Not Null Book Review: One Word Kill

Fun to read

Apr 06, 2025

One Word Kill by Mark Lawrence is a sci-fi book set in 1986. It sprinkles nostalgia into a well-paced story, and it’s fun to read.

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Why did I read it?

This was one of the Kindle First Reads options when it was published in 2019, and it was my selection that month. I chose it because the description was interesting, and I was intrigued by it being called Ready Player One meets Stranger Things. Finally got around to reading it last year.

What’s it about?

1986 is a weird year for fifteen-year-old Nick. First, he finds out he has leukemia. Then a new girl, Mia, joins his weekly Dungeons & Dragons group. And a strange man with unexplainable abilities gives Nick a cryptic message about Mia being in danger. Now Nick has to decide if he can trust this oddly familiar man, while he figures out how to help Mia. All while dealing with chemo treatments.

What’s the longer review?

This was a fun story to read for a few reasons. Having grown up in the 80s, I enjoyed the nostalgia that is dropped in. I also appreciated that it wasn’t overdone—just part of the story.

Dungeons & Dragons is almost another character in the story. I’ve only played the game once, but could sort out what was going on, because it is explained just enough for the reader to understand any significant points. But my guess is D&D fans would pick up on it quickly, but not be annoyed by the explanations.

The pace and tension are well done. This was pretty fast-paced, but there were moments for the reader to catch a breath. And the tension—there were times when I realized my shoulders were up in my ears and my heart was racing wondering how on earth things would work out.

The characters are also good. The friends playing D&D all have in common a love of the game. Other than that, they have distinct personalities, traits, and interests, making them a good ensemble. And the bad guys are appropriately very unlikable. One gave me the shivers with every appearance in the story.

Without including spoilers . . . I will say it’s relatively easy to sort out who the strange man is. But it’s still fun to watch the characters figure it out. And bits of quantum mechanics and physics are woven into the story. Like with D&D, the subjects are handled in a way that is accessible to readers who aren’t familiar with them, while not being boring to those who are.

I’m glad I waited to read this until after I had been diagnosed with cancer in 2021. Especially toward the beginning of the story, Nick describes the mental and emotional aspects of being diagnosed with cancer. As a cancer survivor, I am floored by these descriptions. They are so like my own experience, I looked up what kind of cancer Mark Lawrence had, only to find he has never had cancer. I am even more impressed! I also admire and am inspired by Nick’s attitude and fortitude—he doesn’t let having cancer stop him from living his life or helping his friends. Not that you need to have cancer to appreciate this aspect of the story. It just stood out to me based on my life experience. And I love when this happens in stories.

Children of the 80s, fans of quantum mechanics, and lovers of D&D will find something they can identify with in One Word Kill. And if you just enjoy reading a good story, this book is for you, too.

Any additional information?

This is the first book in the Impossible Time series. The next books are Limited Wish and Dispel Illusion. As of writing this review, the series is available on Kindle Unlimited.

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