The King Must Die

From the USA TODAY bestselling author of The Splinter in the Sky comes a pulse-pounding science fiction adventure following the daughter of rebel instigators and the heir of a power-drunk ruler who team up to save their empire...or destroy it in the process.

Fen's world is crumbling. Newearth, a once-promising planet gifted by the all-powerful alien Makers, now suffers from failed terraforming, leaving its people on the brink of collapse. Fen has spent her life working as a mercenary bodyguard for a cunning magistrate, entangled in the politics of the empire that shattered her family. But then her fathers--her last remaining tether to hope--are executed by the ruthless Sovereign, who marks Fen for the same fate.

With nothing left to lose, Fen escapes with a single map and an old quarterstaff, embarking on a dangerous quest to seek out the last remnants of her parents' rebellion. But the underground insurgents she finds may be even more dangerous than the Sovereign's army. At the center of it all stands Alekhai, the Sovereign's heir--a brutal, power-hungry force of destruction. Though he embodies everything Fen despises, his dangerous plans might be the empire's last chance at survival...or the final push to its doom.

Perfect for fans of fast-paced dystopian adventures, intergalactic intrigue, and morally complex heroes, The King Must Die weaves an unforgettable story of rebellion, survival, and impossible choices. Will Fen save her world--or ensure its destruction?

Author: Kemi Ashing-Giwa
Publisher: S&s/Saga Press
Published: 11/04/2025
Pages: 496
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.85lbs
Size: 8.20h x 5.30w x 1.30d
ISBN: 9781668061015


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 07/01/2025 pg. 7
Publishers Weekly 09/08/2025
Kirkus Reviews 10/15/2025
Booklist 11/01/2025

About the Author
Kemi Ashing-Giwa was born and raised in Southern California, where she grew up on a steady diet of sci-fi and fantasy. She has an undergraduate degree in integrative biology and astrophysics from Harvard University and is currently a PhD student in the Earth and planetary sciences department at Stanford University. She is the author of the novel The Splinter in the Sky and the forthcoming novella This World Is Not Yours.