy may not have noticed that women were missing at all, mirroring that the main character didn’t consider that women were an untapped resource that could assist him until it was blatantly pointed out. It is a problem with the genre, but at times it also feels a little ridiculous to have to “just wait for it.”

Ultimately, is this issue enough to bring down the entire book? For me no, it’s not, it’s still a wonderful world and incredible history being built upon the foundation of strong characters, well developed mythology, shifting powers, and Liu has given us a refreshing and progressive new approach to the Fantasy genre. Ultimately, The Grace of Kings is a legend worth reading.