** Unforgiving Realism **
I didn’t realize The Last Argument of Kings was considered grimdark fantasy until exploring reviews. To me, it’s just realism.
The ending, in particular, stood out. Even for characters who achieve their life’s ambitions, success is a transition to another level of the same relentless game. Climbing the ranks only reveals another figure to grovel before. Progress means repeating the same mistakes—only now, the stakes are higher.
- You have to be realistic about these things. *
** 26th book of 2025 **