Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym M. Martineau
First book in the Beast Charmer series
3 stars
Leena is an exiled beast charmer. She makes a living catching low-grade beasts to stay alive and has made many enemies of Charmers and humans alike. Her latest enemy has put a hit on her and this assassin is like no other. The Cruor are assassins that have been raised from the dead and can control the shadows. After Leena defeats a Cruor and nearly kills him, the leader—Noc—decides to use this hit for his advantage and get some beasts. Will Noc carry through with assassinating Leena? Will Leena be able to prove that she isn’t evil by taming the Myad and proving herself as a worthy innocent to the beast? Who has the hit on Leena and why do they want her to be apart of a ritual sacrifice? I usually don’t pose questions in writing a synopsis, but I figured if these questions pique your interest then this will probably be a book for you. Kingdom of Exiles has a fun plot. The plot follows the vein of most paranormal fantasy novels, but this novel is heavy fantasy (which was an aspect I liked). Martineau has some interesting world-building and I found the concepts of both the Charmers and the Cruor to be interesting and complex. The writing, itself however, lacked in complexity and stank of swoon-worthy cringe. Some of these lines were so unnecessary and completely took out of the story. Here are some examples:
“The confident jerk of her chink threw me, and some of the anger stoking in my core snuffed out. I couldn’t help but admire the way she carried herself. Like an assassin unafraid of death.” (Not too bad, but my eyes still glanced at the back of my head briefly.)
“Please cut yourself. Cut yourself, and let me pretend to fuss over you. Let me get a napkin and wipe away the blood so I can save it for the taming. Please.” (This one was SO WEIRD. It’s even weirder out of context. I can’t believe I read this in a book.)
“Jealousy was a beast, and I feared Leena was the only Charmer skilled enough to tame it.”(Puns and cringe all at the same time.)
“The Myad wasn’t the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. Noc would always win that contest.(You could be killed this is not the best time to judge beauty, Leena.)
“He’d absolved me of my transgressions. Clean. I was clean. And worthy of being his.” (Thought she was talking about her love interest. No, it’s her beast who seems to be Jesus.)
“You don’t have to worry about me… I don’t have feelings for you. It’s safe.” (One of those I’m lying about my feelings tropes. How YA.)
Don’t even get me started on the part when the Charmers mentioned Noc being Leena’s mate. I had Sarah J. Maas flashbacks so hard that I swear I thought I was in ACOTAR for a second. Obviously, the writing is this book’s weakest feature. This can be both a hindrance for the reader who reads a lot or a blessing for a reader just looking for a quick and easy read. It’s all those boxes. I’m still laughing about these quotes even as I wrote them.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 2.25
Leena isn’t a bad heroine. She has some depth. There are added layers with her secret past, banishment, and lover gone wrong. It’s a fun time, typical to the genre, but fun nonetheless. I also really liked her scenes with taming the beasts for the Cruor assassins. Those scenes made this book for me. The Charmer aspect of this novel is really strong and it was fun.
Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 3
Noc has some good features, but I wasn’t ever really swooning over him. He didn’t steal the show for me. In fact, out of all the Cruor characters I liked him the least which isn’t really winning this dead guy many points in the romance department. He is also a very grey villain for a while which was fun and I kind of wish he hadn’t fell in love with Leena because I lowkey wanted to see them dual and one of them die. I am writing a fanfiction for this novel in my review. Time for me to talk about something else.
Swoon Worthy Scale: 2
The Villain- Boring. Typical and you don’t even get to find who put the hit on her at the end of the book. The sequel is, I’m expecting, going to be all about hunting down this mystery woman. Lowkey wish Noc was the villain because it would’ve added so many layers to this plot.
Villain Scale: 2
The Cruor are my favorite thing. Seriously, if you love friendship and brotherhood dynamics (which are apparently I trope I’m a sucker for) then this is for you. Think ACOTAR with the Night Court or The League from the League series. Be still my beating fangirl reader heart. Calem is the playboy with a heart of charm and he is a goofball. I adored him and he was so funny. Ozias is my absolute FAVORITE of all the characters in this book. He’s awkward, but sweet and full of awkward charm. Kost was dark and brooding and the most annoying of the characters, but his layered background was kind of fascinating. (Also, if Kost is in love with Noc and Noc refused to let himself fall in love or Kost would die, does this mean that Noc isn’t straight? I will admit that does make Noc more layered than most paranormal romance heroes.)
