Hunted by the Dead King

by Mallory Benjamin

Dead or alive—he owns me.

Magnolia made a deal with the devil, and she’s been paying for it ever since. For seven years, her only contact with the living has been dragging bodies back to the Dead King. With each human he forces her to hunt, another piece of her humanity slips away, leaving Magnolia more dead than the ghosts inside his castle. But she doesn’t have a choice. The Dead King owns her—body, mind, and soul.

Her next infiltrate Viven, the kingdom of the living, during a deadly tournament designed to recruit new dragon riders. To complete her hunt, Magnolia must live alongside the most lethal beings in Viven. But monsters are nothing new to her—she’s spent years chained to the deadliest one, becoming nothing more than a weapon with a pulse.

As the tournament unfolds, Magnolia realizes she’ll be forced to betray the one man who looks at her like she’s still human, and she starts wanting something she can never have.

Can Magnolia escape the deal she made seven years ago, or will this hunt take what’s left of her humanity—and her life?

Genres: Fantasy Romance, Fantasy

468 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 21, 2026

About the author

Mallory Benjamin is the author of the new-adult fantasy romance series, Lake of Sapphire and Ocean of Silver. She graduated from Penn State with her bachelors in nursing and has worked as a nurse for eight years before becoming a full time author and mama. You can usually find her drafting stories with her baby on her lap. And when she isn’t completely consumed by fictional characters and imaginary worlds, she’s getting lost in fantasy books, taking an unseemly amount of pictures of her daughter, or eating chicken wings.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilled to have had the opportunity to beta read! This book was fantastic. A loose Hercules retelling with dragons, mythology, magic, god-bonds, trauma, a little spice, and some extra villainy villains. I’ll come back for a more in depth review closer to release date, but get this standalone on your list!

[LivingLifeBetweenPages · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. I could not put it down once I started reading, and I devoured it within a few hours. My heart was breaking for both the FMC and MMC for their individual circumstances and all the pain, suffering, and trauma they endured. The plot twists were so good and I loved the ending! I cannot recommend this one enough.

[Jenn Merriman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so beyond grateful for being sent an eARC of this book!

I’m still emotional after finishing Hunted by the Dead King. This one absolutely delivered.

The beginning takes its time building the world and characters, but the payoff at the end makes it completely worth it. The relationship feels earned, not rushed, and both the MMC and FMC are given real agency throughout the story.

I especially loved the character growth—watching the FMC reclaim her power and find her voice after everything she’s been through was incredibly well done. And the MMC? Definitely one of those morally gray, protective types who respects her choices, which always makes a story hit harder for me.

If you like strong character arcs, emotional payoff, and fated mates done right, this is a great one to pick up.

Definitely recommend.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book exceeded my expectations. It was captivating and I couldn’t put it down once I started it. I needed to know what happened next.

It follows the FMC Magnolia, who’s made a deal with the dead king to save the one person she cares about. She has to basically work for him and do all his bidding. He ends up, sending her into the neighboring kingdom to spy, and she gets caught up trying not to grow attached to anyone there.

The plot was unique, and I couldn’t guess what was going to happen next.

[Melissa Liming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Mallory Benjamin for allowing me to read this eARC!

This is the third installment I have read within the Immortal Hunters collection, and Mallory delivered yet another deliciously dark, fast-paced ride that I couldn't put down.

We are taken into the world of Hilithia, which was created by the Sun Goddesses and the Moon Gods. The start of creation began with two brothers were formed to rule the two kingdoms. The Sun created King Elion and he was was gifted Viven, a kingdom of life. The Moon created King Dahes and gifted him Moriann, a kingdom of death. When power and greed corrupted the brothers, a lifelong feud began that caused Wielders (Viven's people with magical Tokens) and Drakin (Moriann's dragon riders) to pay the price.

Imagine a dark Hercules retelling where both Hades and Zeus are bloodthirsty and cruel.

🖤Our FMC Magnolia has made a deal with the devil all based on lies and betrayal. She gave up her soul to save someone she loves, and now the Dead King Dahes owns her completely. He is inside of her head, and he commands her body. She has spent seven years dragging bodies back to his castle, all for him to do with as he pleases. I loved just how well Magnolia's character growth formed over the book. From being scared, helpless and feeling lost to coming into an ownership over her own Token and finding a fearlessness in herself was satisfying.

🖤 Our MMC Arrick is devastatingly handsome and broody, two of my favorite personality types for a Romantasy man. He's intensely strong and complex, and it doesn't hurt that he has a wonderful bond with a rare dragon. He has a history that seems to mirror Magnolia's in it's own way. I found myself excited every time we were gifted a chapter with his PoV. This man has a fire in him, and while he's battling his own internal demons he allows himself to feel passionately and yearn for the one he desires.

