The Death King, Penelope Barsetti
The Death King, Penelope Barsetti
List: $34.99 | Sale: $24.50
Club: $17.49

The Death King

Author: Penelope Barsetti

Narrator: Michael Ferraiuolo, Ramona Master

Unabridged: 9 hr 7 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/24/2024


Synopsis

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 readers.

About Penelope Barsetti

Penelope Barsetti is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. As Penelope Sky, she writes contemporary dark romance. Her novels have sold more than seven million copies, and her work has been translated into over a dozen languages. An avid wine drinker, napper, and Netflix junkie, she lives in California with her family, but if she could live anywhere, it would be Florence, Italy.

About Michael Ferraiuolo

Michael Ferraiuolo is a professional voice artist who has recorded over a hundred audiobooks and performs both nationally and internationally on film and radio. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, he is the owner of Iron Works Studios in New York City.

About Ramona Master

Ramona Master is a mom by day and night and a passionate storyteller during school hours. A trained actor, she has worked on stages in Chicago, London, New York, and all over New England. She also teaches theater to children at a performing-arts center. Half Colombian, she is bilingual and has over sixty audiobooks to her credit. Her guilty pleasure is watching any version of Real Housewives.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Brandi on September 26, 2024

I’m so sad to say that I did not enjoy this for the most part. Which was a disappointment because it starts off strong, pulling me into its dark and intense world that evokes Throne of Glass and Fourth Wing vibes. The early chapters promise a gripping storyline full of tension and intrigue, but arou......more

Goodreads review by Helena on October 04, 2024

Apparently I'm the outlier here because this wasn't for me and I'm sad about that! The plot is fine but the style wasn't gripping to me and Calista feels too much like a "Mary sue". She's good at everything, selfless, sassy and wanted by everyone and it was unbelievably boring. DNF @50% PLOT: Calista......more

Goodreads review by Anayah on September 02, 2024

so frustrating So many thoughts, mostly how horrid the MMC is. I’m a fan of dark romantasy so I have a high threshold but this was… I have no words. The MMC left me feeling enraged and disgusted the entire time. The story has so much potential but he’s the biggest a hole and the spicy scenes are 🤢.......more

1.5 Stars So many pet peeves in this book. It started out pretty good and I liked the premise, so I was hoping to really like this series, but so many things bothered me about it that I couldn't even focus on the actual plot. The world building was lackluster and left many details up in the air. Why......more

Goodreads review by RoXXie | The Art of Reading on September 23, 2024

Review: "The Death King" by Penelope Barsetti — 3.5 stars The Death King, the first entry in Penelope Barsetti’s Death series, is an ambitious fantasy novel that blends elements of dark fantasy, romance, and erotica. While the book has plenty of compelling aspects, particularly its captivating se......more