At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied. Martha Wells was one of the most popular authors we published in Black Gate. WITCH KING is Martha Wells’s first new fantasy in over a decade, drawing together her signature ability to create characters we adore and identify with, alongside breathtaking action and adventure, and the wit and charm we’ve come to expect from one of the leading writers of her generation. Witch King by Martha Wells (Tor.com, May 30, 2023). But why was Kai imprisoned in the first place? What has changed in the world since his assassination? And why does the Rising World Coalition appear to be growing in influence? Kai will need to pull his allies close and draw on all his pain magic if he is to answer even the least of these questions. After being murdered, his consciousness dormant and unaware of the passing of time while confined in an elaborate water trap, Kai wakes to find a lesser mage attempting to harness Kai’s magic to his own advantage. I'm the demon.' Kai's having a long day in Martha Wells' WITCH KING. Readers looking for more Murderbot may be disappointed, but fantasy readers looking for new worlds and characters to explore will be enthralled.A LibraryReads Pick! From the breakout SFF superstar author of Murderbot comes a remarkable story of power and friendship, of trust and betrayal, and of the families we choose.

VERDICT: After the rousing success of “The Murderbot Diaries,” Wells has returned to her fantasy roots in a tale of revolt, rebellion, and betrayal. The world is wide-open, its peoples are not the usual fantasy suspects, and the power of both friendship and heartbreak pushes the story on at a breathless pace. His betrayal is an attempt to undo that work, and Kai must figure out whom he needs to kill this time around.

Kai and his dearest companions saved their world from an all-consuming conqueror. After all, Kai is the Witch King, and he can’t let anyone stand in the way of protecting his loved ones. He’ll have to recover his companions, retrace his steps, both in the past and in the present, and consume the life energy of anyone who gets in his way. “Demon Prince Kai awakens in his own tomb, alone and unable to remember how he got there, although he knows he must have been betrayed.