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The Forever King: Scalussen Chronicles 1 (The Scalussen Chronicles) Paperback – November 30, 2020
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"Absolutely loved it. Epic fantasy with a contemporary twist, characters that you feel for or love to hate, and a cool nordic-inspired world. Ben is an accomplished writer with sharp prose and a storyteller’s touch." – John Gwynne
In Emaneska, to consort with magick is to court death. Banned by the Arka Empire, magick's purging has finally brought peace to a war-torn land.
Like any dutiful citizen, Mithrid Fenn wants nothing to do with magick. but when an illegal spellbook washes up on a beach after a battle between giant, unknown ships, Mithrid Fenn is thrust into a war she never knew existed. Her family slaughtered, Mithrid finds herself hunted by daemons and the emperor's assassins. She is dragged inexorably north to Scalussen, where mages, dragons, beastpeople, and witches doggedly wage a war for freedom against the tyrannical empire.
But Mithrid only cares for revenge and nothing nobler. If killing the emperor means helping the Outlaw King, then so be it. Even if it means drowning the world in fire.
———
"Ben Galley is one of the best voices in the dark fantasy genre." – Fantasy Faction
"Ben is an author who has breathed new life into epic fantasy. If you haven’t read these books yet, you really, really need to rectify that.” – Bookworm Blues
- Print length664 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateNovember 30, 2020
- Dimensions5.5 x 1.67 x 8.5 inches
- ISBN-10183816250X
- ISBN-13978-1838162504
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- Publisher : BenGalley.com (November 30, 2020)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 664 pages
- ISBN-10 : 183816250X
- ISBN-13 : 978-1838162504
- Item Weight : 1.86 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 1.67 x 8.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,064,611 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5,620 in Dragons & Mythical Creatures Fantasy (Books)
- #11,862 in Sword & Sorcery Fantasy (Books)
- #23,946 in Epic Fantasy (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Get a free copy of "The Iron Keys" - a prequel short story from Ben's Emaneska Series at: www.linktr.ee/bengalley
Ben Galley is a British author of dark and epic fantasy who currently lurks in Vancouver, Canada. Since publishing his Emaneska Series in 2010, Ben has released the award-winning Scarlet Star Trilogy and The Heart of Stone, the critically-acclaimed Chasing Graves Trilogy and Scalussen Chronicles, and the new Bloodwood Saga.
When he isn't conjuring up new stories or arguing the finer points of magic systems and dragon anatomy, Ben terrorises the Canadian wilds, swills Scotch single malts, and snowboards very, very badly. One day he hopes to haunt an epic treehouse in the mountains and dole out side quests to passersby.
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Customers find the book engaging, with one noting there's never a dull moment. Moreover, the pacing receives positive feedback, with one customer highlighting how it keeps the story active throughout. Additionally, they appreciate the character development and find it easy for new readers to follow. The writing quality is well-received, with one customer noting the author's maturity in crafting the narrative.
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Customers find the book engaging, with one mentioning there's never a dull moment.
"...I think this is Ben’s best book so far of the Emaneska series...." Read more
"...good proofreader/editor to help with the errors, the books just keep getting better!" Read more
"Wow, what a ride. Starts out fast, and never really let's up. The story is fresh and the characters are great...." Read more
"...but the adventure from beginning to end ensures there is never a dull moment. Highly recommended and I can't wait for the next book..." Read more
Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, with one customer noting it has no wasted pages, while another describes it as action-packed and filled with magic.
"...Ben does a nice job introducing Midrith through using her POV to let us into what she thinks and feels about the whirlwind she’s being pulled into..." Read more
"Wow, what a ride. Starts out fast, and never really let's up. The story is fresh and the characters are great...." Read more
"...He's added some serious depth to characters that really adds layers to the story and plot...." Read more
"...The story pacing is wonderful. Yes, there are intense battles but the adventure from beginning to end ensures there is never a dull moment...." Read more
Customers appreciate the character development in the book.
