I have absolutely loved Benjamin Dean's other books and this one was no exception. I think this is Benjamin's debut young adult novel and it was so good. I ended up listening to this on audiobook and I flew through it so fast because I was obsessed with it and needed to know what was going to happen.
Honestly I forgot what this book was about before I started it and was happily surprised when I realised it was about royalty.
I loved James as the main character. My heart broke for him so many times throughout this book, as we saw him going through the pressure of becoming the first Black king at only 17 years old, whilst also having to hide his sexuality, dealing with his boyfriend going missing and receiving threatening messages. James was such a strong character especially after everything he went through throughout this book.
I loved all the plot twists in this book, and there were so many! Normally, with young adult mysteries I early on guess the exact plot twists that were going to happen, but I was enjoying this story so much and getting so sucked in that I didn't want to try to guess the plot twists.
I just loved this book, it was so enjoyable and spoke about so many important topics throughout. I can't wait to read all of Benjamin Dean's future books because this one was just as brilliant as all the rest.

The King is Dead is a fast paced mystery following the newly crowned King James, the first black king of the United Kingdom. He is also the first gay king, although no one knows that just yet - or do they? As James struggles to keep his secrets within the walls of Buckingham Palace, his world begins to crumble around him and his reign as king may be over before it begins.

While each character is unique and offers their own twist to the story, as someone who resides in the United Kingdom, it is difficult not to see the comparisons to the British royal family and the scandalous lives they have lived. Nevertheless, this adds to the story, rather than detracts and engages the reader throughout.

There is the perfect amount of twists and turns and the pacing really does keep the reader on their toes, thanks to the red herrings we have on multiple occasions. Combining interesting characters, a tone which matches both the readership and the genre and just the right amount of shock value, Benjamin Dean creates the perfect teen mystery that would be perfect for an on-screen adaptation.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster UK Children and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

”‘They will never see us. Really see us. They will only ever see our skin first–anything else comes second. They prove that even when we occupy space we have every right to be in. Whether we are doctors on a ward, drivers on a bus or royalty sitting upon thrones, we will never be gifted their acceptance.”


⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5

A gay, black teen, also king of the United Kingdom, investigating a missing person? I couldn’t request an ARC fast enough.

Untrustworthy characters surround gay, black teen James as he ascends the throne after his father, the King, dies. Suddenly, secrets about himself and his immediate family are being poured into the ear of a journalist who believes the monarchy needs to be bought back to its past—white—former glory. When James’ secret boyfriend disappears, James has to figure out who is trying to ruin his life. There may be many enemies of the crown—but this feels personal.

This story was enjoyable, elements of fiction were tied with realism that helped bring this book to life. The characters were decent and well crafted red herrings were placed inside and outside the palace walls so I couldn’t get too comfortable with the reign of King James.

Part of me feels that Benjamin Dean did the job of creating untrustworthy characters too well, because due to not knowing who would betray King James in the end, I couldn’t relax into the romance side of the story. In fact, I found it quite difficult to connect to any character except James because I knew I’d be setting myself up to be betrayed later on. I guess the silver lining of that does mean that I got invested into James’ character, and that the story had me teetering on the edge of the ragged cliffs of trust, which is a wild yet wonderful place to be when reading.

I couldn’t help but compare this book to real life too, did anyone else compare James v Cassandra/Alexandra v Catherine in the press to Meghan Markle v Kate Middleton? And that unfortunately resulted in me picturing Quinn Buckley as Piers Morgan for the whole story 😂 but at least if this gets picked up by Netflix, one character will already be cast, am I right? 👀

I liked the insight into what it would be like for a black family to be on the throne. The introspection of a black teen in public limelight held to the standards dictated by white authority was raw and my heart sank for James every time a new story appeared about him.

I also enjoyed the author keeping the readers on their toes for the last 20% of the novel, I have to admit that although the book also started off really well, the pacing seemed to slow right up until the last parts of the book. It’s simply one of those thrillers where if you pick it up, you should stick with it.

Long live the scandal!

'The King is Dead' opens with the passing of the crown from one monarch to another - to James, a 17-year-old prince who is now the King. But things start going wrong immediately, each becoming more sinister and dangerous than the last.

This book is an action-packed mystery set within a fictional royal family, expertly weaving the vitriol of the British press and the cutthroat personalities of the family members with an intriguing and interesting plot. Though James is not the most interesting of protagonists, there's enough action and movement in this ensemble piece to keep you engaged. There are twists I definitely didn't see coming, especially towards the end, and the book paints a very accurate picture at how the press and public react to Black members of the Royal Family. We don't even have to consider fiction for that.

