To Kill a King

Barbarian Sorcerer, Book 1

Fiction - Fantasy - General
57 Pages
Reviewed on 01/09/2016
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

I used to work for literacy programs and educational development programs. My current employment prevents me from revealing my true identity.

I am in love with early fantasy literature, specifically that written before The Lord of the Rings, when there was no dominant author in fantasy, either to copy or to avoid. One of my loves is the classic pulp literature of the early twentieth century. To Kill a King is written in the spirit of that literature.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

To Kill a King: Barbarian Sorcerer, Book 1 is an epic fantasy novella written by Theodore Singer. Kalath has a mission -- he's left behind the southern village, where he is the clan's resident sorcerer, as he travels north following the trail of the slavers who kidnapped Nysandre, his betrothed. They were heading north to sell her to King Tsoldra and were on horseback, unlike Kalath who, a month later, was still in pursuit. His stop at a small tavern located beneath a mountain provided him with little further information, save for a warning that the mountain pass was not to be traversed. Not trusting that he'd heed their advice, the local men followed him and were determined to kill him, lest his entering the kingdom of the dead would result in vengeance upon them and their families. Kalath prevailed and continued on to a desolate town where bodies were strewn about and left unburied where they lay.

Theodore Singer's epic fantasy novella, To Kill a King: Barbarian Sorcerer, Book 1, is a collection of interrelated tales that chronicle Kalath's adventures as he follows the men who abducted his betrothed. As I read about Kalath's battles and combined use of sorcery and might, I was favorably reminded of the classic sword and sorcery tales of Robert E. Howard, Lin Carter, and L. Sprague de Camp. Each tale is exciting and filled with action, and they all work together beautifully as Kalath, the barbarian sorcerer, seeks vengeance on those who stole his woman and the king who keeps her captive. Singer's succinct and measured writing style works perfectly for this type of literature, and his character is suitably iconic and brooding. I'm looking forward to the next book in the Barbarian Sorcerer series. To Kill a King: Barbarian Sorcerer, Book 1, is highly recommended for fans of epic fantasy, particularly sword and sorcery.

Faridah Nassozi

To Kill a King (Barbarian Sorcerer Book 1) by Theodore Singer is an epic tale of love, revenge and sorcery. Kalath, a sorcerer from the south, left his home for the north with two things on his mind; to rescue his beloved who had been snatched by slavers to be sold to a king and then exact the ultimate revenge on the king by way of death. After news of Nysandre's kidnapping reached her people, everyone, including her own family, considered her a lost cause. However, Kalath was not ready to accept that fate and he was determined to rescue her at whatever cost. With no one willing to take the risk with him, he began his lone journey to the north with just a special sword and his power of sorcery for company. After trailing the slavers for a month, he started to lose their tracks as he travelled further from home and hence from the spirits that guided him. Now all he had to go on was the king's name, and yet his journey was just beginning with tougher parts yet to come. The rest of the journey in search of his beloved one was going to be even harder and more dangerous. He would have to face endless challenges, some human, some spiritual, and others he simply couldn't explain. It was going to be a very deadly journey, but also one filled with adventure.

To Kill a King (Barbarian Sorcerer Book 1) by Theodore Singer is an exciting first instalment of a thrilling fantasy tale. The story comes to life through a well-crafted blend of a unique and captivating plot, witty and memorable characters, and fast-paced action. The amazing thrill of the action-filled battles, with each new scene unique and equally gripping, will leave you in awe of the skill that put them together. With a perfect mixture of human skill and powerful magic, each battle is memorable and leaves a distinctive mark. This is the story of a once in a lifetime adventure from the south into the north across the mountains delivered with flawless writing. To Kill a King by Theodore Singer is the beginning of what promises to be an epic series and I cannot wait to see what lies ahead on this thrilling adventure.

Michelle Stanley

To Kill a King: Barbarian Sorcerer Book 1 is an adult fantasy by Theodore Singer. Lecherous King Tsolde holds Nysandre captive and her vengeful husband Kalath, a sorcerer, sets out to rescue her. He meets a stronger sorcerer who fights a never-ending battle against his estranged brother using mechanical cavalry armies. Kalath agrees to help him win the war in exchange for assistance in finding Nysandre, but he soon realizes that the sorcerer has other plans for him and it does not include the agreement they had. Kalath penetrates the wizard’s mind and is surprised at what he unlocks. He uses what he learns to try to escape, but still encounters other obstacles in his way.

Chanting spells, sword fighting and sorcery are what you will encounter in To Kill a King: Book 1 from the Barbarian Sorcerer series by Theodore Singer. A fast-paced novella that stirs your emotions and makes you sympathize with its narrator, Kalath, whose beloved wife was stolen from him. There are several mystical characters that held their own spotlight in the plot, and I found the journey that the protagonist took a very mystical one. The author told his story very well and was clear in his descriptions with good imagery. The drama involving the mechanical cavalry armies was proof of that. To Kill a King is a novella for adults since it contains mild sexual encounters not appropriate for younger readers. The cover artwork is nice. The story is an enjoyable one.

Carla Trueheart

In To Kill a King by Theodore Singer, sorcerer Kalath is on a quest to rescue his beloved who was stolen from him. Along the way, Kalath has some interesting adventures and meets up with some other magical people, including Blue River and Blue Berry. He enters a game and battles other sorcerers, and after that he also has to deal with some magical enchantments that make him unsure of who he truly loves and what his quest truly is about. But Kalath remains a brave sorcerer along the path to his beloved Nysandre. When he reaches the king, he has to make a few decisions that will impact his future and that of the one he loves.

Theodore Singer is a promising writer who presents the reader with an imaginative sword and sorcery story for adults. In particular, the many magical people Kalath encounters in To Kill a King are interesting, as many appear in different colors, like blue and orange. It was easy to get lost in the story when Kalath plays in the games with the other sorcerers, and I particularly liked Zasathar. The end of the book was not what I expected — I can’t say more without spoilers — but I have to applaud the author for that choice as well. Overall, To Kill a King is a fast-paced book that stays on the plot and is a quick, engaging read. I recommend it to fans of sword and sorcery books, and I believe fantasy/medieval fans may appreciate the story as well.

Stephen Fisher

To Kill a King by Theodore Singer is a short fantasy adventure about Kalath, a sorcerer and warrior with a sword that can be turned into a flame whip. The story begins when his wife, Nysandre, is kidnapped by slavers bound for King Tsoldra, who had never had an exotic blue beauty before. Taking with him a dagger for King Tsoldra’s heart, Kalath sets out to rescue his beloved before the slavers reach their destination. Along the way, Kalath enters a town that distrusts all strangers passing through, and then turns the tide in an on going war between a couple of wizards. After these short delays, he is invited to participate in a fighters tournament with a husband-wife team with blue skin as well. The chest of gold for the winners would be enough for them to retire as well as payment for much needed mercenaries to help in Kalath’s quest.

Mr. Singer does a superb job of moving the story along as Kalath goes from adventure to adventure, but is also able to provide enough detail to allow the reader to visualize these adventures. When the group enters the tournament, Theodore is able to convey the idleness that our heroes experience as they wait their turns in between rounds. From there on the plot thickens as Kalath, Blue River, and Blue Berry gain on the slavers. For good measure, Theodore Singer throws in an adventure where Nysandre is within reach, but something happens that could cost what is held most dear to each of them. When Kalath finally catches up with King Tsoldra, Theodore Singer throws in an unexpected plot twist. This story was hard to put down, but the ending? “Wow!” Well done!