I honestly couldn't put it down because I was so engrossed in it, especially around the midway point. At the beginning, I wasn't quite sure what to make of the story, because there were so many terms that I was trying to get used to, so it was hard to follow. But that's what happens when you're thrown into another culture, which this book definitely does. But I eventually got used to it all, and fell in love with it. It's an intriguing world; magic, culture, immortals, and a BA main character named Khya. All of these helped shape the reasons behind my love for this book. And I can't wait for the next one to come out!!!!

Island of Exiles fits in well with the popular YA titles of current times, but at the same time, it is unique enough to set it apart.

If you look at my reading progress comments on Goodreads you can see that up until halfway through the book I was confused and struggling, but by around 50% I was completely sucked in. This book is worth the struggle in the beginning.

What I had the most trouble with was all of the new vocabulary words in this world that Khya lives in. They have an entire caste system (mostly based on magic) that is easily confusing, plus a few other words that are substitutes for what we would say and honestly, I don’t see the point in the author changing them.

For the longest time while I liked Khya, I didn’t really care about her. I blame this on the above vocabulary issue. It took me a while to really engage. Once I really committed, I discovered I did like her. She is a strong female character and her personal growth throughout the story was wonderful. I loved where her character ended up by the end and I look forward to seeing how she continues to grow and change throughout the series.

I give the author credit for this unique desert world she’s created, as well as the Miriseh people. All very cool, especially once I let go of trying to keep track of the ranks and titles and what it all meant.

A cool thing bout this particular community is that they’re part militia-part hippie commune. Parents don’t raise their kids, they’re all put together and raised together. Blood siblings are rare, and Khya is fortunate enough to have one. Sexuality is also very open and free, everyone is allowed to love whomever they want. Khya has has multiple relationships with her peers, both male and female. In this world, that’s the norm. There are no boundaries on love.

Tessen is my favorite in this book. His undying loyalty to Khya, even when she doesn’t entirely deserve it, is wonderful. I don’t even remember how he was described in the book, but in my head he’s pretty dreamy. Definitely book boyfriend material!


SHOULD YOU READ IT? Readers who enjoy unique fantasy worlds that are somewhat similar to our own will probably enjoy this book. The new vocab can be a bit intense, so my advice is to let it all go and just enjoy the story being told, don’t even worry about trying to keep track of the ranks.

This just did not hit the target for me.
It was confusing at the start and I just could not relate to the characters.
Not for me.

I loved this book. I cannot wait for the sequel. The world building was amazing and it thought of things that other YAs leave out. I was SO impressed!

https://lynns-books.com/2017/03/16/island-of-exiles-the-ryogan-chronicles-1-by-erica-cameron/
Island of Exiles was a very enjoyable read set in a well crafted world where survival is a fight in itself. I was very pleasantly surprised with this one. Well, to be fair, this was a recommendation that I picked up from Danya over at Fine Print and so to say it was a pleasant surprise is not entirely what I mean because I expected to like it after reading such a strong recommendation from a fellow blogger who I trust, but, I tend to be a little wary when it comes to YA – and I’m always pleased to be won over. This is a high fantasy world, a different world where magic dictates the class system, set in a harsh landscape where the inhabitants have to battle with the elements on a regular basis simply to stay alive.

At the start of the story we are introduced to Khya, out on a mission beyond the city walls with the rest of her team, her magical abilities enable her to detect a forthcoming storm. Now, when I say storm let me be clear, this is a next level storm with dark storm clouds that send a deluge of rain at such speed that without the safety of the city walls anyone left out in the open will certainly meet a quick and watery death. Khya and her team, with the help of her protective wards, manage to make it to safety although there are some casualties. From there, Khya seeks out her younger brother Yorri. Yorri has not yet manifested any magical ability and this is a source of constant worry to Khya. As a result she comes up with a plan to help persuade Yorri’s magical ability to manifest (under duress). And Yorri’s magic does indeed explode into action quite decisively leaving his place amongst society perfectly laid out. Of course, from hereon in everything goes wrong for Yorri and the main thrust of the plot becomes a search to uncover the mystery surrounding not only her brother’s fate but the history of the island on which they live.

So, what did I like about Island of Exiles.

Firstly the world building is really well done. Shira is a difficult place to live – the city itself is protected by high walls but beyond the walls the city is flanked by furious seas and uninhabitable desert. The City of Shira has adapted though. The people have used the roofs to grow food and they even use their dead to eventually feed those rooftop gardens. In a landscape such as this nothing goes to waste. The constant threat of the stormy seasons, voracious crop eating bugs and then unbearable hot weather coupled with the possibility of starvation keep most of the people active and alert, if not long lived.