🖤 While all of the side characters are well written, I need to give a special shout-out to Bran. To me, I envisioned him as the male version of Effie from The Hunger Games. Every page he was on was a delight and he stole the show. I seriously want my own Bran.

Magnolia is sent on a Hunt to Viven during a dealy dragon tournament for information Dahes desperately needs. She soon learns that the person who can give her what she needs is the same person that has finally seen her as something more than a pawn.

Can Magnolia escape the deal she made seven years ago, or will this hunt take what’s left of her humanity—and her life?

Notable Tropes:
🖤 Touch Her & ☠️
🖤 Owned by the Devil
🖤 Dark Hercules Retelling
🖤 Dragon Rider Tournament
🖤 He Falls First
🖤 God-Forged Bonds
🖤 Betrayal and Secrets

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

PS: Make sure to read the trigger warnings before starting this book if needed.

[Tonje Lien · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my third book in the Immortal Hunters standalone series! And so far I habe to say they are all awesome and this one was no exception!!!


I was hooked from the start and I read in one sitting! I did not even go to eat I just had to read it to the end!!

It's so immersive in the world building, the magic system is a new spin but also easy to understand! It has dragons and other creatures and also power hungry kings of the two kingdoms of Hilithia. The king of life in Viven, King Elion, and the king of death in Moriann, King Dahes.

There are Wielders with token magic and there are Drakins who are dragon riders that bonds in various degrees with their dragon and depending on that connection is how much magic from their dragon they can tap into.

Magnolia or "Nollie" is a complex character. She is subdued, commanded, controlled and spied on in her own head. So I first felt like she was strong but also defeated due to her missions even though she did not want to. It made me really feel for her and I wanted her to succeed in her big mission away from her captor.

The MMC took a bit of time for me to figure out and I kinda liked that I could not immediatly know who it was supposed to be. Broody, tempered and rude but as a front, a mask to everyone else. I felt like Nollie and the mmc really complemented one another and had great chemistry!!!

When Magnolia went from feeling empty, hopeless, lost and weak within herself with her token, to feeling strong, capable and fearless in the end was extremely satisfying!! I was yelling "YEAH!!" out loud to cheer her on!!
Slowly she opens herself up and becoming more at ease with her magic and herself from being uncertain and very much wounded and guarded. Her journey feels earned as she lives through internal and external struggles that's very much thrown at her, for her to just handle.

I like that we sometimes get the mmc's point of view, to see how he sees and feels about everything and it made me feel even more for him and to see why he did some of the things he did.
His protective demeanor is something I really love and he's not shy to be morally grey/black to protect her.

There were many characters but I especially adored Jaxs and Bran. Bran is direct and sweet in his own way and very particular about clothing and that Magnolia is dressed correctly. Jaxs friendship with first the mmc but then also with Nollie later: adore!!

The pacing was just so fast and spot on all throughout the book! I could not put it down! It was just so well written, paced and characters with so different roles and everything in the last 40 pages was like chaos and awesomeness in one!

Triggers are present so you should check those out before you read, It has dark subjects!

Thank you Mallory Benjamin and the Immortal Hunters for an eArc of this book!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Mallory Benjamin and the Immortal Hunters team for the ARC. The opinions below are my own and completely unbiased.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.75/5)
Hunted by the Dead King by Mallory Benjamin delivers (almost) everything I look for in a romantic fantasy: dragons, a distinctive magic system, and immersive world-building that pulls you in from the start.
Magnolia has spent her life bound to the will of the Dead King, suppressing her emotions, grief, and even her humanity to survive under his control. When she’s sent to Viven—the realm of the living—she’s given a rare opportunity to experience freedom and discover who she might have been without her chains. But Viven, and its ruler Elian, are far more complex than she anticipated. As Magnolia navigates this unfamiliar world, she’s forced to confront her past, her power, and the fragile hope of a future she never thought possible.
Magnolia is a compelling heroine—guarded, powerful, and deeply wounded. Watching her slowly open up, reclaim her identity, and embrace both her magic and her emotions was incredibly satisfying. Her growth feels earned, especially as she faces intense internal and external struggles.
And then there’s Hael—exactly the kind of morally grey, brooding MMC that just works. He starts off distant and sharp-edged, but his loyalty and protectiveness run deep. The chemistry between him and Magnolia is fantastic—the tension, the banter, the slow unraveling of their connection all hit perfectly.
The magic system stands out as one of the book’s strongest elements. The interplay between Drakin and Wielder magic feels fresh while still being easy to grasp, and it adds real depth to both the characters and the plot.
This is a bit on the darker side, with several potentially triggering themes. But what makes it shine is how it handles those heavier elements—grief, trauma, and healing are woven thoughtfully into the story. Watching the characters not just survive, but actually build something meaningful together, made this a deeply rewarding standalone read. Was I secretly hoping for a bit more steam…. You bet. But, for those readers who prefer a more closed door fantasy romance (with just a peek behind those doors), this is a great choice.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all - “Thank you Mallory Benjamin”, for giving me my first ARC to read. I might be a bit biased, due to how flattered I was to be chosen.