"...Ben does an excellent job, as usual, with creating and developing new characters and getting you thoroughly invested in their individual stories...." Read more
"...The story is fresh and the characters are great. The pace of the story reminds me of something John Gwynne might write...." Read more
"...He's added some serious depth to characters that really adds layers to the story and plot...." Read more
"Ben Galley has become one of my favorite writers. This book has amazing characters and a great story set in a believable fantasy world...." Read more
Customers find the book engaging, with one mentioning its wonderful world building and another noting how it creates a real sense of time passing.
"...This helped give a real sense of time passing and understand distances in Emaneska from one location to another, better...." Read more
"Ben has done it again. This is a spectacular addition to the world of Emaneska...." Read more
"...to see it through the eyes of someone so innocent and unaware, sparks new interest. The story pacing is wonderful...." Read more
"Exciting, mysterious!..." Read more
Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book, with one noting its mature style and thoughtful approach.
"...There is maturity to his writing now and the story has no wasted pages or stretched out story lines...." Read more
"...Well written !" Read more
"A favorite author and enjoying the Scalussen Chronicles so far...." Read more
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Amazing! Start to finish it is AMAZING!
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2020A tavern fight, angry mob, a mage fighting other mages in the snow covered woods, lit up by their spellcasting, a daemon and a dragon. This is just some of what happens in just the first chapter! What a great way to return to Emaneska. Ben Galley doesn’t lead us slowly back into his world, he puts two hands on the back of our shoulders and shoves us back into Emaneska.
Midrith is a great new character and we're introduced to her in a way that quickly got me invested in this character. Ben does a nice job introducing Midrith through using her POV to let us into what she thinks and feels about the whirlwind she’s being pulled into as her story line begins. Sticking with a single POV for a while is a great way to anchor the start of the book since there’s so much going on around her. Multiple POVs early in a book can sometimes make the start of a series feel slow. That is definitely not the case here. Ben does an excellent job, as usual, with creating and developing new characters and getting you thoroughly invested in their individual stories. But he also continued to grow and evolve the existing characters that are still with us from Dead Stars. Character development, their relationships and world building are still all hallmarks of Galley’s writing.
The book is well paced with action, dialog and adventure allowing the story to unfold in a very well thought out manner. Whether by land, sea or quick doors, the length of all the travel seems appropriate and not rushed. This helped give a real sense of time passing and understand distances in Emaneska from one location to another, better. Except for the quick doors, that are supposed to be, you know…quick. The actual time spent traveling felt well paced. Not too long where you felt it was stretched out and not too short where it didn’t seem like a realistic journey. Ben did a really good job of keeping the story active when characters were on the move.
The final confrontation at the end was really great. We get an extended, epic war between the forces of Malvus vs. Farden and Ben holds nothing back with story twists, surprise reveals and of course, lots of carnage and sad deaths. This is no spoiler. If you’ve read any Ben Galley’s books, you know that no one is ever safe. Since this is book one of a new series, not everything is addresses or answered, but the book does come to a nice conclusion of the immediate events of the story and sets up book 2 wonderfully.
I think this is Ben’s best book so far of the Emaneska series. There is maturity to his writing now and the story has no wasted pages or stretched out story lines. There were many places where he let the story breath a little, but he never lingered too long. It was well paced and action packed, but he did wonderful world building and character development as well. Mithrid has quickly become one favorite characters now and I can’t wait to see how her arc continues.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2021Although Ben Galley could still use a really good proofreader/editor to help with the errors, the books just keep getting better!
- Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2024Wow, what a ride. Starts out fast, and never really let's up. The story is fresh and the characters are great. The pace of the story reminds me of something John Gwynne might write. I highly recommend it, and agree that you needn't have read his previous series to understand the happenings in this one. I look forward to reading the next book.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2020Ben has done it again. This is a spectacular addition to the world of Emaneska. Taking place 20 years after the first 4 books, you might think that you have to read the previous series in order to understand this story, but you don't! It is completely standalone, so it's easy for people new to the characters and the world. However, Ben has done a wonderful job with the callbacks to the original series for the veteran readers, as well. For me, it felt like coming home. Yet, it was refreshing and new, as well. I really enjoyed the way he's expanded upon characters we already become familiar with. He's added some serious depth to characters that really adds layers to the story and plot.
