Intro
Ben Stoddard’s “Tales of Pannithor: Pride of the King” has more going on than its Kings of War setting. I picked it up as a player and found a story built around its characters and the differences between its dwarf cultures.
A Tale of More Than Just Dwarfs
The book spends time on dwarf culture, including the contrast between the Free Dwarfs’ stoicism and the Golloch Empire’s hierarchy. The Abyssal Dwarfs also have more history than a simple antagonist role, which gives their conflict another layer.
Beyond Cardboard Cutouts: The Characters of Pannithor
The heart of “Pride of the King” lies in its characters. Banick Kholearm isn’t a flawless paragon – his flaws and inner battles provide compelling contrast as he navigates the treacherous court of Caeryn Golloch. Stoddard weaves nuanced personalities and conflicting motivations into a web of intrigue mirroring the grander clash of factions. The political games and pivotal choices made me second-guess my expectations, adding to the tension that made me lose track of time as I read.
Room for Improvement
The Kindle edition suffers slightly from a few noticeable grammatical slips, mostly run-on sentences that disrupted the otherwise strong prose. Some overt references to “Kings of War” mechanics felt a bit heavy-handed in places, a reminder of the book’s tabletop origins. Yet, these pale compared to the story’s compelling power.
A Must-Read Fantasy
If you like fantasy with morally complicated characters and distinct cultures, Pride of the King is worth a look. It also adds a story to the Pannithor setting for Kings of War readers.
You can find the Kindle version here: Pride of the King.
