Reforged

A king and his lover turned bodyguard struggle to secure a kingdom’s future in Haddon’s promising debut fantasy. Prince Zavrius, who prefers music to fighting and who many perceive as weak, ascends to the throne of Usleth after the mysterious murder of his four siblings on the border of the enemy Rezwyn Empire. He selects Balen, an ex-lover and the novel’s primary point of view character, as his Prime, the paladin tasked with his personal protection. These new positions catapult both men into danger: the king’s entourage is ambushed by fighters dosed with performance-enhancing ichor that only paladins and nobles have access to; then Zavrius narrowly escapes a poisoning at his coronation ball after announcing a plan for peace and commerce with Rezwyn. Balen and Zavrius realize insurrection is brewing, prompting them to flee. In the hinterlands, they uncover a plot to force war with Rezwyn, Zavrius confesses knowledge about his siblings’ deaths, and Balen and Zavrius move past their squabbling back toward intimacy. The final act feels a bit rushed after the delicate, involved worldbuilding of the opening, but the complex politicking and Balen’s frustration and confusion over Zavrius’s mixed signals remain gripping throughout. Fans of action-packed queer fantasy will welcome this new voice. Agent: Maeve MacLysaght, Copps Literary. (Oct.)