King’s X: Anthology

King's X #1-3

by Stephen T. Harper

A Los Angeles detective must protect a young runaway whose memories of a mysterious ring she calls "the King's X" have brought a killer from her distant past to her trail.

King's X: Anthology contains the first 3 Books - King's X: Visions, Revelations, and Shepherds - Complete in one volume.

Long ago the King's X was stolen from its makers. The Thief is still hunted to this day. There can be no escape, not even in death. Because to wear the King's X, even once, is to know a forbidden secret. What we are does not die. We have all been here before, and we will all come back.

Genres: Fantasy, Thriller, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Mystery, Suspense, Fiction

422 pages, ebook

First published October 19, 2011

About the author

I live with my beautiful wife by the merely-pretty-in-comparison water in Southern California.

I’m going to try to be more on top of what goes on here from now on, but I have, sadly, paid too little attention to my Goodreads account. It is a mess at the moment and is proving very difficult to clean up. But I’m trying. :)

In my first foray into publishing, I published a novel in serialized format. Once it was complete, I put the books together into one book. On my Goodreads author page, that appears as quite mess. So here’s the thing... there is really only one book called King’ s X: A Supernatural Epic. It is the first of a larger cycle, with a new novel called “Corsair: the King’s X Protocol” coming very soon. Unfortunately, I can not hide the now unavailable serialized editions on Goodreads. So I’m sorry about the confusion and the mess. I’ll do better from now on... :)

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought the premise of King's X was great. The biggest problem here is that the author jumps between POV's in the same sentence, without any warning. I found this completely jarring and ultimately, for me, made the book unreadable. In one scene we are introduced to the character named Broussard, then we are introduced to his brother who is also referred to as Broussard and when we are finally given their first names, the POV has already switched between them so many times that it was impossible to tell who the author was talking about.

The most disappointing thing is that Stephen T. Harper had some great ideas, but those ideas alone are not enough to carry a novel that has the most confusing POV layout I have ever read. I am surprised because most reviews on Amazon are 5 star and don’t mention this at all.

All in all, if you can get past the clunky POV layout there could be an amazing story here. But what started out as a few random POV shifts soon became a tangle so big it was impossible for me to sort out what was going on.

[Tamara Rose Blodgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

WoW...just wow. Harper really understands language. King of dialogue! I *believed* what all his characters were saying, both out loud and in their respective internal monologues. The men thought like men and he didn't do too bad with the chicks either (a few times I wanted to check the cover and make sure it was a male author; he had some uncanny insights into the feminine psyche.)

Like this for instance, which I highlighted in my Kindle like the book fanatic I am,: "Her life had been too safe to need courage, and too easy to develop resolve."

Book is a 1960's detective on the police force driven by integrity and some gritty past circumstances that have molded him into the man he's become. Ghosted by a haunting death in his past that he can't shake, and misunderstanding the root of it, it dogs him into adulthood. Despite challenging circumstances in his childhood, he rises above it magnificently. I was rooting for Wendell Book from the beginning; I dug who he was and thought he sounded pretty hot too! His life changes drastically when he meets Molly, a girl "awoken" to discover she is not who she believed she was. Pieces of her past fall together in a slow mudslide of chunks, with Book intricately entwined in the memories she possesses. I loved Book's POV, but the switch to the Christian Templar time told in third person from the perspectives of Broussard and Kahli were amazing as well. Steeped in history, the passages give a fascinating slice into life at that time,and the bravery and human motivation therein. It is the classic tale of good versus evil but it's never stale. Never. If you're a reader that digs fast paced action, intrigue, highly-detailed scene description, etc. This is the novel for you.

If you can survive the ending. Harper completely turned me upside down with his twist and I was pleased over the surprise of it. It made sense, it was complicated and gave me the "ah-huh" that I love to get nailed with at the end of a great read. Bravo!

A caveat: this is not a genre I'm usually nuts over. It's a thinker: dummies need not apply (joking...kinda). A novel like this keeps you on your toes, there's a lot going on that must be assimilated and connected by the reader, not the least of which is the history that is cleverly paced within the book. It's a full-meal-deal. If you're looking for dessert, skip this. It's too satisfying by far, completely engaging from beginning to end.

[Annalea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't quite sure what to think about this book when I finished it. On one hand, it was a page turner and it was fascinating to see how the past lives we were reading about connected into the future. I was actually surprised by one reveal, so either the author was good at misdirection or I'm just easily duped. Either way, the plot twists worked for me.

Some reviews have mentioned that the frequent POV switching can be confusing, and I would probably agree with that, even though I felt the book was pretty solidly written overall.

