Book Review: Bloodstained Skies: The Vanquisher of Kings I

Sci-fi and space operas thrive on big ideas, dramatic conflicts, and immersive worlds. Bloodstained Skies: The Vanquisher of Kings I certainly has all of these, but while its ambition is clear, the execution leaves something to be desired. Packed with exiled warriors, interplanetary politics, and high-stakes battles, this book has a lot of potential—but also a few hurdles that make it a challenging read.

A Strong Premise, but a Slow Start

The story follows Erilaz, a royal warrior forced into exile after a revolution. Hiding on a distant planet, he and his comrades live with the hope of one day reclaiming their homeland. There’s a lot to love in this setup—revenge, loyalty, and a hero fighting against the odds. The political tension between rulers and rebels adds another layer of intrigue, making it feel like a mix of Dune and The Expanse.

That said, the pacing is a bit uneven. The story often gets bogged down in long descriptions and complex world-building, which sometimes slows the action instead of adding to it. There are moments of brilliance—tense battle scenes, political maneuvering, and some cool sci-fi tech—but they can get lost in overly detailed explanations that don’t always feel necessary.

The Writing Style – A Bit Clunky

One of the biggest challenges with this book is the writing itself. Since the author is Polish, it’s likely that English isn’t their first language, and that comes through in the prose. Some sentences feel awkwardly structured, dialogue can be stiff, and there are moments where descriptions go on longer than needed. For example:

"The foe creeping behind him seized the opportunity. He emerged from the cave and took a swing, directing his plasma blade towards Erilaz's head."

It’s clear what’s happening, but the wording could be smoother. Something like “The enemy lunged from the cave, swinging his plasma blade at Erilaz’s head” would feel more natural and keep the tension high.

Dialogue also struggles at times, often sounding too formal or robotic. Characters sometimes speak in a way that doesn’t feel like how real people talk, which makes it harder to connect with them.

Characters – Some Hit, Some Miss

Erilaz is an interesting protagonist, though a little stiff at times. He’s a battle-hardened warrior with a strong sense of duty, which makes him compelling—but his emotional depth isn’t always there. The book tells us how he feels more than it shows us, which makes it harder to really connect with his struggles.

His interactions with side characters like Andvari and Hefri provide some nice moments, but their personalities don’t always pop. The dynamic between Erilaz and King Ivendir is one of the strongest in the book, as it brings in a lot of tension and uncertainty about loyalty and power. However, because of the dialogue issues, these moments don’t always have the emotional impact they could.

Final Thoughts

There’s definitely a solid story here, and for fans of detailed sci-fi with political intrigue and big battles, there’s a lot to enjoy. However, the writing style makes it a bit of a tough read, especially with some awkward phrasing and slow pacing. With tighter editing and more natural dialogue, this series could be something really special.

If you love deep world-building, warrior cultures, and stories of exile and redemption, Bloodstained Skies might be worth a shot. But be prepared to push through some clunky writing and a slow burn before it really picks up.

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