Our first Black and (secretly) gay King of England ascends the throne, but someone is trying to undermine him...

A page turning thriller where nobody can be trusted and you suspect every character one after the other. But it also asks questions about the meaning of the monarchy, and makes us think about how racist and homophobic our national institutions can be.

Such a fun quick mystery that had me hooked from the get go! Always enjoy Benjamin Dean’s writing and will continue to read everything he puts out!

This was an enthralling and enchanting read that had me hooked from beginning to end. The premise is intriguing and the writing was addicting.

Fast paced, full of twists. This book kept me wanting to read more. The characters were intriguing and the mystery kept me engaged throughout with the twists timed perfectly.

Thankyou for allowing me to read The King Is Dead. Ive read from Benjamin Dean before and love his writing. This was no different. Love the writing and plot.

I am kicking myself that it took me so long to read The King is Dead because it was absolutely brilliant. It was fast paced and kept me on my toes throughout. I think I was changing my mind on who was behind the leaks in every chapter and couldn’t believe some of the reveals at the end. The cliffhanger really left me wanting more but I also think it was the perfect ending!

I loved the mystery element in this book, there were twists and turns that left me on the edge of my seat. The characters were amazing, seeing the different relationships the main character had with different people in his life, and loved not knowing who could be trusted while also seeing the main character go through the struggles of dealing with his grief from losing his father, while also being next in line for a throne and all the responsibilities that came with his new title.

James is awoken with the news that his father has passed away. While this would be hard for any teenager James must deal with an additional complication, his father’s passing means he is now the King. As difficult as taking the throne would be for any young man, he must counter not only the fact he is Black, and unknown to the main population gay, he must also deal with the fact somebody is trying to bring him, and perhaps the whole monarchy down.

Now I love a good mystery and Ben absolutely does not disappoint with The King Is Dead. You don’t get much higher stakes that someone seemingly attempting to bring down the monarchy and Ben’s writing is wonderful. New leaks, revelations and suspicions keep coming at a perfect pace to keep you turning pages desperate to know what comes next without leaving the reader feeling overwhelmed with the volume of information being presented. No spoilers from me but I found the conclusion very satisfying, it took me slightly by surprise but felt completely plausible based on what I’d previously read.

Ben also creates a wonderful cast of characters. Starting with the new king, James. I loved James, I think it’s so easy to forget that royalty, or celebrities in general, are human; they’re not just a character that appears in the news to feed our intrigue and need for scandal. With James you’re immediately reminded that he is just a young man who is dealing with his father’s death and taking over a throne that a vocal group of his subjects would much rather he didn’t. I really found James a wonderful character to empathise with as he tries to navigate his first few days on the throne as people both inside and outside the palace walls look to expose the family secrets. I really felt for him as he tried to navigate what must be some of the hardest days of his life to date without knowing who he can trust.

The Queen Dowager, Alexandra is another character I really felt I connected with, perhaps because I am also a woman of colour. Alexandra knew without any doubt there was a section of the population that would never accept her as Queen Consort, especially following on from Catherine, an English Rose murdered just days before she was due to marry the king. Alexandra is far from perfect, but she deals everything with such grace and poise.

Rounding off the immediate family is James’s twin, Edward, younger by just eight minutes those 480 seconds were enough to ensure he would be the spare and not the heir. I get the impression Prince Edward is a little bit of a playboy prince, perhaps a little like a younger Prince Harry. I can certainly imagine Harry having planned the odd party at the palace given half a chance! I think having a ‘spare’ who was so close in age to the heir to the throne added an interesting twist to the book, the concept of what if feeling even more possible than perhaps a larger age gap would allow for.

Quinn Buckley, is the journalist that loves to stir the hatred of the royal family, leaking stories and playing up to those who are against the idea of a Black royal family. I’m not entirely sure if Quinn is openly racist, or just chasing infamy. After all it was his column leaking Catherine’s location before the wedding that resulted in her murder, the public have conveniently forgotten his role in their would-be-queen’s murder. He may well be racist himself, alternatively he may not hold believe in what he’s saying. He simply knows enough racist dog whistles will grow his readership and ensure he becomes a household name and not stop to think for a second, or care about the impact of the stories and the hatred they stoke on the people he writes about. I think the latter might actually be worse, encouraging that level of vileness when you don’t even believe in what you are saying, you simply want the extra readers whoever they may be…

Finally, a quick mention of some of the supporting cast; Gayle, Peter and Jonathan all gave a bit more insight into life in the palace, and what the Crown rather than the person wearing it means to people.

I thought what made this book really standout was the healthy dose of realism throughout it. It is incredibly easily to believe that parts of the press and the general population would easily lead a campaign against a Black King and Queen Dowager. You don’t have to look far to find the stories about the Duchess of Sussex and the associated comments section. Even without the overt racism that can certainly be found, plenty of subtle, and not so subtle examples can be found, whether that’s the Duchess of Sussex being criticised for wearing wide legged trousers while the Duchess of Cambridge is praised for bringing modernity to the royal family by doing the same thing a year or so later, or the comments sections so easily believing stories from anonymous palace insiders because there can’t possibly be smoke without fire. I think Ben’s inclusion of these sorts of elements are really important as it highlights a reality that affects a lot of high-profile minorities.