The City itself has an eastern type feel which is accentuated not only by the setting but also by the style of clothing and food. On top of that the author has created layers of depth. Names, magical abilities and specially created words. The City is governed by the Miresah, a small group of seemingly immortal beings. From there we have different levels of control that are chiefly arranged by the power of a person’s magic, mainly as those with the most powerful ability are few and far between, then ending with the Yonin. The Yonin have (seemingly) no magical ability and are basically the workers of the city. They don’t go beyond the walls and they spend a good deal of their time traversing the underground tunnels of the city where they are out of sight and mind. The underground tunnels are a fascinating place, filled with abandoned and long lost places, stairs that seem to go ever and ever deeper, huge dark caverns and hidden history. On top of this the author has created a city with it’s own sense of being, they have their religion and belief in the afterlife, ceremonies of rites throughout their existence, unusual names for rank and magic and a strong sense of ‘clan before self’.

The characters. Well, I have to say that Tessen was probably my favourite. He doesn’t play a lead role but he’s one of those characters that plays a great secondary role having the right sense when to dip out of the limelight or step back into it. Khya. She’s a great character for YA I must admit. A talented magician, a well honed warrior and full of naked ambition. At the same time – she’s undoubtedly flawed and at the start of the read this is much more apparent – probably because at the start, unaware of the betrayal involved in the life she leads, she still holds her values up on the highest shelf – which undoubtedly makes her a little unbearable at times. She treads a very fine line between wanting to ‘mother’ her younger brother or completely stifle him and create a ‘mini me’ version of herself with Yorri’s own wishes playing little role in the whole affair. And, she’s got some rather narrow opinions in some respects. She certainly looks down a little on the Yonin, she even at one point scoffs at somebody else’s magical ability simply because they’re getting a little more senior in years (or at least that’s how it came across). But, she’s young, idealistic and opinionated and as the book progresses those things are gradually broken down – not, thankfully, some overnight ‘eureka’ moment but a gradual acceptance that she has, on more than one occasion been wrong. Khya is certainly a character with a lot of development throughout the book and it’s good to read about as the story progresses. Yorri – although he doesn’t have a lot of page time the love between Yorri and Khya is really well portrayed and is one of the key motivations for most of Khya’s actions.

Now, the romance. Yes, there is an underlying romance in this book. It’s not the central focus and as this is YA there’s nothing steamy going on here so stand easy on that front. But the slow building romance between Khya and Tessen certainly does make for good reading, I can’t deny it, and I also can’t deny that I would have been more than happy if they had thrown caution to the wind and got down to the nasty – but restraint people, restraint is the key to the chemistry and I’m happy to say that the chemistry is in abundance here.

All told this is a well written, carefully thought out story with a wealth of possibility yet to be explored. A wonderfully diverse bunch of characters, plenty of action, betrayal and a good deal of tension. The only criticism I have is probably that some of the names, etc, can be a bit convoluted and a bit tongue twisting which could have broken the flow – but frankly didn’t for me.

The one remaining question I have is when is the next book due out?

Island of Exiles has a cool story/concept!
The reader is dumped into a brand new desert world with its own "language", but the foreign words are used seamlessly and in reference to things that the reader does know that you're able to keep up rather than stopping to scramble for a dictionary/glossary.
The only trouble I encountered had to do with a third gender. This wasn't explained until about halfway through the book and by then I didn't care and was ignoring the gender words associated with it.
Lots of action and cool magic/powers in this unique story. I'm excited for the next book!

I have NO idea why this book hasn't had more hype! I really, really enjoyed it and it's like nothing I have ever read - which is saying something, especially in the YA world!

<b>The world building is complex, thorough and absolutely fascinating: [author:Erica Cameron|6539315] has done an <i>AMAZING</i> job of creating a distinctive and diverse fantasy world.</b>

The writing is descriptive and yet easy to read and the world is full of gritty and shocking detail. There's a glossary provided at the back of the book to help orient the reader (if necessary) and it's clear that every last detail has been so well thought out in advance; from the social structure to the politics to the culture. There's a whole lexicon of rankings and unique terms and while this may be confusing or intimidating to some readers, <i>THIS</i> particular reader was entirely grateful and appreciative of the intricacies and involvement of this world and the sheer depth of world-building involved.

The island of Shiara is dystopian-esque in quality and the intensity of the plot is breathtaking from the very first chapter.

I absolutely LOVED how effortlessly diverse this book is. It wasn't diverse for the sake of being diverse; it just was. There were multiple sexual orientations (including asexual), an absolute plethora of varying skin colours, even a third gender with its own specific pronouns!! Yet none of this was unusual in this fantasy world and sex positive society.

The main character, Khya was just a breath of fresh air. She's a Desosa Mage which means she can manipulate energy and in her particular case she is a fykina ward mage -able to shield herself and others from both magic and the physical world. She's a warrior in every sense of the word and her fierceness, stubborn nature and dedication both to the clan and to her brother completely endeared her to me and seeing this world through her POV and watching her character development throughout the book completely invested me in the world and the plot.

All of the characters in fact were just fantastically written - multilayered, complex and so REAL with their own personality quirks and flaws.

