Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym Martineau Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on June 25, 2019
Genres: Fantasy Romance
Pages: 400
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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Exiled Charmer Leena Edenfrell is running out of time. Empty pockets forced her to sell her beloved magical beasts-an offense punishable by death-and now there's a price on her head. With the realm's most talented murderer-for-hire nipping at her heels, Leena makes Noc an offer he can't refuse: powerful mythical creatures in exchange for her life.
Plagued by a curse that kills everyone he loves, Noc agrees to Leena's terms in hopes of finding a cure. Never mind that the dark magic binding the assassin's oath will eventually force him to choose between Leena's continued survival...and his own.
In a game of trust and half-lies, only one thing can be certain: traps capture more than beasts and ensnared hearts are impossible to untangle.
Fantasy romance is a more popular genre lately. I’ve always enjoyed fantasy with romance. The world-building in Kingdom of Exiles is fascinating! I love the idea of beast charmers and the beasts. I want to learn MUCH more about the different beasts with their classes and talents. It is only the tip of the iceberg on the entire “world” as well. There is much we don’t know about the Cruor.
I liked Leena with her love of beasts. I felt for how difficult things have been for her with losing her family, ending up with a bad guy. She seems a bit young, a bit naive, but has some skills. Noc was less easy to love. He is a leader who cares about his people but he has some issues. One of them is trust and honesty. He is not forthcoming enough with Leena for me. But things have been crazy and they are only beginning.
Another aspect I enjoy is the strategy and battles. Some of this related to the different beasts and their abilities. Then there are the Charmers with their skills and the Cruor with the characteristics and capabilities. It made for exciting conflicts.
So I loved the world and the characters, but I don’t trust the romance yet. Leena and Noc may love each other but they have a ways to go in the development of their relationship. If the Beast Charmer series is continuing with this couple then it feels more UF than PNR (actually fantasy romance). I look forward to two new books projected for 2020 – The Frozen Prince and The Shattered Crown.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2019 Releases
- COYER Hunt
It sounds like a good beginning and a promise for character growth and maybe a more believable romance to come. Great cover art!
I really like the world and want to know more about it. UF can be frustrating because it is not one book. You don’t learn everything you want to know in the first book, or everything about the characters and if there is romance it may not even be one that will last.
looking at the cover i am curious about the beasts. i do enjoy the fantasy world too
The cover doesn’t really do much to define the beasts. They are really unique and varied. That’s a part I really like.
I saw another good review of this one so I’m curious too!
I think it is good; there is so much more I want to know.
Love me a good UF/PNR book. Oh I do think I’ll have to check this one out!
It’s the first book so there are things left open, but I really enjoyed the start and want to know more.
Great review. This sounds good. Thank’s for sharing!
Thank you for reading. It is a very different world than I have seen before, which I like.
sometimes PNR and UF just don’t get into enough of the cool details for me. I think I’d be in the same boat wanting to know more about the world. But hopefully then next two books will delve into that.
That’s definitely what I am hoping because all the different beasts in different classes is something I want to know more.