**I received an ARC of this book from Entangled Teen via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**


There was so much thought and work put into this interesting and complex world. I was able to tell that straight off the bat. I love books like this because it shows me the author has a lot of time invested into the story and cares for it a lot. Thankfully, the author also put in a glossary/index at the back of the books because I had to refer to it a few times in order to keep everything making sense for me. With the glossary, I was able to focus on the story instead of constantly being confused by the intricate world of Shiara. However, I really wish the author had also added word pronunciations to the glossary, because I tended to focus more on trying to pronounce the words correctly than what was happening at the book at the time.

All in all though, I think it was a really good book. Khya was a bad ass female character, Yorri was the adorable nerd, and Tessen..... Okay, I love Tessen. I'm really hoping the relationship between Tessen and Khya goes further because I definitely ship them! If you're into sci-fi/fantasy reads with complex worlds, I definitely recommend you give this a read.

Island of Exiles tells us the story of Khya, she has magical powers and lives in the desert.

There are several ranks in this society, I will make simple and speak of the most important. The Miriseh who are the equivalent of the gods, they are 10 in total and work with the Kaigo who they can be compared to the political and ruling class. Then there are the Nishin divided into 6 categories, they are the defenders, the army in a certain way, then there are the Ahdo, also divided into 6 categories, they are more the guards. And lastly, the Yonin, who are the lowest classes, occupy themselves chiefly with household and agricultural tasks.

The Herynshi is a trial undergone by all citizens the moon of their sixteen birthday, which defines the class in which each person will be. Khya has a young brother, Yorri, he is her blood brother, they are the only one in the city and their bond is very special.

I will stop here for the story and let you discover it by yourself.

The story is told only by Khya, she is strong and independent, she’s also very protective of her brother and sometimes she’s too arrogant for her own good. She’s working with a squad under the order of Tyrroh with Rai and Etaro, her best friends. I like that Khya, even if she has doubt, can follow her instinct, she knows that something is weird in the city and she will try to find answer.

Tessen is the male character in the story and I really like him, he is stronger than Khya but his magic is different, I like Khya very much but she is mad with him because of the promotion he got and not her. He will try everything to make her trust him, and sometimes she doesn’t deserves him at all.

Sanni is a Yonin but she is also Yorri’s lover, she will do everything to help him, even if what she does is treason. Sanni is a simple person, she also has magic but the more important thing is that she loves Yorri so much and she isn’t afraid of the Miriseh.

This story is good and the world building is great, at first it was a little complicated to get into this world, but once you’re inside, it’s hard to get out. I really liked the evolution of the relationship between Khya and Tessen, but also that of Khya and Sanni. I also appreciated this connection to the gods and the relationship that this may have in our time.

I will not tell you more but know that this is the first book of Erica Cameron that I read and I will read the suite with great pleasure, to know if they will get out and especially how.

Quick word: An epic adventure is the desert.

Have you been struggling to find an original, well written YA fantasy? Look no further! Here are 5 reasons to read ISLAND OF EXILES by Erica Cameron.

1. Creative World Building

If you enjoy complex social, political, and cultural contexts in their fantasy novels, rejoice! ISLAND OF EXILES has it all. Khya’s clan lives on Shiara, a land of inhospitable desert that forces them within the walls of their city, where they wait out natural disasters like floods and lightning storms. Already highly ranked within an incredibly rigid hierarchical structure, Khya is determined to use her skills as a ward mage to rise even higher…and bring her younger brother Yorri along with her. The various classes of people – the laboring class, middling fighters, warriors, and political advisors to the clan’s leaders – were fascinating to read about, and add texture and depth to the world of Shiara.

2. Compelling, Flawed Characters

When you’ve spent your entire life working towards one goal, you’re bound to have a bad case of tunnel vision. Khya’s stubbornness and single minded determination is by turns endearing and frustrating, and watching her realize that she has to let the people she loves make their own fate is really satisfying. It’s especially fun to watch her realize that she may have been wrong about Tessen, her former childhood friend and current rival…whose torch for Khya burns so bright it can be seen across the entire desert. The secondary characters are all fully realized and layered, and I can’t wait to see how their relationships with one another develop in the sequel.

