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 setup and final act, it falters in the middle, where the balance between plot and sexual tension skews too heavily toward the latter, leaving me craving a more gradual, slow-burn development.

The Death King ♦ Penelope Barsetti - A Review

Opinion

The opening of the story sets a strong foundation. Barsetti introduces me to the Death King, a fearsome conqueror with the ability to raise the dead and command a mighty black dragon, Khazmuda. Our protagonist, a young woman whose life has been shattered by the Death King’s conquest of her kingdom, is a sympathetic and complex character. The world-building is rich and detailed, and the early tension between the two main characters feels appropriately intense and intriguing. This part of the book delivers important insights into the protagonists’ backgrounds, giving me the necessary depth to invest in their stories.

However, after the first third of the book, things begin to unravel. As the narrative shifts from the conflict and power dynamics to a romantic-erotic focus, the pacing suffers. The relationship between the female protagonist and the Death King moves too quickly into the realm of physical attraction, given her traumatic past. For a character who has spent a decade as a slave, subjected to harsh treatment and suffering under General Titan’s obsessive control, her sudden immersion into a sexual dynamic with the Death King feels abrupt and jarring. The transition from hatred and fear to lust happens too fast to feel natural, and the intensity of their interactions overshadows the plot. A slow burn romance, one that builds over the course of the entire book and the next installments, would have provided a more organic evolution of their relationship.

The explicit scenes, while well-written for those seeking a more erotic twist, feel out of place given the tone of the story’s beginning. They detract from the character’s journey, especially considering her history of trauma, which is barely addressed during these moments. It’s as though the story loses its footing, becoming too eager to delve into sexual tension without giving the characters—and by extension, me—the emotional space needed to make that tension feel earned or believable.

Thankfully, the last third of the book brings the story back on track. The re-emergence of plot, action, and intrigue helped me to re-engage. The stakes are raised, and the pacing picks up as Barsetti reintroduces the larger narrative of the Death King’s mysterious cause and the protagonist’s involvement in it. The political and magical complexities hinted at in the beginning resurface, offering a glimpse into the wider world and the unfolding conflict. This strong finish salvages much of the earlier missteps and builds anticipation for the next installment in the series.

Conclusion

As my first audiobook ARC, The Death King was a mixed but overall enjoyable experience. While the middle portion left me frustrated, the intriguing world-building and character dynamics in the opening and closing acts kept me interested. I’m hopeful that the second volume will deliver more of a slow-burn romance and plot development that this one promised but struggled to maintain. Fans of dark fantasy with a taste for the erotic may find much to enjoy here, but those looking for a more nuanced political and romantic progression might find it uneven.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This review was first published at The Art of Reading.

A review by roxxie The Death King by Penelope Barsetti

Review: "The Death King" by Penelope Barsetti — 3.5 stars

The Death King ♦ Penelope Barsetti - A Review

A review by roxxie
The Death King by Penelope Barsetti