Still, I was just vaguely dissatisfied at the end. I'm not sure if it was caused by the underlying philosophy of the story, the unresolved issues left open, or both. I see now that the book is first in a series of four, so maybe the sequels will help. Now I just have to decide if this story intrigues me enough to read further. I'm still not sure.

2.5 stars

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Must read!!!!

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This took me ten forevers to finish but not because I didn't like it, life simply gets in the way sometimes. Once I got to page 111 (this past Saturday) it was an easy feat to finish it this morning before work. This was a signed copy I received for free from goodreads giveaways, and it was probably one of the weirder ones I've won. I say this because some of it felt like I was back in Sunday School except David Lynch was subbing in for Sister Marie and he had us cut out snowflake patterns from the Da Vinci Code book while making us watch a movie on the roll-out tv VCR called Real History: Why Conspiracy Theorists Were Right All Along. I somehow feel this would have mentally scarred me much less than my first Confession.
The King's X is a story within a story (within a story) that includes lots of death, violence, betrayal, confusion, and shotguns. Some LOTR undertones, and a whole lot of Manchurian Candidate vibe to it. I suppose I can't say too much without spoiling the story, so suffice it to say this book really made me THINK about important things like life, loyalty, morals and courage. And as Special Agent Dale Cooper says, "Diane, it struck me again earlier this morning; there are two things that continue to trouble me. And I'm speaking now not only as an agent of the Bureau but also as a human being. What really went on between Marilyn Monroe and the Kennedys and who really pulled the trigger on JFK?"

[Krista · Rating 1 out of 5]

I cannot understand why so many people think so highly of this book.

The premise is pretty good, the writing however was disappointing. It was confusing and messy at too many occasions, and that is something I can not easily ignore.

I've always been told: one scene, one POV, and there were too many occasions where POV's were switched every couple of sentences, even done in such a fashion that I was left wondering whose head I now was in. Not much fun.
I never cared for the characters, maybe since I never really got to know them because of the way they were portrayed.

I do like books that switch timelines and where, in the end, it all comes together (like 'The eight' by Katherine Neville), but neither timeline could really graps my interest or leave me curious to find out what would happen next.

I gave the book a good chance and I truly do not like giving up on one. It might be I still gave up before it became better, but I could no longer bring myself to pick it up once more. Thankfully, it was a kindle lend and not a buy.

[Sophie Narey (Bookreview- aholic) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Published: 17/10/2011
Author: Stephen. T. Harper
Recommended for: fan's of detective novels
Edition: Kindle

I found this book on the Kindle Store for free and thought I would give it a try. The writing style of Stephen T. Harper is really brilliant he has a way with writing that makes you believe what the characters are saying, it is the kind of book that you can really let your imagination explore. The book is a detective story set in 1960's. The pace flows nicely throughout the book meaning that there is a dull moment, it continually makes you want to read on. It is a very good detective story.

[Jacky Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen’s writing is methodical and detailed, with excellent attention to detail. I love his treatment of the Knight’s Templar – and have to agree with the reviewer who said the history is “cleverly paced” - not the normal couple of pages of description before you get anywhere near a character. This book is peopled with heroes, from the spunky 16-year-old who has lived before to the hunky detective who is the only person capable of saving her from the evil Shepherd.*shudders* And all I’m saying about Shahin is Johnny Depp in heavy black curls. Nuff said.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The way he unfolds the story is absolutely captivating. I only gave it 3 stars because some of the content is a little disturbing to me and there a were some things that totally go against my personal belief system that I just didn't like. I would give the storytelling 5 stars though.

[Kellianne Sweeney · Rating 5 out of 5]

King's X is an intelligent and entrancing reincarnation adventure.The plot is intricate with several twists.I found it maddening fun trying to put the tantalizing pieces together. The writing style is excellent and the past well researched. I thoroughly enjoyed King's X and I highly recommend it.

[Joan Driedger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was captivated! Not my usual genre, put a book I had to keep reading. I had to see what happened next.

[Allizabeth Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Description:

There was once a great thief that stole the King's X - a relic with a secret: No one ever really dies. We always come back; a vicious circle. Once we come back- we forget, but there is one person who knows the truth, and for 600 years they've been running. The year is 1968, and Los Angeles is about to have a run in with a brutal force known as "The Enemy". Detective Wendell Book meets a girl named Molly Reed who has been "awakened" to find that she isn't who she thinks. Her past lives/reincarnations and memories are intertwined with Wendell's, and lead them on a quest across the city, (and time), to find the King's X once again. With their ever-growing knowledge of the past, can the pair, (and their historical counter-parts), escape the evil lurking at every turn and find the relic? Or will they fail, forget, and live to repeat it all over again?