I sped through this book - it helps that it's YA and I really love books about fictional royalty. I love the pomp. On reflection, I think the description of 'heart swooning romance' is ridiculous - this is more of a dramatic mystery than a rom-com, let's get that clear. And that's a strength! I just wish it had been capitalized on a bit more. I had the same issues with 'The King is Dead' as I did with 'American Royals'. That the villains felt slightly characture-ish and it lacked a little nuance and depth. Cassandra especially didn't get much development at all and seemed to have been placed as a bitchy red herring as part of the mystery. She felt very one-dimensional and I just wish a bit more time had been spent giving her shades of grey, rather than just making her 'a mean person'.

It also ended rather abruptly. Whilst there was nice pay-off when it came to the villain being exposed and how the author integrated little easter eggs throughout, I would have liked a more definitive ending in how said villain was dealt with. Just more wrapping up of the plot strings. Tying the bow.

Nevertheless, this is a fun and entertaining book with a fresh take on YA royal fiction.

The King is Dead follows James, a young seventeen-year-old prince, thrust into the role of king far too soon when his father passes. The book explores the relationship between the royal family and the public, racism, and homophobia in British society. James’ main issue is figuring out how to rule the country and keep his relationship a secret. That all changes when his boyfriend suddenly goes missing.

I really enjoyed this book, it was so well written and is a great book for both the young adult and adult market, I didn’t feel like this had to be exclusively marketed at young adults. The writing was great and I really liked the setting and the story idea. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

When I found out that this was about a gay, Black teen prince ascending to the throne and the drama and mystery that followed, I could not have requested an ARC fast enough. I love reading books with queer celebrities navigating their personal lives while in the public eye and the stakes could not be higher than for the heir to the British throne. This one not only has to contend with animosity from the press and the threat of outing but with the negative public opinion of his family, whether due to bigoted ideas of what British royalty should look and behave like or a larger issue with the monarchy in general.

That exploration of the relentless targeting of James in the media was sadly all too true to life and was one of the highlights of this book. It examines how people of colour are consistently held to much higher standards than their white counterparts, how tears shed in public are a weakness on him but endearing and warranted on someone else, how people will use any perceived misstep as an opportunity to publicly channel their racism or homophobia under the guise of concern for the country’s wellbeing. James shares that he feels he could rule for 100 years and solve every problem the UK has and it still wouldn’t be enough to change the minds of those who will never wholly accept - let alone respect - him and his family. The first person narration served here to highlight just how oppressive the constant comparison to others can be, and how the mounting pressure of secrets, uncertainty and public scrutiny took its toll.

As we’re hearing his thoughts from the outset, we learn early on that James is gay, though the identity of his boyfriend remains a secret for the first few chapters. Shortly after it’s revealed, however, his boyfriend goes missing without a trace. In light of this, plus the very recent death of his father, the media scandals, and everything else on his plate, I did struggle to believe there was time for another romance, so the arrival of a second love interest definitely surprised me. I wasn’t entirely sold on how James could tell someone he loved them for the first time, find out they’re missing, then fall for someone else almost immediately afterwards. I understand he viewed it as a welcome distraction from the mess in other facets of his life, and I certainly wanted him to be happy, but I struggled to get on board with that aspect of the narrative.

I know I have a real tendency to overthink when I’m reading and am forever trying to work out exactly where things are going. I turn that Nancy Drew dial in my brain up to a thousand when it’s a mystery. I fixate on dialogue and behaviours and spend more time theorising than actually enjoying the book, so for the last 20 or so percent of this I decided I would loosen up a bit and just let the reveals happen. I had much more fun just going along with the drama in this way, and there were at least 10 moments in the last 10 percent alone that would have warranted cuing the Eastenders theme song. Some of my ideas were right and I was a little off with others, but there’s definitely enough red herrings and twists here to keep you guessing until the end! There were some side characters with backstories so interesting that I wish we had been able to spend more time on hearing about them. As it was, I felt there were a few too many things still up in the air by the end for me.

Ultimately, though, this was a fun queer read exploring double standards and the treatment of people of colour in the public eye, with heaps of family secrets and drama.

James and his twin brother Eddie are the heirs to the throne - and their father the king has just died, meaning James is now king. But there’s two problems: their mother is black, and something that is still secret to the nation - James is gay. As the press start to turn on the royal family, it’s clear someone is leaking their secrets - who can James trust?

I’m no monarchist but this queer YA whodunnit about institutionalised racism in British society was a great read.

Gossip girl, but make it royal.

The King is Dead is a YA novel that follows James, a black teenager who is still in the closet and just happens to be a prince. However, after the death of the king at the beginning of the novel, James becomes the first Black king and with that begins a complicated and compelling mystery. When an insidious journalist begins revealing royal secrets, James suddenly finds himself not only in the closet but under the glare of intense media scrutiny, the court of public opinion and an actual royal court.

