What do you think?
Rate this book
King's Dark Blade #2
The Magic Lantern
Gentleman. Ladykiller. Assassin. Spy.
King Ember has a secret weapon. His name is Killian Lord. He’s the king’s personal assassin, the only man in Alba permitted to kill outside the bounds of chivalry. And nobody does it better.
In The Magic Lantern, Book 2 in the King’s Dark Blade series, the noblest knights of Alba are dying one by one—not on the battlefield, but by suicide.
At the same time, Basil de Musa, an enigmatic figure from a distant land, has the people of Alba mesmerized by an incredible new invention—the magic lantern, a device that can both record and play back images from life with astounding fidelity.
These two mysteries are connected, but how? King Ember sends Lord to investigate.
What Lord discovers is a plot that threatens the highest levels of power in the kingdom. But to fight it, he must enter a web of lies, illusions and gaslighting so insidious that it will ultimately cause him to question his own sanity.
And the only thing more dangerous than a royal assassin is an assassin gone mad.
The Magic Lantern is a fast-paced fantasy adventure for fans of action, magic, and a hero who is both assassin and charmer. If you like epic fantasy and James Bond, then you’ll love The Magic Lantern.
King Ember has a secret weapon. His name is Killian Lord. He’s the king’s personal assassin, the only man in Alba permitted to kill outside the bounds of chivalry. And nobody does it better.
In The Magic Lantern, Book 2 in the King’s Dark Blade series, the noblest knights of Alba are dying one by one—not on the battlefield, but by suicide.
At the same time, Basil de Musa, an enigmatic figure from a distant land, has the people of Alba mesmerized by an incredible new invention—the magic lantern, a device that can both record and play back images from life with astounding fidelity.
These two mysteries are connected, but how? King Ember sends Lord to investigate.
What Lord discovers is a plot that threatens the highest levels of power in the kingdom. But to fight it, he must enter a web of lies, illusions and gaslighting so insidious that it will ultimately cause him to question his own sanity.
And the only thing more dangerous than a royal assassin is an assassin gone mad.
The Magic Lantern is a fast-paced fantasy adventure for fans of action, magic, and a hero who is both assassin and charmer. If you like epic fantasy and James Bond, then you’ll love The Magic Lantern.
415 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 9, 2025
About the author
Richard Davis
5 books10 followersBorn in the nation's capital, award-winning novelist Richard Davis grew up in urban Chicago. He wrote his first short story in the third grade. Having earned a degree in English summa cum laude from Columbia University in New York, Richard moved to Los Angeles where he wrote screenplays for over a decade. But when an awesome idea for an epic fantasy series came to him, he returned to his first love—prose fiction—and has never looked back. Assassin Royale is his fourth novel.
Get a free copy of Richard's novella The Circle, a Killian Lord adventure in the Assassin Royale universe, when you subscribe to his newsletter here: https://subscribepage.io/thecirclefree
Get a free copy of Richard's novella The Circle, a Killian Lord adventure in the Assassin Royale universe, when you subscribe to his newsletter here: https://subscribepage.io/thecirclefree
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 25, 2025
Our favorite assassin has a new target!
Once again, we’re back with Killian Lord, assassin of King Ember. This time around, several of King Ember’s knights have been committing suicide lately, one after the other and Ember feels there must be a reason why. He assigns Killian to find out and take care of the problem. These stories are always so much fun to read. We have a bit of sarcastic humor, a lot of danger and beautiful women, just like James Bond, but in medieval times. The characters are all well-defined, right down to the evil ones, so much so that I feel I could describe them with no problem. The action is pretty much non-stop and Killian always keeps his promises. I can’t wait for the next one in the series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Once again, we’re back with Killian Lord, assassin of King Ember. This time around, several of King Ember’s knights have been committing suicide lately, one after the other and Ember feels there must be a reason why. He assigns Killian to find out and take care of the problem. These stories are always so much fun to read. We have a bit of sarcastic humor, a lot of danger and beautiful women, just like James Bond, but in medieval times. The characters are all well-defined, right down to the evil ones, so much so that I feel I could describe them with no problem. The action is pretty much non-stop and Killian always keeps his promises. I can’t wait for the next one in the series!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 5, 2025
Great follow up to the first book. Love the characters. Well written, strong characters and a great story make for a great reading experience! Great Reading Everyone!