3. Crazy Plot Twists

When Khya learns that the ruling council has kept vital truths from their people, her fight to improve her brother’s station becomes one to save her entire clan. ISLAND OF EXILES delivers some truly jaw-dropping plot twists, and surprises come from both within the city’s walls and without. The increasing number of lightning storms plaguing the clan, the incursions by enemy clans, and even the very class structure of the clan itself are all part of a much larger plot. Khya, Tessen, Sani, and their friends race against the clock to put it all together, and their adventures kept me flipping pages well into the night.

4. Multi-Level Diversity

Erica Cameron does an exceptional job of writing a diverse cast without feeling as though she’s aiming for some sort of diversity checklist. The entire cast of ISLAND OF EXILES is non-white, and queer people abound. A third gender (ebet/ey/eir) is accepted and celebrated, and there’s also great representation of asexuality. Khya’s society is quite sex positive even among teenagers – which isn’t a surprise given the average life expectancy of 30 years – and Khya herself has had relationships with men and women. It was really refreshing to see that sexuality and gender were total non-issues between Khya and her comrades, although there was definitely a lot of good-natured teasing about conquests!

5. Adorable ‘Ships

Which brings me to my next point: adorable ships, adorable ships everywhere! ISLAND OF EXILES features a number of really sweet, well-written romances, not the least of which is the slow burn developing between Khya and Tessen. Two words: swoon worthy. I squealed aloud multiple times at the cuteness! Erica Cameron is so good at writing romances that she can even sell a ship where the characters involved only appear on page together twice. That’s skill!

So what are you waiting for? Order your copy or place a hold on Erica Cameron’s ISLAND OF EXILES, releasing Feb. 14th!

Island of Exiles was a gripping, addictive, and captivating book. This book sucked me in from the very first page. Island of Exiles was a book that pulled me in and never let me go! I was pleasantly surprised by this book!

I loved the world the author created, but I did have some issues with wrapping my head around everything. I thought the author did a great job of avoiding info-dumping, but I the world was so unique that there were some aspects that took me a while to completely understand and remember. I had to re-read a lot of parts to try and comprehend the workings of the world. The world and the fantasy elements of it were fascinating, even though I had a hard time understanding all of it.

The main character, Khya, was a badass! She was strong, loyal, cunning, powerful, and so much more. I loved her dedication to keeping her brother safe. It was so sweet to see a strong family bond in this novel. I really admired Khya, and I was rooting for her from the first page of this book.

The romance in this book made my heart skip a beat. I was so invested in the romance Khya found herself in during the book. I SHIP IT SO HARD. The banter between Khya and her love interest was PERFECT. I thought the romance was well paced and I never thought it took away from the main plot of the story. The love interest was snarky and extremely sassy, so I couldn't help but fall in love with him and ship him with Khya! The romantic moments in this book made me swoon, giggle, smile, gasp, and so much more. I was a BIG fan!

This book had an addictive quality to it that made it impossible for me to put the book down! There was plenty of action to get my heart racing and plenty romantic moments that almost made my heart explode with joy. The only issue I really had with this book was that I had a hard time fully understanding the world. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book! If you are looking for a unique YA fantasy, then I would recommend check out this book! I am DYING to get my hands on book two!

4 / 5 Fangs

* Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review *

My first DNF of the year and it broke my tiny heart. *sobs* I really, really wanted to like Island of Exiles. It has so much going for it: diverse characters, a mysterious setting, gorgeous cover, it featured a third gender that I would love to know more about...but I just couldn't connect with it. I read up to 30% and then set it down. I was bored and very confused.

Here were some of my issues:
- The chapters were incredibly long! The first chapter was honestly 5% of the entire book. They just went on forever and ever with too much information jammed into each one.
- The long chapters just made it feel like the story was moving so slowly. The 30% of the story that I did read took a lot longer than it should have. I normally can read that in one sitting but found myself reading only that amount over a 3 day period.
- The beginning of the book is a combination between a huge info dump and tons of new terms being thrown at you without any context. There's a complex magic system, warrior ranks, honorific titles...just so much to remember! I did a lot of flipping back and forth, which is super annoying on a Kindle, to remind myself what a particular word meant or was referring to.
- The whole society is divided into essential roles and each person is assigned that role at a certain age wasn't new at all. It's a storyline I've read countless times and I'm so bored with it. It's always the same: girl does well but must challenge system to save a loved one blah blah blah. It didn't catch my attention and in turn I couldn't become invested in the characters or their struggle.