Character Scale: 4
Overall, this novel is fun. It’s not incredibly complex and I didn’t like the ending. I probably won’t be continuing with the series because I didn’t like the direction shift (unless we follow a different POV other than Leena and Noc then sign me up). This is perfect for fans of the paranormal romance genre and fantasy readers who like some lighter high-fantasy.
Plotastic Scale: 3.5
Cover Thoughts: This cover is gorgeous and even though she looks awkward I like it a lot.
Thank you, Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
First book in the Beast Charmer series
3 stars
Leena is an exiled beast charmer. She makes a living catching low-grade beasts to stay alive and has made many enemies of Charmers and humans alike. Her latest enemy has put a hit on her and this assassin is like no other. The Cruor are assassins that have been raised from the dead and can control the shadows. After Leena defeats a Cruor and nearly kills him, the leader—Noc—decides to use this hit for his advantage and get some beasts. Will Noc carry through with assassinating Leena? Will Leena be able to prove that she isn’t evil by taming the Myad and proving herself as a worthy innocent to the beast? Who has the hit on Leena and why do they want her to be apart of a ritual sacrifice? I usually don’t pose questions in writing a synopsis, but I figured if these questions pique your interest then this will probably be a book for you. Kingdom of Exiles has a fun plot. The plot follows the vein of most paranormal fantasy novels, but this novel is heavy fantasy (which was an aspect I liked). Martineau has some interesting world-building and I found the concepts of both the Charmers and the Cruor to be interesting and complex. The writing, itself however, lacked in complexity and stank of swoon-worthy cringe. Some of these lines were so unnecessary and completely took out of the story. Here are some examples:
“The confident jerk of her chink threw me, and some of the anger stoking in my core snuffed out. I couldn’t help but admire the way she carried herself. Like an assassin unafraid of death.” (Not too bad, but my eyes still glanced at the back of my head briefly.)
“Please cut yourself. Cut yourself, and let me pretend to fuss over you. Let me get a napkin and wipe away the blood so I can save it for the taming. Please.” (This one was SO WEIRD. It’s even weirder out of context. I can’t believe I read this in a book.)
“Jealousy was a beast, and I feared Leena was the only Charmer skilled enough to tame it.”(Puns and cringe all at the same time.)
“The Myad wasn’t the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. Noc would always win that contest.(You could be killed this is not the best time to judge beauty, Leena.)
“He’d absolved me of my transgressions. Clean. I was clean. And worthy of being his.” (Thought she was talking about her love interest. No, it’s her beast who seems to be Jesus.)
“You don’t have to worry about me… I don’t have feelings for you. It’s safe.” (One of those I’m lying about my feelings tropes. How YA.)
Don’t even get me started on the part when the Charmers mentioned Noc being Leena’s mate. I had Sarah J. Maas flashbacks so hard that I swear I thought I was in ACOTAR for a second. Obviously, the writing is this book’s weakest feature. This can be both a hindrance for the reader who reads a lot or a blessing for a reader just looking for a quick and easy read. It’s all those boxes. I’m still laughing about these quotes even as I wrote them.
Whimsical Writing Scale: 2.25
Leena isn’t a bad heroine. She has some depth. There are added layers with her secret past, banishment, and lover gone wrong. It’s a fun time, typical to the genre, but fun nonetheless. I also really liked her scenes with taming the beasts for the Cruor assassins. Those scenes made this book for me. The Charmer aspect of this novel is really strong and it was fun.
Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 3
Noc has some good features, but I wasn’t ever really swooning over him. He didn’t steal the show for me. In fact, out of all the Cruor characters I liked him the least which isn’t really winning this dead guy many points in the romance department. He is also a very grey villain for a while which was fun and I kind of wish he hadn’t fell in love with Leena because I lowkey wanted to see them dual and one of them die. I am writing a fanfiction for this novel in my review. Time for me to talk about something else.
Swoon Worthy Scale: 2
The Villain- Boring. Typical and you don’t even get to find who put the hit on her at the end of the book. The sequel is, I’m expecting, going to be all about hunting down this mystery woman. Lowkey wish Noc was the villain because it would’ve added so many layers to this plot.
Villain Scale: 2
The Cruor are my favorite thing. Seriously, if you love friendship and brotherhood dynamics (which are apparently I trope I’m a sucker for) then this is for you. Think ACOTAR with the Night Court or The League from the League series. Be still my beating fangirl reader heart. Calem is the playboy with a heart of charm and he is a goofball. I adored him and he was so funny. Ozias is my absolute FAVORITE of all the characters in this book. He’s awkward, but sweet and full of awkward charm. Kost was dark and brooding and the most annoying of the characters, but his layered background was kind of fascinating. (Also, if Kost is in love with Noc and Noc refused to let himself fall in love or Kost would die, does this mean that Noc isn’t straight? I will admit that does make Noc more layered than most paranormal romance heroes.)
