Five Broken Blades Summary, Characters and Themes

Five Broken Blades by Mai Corland is a fast-paced fantasy novel that revolves around five unlikely assassins, each driven by their own motives, who are brought together with one goal: to kill the God King Joon, a tyrant who rules with an iron hand. 

In a world of political intrigue, deception, and magical forces, these individuals must navigate shifting alliances, personal betrayals, and the harsh reality that only one can take the crown after Joon’s fall. But as their mission unfolds, darker forces and twisted secrets reveal that their real enemy may be even more powerful than they imagined.

Summary

The story begins in the kingdom of Yusan, where five individuals, all highly skilled in deception, treachery, and murder, are summoned to join forces and assassinate the cruel God King Joon. Each of these assassins has their own reasons for taking up the mission. 

Royo, a strongman, is offered a diamond worth 50,000 mun by Aeri, the long-lost daughter of King Joon, to act as her bodyguard in exchange for helping him free his deceased lover’s father from wrongful imprisonment.

Meanwhile, Euyn, the exiled prince of Yusan, is coerced into joining the plot by his former lover, Mikail, the king’s spymaster. Euyn must kill his own brother, Joon, and reclaim the throne. 

Sora, one of only two surviving poison maidens, is trapped in service to a nobleman, Count Seok, who offers her and her sister freedom if she kills Joon. She sets off with Seok’s son, Tiyung, who is secretly ordered to kill her once she completes the assassination.

As the group converges on the city of Rahway, Royo and Aeri escape an attack by pirates, while Mikail and Euyn barely survive an ambush by mythical birds in the desert. The six eventually meet in Rahway, where they pool their talents and plan the assassination. 

Aeri’s incredible thieving abilities, enhanced by the Amulet of the Dragon Lord, are central to their strategy. Sora’s poisoning skills will also be crucial to their success, and the group forms an uneasy alliance based on their shared goal of killing Joon.

The team travels to Tamneki, but upon arrival, they discover that Dal, their key contact, has died mysteriously, complicating their plans. Despite concerns from some of the group, Mikail insists they proceed with the assassination, driven by his desire for revenge against Joon, who slaughtered his people.

During the Millennial Celebration, the group executes their plan: Aeri steals the king’s Dragon Lord crown, Mikail destroys it, and Sora attempts to poison Joon. However, the assassination fails, and Joon survives. 

All six conspirators are captured and brought before the king, who reveals that he orchestrated the entire plot to test their abilities. Instead of killing them, Joon offers them a new task: to steal a magical ring from his sister, Quilimar, the Queen of Khitan. 

While Tiyung is imprisoned, the remaining five have no choice but to comply with Joon’s demands, though they secretly begin to plot how they might use Quilimar to destroy Joon once and for all.

The novel closes with the assassins forced to stay together, their personal ambitions temporarily set aside as they prepare for an even more dangerous mission. 

However, treachery and betrayal remain ever-present, and the fragile trust between them could collapse at any moment.

Characters

Royo

Royo is introduced as a strongman, a hired hitman who has a personal motive driving him: the wrongful imprisonment of his deceased lover’s father. His character embodies a mix of brute force and deep emotional motivation.

Though he is a man of physical strength and straightforward action, Royo is also introspective, seeking atonement for his past through the payment of 50,000 mun to free the innocent man. His decision to join Aeri on her mission represents both a personal and moral quest, highlighting a depth beyond his physicality.

Royo’s arc emphasizes loyalty and moral conflict, as he must navigate his own goals while becoming embroiled in the greater conspiracy to kill King Joon.

Aeri

Aeri, the long-lost daughter of King Joon, emerges as a pivotal character whose motivations are tied to vengeance and survival. Her royal blood and personal stake in the assassination of Joon drive much of the plot’s tension.

Aeri demonstrates both cunning and mystical power, particularly through her abilities as a thief and her use of the Amulet of the Dragon Lord. Her supernatural skill at stealing unnoticed, combined with her personal connection to the target, positions her as a complex character balancing vengeance against her father and her growing bonds with the group.

Aeri’s portrayal as a secretive, formidable figure who holds a powerful artifact ties her fate not just to the assassination plot but to the larger power dynamics of the world.

Euyn

Euyn, the exiled prince of Yusan and Joon’s brother, is a character steeped in betrayal, guilt, and ambition. As an exiled royal with a painful history, Euyn is burdened by residual feelings for Mikail, his former lover, and the spymaster who contributed to his downfall.