Of course, this is just my opinion. If you look on Goodreads there are tons of reviewers that loved this book. It just sadly ended up not being for me.

Island of Exiles is a rich and epic fantasy, incredibly detailed with superb world building. I am picky about what fantasy novels I read, but this one far surpassed all my expectations and I am now eagerly awaiting book two in the series.

When I was offered a chance to read Island of Exiles I was told it was suited to readers of Graceling and Snow Like Ashes. That's a pretty high standard to reach, but despite that, I was still surprised when this book was actually really very good. It reminded me in parts of Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta (one of my absolute favourite fantasy novels) and The Host by Stephanie Meyer (just the parts about a subsistence culture living in a harsh, desert-like surround, with a strong community focus).

Island of Exiles has some intense and well-layered world building. Every little detail is considered, but there are never any information dumps or description-heavy sections. The new vocabulary in this novel is huge. And yet I never found myself confused or lost. There is a glossary at the back, and while I admit that some of the ranks went over my head so too would any military ranks we use in the real world, so I just kept reading, paying attention to each new word, creature or name as it was introduced. The terms give this novel a distinct Eastern feel and yet the setting, culture, language and people of this book are unique. There are also a whole range of magic powers, a third gender and diverse sexual orientations.

Khya is a strong, independent young women. She has the power to create wards to protect both herself and others. She is part of the top class, one of three her clan is divided into, and serves by patrolling, fighting, and protecting her clan and their home. Her focus is also on protecting her younger brother, a bond that many do not understand. She is fierce, powerful, clever, and serious - everything a fantastic fantasy protagonist can be.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the romance. It plays a big part in this novel and yet it really doesn't steal the limelight. Tessen just isn't in any way Khya's focus. He is just there, has been her whole life, stealing promotions from her and basically being annoying. He is a fly at which she swats some times. And he continues to integrate himself into her life. Their relationship develops so incredibly slowly and naturally, it is beautiful to watch. I love how he annoys Khya, how she dismisses him and how he continues to always be there to support her. I love how we see this all through Khya's eyes. I love how she never suddenly realises that she is in love with him. It's so much more than that. She just slowly sees him as he really is. I'm not very good at explaining this, but it's worth it to read Island of Exiles just for their relationship - all the endless action and detailed fantasy world building are just a bonus.

The whole book brings a high level of action and tension. There is never a dull moment and the end only gets more and more exciting. I can't wait for the next book. I'm incredibly grateful I had the chance to read this book.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Island of Exiles is the first installment in author Erica Cameron's The Ryogan Chronicles. In this opening act, Cameron introduces readers to a Khya Nyshin-Ten. Khya lives in the wall city called Sagen Sy Itagami on the island called Shiara. Khya is a trained warrior who can also use fykina magic to create wards. She is apparently the strongest fykina magic user among those who call Sagen home.

Khya and her fellow warriors have been trained in a hostile environment. They face weather challenges, dangerous wild-life, enemies who test the strength of Khya, and her own people. Khya was raised to put her clan above herself, but after what happens to her brother Yorri, the pain & heartbreak will push Khya into an alliance with Tessen Nyshin-Ten, her dreaded adversary, and yonin Sanii who was set to become Yorri's bound mate.

Khya's world is turned up on its head by her search for clues about Yorri, and the missing Miriseh (immortals). She will discover a dangerous undertow that sits right under the surface of Sagen waiting to explode. Khya must make a difficult choice into who she can actually trust, which puts her at odds with those she is supposed to be friends with. This means aligning herself with supposed enemies called Tsimo & Denhiho, while also trusting that she will find a way to save Yorri.

There is a romance in this story. It is really a sort of "I hate you so damn much, why won't you fall off the wall and die!" <Why would I do that when I see you, and care about what happens to you?> "You can't mean that! Especially since you stole everything from me!" <Yes, but I was really doing it because I respected you so much. You are, after-all, the best fighter in the city!> I think you get the idea.