The romance!!! Wow, the romance. It was a complete SLOW BURN and somehow it featured all of my most favourite tropes and I just SHIPPED IT SO HARD!!! It was a total asset to the story and yet also managed never to be the center of attention and didn't take away from the main plot arc at all. I wouldn't mind seeing A LOT more of the romance in the next book - just saying!!

The magical system in this world is also really well thought out and systematic. There wasn't any one point where it was too unbelievable and the use of magic always took it's toll - I appreciate that in a fantasy.

<b>This completely unique book is full of mind-blowing creativity, unpredictable twists and turns, one of the most enticing romances I have read in a while and a riveting plot that draws you in further and further until the desperation is palpable</b>. I definitely cannot wait to read more of this series and I can't wait to see where Cameron takes us next.

<blockquote><b><i>Since the day one of the yonin nursemaids smiled at me and said, “You take very good care of your brother.”
</i>Your<i> brother.
Yorri had been </i>mine<i>—the first and only thing that had ever belonged to me more than the clan—and I promised to protect him; I swore it on blood before I knew how tightly those vows bind.</i></b></blockquote>

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆
The blurb was a definite hook for me, especially with the Graceling being one of my all-time favorite young adult fantasy novels. But the language and terminology confused this 38-year-old writer/avid reader, so I wonder how much a young adult will comprehend while reading.

I've struggled over the course of two weeks to read this novel, reading about 10% in a sitting before switching to another book, then coming back for another tenth of the book, more than determined to finish it. At the start, I felt like I was forced to solve a complicated puzzle with all the terminology and how the reader is thrust into a world with no explanation, being left to figure it out on their own.

I'm not necessarily a simple reader, but this novel made me feel like one with how confused I was. I've read thousands of books in varying genres, especially this one, so I know what some of the terms used meant. I grasped the overall plot, but was still left to solve what was being said in the paragraphs.

In a nutshell, I felt as if I was reading a foreign language after being dropped into a foreign land, and through familiarity I had to learn how to speak the language (eventually I got it, but it harmed the entertainment factor). While beautiful, and lent an ethereal and realistic feel to the world created, it created a jarring flow as the reader tried to puzzle through understanding the words used to tell the story.

As the writer and creator, the author knows what she meant when writing, but that didn't necessarily translate to the reader understanding. Eventually, yes. But it shouldn't be so much work at the start. The beginning is when the reader must be hooked, and I fear the majority will toss in the towel long before they comprehend the beautiful world created. I personally experienced a disconnect between me and the characters due to the writing style, which I battled the entire duration of the long book.

AFTER I conquered the novel, there was a glossary of terms at the end of the book, which I wish I knew existed prior to starting. If you're reading my review prior to purchasing/reading the novel, click to the glossary first. It will make your reading enjoyment much more fulfilling. Though, at the same time, it feels a bit like you have to study and keep notes in order to read the book.

At the start, the reader is thrust into a harsh world, with Khya as our narrator. She's a strong, stubborn, responsible role model of a character, with utter devotion to her brother – Yorri. Yorri was one of my favorite characters. The strong connection the brother and sister shared was endearing.

I appreciated how the focus was on the plot, unlike how many young adult fantasy novels focus on the romance. There was a romantic thread, but it wasn't insta-anything. There was a slow-build vibe between Khya and Tessen, which is a trope that always keeps my attention. Khya is blind to the attraction between her and Tessen, more focused on her brother. They had known each other for most of their lives, so there wasn't a scene (like in most YA books) where the new hottie totally makes our heroine lose her focus. No matter how much Khya wanted to be left alone, Tessen maneuvered his way in by being helpful.

The universe created was diverse, with three genders and no sexual orientation qualms. I give mad props to the universe the author created, all the time spent researching and maintaining the world-building from start to finish, the ability to write a highly complex novel.

I wasn't the intended audience for this novel. I like to be entertained, to fall into the story and not want to crawl back out until well after the final page. With the way Island of Exiles was written, with the complexity, I couldn't fall into the story without struggling to understand the story. It was like working instead of relaxing. While I can appreciate the hard work and beauty the author injected into the story, it wasn't a pleasure to read.

I do recommend this title, but only if the reader downloads a sample to get a feel of the writing style and world-building. While I can appreciate the story, I won't be reading the sequel.

Island Of Exiles By Erica Cameron is a gritty, action-packed survival fantasy featuring a fierce warrior girl and a diverse cast of characters set on a harsh, desert island. Magic, twists, and romance round out this fierce tale of intrigue.

"On the isolated desert island of Shiara, dying young is inevitable. The clan comes before self, and protecting her home means Khya is a warrior above all else."

In Khya’s world, every breath is a battle.

Betrayal and Dark Secrets.

When Khya is betrayed by her clan's council for secrets revealed of an undiscovered world she's never seen, threats to her brother's life and deadly traps are set into motion. The only person who can help is Tessen, her lifelong rival and the boy who challenges her at every turn.

"To save her brother’s life and her island home, her only choice is to trust Tessen, turn against her clan, and go on the run—a betrayal and a death sentence. "

Island Of Exiles is a richly imagined fantasy world with harsh elements and fierce magic.