Review:

I have read some excellent books lately, but believe me when I say that this one is so good it needs film rights! The whole time I was reading, a virtual "film version" was playing in my head - action, suspense, drama, intrigue, superb detail, and a compelling story-line; what more could a reader ask for? Stephen T. Harper is a master of words. I found the level of detail amazing, but not overpowering to the characters or dialogue. His vocabulary choices were perfect for the text, and both spoken words and inner monologues were realistic as well as entertaining. When I first began reading, I discovered that this book was different than my usual review picks. The intelligence/ style of the writing paired with the jagged plot-line made King's X a worthwhile challenge; something many readers shy away from. The characters span time, the story jumps back and forth between characters/eras, there are several different perspectives, and the littlest fact, if overlooked, can potentially lead the reader to a dark alley, so to speak. I don't back down from challenges, so I knew I was in for a treat. I stayed awake all night to finish, heart pounding, eyes bulging from their sockets with every new twist, and the ending almost killed me! - (No spoilers)! I haven't been that surprised by an ending since Dumbledore took a surprise dive from Hogwarts. The characters affect the reader immediately. Khali and Molly were intense characters, as was Wendell, and they were all multi-dimensional; their inner monologues only strengthened their development and influence. I cannot wait to read more! Hopefully I will get to review the next book because I don't think I can wait for whenever the release date is. Highly recommended for lovers of all genres who like a book with some substance.

Rating: Clean Getaway (5/5)

* I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Risco · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the story convoluted, very difficult to follow, and tragically wanting in the end. Too bad! The premise was interesting and the characters sufficiently developed but the dialogue was presumptuous and over the top most of the time. My ebook copy was equivalent to around 400 written pages and I estimate the actual story was told in less than 250. The other 150: Filler pure and simple. Harper certainly demonstrates his dexterity in the use of a thesaurus. And with all that superfluous verbiage the story was still hard to follow as it jumped from time and place to place and time. Thank God for chapter breaks. I forced myself to finish this one, as demonstrated by how long it took in comparison to my average read times.

The Epilogue was the sour icing on the cake. I had what I thought was a reasonable grasp of the story and the ending until the epilogue introduced an event that tore up and discarded the only thread of continuity between the two story lines. It replaced the assumed connection with a void. I like a hanging resolution as well as the next person, but this was as over the top as the wasted words. It left the reader with no plausible thread between the past and present. Maybe that was a ploy to lure the reader to an obvious sequel? I hope Harper develops an economy of words as his writing career ensues. With all the great stories like this out there, I'd GIVE THIS ONE A PASS. The two stars are for character development and what could have been a great premise if connected better and somehow concluded with a resolution.

[Adriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A secret so dangerous, those who possess it will do anything to keep it from falling into the enemy's hands. And the enemy won't bat an eye at committing any atrocity in it's pursuit. A secret so old, knowledge of it has made its way into the mythology of virtually all belief systems. It's protectors and pursuers have fought time and again through the ages. Eventually, that battle made its way to the streets of Los Angeles in 1968 . . . .

I won this book through First Reads, and received a copy personally signed by the author. Thank you!

I generally do not read this genre, but when King's X came up as a First Reads giveaway, the premise sounded intriguing. So I entered and won. I was not disappointed. This was a brilliant piece of storytelling, thoroughly captivating from start to finish. I see that some readers have had difficulty with the changing points of view. I did not find this to be a problem at all. Given the subject matter, it might have been a major problem with a less skilled writer, but Mr. Harper was very meticulous in revealing the pieces of this story so that it was neither rushed nor drawn out. I found the narrative compelling and easy to follow. Although this book could stand alone, there are enough unanswered questions where an equally well-written sequel would also be compelling.

[Clarice · Rating 4 out of 5]

FIRST novel? Really?! Stephen T. Harper is truly a talent to watch!

I was not expecting to be drawn into this novel so completely. As another reviewer aptly observed, "King's X" has "The grip of a beach read with the thought stimulation of literature".

Harper gives us a thrilling historic fiction mystery full of action and adventure - all skillfully woven together with a thread of fantasy. The story flows with an intense, palpable energy that makes it very hard to put down. Harper's command of language makes reading an absolute pleasure. However, although his prose is elegant, he doesn't try to impress the reader with his vocabulary. (I did not have to use my Kindle dictionary to look up a single word.)

I was fortunate enough to download "King's X" when it was being offered as a free selection, but I think it is still an incredible bargain at the current price of $5.95. I look forward to new offerings by Stephen T. Harper. I expect to see his work on the New York Times Best Sellers list soon.

[Rebecca Graf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book intrigued me. It didn’t disappoint me.
Haunted, characters struggle to understand the nightmares that plague them. Is there really someone trying to kill them? Are they destined for something more? With flashbacks to the Crusades, the reader finds themselves swirling in a complicated plot where good versus evil is not black and white…it is very grey.
I really did love this book. Yes, it was confusing at times but a complicated plot can be. Not all questions can or should be answered early on. Then the story would be boring. This was not boring.

Characters were interesting and deep. I found myself wanting to know more and get into their minds. That was a little hard due to the mysteries that surrounded them, but I began to figure things out though I didn’t quite hit the bull’s eye.
A great read with me wanting more from this author.
Note: I purchased this book with my own funds with no expectation of a positive review.

[Kim Heimbuch · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the read was okay, it is not one I would probably reread or recommend to others looking for a good read. I found the cover art more appealing then the story itself. While Harper has a firm grasp on writing, I felt I was constantly changing point of views and eventually this can get both exhausting and confusing. I did like how the story moved around and interwove and eventually started to piece together, but I still found it difficult to make sense of where I was a lot of the time. Definitely give this book a read though as everyone has different tastes in literature and you might find you absolutely love this one.

First Reads Book

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. It intrigued me from the beginning and gripped me early on. I would get so wrapped up in the story that it would kind of freak me out. But after I finished it, I was so sad that it was over. I LOVED IT!!!

What really struck me about this book was not just Harper's command of the English language. It was clear that he has done a great deal of research on religions of the world, both past and present. It was simply amazing how well he interweaved similar stories from different religions to create one cohesive legend. I didn't want to put it down.

The end of the Kindle edition said there are other Kings X books in the works. I can't wait until the next installment!!!

[Sharon Goss · Rating 2 out of 5]

I downloaded this book because it was free and I had just purchased my kindle. It is not the kind of book I normally read but I found it very interesting. It helped to know about the history of the Templar before reading this book. It is like reading two stories at once with every other chapter changing but they are also connected. My complaint is in the end the stories seemed to get wrapped up to quickly.

[Marcie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book such a let down. When I finished it (which was a struggle) I felt as though I had gone in a circle. The only reason I kept going was to find out what happened to the main characters.....and they are right back at square one by the end of the book. I know realize that this is the first in a series. But given how little progress was accomplished in this title I can only imagine the pace of the others.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harper's story goes back and forth between the 13th century Templars and their loss of the city of Acre and 20th century assassination of RFK. Life times in both are connected to the search for King Solomon's ring. The ring travels through the ages giving whomever wears it ultimate power. I had trouble following all the stories for the first third of the book, but once I got into it, I became fully engaged.

[Dinah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anytime I read a book with a historical story along with a modern story, I am probably going to like it. People living multiple lives is a second positive. Given all of that, I should love this book. However, it did not get to the love rating. In an attempt to play up the "big secret" it lost some of the flow. And at the end I was left not completely satisfied.

[Nev Murray · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can't make my mind up about this one. Dunno if I liked it or not. Found it very confusing at times.

This review was written before I started to take my reviewing seriously. I would need to re-read the book to give it a serious, detailed and fair review so the above review was what I posted at the time.

[stormiedog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I down-loaded this as an e book. But, I like to hold a book in my hands when I'm reading... I'm old and set in my ways. It's unfortunate, because I really like this book. But, it is going to take me longer to finish it. I'll probably finish reading it on the plane in March. :)

[Simonne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was really hard for me to read and follow. I usually finish a book a week, maybe two weeks but this one took me two months. I did not find it compelling at all and you definitely need to know some background on knights of the Templar.

[Mscout · Rating 4 out of 5]

Templars and Hospitaliers and Saracens, oh my! An actually pretty decent thriller, a la ancient mysteries uncovered in the present day, or the Da Vinci Code genre. And reincarnation. Can't forget that...

[David Chittenden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows a few plot lines. It was a little difficult to track at first, but became clear after a little while. I completely got it wrong at the end as to who in the present was who in the past. Very well done.

[Allie_oco]

Free today on Kindle.. 1.16.12 I can't decide if I will actually read it though. lol

[Phoenix Carvelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. It was a bit confusing when switching from character to character and time to time. All in all, a really interesting book.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is pretty slow starting...but if you can get through the first quarter or third of it, hang on for a great ride through the rest.