
Member Reviews

It starts off slow and kind of dense, but once the action begins, it's hard to resist the story as it drives forward. It reads as a true epic, one that makes you feel the world really has been reshaped as you read it. Would recommend.

This book was wonderful!! I've finally found a series with a story that is DIFFERENT and exciting. The story-line and the characters were amazing, I have 0 complaints. Can't wait for the next one!!

This was a book that I was really anticipating this year and I enjoyed it. But I was somewhat disappointed and underwhelmed. I didn’t enjoy the romance as much, I felt it was too insta-lovey which to be fair it just isn’t and never was my thing. I felt like everything was solved easily as the story progressed and I just expected and wanted more hate-to-love banter and angst and I just didn’t get that. It was a really interesting read, I did see myself wanting to pick up the book as it reminded me of Pokémon and I just was genuinely interested in what happened next. The characters were likeable but forgettable. I enjoyed the world to some extent and I didn’t have any problems with the writing.

DNF 25%
I think the fantasy elements of this book are very intriguing. The beast Charmers and their power of magical, other-worldly beasts, the risen undead, bound to serve as assassins, the magical/steampunk society, and the integration of magic and technology...
I was ready to find out more about this world, this magic system, and the characters living in it.
However, I was disappointed. The fantasy elements turned out to be a thin veil for a romance novel. As with all such veils... it was thin. Thin on plot. Thin on character development. Thin on world-building.
Thick on longing glances, suppressed sexual desire, and rampant misunderstandings leading to sexual tension. Also thick on descriptions of characters physical features and minute actions indicating possible attraction. it started to feel like reading a slightly-more-interesting-than-normal diary of a teenaged girl, fawning over some handsome guy. "He looked at me and I think his eye might have twitched slightly in interest. Maybe he likes me after all!"
If that's your thing then, by all means, go on ahead. Nothing technically wrong with the writing, just boring to someone who can't be convinced to care about the very quickly developed and forced romance between the main characters.

I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. The description of this book is what made me want to read it. I love fantasy that is like this. I like Leena Edenfrell and what she does. I like magical animals. I can see what she did is wrong because it is a crime to sell the animal on the black market. Which has an assassin sent after her for her crimes and that is a turn for the worse. She tries to mak a deal with him, but she does not know that he has to complete his mission. He does not want the rest of the brotherhood to come after him. Noc struggles with this choice becacuse he found someone that he wants to stick around and he has a connections to her. It is a wonderful story.

I loved this book! The main character was kickass and the world of magical beasts was the best! The magic system and it's rules were fascinating and I loved the storyline. I couldn't stop reading this! I was completely absorbed, watching the story play out like a movie in my head. That's some great writing and the romance was superbly done. In other words, if you love fantasy with romance and a great cast of characters, this is it!

What an amazing first book in a series! I am always on the lookout for a new amazing urban fantasy and this was it! I loved the world, the characters and the plot. I can not wait to read more from this author.

An exhilarating adventure and utterly absorbing story, Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym M. Martineau is filled with magic, mystery, fantastic creatures, witty banter, adorable characters, and a searing romance that absolutely captured my heart and kept me reading long into the night.
Leena Edenfrell is a Charmer, a human with magical powers who tames and captures magical beasts. The bond between master and beasts is sacred and selling them is a crime punishable by death. When Leena is wrongfully accused and gets exiled, she is forced to sell her beasts in order to survive. Her only chance of going back home to Hireath is to charm a powerful beast and convince the Charmers Council of her innocence. But, with a bounty on her head, Leena has no choice but to make a deal with Noc, the realm’s most dangerous yet charming assassin. In exchange for her life, she will give him some of her beloved magical creatures.
Noc is the leader of the guild at Cruor, a group of deadly assassins. He’s been keeping a secret - a curse that causes the people he loves to become sick and die from an incurable disease. Desperate for a cure, Noc accepts Leena’s offer and journeys with her to find the beast that might just save him. With the assassin’s oath, Noc knows that he must finish the job, kill Leena, or end up forfeiting his own life. But, choosing might just be the most difficult decision Noc will have to make cause he never expected to be charmed by Leena and start falling for her.
With secrets, lies, and dark forces threatening both their lives, will Leena and Noc find a way to finally get what they both really want?
I honestly haven’t been this excited about a fantasy romance in a while and this book really surprised me in so many ways. The writing is fantastic and the world-building is lush, vivid, intricate, and so enthralling. I adore everything about this imaginative world Martineau has created and found myself absolutely enamored by all the different aspects and magnificent beasts. The plot is fast-paced, brimmed with amazing action, sprinkled with humor, and has so many fun and delightful moments. It’s spellbinding, thrilling and overflowing with twists and surprises that had me flipping through the pages.
The characters are absolutely wonderful and I dare you not to fall in love with them. They’re charming, quirky, funny, and so intirguing. I love the brotherhood between the assassins and I think they're sweet in their own ways. I also really love the friendship they form with Leena and how protective they become. I really don’t think I can choose a favorite cause each one of them has a special place in my heart. I also loved all the different beasts. They have their own personalities and quirks and I really enjoyed seeing them develop relationships with their masters.
Leena and Noc are both great MCs and their character arcs are done so well. Leena is fierce, strong, determined, and has a heart of gold. She loves her beasts and only parts with them to survive. Noc is broody and impatient, but he’s an amazing leader who’ll do anything to protect his family even if it means never having true happiness. They’re both dealing with impossible situations and seeing them handle everything together is incredibly satisfying. Oh and their romance is wicked hot and super sexy. Given their situation and who they are, Leena and Noc both try to fight their attraction to each other. I won’t spoil the fun for you, but there’s definitely some delicious tension between them and their chemistry is heart-meltingly swoony.
Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym M. Martineau is a stunning debut novel and the perfect introduction to a magical and enchanting series. This book has everything I LOVE in stories - beautiful writing, characters that will steal your heart, fantastic world-building, great action scenes, endearing friendships, and a simmering romance with all the swoons. Be prepared to immerse yourself in a wonderfully thrilling journey and a fantastical adventure you won’t want to end. I promise you, you don't want to miss this one!
I received an advance reader copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow! This book blew me away. I have read much paranormal romance, so I didn't really know what to expect, but I read so many good things about this book ahead of it's release that I really wanted to review it. Those other reviewers were right, this story had it all - romance, adventure, swoons - the whole shebang. I was up reading late into the night when I definitely needed to be sleeping. Will definitely be grabbing more in this series.