The world building is definitely exciting and unique. The setting takes place on an isolated desert island called Shiara where fierce storms rage and harsh elements threaten. Khya's world is very much one of survival. Each page seems to bring new forms of hostile danger.

Fierce, cunning and loyal, Khya is a warrior above all else.

Khya is one of those heroines who is very goal driven, which sometimes blinds her. She's loyal to those she cares about and it is her love for her brother which sets into motion acts of betrayal and many twists. I loved watching her grow as a character as she learns the need to let others choose their own fate and to trust others. She's fierce and pretty bad-ass on all levels.

It reads with diversity on many levels.

One aspect the surprised me was how fluid Cameron's writing is creating a world of diverseness on so many levels. From the wide range of cultures and social and magical orders to the unique take on traditions and customs. The language is really fascinating as well but I recommend referencing the glossary in the back of the book until you get the hang of it. I had some trouble staying focused at the beginning because of it.

A slow-burn, ship-worthy romance.

If you enjoy a slow-burn, sassy romance with plenty of chemistry brewing then Cameron's Island of Exiles is for you. Snarky dialogue and verbal banter are my favorites and there is no shortage of it while the romance is teasingly increased until you are practically on edge with shipping this couple.

In the end:

Island of Exiles is an exciting new YA fantasy series that boast an equally unique and diverse world and characters and despite some hiccups, I had initially with the language, I'm very excited to grab up its sequel.

I don't mind stories that jump right into it and the new world you're inhabiting but this book took that to the extreme. There is no explanation for any of the terms given within the story so I felt like I was constantly playing catch up and trying to figure out what everything meant. I spent the first quarter of the book extremely confused and wanting to stop reading it altogether. Especially since it took so long to set up the story for where it was going to go. So if you are going to read this story I definitely recommend reading the glossary of terms and class rank system that are located at the back of the book before you start or as you're reading along. I didn't see the, until after I had finished the book, and it would've made it a much easier read if I'd have known.

The reason I continued on reading was because of the worldbuilding that is done within the story. This world was so intriguing with its class system, the magical system that has been created, the history of the groups of people within the story, I just couldn't stop wanting to learn more about it. I eventually became more engrossed as the story went on and I could piece things together more, and it turned out to be an enjoyable read in the end.

Khya was an enjoyable character to read; I never got annoyed with her and I could understand exactly why she chose to do the things the way she did. She has a fiery temper, she can fight with an array of weapons, has the common sense needed and the emotions we can all empathize with. I think what I liked the most about Khya as a character was getting to see her journey in character development as she went through the story. There is a huge difference between the character we meet at the beginning of the book and where she is at the end. Her powers were also really cool, she is the mindset where she would rather go on offence and yet her warding powers are all about defence. I loved that juxtaposition in her character.

Tessen was a very unassuming and constant presence which I really liked about him. I loved seeing his presence go from being in the background to coming to the foreground. While I sometimes did get frustrated with him and wanted to say just tell her how you feel, I could completely understand why he didn't. His powers also really intrigued me and they were so integral to him helping Khya with her plans.

****** SPOILERS AHEAD ******

Yorri I thought was interesting at the beginning but then my interest waned after he "died." He completely caught my attention again towards the end of the story though. Yorri is now kind of shrouded in mystery. I understand that he is a descendant of the Miriseh, but why has he been put to sleep on the island? I thought they killed all of the descendants. Can they not kill him so they just put him in his island prison? What do they want to use his powers for? Why didn't the islamd affect Khya in the same way? I have so many questions about Yorri now and since they didn't manage to rescue him I suppose I will have to wait to find out.

I thought a couple things in the world building were really interesting. First, the fact that this group of Miriseh have basically set up this enormous cult, where over 10 000 people listen to and obey their every whim. I had to wonder at this though. Why did they set it up where they ruled through ignorance rather than fear? Did they think it made the people easier to control? Being the "benefactors" made it less likely a revolt would happen? I thought it was interesting, and while I did suspect that the Miriseh weren't saying everything, I didn't expect everything practically to be a lie.

The second thing I thought was odd at first but made sense later was how the children were raised in this society. The whole it takes a village mindset kind of confused me and seemed quite brutal at first. But as I and Khya began to see her world for what it really was I began to understand why it had to be like that. As Khya proves in the story, familial bonds can be extremely strong and makes people be willing to do anything for those they love. By separating the children there are no longer bonds with their parents and even among the siblings themselves. Since soulmates and marriage are rare in this world if people began to question the lies of the Miriseh they could just be killed off without others searching out the reason why. I really liked how everything seemed to tie in in the book.

The pace of the book was kind of at a slow and constant pace for me. That pace was quite frustrating for me in the beginning, and even when the big event started happening towards the end of the book I didn't really feel that build up and it instead felt like a constant pull forwards. The only times I really got excited were the romantic scenes between Khya and Tessen. I loved seeing their relationship flourish and how they push each other to be better and that they don't have to pretend to be anybody but who they truly are. Those were the sweetest scenes in the book and their flirting made me fangirl with glee.