Island of Exiles is truly a strange journey, and I will not hesitate to say that I struggled a great deal with the first part of the story. Plus, the story contains a diverse cast of characters that uses terms that I had to flip to the back of the story to search for answers. Thankfully, the author makes a glossary of terms available so that if you are like me, and struggling to make sense of what's up, and what's down, you can right your ship and set a course past the turbulence.

One of the more interesting aspects of this story is the use of Ey, & Eir, which is presumably Eben for one who is neither male nor female. Over the past few years, this has been an especially intriguing conversation to have with someone who doesn't sit by with being called just male, or female. I won't hesitate to give props to Cameron for her world building. This has got to be one of the most original, most interesting cast of characters that I've read in a very long time. It is steep with magical abilities, and destined to be one of those books that you have to pick up the next book in order to find out what happens next.

Erica Cameron proves herself to be a master storyteller in this fantastic new series. Island of Exiles is the first of The Ryogan Chronicles and it blew me away. From the detail of the world building to the courageous heroine, I found this story to be original and utterly fantastic!

Khya is a powerful fykina with the ability to shield against magic. She wants nothing more than for her brother to become a warrior just like her. When he makes it through the herynshi, and is placed on a top ranking team, she believes they'll finally have more time together. Then Tessen, another Nyshin warrior, tells Khya that Yorri is gone and the very reason she breathes is lost. The story picks up here as Khya joins forces with a yonin who believes that Yorri is alive and being held for a secret purpose. She's pitted against the Miriseh, the clan leaders, and discovers their dark history.

Understanding Shiara and the layered world that Cameron created is part of the experience. Her attention to detail and style is remarkable. She paints a vivid picture of a girl who would do anything to save her brother, yet still cares about the welfare of the people who rally around her. I appreciate the depth of this story, because sometimes authors write as though they associate YA with a level of comprehension. Island of Exiles is written with an open mind; anyone can enjoy it. Cameron took a story we've heard before and weaved it into a fantasy world with twists and turns. The story isn't too simple, or so complex that reading is a chore, but it's balanced. Island of Exiles was so much more than I was expecting and I can't wait until the next installment. It only gets better from here!
*eARC provided in exchange for an honest review*

It is rare for me to know I am going to love a book just from the first page. This was one of those books. Erica Cameron's writing is breathtaking and I couldn't put Island of Exiles down.

I'll admit there were times I got hung up by unfamiliar words, and because the setting is in a tribal-like village, there were a lot of them. Also, from what I could tell, there were three genders in the tribe, instead of two. This wasn't explained and since Erica was using a third set of unfamiliar pronouns, it took me a bit to realize it wasn't a type-o. And then I still stumbled over them.

To be fair, Erica provides a comprehensive glossary of all of the terms used. But it is in the back of the book and I didn't discover this until after finishing the novel.

All that being said though, I LOVED this book. I read it before going to bed, and then as soon as I woke up. If you are worried that it is another 'government conspiracy, the people have to fight back' kind of book, then let me ease your mind. It is different than anything I've read and you'd be crazy not to pick it up. Erica's world-building is perfect, and she has a way of making you care about every one of the characters from the beginning.

I definitely have to give Island of Exiles 5 out of 5 Stars.

I have to first start off by saying that the writing in this story is superb! The way that Erica Cameron creates a world that takes you away from the one you are in and makes you feel like you are a part of the one she is writing about is quiet an accomplishment. I have never felt so involved in a story while reading before.

Now, I also have to say that I was lost throughout the first half of the story trying to figure out the language that Cameron uses and keep up with the characters. The names are definitely unique, but I just couldn't keep them straight. Maybe this was just me, so don't take this as how you would perceive this story, give it a chance for yourself and read this one. The story is one that you will not soon forget and shows how Khya is such a strong person to be able to overcome all that she does. Really great moral to the story and great heroine!

Khya is on the Desert island of Shiara. On this island, it is pretty much o or die. They have been taught to put the Clan before themselves though so that is what Khya's main concern is. The terrain on the island is intense and there are many creatures that are always out to get them. The weather is always wrecking havoc on everything and the clan is always under attack. When something happens to Yorri, Khya's brother, her whole world seems to change directions and she has to learn how to refocus her intentions.