I loved this book, which was a rollercoaster of a YA gem full of funny, engaging prose and a discussion of power that was positively Shakespearean. With complicated presentations of romance and discussions of racism, privacy and homophobia, this book really does have it all.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an arc of this book.

overall i did like the king is dead although i do think that it would’ve worked better with older mcs considering james is supposed to be the king. it was pretty ya-ish but i think that ya fans will enjoy this, it goes at a pretty quick pace so it’s really easy to get into and gets straight to the point almost immediately. i really wish that publishers dropped the whole “ this is going to be popular book x popular book “ way of promoting books instead of actually saying what the books will be about. personally did not see how tig was similar, outside of the mystery angle…just does a big disservice to the authors. i feel like several parts could have been expanded on more esp the ending but for a debut i thought it was pretty solid.

A well-written and compelling thriller with lots of twists and incisive commentary on the racism of British institutions and the media.

This book is so so good. Scandal, intrigue, and a compelling hero who is getting his secrets blasted all over the front page. From being criticised for grieving to negotiating fracturing relationships, you really feel for this kid who's been thrust into the spotlight without care for his feeling.

I loved the mystery of who was behind the leaking of secrets to the newspaper, the claustrophobic feeling from not knowing who to trust and the physical invasion into the palace with the letters, the place that's meant to be safe. It made the uncertainty and feeling of being trapped all the more immediate as there was no safe place and no safe people.

Knowing what some of the secrets were in advance but also not having any advanced warning of others really ratchetted up the tension. You were dreading what the next secret revealed to the press would be - you'd seen the damage done by the previous headlines and knew whatever would come next would be even worse. Partly because we've all seen papers build up to big stories, partly because that's how narrative progression works, and partly because each new revelation was adding to the previous "damage."

It makes for a very addictive, page-turning story that feels like holding up a mirror to real life and asking us to consider what would really happen if this was real.

The vitriol he was getting felt so awful because it so accurate - we've seen it all happen with Meghan Markle (there are even a few references to actual headlines around her and her children.) The newspaper articles are in the book, which I loved. It means you see the language used, the way it's all couched to appear "reasonable", focusing on him as a "young, inexperienced boy." The book shreds that pretence and calls it out for what it is - racism.

I hope we get another YA from Benjamin Dean soon!

Thank you to NetGalley, Benjamin Dean and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I fell so in love with this book that I read it in one day!

After the death of his father, James becomes the first black King of England. Along with backlash from racist members of the public, he also battles with trying to keep his sexuality and relationship with Jonathan a secret. Once Jonathan goes missing, he begins to suspect something’s off, and with his family secrets being leaked to a certain journalist he makes it his mission to discover who it is.

I love how fast-paced this book was, everyone was a suspect and every plot line was so intriguing that I was never bored. I can’t wait for people to start reading this so I can talk about that ending! I hope there’s a sequel coming out after this…

I have no doubt that this book will become popular once it’s published and I’m so glad that it’s centred around black and queer characters!

Absolutely loved this hilarious and heart-warming family saga! It kept me guessing throughout and was filled with joy and love, a perfect beach read and I can’t wait to read more of the author’s work.

I really wanted to like this novel, but I’m afraid I found it quite boring. I know I’m not the target audience, but as I work with young people and I’ve read my fair share of YA Novels; if it didn’t interest me, I’d be surprised if it appeals to the target market.

The story follows the story of James, a prince from birth, who finds himself becoming king at seventeen when his father passes away. Not only will he be the first black heir to the throne, but he will be the first gay black heir to the throne.

Hailed as a scandalous LGBTQ Gossip Girlesque mystery, it certainly sounded like it was going to be a good read, but it was uninspiring and it really dragged. Most of the characters were flat stereotypes, and the mystery element was predictable and a bit disappointing. I didn’t really warm to the main character, and it all just became so melodramatic and over the top.

I honestly feel the more representation the better, but I do wonder if Dean was trying to do too much. I think he might have had a stronger story if he’d focused on race alone, which would have given him the time to explore it in more detail. Instead he spent too long on this lacklustre love triangle which lacked spark or chemistry, whereas the real strength of the novel came from his depictions of how the media treat celebrities.

Sadly not the novel it could have been.

Loved it, loved it, loved it! This is everything I want in a book - the tension, the mystery, the drama of it all. One of my favourite reads of 2022 so far.

Scandalous and compelling, The King is Dead is a twisting young adult mystery with Black queer representation.

After his father dies, James becomes King aged just seventeen. Whilst struggling with his grief, he also has to deal with press who hate the idea of a Black monarchy, someone inside the palace leaking secrets and his boyfriend going missing…

Despite it being a young adult novel Dean doesn’t shy away from topics such as racism, seen clearly in the way the press in the book constantly smear the royal family and incite hatred purely because they are Black and somehow not worthy of living in Buckingham Palace.

