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Samson
SAM HALL has always been most comfortable behind a camera. After moving to Duncan, MO, the rest of his life is starting to feel comfortable as his cousin is close, the local diner is good, and he's excited to wake up for his photojournalism job every morning.
That is, until he shatters his alarm clock - and with it, the peaceful, quiet, comfortable life he had worked so hard for - into tiny pieces.
The sudden appearance of super strength wreaks havoc on everything he touches and, with his loved ones in the crossfire of this uncontrolled ability, Sam is forced to confront the discomfort of this new power head on. Old friends reveal themselves as familiar heroes, offering guidance, hopeful his strength could help them all-but Sam fears his powers may make it too dangerous for him to stay. With the city on the verge of a turf war, the appearance of next-gen weapons, and his sense of control and identity crumbling, Sam knows a quiet life behind a camera is no longer an option. Like it or not, whatever he decides to do next, the consequences could be greater than he could have ever imagined.
This sequel to The White Knight is perfect for fans of superheroes who prefer reading novels.
That is, until he shatters his alarm clock - and with it, the peaceful, quiet, comfortable life he had worked so hard for - into tiny pieces.
The sudden appearance of super strength wreaks havoc on everything he touches and, with his loved ones in the crossfire of this uncontrolled ability, Sam is forced to confront the discomfort of this new power head on. Old friends reveal themselves as familiar heroes, offering guidance, hopeful his strength could help them all-but Sam fears his powers may make it too dangerous for him to stay. With the city on the verge of a turf war, the appearance of next-gen weapons, and his sense of control and identity crumbling, Sam knows a quiet life behind a camera is no longer an option. Like it or not, whatever he decides to do next, the consequences could be greater than he could have ever imagined.
This sequel to The White Knight is perfect for fans of superheroes who prefer reading novels.
442 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2025
2 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
K.B. Kirtley
2 books12 followersK.B. is an author from Oklahoma writing the stories he always wanted to read. K.B. holds a lifelong love of superheroes and reading, but has always struggled to fall into comics the same way he has with books. His debut series combines the kind of stories he loves in the format he most connects with in a collection of books and short story series introducing a new universe of superheroes.
Read the first short story series, The Street Rat, for free at KirtleyBooks.com!
Read the first short story series, The Street Rat, for free at KirtleyBooks.com!
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 8, 2025
SAMSON by KB Kirtley
When Sam Hall suddenly develops uncontrollable super strength, his peaceful life unravels. With danger closing in and the city on edge, he must choose whether to run from his powers or face what comes next.
K.B. Kirtley’s Samson is a gripping and well-crafted superhero story that builds on the world of The White Knight while still standing strong on its own. I read the first book months ago, and I was surprised by how easily I slipped back into the world. If you’re new to the series, you can jump in here without feeling lost.
The story follows Sam Hall, a young photographer whose life is turned upside down when he wakes up with terrifying, uncontrollable super strength. From the explosive opening scene with the shattered alarm clock, the focus stays on the human cost of this power. Kirtley captures Sam’s fear and anxiety with an honesty that makes his journey impossible to look away from. It’s not just about learning to use his powers: it’s about holding onto his sense of self when his own body has become dangerous.
One of the book’s real strengths is its setting, especially the community at Fran’s diner. The banter between the regulars adds warmth and humour, giving the story a grounded, lived-in feel. When the big threats arrive, the stakes hit harder because we’ve spent time with the people who will be affected. The easy friendship and care these characters have for one another remain my favourite part of Kirtley’s stories.
The pacing is a slow burn that ends up working in the book’s favour. The first half digs into the mystery of Sam’s powers and the way he’s coping, letting you get attached to him and the found family around him. The second half takes off, with high-stakes action that’s genuinely hard to put down. You can see Kirtley’s growth as a writer here. The action is more ambitious and exciting, and the personal drama blends seamlessly with the city-wide threats. Some of the early dialogue feels a little on-the-nose, but once the story finds its rhythm, the voices feel more natural and distinct.
