Last of the Baronites

The Deer King #3

by Ben Spencer

Owen Walsh’s father is no longer the president of Olgard. Now Owen’s enemies are coming for him.

The third novella in The Deer King series introduces us to the political landscape of Olgard, where the Free Harrish party is ascendant and the Baronite party is on the verge of extinction. Owen Walsh, left behind in the capital after his father is booted from office, finds that the Free Harrish are not only determined to undo his father’s legacy, they’re also intent on destroying what’s left of the Baronites. When Owen fights back, he soon becomes a target. Desperate for allies, Owen finds help from an unexpected source.

A strange girl with a startling secret.

A girl named Emmaline Rain.

Last of the Baronites is the third in a planned series of fantasy novellas set in Dreyland, a colonial world where the indigenous people rely on the power of a reincarnated god to help them offset the technological superiority of the settlers.

135 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2019

About the author

Ben Spencer is the author of The Prophecy of the Yubriy Tree, Book One in the The Song of the Burning Heart universe. Ben writes character-driven fantasy full of style and heart.

Ben's fiction has appeared in Literary Orphans, Corner Bar Magazine, and Scholars & Rogues. He has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Please visit his newsletter at benspencer.substack.com and/or his website, benspencerwrites.com for more information.

Reviews

[Aryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addicted!

I am truly addicted to The Deer King series! I am devastated that there aren’t more for me to read NOW. I guess I will just have to impatiently wait for the next installment! 5/5 stars from me!

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I require more of these books now please. I don’t do reviews so I’ll just dump my thoughts here. I feel like the first 3 books are a great setup to so many possibilities. The first 2 were my faves. I really thought this third one would be bringing the stories from the first two together. WOMP-it was a setup for more characters and possibilities, almost like the stories are revolving around a map. It was a bit jarring to go from an intimate look at the Frechcolo or whatever to this completely different story about a totally new town and only one character gets reintroduced pretty far into it. It was a huge relief when I finally saw her name.
These would make a great TV series so that’s neat but I definitely want to read more. Lmk what the plan is with that k thx.
I found 2 editing mistakes.

[Brie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wasn't so sure about this when the first chapter was set up to be so political, but it ended up being pretty good even if so dramatically different from the first two. Enjoyed seeing the return of Emmaline, and even enjoyed the dueling parts and the abundance of new characters. Can't wait to see what comes next!

[Scott Waldyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though tethered through supporting characters and the workings of the overarching world, this entry was very different from the previous two in the series. It's focused on the coming-of-age of a fallen president's son, which plays in stark contrast to the characters in volumes one and two.

This is a great thing. What follows is one of the most unique settings for a fantasy story I have ever read. In lieu of classic sword-and-sorcery fantasy plotting, this entry uses the backdrop of colonial politics to tell a story of subterfuge, government coups, and Godfather-esque strong-arming. It's quiet, but the momentum is there. I appreciate how, in this world, moments of violence are used sparingly, and when they are used, these moments mean something. The pain has impact.

As a side note, anyone fed up with modern day politics might find comfort here. This colonial-era setting very much echoes the strains and burdens of modern politicking.

[Ben]

I really enjoyed writing this one. Hope you enjoy reading it!