I can’t say enough positive things about this book. It hooked me from the beginning. The main character has to sell her magical creatures but as a result she has been sentenced to death. She tells the group of assassins that she is willing to get them beasts so that maybe they will save her life. She also ends up falling for one of them assassins. Such a situation to be in. I couldn’t fall for the one that was going to kill me. But, it sure does make for a great story.

This was one of the best books i have read in a long time!!
I absolutely loved everything about it, from the characters to the storyline.
I feel like the story was completely different from anything I’ve ever read before.. the beasts, charmers, the assassins. It was all very original and unique, to me anyway!
I also loved the characters. While Leena and Noc were the main two, i love the fact that this story was written in a way that made me fall in love with every character! Kost, Oz, Calem.. they literally all have a piece of my heart!
Overall.. awesome book, unique storyline, loveable characters and a must read!!

As much as I have tried, I am unfortunately not the audience for this book.
I can see the time and effort that the author has put into their work, and I hope that it finds the right readers

The next one please... If you love magical beasts, assassins, and love stories with just enough mystery to keep you on the edge of your seat, this series will have you dancing. If you enjoy Assassin's Creed and Harry Potter, I can happily say you will love this series. Great!!

I loved this book!!! I think the part that spoke out to me the most was that it was an "adult" novel instead of all the usual YA Fantasy books I read, it was refreshing to deal with characters that were older and dealing with adult emotions. I also loved that there was a little smut thrown in there as a relief to all that damn sexual tension!!! GIVE ME ALL THE ROMANCE!
The whole idea of collecting beasts was similar to the JK Rowling Fantastic Beasts story but also had its own twists which kept it unique and interesting. I loved how she could gift the beasts to those she felt were worthy of owning one, and how connected they became once they belonged to each other.
The characters were all very well fleshed out and kept me intrigued with their stories throughout., This really was a fast paced adventure that I couldn't put down until the very last page.
I really really really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next in the series!

I regret to say I could not finish this book. I normally enjoy sword and sorcery fantasies, but I just could not care about any of the characters. After 150 pages, I just had to give up.
Sorry.

I can't believe these words are about to come out of my mouth but I think the romance overshadowed the fantasy aspect of this story. I feel so dirty just saying that. I love romance. But I wanted more world-building (again, who am I) and more details about Leena and her backstory. I'm guessing that's coming in a later book. The writing is good and what world-building we got was fantastic, I just ended the book feeling like something was missing and I wanted more. But that's what book 2 is for and I will definitely be continuing this series.

I received this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I have always loved shifter books and this one didn't disappoint.

