Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s books for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Blending genre's of "whodunnit" murder mystery with fairy-tale-esque fantasy, I Killed the King had so much potential. And in many ways, the authors delivered; You get a clue-type mystery with princesses and princes and magic. There are twists and turns and surprises galore and the resolution is interesting with an open end that will probably warrant a book two. Unfortunately, the book also had a few problems that made the story hard to navigate. The SIX person POV is clunky. I think if done with audio and distinct voices it could be interesting, but in written print, it's a lot to keep straight. Given this is billed as a YA, that could be problematic. Also, the characters didn't always feel connected and I didn't always understand the narratives and motivations as it related to the story. I got some backstory and explanations of relationships, but I still felt like I was left with a lot of questions. Maybe that was intentional?
All in all, the book was different and fun and easy to read. If you love a good mystery, if you love fast paced fantasy and abrupt story twists, you're going to love I killed the king.

I found this book to be an enjoyable read. The story kept me engaged from start to finish and had some moments that really stood out. Overall, it offered an entertaining reading experience.

An odd book, but compelling! A murder mystery set in a fantasy world, at a ball held in honor of the conclusion of a long war between two kingdoms. The characterization was done really well. Some of the supernatural elements were odd—I don't usually read mythology-inspired books with gods—but overall, very entertaining and I cared about all the characters, which is more than I can say for some other books I've read.

"I killed the King" is a YA fantasy mystery by Rebecca Mix and Andrea Hannah. Set in a world where twelve (maybe 13?) gods once lived, but now seem to be sleeping, two kingdoms are supposed to be signing a peace treaty tonight to end years of war. When the king is murdered in a secret meeting, the prince and those few in the room need to figure out who the killer is and how to control the balance of power. A twisty mystery from different points of view, I enjoyed the world-building and the well-developed characters. A recommended purchase for YA fantasy collections.

This book feels like a mystical One of Us is Lying. Knives Out but with magic and mayhem in the best way.

The characters were well developed and I couldn't put the book down until I knew what happened to them all. I was shocked at one of the twists! Eager to hear if there will be a sequel (hint hint publishers: we want more!).

y'allll

want a mystery whoddunit mixed with high fantasy with the feels of Narnia?? i killed the king got me hooked from the start to finish. i cried reading about oak and the gardener. i was blazing through the book trying to get to the answers. the juno from a whoddunit to a larger than life consequence where the myths came to life, felt epic.

and the queer rep felt so natural and realistic… i love it so freaking much. and they were important to the story! their love mattered.

found family is one of the best tropes. i will fight anyone who says otherwise. one of the POVs did kill the king but you will love them all. they are so good and funny and decent and kind. each of them have made a mark on my heart.

writing was tight and i could feel the authors’ love in each page. I’m so happy I got the arc!

I'm almost 30% through and sadly don't think I'll be finishing this.

I absolutely LOVED the premise. In fact, just before this was posted to NetGalley, I was telling a friend I was really in the mood for a fantasy-mystery and she directed me to I Killed the King. However, it's probably more of my mental bandwidth at the moment, but I am really struggling to keep characters and backstories for them straight. Multi-POV makes total sense for this type of story, but given the fantasy world and needing to set up rules and roles within it, it seems like chapters should be a bit longer or something. I'm just struggling to grasp which character is from a different realm and the relational ties between a few of the others because I'm not completely grounded in the politics and everything. Maybe I'll try again someday because I really wanted to like it, but I just can't handle it at the moment.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The title and premise of this book immediately hooked me. With six POVs, quick moving pace, and lots of twists and turns, this murder-mystery meets fantasy was filled with clever world building and complex characters. Between backstory and world-building, there is a lot to unpack so, while it may not be the best read for the beach, it was certainly a fun read and I'm excited to see what Mix and Hannah do in book 2!

I got through the first 30% of this one and I am sad to say, I feel confused and not at all invested in the story. I understand the multiple POVs, but you are never in any one character's head long enough to even figure out the basics of who they are before you switch again, and everything felt hard to keep track of. I was intrigued by the premise but sadly I won't be finishing.