Honestly though this was such an enjoyable book to read. I did not want to put it down.

Our ‘Heroine’, Magnolia, becomes enslaved by our villain when still a teen. Making a deal with the ‘devil’ to save a loved one. For seven years she has hunted and killed for the Dead King. Forced by a bond to do his bidding against her will. She can’t refuse, even if she wants to, the bond compels her to carry out an order. Magnolia slowly feels like she is losing her soul piece by piece every time she is sent out to hunt. She tries to keep any emotions at bay, wanting and needing to appear unfeeling inward and out.

Our ‘Villain’, the Dead King, Dahes, is cruel, possessive and vindictive. He rules the dead in the Moriann Kingdom where crime is rampant, people are starving and monsters exist. The only living people are the criminals banished from the Viven Kingdom or their offspring. No one escapes Moriann. The two kingdoms are separated by high cliffs, burning hot sands and a dense forest with a large lake. The Viven Kingdom is ruled by King Elion. Viven appears to be the complete opposite of Moriann. Light where Moriann is dark. Warm instead of cold. There was third, neutral, kingdom that was lost during the War of the Two Kings. The Gods stepped in, forcing peace between the two kings, but the hate between the two kings never waned. The kings have been forbidden to kill each other and each has been forced to share something of their kingdom with the other.

Dahes has come up with plan. He needs Magnolia.

Magnolia is sent to Viven. To Hunt. But it must look like she escaped Moriann.

Now here is where it gets tricky for me. I have tried to give you enough information to intrigue you, but not give you any spoilers. If I tell you too much more we get into ‘spoiler territory’. I don’t want to give any more of the story away and I have barely scratched the surfaced. I just wanted to whet your appetite.

But I can say if you love a slow burn. A gods blessed fated mates union. Dragons and bonded riders. A bit of gratuitous violence. Magic. Strong characters that are well written along with a story that has a smooth pace. This story is fantastic.

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Arc reader *

This book was a wild ride.
I honestly didn’t know what to expect which was super fun for me. These immortal hunters books are literally bringing life back into my soul I swear to god.

I legit had a notes app filled with my thoughts while I went through the book but I can’t share them all lol

But here’s a few:

Dragon rider is hot 🔥
Her token not reacting to him speaks VOLUMES
Her being hypocritical of Arrik for following the kings orders when she does the same with the dead king… like girl be so fr right now.
Him telling her the truth and trusting her and her panicking inside the whole time is sad but slightly entertaining.
I am very obsessed with the fact they’re each kings slave that they use to kill.. like they can understand each other if only there was more communication.
Dahes is evil.
Elion is evil.
Is any king not evil?

My utter obsession is mate bonds and this came through with that. Like yes tie their souls together.

You start off with poor Nollie just accepting her fate in the dead kings kingdom. When she’s eventually sent out to other kingdom she has hope. And what have we always learned in books? Be careful with hope.
Her journey is heartbreaking, you get to see how she just wants some peace and to be free.
Meeting Hael changes everything..
The story really comes together once you get to learn more about the dragons.
I actually LOVED this and wish it was a series about the dragon riders cause that side plot was so interesting. Not that the dragon riders were a side plot but you really only focus on Hael and Jaxs was calling to me I swear. I’d read a book about him immediately.


Honestly the kings being evil wasn’t that shocking but how fucking psychotic they were with their punishments was. No lie.
They were so bored after living so long they lived for others pain.


The writing was immaculate ( not surprising), the plot was plotting, and the themes were 🔥🔥🔥

[Bedside Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.75 rounded up to 4

Thank you Mallory Benjamin for a copy of this digital ARC. Here is my honest review for it.

This a dark Hercules retelling, we have two Kings who hate each other, one ruling over the Land of The Dead and the other over the Living. We have dragons, secrets and twists at the end that will leave you questioning everything. I enjoyed the premise behind this book of the Hercules retelling, and liked how Mallory put her own spin on it with how she decided to depict key moments from Hercules in her own special way. We were promised dark and it was delivered, Dahes the King of the dead is truly despicable and relishes tormenting those around him. Our FMC Magnolia and our MMC Hael have also been subjected to unspeakable tragedies that have left them numb. Throughout the book you can feel the sense of depravity of the story and the characters we come across.

It took me a while to get into the swing of things and Magnolia's behaviour and choices is very unusual but as we learn more of her backstory we then can understand her choices and behaviour better. I definitely loved Hael as that's what I'm drawn to, a grumpy MMC who has been through hell but will still be fiercely loyal and protective of those he loves. We got a lot of depth to our two main characters but I would have liked to see more depth to both Kings, to understand them and their actions a bit more.