CW/TW: Self-harm and torture
Kingdom of Exiles is the first book in a brand new fantasy romance series. The cool-as-heck, magical beast premise delivers and though there is definitely a romance, I will warn it’s a slow, slow burn.
Leena Edenfrell is an exiled beast charmer, but she hopes to return home after taming a Myad. A Myad is a big ol’ winged cat that requires the blood of a murderer to be tamed. It also assesses your heart and must deem you worthy before it’ll allow itself to be tamed. If she’s able to tame this beast, Leena believes the Charmer Council will have to hear her out and appeal her exile.
Unfortunately, there’s a bounty on her head. I hate it when that happens.
The Cruor, a guild of undead assassins, have been contracted to kill Leena. When Leena bests one of their assassins, she seeks to make a deal. Remove the bounty and she’ll gift them four beasts of their choosing. Noc, the guild leader, agrees to this, but still has plans to doublecross her because not fulfilling the bounty means his death. Noc and his band of merry men accompany Leena on her beast-taming quest, mostly to keep an eye on her.
And we all know how road trips often give way to pants feelings.
In promotional materials, Kingdom of Exiles has been compared to Assassin’s Creed, Fantastic Beasts, and Pokemon. In terms of comparison, I’d say Pokemon is the most accurate. Charmers tame beasts and keep them in a locket that houses a magical plane. They form lasting and loving bonds with their beasts and can use them in a fight. They also have a magical bestiary that updates when they encounter new beast, like a Pokedex.
As a Poke-kid growing up, I ate this up with the biggest spoon. A ladle, if you will.
I liked Leena a whole bunch. She just feels so earnest in wanting to return home and in loving her tamed beasts. She’s had to make sacrifices–emotionally, physically, morally–to stay alive, and doing so really eats at her. There’s a complexity to her characterization I found admirable and I don’t think there was a single thing I didn’t like.
She’s also sexually confident, if you love those types of heroines, which I do. With a life like hers, Leena doesn’t have the opportunity to form lasting relationships nor does she want to. That doesn’t mean she can’t find a bit of comfort in the arms of a partner and she does, though she prefers to keep things casual.
Noc was an interesting character, though I didn’t like him as much as Leena. He was cursed before becoming an undead assassin. If he becomes attached to anyone and begins to show any sort of fond emotion toward them, they begin to die. Their eyes become bruised. Their lips start to crack. They develop a bloody cough. It pains him to keep those he loves at arm’s length because if he doesn’t, they will die a slow, painful death.
The reason why he agrees to Leena’s deal of giving him a beast is that he hopes to find a beast able to reverse his curse. He has a mysterious past that is somewhat revealed, though book two in this series will have a bigger focus on that story. However, I didn’t find his background and baggage as compelling as Leena’s. Maybe more will be explained in the next book, but he had elements of “sad, little rich boy.”
Aside from that, he is definitely a bisexual dreamboat who wears nicely fitted trousers.
Leena likens him to a cat, which I think is an apt description for how Noc treats the people around him and how he’s often conflicted with remaining stony and cold in the face of warm, genuine moments:
His sharp stare contrasted with the lazy dance of his fingers across the rim of his glass, and it ushered my pulse into erratic territory. He was almost catlike in the way he approached our conversations. Aloof and distant, but when the right thing struck his interest, he was suddenly warm, if not a bit mischievous.
Calling him a beast would be too high a compliment, but he was close.
The glaring differences between Leena and Noc are their experiences with family. Noc has created this amazing support system with the Cruor. He sees his fellow assassins as brothers and sisters, and his actions in regards to his curse and how he rules as the Cruor’s leader are motivated by protecting those he cares for.
Leena is the opposite. Her family died trying to tame a dangerous beast. The only man she truly loved betrayed her and she was exiled from her home. Her life as an exiled charmer is one of isolation, as she avoids forming any sort of attachments. As she spends more time with Noc and the other assassins, Leena is conflicted about enjoying their company, knowing that their time together is temporary. After she fulfills her end of the bargain, she’ll leave and continue her quest to expose her former lover and be allowed to return home.
Seeing Leena gradually welcomed into a found family was the highlight of the book. Her relationships with Noc and his crew all happen at different paces. Some find it easier to trust her than others and I loved seeing those dynamics change and grow.
Leena travels with Noc and three of his assassins. Oz is a hulking man, but adorable shy. Calem is the charmer of the group, always finding a reason to flirt. He also carries this interesting bloodlust when fighting that feels at odds with his day-to-day personality. I think he was my favorite; I so want him to get his own book. (Something happens at the end and I’m getting a faint whiff of a romance that I hope comes true.) Kost is smart and serious with impeccable fashion sense. It’s a lively central cast, with even more interesting side background characters.
My one complaint with the characters is that I wish there were more women helping move the action along as well. Though I never read Leena as a heroine who is “not like other girls,” I would have loved to see a woman amidst the assassins Noc brought with him. Maybe I’m just greedy for more badass women on the page.
Of course, we have to talk about the beasts. There is a helpful bestiary in the back of the book, with some illustrations. It’s awesome and if the publisher ever wanted to create a companion bestiary book, I would buy it in a heartbeat.
The beasts range in class, from E-Class (the lowest) to A-Class (the highest). There are fearsome giant cats who assess your worth and little rabbits who can detect lies. I enjoyed learning about them so much!
My favorite was a Groober named Poof. What’s a Groober, you ask? He’s a round ball of fluffy with stubby legs. He also loves to cuddle. When you snuggle with him, he’ll emit a scent mixture of lavender and valerian to help you sleep. I love my cat, but I’d consider trading him for a Groober.
As I said initially, this book is…slow. Though it’s a fantasy romance, this installment leans more toward the former than the latter for most of the action. It takes time to explain the world in an organic manner and I’m usually more forgiving with first books in a science fiction or fantasy series. However, much to my disappointment, this series looks to follow Leena and Noc’s relationship. My reading preferences skew more to one couple per book in an established setting. I tend to lack the attention span to follow the same couple across multiple books, but that’s a personal preference.
There’s no cliffhanger, but it’s obvious there are lingering issues that need to be addressed. Kingdom of Exiles is more focused on Leena’s plot thread, while the second book will address Noc’s past. I have a feeling that the secondary characters will have their own romances going on in the background, but they’re all such dynamic people that I would rather them get dedicated books.Once again, totally personal preference.
Though I feel I’m being nitpicky with regards to my reading tastes, this was a promising start to an incredibly interesting fantasy world. A lot can be done with the bones we’re given and I’m eager to see how Martineau develops everything. If you’re a patient reader and get excited at having a coterie of magical animals, you’ll have a ton of fun with Kingdom of Exiles.

