Slave to King

It kept my attention. The farther I got into the book the less I wanted to put it down.
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I liked the unique development of the characters and the surprising twists in the plot. A boy raised and trained in brutality and a girl raised as royalty, both overcoming huge obstacles and social stigmas, but definitely not your typical boy meets girl story. I would recommend this book to any reader looking for action and an interesting good read. You will not be able to put the book down.
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Slave to King: The Beginning is the first novel in The Making of a King series by J.E. Hibpshman. Born to parents who didn’t want him and didn’t want to name him, Ethan never stood a chance against a cruel world. Trained alongside John to become a warrior, Ethan only knew hard work and training to become a killing machine. His options were to kill or be killed, so he knew what he had to do. His hard life with the Brothers became even harder when his father’s people came back to claim him. He was not ready to give up his freedom once again, especially when he had just achieved it. But as in most of his life, he had no choice. He was supposed to be a leader to the Forest People, but how could he when he didn’t even know their way of life? Smartly written to keep the reader hooked, Slave to King: The Beginning was powerful enough to keep me reading on. The way the story opens, how the action was introduced, and how the author kept the tone of the story alive until the end was riveting. Ethan’s journey was emotional and harrowing at the same time. I could not help but feel bad for him when his parents didn’t name him, but sold him, and then Ethan had to survive the rough treatment of the Brothers. However, I enjoyed that his past paved the way for his future and how he was prepared to become a leader without even knowing anything. Some parts were a little hard for me to read, but that added to the reading experience. J.E. Hibpshman kept the story raw and real with his descriptions and imagery. There was a lot of foreshadowing, and it kept me on my toes. I cannot wait to see what happens next with Ethan, Abigale, and John.

Slave to King: The Beginning, by J.E. Hibpshman, is an action-packed adventure about a slave-turned-king. Ethan was abandoned as a boy, became a warrior trained to kill, and was a slave. He makes a choice to make his own way in the world by doing good. However, "dirt boy" is unprepared for how harsh and cruel the world can be at times, and has to learn how to be a leader and victor while guarding his soul and his dignity. With only his sword skills and cunning, he is faced with dilemmas about the kind of man he is, what he wants to be, and how he can win Abigale, the lady he adores. It seems that any road he takes is fraught with peril. His life is in jeopardy, and so are the people he loves. He has to deal with slavery, bloodshed, and civil war. How far will he go to be true to himself and the journey he is determined to finish?

This original plot is brought to life in raw detail by J.E. Hibpshman and pulls you in from the beginning. Hibpshman has a talent for creating a world you can believe in, and characters you can look up to and root for. Adversity and the brutality of Ethan's training shaped him into the man he will become. His relationship with John says something about his nature, and the conflict between them as teenagers is interesting. The romance between him and his polar opposite, Abigale, is intriguing and special, to say the least: he's a warrior, she's a royal, and their love defies the culture clash. All of these elements are skillfully woven together to form a solid story with an engaging plot, unexpected turns, and an ending that satisfies. If you're looking for high adventure and a compelling plot, Slave to King: The Beginning, by J.E. Hibpshman, should be on your must-read list.

Aug, the People’s leader, gave birth to yet another son who would join in wresting leadership from him. He refused to name the baby and sold him into slavery. That baby ended up with The Brothers, and they called him Ethan. Ethan underwent rigorous training with The Brothers, who were mercenaries for hire. He became a fierce warrior who couldn’t stomach the things they did, but he must stay alive. A narrow escape threw him in the path of Abigale, princess of the Northern kingdom. His life became eventful from then. Between dealing with a feisty princess and having multiple targets on his back, Ethan’s moral compass was his biggest challenge. Would he stick to his principles or bend them a little for the greater good? Find out in Slave to King by J. E. Hibpshman.

Slave to King by J. E. Hibpshman is a fantastic fable story. It was fast-paced, incorporating action, suspense, mystery, and adventure. The elements explored were the quest for power, manipulation, betrayal, slavery, survival, physical abuse, and rape. This novel also sheds light on the plight of women and how they can be more. All it took was courage and determination. I loved the sound plot and unique story. The writing style was engaging and easy to follow. The characters were well developed, and I loved the number of formidable women from Flower to Mary and Wendy. They were strong, wise, and knew when to strike. Abigale left me with mixed feelings, but her flawed nature made her a worthy alpha, fighting misogyny and patriarchy. This novel was captivating.