The Death King

Death, Book 1

By: Penelope Barsetti

Narrated by: Michael Ferraiuolo, Ramona Master

I was fifteen when the Death King came for us.

With a mighty black dragon and the ability to command the dead, he raised an army of our fallen soldiers to fight for him—and conquered us in the night. My father, King Laurier of Scorpion Valley, couldn’t stop him. I tried to flee but came face to face with the man in black armor, the man who looked more like a god than a human. Instead of killing me, he chose to show me mercy… but it didn’t feel like mercy.

Not when the next ten years of my life are spent as a slave in the Arid Sands, digging for Black Diamonds from sunrise to sunset. I'm also the personal slave of General Titan—a man who has grown obsessed with me. The work under the hot sun is unbearable—but I prefer it to his company any day. I’ve never tried to escape because there’s nowhere to run in the desert, but all of that changes when I hear the news—that the Death King is coming.

I sneak out in the middle of the night to steal his dragon, but that backfires in my face—because you can’t steal a dragon. Khazmuda is no mindless beast. He can speak directly into my mind and hear my thoughts in return. The Death King is about to kill me, but Khazmuda changes his mind—because I have the gift.

The ability to speak with dragons.

The Death King spares my life once again and takes me back to his castle. He has no idea who I am, has no idea what he did to my family ten years ago. He asks me to fight for his cause—but he won’t tell me exactly what that cause is. And then he tells me he wants more from me… desires me more than any other because, like him, I have the gift.

I can’t deny he’s the most handsome man I’ve ever seen, with eyes black like midnight, a jawline as sharp as his dragon’s talons, the height of a mountain, and shoulders as broad as a stream. But no amount of attraction will ever change the fact that he destroyed my life. The answer is no—and it’ll always be no.

But the Death King doesn’t accept that answer.

This book contains dark themes with subject matter that may be difficult for some listeners.

©2024 Penelope Barsetti (P)2024 Dreamscape Media

Yep

I honestly picked this because it sounded good and had dragons in it. the narrators both did a fantastic job. I absolutely fell in love with the characters. I was rooting for them, and crying for them. ( literally) I can't pick a favorite from the series. I couldn't be more happy with spending my credits on this author.
checking out her other audible books as a follow on...

previous reviews not completely accurate....

I almost turned this series down because someone hDlad mentioned it was similar to bad blood, which I had just read before this series. Not to say there was anything wrong with that series.....I liked it. But I didn't want to continue with something identical in cass I would loose interest. I will say some of the issues that reviewers have mentioned about consent aren't wrong however this is a fictional book and trigger warnings are present for a reason. If it's something you find completely uncomfortable, its best to just move on even though its very minimal compared to some of these dark romance books. Once you get past book 1, the rest of the series really great and makes the issues book 1 lays out for you a little more understanding or " accepting" to and extent. Overall, this series brought out many emotions. I don't normally do reviews nor would the stories really resonate with me. I new after book 2, I would have to give my review to hopefully offset some of these others that have been posted. It's worth the read and then some.....

Good book

It was a good book, fast pace and good romance. The MMC is a little annoying but the dragons compensate immensely. The male’s voice could be a little deeper, I didn’t feel like it matched the character.

The story has potential

This could have been good if the romance and spice was done right.
But the spice was not spicy, it was more a man’s fantasy to justify SA.
It’s was gross.
The mfc explained perfectly what SA victims felt with her internal monologue. Maybe some Stockholm Syndrome? The mmc’s mindset on the mfc was confusing. I didn’t care for him. Personality was dry.
Eventually the plot seemed like it was forgotten and it’s all about him trying to convince her to sleep with him. There’s no passion, just confused obsession. lust because she’s pretty. Their enemy’s to lovers banter was flat. The mfc is a fighter and I liked her. The female voice actor was a little over dramatic in some areas in my opinion, but overall was good. Fiery like the character. The male voice actor was dry like the character so I guess he did a good job too.
It eventually moves on with the story.
Definitely some parts throughout the book that needed editing.

Loved it

This is a great story and I can’t wait for the rest of the tail. What will happen when they meet again? Will the general catch up to her and what will happen then?

A little familiar

I listened to this and read book 2. It's starting to sound like a mix of the FUSE series by another author and the Dirty Blood series. Still good overall, just hope to see more differences in the future books.

Hidden gem

Worth a read!! This is a really good read or listen. Penelope is a great story teller. I started and couldn't stop. Narration was great.
There are some graphic spicy scenes (read trigger warnings) The spice between talon and calista was just enough without overwhelming the whole story. Could make a few movies from this one.

Good!

My only complaint is the casting for the male narrator. The story is good, the characters are developed, I enjoy the writing style…I’m surprised. I usually don’t give over 4 stars to anyone.

Would have been 5 stars, but…

The story is great. Totally new idea, not the same old genre plot regurgitated. I like the characters and the world building, etc. I’ve even gone on to read the next couple books. But there was one big problem I had with this book that almost caused me to set it aside: when first getting to know the MMC, I really questioned the author and character’s understanding of CONSENT. And especially after what the MFC had been through in the slave camp, it is very unrealistic that she would react the way she does and would accept the MMC at all. The author doesn’t understand trauma. But considering the books that have inspired the author’s pen name, and her choice of male narrator, it shouldn’t be surprising. This issue alone costs this book an overall 2 star loss in rating from me. This day and age, the author should know better.

But the plot and MFC were compelling enough for me to keep listening and eventually the issue ceased (even if unbelievable), and I got lost in the story. I just want the author to learn from this and not repeat it in her future writing.

Little plot lot of sex

Overall, the store was pretty good. I like the characters I think the dynamic between the two main leads were a little bit weird but another interesting way.