-22% 🏆 Bestseller Life of A King — Horror Fiction

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Life of A King

Name: Life of A King
Price: 6.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781514376126

✍️ Stephen King

Reader Score

4.7

(7 reviews)

$6.99 ~~$9.00~~ Save $2.01 (22%)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A raw poetry collection by Stephen King about his brother's death and his journey to faith.

This volume diverges from the author’s famous horror fiction to offer a direct look at his personal grief. The poems stem from a period of darkness following his brother’s fatal decision to join the military. King uses verse to process his guilt and evaluate his character. He discusses his connection to Christ and the pressures of racial identity. The work is organized around these intimate revelations rather than a narrative plot. It provides a stark contrast to his other published works by focusing on non-fiction emotional truth.

Key Themes

brother's death discovery of Christ racial assumptions

Literary Context

Published in 2015, this work sits outside the traditional horror genre. It reflects the experiences of an African American veteran processing trauma through poetry. The text engages with societal expectations imposed on black men during that period.

Difficulty

●●● Challenging

Recommended For Fans Of

Gothic ghost stories · Psychological horror · Dark fantasy memoirs

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2015 📖 122 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781514376126

📚 This Book in Collections

💵 Horror Paperbacks Under $10

📝 Description: Life of A King

Life of a King is a poetry collection chronicling the author's grief over his brother's death and subsequent self-examination. The work chronicles the devastating impact of his younger brother’s death, a tragedy that occurred after the sibling joined the armed forces to emulate him. This loss serves as the catalyst for King’s exploration of guilt and self-examination. The poems address his complex relationships with family members, including his parents, and the women in his life. He also examines his spiritual awakening through the discovery of Christ. The text confronts the weight of societal assumptions placed upon him as an African American man. It offers a raw assessment of his own strengths and weaknesses, detailing both his self-perception and how others view him. The collection moves beyond the initial grief to cover broader aspects of existence. It is not easy reading for those seeking light entertainment. The work suits readers interested in memoir-style poetry that addresses heavy emotional subjects. Those preferring fictional horror or supernatural tales will find this volume disconnected from their interests. The book remains a painful account of one man’s inner landscape, grounded in real loss and reflection.

💎 Our verdict on Life of A King

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Stephen King presents Life of a King, a collection of poetry rooted in his personal history as a former US Marine. The work chronicles the devastating impact of his younger brother’s death, serving as a catalyst for exploration of guilt and self-examination. While it offers a raw assessment of spiritual awakening and racial identity, it is disconnected from the supernatural tales fans expect. This volume suits readers interested in heavy emotional subjects and memoir-style poetry. It does not suit those preferring fictional horror or light entertainment. The text confronts societal assumptions and complex family relationships, providing a stark contrast to his other published works through its focus on non-fiction emotional truth rather than narrative plot.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers interested in memoir-style poetry that addresses heavy emotional subjects will gain from this book. It offers a raw assessment of strengths and weaknesses, detailing self-perception and societal assumptions placed upon an African American man. Those seeking to understand the author's journey through guilt and faith after his brother's death will find value here. The work provides a stark contrast to fictional horror by focusing on real loss and reflection. However, it is not for those seeking light entertainment or supernatural tales, as it remains a painful account of an inner landscape grounded in tragic reality.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

⭐ HorrorReads editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

This collection appeals to readers seeking raw, memoir-style poetry that tackles heavy emotional subjects and spiritual awakening. Those preferring fictional horror or supernatural tales will find this volume disconnected from their interests. It is not for those seeking light entertainment.

Reader rating

4.7

Based on 7 reviews

Brian T.

July 20, 2026

I read a lot of horror and I'm picky. It leans on old gothic bones and makes them creak convincingly. The binding held up to being carried around for a week. One of my better finds this year.

Grace D.

February 3, 2026

Chilling

Ordered it for Halloween and it came in time. Genuinely unsettling in places, and it earns it without cheap tricks. Highly recommend.

Diana T.

January 3, 2026

Read it in one night

Arrived quickly and well packaged. Print is comfortable for late-night reading. Already eyeing my next order.

Sarah C.

November 6, 2025

Ordered it for Halloween and it came in time. Slow burn, but the burn is the point. It leans on old gothic bones and makes them creak convincingly. Great value for what you get.

Rosa D.

June 23, 2025

Exactly as described

Wanted something for October and it delivered. Read it in two sittings; the second one ran past midnight. Print is comfortable for late-night reading. Would buy from this store again.

Steven C.

May 26, 2025

Chilling

Not my usual subgenre but wanted to branch out. Slow burn, but the burn is the point. My only regret is not ordering it sooner.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No. This is a poetry collection rooted in personal history and grief, not a work of fictional horror or supernatural fiction.

The poems delve into guilt, family dynamics, racial identity, spiritual discovery through Christ, and the impact of his brother's death in the military.

📖 Who should read this

📜 Historical context

While Stephen King is renowned for masterfully weaving terror into the fabric of American life, his poetic works offer a stark departure from his famous genre. This volume anchors itself in the tradition of confessional literature, utilizing verse to navigate personal tragedy and societal expectations. It stands as a somber testament to how autobiographical exploration can serve as a counterpoint to his fictional nightmares, emphasizing vulnerability over supernatural dread.