Overall I have become interested enough in the story, the mysteries to be solved, and the characters to want to continue reading this series. A subtle fantasy, this book sneaks up on you as it hooks you with the world and magic system created within it and the characters slowly work their way into your heart. I'm looking forward to seeing where the story goes, and what adventure our motley crew will go on next. For those who love magical systems as much as I do, I recommend you read this book.

"Heat, dirt, blood, death. Life is made of these things."

This was honestly one of the most original stories I've read in a long time! The world and society Cameron has created here is both intricate and thought provoking, and oh so very different from our own. Also, Khya and Tessen have one of the most interesting dynamics I've ever seen and it's a refreshing change. I'm usually a total sucker for a hot alpha male, but this relationship was so different and intriguing. It was the epitome of an equal relationship that is so rarely seen in writing. I love that, while Khya often takes control of the romantic interactions in their budding relationship, Tessen is in no way seen as meek or submissive; he is confident and capable of holding his own. And, while Tessen is the one constantly pursuing the prospect of a relationship, he respects her wishes and boundaries. It was just so perfectly functional. I can't wait to find out what happens next!

When I read the blurb of the book, it interests me because there is a sibling love, the kind of love that I rarely read in a book. So I grabbed it and read it.

However, when I was reading the first part of it I was so confused as to what was going on. I even assumed that Khya was a boy. It feels like she’s a boy at first. And I also got confused about her powers. I know what a ward is but I just didn’t expect that that was Khya’s powers. In the beginning of the book I thought her power was to control the weather or maybe the lightning. But then it turns out that she’s a fykina, a mage who can build a shield to protect them from other magic and the physical world (like rocks, debris, and even rain).

But after clearing all the confusions, I find myself enjoying the book. I love how Khya takes care of Yorri so much and vice versa. I understand why Khya was so concerned in forcing Yorri’s power out of him though it would also be good if Khya just let Yorri decide on his own whether he likes to be a nyshin or an ahdo or even yonin. But then there’s a reason for everything.

One of the things I like about this book is how Khya is towards her relationship with Tessen. I mean Tessen is the man but the way they treat each other it’s Khya who’s the one wearing the pants in the relationship. If ever there’s a relationship to begin with. Khya is so slow when it comes to feelings and emotions that doesn’t have to do with Yorri. Seriously. That’s what we Filipinos call “manhid” which means numb. Because she’s too numb not to feel what Tessen really felt towards her. Manhid! Lol.

The only downside of this book is the lack of adventure. I mean they have powers and magic and mysteries but while I was reading it I feel like I’m only standing in one place of the book all throughout the story. It’s not an action genre but they have powers and magic, aren’t they supposed to be like a very wild adventure because of that. If there is I didn’t feel it while I was reading it. There are a lot of talking and less adventure. The action only happened on the last part of the book which leaves me wanting for more. Though there are parts where Khya and her squad go out to hunt food and stuff in between chapters, I feel like it’s not the kind of action and adventure I want to read in a book with magic in it.

On the end of the book I get to see Khya use her powers beyond her usual limit. She pushed herself just to save the people important to her. Although there were no exchange of blows and spilling of blood, the fact that they used their magic in the end of the book a lot more than throughout the whole book is what made the ending a step up.

The book is good, don’t get me wrong. I just thought that it’s still lacking. I feel like the author could still do better. And I am hoping that she will in the second book of this series. I am still looking forward on reading the second book.

ASDFGHJKL!!

This. Book. Is. So. Badass.

I admit I was so confused in the beginning with all the unfamiliar terms I came across (but hey that's what the glossary is for right?) but once I got myself familiarized with the world, the book just got a whole lot better.
I don't think I've ever read a book quite like Island of Exiles. I didn't know what to expect from this but what I got? What I got was an amazing blend of diverse characters, an amazing worldbuilding, a unique and complex world one would rarely come across, the most slow-burn and enticing romance ever and an exciting, twisty story that kept me reading 'til three in the morning. This book was quite long and I LOVE every second of it.

ISLAND OF EXILES has everything I want in a YA fantasy.

Read this. Seriously.

Oh and have I mentioned I am in desperate need of book two now?!? (And trust me, you'll feel the same way once you finish this book.)

E-arc provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’d been eager to read this book since I’d seen a post from Erica on Twitter about it and chatted with her briefly. I am a huge fan of fantasy, and this book sounded right up my alley. I also loved the idea that Erica would be exploring the idea of asexuality in the book, as I have never read about that in any book (at least not where it’s explicitly named, although it’s possible it was hinted at in some book and I missed it). So, I jumped a the chance to be on this tour with YA Reads, and let me tell you, this book did not disappoint! I don’t want to get too much into plot and what happens (I hate spoilers), but I will address the things I liked best about this book.