Leena is a beast charmer - part of a sacred group of people with the power to tame and control magical beasts. Charmers have one unbreakable, unforgivable rule - Never sell a beast for monetary gain. And that's exactly what Leena has to do to survive after being wrongfully exiled from by people.
As if her situation isn't bad enough, there is a bounty on her head and the most lethal assassins after her. Leena makes a deal with Noc, the leader of the undead assassins, the Cruor: Her life in exchange for beasts hand selected for the Noc and his men. However, what she doesn't know is that when Noc agreed to the contract to kill her, he became bound to follow through, or else, he forfeits his own life. Now, Noc is forced to make hard decisions to protect himself, the Cruor, and the woman he has fallen in love with. Leena is faced with confronting her past, clearing her name, and finding a way to save the man she loves from dying in her stead.
This Fantastic Beasts meets Assassin's Creed novel has everything I love in a good fantasy series. I'm excited for more!

Kingdom of Exiles is a creative debut from one Sourcebook's newest authors, Maxym M. Martineau. I got to meet Maxym at Book Lovers Con this year, and she was lovely. I am stoked she has decided to write in my favorite genre - fantasy romance - as it seems the books in this genre are fewer and far between these days. I can definitely say that this author has been added to my auto-buy list, and can't wait to see where she takes this series in the future.
Our heroine, Leena Edenfrell, is a fallen and exiled Beast Charmer. She has been forced from her home and sanctuary, and must now barter in her beloved beasts to survive. At least until the day when she can go back before the Council and attempt to clear her name. Yet Leena encounters an obstacle to her grand plans when a bounty is placed on her head with a group of skilled assassins. I was impressed by Leena's fortitude and the way she adapted to survive following her exile. Her vulnerability helped establish an emotional connection to her character, and her trusting nature made me want to protect her from the dangers that surrounded her. But I wasn't the only one won over by our heroine, it didn't take long for her to begin working her way into the hearts of our deadly assassins.
Speaking of assassins, our hero, Noc, is the dark and dangerous guildmaster of Crewar, undead assassins for hire. Crewar assassins are bound to their assignments via magical oath, a fact which becomes very complicated should the assassin start to care for his mark. Noc was one of my favorite kinds of heroes. His dangerous air and blood powers were intriguing, but his self-sacrificing nature and honor made him a likeable hero. Noc's past created vulnerabilities in his life and nature as well, which also assisted in the formation of that reader-character bond. I also enjoyed the bond he shared with this brotherhood and the rest of his family of assassins. Maxym did a good job giving each of th secondary characters a distinct personality that drew you in and made you want to know more.
Kingdom of Exiles is an amalgamation of ideas and concepts - Fantastic Beasts meets Pokemon Go, if you will. I loved the concept of beast charmers, the hunt for the cuddly and sometimes dangerous creatures, and the finesse and skill required to charm each one. I would have liked to spend more time with the various beasts to learn their personalities and characteristics, and perhaps visit them more often in the Beast Realm. But perhaps we will get some of that in future installments of the series.
I got behind on my ARC reading with all my work travel, so I was happy to see this released as an audiobook, which I seem to fit into my schedule better these days. I enjoyed the dual narration, and felt that they did a good job bringing Maxym's characters to life.