The world-building in this immersive book is so incredible but the character development is really what makes this a standout for me! You root for the characters and share in their pain in an almost visceral way. Loved this book!!!

This was delightful! I'm a sucker for any beast taming characters/stories. I loved the world setting so much and with each beast introduced. The characters were easily lovable despite them being the typical adventure gang.

The story is about a Charmer named Leena, and for reasons explained later, she was exiled from the closed Charmer society. Desperate for some money to survive, she sells some of the beast she tames despite feeling guilty and it being illegal.

After a few years of getting used to that life, she is targeted by an assassin. She managed to surprise attack him and force him to take her to their hideout where she wants to negotiate her bounty.

Four powerful beasts for her head and the leader of the assassin agrees and they go to an adventure to search for beasts.

What I didn't enjoy in this story is how fast the romance developed. This is my personal preference but I love slow burn romance. Since Leena and Noc showed interest in each other so early, I couldn't ship them until where I loved their relationship in the end.

Most of the book's focused more on the attraction and relationship rather than the plot. The author repeatedly teases us with Leena's and Noc's backstory and I'm glad she didn't spill it all at once though Noc's was a bit cliche.

This is a trilogy and the book ended somewhat on a cliffhanger.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.

I enjoyed this entertaining read. I thought the story line was quite engaging and offered a excellent blend of fantasy and romance. As I read through I could easily recognize elements and from where the author drew inspiration from. I did think that sometimes the story felt bogged down but it never lasted long enough to cause me to lose interest. Leena and Noc were compelling characters and I did think they had great chemistry. I look forward to reading book two and finding out what happens to these characters and their relationship next.

I received this via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved it guys. This book was just what I wanted It to be. The world building was fun. The characters were very well flushed out. I loved the plot of this. I can not wait to read more by this author. I highly recommend this book.

It took me a while to find the time to sit down and really get into this story, but once I did, I was hooked. I loved that Leena was not some weak-willed woman who needed a man to save her, nor was she a stereotypical strong-female character who hated love. I also liked that Noc had an actual reason for not wanting to let anyone get close to him, instead of it just being because he thought he was despicable. I liked the world and want to know more about it, but feel like I did understand the rules. The characters were excellent, the romance was nice and didn’t detract from the plot or serve as the only plotline. I liked Leena’s Charmer powers, though at times the beasts/Charmer dynamic felt very similar to Pokemon (not necessarily bad).

I’m really excited to read the next book as I have some questions that I’d like to see answered. Who was Noc before his resurrection? Who put the hit on Leena? And what is going on in Wilhelm? This book definitely delivered as both a romance novel and a fantasy novel.

The premise is fun, the magic system and world-building are interesting. However I had some issues.
Leena is supposed to be a badass that must not be underestimated; and yet we’re told she would never be able to beat Noc or one of his group. Noc and his brotherhood of assassins are supposed to be lethal. But all of them end up being friendly (and not immune to her charm) to Lena almost instantly (except Kost) and Leena and Noc have strong insta-lust and insta-love going on, which felt incredible out of character. The description of these creatures was so beautiful and detailed. I could picture them breathing and moving inside my mind. I swear the images felt so real. Kingdom of Exiles is a flawed but totally fun debut fantasy romance. It centers on a beast charmer and an assassin who connect even though their situation says they absolutely can't. Despite the angst and the torture Leena and Noc are able to endure! I can't wait to see what happens in the next book of The Beast Charmer series!

Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym M. Martineau is the start of a new fantasy romance series The Beast Charmer that combines elements of Fantastic Beasts with Assassin's Creed to make for a page turning read!

Leena is a beast charmer, exiled from her home for a crime she didn't commit. Forced to sell some of her beasts to survive, she discovers that there is a bounty on her head when she defeats an assassination attempt and forces the would-be killer to take her to his underworld lair, and his leader, Noc.

Noc was raised from death decades earlier and commands the assassins in Cruor. Their ability to slip into shadows makes them the perfect mercenary hire and once a deal has been struck, if the target isn't killed, it's the assassin who will die instead – and they can't beat death twice. But Noc has other problems too, including a curse that kills anyone for whom he develops any kind of affection.

