The Honorable Barbarian is the fourth novel of what might best be called the Unbeheaded King series, after Jorian, who in the first novel, The Goblin Tower, escapes his ritual beheading.

The first three novels follow the adventures of Jorian, a big, strong, and clever man who somehow manages to face every problem and danger with a good sense of humor. The Honorable Barbarian represents a shift in focus for the series, making Jorian's younger brother Kerin the main character. Smaller and less self-confident than Jorian, Kerin solves his problems by his wits rather than by physical force.