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The King of Everything
In the heart of an empty city, humanity's last echo lingers.
The last living human wanders through a metropolis frozen in time. The streets still hum with electricity, food and drink remain fresh, and forest fauna roam the streets without worry. By day, it's a surreal paradise. But at night, shadows emerge from the darkness, slaughtering any creature foolish enough to remain in the open, stacking the corpses into towering pyres set ablaze as offerings to a greater eldritch being.
Desperation drives him into the nearby woods to seek refuge. Yet, something else calls the green expanse home. Something equally mysterious.
In order to survive, he’ll have to confront the unknown and unravel the mysteries of a dying world. Only then will he be ready to face that which frightens him most. For no matter where he hides, an unseen voice beckons Come home, little prince. Come home to me.
Robinson Crusoe in a Lovecraftian landscape, The King of Everything contends with the dualities of man and animal, nature and civilization, loneliness and community, life and death, and the vital shade of gray found at the center of it all.
The last living human wanders through a metropolis frozen in time. The streets still hum with electricity, food and drink remain fresh, and forest fauna roam the streets without worry. By day, it's a surreal paradise. But at night, shadows emerge from the darkness, slaughtering any creature foolish enough to remain in the open, stacking the corpses into towering pyres set ablaze as offerings to a greater eldritch being.
Desperation drives him into the nearby woods to seek refuge. Yet, something else calls the green expanse home. Something equally mysterious.
In order to survive, he’ll have to confront the unknown and unravel the mysteries of a dying world. Only then will he be ready to face that which frightens him most. For no matter where he hides, an unseen voice beckons Come home, little prince. Come home to me.
Robinson Crusoe in a Lovecraftian landscape, The King of Everything contends with the dualities of man and animal, nature and civilization, loneliness and community, life and death, and the vital shade of gray found at the center of it all.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 10, 2025
4 people are currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Jack Moody
9 books41 followersJack Moody is a novelist and short story writer whose work includes Miracle Boy, The Lights That Dim, and The King of Everything. He is a former contributor for Return Magazine, The Bel Esprit Project, and Brick Moon Fiction, and his stories have appeared in various publications, most notably The NoSleep Podcast and The Saturday Evening Post. He lives in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 28, 2025
A poem of sadness, loneliness, and existential dread in prose! Jack Moody's "The King of Everything" is smartly written and engrossing from the first page, as long as you allow yourself to be carried along the trippy and emotionally charged wandering of the last living man on Earth. With imagery reminiscent of Dan Simmons's Hyperion Cantos, Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun, and, of course, Lovecraft's "Dreamlands" works, the tale unfolds as a blend of urban and cosmic horror, keeping the eerieness very high and the atmosphere very dark. It's a slow burn, offering an immersive reading experience, deliberately filled with weird, unexplainable moments, chilly and uncanny scenes, and grotesque twists. Were it shorter, it might have been the perfect accompanying booklet of a really good 1980s death metal band CD!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 12, 2025
THE KING OF EVERYTHING. Out now
June 18, 2025
This was an awesome post apocalyptic story that will appease Lovecraft nerds. I enjoyed this and thought the way it was written really added to the ambiance of the story. Had a third person limited point of view but with a little caveat that at first threw me off some but I found very fitting. This story made me reflect and think about quite a few different conundrums and themes including one of my favorites: humankind’s place in the world and food chain. Very easily a 4 star read that satiated both my lovecraft and post apocalyptic nerdoms. I would definitely recommend this book. Thank you to Jack Moody and Book Sirens for the Advanced Reader Copy. It was a pleasure to read and review this one!
March 15, 2025
I'll keep this review short. If you are a fan of Lovecraft's dream sequence tales then this is a book for you. There's not a lot going on in King of Everything, but the prose is beautiful and the whole book makes you feel like you're walking through someone's slumbering mind. Warning: there is animal death in more than one instance.
June 24, 2025
One of the things I’ve always like about a good Mythos story is the sheer degree of intertextuality, the way stories can be good on their own, but take on a whole new dimension if you know the underlying lore. That is also the best description of this book, and its strongest selling point.