What sets this book apart is the way Mix and Hannah explore trauma and power through a fierce, morally complex heroine. The dual authorship is seamless, blending poetic descriptions with taut pacing. Every chapter felt like it was building toward something inevitable and dangerous. Not to mention, the world-building, which is rich without being overwhelming. There’s plenty of court intrigue, dark magic, and a heavy gothic tone that fans of One Dark Throne or The Shadows Between Us will love. I’d recommend I Killed the King to readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy with emotional stakes, elegant writing, and a touch of the macabre.

Many thanks to NetGalley for this ARC! This was a very fun and quick read. There were a couple points that I thought felt almost too brief, but mostly I thought the characters and story line were fleshed out and dynamic. I would have liked to see more of the world building, but the nature of a murder mystery style fantasy story means the scene is set in one place. The threads of the murder pulled me along with no resistance, and the ending of the book makes me VERY eager to see what book 2 will bring! 10/10 would recommend to anyone who enjoys fantasy, murder mystery, and the hint of something bigger than you.

I Killed the King has elements of the game Clue but in a fantasy setting.

Basically, 6 characters are in the King’s bedroom when he dies unexpectedly. Obviously one of the six is the killer and of course they all have various motives as well.

I was quickly drawn into the story as the book has a very easy to read writing style (though third person present tense is almost always a struggle for me). The six suspects were different enough that I was able to keep them separate in my mind as well. I liked learning more about the crime as the story progressed and putting things together.

However, I didn’t feel too much for the characters, I think because the third person present tense kept me at arms length from them. I wasn’t always clear on their motivations either.

I found the ending to be somewhat confusing and infodumpy as well. There was twist upon twist upon twist (including the main one I did predict) and a fair amount of secret keeping from the reader (where a character knows something but doesn’t reveal it).

It would be a good read for fans of mysteries and thrillers. The fantasy setting provides an interesting backdrop to the story.

This was such a fun read!

The story follows six POVs, all of whom were present when the King was murdered in his chambers. The question is, who killed the King, and why?

I loved so much about this book! First and foremost, I loved the characters and their relationships with each other! There were old and new bonds that intertwined and weaved together, and it was compelling to see how they helped or hindered the murder investigation. Speaking of bonds, I loved all the queer representation we got in this book!

Something else I loved about this book is the mythology! I wasn't expecting that story and world to be so tied to a pantheon, so that was a fun surprise. I will say that I wanted a bit more clarity in regards to how the magic system works, as it's tied to the gods. But maybe that will be further explained in the sequel.

In terms of the big reveal about who killed the King, I predicted who the killer was pretty early on. But I still enjoyed reading along to see if I was right, and to find out why they killed him. I also liked all the little clues that were planted along the way.

I thought the path that the story took after the killer was revealed was interesting, as I wasn't expecting that. I thought I'd have to wait until the end to find out who killed the king, but I did not.

I would recommend this story to anyone who wants to read a fun fantasy murder mystery with twists and turns, and a nonlinear timeline!

Thank you so much to HarperCollins and NetGalley for allowing me to read this digital ARC!

Thank you Netgalley and Storytide for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“I Killed the King” is an inventive, fast-paced fantasy whodunnit that delivers far more than its clever title promises. Co-written by Rebecca Mix and Andrea Hannah, this book combines the tension of a locked-room mystery with layered character dynamics, subtle worldbuilding, and a dash of queer romance, all of which is set over the course of one intense night.

The setup is immediately gripping: six strangers—a prince, a princess, a personal guard, a wild beast tamer, a healer, and a mercenary—gather in secret as the King of Avendell attempts to secure peace through an urgent marriage alliance. But when the King is suddenly murdered in their midst and the room is sealed, it becomes clear that one of them is the killer. With each character harboring dangerous secrets, alliances shift, trust erodes, and the line between ally and suspect blurs.

Though billed as a fantasy, the magical elements remain light and serve to enrich the atmosphere rather than overshadow the central mystery. The true magic of the book lies in its construction: the story explores history, politics, and religion, which are all centered into the mystery’s core, making every revelation feel earned. The worldbuilding is deftly handled; there’s enough texture to the kingdoms and their fraught past, but the focus wisely remains on the characters and their intertwined fates.