Leena comes ready to bargain for her life. She hates selling her beasts so she offers to find four beasts, one for Noc and three assassins of his choosing, in exchange for dropping their bounty on her. Noc makes a contract with her but doesn't reveal the true nature of the deals they make, nor that her life may still be forfeit. The idea of a beast who can remove his curse is worth any risk. But when Noc and Leena start to develop something more than just a wary friendship, will it be to the ruin of them both?

I loved this story! I was hooked from the start, and by mid-way I was both eager to turn the next page and already regretting that the story would have to come to an end! It's a compelling tale with excellent and inventive worldbuilding. The beasts that roam this world are fascinating and dangerous magical creatures, no two alike, with unique skills that aid the person they are bonded with.

Leena and Noc have no choice but to work together in order for both to get what they want. For Noc this is particularly disastrous as he doesn't want to form any attachment to Leena, or have it returned once he starts to get to know her. But their attraction can't be stifled, leading to some sexy love scenes and some dire consequences. They have their work cut out for them to fix things. I wasn't sure if this story would end in a cliffhanger but there is a 'happy for now' ending for them, as well as several plot threads that will continue on into the next in the series.

As much fun as it was to watch Leena and Noc dance around each other, the secondary characters, members of Noc's crew, are equally enjoyable to get to know. Kost, the assassin who tried to kill Leena at the start is a trusted advisor of Noc's; Calem is the comedy relief, the playboy always looking for action from a willing female (he reminded me of Joey from Friends); and Ozias, the muscle. Equally as interesting as all the beasts of Leena's world is the politics and rules of the underworld assassins; how they become assassins and how they go about their daily lives now. Even with all the discoveries, there is still plenty of story left to be told.

Kingdom of Exiles is a richly layered and enchanting fantasy romance filled with intrigue, secrets, and flawed characters who will have you rooting for them from start to finish. I am already planning a re-read while I wait for the next in the series!

This review has been posted at Harlequin Junkie and feedback updated with the link. It will be posted at sale sites and goodreads during release week.

Leena Edenfrell was exiled from the land of Beast Charmers, and the only way to make a living afterward was to sell off beasts. This carried a punishment of its own, so her days were numbered, especially after a contract with the hired assassins of the Cruror was placed by an unknown charmer. These contracts are carried out or else the assassin's life is forfeit; the most Leena could do was barter for an extension on her life by trading four beasts to the team of Cruror assassins. This brought them on a journey throughout the lands, and the mystery of who placed the contract unfolds.

Kingdom of Exiles unfolds with a lot of action beats as well as characterization ones. I was drawn to Leena right away, an outcast with a swagger in her step and no attachments to anyone but the beasts she already has charmed that protect her. Noc, as leader of the Cruror, has his own secrets and back story, and his own reasons for wanting his top people to have beasts that they control. Anyone Noc truly cares about starts to fall ill due to a curse that had been placed on him in his former life, so former lovers and even soldiers he commanded had fallen ill. Of course, he and Leena are drawn to each other, and this adds to the tension between them. Leena's able to make friends with one of the four assassins that accompany them. One is an incorrigible flirt that seems to serve as a means of making Noc jealous, and Kost loves Noc himself.

As the first in a trilogy of novels, this carries a lot of history and back story for all of the characters, as well as the history of the land. It's woven into the story seamlessly, because the Beast Charmers tend to stay isolated in their own lands and little is known about their magic or the dimension that the beasts live in, and the Cruror are feared by all and operate in secrecy. The traveling forces them to learn about each other and their respective cultures, as well as their views on the history of the land. Some of the conflicts aren't given a lot of explanation, but are merely hinted at; it's likely that this will be dealt with in future books of the trilogy. The story is wrapped up neatly and in a satisfying way, with some dangling threads that likely will be picked up in the next book.

I was just as fascinated with the beasts featured in the novel as I was with the people in it. They're characters in their own right, with feelings and motivations of their own, particularly the ones that are capable of communicating with the humans. Their descriptions are fascinating, and they are a magic all their own. There aren't flashy spells or wands, just a more practical day to day kind of magic that feels real. I look forward to the other two books of this trilogy, which will be available next year.

This amazing story about Leena and Noc contained everything anyone would crave in a fantasy romance. It has intense action, steamy romance, a powerful female main character, a squad of assassins led by a dangerously good looking man, fantastical beasts with a better-than-Pokemon vibe, forbidden love, a mysterious bad guy, magic, and endless twists and turns. I urge anyone who enjoys a gripping fantasy to grab this book immediately.

I devoured this book in one weekend and am so thankful for my free copy in exchange for my honest review. I’m even more excited at the fact that this is book #1 of the new Beast Charmer series.

**Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ **

Leena has been living life on the outskirts since she was banned from the Charmer's society for a crime she did not commit, surviving by selling her beasts illegally. When she is attacked by an assassin and manages to best him, she uses the opportunity to make a deal with the assassin's guild- she will capture four beasts for them in return for the contract for her life to be destroyed. But little does she know, the contract on her life can't be broken, and the same guy she is crushing on, Nox the leader of the assassin's guild, will be the one to end her life.

The world building was awesome, hands down my favorite part of the story. This was very much a mix of fantasy meets Fantastic Beasts with just a touch of Pokemon thrown in. The fantasy was shown in the world crafting in general, and I feel a little like the world building is just starting, with so much left unsaid. There were Charmers who had a magic all their own and could lure and capture beasts. There were super cool undead assassins, who were brought back to life to become part of the shadows and become the elite killers. And then their was a Kingdom with an evil ruler that was only hinted at and completely piqued my interest- I hope there is more to come in the next book! Kingdom of Exiles was like Fantastic Beasts with a girl who keeps/saves creatures in a magical book she wears as a necklace and she can travel into the world that magically alters to fit the needs of the creature she brings back- and she can bring guests to visit too. And the book was a little like Pokemon since the beasts need to be battled and captured, but may escape if you are not strong enough, and you can trade them. Hands down, the coolest world I have seen recently with all these random pieces interwoven.




There was WAY more angst than I expected in this story(and more than I usually care for), and most of that was due to Nox. Ok, to be perfectly honest, I was not a fan of Nox in general (I loved Leena and the other assasin side characters, they were all great). I do not want to give too much away, but Nox is cursed, and those that he develops any kind of feelings for will suffer- which is the excuse for his behavior. He had so much back and forth with his emotions and wants, he is overly friendly and then completely standoffish, basically giving me and Leena emotional whiplash. I just wanted him to figure his stuff out and do it already instead of playing with everyone's feelings. Maybe he will get his life together in the next book, for purely selfish reasons, because I can't continue with him this way. On a positive note, he was a pretty good leader and made sure his people were well taken care of. Also, his sexuality seems to be fluid and he has had past romantic relationships with both genders which makes for an interesting dynamic (especially with a certain strict underling).

Overall this was action packed and pretty enjoyable, high on the action and fantasy elements and pretty low on the romance for a "paranormal romance". This is the first in a trilogy and I will 100% for sure pick up the next two books to see how everything will play out.

Do you ever find a book that is a fabulous splice of properties in the most unexpected way? Take a little bit of Assassin's Creed, mix in the first Fantastic Beasts movie and thrown in some Pokemon, you've got Kingdom of Exiles.

The beasts within were so cool. I really liked the vivid and up close descriptions of each creature. It offers a nice break from the overall darkness of the MCs' stories themselves. With both Leena and Noc's experiences, there are themes of betrayal, exile, and isolation. The whimsy is a good break and I greatly appreciated it. The side characters on their journey to tame beasts were also delightful. The emotional beats really land and I had a fun time reading this book.

Do you want a swoony romance with inventive beasts? Definitely give this fantasy romance a shot.

Kingdom of Exiles is a romantic fantasy, with a strong emphasis on the romance aspect. As such, much of the story fell into the usual romance cliches of alpha male, angsty longing, overidealized characterizations, and a LOT of tell with very little show. Much of the plot was clearly telegraphed but author Martineau left enough of a main arc (for future volumes) within the complete secondary arc to make readers want more. Although not a wholly satisfying read, the critters do make up for a lot of the lack of charm in the protagonists (and upstage most of the book in the process).

Story: Leena is a disgraced beast charmer with a price on her head. On the run and desperate, she makes a deal with the assassins sent to terminate her: she'll give each of the team a beast friend in exchange for not completing the contract to kill her. In the process, she falls in love with alpha hunky angsty leader Noc.