The story starts off as a typical post-apocalyptic narrative, with a lone survivor searching for food in a city devoid of human life. No destruction can be seen, except that which follows from neglect, and it’s not really explained what has happened to humanity. Rather, the story focuses on the philosophical musings of the protagonist, living side by side with the animals that slowly reclaim the city. There’s danger at night—danger that has nothing to do with wildlife—but as long as he can find shelter before sunset, the main character seems quite at ease with his life.
What places this book squarely in the weird fiction genre are the many references to older works in the Mythos, particularly the works of Ambrose Bierce and Robert Chambers. Some of these can be quite subtle, and cleverly done, others are more overt. Others seem to be a reference to Lovecraft’s underappreciated short story, «The Green Meadow», though it could simply be an overlap in motif. Either way, it’s beautifully done, a story which works well without any prior knowledge of the genre, but becomes infinitely better with some basic knowledge of the older works.
That being said, it’s a story that requires a lot from the reader. A great deal of time and effort is dedicated to portraying the main character’s thought process, and while that mostly works out quite well, the result is that the story is sometimes told in large blocks of text. It’s not a story you can read on and off, and it will often take time to truly appreciate the quality of writing. Having done so, however, you will not be disappointed.
Although I haven’t read the author’s other works, I can happily recommend «The King of Everything», both for Mythos fans and for fans of well written horror.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
The story starts off as a typical post-apocalyptic narrative, with a lone survivor searching for food in a city devoid of human life. No destruction can be seen, except that which follows from neglect, and it’s not really explained what has happened to humanity. Rather, the story focuses on the philosophical musings of the protagonist, living side by side with the animals that slowly reclaim the city. There’s danger at night—danger that has nothing to do with wildlife—but as long as he can find shelter before sunset, the main character seems quite at ease with his life.
What places this book squarely in the weird fiction genre are the many references to older works in the Mythos, particularly the works of Ambrose Bierce and Robert Chambers. Some of these can be quite subtle, and cleverly done, others are more overt. Others seem to be a reference to Lovecraft’s underappreciated short story, «The Green Meadow», though it could simply be an overlap in motif. Either way, it’s beautifully done, a story which works well without any prior knowledge of the genre, but becomes infinitely better with some basic knowledge of the older works.
That being said, it’s a story that requires a lot from the reader. A great deal of time and effort is dedicated to portraying the main character’s thought process, and while that mostly works out quite well, the result is that the story is sometimes told in large blocks of text. It’s not a story you can read on and off, and it will often take time to truly appreciate the quality of writing. Having done so, however, you will not be disappointed.
Although I haven’t read the author’s other works, I can happily recommend «The King of Everything», both for Mythos fans and for fans of well written horror.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
November 4, 2025
Riveting, thought-provoking, and eerie. I read this book in three sittings. Jack Moody takes us to a surrealistic post-apocalyptic dreamscape shrouded in mystery. The protagonist’s complex relationship with his own species and companionship with the animals is a strong basis for the character development that gains serious steam in the final third of the book.
The King of Everything is a work of philosophy before it’s a work of horror, but even the latter suffices as a description. In many ways, the book is both a warning and a sobering reminder to post-industrial humanity—we have pushed nature’s buttons during the atomic age in which we live. I cannot profess to have all the answers or the best interpretation of Moody’s work, it’s something that must be read. Although I am certain that this might be his most misunderstood piece of literature.
Altogether, I highly recommend Moody’s work.
The King of Everything is a work of philosophy before it’s a work of horror, but even the latter suffices as a description. In many ways, the book is both a warning and a sobering reminder to post-industrial humanity—we have pushed nature’s buttons during the atomic age in which we live. I cannot profess to have all the answers or the best interpretation of Moody’s work, it’s something that must be read. Although I am certain that this might be his most misunderstood piece of literature.
Altogether, I highly recommend Moody’s work.
June 9, 2025
This book is about the last man alive and his struggles and coping mechanisms of the isolation, and the connection he has with the remaining animals around him.
I really liked his character and his connection to nature and animals. I also really liked how detailed his world is and the way the abandoned stores bring him a distraction from everything.
I wanted to love this so badly but unfortunately I didn’t like it as much as I had anticipated mainly due to nothing major happening in the book and all the unexplained details about the why and how he was the only human left.
Thank you BookSirens for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked his character and his connection to nature and animals. I also really liked how detailed his world is and the way the abandoned stores bring him a distraction from everything.