Character Scale: 4
Overall, this novel is fun. It’s not incredibly complex and I didn’t like the ending. I probably won’t be continuing with the series because I didn’t like the direction shift (unless we follow a different POV other than Leena and Noc then sign me up). This is perfect for fans of the paranormal romance genre and fantasy readers who like some lighter high-fantasy.
Plotastic Scale: 3.5
Cover Thoughts: This cover is gorgeous and even though she looks awkward I like it a lot.
Thank you, Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date: June 25, 2019
Assassin’s Creed meets
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
in this gripping, epic fantasy romance trilogy.
My heart wasn’t part
of the deal when I bargained for my life,
But assassins so
rarely keep their word.
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.
The Beast Charmer
Series:
Kingdom of Exiles
The Frozen Prince
(coming early 2020)
The Shattered Crown (coming
late 2020)
Praise for Kingdom of Exiles
“Impressive debut…Martineau’s intricate
world-building melds traditional high fantasy with a hint of Victorian
sensibility, then elevates it with endearing characters and a deliciously
complex story that will leave readers anxiously awaiting the second book.”
D—Publishers Weekly, STARRED review
and Best Book of Summer 2019
“A powerful new voice in fantasy romance, Martineau has
crafted a stunning story full of razor-sharp intrigue, delicious characters,
and a love story you never want to end. Keep an eye on Maxym M. Martineau. If
I'm not mistaken, we have a bona fide genius in our midst.” —Darynda Jones, New York Times bestselling author
“Maxym Martineau weaves an irresistible blend of adventure,
magic, and romance. A unique world full of danger and intrigue and a delightful
ensemble of characters will leave fans of fantasy romance breathlessly awaiting
more from this author. Prepare to be charmed!” —Amanda Bouchet, USA Today Bestselling Author
Maxym M. Martineau is an article and social media writer by
day and a fantasy romance author by night. She earned her bachelor’s degree in
English Literature from Arizona State University, and lives with her husband
and fur babies in Arizona. Connect with her at MaxymMartineau.com or through Twitter
and Instagram @maxymmckay.
Purchase Links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SAS6S0
IndieBound: http://bit.ly/2IfUKYw
Apple: https://apple.co/2UVUenq
Author Website: MaxymMartineau.com
Rafflecopter:
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EXCERPT – Beast
Taming
Leena
Outstretched
wings coated in vibrant teals and emeralds went taut, and [the Myad] tilted his
nose upward to sniff the air. Built like an oversize black panther, the lithe
jungle beast exhaled, shaking his mane from left to right. The peacock streak
running the length of his spine and tail shimmered in the sun. A plume of
feathers exploded around his head, standing tall between his ears. Gold casings
masked his ankles and heels, protecting the weak points of his legs.
I’d never seen anything so beautiful. Powerful. I took a small
step forward. The brush crunched beneath my feet, and the Myad skewered me with
his blazing gold gaze. Thin tendrils of blue light streamed from his eyes.
“Grundy.”
Without further prompting, plates shifted along Grundy’s body, and
two fat arms pushed outward. Once his soft hooves met the earth, a shallow
divot appeared in a circle around the men. As one, they gasped, crashing to the
ground under Grundy’s invisible weight. Calem sputtered, lungs working overtime
to keep oxygen flowing through his body. Face flat against the earth, Oz
groaned into the dirt. Muscles ticked along his back as he fought against the
weight to no avail. Kost cursed and dug his fingers into the ground.
Noc alone managed to remain on his knees, palms pressed flat to
the earth. Fissures of pressure cracked around his fingertips. Slate eyes
lanced with frustration speared my heart, and a low snarl broke free from his
lips.
Such power. I was wrong. The Myad wasn’t the most beautiful thing I’d ever
seen. Noc would always win that contest.
A rumbling growl sounded from deep in the Myad’s belly, and heavy
paws thudded against the banks of the pond as he stalked toward me. Fifteen
minutes, and Grundy’s gravity manipulation would fade. I mouthed an apology to
Noc before turning to the beast. Palms outward, I slowed to a stop a few feet
in front of the creature. No weapons. No beasts. No threat.
A cool sweat misted above my lips. To be in front of something so powerful…
The Myad’s tail flicked from left to right. Pulling back his
muzzle to reveal a row of elongated teeth, he growled. I willed my breath to
remain steady. Blue wisps began to stream from the gold plates in his legs.