For me the first half of the story I felt like the plot twists were predictable but oh boy was this author sneaky because just when you think you had everything figured out the last quarter was there waiting for us. The twists she had in place just made me go WOW I did not see that coming. If your looking for a book that's easy to read, with a dark atmosphere that will still keep you turning the pages then this is for you.

[Marie C · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review:

First, thank you to the author, Mallory Benjamin, and her team for accepting me as an ARC reader!!

(Possibly small spoilers ahead)

I was completely captivated by the story of Magnolia. She has sold herself (body and soul) to the Dead King to save Masin (read the book if you want to know about him 👀) and is now his slave for him to order around and control. Usually to hunt people. Except, there is an old rivalry between Dahes, the Dead King and King Elion (who rules over the living), and Dahes will stop at nothing to kill his enemy, including ordering Magnolia on a hunt, undercover, at King Elion's castle.
Only, there are a few issues with doing this, one of them is reaching said castle. But Dahes has a plan: faking hunting Magnolia, so that she catches the interest of the dragon rider (yes, dragons!!) who drop the exiled ones to the Dead lands. Once in the castle, she will be able to do his bidding.
....and that's how Magnolia ends up in a tangle of lies, in a castle with people she knows nothing about, where she discovers she might not want to do the Dead King bidding. But can she escape him?

I loved this book, I found the magic system super interesting, especially the one that revolves around the dragons!! This book deals with dark topics (read the trigger warnings, they are to be taken seriously) and I liked how well that was done. Seeing Magnolia controlled by the Dead King while not being able to do anything was really well depicted (it destroyed me, as planned, well done 😌) and the trauma and lingering effects are also really well depicted! My favourite thing is the character growth of Magnolia, how she goes to the traumatized shade of herself she is at the beginning, to the person she is at the end. The love story between the FMC and LLC really contributed to her character growth, and that was beautiful! If you like dark romance, I recommend reading this book!! (But beware the trigger warnings)

[Taylen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Mallory takes a knife and tears your heart apart while you read through, but thankfully she gives us a HAE ending!

The book follows Magnolia (Nollie) who made a deal with the devil to save the one person she loves, Masin. She then spends the next seven years dragging bodies back to the Dead King. However, the Dead King wants to rule over the continent and kill the king of Viven in order to do so. She is sent to infiltrate the Viven kingdom during a dragon rider tournament, but she falls for a man who treats her like a human rather than a weapon.

💀 dark romance
💀fated mates
💀he falls first
💀forced proximity
💀possessive villain
💀betrayal

I have loved the Immortal Hunters Collection, but this one might be my favorite one so far.

Nollie is our FMC and she has suffered her whole life. Her magic, or Token, manifests under a very traumatic situation that shapes her whole life. It is tragically beautiful how she grows, her resilience, and ultimately being able to face the worst day of her life to take back her control. She is beautifully written.

Hael ends up being our MMC and essentially the future unknowingly rests on his shoulders. His suffering mirrors Nollie’s. He is a touch her and die type of man who will take all the pain as long as Nollie is safe.

Thank you for Jaxs- he probably is my favorite character. He is a funny side character to the story, but he literally made me laugh out loud at some of the things he would say.

The magic, creatures, dragon bonds, and characters are all written so well. The pace of the story fits and flows appropriately where you are never left bored. I had no idea how the story was going to come together and end. Not being able to predict the end of a book is something I admire from authors.

Don’t skip this one! It’s a good one!

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received this ARC from the author. Thank you Mallory!*

So it took me a minute to get my thoughts together for this book.

Let me start by saying that the atmosphere of this book is so dark. It gives you this sense of unease the entire time. I swear I kept waiting for something awful to happen. It’s like that feeling of looking over your shoulder the whole time. I hated it but loved it at the same time. Impeccably done! Also, the dragons and magic and world building is really interesting.

The characters are where some of it started to fall apart for me. 🫠 I wanted to like Magnolia so much. I understand that the poor girl is traumatized and is full of anxiety. I can’t blame her. BUT she annoyed me so much 😭 she wouldn’t listen or help herself at all and I was so frustrated by it. Like, girl? What are we doing??
Then there’s Elion who I immediately hated from the get go. As soon as he was on page, I knew he was no good. My girl needed to get out of there immediately with all the bad vibes. Of course we can all collectively hate Dahes because good gods, he was an ASS. I wanted him to die so badly 😒 Which I guess is the whole point of how he’s written lol.
Hael was the saving grace here, but still barely. I didn’t connect there as much as I hoped. Communication would’ve solved a lot of problems. Honestly, Aura pulled it all together 🐉

I really hate writing 3 star reviews. I just felt like the end was rushed while we kind of lulled in the middle. There were details missing. I’m only one person, so take my review with a grain of salt. But do read the trigger warnings!!

