Martha Wells, the New York Times bestselling author of the Murderbot series, pens a major fantasy novel in Witch King.
Kai-Enna is the Witch King, though he hasn’t always been, and he hasn’t even always been Kai-Enna!
After being murdered, his consciousness dormant and unaware of the passing of time while confined in an elaborate water trap, Kai wakes to find a lesser mage attempting to harness Kai’s magic to his own advantage. That was never going to go well.
But why was Kai imprisoned in the first place? What has changed in the world since his assassination? And why does the Rising World Coalition appear to be growing in influence?
Kai will need to pull his allies close and draw on all his pain magic if he is to answer even the least of these questions.
He’s not going to like the answers.
Witch King is a rousing tale of power and friendship, of trust and betrayal, and of the families we choose.
The series
The Rising World sweeps readers into a realm where the past’s shadows linger over a civilization struggling to reclaim its future. Nations rise from the ashes of cataclysm, magic pulses through the land with unpredictable force, and ancient threats lie in wait beneath the surface of a world that seems, at first glance, familiar. Here, survival demands both cunning and courage, and every alliance carries weight far beyond what it appears.
Read full series description
At the heart of the saga is Kai-Enna, once a king and now caught in a web of betrayal that forces him to confront the consequences of power lost and regained. As he navigates shifting loyalties, resurrected rivalries, and secrets tied to the Hierarchs, Kai must redefine what it means to lead, love, and endure in a world that refuses to remain static. Companions like Dahin, Ziede, and Tahren bring their own perspectives, shaping a story where friendships are tested, and the line between ally and adversary is never absolute.
The series balances epic fantasy scope with intimate character-driven storytelling, blending political intrigue, ancient magic, and morally complex conflicts. Battles are both external and internal, with stakes that resonate across kingdoms and in the hearts of those who fight to preserve—or seize—the Rising World.
Created by Martha Wells, the series draws readers who seek a rich, immersive fantasy experience, where world-building feels lived-in, tension is constant, and characters evolve as naturally as the land around them. It is a story of resilience, transformation, and the fragile threads that hold power, hope, and destiny together.
Be the first reviewer
Sign in and write the first reader review.