He’d take flight or pounce if I wasn’t careful.
Kicking on the charm, I knelt before him. Rosewood light spilled
outward, but he didn’t blink. My heart traded places with my throat, and I
swallowed twice before exhaling deeply.
Step one: Blood of the murderer. With my eyes locked on his, I
extracted the vial from my breast pocket. Another growl simmered in the back of
his throat, and I paused.
Easy now. My heart thundered in my ears. I popped the stopper off and
poured Noc’s blood into my cupped hand. The Myad’s nose twitched, and he
lowered his head to sniff the substance. Slowly, his scratchy tongue grazed my
skin. Sheer power thrummed from his touch. I’m sure he tasted the raw flavor of
Noc’s magic in the blood. The icy heat of it threatened to sear my skin, and
the scent of burnt honey and hot metal tainted the air.
Once the beast licked my hand dry, he sat back on his haunches and
studied me, the corded muscles of his legs rippling beneath black fur.
Step two: A token of loyalty. Proof that, if the taming were a
success, I was as much his as he was mine. That we would never abandon each
other. With bloody, shaking fingers, I took my opal ring off my hand.
“Your mother left
this for you.” My aunt had held out a tiny box
with silver clasps. My eager fingers had wrenched it open. There, lying in a
bed of violet silk, was the rose-gold ring my father had given to my mother as
a promise of his love. The one I now wore at all times.
This ring was my last tie to Hireath. My last tie to a memory that
I cherished above all else. My parents had died trying to tame a beast beyond
their capabilities. It seemed fitting that, if this didn’t work, I’d go out the
same way.
Hot tears stung the corners of my eyes, and I bowed to the Myad,
extending my palm toward him. Blue tendrils of vapor streamed from his eyes and
looped through the ring, lifting it to the space before him. A crown of pure
gold burst through his black fur. His feathered mane shot outward, and the
tendrils carried the ring to the center of the headpiece. The gold rippled and
molded, allowing for the jewelry to become part of his plumage.
Fighting back cries of joy, I tossed a quick glance over my
shoulder to steal one more look at Noc. Eyes wide and jaw tight, he strained
against Grundy’s pressure. Muscles bulged along his neck, and his fingers
trembled. The detachment he’d wielded earlier was gone, and there was nothing
but concern shining in his intense stare.
My heart twisted. Too bad it took me putting my life in danger for
him to look at me like that.
Turning back to the Myad, I slowly undid the belt from my
breeches. The Myad tilted his head, eyeing the black leather contraption. A low
warning growl rumbled at the back of his throat.
It’s not a
weapon. I promise. Folding my belt, I shoved it into
my mouth between my teeth. Not a single sound. I breathed
deeply and focused on the beast realm. My power flooded outward, pulsating to
the cadence of my heart. The Myad stood before crouching low against the
ground. Tension gathered in all his muscles, and he eyed my left shoulder.
Screwing my eyes shut, I clenched down on my belt.
I heard the kick-up of dirt as he lunged. The back of my head
smacked against the ground, forcing my eyes open, and a blinding heat surged
from my shoulder as his fangs sank easily into flesh. The world slipped out
from beneath me as pain blurred the lines of the trees and the sky, blending
colors in ways that shouldn’t have been possible.
***
Excerpted from Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym
M. Martineau. © 2019 by Maxym M. Martineau. Used with
permission of the publisher, Sourcebooks
Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved.
Are you excited about Kingdom of Exiles? What are some of your favorite paranormal fantasy novels? What tropes get you in the gut? Let me know down below in the comments
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ReplyDeleteI JUST finished this one and really enjoyed it! It wasn't a five-star read, but it was close. I really enjoyed a lot of the elements, especially the Beast Realm, and wish they'd explored that more. I had some issues with the conflict and Wynn, but it was enjoyable overall. I'm sorry this one wasn't a better fit for you! Obviously, this mysterious person is going to take advantage of a certain someone's death, right? And didn't Noc leave his blood all over the battlefield? It seems like she already has her ingredients... ;)
ReplyDeleteLindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬
I'm glad that you enjoyed this one, Lindsi! I felt the same way about the conflict. It didn't fit or feel right. You are so right! I'm betting it's the lead Counsel woman she was way too welcoming after let Leena live in banishment for so long.
DeleteIf she was away when it happened, and unaffected by the Gys (did I spell that right?), she should have questioned the council's decision more. At least look into what happened! She had the equivalent of a lie detector test with her beast bunny.
DeleteLindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