Since I assume readers can't come to love murderous assassins, this supposedly lethal group is just a bunch of big hearted 'brothers' who take her under their wing. Along the way, Leena uses her Beast Charmer skills to coach magical creatures out of the Beast Realm to bond with each of the assassins, according to their nature. These scenes were the highlight of the book since the rest of the plot amounted to both main characters mooning over each other as fate forces them to be a part. Noc, of course, has a curse on him that kills those he loves and Leena is reeling after a betrayal by someone she loved and trusted. Worry not, instaluv always finds a way.

The assassin characters were somewhat cliche stereotypes: serious guy, womanizer/playful guy, the big lug with a heart of gold. All lead by Noc, who just wants to protect his 'family' and do the right thing. By the end of the book, you'd swear little birdies came in and groomed their hair every morning (a la Cinderella), they were so pure. The antagonist was so over-the-top that he really should have been written so he had a mustache to twirl while he recounted his nefarious plans in a patronizing monologue. Leena, as with most romance heroines, spends most of her time being unpleasant and rude, to show that she has 'spirit.'

The book is a quick and easy read and should greatly please romance fans, especially those who love the ubiquitous urban fantasy romances that abound right now. This first book has a complete arc but enough of the world building is left unexplained to fill in future volumes.

Kingdom of Exiles was a sizzling hot magical tale.

Leena is a magical beast charmer. She is extremely gifted but in exile from her people, for a crime she didn’t commit. The only way to live is to sell the beasts she charms. The problem with that, if she gets caught by her people, they’ll execute her. But someone really wants her already and it brings Noc, a top assassin for hire after her.

I loved the world building and the imaginative beasts. Magic, mayhem and sizzling chemistry, Kingdom of Exiles was a great book-cation. I look forward to more in the Beast Charmer world.

I received this ARC copy of Kingdom of Exiles from SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca. This is my honest and voluntary review. Kingdom of Exiles is set for publication June 25, 2019.

My Rating: 5 stars
Written by: Maxym M. Martineau
Series: The Beast Charmer (Book 1)
Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Publication Dated: June 25, 2019
ISBN-10: 1492689386
ISBN-13: 978-1492689386
Genre: Fatnasy

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Exiles...
Barnes & Nobles: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/king...
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It’s hard to resist that sell: “Fantastic Beasts meets Assassin’s Creed…” *points to self* HUGE Harry Potter (world) fan. HUGE Assassin’s Creed fan. I should really know better than to listen to those types of comparisons. Yes, on the surface, I get it. She’s a beast charmer. He’s an assassin. Makes sense. But it doesn’t really feel like either one of these. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing – but expectations matter. I was talking to a friend this morning and it’s clear that Sourcebooks marketing team is on-point. They know how to pull me in and make me one-click a book. But – expectations matter.

I expected an amazing world, filled with incredible beasts, and an action-packed plot. Kingdom of Exiles delivered on most of it.

There is a world that seems absolutely amazing – one I’d like to visit actually. One that I’d like to get to know a lot better. The story takes place in the kingdom of Wilhelm, though we really only hear about it in passing. It’s clear that there’s a large world to explore and get to know. There are so many areas I want to visit. I’m not sure I fully see the land yet, but I’m hoping for a map in the final book. Yes, I’m a map geek. Sue me. It’s hard for me to picture the geography of the world. They travel for 3 or 4 days, but I’m unsure which way they travel, or how that relates to anything else.

While we’re traveling around with Leena and Noc, we get these tantalizing hints of things that have happened in the history of the world. These peeks into where the story is heading. I need more of that. I’d also love to know more about the politics and overarching history of the world. Just in-passing mentions of The First War, and some to-come doom left me dying for more information. It’s obvious that there’s a bigger picture plot that’s happening in that larger world. The set-up is there. I wish we’d gotten more of it.

Something else I wish we’d gotten more of: the beasts. I want more time with them, exploring them, their unique personalities and gifts. I feel like we heard about a dozen of them, saw maybe a half-dozen in their full glory, but I’m not confident I really understand the beasts, the relationship the Charmers have with them, or the history behind it all.

Unfortunately, the pacing is where things really fell apart for me. This book is long – 448 pages – much longer than most romances (fantasy or not) that are out there. And sometimes it feels every bit that length. I cut my teeth on epic fantasy, I’m used to long, detailed stories. But I caught myself skimming and my mind wandering more than once while reading.

It’s a bit frustrating, because by the end of the book Leena and Noc’s story isn’t over. There’s more to do there. I’d have appreciated if more time had been spent on world-building, tightening up the pacing, and less time on the romance. The romance could have solidified in book 2 and 3, which I assume will also follow Leena and Noc. I’d also love it if more people realized that there is nothing wrong with a slow build romance. In fact, I appreciate it more than an insta-love.

Characters are another area that I’m struggling with. I think the romance could have been less of a focus, and more time spent on really developing Leena and Noc. I’m honestly struggling to tell you much about them other than Leena’s a beast charmer that was betrayed, and Noc is an assassin that is cursed. This is probably why I’m having a hard time figuring out why they fell in love. Leena and Noc knew each other for a few days, didn’t trust each other for at least half of that, were adversaries and one was trying to kill the other for nearly the entirety of it….them falling in everlasting love by the end? Not realistic to me.

I get why they like each other; Sure. Something to build on; yep. But risk everything, be my mate, forever-and-ever, love? Not yet. And SO MUCH TIME was spent on the romance, the angst, the sex…*sigh*

There was also the cliche brotherhood of assassins, though thankfully it seemed more robust and inclusive – there were females AND those that weren’t really assassins in the group. I ended up really liking the dynamic and possibilities with the Cruor, but when I initially read about them I thought about every other paranormal romance I’ve read in the last 10 years. I wondered how long until we’d get stories about the other members of the Cruor. Maxym M. Martineau did a good job of pulling me past that and I stopped thinking of the cliche around half-way through the book.

Oh! Speaking of inclusivity – gay characters abound. Kingdom of Exiles shows that being in love with any gender is completely and totally normal. Noc had loved, and lost, a man before. It was completely casually mentioned, just like it would have been if he’d loved and lost a woman. There’s no stigma, no concern, no care. It’s just beautifully, wonderfully normal. God, I can’t tell you how much I appreciated the hell out of that.

Sidebar: I’m bi-sexual. I don’t talk about it a lot because my sexuality is my business – mine and my wife’s. My friends and family know, but it doesn’t define me. However, I’ve become increasingly frustrated with LGBTQ+ books in the past several years, to the point where I’ve mostly stopped reading them. I keep adding them to my to-be-read (TBR) because I’m sure there’s gotta be better representation of people like me sometime, but I rarely actually start them because I’ve been let down so much.

Bi- people are typically depicted as one of three things: (i) evil, and/or the antagonist that’s trying to steal the heart of the protagonist from the love interest; (ii) really just gay/straight and when they enter into a monogamous relationship they find out which; and/or (iii) MUST have both male and female love to be satisfied, cannot be monogamous. Rarely are we ever understood to just love and appreciate both males and females. I don’t need both a man and a woman to be satisfied. I just don’t care if it’s a man or a woman that I’m with. I’m not a lesbian because I’m married to a woman. I’m still bi. I still find men attractive. And I sure as hell am not here to ruin relationships. I’m not even beginning to touch on the depth of my appreciation for how Ms. Martineau handled love and sexuality in this novel. Especially if she follows through, like I think she will, with more gay relationships.

There’s so much here to appreciate and look forward to. I think a lot of my detractions are actually first book syndrome more than anything else. Some balance between the romance and everything else would have easily made this a 5 star read for me..

There’s so damn much potential here. I can see it, on the horizon. I want more in the world, I want more of the characters, I want tons more beasts. I’m happily adding book 2 to my to-read list. Because the set-up for the overarching plot, and the potential in the world? I’m intrigued as hell and am excited to see it all come to fruition.

Review went live on The Blogger Girls' site on 6/25/2019

4.5 Stars

I was really looking forward to this novel when I read the blurb. It seemed like something that was right up my alley and I wasn’t wrong. I was honestly blown away by this one when I started reading it. I just couldn’t put it down once I started. Leena drew me in right from the start and I really enjoyed how strong a character she was. She might have been scared but she wasn’t intimidated and I adored the fact she could worm her way under all the scary assassins’ skin. It was intriguing to see how things progressed between her and Noc, especially with her having a bounty on her head and Noc being cursed.

I adored them as characters and really liked seeing how Noc struggled with having feelings for Leena but trying not to embrace the feelings because of his curse. I also really loved the whole ‘beast’ aspect of the story. It shows how strong Leena is and how dangerous she could be but also how Noc yearns to love when he’s put in situations that gives him feelings he doesn’t want to acknowledge like whenever Leena put herself in danger… which seemed to be a majority of the time she went to tame a beast. The world the author created, though, was really captivating and I loved how she described the beasts and the different situations. This author definitely has a way of writing that enthralled me from the start.

Add to that, I really liked the way this story started with Leena standing up against her ‘enemy’ which is Noc right now. I loved the progression between it just being a job to being something more between Leena and Noc. I liked the relationships that Leena developed with Noc’s men and I liked how she became part of their family and were willing to do anything to save her. Which leads me to the part I didn’t understand.

Wynn took Leena back home, where she was never allowed to return to and no one said a word about her showing back up. Now, it was mentioned that she was ‘invisible’ and being hidden and all that but when Noc came for her and she was forced right out into the spotlight, her presence was still not acknowledged until she was in the thick of things. WHY was that? And why would the Council not take action against Wynn for bringing her back? Why would they allow her on the battlefield when they exiled her and why would they have trusted her to be on their side? Also, why wouldn’t the council hand her over to Noc when he specifically stated he came there for her and would leave without a fight if they handed her over? Considering she wasn’t part of their ‘home’ anymore, it didn’t really make sense to me why they would fight for someone who they exiled and didn’t care for anymore.

Overall, though, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It drew me in right from the start and the characters really resonated with me. I loved the fact that Leena tamed beasts and enjoyed seeing the different creatures that were in this word. I also loved where the story is heading and the journey Noc and Leena went on to get where they ended. I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series and hopefully finding out a bit more of Noc because he’s still a bit of an enigma. Definitely give this one a go if you’re looking for a new fantasy you can sink your teeth into.

"But even as my resolve rang true, the laugh in my ears sharpened, and magic branded my wrist like a shackle. Time, it seemed, was running out."
-Maxym M. Martineau, Kingdom of Exiles (The Beast Charmer, #1)

3🌟/5

I received this e-book from Netgalley.

The main characters of the story are Leena, a Charmer who sells beasts to gain bits (currency) after she was exiled from her own home, and Noc, an assassin who is bound from an oath to kill her.
In exchange for her freedom she makes a contract with them. The payment? Four beasts.

Now, the book was entertaining, however, it reminded me of Pokemon (a mature kind of Pokemon?). The bestiary was similar to a Pokedex, where Leena had information of her beasts, or at least the ones that she knew about. As Leena was travelling and catching (?) the beasts, "Gotta catch'em all!" was what I kept thinking in my mind. I really couldn't stop!

It was a fast-paced read and I would probably read another book from this author.

4.5 STARS

Kingdom of Exiles is the first in the Beast Charmer series and I'm so happy I took a chance to read this debut. As per usual, the first in a new fantasy series is a little on the slower side, at least the first half - building a vast, detailed world like this one takes a lot of descriptive writing and doesn't help the story move forward. But make no mistake - this world is absolutely stunning, creative and imaginative. I love every single colorful aspect of it and I didn't mind one bit to read about its complexity.

Charmers are coveted and admired in this realm. They tame beasts that come with a multitude of different abilities, from healing over granting wishes to offensive and defensive magic. Leena is a charmer but she has been exiled from the charmers' world due to transgressions of a former lover which she has been accused of. Our hero, Noc, is the leader of the Assassin's Guild, tasked with the assassination of Leena. Their first meeting is more than awkward and problematic as you can imagine. Leena offers a counter deal: a beast for Noc and his closest friends in exchange for the guild to drop the order. Together they journey to places far away and form an unusual friendship. Unbeknownst to her is there no way out of the killing contract, so while Leena dutifully delivers the beasts, Noc struggles with the knowledge what he will have to do in the near future.

"She treated each creature with the devoted love and attention of a mother. E-Class to B-Class, they were the same to her. She stroked chins, ruffled feathers, cooed words of pure happiness, and placed gentle kisses with her flushed lips. Why anyone wanted to kill this woman was beyond me."

Noc is a troubled man, cursed by a priestess to bestow illness on everyone he shows love. My heart ached for him, he was lonely in a way no one should be. His craving for a deep connection was desperate and sad. He kept pushing away the people he cared most about, so I was really glad to get his point of view, otherwise I would have gotten whiplash from his changing emotions. Emotions that ran incredibly deep. This man's love for the people he considered family was endless.

"She was the ache in my heart. The breath in my lungs. This was Leena. This was my life."

Leena was lonely in her own way. She lost everything after being exiled and had to make a living selling her beasts, a punishable offense, often by death. Her longing for a real family and friends was just as desperate but trust didn't come easy. I loved Leena's inert sweetness, her capacity for love, her tenacity and will to survive. She was a kickass heroine.

"When it came to us, there were just too many thorns. But damn if I didn’t want to cut them all down and see what grew."

I loved Noc and Leena's connection, especially after every obstacle in the way of their relationship was removed it turned into a selfless, tender love that touched me deeply. Leena's passion and love for her beasts was another of my favorite things in this new series. Noc's friends, Calem, Ozias and Kost complete the couple with their loyalty and very well fleshed-out characters.

Kingdom of Exiles is a treat for every fantasy lover who enjoys a complex magical world with a heavy dose of romance and a surprising amount of steam. I loved the creativity, the beasts, who all had their own personality, and the characters that brought this world to life. The writing is the kind I adore - almost poetic in parts. This story picks up in intensity and action in the second half and ends on a cliffy. I'm looking forward to continuing my adventures in this realm with this group of people.

"Never again would I lose her. Never again would she endure the horrors still lingering in her teary gaze. Never. She was mine to protect and love. And I would follow her anywhere."

Finally a fantasy that does not have a teenaged princess or a dragon or a unicorn or fairies or all the other things we've gotten used to. This is also definitely an adult romance with a touch of spice.
We have a world where the old gods were real, but have for the most part left. Behind them are people and creatures with and without magic. Most of the people are normal humans and here they are mostly background. We are not too concerned with them in this book. I suspect they will figure more in later stories in this series. Here we only care about two groups of more magical folk: Charmers and Assassins.
Charmers are concerned with the magical creatures, called beasts, left behind. Beasts are dangerous to people if they are allowed to roam the countryside wild. Charmers tame these beasts and move them to a place where they are safe and away from regular people.
Assassins are a different sort of magic. They were created by the death god just before the gods left. They are alive and control shadows, but they are more than just that.
I said this is also an adult romance. Leena, the Charmer, and Noc, the Assassin, are a star-crossed, or maybe more correctly, a god-crossed couple. She is in exile and he has a curse. These are things that must be overcome before they can truly be a couple. The heart of this story is how they solve their immediate problems and get started on their happy ever after.
I liked this fantasy very much. The characters are wrapped up in their lives. The magic is logical within the constraints of the story. Enough was left to make a second or more volume desirable without leaving important parts of this story unfinished. I am waiting for the second book.
The copy of this book I read for this review came from BookishFirst. I also had a copy on NetGalley and I received one from Fresh Fiction.

Every few years a shining star comes along in the writing world. If I’m fortunate, I am able to read that author’s newest work. Such is the case for Maxym Martineau with Kingdom of Exiles. The best book I have read in 2019!

It is always a bit disquieting to look at the clock and realized that I had completely been transported to another place, another time with other creatures without even being aware of the passing hour because the story so utterly absorbed me. It doesn’t happen often but it did while reading Kingdom of Exiles; a whole afternoon spent with the Charmer and the Assassins. Then while I had appointments to attend to, all I could think about was getting back to them and their plight.

The world building was intricate and original. The writing so vivid that I could almost feel the minuscule barbs that punctured Kost's skin or feel the fiery heat from the Mother Laharocks. I also liked Leena from the beginning but felt the outcome of her fate seems sealed. From that time on I was raking my brain for how it could be different. I willed Noc to find the way out of this dilemma that worked best for all. Needless to say I whole heartily agreed with how their journey to home ended. There is much to still be answered so bring the next book on soon, very soon.

The publisher/author gave me a complimentary ARC of the book which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is my first read by this author and I really liked it. Leena is a charmer and this story sort of reminds me of Pokemon, in that she can basically summon her magical beasts to her aide in time of need. She is on the run due to an unfortunate incident and has had to sell some of her beasts which is punishable by death. We then meet Noc, leader of the Cruor, an assassin tasked to kill Leena. if he does not, he dies. The premise and word building are exciting and I found myself living in their world. Filled with action, witty banter, secrets and some surprises made for an enjoyable read. 4 solid stars****

****I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book provided by NetGalley*****