In the end, Samson is a powerful and satisfying story about finding purpose in the middle of unwanted change, the strength of found family, and what heroism really costs. If you want a superhero story that delivers both adrenaline and heart, this one is well worth picking up.
TWs: violence, discussion of past SA, trauma and mental health, injury, mass casualty event
**I received an ARC copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own**
Instagram: @librisinetenebris
When Sam Hall suddenly develops uncontrollable super strength, his peaceful life unravels. With danger closing in and the city on edge, he must choose whether to run from his powers or face what comes next.
K.B. Kirtley’s Samson is a gripping and well-crafted superhero story that builds on the world of The White Knight while still standing strong on its own. I read the first book months ago, and I was surprised by how easily I slipped back into the world. If you’re new to the series, you can jump in here without feeling lost.
The story follows Sam Hall, a young photographer whose life is turned upside down when he wakes up with terrifying, uncontrollable super strength. From the explosive opening scene with the shattered alarm clock, the focus stays on the human cost of this power. Kirtley captures Sam’s fear and anxiety with an honesty that makes his journey impossible to look away from. It’s not just about learning to use his powers: it’s about holding onto his sense of self when his own body has become dangerous.
One of the book’s real strengths is its setting, especially the community at Fran’s diner. The banter between the regulars adds warmth and humour, giving the story a grounded, lived-in feel. When the big threats arrive, the stakes hit harder because we’ve spent time with the people who will be affected. The easy friendship and care these characters have for one another remain my favourite part of Kirtley’s stories.
The pacing is a slow burn that ends up working in the book’s favour. The first half digs into the mystery of Sam’s powers and the way he’s coping, letting you get attached to him and the found family around him. The second half takes off, with high-stakes action that’s genuinely hard to put down. You can see Kirtley’s growth as a writer here. The action is more ambitious and exciting, and the personal drama blends seamlessly with the city-wide threats. Some of the early dialogue feels a little on-the-nose, but once the story finds its rhythm, the voices feel more natural and distinct.
In the end, Samson is a powerful and satisfying story about finding purpose in the middle of unwanted change, the strength of found family, and what heroism really costs. If you want a superhero story that delivers both adrenaline and heart, this one is well worth picking up.
TWs: violence, discussion of past SA, trauma and mental health, injury, mass casualty event
**I received an ARC copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own**
Instagram: @librisinetenebris
July 27, 2025
Once again, I’m thankful for the opportunity to read a book by K.B. Kirtley. Having been an ARC reader for his debut, The White Knight, I was excited to see what he would do next, and I’m glad I got the chance to read SAMSON.
The story follows Sam, a 25-year-old photographer who moves to a new city and tries to settle into his new life. Things take a strange turn when he wakes up one morning and discovers he has super strength—though he has no idea how he gained this power. As he learns to manage it, the story explores themes of heroism, personal conflict, and moral choices.
It took me a while to get into the story. I’ll admit I was a bit distracted while reading, which made it harder to connect with the narrative at first (totally my fault). Once I pushed through those initial pages, the story started to pick up, and I appreciated how quickly I could understand Sam’s character without remembering him much from the prequel — though I do recommend reading The White Knight if you enjoyed this book.
I’ve noticed a clear improvement in Kirtley’s writing since his first book. His storytelling is more confident, and the action scenes remain as engaging as ever. The dynamic between the characters, especially with Lance, was interesting to see from a different perspective. I wasn’t sure if I just didn’t remember Lance well from the first book or if his character had been influenced by how he wanted to be perceived, but witnessing this side of him was definitely a great insight into who he really is.
That said, some of the dialogue felt repetitive and flat early on, which made parts of the story a little harder to get into. However, as the story progressed, they got better and were no longer issues.
Overall, Samson is an enjoyable read with plenty of action and character development. It’s a good read that shows K.B. Kirtley’s growth as an author. While I didn’t find myself fully immersed from the start, I’m glad I stuck with it, and I can see the potential in his storytelling. I look forward to seeing what he writes next!