I wanted to love this so badly but unfortunately I didn’t like it as much as I had anticipated mainly due to nothing major happening in the book and all the unexplained details about the why and how he was the only human left.
Thank you BookSirens for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 18, 2025
I’ve been reading for so long it is extremely rare for me to read a book that floors me with how good it is. However, The King Of Everything is one of the deepest, most suspenseful novels I’ve ever read! The rich symbolism and uncanny grammar left me feeling from page to page, from chapter to tragically beautiful chapter. I will be suggesting this book to others for the rest of my life! Curious? Great! Read this book!! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 28, 2025
Despite not being that long a book or felt interminable to read. I put this down to a lack of plot or focus. The protagonist was fairly aimless, and none of the ideas about the creatures or beings were really developed.
The prose was pretty good, however, and the descriptions of the natural world were evocative. We also got a deep insight into the man's innermost thoughts, though it felt a little too philosophical and it came at the expense of having any real plot.
The prose was pretty good, however, and the descriptions of the natural world were evocative. We also got a deep insight into the man's innermost thoughts, though it felt a little too philosophical and it came at the expense of having any real plot.
June 7, 2025
This book is the kind of Lovecraftian fever dream that leaves you feeling like you've just clawed your way out of a fog. Leaving you dazed, haunted, and not entirely sure what you just witnessed.
Moody’s prose is undeniably evocative. Every sentence is steeped in mood, whether it’s dread, grief, tension, or existential despair. There’s a weight to every word, and not a single one feels wasted. This is writing that wants you to feel every unraveling thread of the narrator’s mind, and on that front, it delivers in spades.
That said, the story leans hard into ambiguity (sometimes to its detriment). While cosmic horror thrives on the unknown, I found myself wishing for just a bit more clarity, a few more handholds in the dark. The pacing, too, felt stretched at times; the slow burn is effective, but I think this book could’ve been tighter without losing any of its dread soaked impact.
Still, if you like your horror cerebral, your atmosphere oppressive, and your endings open to interpretation, The King of Everything will absolutely speak to you. It’s a trip. It’s beautifully written, deeply unsettling, and entirely its own beast.
Many thanks to BookSirens and Jack Moody for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Moody’s prose is undeniably evocative. Every sentence is steeped in mood, whether it’s dread, grief, tension, or existential despair. There’s a weight to every word, and not a single one feels wasted. This is writing that wants you to feel every unraveling thread of the narrator’s mind, and on that front, it delivers in spades.
That said, the story leans hard into ambiguity (sometimes to its detriment). While cosmic horror thrives on the unknown, I found myself wishing for just a bit more clarity, a few more handholds in the dark. The pacing, too, felt stretched at times; the slow burn is effective, but I think this book could’ve been tighter without losing any of its dread soaked impact.
Still, if you like your horror cerebral, your atmosphere oppressive, and your endings open to interpretation, The King of Everything will absolutely speak to you. It’s a trip. It’s beautifully written, deeply unsettling, and entirely its own beast.
Many thanks to BookSirens and Jack Moody for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
June 22, 2025
This is a super fun lovecraftian novel! I always love an unnamed narrator, it adds an element of mystery to the narrative. There were parts in the middle that seemed to drag on for me, but the beginning and the end were most enthralling for me. I really enjoyed the narrative style as well! I was lucky to receive this as an ARC, all thoughts are my own.
February 21, 2025
This story was well written. I did not go into this read expecting to think so much. Expecting to ask questions like, what would earth be like without humans? Would wildlife thrive without the pressures of habitat destruction, poaching, and pollution? Of course it would. Being the last human leave one with way too much time to think. At times this story felt like dipping ones toes into Transcendentalism. In the so much as the thoughts that humans are easily corrupted by society therefore people are at their best when self-reliant and independent even isolated from each other.
What I did want is more excitement. More info on the “new humanoid” creatures that have appeared. Are they truly there or are they a creation of a mind that is slowly deteriorating. Is our last human finally succumbing to the isolation? Or is this all part of his shame about humanities actions and destruction. I am not sure which way the author was going but I do wish there was a bit more interaction with the human like creatures. With out this I feel like this story because more of a philosophical attempt at humanity attempting to make wrong the rights they have inflicted upon the planet. If this was the goal of the author, he was successful.