October 19, 2025
The Magic Lantern is Book 2 in the King's Dark Blade Series by Richard Davis. Book 1 was our introduction to Killion Lord, an incredible assassin who is deadly. In The Magic Lantern, Killion will need all of his skill to defeat a new threat… Basil De Musa and his clever new sorcery, magic lantern. Fast action and evil will test Killion who picks up a new friend, Siri. I could not put the book down. I believe that this fantasy is so different and interesting. I can't wait to read book 3. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
December 4, 2025
In his second outing, Richard proves there's no sophomore slump here as he delivers a sensational follow-up that not only meets expectations but catapults them into the stratosphere. From page one, I found myself gripping the book with white-knuckled tension, heart palpitating with every twist and turn.
This book is a veritable rollercoaster of action, with scenes so intense and adrenaline-soaked, you'd think they were laced with pure excitement. Richard's finesse shines through with a wink and a nod towards Bond-esque details—think high-stakes baccarat games, alluring femme fatales, and scrumptious gourmet experiences in exotic locales. An extremely cinematic read. The villains are precisely what the genre calls for: deliciously evil, delightfully maniacal, and that perfect shade of over-the-top that you love to hate. For anyone in search of a real good read, this novel definitely delivers the goods!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book is a veritable rollercoaster of action, with scenes so intense and adrenaline-soaked, you'd think they were laced with pure excitement. Richard's finesse shines through with a wink and a nod towards Bond-esque details—think high-stakes baccarat games, alluring femme fatales, and scrumptious gourmet experiences in exotic locales. An extremely cinematic read. The villains are precisely what the genre calls for: deliciously evil, delightfully maniacal, and that perfect shade of over-the-top that you love to hate. For anyone in search of a real good read, this novel definitely delivers the goods!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 1, 2025
I loved this second outing in the series. The scene where the hero, Killian Lord, faces off against the villain over the baccarat table is pure James Bond. The comparisons continue, with Lord rushing from one death-defying escapade to another as he seeks to defeat his latest enemy, the aptly named Basil de Musa (you’ll have to read the novel to discover why).
Written with Davis’s typical attention to detail in crafting one exciting scene after another, this book kept me entertained as Lord faces a formidable foe. In the best James Bond tradition, his enemy has a murderous servant, a creature known as a grimlock who goes by the name of Click (for reasons that become obvious in the book). And there’s a beautiful damsel in distress named Siri who needs Lord’s help.
All-in-all, I think readers of fantasy action adventure will thrill to this latest installment. I can’t wait for the next in the series.
Written with Davis’s typical attention to detail in crafting one exciting scene after another, this book kept me entertained as Lord faces a formidable foe. In the best James Bond tradition, his enemy has a murderous servant, a creature known as a grimlock who goes by the name of Click (for reasons that become obvious in the book). And there’s a beautiful damsel in distress named Siri who needs Lord’s help.
All-in-all, I think readers of fantasy action adventure will thrill to this latest installment. I can’t wait for the next in the series.
November 6, 2025
The Magic Lantern, the second installment in Richard Davis’s new fantasy series, delivers a thrilling blend of magic, danger, and intrigue. Davis’s world-building is wildly imaginative, and his villains stand out with bizarre, vividly drawn traits that are both sinister and strangely delightful.
At the heart of the story is Killian Lord, royal assassin to King Ember—a protagonist who channels the charisma and sophistication of James Bond while adding a sharp edge of martial prowess and dry wit. Killian’s taste for gourmet fare and magnetic charm make him as entertaining as he is deadly.
With tightly choreographed action and a plot that accelerates with every chapter, The Magic Lantern is an immersive, high-stakes fantasy adventure that grabs hold and doesn’t let go. The characters are richly developed, the tension is constant, and the story unfolds with cinematic flair.