If you enjoy character-driven superhero stories with emotional depth, realistic small-town settings, and intense action and moral dilemmas, then you should give this book a chance!
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story follows Sam, a 25-year-old photographer who moves to a new city and tries to settle into his new life. Things take a strange turn when he wakes up one morning and discovers he has super strength—though he has no idea how he gained this power. As he learns to manage it, the story explores themes of heroism, personal conflict, and moral choices.
It took me a while to get into the story. I’ll admit I was a bit distracted while reading, which made it harder to connect with the narrative at first (totally my fault). Once I pushed through those initial pages, the story started to pick up, and I appreciated how quickly I could understand Sam’s character without remembering him much from the prequel — though I do recommend reading The White Knight if you enjoyed this book.
I’ve noticed a clear improvement in Kirtley’s writing since his first book. His storytelling is more confident, and the action scenes remain as engaging as ever. The dynamic between the characters, especially with Lance, was interesting to see from a different perspective. I wasn’t sure if I just didn’t remember Lance well from the first book or if his character had been influenced by how he wanted to be perceived, but witnessing this side of him was definitely a great insight into who he really is.
That said, some of the dialogue felt repetitive and flat early on, which made parts of the story a little harder to get into. However, as the story progressed, they got better and were no longer issues.
Overall, Samson is an enjoyable read with plenty of action and character development. It’s a good read that shows K.B. Kirtley’s growth as an author. While I didn’t find myself fully immersed from the start, I’m glad I stuck with it, and I can see the potential in his storytelling. I look forward to seeing what he writes next!
If you enjoy character-driven superhero stories with emotional depth, realistic small-town settings, and intense action and moral dilemmas, then you should give this book a chance!
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 14, 2025
This story started out a little slow and was mainly character-driven and introspective as Sam grappled with his sudden unexplainable strength. He trained his mind and body, desperate for control, terrified of hurting others, and was encouraged by a group of genuine and caring friends.
A third of the way in, after old friends revealed themselves to be heroes, Sam forced himself to decide whether to join them or hide from the world he feared he’d only harm.
By the midpoint, Sam was finally coming into his power and the pace picked up a bit from there.
While an interesting concept, I found myself wanting a stronger goal/quest for the story (especially in the first half) other than Sam training to control his strength and finding if he fit with the vigilante team. In the second half, there was a bigger thread to investigate, but I wished for more development and intensity, more clues and steps for the team to take. The scenes at times felt repetitive—the friends hanging out eating food and watching movies, monitoring/patrolling the city to step in and save the day before the police showed up—and I wanted more detailed movement on the bigger threat. The climax was action-packed and enjoyable, and the book ended with a satisfying conclusion.
Copy provided by the author. Opinions are my own.
A third of the way in, after old friends revealed themselves to be heroes, Sam forced himself to decide whether to join them or hide from the world he feared he’d only harm.
By the midpoint, Sam was finally coming into his power and the pace picked up a bit from there.
While an interesting concept, I found myself wanting a stronger goal/quest for the story (especially in the first half) other than Sam training to control his strength and finding if he fit with the vigilante team. In the second half, there was a bigger thread to investigate, but I wished for more development and intensity, more clues and steps for the team to take. The scenes at times felt repetitive—the friends hanging out eating food and watching movies, monitoring/patrolling the city to step in and save the day before the police showed up—and I wanted more detailed movement on the bigger threat. The climax was action-packed and enjoyable, and the book ended with a satisfying conclusion.
Copy provided by the author. Opinions are my own.
June 16, 2025
Wow, this one was a ride!
After a slow start, the story ended up being action-packed and fast-paced with a ton of cool superhero stuff and diverse characters. I hadn't read the first novel, The White Knight, before reading Samson, but the novel definitely works as a stand-alone and I was able to catch up pretty fast.
My favorite thing (besides the cool superhero stuff) was how the main character Sam grew as a protagonist and how the team came together. After the slow beginning, there was not a boring moment in this story. At times the narration did feel shallow, a bit like reading a screenplay. Not necessary a bad thing, though, because it left more space for ACTION! Throughout reading, I thought about what a great movie/TV series this book would make.