I wish I was as good at writing reviews as Ben is his stories, but I am not. And with that said, ALL HAIL THE FOREVER KING.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2021Ben Galley has become one of my favorite writers. This book has amazing characters and a great story set in a believable fantasy world. Though the world is not new to readers of the first trilogy, being able to see it through the eyes of someone so innocent and unaware, sparks new interest. The story pacing is wonderful. Yes, there are intense battles but the adventure from beginning to end ensures there is never a dull moment. Highly recommended and I can't wait for the next book...
- Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2023Positioning and description became a confusing blur. For example, It’d seem like a character was down the the steps… but all of a sudden they’re being thrown across the first floor… but I thought they were walking down the steps already? the description was a little confusing and it didn’t really connect & wasn’t coherent . Maybe that was on purpose because it was supposed to reflect a stressful scene…? Regardless, it was incoherent. In most of the action scenes, I had to disregard the writing and make up things to make it make sense. I love your writing and I love all of your characters & books; however, these action scenes were confusing when it comes to character positioning.
You’re amazing, I’m sorry. I’m still reading your books because they’re awesome. And I don’t mean to be harsh or to criticize, I guess I just wanted to let you know what I thought.
- Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2020This book absolutely delivers! If you're looking for a fantasy filled with magic, a powerhouse of characters, daemons, dragons, ice, violence, and a compelling story, look no further.
If you're looking to return to Emaneska, this isn't the books you remember. The magic is bigger, with more complex spells seamlessly threaded into combat. The mythos and fantastic creatures are more plentiful, with daemons and dragons aplenty. Old characters make an appearance without taking away from this being a great stand alone trilogy! Mithrid is an awesome new mc, who'se a blast to follow. Overall, if you're a fan of The Written, then this is a must read!
- Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2023Wonderful story. Worth every second of reading it. I would Highly recommend this book to anyone that believes in fantasy.
Top reviews from other countries
- HelenRPReviewed in the United Kingdom on July 17, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible!
I have just finished reading The Forever King by Ben Galley and I cannot believe I have only just come across his works.
The Forever King is the first in The Scalussen Chronicles and is set in the same universe as his Emaneska series, which I haven’t read yet. Although, I presume, a lot of the characters in this book have also come from the previous series, it is not necessary to have read them as Galley does such a good job of setting this story up on its own two feet and filling in enough of the back story to make you love (or hate) those characters in this setting.
It follows Mithrid, a young, head strong girl who has grown up on the cliffs and knows little of the wider world…that is until a magic book washes up on the beach. The action starts almost instantly and I was catapulted into this excellently depicted world by the sheer force of it, just as MIthrid is thrown into the war between the Arka Empire and the Outlaw King. She joins the rebels fighting for freedom as they head north to Scalussen with the promise of fulfilling her revenge.
This book has it all, a strong female lead, engaging characters, dragons, mages, magic and more than enough action to ensure you never want to put it down. And the ending...oh my goodness! Just…go and read it please! (This is also where I imagine those who have read the previous series and are more acquainted with some of the characters would really have been dealt a blow to the heart at one particular moment. I know I welled up…I definitely shouted at my kindle, and I believe had I read the previous books prior to this one I may have bawled my eyes out.)
I will most definitely be going back and reading the Emaneska series (I have my eye on the illustrated editions which will be coming out soon) and continuing on with the Scalussen Chronicles.
I think I finally have another favourite author to add to my shelves.
- Tina BReviewed in Canada on July 10, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars An enchanting, exciting, action-filled story with an interesting world and fun characters!
This book does not feel 600 pages long!