Final Thoughts…
I really adored this story, Ben had me gripped within the first few pages, such a fantastic mix of mystery, intrigue and a very healthy dose of realism. I just couldn’t put it down as I followed James through his particularly challenging first few weeks as the brand new monarch. Long live the King!

*3.5*

Overall, I was entertained and engaged in this story. I really like the idea for the story being about a young, black, gay king. I'm not certain of the time period the book was set but its something interesting to explore because of it being unfamiliar territory.

It was also interesting to read about the sibling dynamic between the heir and the spare in this story as it and made me think a lot about William and Harry.

The mystery element definitely kept me engaged. I liked that there were twists so that reveals weren't overly predictable. The romance didn't do much for me but I actually preferred that it wasn't the biggest focus.

I'd definitely read the next book if there's a sequel.

I didn’t really know what to expect before going into this book, but I was blown away! I loved it and I inhaled it within the day. I was reading this questioning every single character wondering whether they were behind the messages and the leaks. I was addicted and couldn’t put this book down.

James is suddenly thrust into the role of King when his father unexpectedly dies, and whilst he is coming to terms with this loss and his new role, he also has to deal with a lot more. His boyfriend disappears and then suddenly threatening messages keep appearing, as well as royal scandals being leaked to the press. James has no idea who he can trust, believing his cousin, boyfriend, and anyone else could be behind it. The mystery part of this book was perfect. I had my suspicions but they were changing constantly. James’ life is well and truly upturned within this book.


James is the first black King and with that comes a lot of racist press. I thought the way the author wrote about race and the monarchy was reminiscent of current affairs in England and it made this book feel a little more real. James is aware of the way some members of the public view him, which is why he is reluctant to also come out as gay, so his relationship with Jonathan is kept secret from everybody but the two of them. This adds an extra level of betrayal as when Jonathan’s disappearance coincides with the first leak, everybody begins to suspect him, which leaves James unsure of who he can still trust.

This was a great book with a royal mystery and some romance that had me on the edge of my seat.

I thought this was fabulous, thoroughly entertaining and such a brilliant and funny read. It’s a great thriller with amazing characters and lots of twists and turns. A fantastic queer read full of scandals and mystery.fantastic read

OBSESSED with this book by Benjamin! Honestly could not put it down!

Following James story as a young prince being trusted into the role of King far too soon because of his Dad's passing is such a strong start, and then seeing how he copes with this, but also having to deal with the fact that he is Gay adds another aspect to the story! Trying to keep everything quite while juggling 'normal' life was really interesting and loved how the story played out!

I'd love another book following on from this one, i was not ready to let this one go

Really well paced, kept a great feeling of intrigue and anxiety throughout, and had some great discussions about race and the crown . Quite on the nose at times in a good way. Will be recommending to everyone I know

"The King is Dead" by Benjamin Dean is a believable and interesting novel that explores the struggles of being not only a king, but a black king. The story is told with humor at times, and the characters are well developed and relatable. I enjoyed the way the author tackled the theme of race and the challenges that come with it. The plot is engaging, and the pacing is excellent, making it a fast and enjoyable read. Overall, "The King is Dead" is a good book that provides a unique perspective on the challenges of being a black monarch. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys witty and insightful novels.

Brilliant, funny and twisty thriller with amazing characters and wonderful queer rep! A queer gossip girl and full of scandals and plot twists. Lovely and hilarious.

This is a dramatic YA thriller with a great premise, but sadly I found it a little lacking on the execution. The criticism of racism in the media and corruption surrounding those in power in the UK was excellent, but the characters felt a little flat and dialogue was too over the top at times for me. (And by this, I mean it felt too on the young side of YA for me, but that's just personal preference.) The mystery was good and I didn't guess the twist until towards the end, but I just wanted a little more polish from the overall plot.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn't get into this. I felt like I was forcing myself to read this and it's probably more of what has been happening in the world rather than the book itself. When I first requested this I was interested in the premise but since then with all the media frenzy in real life I can't force my way through this anymore.

The writing is good and the MC James although a little bland does have redeeming features. It can't be easy to find yourself the Head of State at only 17.

Maybe once everything has settled down I will finish it.

I really wanted to love this, Benjamin Dean's middlegrade debut absolutely blew me away. I loved it! But this, his YA debut.. was boring, sadly. I don't fully understand how its marketed as a thriller when there is nothing thrilling within the story. It's incredibly slow paced and none of the characters were particularly endearing.
I do think this book tackles racism in the UK brilliantly, especially in regard to the royal family which is sadly evident to see. It feels like a very current and modern novel and I applaud the author for writing a novel that is needed but I just wish I had been more entertained.

Ben Dean has become an insta-buy author for me. I loved this dark, twisty mystery and the slant of setting it inside the world of a reimagined royal family. The characterisation was brilliant, as I spent the whole book wondering who I could trust and being surprised as Dean peeled back their layers. I can't wait to see what he writes next!

This was an interesting read and i liked what it did. I really liked James as a character and found him compelling to follow. This book had the right element of mystery and sweetness from the scenes between James and his love interests. I liked the elements of intrigue in here and it was done really well and in a way that was fairly believable. Dean had really good writing and it kept me hooked all the way through.