The Road of Kings

The Road of Kings follows Conan the Barbarian during his adventures in the kingdom of Zingara. After escaping a death sentence for dueling, Conan joins forces with rebels seeking to overthrow their oppressive monarch. The narrative centers on political intrigue and power struggles within Zingara's unstable realm. When the rebellion turns to dark magic for assistance, ancient sorcery from the fallen kingdom of Acheron threatens to replace one form of tyranny with another. Wagner crafts a tale of revolution, dark magic, and the price of power in the Hyborian Age. The story examines themes of leadership, corruption, and the cyclical nature of political violence while remaining true to Robert E. Howard's original vision of the Conan character.

Readers describe this as a solid sword-and-sorcery novel that captures Conan's character well, though not reaching the heights of Robert E. Howard's original stories. Readers appreciated: - Wagner's faithful portrayal of Conan's personality and mannerisms - Fast-paced action sequences - World-building that matches Howard's Hyborian setting Common criticisms: - Plot feels formulaic compared to Howard's work - Supporting characters lack depth - Middle section drags with repetitive scenes Ratings: Goodreads: 3.6/5 (217 ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (12 ratings) Sample reader comments: "Wagner gets Conan right, but the story itself is merely serviceable" - Goodreads reviewer "Good pastiche but missing Howard's mythic quality" - Fantasy Fiction forum "Action scenes are the highlight" - Amazon reviewer Many fans consider it an above-average Conan pastiche but recommend reading Howard's original stories first.

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🗡️ Karl Edward Wagner was not only an author but also a psychiatrist, bringing psychological depth to his fantasy characters and stories. 🏰 The kingdom of Zingara, where the story is set, was inspired by medieval Spain and features heavily in the broader Conan universe created by Robert E. Howard. 📚 Wagner wrote only three Conan novels in total, making "The Road of Kings" a relatively rare addition to the official Conan canon. 🔮 The ancient kingdom of Acheron mentioned in the book is a recurring element in Conan lore, known for its powerful sorcerers and mysterious artifacts that predate human civilization. ⚔️ The book was published in 1979 as part of a revival of Conan stories by Bantam Books, helping to maintain interest in the character during a crucial period for sword and sorcery fiction.