A dynamic and satisfying continuation of the series—one that leaves you eager for the next.
At the heart of the story is Killian Lord, royal assassin to King Ember—a protagonist who channels the charisma and sophistication of James Bond while adding a sharp edge of martial prowess and dry wit. Killian’s taste for gourmet fare and magnetic charm make him as entertaining as he is deadly.
With tightly choreographed action and a plot that accelerates with every chapter, The Magic Lantern is an immersive, high-stakes fantasy adventure that grabs hold and doesn’t let go. The characters are richly developed, the tension is constant, and the story unfolds with cinematic flair.
A dynamic and satisfying continuation of the series—one that leaves you eager for the next.
November 20, 2025
I may have found a new author to add to my favorites!
The first book was very good, but this second one just pole-vaulted over the last one. I mean, seriously, I got so caught up in the twists and turns that I was getting a bit anxious that everything would turn out okay. Why would you do this to me, Richard? My heart can’t take it!
The action scenes are adrenaline laced with crack; I couldn’t read fast enough. And the whole book flowed flawlessly. I appreciate the little Bond-esque details that weave through the story: the baccarat game, the femme fatale, the lavish food and wine and exotic locales.
Plus, this author is so good at channeling his inner Ian Fleming within a fantasy setting. The bad guys and their henchmen are exactly what you crave: just a little over-the-top, maniacal and brilliant, persistent, and people you just love to hate!
I am telling you, you can’t go wrong with this series and I am eagerly awaiting the next installment.
The first book was very good, but this second one just pole-vaulted over the last one. I mean, seriously, I got so caught up in the twists and turns that I was getting a bit anxious that everything would turn out okay. Why would you do this to me, Richard? My heart can’t take it!
The action scenes are adrenaline laced with crack; I couldn’t read fast enough. And the whole book flowed flawlessly. I appreciate the little Bond-esque details that weave through the story: the baccarat game, the femme fatale, the lavish food and wine and exotic locales.
Plus, this author is so good at channeling his inner Ian Fleming within a fantasy setting. The bad guys and their henchmen are exactly what you crave: just a little over-the-top, maniacal and brilliant, persistent, and people you just love to hate!
I am telling you, you can’t go wrong with this series and I am eagerly awaiting the next installment.
November 7, 2025
Killian Lord returns in another blockbuster as he tracks down would be assassins, blackmailers and mesmerists with his usual flair and panache. With enemies waiting to invade, can he survive to prevent regicide and save the kingdom as well as the girl…….
It’s another fast moving plot with plenty of action and some fantastic characters too. I really enjoy the writing style with the curt descriptions and tongue in cheek banter as found in the best Bond movies. This book was just as good as the first and I’m looking forward to reading more in this excellent series 🐈⬛
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It’s another fast moving plot with plenty of action and some fantastic characters too. I really enjoy the writing style with the curt descriptions and tongue in cheek banter as found in the best Bond movies. This book was just as good as the first and I’m looking forward to reading more in this excellent series 🐈⬛
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 27, 2025
A captivating second book of the King's Dark Blade by Richard Davis. I couldn't put the book down and I didn't want it to end. There is a lot of action, adventure, intrigue, and a little romance. The MC Killian Lord is very well written and has shown a lot of growth in this book with more room to grow in future stories. The brilliant world building of Richard is so incredibly powerful, it keeps the reader hooked. I absolutely enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it!
November 6, 2025
Once you start reading, you won’t be able to put it down!
The fascinating adventures of the captivating James Bond-like main character continue in this brilliant engaging sequel. There is everything an epic fantasy reader could want: thrills, excitement, danger, intrigue, seemingly impossible challenges, victories, romance, great character development and colorful settings. I look forward to more from this author.
The fascinating adventures of the captivating James Bond-like main character continue in this brilliant engaging sequel. There is everything an epic fantasy reader could want: thrills, excitement, danger, intrigue, seemingly impossible challenges, victories, romance, great character development and colorful settings. I look forward to more from this author.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews