Prince of Ruin: An Occasional King Novel (The Occasional King)

Prince of Ruin: An Occasional King Novel (The Occasional King)

Dorian Sinclair would rather gulp down poison than become king... literally. In just three years the cowardly half-king has inadvertently killed four siblings, several cousins, and three wives trying to fill a crown he’s too scared to wear. Exhausted by a life of death, he resolves to end it all – until he realizes that’s exactly what the gods want. When his decision to live challenges the will of the divine, he provokes the God of Fate to bombard him with temptations of suicide. It's the 1700s in Ravensdale, a kingdom of such extravagance as to rival the French. This fantastical and darkly humorous drama witnesses a troubled royal go from plotting his death to fighting for his life, inciting a battle of gods and men. Fans of George R. R. Martin and Leigh Bardugo would love this story of political intrigue and strong friendships, set in a vibrant world full of history and mythology, whose plot is carried by a large cast of morally gray characters . It explores topics like suicide, sacrifice, and the value of suffering, balanced by gallows humor reminiscent of the film Amadeus . "No man can escape his fate" – this much history makes clear. But perhaps they just weren’t running fast enough.