Island of Exiles had everything I love in a fantasy: excellent world-building; a world that is presented in a way we can easily visualize it; strong, complex characters; and a story that immediately draws you in. The structure of the society was pretty fascinating, mixing some more traditional fantasy (and real-life) elements with some new and intriguing twists. From the first page, I could really “see” Shiara, and I could imagine very well how the desert dust covered everything, how parched the warriors must get out on their patrols. The animals and plants (such as there were) were very cool; I mean, the teegras sounded like some crazy combination of big jungle cats and snakes - awesome! As different as they were, it was easy to visualize them, and they weren’t so unbelievable as to catapult us out of the story. Overall, the world-building was excellent.

In addition to the world-building, I think Erica did a great job with the characters. I love how Khya is such a tough warrior even though she’s only 17, but it’s totally believable because of how their society is structured, since children are raised learning to fight (and fight hard). I also liked that she was always watching out for and helping her younger brother, and that their bond was so close. Tessen captured me from the moment he appeared on the page; I was a little googly-eyed for him, I admit! Khya’s best friends Rai and Etaro are also fantastic characters.

I want to mention that Khya also captured my heart as soon as I realized she has a “thing” with touching, because I am similar in that respect. I could feel her squirming when her friend engulfs her in a big hug (not something they would normally do, but they’d been worried about her). I could feel her unease when Tessen would be too close, too much in her personal space (yes, even though I was smitten with him!). I have to say, I really liked seeing myself in that aspect of her character. It’s interesting how just that aspect of her character can make me like her even more. I guess what I’m saying is, it’s my firm belief that authors would do well to give their characters some “quirks” of personality that many of us have. None of us are “perfect,” and why should we want our book characters to be? I don’t, that’s for sure! This kind of reality in characters does two things: first, if we share that trait, we are happy to see ourselves reflected in the character; and second, if we don’t share that trait, we may gain some knowledge of, perhaps even empathy for, people who do. It’s a win-win, in my opinion!

Since I referred to this in the intro, I’ll touch on two aspects of this book that were mostly new to me: the inclusion of a third sex, and the inclusion of asexuality as an accepted, normal point on the sexual spectrum. First, I liked the fact that there was a third sex in Khya’s society, with those neither male nor female being called “ebet.” Although not exactly new to me - I’ve read (mainly science fiction) books with multiple and/or different sexes before - I really liked the way it was presented here. It took a bit of getting used to, which I’ll admit was uncomfortable at the beginning, but I think to some degree that is the idea. After all, we’re at a point in our society where people are choosing to live their true selves and choosing how they’d like to be referred to, eg, using the plural pronoun to avoid gendered pronouns. If we don’t confront the way it makes us feel uncomfortable at first - using plural pronoun to refer to a single person - then we won’t be able to honor their wishes. Erica has a riff on this idea, using “ey” where you might use “they,” “eir” for “their,” and “emself” for “themself.” It took a few times for me to realize that when she’d start a sentence about Etaro, “Ey ran toward me…”, that “Ey” was not a nickname for Etaro, as I’d originally thought, but rather use of the non-gendered pronoun! But it didn’t take long for it to start to flowing from my tongue just as easily as seeing “he” in connection with Tessen and “she” in connection with Rai. I think that’s the great thing Erica has done here, which is to force us to read it and say it in our heads enough that it becomes second nature and doesn’t seem so “weird” anymore. At least, I hope that will be others’ experience as well!

Second, I really appreciated how Erica put the issue of asexuality before us with one of her characters. It is a concept that a lot of us (at least older folks like myself, if not those who would actually be considered YA themselves!) don’t know much about. That is, we may in fact have *lived it*, but we’ve not necessarily put a name to it before. Asexuality in Khya’s world is not so unusual, and there is a word for it, “ushimo.” (As a side note, there are also homosexual relationships.) I appreciate that it was even talked about, in a way that I’ve never read in a book. It’s just nice to know that not every person thinks about sex all the time - or ever - and, again, it’s an aspect of a character with which those readers who identify as asexual can identify. It helps them to see themselves represented, and it helps the rest of the readers get a better sense of what asexuality means. As I said before, it’s a win-win!

Well, that ended up being a much longer review than I’d anticipated, but there you go! I really loved this book, and I can’t wait to read more by Erica. I would highly recommend Island of Exiles to any fantasy fan, even if you’re not someone who normally reads YA. It’s an excellent addition to the fantasy genre, and I can’t wait to read the next installment!

Rating: 4 fantastic stars!

Khya lives on Shiara, a desert island. Having saved many lives in her clan multiple times Khya expects to be on the council one day. Every person in Shiara will have to go through their herynshi, one of their rituals. The outcome of this will determine the life and duties they'll have within the clan. Khya and her brother Yorri are very different. Where Khya has strong magical abilities, Yorri has none. Khya is afraid of the outcome of Yorri's herynshi and fears it will separate them.