[Emma R · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book as an ARC 📚✨ because I’m truly looking forward to reading every book in this series and seeing how it eventually develops toward the end.

For me, this book was at its strongest in the beginning 🌟 I really felt that it had an incredibly strong start, and I already had high hopes for how the story would unfold and how the atmosphere would continue to stay engaging throughout the book. My interest was immediately drawn to the setting they were in 🏰 but also to the characters and the relationships introduced at the start 💫

The strongest aspect of the book was definitely the setting, and I loved the concept of the kingdom they were in 👑 Unfortunately, I felt that from the middle of the book toward the end, the pacing changed a bit in a way that didn’t fully suit my taste, and because of that I didn’t feel the same level of interest and enthusiasm that I had in the beginning. I would have liked something more to keep the excitement going ✨ More dramatic events, more revelations, or bigger secrets 🔍 In the middle and toward the end, I felt like I didn’t quite get as much as I had hoped for as a reader.

That being said, I personally love books where things are happening almost constantly 📖🔥 keeping the reader engaged and excited to continue reading. Overall, though, it was a very enjoyable book to read 💕 As I said, I still absolutely want to continue reading this series, and thank you again for giving me the chance to read it 😊

I can definitely recommend it to readers who love strong settings and immersive worlds ✨ in books with interesting plots 📚💭

Overall rate: 3.50/5⭐️

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found Hunted by the Dead King to be an enjoyable and fairly quick read overall.

The atmosphere is definitely one of its strongest points. There’s a constant sense of unease, like something is always watching, which gives the story a really immersive and slightly suffocating tension. It does a great job of keeping you on edge, even in moments that should feel calmer.

Magnolia took a bit of time to grow on me. Some of her decisions early on felt frustrating and a little reckless, but as more of her backstory came through, her actions started to make more sense. I didn’t completely love her by the end, but I appreciated her more and understood where she was coming from.

Hael was a standout character for me. He starts off distant, but quickly becomes loyal and protective, and his dynamic with Magnolia was one of the highlights. Their chemistry felt natural, and the banter between them added a nice contrast to the darker tone of the story.

The Dead King is an interesting and compelling presence, and I liked the idea behind him a lot. That said, I did find myself wanting just a bit more depth or insight into his motivations at times. The mystery works in his favor, but occasionally it felt like it held things back slightly.

The pacing is a little uneven, with a slight lull in the middle, but it picks up again toward the end. The final third really delivers, with plenty of twists and turns that make it hard to put down, and I thought the ending was satisfying.

Overall, a good atmospheric read with strong character dynamics and a very engaging final stretch.

[Crystal Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hunted by the Dead King, by Mallory Benjamin, is a standalone dark Hercules retelling and is the third book in the Immortal Hunters collection.
Mallory did a great job with this book; it had me hooked from the very beginning and I couldn’t put it down. The storyline was amazing! The characters were one of a kind and the character and world developed was done very well.
Magnolia, the FMC, sold her soul to the “devil” to save someone she loves, but didn’t realize what that meant until it was to late. The Dead King/Dahes owns her, she must do as he says and he takes great joy in making her life a living hell.
Dahes sends her to Viven, where King Elian is the ruler, to find Hael, the Drakin leader to discover his weakness. She has always wanted to go to Viven and is amazed at how warm and beautiful it is. Arrick, the drakin rider that brought her to Viven keeps trying to get her to leave, saying King Elian isn’t want he seems. She then gets to see firsthand how right he is.
There are also some great side characters in the book, I love Jax, and I wish he had a bigger part throughout, but I really enjoyed getting to know him a bit better towards the end.
Then there is Bran, he may come off bossy, but you can tell more and more throughout the book, he wants to do everything he can to keep Magnolia safe and in Viven.
This is one of those standalone books where I really would love to see either a spin off or have it turned into a series. I really enjoyed the world and characters.

[juleslvsbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I’d like to thank Mallory Benjamin for allowing me to read an eARC of her amazing story! I feel truly grateful for this opportunity.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 from me!

Magnolia made a deal with the Devil seven years ago, and now she’s trapped by it. Bound to obey his every command, she’s forced to do his bidding without question, no matter how cruel or dangerous the task. When he sends her to the land of the living to ensnare the leader of the dragon riders so the Devil can murder their king, she has no choice but to comply. But once there, Magnolia finds herself pulled into a world she never expected, and she meets someone who makes her want to break free of her chains for the very first time. This is a story of how Magnolia breaks free.

I really enjoyed this book. Magnolia and Arrick’s story was both tragic and heartfelt, and I found myself really invested in them from early on. There was such a strong sense of longing and pain woven throughout their relationship, but also hope. I also felt like the plot moved at a great pace. There was always something happening, and it kept me interested all the way to the very end.

