The Gryphon King is the first book in The Chaos Constellation, an epic fantasy series written by Sara Omer, published by Titan Books. A dark, epic, political fantasy that is set in a world blending Asian cultures (mostly Kurdish and Turkish), morally grey characters, mythical creatures roaming the land, and all together with a complex plot that not only features military scheming, a tense political landscape, but also a dash of slow burn romance to complete it.

Bataar was a child when he killed a gryphon, becoming a legend across the Red Steppe; as an adult, he's the warlord that has united his people. After several victories, he puts his eye on the Dumakran Kingdom, getting a quick conquest over the own Dumakra, partly because of the betrayal on the court; with the city under Bataar's rule, Nohra Zultama vows to take revenge and recover it, killing Bataar in the process. But when rioting breaks out and mythic beasts start coming back into the world, Nohra will have to fight alongside the own Bataar, despite her own resolve, if they want to keep a chance to stand against the monsters that threaten their world.

Omer puts two marvellous main characters at the center of the plot. On the one hand, we have Bataar, a dangerously ambitious warlord, who acts a bit as the villain depending on who tells the story; he might be cold-blooded, cruel, but there are also moments where we can appreciate his human side. On the other hand, we have Nohra, much more passion-driven, even chaotic; extremely brave (also her scenes on the pegasus are chef-kiss), but with a duty to her family. The dynamic between our two characters is extremely complex, starting from necessity but also growing from hate to an unstable alliance for the common good.
The rest of the cast pales a bit in comparison with these two, but Omer gives them the opportunity to shine with the complex net of family and political relationships that are in play (also, I won't mind if a certain character gets stabbed).

The worldbuilding is another highlight for me, from how several Asian cultures are blended into this novel (I could also argue that partly the Red Steppe reminds of Mongolia, with Bataar being a sort of Gengis Khan equivalent), to the inclusion of many fantastical creatures, including not only the pegasus and the gryphons, but also the djinns, sea horses and ghouls. Omer's writing style is quite detailed, painting vivid images as part of the scenes.
The pacing is excellent, but it is true that the first quarter or so can be felt as a bit disjointed, as the characters are introduced in a previous timeline; from that moment and on, you can expect to be glued to the page, always in tension while all the pieces are being played in the board.

The Gryphon King is an excellent first instalment for what promises to be a stunning Asian-inspired fantasy; if you like fantastic creatures, cutthroat politics and a marvellous cast, you should totally give it a try. Can't wait to continue reading about these characters in The Harpy Knight.