History YMMV / TheHourOfTheDragon

* StrangledByTheRedString: The novel ends with Conan rather abruptly declaring that he will marry Zenobia, even though there has been no mention of her after she [[spoiler:saved him from the Nemedian dungeon]], and no indication that he has any stronger feelings for her than for any of his previous [[GirlOfTheWeek girls of the week]]. Zenobia doesn't even appear on-page before the story ends.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: Conan's encounter with Akivasha in the Stygian catacombs. She is revealed to be an ancient vampire, and a big chunk of the chapter is devoted to her power and immortality... then Conan just runs from her, escaping back into the catacombs. While Conan then comes across [[spoiler:the priests who have the Heart of Ahriman]], she plays no part in helping him find them, and the progression of the plot would be completely identical if her scene were completely cut out.
** No doubt the publishers wanted a little more {{Fanservice}} since neither Zenobia nor Albiona stick around for long.

** No doubt the publishers wanted a little more {{Fanservice}} since Zenobia is written out fairly early.

* HarsherInHindsight: While the plot looks like a FantasyConflictCounterpart of UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo, it was written in 1934 (''i.e.'' Hitler was already in charge but he hadn't yet gathered all the political power and started the escalation which led to the war.)

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: Conan's encounter with Akivasha in the Stygian catacombs. She is revealed to be an ancient vampire, and a big chunk of the chapter is devoted to her power and immortality... then Conan just runs from her, escaping back into the catacombs. While Conan then comes across [[spoiler:the priests who have the Heart of Ahriman]], she plays no part in helping him find them, and the progression of the plot would be completely identical if her scene was completely cut out.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: Conan's encounter with Akivasha.

* HarsherInHindsight: While the plot looks like a FantasyConflictCounterpart of UsefulNotes/WorldWarTwo, it has been written in 1934 (''i.e.'' Hitler was already in charge but he hadn't yet gathered all the political power and started the escalation which led to the war.)

** [[TheCaligula Valerius]], upon taking the throne of Aquilonia from Conan thanks to Xaltotun, soon comes to the realization he is expendable to his allies. In a rage, Valerius decides to ruin Aquilonia beyond all hope of repair. Valerius taxes the people to starvation, beyond hope of paying and sells those who cannot meet the tax into slavery while allowing his soldiers to rape, brutalize and kill innocent civilians at will. Succumbing to [[DeadlyDecadentCourt debauchery]], Valerius enacts purges of those he believes are disloyal to him, even sentencing the Countess of Albiona to death when she refuses to become his concubine.

** [[TheCaligula Valerius]], upon taking the throne of Aquilonia from Conan thanks to the aforementioned Xaltotun, soon comes to the realization he is expendable to his allies. In a rage, Valerius decides to ruin Aquilonia beyond all hope of repair. Valerius taxes the people to starvation, beyond hope of paying and sells those who cannot meet the tax into slavery while allowing his soldiers to rape, brutalize and kill innocent civilians at will. Succumbing to [[DeadlyDecadentCourt debauchery]], Valerius enacts purges of those he believes are disloyal to him, even sentencing the Countess of Albiona to death when she refuses to become his concubine.

* HarsherInHindsight: While the plot looks like a FantasyConflictCounterpart of UsefulNotes/WorlWarTwo, it has been written in 1934 (''i.e.'' Hitler was already in charge but he hadn't yet gathered all the political power and started the escalation which led to the war.)

** [[TheCaligula Valerius]], upon taking the throne of Aquilonia from Conan thanks to the aforementioned Xaltotun, soon comes to the realization he is expendable to his allies. In a rage, Valerius decides to ruin Aquilonia beyond all hope of repair. Valerius taxes the people to starvation, beyond hope of paying and sells those who cannot meet the tax into slavery while allowing his soldiers to rape, brutalize and kill innocent civilians at will. Succumbing to [[DeadlyDecadentCourt debauchery]], Valerius enacts purges of those he believes are disloyal to him, even sentencing the Countess of Albiona to death when she refuses to become his concubine.

* CompleteMonster: Valerius, after usurping Conan's throne via the help of an evil wizard, realizes that once his allies have no more use for him, he'll be disposed of and replaced by a different king. He then decides to ruin the kingdom out of spite. He heavily taxes his subjects, and those who cannot pay are sold into slavery. He allows his soldiers to brutalize the common people and spends all of the kingdom's money on debauchery and he sentences the Countess Albiona to death by beheading when she refuses to become his lover.

* CompleteMonster: Valerius, after usurping Conan's throne via the help of an evil wizard, realizes that once his allies have no more use for him, he'll be disposed of and replaced by a different king. He then decides to ruin the kingdom out of spite. He heavily taxes his subjects, and those who cannot pay are sold into slavery. He allows his soldiers to brutalize the common people and spends all of the kingdom's money on debauchery. Oh, and he sentences the Countess Albiona to death by beheading when she refuses to become his lover.

* CompleteMonster: Valerius. After usurping Conan's throne via the help of an evil wizard, Valerius realizes that once his allies have no more use for him, he'll be disposed of and replaced by a different king. He then decides to ruin the kingdom out of spite. He heavily taxes his subjects, and those who cannot pay are sold into slavery. He allows his soldiers to brutalize the common people and spends all of the kingdom's money on debauchery. Oh, and he sentences the Countess Albiona to death by beheading when she refuses to become his lover.

** What is sad, that it is the ''same Valerius'' from ''A Witch Shall Be Born'' story. After that event, and Queen Taramis' rejection of him, [[FallenHero he]] [[HeroicBSOD goes]] [[StartOfDarkness really]] [[SlowlySlippingIntoEvil dark.]]

** What is sad, that it is the ''same Valerius'' from ''A Witch Shall Be Born'' story. After that event, and Queen Taramis' rejection of him, [[FallenHero he]] [[HeroicBSOD goes]] [[StartOfDarkness really]] [[SlowlySlippingInEvil dark.]]

** What is sad, that it is the ''same Valerius'' from ''A Witch Shall Be Born'' story. After that event, and Queen Taramis' rejection of him, [[FallenHero he]] [[HeroicBSOD goes]] [[StartOfDarkness really]] [[SlowlySlippingInTheEvil dark.]]

** What is sad, that it is the ''same Valerius'' from ''A Witch Shall Be Born'' story. After that event, and Queen Taramis' rejection of him, [[FallenHero he]] [[HeroBSOD goes]] [[StartOfDarkness really]] [[SlowlySlippingInTheEvil dark.]]

* CompleteMonster: Valerius. After usurping Conan's throne via the help of an evil wizard, Valerius realizes that once his allies have no more use for him, he'll be disposed of and replaced by a different king. He then decides to ruin the kingdom out of spite. He heavily taxes his subjects, and those who cannot pay are sold into slavery. He allows his soldiers to brutalize the common people and spends all of the kingdom's money on debauchery. Oh, and he sentences the Countess Albiona to death by beheading when she refuses to become his lover.

* CompleteMonster: Valerius, who wanted to ruin the kingdom of Aquilonia just to spite his allies and Conan.