I loved the relationships between different characters, but especially in the beginning of the story the dialogue felt at times redundant. This got better as the story properly kicked started, though.
All together, I enjoyed this read. If you like superheroes and action-packed novels, I recommend Samson!
Thank you to K.B. Kirtley for the ARC!
June 28, 2025
An excellent second book from K.B. Kirtley! So excited I got to read it a few months early 😎
Things I loved:
- The friendships between the core characters
- The beginning of the book with the shattered alarm clock 🤯
- The arc of Sam discovering and growing into his powers
- Sam’s character being a photojournalist (although I can’t lie, I was lost on the football descriptions because I don’t know anything about the sport lol)
- The diner!!!!!!! Made me want to be a regular at a small town diner.
- All the action in the second half of the book. It felt like the first half was the warmup for all the DRAMA to come.
- I liked how this one called back to some elements in The White Knight but caught you up on all the things you needed to know in a natural way.
Overall, I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who loves superheroes, comic books or just action-packed stories!
Thank you to @KB Kirtley for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Things I loved:
- The friendships between the core characters
- The beginning of the book with the shattered alarm clock 🤯
- The arc of Sam discovering and growing into his powers
- Sam’s character being a photojournalist (although I can’t lie, I was lost on the football descriptions because I don’t know anything about the sport lol)
- The diner!!!!!!! Made me want to be a regular at a small town diner.
- All the action in the second half of the book. It felt like the first half was the warmup for all the DRAMA to come.
- I liked how this one called back to some elements in The White Knight but caught you up on all the things you needed to know in a natural way.
Overall, I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who loves superheroes, comic books or just action-packed stories!
Thank you to @KB Kirtley for the digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 22, 2025
A fantastic follow-up to an exciting debut. You can really feel Kirtley settling into his groove as a writer—there’s a confidence here that shines through in the pacing of this story. He takes the time to really explore the characters, and as a result, their relationships feel authentic and lived-in—they feel like people you’ve met.
The rich character work, paired with sharp, thrilling action sequences, create a story that will resonate with readers outside the superhero genre. KB continues to bring a fresh, compelling voice to the world of supers and I can’t wait to see what he does next.
The rich character work, paired with sharp, thrilling action sequences, create a story that will resonate with readers outside the superhero genre. KB continues to bring a fresh, compelling voice to the world of supers and I can’t wait to see what he does next.
August 13, 2025
Kirtley does a fabulous job at writing his characters and making the story feel real.
August 13, 2025
I was excited when I saw that K.B. Kirtley was coming out with a sequel to The White Knight. I was pumped to see what was going to happen next and how things would progress. I greatly enjoyed the second installment. I loved that superpowers were incorporated and that it didn’t follow the same rules as superhero movies. I feel like K.B. Kirtley did a wonderful job of writing a second novel that wasn't dependent on the first. There were aspects of The White Knight but I feel that Samson can stand on its own.
Sam, Sammy, or Samson, is sweet and kind and just wants to do what is right. I loved getting the chance to learn more about him. While I feel that I definitely know more about him I still feel that there is so much to learn. The connection in particular that he has with Hailey and Gwen is so nice to see. Not going to lie, I’m rooting for Sam and Gwen to have a potential future. Seeing Sam’s resilience was incredible! He has so much to deal with and figure out and he takes it in stride all while learning to lean on others for support.
It was super interesting and fun to see Lance, Jason and Taylor come together once again to help Sam understand what was happening to him. Seeing the progression of their relationships was one of many highlights of this book. I love a good found family story and this book has it in strides. Not going to lie the girls may be my favorite part because they don't let the boys get away with anything!
With medium pacing and chapters that were on the shorter side, it was fun to dive back into the world of The White Knight. After reading the second book I’m super excited to see what future books will bring. If you enjoy superheroes of all kinds, found family and self-discovery this is definitely a book you should add to your tbr.
Have you read Samson? What did you think?
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews