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.

To quote what I wrote to my co-blogger Emilia when I recommended this book to her:

"It’s pretty much a fantasy inspired by Pokémon and Fantastic Beasts with a few vampire-esque assassins thrown in"

I know it’s kinda cringy, quoting myself, but that is the best way I can think of to properly describe this book. Oh, it’s also a steaming romance, almost forgot about that.

If you’re not a huge fan of vampires, or still recovering from the 2010s vampire-craze, don’t worry when I called the assassins in this book vampire-esque. They’re not vampires, but creatures of shadows, and “raised again” which comes with a few perks not unlike some vampire’s abilities, but they are far from the stereotype, and somehow still felt fresh in their execution (no pun intended).

The characters are fleshed out and mostly well-written overall, even the side characters which often are forgotten in a story centred around romance. The main love interest is the semi-villainous, intelligent, and brooding type that is frequently used (which, to be honest, is my favourite type – if done right). This time it avoided feeling totally cliché; both he and the main protagonist felt like real people, with their own believable strengths and weaknesses. Another huge plus was the lack of cliché pitfalls in their budding relationship; the kind of plot twist that breaks them apart just for effect, a small misunderstanding that leads to much “angst” and eventually a slobbering reconciliation (often used as a cliffhanger). The problems Leena and Noc did have felt believable, and my only critique is that it was a tad close to being an “insta-love”, but I’ve seen far worse.

Another thing I liked about the main protagonists is their devotion to their loved ones, be it people or creatures. Leena’s love for her beasts felt genuine throughout the book, and Noc’s love for his fellow assassins and his struggles with his curse made his brooding understandable.

Now, it’s been a while *decades* since I played with Pokémon cards, or watched it on TV, but the way the creatures in this book were described instantly reminded me more of Pokémon than of “ordinary” fantasy beasts. Maybe it was the way their powers and looks were portrayed, or the system of Charmers collecting beast and keeping them in an other dimension while not needed. It still felt original, especially in a fantasy novel, but the similarities were there.

While this novel is the first installation in a trilogy, the end was satisfactory, while still open for a continuation. According to NetGalley, the rest of the series, The Frozen Prince and The Shattered Crown, will both be published during 2020.

I recommend this book to those looking for a relatively light-hearted fantasy-romance with a fresh twist. Four bright stars!

Kingdom of Exiles was an entertaining read, and I will most likely continue with the series, especially when the rest is being published so soon!

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.

This was a refreshing take on the enemies to friends idea. Local exile, Leena Edenfrell, is a Beast Charmer. Gifted with the ability to bond with magical creatures, Leena makes a living selling certain beasts to greedy, rich clients. Charmers by law aren't allowed to sell their beasts, but when you are exiled from home, you do what you must.

After one of those sales, Leena is confronted by one of the Crucor. A literal "Shadow" group of assassins. A contract has been taken out on her. Leena quickly overpowers her potential assassin and shows up at their estate with the badly wounded man. Noc, the Crucor leader is irate. Young, powerful, and cursed, Noc eventually makes a deal with Leena. She is to supply some of the Crucor with Beasts, all of which are attuned to each individual, and he will not allow any of his assassins to harm her.

As a group they must travel to the region where a legendary beast is said to have appeared and along the journey she finds friendship and kinship with them. With Noc she finds a closeness she has not seen for a long time. Betrayed by her lover and then exiled from the Charmer lands falsely, Leena is naturally cautious. Noc, on the other hand, has a curse on him and it has an effect on his personal dealings with others. A powerful draw develops and I can't wait to see them team up and set things right. This couple has all of the makings of a great fantasy/romance couple. Strength of character, and tenacity are traits that they both share.

I must admit that I do love a "collective" journey in a fantasy setting. Martineau's ability to give us distinctive and well developed characters, believable beasts, and a strong story line shines through in this first of a series debut. The author's descriptions are distinct without being overworked. I had a vivid feel for this world and never needed more in my mind's eye. Creative and quality writing bind this narrative into a magnificent tale, and I can't wait to delve into this "Charming" series again.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions are strictly my own.

First, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an eARC of this novel.
This is the first book that I have read by this author and I was really pleased with it. The Kingdom of Exiles is filled with all things magic, beasts, action, and a great developed world. I look forward to the future works of Maxym Martineau.

I read so many good reviews of this book but sadly, it wasn't for me. I found Leena especially irritating, and if you can't get on board and root for the main character its just a bad beginning all around. Still, I pushed my way through for a while but the plot felt slow to develop, I was underwhelmed by the world building and I could not get invested in the writing, story, or characters. I do love fantasy romance but this series is not one I will continue.

Kingdom of Exiles is the first book in the new Beast Charmer fantasy-romance series set in a world where Charmers have the ability to tame and control wide-ranging classes of beasts. The author builds the world over the course of the story, with much left to experience and learn in future titles.

This first story introduces Leena, an exiled Charmer, who illegally trades in beasts to keep herself alive. An unknown Charmer places a bounty on Leena with the undead assassin guild, Cruor. After she defeats the first assassin who comes after her, she makes a deal with Noc, the leader of the guild, that will keep her alive in exchange for beasts. Journeying together to find beasts, Leena, Noc, and a group of Cruor assassins grow close and alliances begin to change.

At about a quarter into the book, I found myself struggling to get into the story. I didn’t find the conflict compelling, yet I still wanted to find out more. So I paused reading for a while, and ended up coming back to it after a week, splitting the time between listening to the audiobook and reading on my Kindle. I mention this because the narration definitely added to my enjoyment, helping me to get further into the story.

Leena and Noc have a difficult journey. There is a strong attraction, but neither trusts the other, and both have compelling, selfish reasons for working together. She was betrayed by the man she loved, and he is cursed so that anyone he cares about dies. It takes time to build trust and finally share their pasts, allowing them to begin a future together.

The reason for the hit placed on Leena is a mystery at the core of the story, but doesn’t really come into play until the last third of the book. I like that Leena and Noc work out some of their issues before this conflict takes over the storyline. While I’m not one who usually uses content warning tags, I do want to comment on the fact that Leena is tortured at length. These scenes are not graphic, but it is clear she is treated horrifically. I feel the impacts of this torture were not adequately addressed; however, there wasn’t a lot of book time afterwards, so I’ll wait to see if it is more fully addressed in the next title before giving my final verdict.

I don’t know if this series will have a unique couple with each book, or if Noc and Leena will remain the central focus. The epilogue reminds readers that their story isn’t over, so I’m hoping we’ll continue to focus on this couple, with the supporting characters getting their due within each book.

My Rating: B- Liked It, but I had a few small issues

Link is active on 8/14/2019

This has been a sad run for me lately in the urban fantasy arena. First, the Patricia Briggs’ “Alpha and Omega” series introduced a new aspect into a beloved character that has some pretty unfortunate consequences not only for that series but for the “Mercy Thompson” one as well (though I’m working my way through the latest, so check back soon to see how that fares!). And then my beloved “Kate Daniels” series finished up. So, naturally, I’m on the look out for a replacement urban fantasy series and when I saw “Kingdom of Exiles” pop up on NetGalley, I requested it right away.

Leena values her magical beasts above anything. But when things get dire, she finds herself exactly where she didn’t want to be: deep in the underbelly of society, trading away her beats. And things only get worse when an assassin shows up on her doorstep with an order marking her for death. Luckily for her, Noc is too intrigued to simply off her right then and there, and they both find themselves caught up between several rocks and hard places, with their growing affection and love putting the other at greater and greater risk.

For me, the largest appeal of this story was the unique “charming” ability that Leena possesses and the super cool magical beasts who surround her because of it. Like the book description implies, there are a lot of similarities with these animals and the ways in which Leena interacts with them and keeps them that feels very similar to the “Fantastic Beasts” series. So if you’re a fan of that particular aspect of that story, the same will be found here. But I was glad to see there were some added twists to this version of the concept, namely the idea that these beasts can be animal familiars, essentially. And it is this fact that makes them so valuable and Leena’s ability to gather and control them so important.

The comparison to “Assassin’s Creed” is a bit less on the money, and this is where things began to fall apart for me a bit. The action of the story was quite a bit less than I’m used to finding in my urban fantasy/paranormal stories. Compared to the two series I mentioned earlier, this one has very little going on in that area. There were a couple of action-oriented scenes, but they felt very fleeting. This also added to the uneven read of the book, with the balance between plot and character moments felt odd at times.

I also didn’t love Leena or Noc, particularly. I could see how on their own they might be better, but for a book that is a paranormal romance story, it’s pretty important that they work well together. Leena, who comes across as pretty competent in the beginning of the story, immediately falls into the trope hole of becoming useless and making stupid decisions once the love interest shows up. Noc, for his part, talks on and on about how important it is to keep one’s distance from one’s target and then promptly makes zero effort to follow his own advice, quickly falling for Leena.

The romance itself was also not to my taste. It was a bizarre mix of the type of romance you would typically find in YA stories, full of angst and unnecessary drama. But then all of the steamy scenes one can expect from adult romance novels. The two did not mix well together, in my opinion. But I’m generally not a fan of angsty or dramatic romantic relationships, so this was going to be a hard sell for me regardless of anything else.

Overall, this book wasn’t for me. I think the world-building and fantasy elements were very interesting. And I could even wave away some of the pacing issues as simply the learning curve of a debut book. But my dislike for the main characters and the way their romance played out was enough to land this book solidly in the “meh”-to-dislike category. However, if you are more interested in this type of romance, this could potentially be a good paranormal romance series to get in on early! And to help you with that, make sure to enter our giveaway for a copy of the book!

Rating 6: More romance (and not my favorite kind either) than urban fantasy, this book was a miss for me.

This is wonderfully creative and intense!

Leena is a beast Charmer exiled from her beloved community by a vicious lover. The council believed him because he was older and on the council. Leena has since had to sell beasts which isn’t permitted. Leena is determined to tame a council level beast and return to prove her innocence. But someone has other plans – they have engaged one of the most powerful assassin groups, the Cruor, to kill Leena.

Leena manages to capture the first assassin sent after her. She returns to the Cruor lair to try to negotiate for her life. She meets Noc, the leader of the dark shadowy group. She is able to make a deal to provide his people with four magical creatures in exchange for her life. She doesn’t realize there is a loophole to his contract and she has no idea that he is burdened by a curse.

Noc’s curse brings death to those he loves. He has seen the devastation and now must hold himself aloof or risk even his brother assassins.

As Noc and a handful of his leaders travel with Leena to allow her to capture their beasts, they all grow in respect for the caring nature of their ‘target’. Especially Noc is conflicted by his growing attraction which he cannot allow without a cure for his curse. Noc believes that Leena may be able to provide him with a creature that can fulfill the wish to end his curse. Leena tries to warn him that such wishes come with unexpected and usually damaging consequences, but Noc is desperate.

I was captured by this story from beginning to end. The characters are intense as is the tension.
Early on I was struck by the risks and extreme choices being set up for the hero and heroine to face. The creatures tamed by Leena are wonderfully creative and imaginative. There is a strong sexual scene at bout 70% in and another near the end, but these are fitting to the intense romance that is developed. It is secondary to a well-developed, action packed, intriguing plot.

I definitely want to read the next book in the series. I cannot think of any reason not to give this 5 stars. I highly recommend this to readers who like intrigue, fantasy and tension filled romance; magical beasts are great too.

Source: 2019 NetGalley;

I have a problem with a rating that book as I liked it, and yet I have moments where I thought about stopping reading. That's why - 3 stars.
The concept was indeed really intriguing. A great fantasy novel, but the execution of the blurb went sometimes off the rail.
I felt like I was reading something like Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh in some parts. That's not bad, I just was looking for something with more fantasy vibe about the beasts. I hope you understand what I mean.
Overall it was a nice story with rather good characters and a plot that I would make more detailed (the same goes for characters and beasts).
I will be reading book 2 for sure as their one left me with want to know what had happened next between Leena and Noc as well as others from the gang

Good world building. The best part were all of the interesting creatures, and all of the other assassins. I have to say though, that it was filled with a lot of inst-love cliches, and I can’t stand insta-love. It got to the point where I started to skim a bunch of pages because some of it was cringe-worthy. Not really for me.

Unfortunately, I didn’t like or dislike this book. I just couldn’t get invested in the story. The world building was intriguing and I think that’s really what kept my interest. The romance was fun at times but I didn’t feel a real connection between Leena and Noc. With that said I did enjoy their interactions and I believe there is a great deal of potential for the series so I’ll be looking forward to Book 2 in The Beast Charmer series.

Definitely not what I expected. It took me a few tries to push on with this book. The premise was just so unlike anything else I've read and at first that was off putting but after a few chapters I realized it was amazing, The story is unique. Not just a fresh take on an established concept but a truly unique story that I honestly can't really compare to anything else. The world-building is fantastic. The characters are thoroughly developed. And the story line manages to suck you in and leaves you wanting more. I already cannot wait for the next installment, Leena is everything I want out of a heroine. She's brave and stubborn and willing to bend the rules when necessary. She's not some wilting flower and watching the bit of romance unfold between her and Noc gives you the feels in all the right places. I cannot recommend Kingdom of Exiles enough. If you love the action and character style of the Kate Daniels series mixed with the imagination of Harry Potter then you'll love this book!

Great characters, great settings and a great story are all involved in the making of KINGDOM OF EXILES.

KINGDOM OF EXILES started off a little slow, but I had no problem getting into it with the great world building and action packed storyline. There was plenty of mystery and some romance as well. I really enjoyed learning about the different beasts and their roles in Leena's life.

I will definitely read more.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I did not finish the book. I stopped around 24%. The story and characters did not pull me in. I will not be reviewing the title.

If you like vivid world building, engrossing plots, and romantic angst for days, then do yourself a favor and read Kingdom of Exiles. I read a lot of unremarkable fantasy romance, but within just a few chapters I was really excited about this book. It’s whimsical, action packed, heartwarming, sexy, dark, and spooky. There’s hidden realms, shadowy assassins, and magical creatures that will be your best friend (if they don’t kill you first).

Leena is a Charmer, a race of humans with the ability to tame magical beasts. Exiled from her people for a crime she didn’t commit, she’s forced to do the unthinkable to survive; sell her beloved beasts. But she has big plans to clear her name and return home. Unfortunately, her big plans are temporarily derailed by the assassin that comes within a hair of killing her.

Noc is the (sexy and mysterious) leader of said punk ass killers for hire. Called the Cruor, they’re dead humans who have been resurrected to become elite assassins (they can turn into shadow, it’s all very cool). The assassins are supposed to leave their past lives in the grave, but Noc has a really big secret. Well, two really big secrets: his identity while he was alive, and the curse that dooms everyone he cares about to a painful death.

When Leena arrives at the guild’s doorstep with the assassin sent to kill her as a hostage (because she’s B-TO-THE-ADASS) she has a proposal: the guild won’t collect the bounty on her, and she’ll procure the guild four valuable beasts. Noc desperately wants a beast capable of removing his curse, so he agrees. However he does neglect to inform Leena that, thanks to some ancient magic, removing the bounty after it’s been accepted is basically impossible. Does that make things awkward when he starts to fall for her? Of course it does! (Sexual tension is my favorite!). And thus Leena, Noc, and the assassin gang (you’ll love the gang!) embark on a merry adventure to charm some beasts and break some curses and avoid some assassinations and try really hard not to fall in love.

99.9% of the time I am just here for the romance. But this book, with its menagerie of precious/deadly/crazy creatures, touched my jaded, cynical heart. And I am not, in any way, an animal person. But now I want to be a Charmer SO BAD. There is literally a creature in here that exists solely to cuddle, and its natural scent is lavender. IT’S A TEDDY BEAR THAT’S ALIVE AND EXISTS TO LOVE YOU AND HELP YOU SLEEP. Were do I get one of these things??

Overall, the author has done an excellent job of creating an immersive world that is so cool. Kingdom of Exiles is the first book of The Beast Charmer series. There are hints that there’s a much larger story to be told, but fear not, no cliffhangers here! It works fine as a standalone, but I’m betting that you’re going to enjoy this world so much that you’ll want to go back for more.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.
Charming animals and then matching them to people. What an interesting premise. Throw in Leena, the beast Charmer, who has been exiled for something she didn't do. Then add that assassins have been hired to take her out. And that makes for an exciting read. But it doesn't end there. There is a twist to the story that is very interesting and you wonder how it's going to turn out.