Hunted by the Dead King definitely has some very dark elements, but I felt like those moments were handled with a lot of care and intention. I would absolutely recommend checking trigger warnings before going in, because some parts are heavy. That said, I thought the emotional side of the story was done really well.

Overall, this was an emotional, fast paced read with characters I genuinely cared about, and I’m really glad I picked it up.

[Amy George · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way. The emotional damage throughout this story was top tier and I was hooked from beginning to end.

Magnolia is such a compelling FMC. After seven years of being bound to the Dead King and forced to hunt humans for him, you can truly feel how fractured and exhausted she is. Watching her slowly reconnect with parts of herself she thought were long gone was heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. I felt so connected to these characters and fully invested in their journey.

The deadly dragon rider tournament setting added so much tension and action to the story, but what really stood out for me was the emotional weight behind everything. The relationships, the betrayals, the constant pull between survival and humanity… it all felt so intense and addictive.

I did guess who Hael was before the reveal, but honestly it didn’t lessen my enjoyment at all. There were still so many twists, mysteries, and reveals throughout the story that completely kept me engaged. Every time I thought I knew where things were heading, something else would happen that pulled me deeper into the world.

If you love emotionally devastating romantasy, morally grey characters, deadly trials, dragons, and stories that make your heart ache while keeping you completely obsessed, I highly recommend this one.

Thank you so much to the author for the ARC copy — I loved every second of this book.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 ✨


Magnolia is an FMC name I’ve truly loved from the moment it appeared on the page! It suits her perfectly - hardy at her core yet delicate on the surface, she embodies that duality throughout the story: rooted in strength, bent by circumstance, and ultimately blooming again.

This book felt like a collection of my favourite Romantasy elements rolled into one. Predictable in the most comforting way - the kind where you want your theories to be right because anything else would feel wrong. And when those moments landed, they were so satisfying.

We get a loose Hercules retelling, a deal with Death, and a heroine who is owned - body, mind, and soul by Death, as a result of that deal. Magnolia is forced into darkness to save the only person she has left, bound to Death by a bargain built on lies and betrayal. Forced to hunt at his behest, her choices, her survival - all of it comes at a cost.

The heart of the story asks: can Magnolia escape the deal that stole her life seven years ago, or will this final hunt take what’s left of her humanity? And what happens when the one person who’s shown her compassion becomes the one she’s expected to betray?

This is the third book in the Immortal Hunter's Collection a dark romantasy standalone series of interconnected stories from different authors with one central theme: the hunt.

[Mrs Holm Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Haunted By The Dead King Magnolia finds herself ensnared in a life of servitude under King Dahes, where she becomes both his assassin and a pawn in his malevolent schemes. Tasked with infiltrating a rival kingdom, she must gather crucial intelligence on King Elian while trying to win the trust of the formidable warrior Hale, who could play a pivotal role in a revenge plot against the monarchy.
Initially, Magnolia strikes a deal with Dahes to protect her beloved brother, but as the truth unfolds, she faces unimaginable devastation. The situation becomes even more complicated when her feelings for Hale resurface, only for Dahes to inflict further pain upon her.
Hale and Magnolia, are revealed as fated mates, navigate the tumultuous path of their intertwined destinies. Together, they confront the harsh realities of their tormented lives and the looming threat of the two kings.
This amazing story explores the brutal dynamics between two kingdoms, where the rulers derive pleasure and power from the relentless suffering of their citizens. As Magnolia navigates this treacherous landscape, her journey reveals not only the depths of her resilience but also the moral complexities survival, in this beautiful quest to save someone near to her. The ending was heartbreaking and heartfelt.

[Sammi Loves Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hunted by the Dead King by Mallory Benjamin

After selling her soul to the Demon King , is sent on a fact finding mission to the living realm in search of information to fulfil a fated prophecy. Can she escape her enslavement , or will this be the end for her ?

Big Thank you to Mallory Benjamin for this ARC opportunity.

This is the second book of the Immortal Hunters Series I have read and - WOW.
The world building is great ; won't imagery and contrasts between light and darkness throughout. I think the pacing is great and consistent throughout the whole book.

Magnolia is such a great FMC; strong but sensitive , funny and intelligent but flawed. I also LOVE it when an FMC flips off the love of her life 😂

Arrick is our grumpy and brooding MMC, who wants to protect her but doesn't know why. Their slow burn relationship is really enjoyable to read.

This is such a great page turner with lots of twist and turns and there are so many characters you will love to hate.