Told through six points of view, the book takes a bold structural risk that pays off. Each perspective is distinct, and learning about the characters’ motivations and pasts gradually deepens the mystery rather than diluting it. Watching these near-strangers move from mutual suspicion to tentative camaraderie (and sometimes more) over the course of a single harrowing night was one of the book’s great pleasures. While some relationships form a bit quickly, the found-family dynamic that emerges is both believable and satisfying.

The pacing is brisk where the action starts almost immediately, and the story constantly shifts and evolves. Just when you think you understand the shape of the plot, new twists emerge, revealing layers of intrigue beyond the murder itself. The mystery is well-constructed, with clever mis-directions and red herrings that keep even seasoned genre readers guessing. The emotional stakes are heightened by a particularly poignant character death and a well-handled LGBTQ+ relationship that adds both depth and resonance to the story.

If there’s any downside, it’s that the ending leaves some threads tantalizingly open, suggesting there’s more to explore in this world. Fortunately, the possibility of a sequel seems likely and very welcome.

Overall, “I Killed the King” is an engaging and refreshingly unique blend of murder mystery and fantasy, perfect for fans of Clue-style intrigue, complex character relationships, and subtle worldbuilding. If you enjoy stories where secrets drive the plot and trust must be earned under pressure, this one is not to be missed.

This was not at all what I expected but not in a bad way. This isn’t really a mystery like it was described in the summary. I really liked the group of characters and how they all came together. I did feel like this was a bit too long but overall, it was enjoyable.

Thanks HarperCollins and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. A super quick read! The King of Avendell has brought together his kingdom with the kingdom of Istellia, who they’ve been at war with, but now that’s over. His son will marry their princess and the kingdoms will be joined. There’s an urgency as the king doesn’t have much time, he’s gathered the prince, his soon to be betrothed, his personal guard, a wild beast tamer, a new healer, and unbeknownst to the rest of them a mercenary. They met in secret and before they know what is happening the king is dead. They were locked in so it could only have been one of the six of them. Who did it? Each of them are hiding things that could be deadly indeed. But which would go so far to protect their secrets? An engaging mystery that kept me guessing! I enjoyed that this was a fantasy mystery, I don’t think we see too many of those! And of course there’s a side of queer love! Rebecca Mix and Andrea Hannah write a highly entertaining story that is definitely worth the read!

I picked up I Killed the King because the title and synopsis immediately caught my attention. A high-stakes whodunnit set in a fantasy world, where everyone is a suspect? Count me in. The premise promised mystery, tension, and a cast of characters all harboring secrets—and the book delivered.

While the story jumps into the action right away, it took me a little while to feel fully invested. But once I was, the book completely held my attention. Every time I thought I had figured things out, it turned out to be a red herring. I found myself, like the characters, second-guessing everything and everyone, trying to make sense of who was really behind it all. That uncertainty made the mystery compelling and the reading experience more interesting. 


Things I liked:

The characters were likeable and fleshed-out. Not everything was handed to the reader upfront, which I appreciated. We got to learn motivations and backstories organically, as the plot unfolded.

The central mystery was cleverly constructed, with just enough red herrings and misdirection to keep me guessing until near the end. As someone who can usually guess well before the end of a book, I appreciated this!

The antagonist, while powerful, was not omnipotent—an important distinction in fantasy. Their limitations made the conflict feel more grounded and more relatable. 


Things I didn't like as much:

(Minor spoiler ahead) — The death of one character in particular caught me off guard. I had started to grow attached to them, so I was surprised—and honestly a little sad—to see their story take that turn. Thankfully, the aftermath offered a bit of resolution and a sense that their presence wasn’t entirely gone, which helped soften the blow.  

The book features an LGBTQ+ relationship, which I actually appreciated. I understand that this relationship wasn’t the central focus of the story, but it still had significant narrative weight. The emotions involved—particularly one character’s love for another—had direct and far-reaching consequences.  Because of that, I do wish the marketing had highlighted the queer relationship a bit more. It’s always great to see LGBTQ+ representation, and it felt like something that shouldn’t have been hidden or left out for brevity's sake.  

Overall, I Killed the King was an engaging mystery with a layered plot that kept me guessing. The story isn’t overly simple or predictable, and the diverse characters—each with their own secrets and motivations—gradually come together and learn to trust one another. If you enjoy fantasy with a strong mystery thread, complex relationships, and characters whose choices drive the story, this one's worth checking out!