When Tessen takes up with Khya, she tries everything in her power to get rid of him with no luck. They end up being buddies and going through a lot together. Like I said earlier, this story was very well written and there is nothing on the plot that I have an issue with, it is just confusing trying to keep up with everything and the different terms, even though there is a glossary. Erica Cameron's imagination has taken us to a whole new world that is like nothing else I have read and that is a feat in itself!

Khya has always succeeded in her life. She has a rare and powerful power that allowed her to climb up to one of the highest fighting ranks in the island. Being the daughter of two of the second most powerful people in the island, she strives to meet everyone's expectations. But Tessen, another powerful individual seems to take all her promotions even though he treats it like a joke. But when Khya's younger brother is in danger of being classified as one of the lowest ranked citizens because he has no magic, Khya will do anything to keep her brother, Yorri, at her side. Because being a Yonin-the lowest class of citizens-means that Khya will not get to see her brother and she's not about to let that happen. But it turns out. Yorri did keep secrets from her and when he finds himself in danger, Khya will stop at nothing to save her brother even if it means working with Tessen.

Extremely complex and interesting world building, you could tell the author put in a lot of effort into every teensy tiny detail to create a flawless setting! It's totally different from anything i've ever read and immediately gripping!

At the beginning of the book i was quite overwhelmed with all the new terms! And while it totally amplifies that already perfect world building, it did get quite confusing. It's not an onslaught of information but these terms are familiar for the characters and not to us so i did have a hard time keeping up...But there was a guide at the end of the book and it helped a lot so it was just a minor little con.

While i was a fan of both Tessen and Khya together and thought they did go super well together. I somehow didn't really connect with the romance. And i guess that's a good thing because the book is more plot focused and a complex love story would have taken too much attention away from the story. That being said, i loved Tessen's way of weaseling his way into Khya's life even though she kept pushing him away. He was relentless in helping her when she just wanted him to leave her alone. So no insta-love! Plus they've known each other since they were kids.

Favorite character? Yorri, Khya's brother. I just LOVED the dude. There is the sweetest bro-sis relationship in this book! And Yorri was just so protective and sweet and at the same time his mind and intelligence pushed against all the limits of his society. His unique intellect was something only his sister saw and appreciated. They would go to the ends of the earth to save each other. It was so sweet that Khya was always trying to protect and take care of Yorri!

Props for diversity!!!!! In the story there are 3 genders and no one cares which one you are! No one cares if you're heterosexual or homosexual. In fact, our MC is a Bisexual and no one bats an eye! It was refreshing to read about this kind of society.

Plot wise do not expect a single dull moment, it is filled to the brim with action. Something is always happening and everyone is always on the move!

A thrilling and adventurous read set in an outstanding and complex world building?YES TO ALL.. Can't wait for the sequel!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.

This story is an exhilarating adventure in a harsh, brutal, and terrifying world where a girl have to reevaluate her priorities and everything she thought she knows. I really liked it even if it’s not always easy to follow.

I will be honest sometimes it was hard to follow the events and thanks to the unique terminology and intricate magical system and it took me for a while to get into the story but once I reached that point nothing could divert my attention. Where this book shines the most is the incredible world building. It’s really different and new compared to everything you ever read; also it’s extremely detailed and perfectly fleshed out that. The author created a whole new society, magical system, hierarchy and even sexualities and genders and above all everybody is just so accepting. I really enjoyed discovering the different parts of this world and this exploring journey provides plenty of entertainment. But it’s not all because the plot itself is also exciting.

Khya the heroine is a trained warrior and over all kick ass character. She is really duty oriented and lives by the teachings of their clan. Which is simply states that the clan before everybody or anything else. However she has quite a strong bond with his brother. So when something serious happens to him she starts to question her priorities. I liked how strong and resilient she is but not exactly willing to sacrifices the ones she cares about the most.
Then there is Tessen, Khya long time rival who takes up the role of the annoying pest who doesn’t want to go away. He constantly bothers her, he is persistent like that. But as they spend more and more time together they start to form some kind of understanding, bond. They create a pretty funny duo and I enjoyed their little squabbles.

Overall this book is a fascinating and has a lot of original elements to it. You have to take your time with it to really savor every minute of it but it’s worth every minute.

It's a perfect blend of Snow like Ashes and Rebel of the Sands. It's a great fantasy with a compelling plot and really fantastic characters. I really enjoyed it!

