Five Broken Blades is the story of five people who are not heroes — they are traitors, killers, and liars, each with their own reason to raise a blade against a god-king.
Book Review: “Five Broken Blades”
- Series: The Broken Blades #1
- Author: Mai Corland
- 474 pages, Hardcover, Red Tower Books
- First published May 7, 2024
- ISBN 9781649376909 (ISBN10: 1649376901)
- ASIN 1649376901
- Language English
- Available for e-readers in ePub, PDF, Audiobook
Plot
The king must die.
Five morally gray characters are brought together to carry out a complex plan to assassinate a despotic ruler. Each of them has their own motives, and none are guided by noble intentions.
In Five Broken Blades, the story unfolds through six points of view, despite the title:
- Euyn — the exiled prince, brother to the God-King Joon.
- Royo — the brute, a mercenary assassin.
- Sora — the poisoner, willing to risk everything for her sister Deisum.
- Mikail — the royal spy.
- Aeri — the thief from Umbria.
- Tiyung — the heir to the Lord of the South.
The characters are utterly different, and cooperation between them seems impossible — which makes the tension among them feel so real.
Mai Corland builds a dynamic full of distrust, intrigue, and constant fear of betrayal.
Each carries secrets, each is haunted by the past, and each bears guilt they can never fully atone for.
These sins and losses shape them into complex, layered individuals — neither good nor evil, but living in that morally gray space that makes them feel so human and compelling.
No one loves perfect, cookie-cutter heroes — their flaws are their greatest charm.
The world of Yusan is inspired by Korean mythology and culture.
There is no overt magic, but ancient legends, gods, and relics hint that something greater lies beneath the surface.
Review
I’m not entirely sure whether to call this book a romantasy or pure fantasy, but there’s definitely romance that adds an emotional pulse to the story.
The relationship between Mikail and Euyn had a few moments that bothered me slightly — not because of the pairing itself, but because of how, even after betrayal, they remained drawn to each other. Still, their interactions were tender, sometimes naïve, and genuinely engaging — the kind of emotional tension that keeps you turning pages long into the night.
The book is appropriately bloody. Five Broken Blades impresses with its relentless tension, ever-present sense of treachery, and the constant ticking clock pressing down on the characters. It’s one of those books that you read fast — but not forget easily.
I also loved that every character has their own personal goal. Their mission isn’t about saving the world or liberating a people — it’s selfish, human, and deeply personal. That’s exactly what made the story stand out and left me eager for more.
The final chapters are packed with emotion — I felt every ounce of their fear, pain, and despair. The ending itself isn’t mind-blowing, but the setup for the sequel is perfectly done, and Four Ruined Realms is already on my to-buy list.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The instant New York Times bestseller
It’s the season
for treason…
The king of Yusan must die.
The five most dangerous liars in the land have been mysteriously summoned to work together for a single objective: to kill the God King Joon.
He has it coming. Under his merciless immortal hand, the nobles flourish, while the poor and innocent are imprisoned, ruined…or sold.
And now each of the five blades will come for him. Each has tasted bitterness—from the hired hitman seeking atonement, a lovely assassin who seeks freedom, or even the prince banished for his cruel crimes. None can resist the sweet, icy lure of vengeance.
They can agree on murder.
They can agree on treachery.
But for these five killers—each versed in deception, lies, and betrayal—it’s not enough to forge an alliance. To survive, they’ll have to find a way to trust each other…but only one can take the crown.
Let the best liar win.