As someone who doesn’t tend to enjoy the descriptive nature of fantasy, Galley does a great job balancing this aspect with interesting details - I never felt like the scenery was described unnecessarily or for padding. The battle/action scenes are executed with finesse - they move quickly and I enjoyed how his heroes didn’t spend time bemoaning their taking someone’s life mid-fight. They enjoy using their powers/techniques and I found that realistic.
While the other characters are interesting, Mithrid really stole the show for me. A firecracker of a young woman with no tolerance for bullsh*t, her stubbornness, bravery, and sheer audacity made me adore her instantly (and usually I’m not fond of stories featuring teenagers). Her sections were engrossing and it was wonderful to follow her. The subtle LGBTQ+ rep was a nice surprise too, especially in a novel where a love story is definitely not a subplot.
I adored all the fantastical elements. The magic concept was very fun. The bookships, daemons, and minotaurs were awesome.
One of my favourite aspects was how gender was handled. Unlike a lot of European-based fantasy, we aren’t given a society where we have one or two token women warriors or there is a strong princess or wizardess. This novel presupposes that women are indeed 50% of the population and are just as likely to be warriors, mages, generals, and blacksmiths as the men. Honestly, EVERY fantasy writer should take note.
There were a few things that kept it from being perfect for me. Because this takes place in the world of a previous series, I did feel like I was missing something when it came to the older main characters. While I never was lost plot-wise, I sometimes felt like the new girlfriend at a party with people who have known one another for ten years.
Still, it’s an engrossing, exciting book and I look forward to the second one!
Highly recommended to those who like dark(er) epic fantasy with lots of battles, really fun characters, an amazing amount of gender parity, and a rich fantasy world.
- Reader in EssenReviewed in Germany on July 15, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Rebel against the empire? Farden knows what to do.
This first book of a new series in Galley's world Emaneska features well known characters from the previous series but adds a new heroine, Mithrid, with her own specialty to the mix.
The book opens with an attack on a small coastal settlement following a battle between the Arka empire‘s ships with the Outlaw King‘s ships. Dressed as rebels, the Arka attempts to quietly gather people skilled with magic for their cause while condemning the use of magic at the same time.
Here we meet Mithrid, a teen who has already lost her mother and loses most everything else in the course of the battle. Events bring her to the core of the Outlaw King‘s realm and the eventual clash between the parties.
Follow Mithrid and Farden through the twists and turns of this compelling book to its spectacular end. You will learn of new magic, witness the new depths of inhumane treatment and the moral dilemmas offered to both main characters. You will also fear for the lives of many characters great and small along the way.
If you enjoy fantasy with great world-building and innovative ideas and combinations, you will love The Scalussen Chronicles. If you like to root for the underdog or the fiery rebels, you will like it too. If you like pithy quips and humour despite a bit of Gore and a Good Dose of Battle, you will also like the Forever King. I cannot wait to see where the next book takes me.
- VictorReviewed in the United Kingdom on November 22, 2022
4.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Read
Ben Galley does it again. This was an excellent, engaging read and I enjoyed every last bit of it. I can't wait to read the second book in this series
- daniel stevensReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 1, 2020
5.0 out of 5 stars Here we go again on another amazing journey.
The Forever King takes you back to the world of Emaneska.
The book is set twenty years after the events of Dead stars. And a lot happened in those twenty years. It is nice to go back to Emaneska as there are plenty of characters from the first four books. It is like you are going back and seeing old friends as well as making new ones.
Ben Galley does an amazing job in bring you back to Emaneska.
It has everything that you could want from, magic, Vampires, Werewolves, Minotaurs and the beloved Dragons. The flow of the book is brilliant. It is fast paced when it needs to be; like battle scenes and slows down when there are more intimate moments between the characters.
Ben Gally’s skilled writing has made it so you do not have to have read the first four books and this book also works as a standalone, however I think it would be a good place to start so you will also get the feeling of meeting old friends which adds extra emotion to the story.
This is definitely worth it. so, what are you waiting for buy this book and travel to Emaneska you will not be sorry!