This book is about a girl called Khya, who is a female warrior in her clan. She discovers a conspiracy surrounding her brother, Yorri, and must ally with and trust her long-time rival Tessen to save him. The story is set on a magical island, and the world building is spectacular.

Although, there is one thing I should point out though. There's a LOT of terms. Thankfully, there is a helpful glossary at the back to tell what gensu was and what other stuff is, there were enough new words to give me a headache. It's not necessarily a bad thing though, and for me it made the story that much more engrossing.

It was surprisingly easy to get into this book, despite it being the first book in a fantasy series. I felt like the author didn't overwhelm me the details so I could get to know the characters first, whom are arguably more important. I mean, the setting is just an extension of the story; the heart of a story is in its characters.

I really enjoyed reading from Khya's perspective. She's a pretty brave character and I really liked her super powers. Tessen is also a really fun character to read as well as Yorri. I really enjoyed Yorri's backstory and the relationship between him and Khya.

The side characters were amazing and well-written and impossibly diverse. I say impossibly because this is the first time I've really appreciated and read a book with so much diversity. I also really liked how the characters all felt real and had a significant role in the book; it didn't feel like the author wrote them in to check off a diversity checklist.

I thoroughly recommend this book! Great read!

At first I want to thank the team of Entangled Teen - a special thanks goes to Melissa - to give me the chance of reading 'Island Of Exiles' by providing an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion from my side!

The first impression, when I see a book is always the cover. Am I tending to read books with amazing covers? Yes, most definitely! And that's exactly how I feel about this cover. It's amazing and I love it!

Erica Cameron's writing style is addictive. The wording isn't always the easiest, as it's not the typical standard language but I absolutely enjoyed it. In my opinion it's refreshing to read something what challenges my mind every here and there and that's the way it was while I've been reading this book.

I couldn't find any boring scenes at all. This thrilling story is full of action and kept my mind occupied all the time. Thanks to the author's amazing writing style it came so naturally to imagine every scene, place, character and even the smells in this story that I literally inhaled this book.

You will also meet some really great characters in 'Island Of Exiles'.

There is Khya, the protagonist of this book. She is absolutely loyal, caring, well respected, strong, has courage and some badass fighting skills, as well as some very impressive magical skills. But most important? She has a big, loving heart and fights until the end for the ones she loves.

Then you will meet Yorri. He is Khya's little brother. Yorri too has an amazing personality. He is caring and loving, thinks outside the box and loves to discover new things but there is way more to him than you could imagine in the first place.

After a little while you will stumble across Tessen. In the beginning I couldn't quite tell, if I do like him or not but soon he started to earn a place in my heart. He seemed like an arrogant guy, who doesn't need to do anything to have success in his life. After a few chapters though? He has shown his true, amazing self bit by bit. Tessen showed, that he doesn't care if he gets in trouble for helping the people he cares for. Even, if that would mean to die trying.

But you won't just find good, loving characters. No. You will find many enemies in this fast-paced story, whose actions will let the hair on the back of your neck rise.

'Island Of Exiles' is most definitely already one of my reading highlights in 2017! I can recommend this book to everyone, who enjoys a thrilling story with heaps of action, great characters and a touch of a teasing love story between the lines. I can't wait to join Khya and all the other characters on the next part of their journey in book #2 in the 'The Ryogan Chronicles'.

Ohhh guys, this one is unique! And has a lot going for it! I am just going to get right into all the good stuff.

