*I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review*

The Witch King instantly had my number with its awesome cover and engaging premise: Wyatt, a witch and trans guy, is the fated mate of the Emyr, his best friend and future king of the fae in Asalin. So much happens in this book! I had anticipated that the story would revolve around Wyatt and Emyr's relationship - and it does - but much of the focus is on the power imbalance and injustices in Asalin. As Wyatt reluctantly reenters Asalin - along with Briar, his human bestie - he becomes embroiled in conspiracies and the plight of the witches who are viewed as second class citizens. My favorite parts are the quieter moments: Wyatt rediscovering his favorite places in Asalin, spending time getting to know Emyr again, and bonding with Briar. I also enjoyed the secondary characters and learning about Emyr and Wyatt's childhood. The queer and diverse rep is really good. I was especially excited for the ace and nonbinary characters! I loved Wyatt's perspective and trans experience; it's unlike any I've come across in YA fiction and it was wonderful to read.

There were some things I struggled with while reading, like the pacing. At times the story felt slow and hard to focus on. I also got distracted by the constant updates on Emyr's wardrobe; it is very eclectic and fun but I didn't need to know what he was wearing at all times. I also would have liked some more consistent world building, like I don't think it was explained how the fae have managed to keep their kingdoms from being discovered by humans or why they chose to start using human currency but not consistently upgrade their technology.

All in all, a good start to a series featuring diverse and queer characters and a promise of more adventures to come!