Overall it was an interesting read and the writing provides vivid imagery that makes it easy to visualize. Though the ending did pick up and get more exciting, I just wanted more excitement, more struggle, more explanation.
What I did want is more excitement. More info on the “new humanoid” creatures that have appeared. Are they truly there or are they a creation of a mind that is slowly deteriorating. Is our last human finally succumbing to the isolation? Or is this all part of his shame about humanities actions and destruction. I am not sure which way the author was going but I do wish there was a bit more interaction with the human like creatures. With out this I feel like this story because more of a philosophical attempt at humanity attempting to make wrong the rights they have inflicted upon the planet. If this was the goal of the author, he was successful.
Overall it was an interesting read and the writing provides vivid imagery that makes it easy to visualize. Though the ending did pick up and get more exciting, I just wanted more excitement, more struggle, more explanation.
June 5, 2025
Disclaimer: I received and advanced copy of this book and this opinion is my own.
I try my hardest to support indie works whenever possible. I'll look for small presses and self published authors to review and promote, but lately I've been hitting a dry spell. The indie books I've been picking have not been hitting the spot like they used to. Maybe my book radar is off.
I've been reading The King of Everything by Jack Moody and I really wanted to like it. I wanted to be able to sing from the hills its praises, but I simply couldn't. It's a concept that's been done before, a solitary man at the end of the world, but I thought it might offer something new to the idea.
Instead, The King of Everything is a heavy and slow paced book that spends more time being introspective and waxing philosophical than actually saying anything. Nothing much happens, and anything that does happen is caked in so much verbosity that it drags the whole thing down. I could only manage to read it in bits and pieces, and even then I found it hard to read. Perhaps, The King of Everything just isn't for me. The prose is still good and there's certainly something there, I just don't think it was well suited to my tastes.
If you like cosmic horror and waxing prose, The King of Everything is for you.
I try my hardest to support indie works whenever possible. I'll look for small presses and self published authors to review and promote, but lately I've been hitting a dry spell. The indie books I've been picking have not been hitting the spot like they used to. Maybe my book radar is off.
I've been reading The King of Everything by Jack Moody and I really wanted to like it. I wanted to be able to sing from the hills its praises, but I simply couldn't. It's a concept that's been done before, a solitary man at the end of the world, but I thought it might offer something new to the idea.
Instead, The King of Everything is a heavy and slow paced book that spends more time being introspective and waxing philosophical than actually saying anything. Nothing much happens, and anything that does happen is caked in so much verbosity that it drags the whole thing down. I could only manage to read it in bits and pieces, and even then I found it hard to read. Perhaps, The King of Everything just isn't for me. The prose is still good and there's certainly something there, I just don't think it was well suited to my tastes.
If you like cosmic horror and waxing prose, The King of Everything is for you.
March 12, 2025
In "The King of Everything", author Jack Moody crafts a haunting, atmospheric tale that grapples with the deepest existential questions of what it means to be human in a world devoid of humanity.
The story follows the last living man as he wanders through an eerily preserved city, surrounded by the trappings of civilization yet utterly alone. By day, he marvels at the surreal beauty of nature reclaiming the metropolis, as wildlife freely roams streets humming with electricity and stocked with unspoiled food and drink. Yet when darkness falls, the city transforms into a nightmarish hellscape as shadowy creatures emerge to brutally slaughter any living being they encounter, piling the corpses into grotesque pyres set ablaze in grim offering to an unknown entity.
The King of Everything is a cerebral and introspective read, with a deliberately slow pace that allows the reader to fully immerse themselves in the protagonist's psychological journey and the novel's rich, atmospheric world-building.
The story follows the last living man as he wanders through an eerily preserved city, surrounded by the trappings of civilization yet utterly alone. By day, he marvels at the surreal beauty of nature reclaiming the metropolis, as wildlife freely roams streets humming with electricity and stocked with unspoiled food and drink. Yet when darkness falls, the city transforms into a nightmarish hellscape as shadowy creatures emerge to brutally slaughter any living being they encounter, piling the corpses into grotesque pyres set ablaze in grim offering to an unknown entity.
The King of Everything is a cerebral and introspective read, with a deliberately slow pace that allows the reader to fully immerse themselves in the protagonist's psychological journey and the novel's rich, atmospheric world-building.
