While it took me a little while to get acclimated to the world of the book, I soon found myself really interested in what was going to happen and how the two timelines would intertwine. I really felt for Kai as he dealt over and over with betrayal and the world he was stuck in forever. I'm very interested in seeing where the author takes the story in the future.

A fantastic book I read some time ago. Martha Wells is a powerhouse in her field and that reflects in Witch King, as it reflects in all her work.

A wonderfully fresh remix of several folk tales and legends, the narrator experience is completely unique.

Martha Wells has become one of my favorite authors. I loved her “Raksura” series and was bowled over by her “Murderbot” novellas. I thought I would follow her across genres. Witch King soars in terms of world-building imagination, but falls short in dramatic shaping and plot structure.

Witch King opens with a mystery as demon Kai (not “a” demon, THE demon) wakes up in captivity with a mage attempting to seize control of his magic. His immediate goal is to free himself and locate his companions. This proves to be both easier and far more challenging than it appears on the surface. For one thing, Kai’s last (dead) host body has been murdered and he’s in another, quite unfamiliar (and much less fit) body; for another, he has no idea how much time has elapsed since he’s been unconscious (a lot), what political changes are afoot in the world, and where the wife of his closest ally has disappeared to.

So far, so good, and Wells does a superb job in introducing complex characters, an unusual system of magic, and millennia of history and world-building without dumping expository lumps on the reader.

Wells then shifts to the distant past when Kai inhabited a volunteer body and lived in a rich, joyful, and emotionally warm culture. From here, the two timelines alternate chapters. A few characters, such as Kai who is almost immortal, appear throughout, but many others (many, many others) are specific only to one. Still more are alive and active in the past but distant memories in the present. Because the focus is on Kai and a few others who are present in both times, I had to search for other clues as to where and when I was.

Both storylines are filled with action and wonderful characters, situations, and relationships. Each one would be more than enough for a novel in itself. Some readers will love the weaving back and forth and all the myriad ways the past informs and shapes the present. I was one of them, but only at first. As the book went on, however, I found it increasingly frustrating trying to orient myself—which time is this? what’s been going on? who’s still alive? and, most importantly, what is the present goal or threat for the protagonist? There didn’t seem to be a single plot arc, a building dramatic tension that carried through in both past and present. It didn’t help that my favorite character from the past is long since dead in the present. Within each timeline, unrelated problems arise and are resolved. I could never figure out what the overall “Big Bad” was, especially after one candidate villain after another is eliminated. The “Big Bad” at the end seemed to come out of nowhere. Mark Twain famously said that life is “one damned thing after another.” Fiction must play by a different set of rules.

Witch King is hugely ambitious, filled with imaginative elements, compelling personal drama, and a huge landscape across time as well as space. Wells handles these elements with the effortless skill of a seasoned professional, but fails to shape them into a single dramatic story.

I’m giving a 3 star just b/c I see its potential and while I did enjoy the unique magic system, I really wasn’t invested in the story or the characters. I DNFed at 30%.

As someone who tremendously enjoyed The Murderbot Diaries, Martha Wells’ fantasy departure was something I was greatly looking forward to. The Witch King brought such refreshing, engaging points of view, and built a world that I fell in love with just as much as the other she built in Murderbot!

⭐️⭐️ | Disappointing and Dragged-Out Adventure

I’ve loved Martha Wells’ books in the past, but Witch King just didn’t deliver for me. While the main character had a lot of charm—a soft golden retriever of a hero disguised as a tough, formidable king—the story itself fell flat.

The character dynamics were enjoyable, but the stakes felt nonexistent. The protagonist seemed to breeze through challenges without any real consequences, which made it hard to stay invested. On top of that, the pacing dragged terribly in the middle. What started as a promising adventure quickly lost steam, and by the end, I was struggling to care about the outcome.

Wells has written some fantastic stories, but Witch King felt lackluster in comparison. If you’re a die-hard fan, it might be worth checking out, but otherwise, this one missed the mark.

⭐️⭐️ | Disappointing and Dragged-Out Adventure

I’ve loved Martha Wells’ books in the past, but Witch King just didn’t deliver for me. While the main character had a lot of charm—a soft golden retriever of a hero disguised as a tough, formidable king—the story itself fell flat.

The character dynamics were enjoyable, but the stakes felt nonexistent. The protagonist seemed to breeze through challenges without any real consequences, which made it hard to stay invested. On top of that, the pacing dragged terribly in the middle. What started as a promising adventure quickly lost steam, and by the end, I was struggling to care about the outcome.

Wells has written some fantastic stories, but Witch King felt lackluster in comparison. If you’re a die-hard fan, it might be worth checking out, but otherwise, this one missed the mark.

I was so excited to pick up a book by Martha Wells and the muderbot series on my repeat list, but this book was not it. I picked up this book 5 separate times but could not finish it. It just didn't work for me.

I want to thank the publisher for the ebook.

This has a very slow start, but the pay off was worth it. The writing is seamless and the world is very unique.

Thank you for my copy!

This book is a captivating and immersive read that hooks you from the first page. The writing is beautifully crafted, with vivid descriptions and strong character development that makes the story come alive. The plot is well-paced, balancing moments of tension with quieter, reflective scenes that allow the characters to grow. The themes explored are deep and thought-provoking, resonating long after the final page. Whether it's the emotional depth, the twists and turns of the plot, or the unforgettable characters, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys rich, engaging stories. Highly recommended.

I have tried to finish this book for months. I have realized that it is not going to happen. I will be DNFing at 46%. I have loved everything from Martha Wells but never connected with any character in this story. I am a very character-driven reader, so it is nearly impossible to enjoy a story if I do not care about the characters.

I will note that I also did not care for the narrator and tried the print alone, thinking that would help, but it didn't.

Thank you to Tor Publishing and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book caught me by surprise...in a fantastic way!! Loved the characters and the setting. So unique.

I really enjoyed this one, even though it took me forever to get through it on audio. Part of that was being sick and constantly nodding off while listening and then having to rewind, but even when I wasn't falling asleep I had to rewind a lot to figure out what was going on. The "past" tags at the beginning of those sections helped, but it would have also helped to have a "present day" tag for when the storyline switched back.

The dual storylines were intriguing and kept me hooked throughout as the tension slowly ratcheted up in both as the story progressed. It was interesting how involved I was in a story that didn't have a clear beginning-middle-end progression. Even the final end felt more like a pausing point.

I really enjoyed the characters (despite having trouble telling a few of the less-important ones apart) and the obvious affection between them. Even though they were rebels and killers it was clear that they cared a lot about the people around them and they were easy to sympathize with.

The audiobook narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life and giving them easily distinguishable voices that were very expressive.

*Thanks to Tor Books for providing an early copy for review.

Martha Wells’ “Witch King” is a masterful blend of fantasy, political intrigue, and complex character development that captivates from the first page. The story follows Kai, a demon prince who navigates a richly layered world of shifting alliances, ancient magic, and deep-rooted betrayals. Wells’ ability to craft intricate, immersive settings is on full display here, pulling readers into a universe that feels both vast and deeply personal.

Kai is a refreshingly unique protagonist, with depth and emotional resonance that make him feel real despite his supernatural origins. Wells explores themes of power, identity, and loyalty in nuanced ways, keeping readers engaged through a plot full of surprises and tension. Her writing is sharp, her dialogue witty, and the pacing expertly managed, balancing action with quieter, reflective moments. Fans of fantasy looking for a fresh, thought-provoking read will find Witch King a standout addition to the genre.

I could not get into this book at all. I've tried too many times since I received it. Will be happy to review the 40 percent or so I was able to get through but that doesn't seem fair! Let me know if that's what you'd like!

From the first page Wells draws you in to an intriguing and complex world, feeding you bits of information a little at a time. The pacing was excellent and I never found myself confused about the past-to-present jumps that Wells was making. I genuinely hope she will return to these characters and the engaging world she’s created here, I’ll be first in line to read that book!

I’m a huge fan of her murderbot series so I wanted to like this look so much more. It was an interesting concept but it he magic system ultimately didn’t make sense. There were also issues with the pacing for me. Sci-fi seems way more her genre than fantasy

I've enjoyed other books by Martha Wells, but this one was a bit too confusing for me! I liked the "bodysnatchers" idea early on, and the writing was great, I just didn't feel connected to any of the characters. Unfortunately I decided to DNF after chapter 4.

It's definitely an unexpected book. It kind of starts in the middle of the story telling two parallel stories at the same time that are connected. The world building is fantastic and you can tell that Martha Wells is a seasoned author. There's no paragraphs full of background information it all seamlessly blends into conversations and thoughts.
From the title I expected some all knowing Witch King, but Kai is everything but that. He does have a lot of power, but since it is limited through water and they are around a lot of that, he's def not almighty. He feels more like a scrambling teenager than demon god.
The story was a little hard to get into because the characters were at home in it and knew so much more than the reader but I got comfortable pretty quickly. I like it when the author doesn't over explain everything, readers are not stupid.
I would definitely read more books in this universe!