Euyn’s character explores the complex intersections of loyalty, love, and power. His decision to kill his brother is not just motivated by revenge, but also by a desire to reclaim his birthright.

The tension between his love for Mikail and the necessity of betrayal underscores the emotional complexity of his arc. Euyn’s role is integral not only as a potential usurper of the throne but also as a symbol of fractured family ties and the weight of ambition.

Mikail

Mikail, the king’s spymaster and Euyn’s former lover, stands as a figure of cold pragmatism and deep emotional scars. His loyalty to the crown, despite betraying Euyn, makes him a complicated figure whose motivations are rooted in revenge.

Mikail’s family and people were destroyed by King Joon, driving his relentless desire to see the monarch dead. Despite his pragmatic exterior, Mikail’s rekindled relationship with Euyn reveals layers of vulnerability and lingering affection, making him more than just a calculating operative.

His strategic mind and mastery of deception are key to the assassination plot. However, his personal vendettas often cloud his judgment, leading him to manipulate the group toward his ultimate goal of vengeance against Joon.

Sora

Sora is one of the most unique and tragic characters, being one of only two poison maidens in existence. Her talents in assassination by poison, which she uses with lethal precision, are what define her identity and role in the group.

However, Sora’s character is more than just her deadly skills—she is driven by a desire to free herself and her sister Daysum from Count Seok’s control. Sora’s arc is one of reluctant complicity and eventual transformation, as she is initially compelled to follow the orders of her master but gradually begins to forge her own path.

Her journey through the assassination plot also reveals her growing empathy, especially in her interactions with Tiyung, who shows her a side of nobility that contrasts sharply with Seok’s cruelty. Sora’s motivations are deeply personal, and her internal conflict between her sense of duty and her desire for freedom adds layers of complexity to her character.

Tiyung

Tiyung, the son of Count Seok, plays a dual role as both Sora’s companion and her potential executioner. Initially sent to kill Sora after her mission is complete, Tiyung’s character evolves as he reveals unexpected kindness and care toward the poor and vulnerable, which sets him apart from the more ruthless nobles in the story.

His relationship with Sora becomes a key emotional subplot, as his actions challenge Sora’s preconceived notions about nobility and trust. Tiyung’s development from a dutiful son following his father’s cruel orders to a more independent and empathetic individual gives his character a sense of growth and moral complexity, ultimately making him a key figure in the group’s dynamics.

The Group Dynamic

As a group, Royo, Aeri, Euyn, Mikail, Sora, and Tiyung each bring distinct skills and motivations to the assassination plot. Yet, their ability to trust one another is constantly in question.

The theme of betrayal runs deep, not only between individuals but also in their shared mission to kill King Joon. Each member has a personal vendetta or objective that complicates their alliances, and though they may be united by a common enemy, their differing motivations create an underlying tension throughout the story.

Trust is fragile among the five blades. As they face both external threats and internal conflicts, the group’s survival depends on their ability to navigate their deceitful natures.

This complexity culminates in the failed assassination attempt and the revelation that Joon had orchestrated the plot all along. This forces the group to reconsider their loyalties and alliances.

King Joon

Though not a primary point-of-view character, King Joon’s presence looms over the narrative. As the God King of Yusan, his reign is characterized by cruelty and immortality, making him the ultimate target of the group’s assassination plot.

Joon’s control over the nobility and the suffering of the lower classes make him a tyrant in the eyes of the protagonists. Yet, his survival after the assassination attempt reveals a deeper layer to his character.

By masterminding the entire plot, Joon proves himself not only a formidable ruler but also a manipulative tactician who uses the group’s hatred and abilities for his own ends. His request that they steal a magical ring from his sister Quilimar reframes the story from a simple regicide to a larger political and magical conspiracy, positioning Joon as a villain who is always several steps ahead of his enemies.

Themes

The Complexity of Power, Control, and Manipulation in a Corrupt Monarchy

In Five Broken Blades, power is not merely a matter of ruling a kingdom. It is about the manipulation of others, the control of narratives, and the subjugation of personal autonomy.

King Joon’s reign over Yusan is depicted as tyrannical, where his immortal authority allows him to maintain an oppressive grip on both the nobility and the impoverished masses. His control of the kingdom’s resources and the societal hierarchy highlights how power corrupts not only the monarch but also those who seek to dismantle his rule.

This theme is reflected in how Joon manipulates the six protagonists from the shadows, shaping their plans without their knowledge. Even as they conspire to assassinate him, they are being played—puppets in a game orchestrated by the very figure they aim to overthrow.

Joon’s use of the assassination plot to audition the protagonists for a larger mission underscores the manipulative nature of absolute power. Trust is an illusion, and betrayal becomes an instrument of control.

Furthermore, Joon’s ultimate plan to use them to steal the magical ring of Quilimar demonstrates the intricate layers of power dynamics. In this narrative, power is not about overt dominance but the capacity to bend others’ wills, making them agents in their own subjugation.

The Paradox of Justice, Revenge, and Redemption in a World of Broken Moral Codes

The characters in Five Broken Blades grapple with a personal sense of justice, revenge, and redemption. Yet, the lines between these concepts blur in a world governed by corruption and treachery.

Royo, the hired hitman, seeks redemption for past actions through his involvement in the plot to kill Joon. He believes this mission may absolve him of the guilt he carries.

His personal goal of freeing his deceased lover’s father from wrongful imprisonment is rooted in a sense of individual justice. But this is complicated by the greater injustices that permeate the world around him.

Similarly, Euyn’s exile and his desire to reclaim his birthright by killing his brother embody the paradoxical nature of justice in this world. Justice is subjective, contingent on personal motives rather than any objective moral order.

For characters like Sora, freedom is intertwined with her mission to kill Joon. But her freedom is not just about escaping physical bondage; it’s about breaking free from moral compromises.

Five Broken Blades presents a world where justice is not delivered through righteous actions but through the execution of vengeance. Redemption is found not in moral absolution but in the success of personal vendettas.

The Intersection of Loyalty, Betrayal, and Survival in the Formation of Unlikely Alliances

Loyalty and betrayal are intertwined forces that drive the characters’ motivations and relationships. Each of the five blades is versed in deception, complicating the notion of trust.

Loyalty, in this narrative, is born out of necessity rather than genuine attachment. The characters are bound together by their shared goal of killing King Joon, but they each harbor their own agendas.

Mikail and Euyn’s rekindled relationship is tainted by past betrayals, where Mikail’s involvement in Euyn’s exile lingers as an unresolved tension. This personal betrayal mirrors the larger betrayals at play, such as Tiyung’s hidden orders to kill Sora.

The fluidity of loyalty becomes a survival mechanism. Alliances are forged and broken based on shifting tides of personal benefit.

Survival, in this context, is not just physical but emotional and psychological. The characters navigate the treacherous waters of deception, constantly weighing the risks of trusting one another.

Betrayal becomes an inevitable outcome in a world where survival depends on anticipating the next move of both enemies and supposed allies.

The Commodification of Lives and Souls Under a System of Exploitation and Class Stratification

One of the novel’s more subtle but pervasive themes is the commodification of human lives under a regime that thrives on exploitation and class stratification. King Joon’s rule is marked by a stark divide between the nobles, who flourish, and the poor, who are imprisoned, ruined, or sold.

This systemic exploitation is not merely an economic reality but a moral one. Human lives are traded and used as currency for power.

The characters themselves are commodified in different ways. Sora is an indentured poison maiden, Royo is a hired killer whose skills are bought, and Aeri’s powers and lineage make her a valuable asset to the rebellion.

The introduction of laoli, an addictive drug derived from a colonized island, symbolizes the broader theme of exploitation. The drug trade reflects how power and wealth are extracted from the suffering of others.

The commodification of lives reflects the broader societal decay under Joon’s rule. Morality is sacrificed at the altar of profit and power.

The Role of Myth and the Supernatural in Shaping Fate, Free Will, and Identity

Five Broken Blades weaves mythology and supernatural elements into its fabric. These are not mere fantasy tropes but instruments that shape the characters’ fates, identities, and choices.

The inclusion of mythical creatures such as samrocs and the Dragon Lord’s crown points to a world where myth and reality blur. These elements affect how the characters perceive their own agency.

Aeri’s possession of the Amulet of the Dragon Lord serves as a symbol of how magical artifacts are tied to personal identity and fate. These supernatural forces influence the characters’ destinies, despite their considerable personal agency.

Joon’s manipulation of these elements reinforces his godlike status. He rules not only through mortal means but through the manipulation of fate itself.

The task of stealing the ring from Quilimar adds to the sense that the characters’ choices are shaped by forces beyond their understanding. Their identities and fates are entangled in a cosmic game where free will is constantly tested.