April 10, 2025
This book examines what it would be like to be the last existing human. I can’t say whether or not it’s Earth because we never learn where the man (we never learn his name but when he’s the only remaining human, it really doesn’t matter) is actually living. It’s an intriguing read but the story left me with more questions because the book didn’t address portions of the plot. How did the man end up as the only human alive? Is this true or just what he imagines? What happened to everyone that they suddenly disappeared? The man may have been alone for just a week or it could have been years. Regardless, how is he able to collect fresh food, when it should have spoiled within days to months, depending upon the item? He seems to live in one universe but then steps into another. At the end, we don’t know what happens to Arthur or the man. For that reason, I’m giving the book a 3* rating.
I received an ARC of the novel and this is my personal opinion.
I received an ARC of the novel and this is my personal opinion.
June 17, 2025
It’s the end of the world. There is one man - One man remains! He is the King - The King of Everything!
What dangers and surprises are lurking in the darkness?
A man constantly on the move. Fearing that the strange vampiric shadow creatures might catch up to him.
Will he survive?
Jack moody has a poetic way of writing.
This book was a slow burn read, unfolding with every page.
I felt that this book was profound, creepy, dark, and strange with Lovecraftian vibes.
It was an interesting read with quite a bit of layers. I am left with so many questions! I look forward to Jack Moody’s next book and his growth as an author!
Thank you to Timber Ghost Press, Jack Moody, and Book Sirens for this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What dangers and surprises are lurking in the darkness?
A man constantly on the move. Fearing that the strange vampiric shadow creatures might catch up to him.
Will he survive?
Jack moody has a poetic way of writing.
This book was a slow burn read, unfolding with every page.
I felt that this book was profound, creepy, dark, and strange with Lovecraftian vibes.
It was an interesting read with quite a bit of layers. I am left with so many questions! I look forward to Jack Moody’s next book and his growth as an author!
Thank you to Timber Ghost Press, Jack Moody, and Book Sirens for this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 16, 2025
Jack Moody’s writing forces the reader to pause and think about the meaning of why we’re here. Do we have any control over our lives, or do we merely exist and react to what the world, and life, throws at us? What is real? Are we completely powerless? What happens if we are somehow privy to a knowledge that we weren’t supposed to have and then having this “forbidden knowledge” leads to madness. Do I really want to know that we’re all powerless? I think of the tv series Severance where a truth is so disturbing we can’t ponder it too much or we might go crazy! Disturbing but necessary contemplation? I don’t know! Great story by a contemplative writer!
April 21, 2025
disclaimer: i received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. thank you booksirens and jack moody for the copy!
a slow-paced prose rooted in transcendentalism. if you like eldritch horror and finding fear in the unknown, this is for you. personally, i felt this was way more of a philosophical read that poses questions about humanity and our interactions with the world we're in rather than a piece of horror fiction. this is much more than that.
a slow-paced prose rooted in transcendentalism. if you like eldritch horror and finding fear in the unknown, this is for you. personally, i felt this was way more of a philosophical read that poses questions about humanity and our interactions with the world we're in rather than a piece of horror fiction. this is much more than that.
June 23, 2025
4.5. I loved the first 90% of this book. For some reason, the last 10% had me a bit confused and I'm still unsure of the ending. I'll have to reread it again.
But I loved the tension, the introspection, the commentary, and the humanness of the man. He was imperfect, hypocritical, and thoroughly embodies the human spirit. It was such an interesting and fascinating read, and I didn't want it to end. I loved every moment of it, and I'll definitely be reading it again, if not to glean more of what the ending is supposed to be.
But I loved the tension, the introspection, the commentary, and the humanness of the man. He was imperfect, hypocritical, and thoroughly embodies the human spirit. It was such an interesting and fascinating read, and I didn't want it to end. I loved every moment of it, and I'll definitely be reading it again, if not to glean more of what the ending is supposed to be.
May 24, 2025
“The King of Everything” was a real "could not put down" book, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. However, a few elements didn’t quite sit right with me in terms of how they fit into the traditional King in Yellow mythos—they pulled me out of the eerie, dreamlike atmosphere I was thoroughly enjoying.
March 12, 2025
In depth review coming soon... Needless to say, loved it. A brilliant blend of cosmic horror and philosophy.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews