Reading this during coronation weekend is probably the best time that I could have chosen for this book. It was a fairly enjoyable read overall, and one of the few thrillers where I’ve actually managed to guess a majority of the twists (whether that’s a good or a bad thing is up to you, but I didn’t mind it honestly), although it’s not an immediate favorite. While I didn’t mind the characters or relationships, I wish they’d gotten more development, especially with this being sold as a romantic thriller. Overall, I enjoyed the general concept but I felt like it could’ve been more exciting, but as a casual read I think it’s a pretty fun one with some good commentary to check out.

THE KING IS DEAD is pitched as a romantic fantasy, but I honestly think that it might be the strongest when James, our main character, is dealing with his grief and discovering what it means to be king, not trying to find a blackmailer or falling in love with a guy (and honestly the chemistry in both cases was pretty lacking and never really got to develop). I felt for James, both as a young teenager who’d just lost his dad, and as a new king in a country that didn’t necessarily want him. The plot is interesting, but it ultimately falls short of what it’s trying to sell, when the more contemporary coming-of-age elements were the shining star.

The thing for me with this book was that the main things it was selling didn’t ever really grab me. I initially rooted for James and his boyfriend, but we never really got to see them or any future love interests develop, so it was hard to ever feel like I really cared. The mystery/thriller element fared a bit better, and I was honestly pretty fine with not being terribly surprised with the twists throughout, and I appreciate some of the complexity that went into all of it, but it never had me on the edge of my seat.

Despite any complaints, I would say I enjoyed reading the book the majority of the time. It was a pretty easy and quick read, and even if I wasn’t exactly waiting with bated breath, it was hard to stop myself from reading once I got into it. If you want something contemporary with some slight elements of a romantic thriller, then I’d recommend it!

This book is fantastic!
The only thing I read before starting was “queer king.” That was all I needed to sell me so I went in mostly blind!

I was expecting a forbidden romance story and ended up with so much more.
You get a certain amount of romance but I would file this more as a mystery/suspense novel.

There are plenty of twists and turns. Nothing is predictable. There were several times when I thought “oh okay I know what’s happening I guess that’s fine,” only to have the rug ripped out from under me for a different reveal.

The King Is Dead is a fun subversion on a monarchy drama that I would definitely recommend ☺️

An interesting take on what happens when you become king. Also a great mystery. This takes you on a journey and will make you stay up late trying to find out what happens next. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
Actual rating: 3.75 stars (rounded up to 4)
It took me a little bit of time to get into the story, but once I did I was hooked and couldn’t put it down! I love reading stories about teenage royals and this one did not disappoint. The only thing I would change is the ending. I don’t think there was enough of a resolution after the big plot twist/reveal, and I would have liked to know what happens next with the characters.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a good and realistic spin on royalty. In ways I saw the twist coming and in ways I didn’t but that’s okay. Would definitely read again and am interested in what the author has coming out in the future.

This book was a good mystery, and I liked the way that the author acknowledged that there were people upset about the changes in the monarchy and the very existence of that monarchy. However, it was a bit too predictable and some of the characters felt a bit flat

Parent’s guide:
Sex & Nudity: mild (references to sex—all closed door. References to affair. Mention of pregnancy out of wedlock)
Violence & Gore: mild (attempted murder, kidnapping, person at gunpoint)
Profanity: mild
Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking: mild (underage drinking at party)
Frightening & Intense Scenes: moderate (threats, kidnapping, attempted murder, bomb threat, homophobic comments, racism, stalking)

I love this universe and if there isn’t a sequel to this book I will be devastated. The characters, the plot, the intrigue. I literally sat down and read the book in essentially one sitting.

James and his family are still grieving the death of their father, the King, as James is expected to rise to the throne. However, as the first Black king there is a lot of pressure on him even though he is only 17. When the beginning of his kingship is immediately surrounded in scandal, he has to try to repair the trust of the people. With someone from his inner circle releasing secrets, who can he trust? When the one person he can trust (his boyfriend) goes missing, even that trust seems misplaced.

You know it’s crazy when the worst secret isn’t even that the first Black king is gay, since that’s just the beginning of the campaign of a reporter to take down His Majesty James III. When James starts to get threatening notes in his personal space on top of everything, and all his secrets slowly are slowly revealed, the new King has to find out who he can trust and where he is safe.

There are some really good plot twists in this book. The ending of this book had so many good revelations and surprises. Looking back through the book, the set up for the plot twists is done excellently.

I absolutely loved this book! It's a much needed version of royalty books that often lack any kind of diversity. The mystery and suspense kept me reading as quickly as possible and the complex characters provided another layer of intrigue and had me second guessing everyone's actions and decisions. This book does not shy away from topics such as racism, homophobia, and class structure but does so with empathy keeps everything grounded in reality. Dean has an amazing writing style that transports readers into a new version of the British monarchy filled with secrets, deception, and mystery and I have already been recommending this book to everyone who loves royalty and YA. This is going to be one of my top books of 2023.

Actual rating 3.5 stars.

Sometimes I find it really hard to rate a book, and The King is Dead is one of them. A lot of my friends had already read it and almost unanimously gave it three stars. Their conclusion: a nice story, but … a bit boring and a rushed ending, a fun read but off pacing, a solid book but lacking subtlety, you name it. And I can understand them all. And still …

Imagine being seventeen and losing your dad. Imagine being the Crown Prince of England. Imagine being the Black Crown Prince of England. Imagine being the closeted gay Black Crown Prince of England. Who also lost his dad and is still seventeen.

Imagine your boyfriend disappearing. Imagine another boy who you had a crush on for a long time, showing interest. Imagine being told that you can trust no one. Not even your twin, other family members, and dear friends. And you’re still seventeen.

Based on the above, I expected a powerful contemporary romance mystery story. This book definitely has impressive elements, and some are really well done, like how the British paparazzi treated a Black Crown Prince and King, and saw not a King but Black skin and a Black boy. The mystery had quite a few twists. But this story, even though it’s compared to Ace of Spades, doesn’t have the power and dynamic of that one. The impressive moments were too little and I guessed quite a few plot twists. And still …

I decided not to overthink what could have been but just go with the flow. And because of that, I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked the descriptive and poetic writing and rooted for James, the closeted Black seventeen-year-old King who could trust nobody. I even understood why James got involved with another boy. Therefore I decided to round my 3.5 star rating up instead of down.