In the early reign of Nebuchadrezzar II, remnants of Assyrian ritual still haunt Babylon. When a solar omen terrifies the priests, a commoner is elevated as substitute king — honoured in appearance, doomed in fate. But in a palace of omens and intrigue, survival is never simple. Betrayal, espionage, and forbidden alliances entwine as he struggles to resist the destiny imposed upon him. Just as Jack the Giant Killer ended the giants' oppressive tribute in folklore, this historical novel reimagines that motif in the Neo‑Babylonian world: a substitute king who refuses to be a ritual pawn, leading a revolt against priestly elites and abolishing the substitute king ritual itself. When the King Must Die blends historical fact with fiction, bringing to life one of history's most haunting rituals in a tale of courage and conspiracy.