Tropes
- Fated Mates
- Greek mythology (loose)
- Dragon Tournament
- Prophecies

Highlights
- Snarky Dragons
- Dual POV
- FMC you'll be rooting for
- Swoony MMC
-Characters you'll love to hate

Overall 4.5/5
Releases 21 May 2026

#darkromantasy #romantasy #greekmythology #fantasyromance #bookstagrammer

[Thisgirlkayreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now, this is how a standalone should be done. Immersive world that pulls you in on the first fast paged without losing focus on the plot or becoming over whelming. A Hercules retelling. This book follows our FMC Magnolia (Nollie), who is bound to the devil.He owes her!

The trauma she experiences for seven years is devasting. (Trigger warnings ⚠️) When Nolloe is forced to play damsel in distress to capture the attention of the devils enemie, she is exposed to a world she could only dream of. Where she finds our MMC Hael. He is broody, guard, and insufferable to begin with. Nollie is exposed to trials in this world, and she uncovers key information to her mission.

We see tremendous character growth on our FMC that is truly healing. It was for me at least! This book has dark elements, magical gifts, dragons, monsters, trials, and everything else you could long for in a great standalone.

The story builds up such a yearning for our main characters, and we get a few intimate scenes with minimal explicit text. The respect that is shown to our FMC from our MMC will have you melting. I'm talking swoon worthy! I loved the pacing and world of this book. The characters are true characters you will love and hate and a mix of both. This book is very picturesque.

⭐️ Rating: 4
🌶 Rating: 4

Started: 4/14/26
Finished: 4/25/26
Pages: 468
Format: ARC ebook Kindle

[Nicola Reynoldson (nics_timetoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all I would like to thank Mallory Benjamin the author for gifting me this ARC read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Wow… what did I just read?!

I could not put this book down and ended up reading it in one day. Hunted by the Dead King was completely addictive from start to finish.

The story follows Magnolia, who was tricked into making a deal with a devil — the Dead King. Now she serves as his huntress, and with every hunt, her humanity slips further away. He owns her completely: mind, body, and soul. Her latest task is to infiltrate the kingdom of the living during a tournament to recruit new dragon riders.

As the story unfolds, Magnolia begins to question everything when she meets the one man who looks at her like she’s still human. For the first time in years, she starts wanting something she thought she could never have again: freedom, hope… and maybe even love.

The big question becomes: can she break the deal she made seven years ago?

This book had everything I love — great writing, sharp banter, high stakes, and fabulous world building. Magnolia was such a compelling heroine, and I was completely invested in her journey.

If you love dark fantasy, bargains with dangerous kings, dragon riders, and a heroine fighting for her soul, this is absolutely worth picking up.

[Katie Jenion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hunted by the Dead King was dark, unsettling, emotional, and completely addictive.

The Dead King is genuinely horrifying — cruel, manipulative, degrading, and constantly reminding her that she belongs to him because of the deal she was tricked into making. The entire story has this terrifying “deal with the devil” atmosphere that made everything feel tense and dangerous.

She’s sent across kingdoms to infiltrate the dragon riders and find their leader… but somewhere along the journey, everything changes.

Because she falls for him.

The fated mates bond slowly reveals itself through his dragon, while she’s still hiding the truth about why she was sent there in the first place. Watching them fall in love while betrayal hangs over everything absolutely wrecked me.

And once the Dead King discovers where her loyalty truly lies?

All hell breaks loose.

The revenge, the dragons, the politics, the emotional tension, the fight against two corrupt immortal rulers — it all completely pulled me in.

By the end, this story became about far more than survival.

It became about whether love can survive evil… and whether two broken people can still save each other before everything burns down.

[Natalie | EdgesandEndpapers · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Fated mates
✨He falls first
✨Morally grey FMC and MMC.

Thankyou to the author for allowing me to read an eARC of this book!

Let me just say - from the moment I picked this book up I was utterly HOOKED. The dreary, dark tones and watching Magnolia suffer under Dahes’ rule (and the things she is forced to do under his compulsion) were riveting and hard to stomach at times. This book has a whole twist on the usual take of a morally grey FMC- She’s an enforcer with a conscience, but the deal she made with the King of the Dead years before means she will do anything to keep Masin safe, even if they break her soul apart piece by piece.
I was instantly taken in by the Drakin. The dragon system was so good, I loved the magic/power distribution also. The world building was top tier, the descriptors were so vast that you could literally feel the stark differences between Hell and Viven instantly.
My only gripe was I felt like the last 10% of the book was a bit rushed. The whole thing had been SO descriptive, and leading up to this big battle and then it was over so soon and I felt like I just needed a little bit more from the big fight scenes.

Overall I am absolutely obsessed with this concept, and I cannot wait to read more from the collection!

[jess_is_reading_msg_l8r · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much Mallory for an Arc of this book!

This is the third book in the Immortal Hunters series where each story is a stand alone book. I have loved each one so far.

The world building, history and magic structure was unique and interesting in this story. It was described in depth, but was really easy to follow.