People can choose to request a sumai bond. This bond means that you literally give half your soul to your beloved. When your beloved dies a part of you will die as well, leaving a scar that can't be healed. It's rare for people to make this choice. Usually men and women have short relationships and take what they need before they move on. Khya can't imagine ever making the choice for a sumai while her brother wishes to do so with a girl from another clan. When her brother supposedly dies Khya can no longer look the other way. She'll face whatever is out there to find her brother again.

Khya is a true warrior who has learned that the clan always comes first. She's incredibly skilled in magic and she excels whenever she needs to. Khya is confident about what she can do and she almost comes across as cold and calculated sometimes. When I got to know her better I found out how much she loves her brother and her friends. She would give her life for any of them if it means that they will survive. Khya is brave and I liked reading about her journey to try and find out what happened to her brother. It takes a strong person to stand up to the only life you've ever known.

Island of Exiles is a story about how far you're willing to go to find your loved ones again. The sumai bond sounds harsh, but to me it felt like that it's all about survival. I was intrigued and mesmerized about the world Erica Cameron created. In the beginning I needed some time to get into the story, but once I understood how her world worked and who the characters were I was hooked. Erica Cameron is a clever writer and she knows the way in her own magical world. I loved this complex story, it's a real challenge.

This is my first read from Erica Cameron and I am excited to continue this series. We had wonderful world building and build up of the dangers, betrayals and loyalties. We get a slow build up of who is who and the social hierarchy as well. But mainly the dangers and who everyone is and the secrets this world holds is a nice build in the tense environment that is Khya’s world on Shiara. She was so faithful to the clan that she really never saw the trees beyond the forest. Her brother Yorri did. Tessen did and so did Sannii. Even her leader of her command group did. He was forced to but he did.

When Khya’s world falls apart due to what happened to her brother, truths come out, secrets revealed, betrayals seen and we see who Khya trusts and loves. We see her and Tessen find each other and trust one another. Tessen slowly earns her trust but he does. Khya sees things from her brother’s view and begins to open her mind and world to all around her. She goes from being narrow minded and focused to more introspective and honest. She sees Tessen and those around them for who they are and sees where loyalties truly lie. She gives Sannii a chance when no one else would and treats him as a equal. Before the tragedy with her brother she wouldn’t. Before this she didn’t really trust her brother’s capabilities either. Tessen did though. Tessen saw more than she realized.

This is a wonderful story where nothing is as it seems and when the betrayal and secrets come out you are shocked and pleasantly surprised. The descriptive writing brings you into the world and has you feeling like you are right in that moment and scene. The characters polarize you. You like or don’t but the grey is not there that doesn’t mean your view won’t changed when they do something to change it but it is black or white. You may not like them when you start but that can change in a moment when you see their true light. For me Khya was this way- her arrogance and views shut me down but as you are exposed to the layers and see her with Sannii it changes to like. And it doesn’t change back. You stay liking her even when she is doing something that has you cringe you know it is to protect and you can’t not like her. tessen always is one to like. He is sweet, funny, honest and perceptive. Yorri awesome and Sannii great.

The plot is intriguing as is the history and the buildup to the climax. The emotions are heartfelt and honest. You are brought into their world and feel a part of it. A wonderful action packed story that keeps you on your toes. Look forward to the next to see what happens and what they will learn.

I had the pleasure of reading an early version of this one and it's such an intriguing new world!

I especially loved how sexuality and gender are portrayed in this book. There's a third gender (the ebets who don't ID as either male/female) and the characters sexuality, be it bisexuality/asexuality etc are simply part of who they are, no one even bats an eyelash, which i loved!

Throughout the action I kept going WHAT IS HAPPENING???? but not because it was confusing, oh no not at all, but because every time something new was thrown at us i neeeeeded to know what would come next.

I will admit while we were inundated with new words, like a lot of new words,so many new words help! lol, for this world, I think I was able to gather the meanings from context (and there's a handy glossary at the back there!)

all in all a great read and omg i need to know what's gonna happen in book two with Khya and Tessen and crew >.> (There's an excerpt for it at the end as well so make sure and check that out)

Thank you for the book. It sounds like it would be interesting, but there are just too many made up words to keep up with - and on a kindle, it is too difficult to go back and forth from the glossary to the reading. I could not get into it and did not read much of it. I will not post a negative review.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the opportunity to read and review Island of Exiles by Erica Cameron! The story begins with a group of desert dwellers racing home to beat the storm that is heading their way. Once home, the main character, Khya, is worrying about her sixteen year old brother, Yorri, who will be facing the Herynshi ritual that will decide whether he has magic or not. So far, Yorri hasn't shown any signs of magic. The dusty, wind blown world that the author creates with her picturesque words feels real while reading the story. I could almost hear the wind and see the long tunics blowing around the characters' forms. Tessen keeps trying to get Khya to dance with him and she keeps ignoring him because she's annoyed at how nonchalant he acts about his skills and strength, but I see Tessen as being humble about them. Yorri finally shows magical skills and is honored, but soon afterward he dies. There is a mystery surrounding his death and it takes a group of trustworthy friends to help solve it. My favorite line in the book, which Khya says to Tessen, "Your determination to get into trouble with me is odd." Made me chuckle! The group finds so much more waiting for them outside of their community than they could have ever dreamed. My rating - 4 stars for this fantasy fiction set in a dangerous desert and full of charismatic characters!

