Conan the Valiant

Conan the Valiant follows the adventures of the legendary barbarian warrior in the land of Turan. At age 22, fresh from his victory over the Cult of Doom, Conan becomes entangled in palace politics and a new dangerous mission. The story centers on Conan's alliance with two distinctive companions - the sword maiden Raihna and the sorceress Illyana. Together they must stop the evil wizard Eremius, who commands an army of humans transformed into reptilian demons through the power of the mysterious Jewels of Kurag. The novel incorporates elements of military strategy, sorcery, and political intrigue as Conan and his allies gather forces to confront Eremius's growing threat to the region. Combat scenes and magical confrontations drive the action forward through the Turanian landscape. This entry in the Conan series stands out for its focus on world-building and cultural detail, offering a deeper look at the societies and powers that shape the Hyborian Age. The inclusion of complex characters and competing motivations elevates the story beyond simple sword and sorcery adventure.

Reader reviews indicate that Conan the Valiant received lukewarm responses overall. Readers appreciated Green's attention to Conan's character development and the detailed action sequences. Several reviews noted that the book maintains consistency with Howard's original characterization of Conan. Common criticisms focused on pacing issues and overlong descriptive passages. Multiple readers mentioned the plot meandered in the middle sections. One Amazon reviewer stated "Green spends too much time on unnecessary world-building that slows the story down." Review Scores: Goodreads: 3.3/5 (31 ratings) Amazon: 3.5/5 (6 reviews) Several readers recommended this book for Conan completists but not as an entry point to the series. A Goodreads reviewer summed it up as "decent but forgettable pastiche fiction that doesn't quite capture Howard's energy."

Sword Woman and Other Historical Adventures by Robert E. Howard The creator of Conan presents more sword-wielding heroes in historical settings with a mix of combat and dark sorcery.

Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames A band of aging mercenaries embarks on one last quest through monster-filled lands to save a companion's daughter.

The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie A barbarian warrior from the north faces intrigue and violence in a world of brutal combat and political machinations.

Swords Against Death by Fritz Leiber Two skilled swordsmen navigate dungeons and face supernatural threats in a series of interconnected adventures.

Red Sonja: She-Devil With a Sword Volume 1 by Michael Avon Oeming, Mike Carey A fierce warrior woman battles monsters and sorcerers across a fantasy landscape inspired by the Hyborian Age.

🗡️ The character of Conan has appeared in over 50 novels since his creation by Robert E. Howard in 1932. 🏰 Turan, where this story takes place, is inspired by Turkish and Persian cultures from the Hyborian Age, a fictional period meant to occur between the sinking of Atlantis and recorded history. 📚 Roland Green, a prolific science fiction and fantasy author, has written numerous military-themed novels including entries in the Battletech and Transformers universes. 🐍 The reptilian demons in the story draw from ancient Mesopotamian mythology, where serpent-like creatures often represented chaos and evil. 💎 The Jewels of Kurag mentioned in the book are similar to other powerful artifacts in sword-and-sorcery fiction, like Michael Moorcock's Stormbringer or Tolkien's One Ring.