"I Killed the King" is a suspense novel that happens in a fantasy world. The suspense was well done as I kept turning the pages to see what happened next. People (including main characters) died one after another. It didn't really feel like a mystery, though, because each of the six viewpoint characters (prince, princess, king's guard, healer, beast tamer, assassin) knew information that the reader then knows which strongly hinted at who is behind the chaos. The king's killer confessed about halfway through, but the main characters still needed to stop the bad guy behind everything. At the end, they think they accomplished this, but the reader knows they didn't: they only made things worse. So not really a happy ending.

The fantasy world wasn't developed very far, mentioning things like unicorns and basilisks (which are snakes with deadly venom in this book), but most of it was just backdrop stuff to establish that there was magic (not much used in the story) and 13 gods (of which a few play a role). The characters weren't initially very developed either, though they became more realistic and less like simply roles by the end of the book. The prince spent most of the crisis thinking about how much he loved his male guard and looking to him to solve the crisis. The healer drank himself insensible, though he became more proactive after someone he loved was killed. The princess was starting to develop some independence and use her cleverness by the end, yet she also loved someone she shouldn't and ended up unhappy.

One character liked to cuss, so there was occasional use of bad language. There was no sex, though there certainly was enough longing and thwarted love. I was primarily expecting a mystery, and it's not, there is no real resolution by the end, and I didn't really care about the characters, so not really my kind of book.

4.5 out of 5 stars

“And six pairs of eyes stare in horror at the king lying dead at their feet.” ― I Killed the King

I devoured I Killed the King in nearly one sitting—it’s the kind of book that demands your full attention from the very first page. Billed as a locked-room mystery set in a fantasy world, it certainly lives up to its premise, even if it diverges from what I initially expected-- and, I do have to add, with great prose to boot.

The story opens with a bang—in this case, a murder. A peace treaty is moments away from being signed between two rival nations, and just as the ink is about to hit the page, the lights go out, and the king of Avendell is dead. What follows is a tense, one-night unraveling of secrets, lies, and loyalties, as six strangers—each with their own motivations, traumas, and secrets—are trapped in the castle, trying to determine who among them is the killer.

I loved the mystery at the heart of this novel. It’s twisty and smart, with revelations I truly didn’t see coming. There were several moments where I was sure I knew who the killer was, only to be proven wrong—again and again. That said, the book isn’t just about solving the murder. The authors layer in a compelling fantasy world with hints of political intrigue, gods, and a magic system that—while not deeply explained—is enough to enrich the plot without overwhelming it.

The six POVs were surprisingly well-executed. I usually struggle with that many perspectives, but each voice felt distinct, and I never felt lost. However, the transitions between chapters could be a bit jarring, especially early on. There’s a lot of backstory and exposition frontloaded in the beginning, and that did slow the pacing a bit for me. That said, once I got past the setup, I couldn’t put the book down.

One of my favorite parts of the novel was watching the characters shift from cautious strangers to a reluctant, almost-forced family. I became emotionally invested in each of them, and I found myself not just caring about who committed the murder, but also about how each character would survive the night—and what would come next for them. The dynamics were layered and believable, with moments of genuine tenderness and even humor woven through the high stakes. There’s even a bit of romance and a touch of comedy that hit surprisingly well for a murder mystery.

That said, the fantasy aspects felt a little undercooked. I loved the lore and the inclusion of gods and religious tensions, but the magic system (especially the role of the Basilik) was a bit confusing at times. I found myself wishing for more clarity—though it’s possible we’ll get that in the second book, since this is the first in a duology.

The ending was satisfying in some ways and frustrating in others. It wraps up the murder plot but leaves a lot of threads hanging, particularly when it comes to the world at large. I’m hoping that the sequel will delve deeper into both the worldbuilding and the characters’ personal arcs.

All in all, I Killed the King was an atmospheric, fast-paced read with clever twists, engaging characters, and a unique setting. If you're looking for a traditional murder mystery with a clean resolution, this might not be for you. But if you're into character-driven fantasy with high stakes, political drama, and the slow unspooling of secrets over one unforgettable night, I highly recommend giving it a shot, and I can’t wait for book two!

I really enjoyed the voice here. I would recommend for those who like mystery and a full cast of characters that or sort of a forced family rather than a found family.