The world is incredibly unique. Like, so much. The creativity in this world is mind-blowing, honestly. The author didn’t just create a place, or a group of people, she created a whole world, complete with customs, language, traditions, and so much more. It’s basically the definition of rich world building. And I wanted to know all the things about it. Because it is so new, and has so much to offer, to uncover, it felt like constant discovery, and that is a win.
Speaking of the world, man, this place is rough. The author paints the picture so very well, I could feel the desperation when the storms hit, how awful it must be to be stuck in these hellish conditions. But I also felt the sense of safety when the characters made it to the city walls. Really, the whole book was quite well written in general.
I shipped the super slow-burn romance so much. It’s like… you know it’s happening, but it’s so slow, and Khya is so resistant. She wants to focus on her goals, distraction-free. Yet, she gets two very unexpected allies- one in the form of her own potential love interest, and the other her brother’s loyal love interest. These characters are definitely multi-dimensional, and it is nice to see the various sides of them.
Sexuality and gender are fluid and non-binary, and sex is just… a thing they do. It’s quite interesting, and I love that the author explores this. Like, there is love, and there is sex, and sometimes they go together, and sometimes not. And some people are asexual and that’s cool too. There is a third gender, and literally no one is judged. Well, about that, anyway. It’s also incredibly diverse all around. Such a win.
Khya is just so… well she’s badass, but also, she is so normal too. She gets pissed off like any of us would, she sometimes acts shitty to her friends, she is just so real. Also, she talks about underwear and her period, so holy awesomeness. Please, can we have more realistic characters in books? She also goes through a lot of growth, too. It’s quite great.
The minor problems I had? Sure, let’s do it.

The language was really hard for me to get into at the start. It took me a long time, honestly. I was wondering why I was reading so slow, but it was because I had to try to define tons of words in context. The good news? No info dumps. The bad news? Shannon was a little lost. BUT it did eventually become easier to get the hang of, so it is definitely not a deal breaker.
There were a few “big” plot points that, in the grand scheme of things, were really predictable. So while the world was so unique, sometimes I felt a bit let down when I realized that I had known all along what was coming.
Bottom Line: I will be grabbing this sequel as soon as I can. Because the book, despite a few minor glitches, was freaking awesome and full of diversity, great characters, and exceptional world building.

Island of Exiles was one the most unique books I've ever read. The world that was created was fascinating, and I've never encountered one even close to how it was described. On top of that, the characters that appeared on the pages were larger than life. And the way the plot unfolded was completely entertaining. Island of Exiles was beyond original. So I wish there wasn't a but, but there is. I never fully connected to any of the characters. And on top of that, the names that were created for ranks, magic and basic terms in their world was beyond confusing and wouldn't stick me.

What is pain when death bites at our heels?


In the first chapter alone, you get a good grasp on the harsh lifestyle and what it's like to live on the isolated island of Shiara. Each day is a fight to survive. It's completely brutal. From the terrifying creatures, to the intense terrain, to the unforgiving weather, they are constantly under attack. Khya, our heroine, is a trained warrior. She scouts, fights and protects those in her group and her Clan. She is the definition of kick ass! But at the same time, it's easy to understand that Khya was raised to put the Clan before herself. The needs and safety of the clan will always be more important than just one person.

“Where’d you learn to fight like that?” It really is galling to know that Tessen was right about Yorri, but my pride in my brother is enough to trump even that.
My brother smirks. “Where do you think? From watching you.”


Well, that is until something happens to her brother, Yorri. She loves him more than life itself, and finds herself on a different path because of her brother. On her journey, her world gets flipped upside down. Not only in regards to what she knew, but also for who she can and can't trust. One of my favorite people that kept appearing in her life was Terren. He would never go away, no matter how much Khya wished it lol. I quickly formed an opinion on him, and I loved every single time he graced the pages with his presence. The moments they were together were so much fun!

I don’t breathe as Tessen reaches out to brush the tips of his fingers along the line of my jaw, an almost sad smile on his lips. “I see you , Khya. I’ve always seen you. And except for your tendency to pretend that you hate me most days, I like what I see.”


So while this book seemed like a huge win win, I unfortunately struggled. There were so many new terms, and I never could grasp them. Between their ranks, kind of magic and basic world terms, there was 80ish new words to learn. And while that didn't seem like a lot, only a handful stuck with me. On top of that, I struggled keeping track of who was who. Their names were so unique, and even though I made a cheat sheet, they just wouldn't stick.

So I closed the book lost. Because on one hand, I loved the story. It was one the most unique book I've ever encountered, and I was beyond fascinated. I loved how the plot was fast paced and where the twists took the story. But not being able to connect to the characters, and also getting lost in terminology every few paragraphs, definitely pulled me out of the story again and again. So if you're looking for a unique fantasy, then definitely give this one a try. You may adapt easier than I did, and therefore fall head over heels in love with this book. But for me, it just didn't work out in the end, so I unfortunately won't be picking up the sequel.

*ARC kindly provided by Entangled Teen via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*