The Villains were so evil, their deeds despicable and they truly made me feel for the FMC and MMC who had to endure their cruelty.

Magnolia was a person who at the start seemed very lost and broken, but was so incredibly resilient. I loved her character development and watching her discover her inner strength.

I suspected who Hael was very early on, but it didn't take anything away from the story. He was also enduring a life of forced compliance with a sadistic King. The way he fell for Magnolia and did everything he could to protect her, even at his own detriment was admirable and showed his loyalty.

I loved the whole story, I didn't feel like there was any part that was slow paced. The ending was amazing, it was not what I was expecting which was even better. It wrapped up perfectly in my opinion 😊

[Charlotte Foreman · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Thank you so much to the author for letting me ARC read. This is an honest review and contains all my own thoughts*

4.5 stars

Wow this one was an emotional read at times, I just wanted to cry for Magnolia! This is a loose Hercules retelling and as someone who's favourite Disney film is Hercules, I was super excited for this, and it delivered!
It's a bit of a slower start for this one so it took a bit longer for me to get into it, but oh wow once I did, I was INTO it. I was absolutely hooked and genuinely stressed at time reading this.
Magnolia's story is honestly heartbreaking. She has been through so much but she is so strong and it was wonderful to watch her learn to live for herself again. She deserves all the happiness and I just know she's going to get it with Hael because whooo what a man! He is strong and handsome and kind and caring and just everything you could ask for. I loved the way their relationship developed.
The world that Mallory Benjamin has created is so interesting and the world-building was done so well. I've thoroughly enjoyed this and I'm definitely going to try out some more of Mallory Benjamin's books.

[Trinhelium Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐀𝐫𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞: 𝟓/𝟐𝟏/𝟐𝟔

Mallory Benjamin, has created a book that is consuming, and sets the tone for a journey that feels as much about reclaiming identity as it is about survival, this book had me hooked

Magnolia’s life has never been her own. Bound to the Dead King through a bargain she can’t escape, this was just so compelling, I found her character strong, she is riddled in survival, but seeing her begin to question, to feel, to want something beyond, was written so beautifully.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 : ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ / 𝟓
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 : ♥︎ ♥︎ .𝟓 / 𝟓

Hael. He’s steady where she is fractured, protective, and broody, I just love him I am at a loss for words. The connection between them builds through tension, banter, and unspoken understanding. It’s that kind of slow-burn where every interaction matters, I was like sobbing at their connection.

And the dragons? They’re not just background they add depth, power, family. The Dead King, on the other hand, is exactly what you want in a villain you love to hate. The darker elements in this book violence, control, loss of autonomy are intense, but they’re handled in a way that feels purposeful.

The ending I couldn’t have asked for a better one I am realizing that I love standalones, happiness is perfection, one choice, one connection, and hope

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞:
Dark Hercules-inspired retelling
Forbidden mates
He falls first & harder
Dragon rider tournament
Betrayals & Secrets

Thank you to 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧 for this opportunity.

“I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.”

[Laura Diggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Mallory Benjamin for allowing me to read this eARC. This is the second installment I have read within the Immortal Hunters collection, and Mallory delivered yet another deliciously dark, fast-paced ride that I couldn't put down.

This book is a dark retell of Hercules, where both Hades and Zeus are bloodthirsty and cruel.

Notable Tropes:

🖤 Touch Her & ☠️
🖤 Owned by the Devil
🖤 Dark Hercules Retelling
🖤 Dragon Rider Tournament
🖤 He Falls First
🖤 God-Forged Bonds
🖤 Betrayal and Secrets

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

FMC: Magnolia, she becomes enslaved by the villain when still a kid/ Teen, Making a deal with the ‘devil himself’ to save a loved one. For seven years she has hunted and killed for the Dead King. Forced by a bond to do his bidding against her will. She can’t refuse, even if she wants to, the bond compels her to carry out an order. While living but feeling dead. Shes losing part of her soul after each bid.......

While the story unfolds theres some good plot and twists.

Amazing story thank you

[Sarah Kwilecki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author Mallory Benjamin for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion!

I absolutely LOVED this book! This is quite possibly my favorite so far in the Immortal Hunter's Collection! Benjamin beautifully weaved a story that addresses themes of grief, loss, freedom, love, and most of all what it means to really live. This book was extremely thought provoking and the story telling hooked me from page one.

Our FMC, Magnolia, is a strong and self-reliant wielder who has endured seven years of slavery to an evil king of death named Dahes. He is truly such a horrible person, Benjamin knows how to write a good villain! Our MMC Arrick is a dragon rider and he has some morally gray tendencies but overall he's a well-written and cares deeply for those he loves. The world building is well done especially since this is a standalone and there was only so much space for it.

I cannot recommend this book enough as well as the whole Immortal Hunter's Collection!