Plot:

This book... is just... incredible. It begins so simply, not quite a “Oh, look, another magic-ridden high fantasy” feel, because it does have a very epic, even almost chilling start, but it doesn’t feel like it’s going to be as mind-blowingly phenomenal as it actually is. That comes on slowly—yet the story was never boring. It begins with a simple but strong story stake, then builds and builds and builds on that, one shocker plot twist at a time, until the end result is something completely other than what the beginning suggested. Everything is different; nothing is at it seemed. And each step further into the complexity of this story, the tension draws tauter and tauter, pulling you deeper and deeper, until you’re riveted, glued to the page, body tense, stomach swirling, heart stopped... waiting to see what’ll happen next (I know because I spent a solid hour in that position as the climax hit). The intricacy to the layers in this story is absolutely stunning; I honestly don’t think I’ve seen a book quite like it. Something similar? Sure. In the same vein for one characteristic or another? Definitely. But something exactly like this?

Never.

I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Plot: 5 stars out of 5.

Characters:

Like the plot, I wasn’t super into the characters at first. While I didn’t dislike them, I knew I lacked some connection to them, yet I could objectively see what good characters they were. So I figured it was just one of those times, you know. Some characters you inexplicably love and some you inexplicably don’t.

But as the story went on and the plot peeled back more layers, revealing surprises and secrets in their world, those situations forced the characters—Khya especially—to peel back more layers about themselves. And as painful as that was for them, it was also amazing to read. I don’t want to give spoilers for what exactly they discovered, but these characters are... they’re complicated and desperate and difficult and flawed and angry and ambitious and raw and real. They are so real. And even when I didn’t completely agree with their choices, I got them, and there was something in me that more than felt for them but related to them. That deeply understood that part of the human experience. Something in me that reached out and said, “Yeah. That’s true. That’s honest. That’s real.” Journeying with these characters was an immersive experience like no other. And sidenote: I do love them now, truly and deeply—yet without most of the fangirl-y feels I think I was looking for. The story just doesn’t lend itself to that, but that’s just another thing I love about it. I do enjoy fangirling (as I'm sure anyone who follows my reviews has noticed), but I also enjoy pragmatism and logic, both of which are major components of the plot and the characters themselves. They don’t lack feeling, but the feeling is always tempered with practicality, making it far more subtle, but no less powerful.

Not by a long shot.

'Nother quick sidenote before we move on, this one about the romance: Watching Khya slowly fall for her boy was incredible. Like, it’s not a surprise anymore who YA characters are going to end up with. I mean, many of the falls are still cute, but they’re also... well, predictable. You read a romance, you know how it’s gonna go for pretty much every step of the way, but you hang out anyway because the charries are cute and it’s kinda your fix. But this one... it was truly different. Like, I knew it had to happen—it had to be them two—but I couldn’t have predicted how and getting to watch it unfold felt like a privilege to witness.

Characters: 5 stars out of 5

Writing Style/Setting:

This section is the one thing that did grab me from the first page, lol. Because, from the very beginning, the setting was very full and very thorough. It feels like a whole other world, literally, it’s nothing like mine. Now admittedly, there were times when that complete otherness caused me some confusion, but mostly, I enjoyed how the writing would immediately set the scene, while slowly dropping info, breadcrumb by breadcrumb, about the plot and the storyworld. Simultaneously, it sounded like someone who lived in that world, so there was no infodump and not even the smallest of slip-ups in the worldbuilding, not even one mention of something from our world that they couldn’t know about. Everything is filtered through the eyes of Khya, her worldview, her world, what she sees, understands, and knows to be true. And like a real world, we’ve only scratched the surface and I’m excited to see how the future parts of it unfold.

Speaking of her worldview, Khya’s voice though. It’s not the flowing, poetic, sunset-scene-painting that I often like in high fantasies and dystopians, and it’s not the sassy, sarcastic-punch teenager from many contemporaries—both of which can be awesome when called for. But her voice—like herself—was straightforward and clear, yet strangely tasteful, almost elegant in its own right. The narration is utterly her, and that also jumps out from page one: the kind of person she is, her philosophies, perceptions, problems, pains, self-told-lies, everything, is shown as much through the narrative and the way she chooses to see the world as it’s shown through her interaction with other characters. As much as I'm told about her, I'm shown ten times more through that VIP pass into her mind and the opportunity to truly see things the way that she does.

Writing Style/Setting: 5 stars out of 5.

And so we come in at a solid, resounding 5 stars out of 5. This... book... is... phenomenal. I am so glad I got to be a part of this blog tour and got the chance to read it early.