Dean makes this clear in his description of the disparity between how the British public treated the late Princess Catherine, who was white, and their reaction to the current Black royal family. One scene in particular is very powerful and heartbreaking in equal measure.

It is also impossible to ignore that this book reminds me of the real-life treatment of Meghan Markle in comparison to Catherine Middleton. Racism is still unfortunately a very real and current issue in the UK and Dean does a clever job of highlighting this in an approachable yet powerful way.

Dean also raises questions of how the UK would react to a monarch who was part of the LGBTQIA community. As a staunch LGBTQIA ally I can only hope that love and respect would win out. Sadly the realist in me believes we still have a long way to go…

I think that some of the red herrings and rhetorical questions were a bit too obvious and therefore aimed at a younger young adult audience than I am used to; some things can be left to the audience to ponder on without signposting us in a specific direction.

Ultimately, The King Is Dead is an enjoyable read which raises many topics of discussion in an approachable way.

When Prince James' father, the King, dies unexpectedly, the seventeen year-old must take his place on the throne. This is much to the dismay of some of the British public, who don't want a black heir and would prefer the family's white cousin became Queen.

And another secret James doesn't want to get out? He's gay and has a boyfriend working in the palace.

When that boyfriend goes missing, however, and stories start leaking out about the family in the press, James assumes his boyfriend went to the papers and is now in hiding. But there are many more suspects to be discovered, and they all seem to be within the inner circle...

So, who does the King trust?

[Content warnings: homophobia, death, racism, family drama, forced outing, funerals, threats]

After reading Benjamin Dean's middle grade book 'The Secret Sunshine Project', I just knew I had to check out his young adult novel!

This was a truly loud and proud dissection of the British press and their history of both racism and homophobia. Not many people have been brave enough to challenge these ideas so openly in a book for younger people, and I love that Benjamin was able to do it.

Not only that, but it was also an engaging and thrilling mystery, cleverly crafted to keep you guessing right up until the very end. No one could be trusted, and I could feel James' anxiety the entire time.

I enjoyed this more as I kept reading. It's a slow-burn which turns into a landslide of family truths, which is often the case when lies start to unravel.

Benjamin writes with pure emotion which makes you feel the gravity of every situation he's describing. He writes for the people who need to be heard, effortlessly blending serious topics with hope and love.

I'm eagerly awaiting his next release!

This book follows James journey as be becomes the first black, gay king following the death of this family. The medias response to the colour of James’ families skin closely echoes how the real press (and some of the public) responded to Meghan Markle. Alongside this James is dealing with trying to keep his sexuality secret whilst somebody close is leaking the families many secrets. I was completely hooked by this book, there was so many twists in the story and the writing was brilliant!

The King is Dead is a book you need to pick up this year. This was an incredibly addictive and enjoyable read, full to the brim with gossip, secrets and searing social commentary.

This is a book in disguise. It shields itself behind a frothy exterior of gossip, rumours, lies and the careful maintenance of exterior appearances. Really, this is a cerebral exploration of power, corruption and the experience of being Black in Britain. Dean depicts the suffocating experience of standing within an institution that would rather see you destroyed, that is built on a legacy of suffering and continues to perpetuate colonial ideology. This is a tough read, unafraid to delve into the experiences of being Black and queer in a world that wants to disregard or hide these things. It is in the coded language of the media and the way Black people are framed against their white counterparts. Dean highlights the thousand cuts of racial microaggressions and blatantly hateful attitudes. This is a stunning book that leaves you with plenty to think about. One such aspect that I adored was the openness of that ending, leaving the reader to question what they believe happens next.

On top of this, I also thought this was one hell of a mystery. There are so many intriguing plot threads to explore, all tying into this destructive demand to pretend to be something you are not in order to appease others. It is an insidious and corruptive influence, shown through many characters and incidents. At its core, we have James himself. He is battling his own grief, both for his father and for the sacrifices the crown demands of himself. I loved his narrative voice and how emotional it was, puncturing the suspenseful narrative with gorgeous moments of introspection and this exploration of identity.

The King is Dead is a book bogged down in this surreptitious world of secrets, scandal and structural inequalities. It is a book that faces up to the system that would love to see its ruin.

What a brilliant book 'The King is Dead' is. Imagine the scenario that the much loved white King has died, leaving his Black teenage son as the next King. Bring on the racist reporters that try to whip up the populace to turn against their new ruler as he prepares himself for the coronation. Add in family tension; the younger twin, who by mere minutes could have been the heir and always second place, the cousin loved by the media who courts the appearance of royal perfection. Add in a secret romance, friendships and betrayals and you have an excellent story starting with a humongous what if...