Four and a half for this amazing beginning of what I think might be a trilogy. Leena is a Charmer and can tame magical wild Beasts but she was cruelly betrayed by someone she trusted and is now banished from her homeland. She makes her living however she can but someone has a plan that involves Leena and it means she's in grave danger.
Noc leads a band of assassin's and the newest assignment goes horribly wrong when their target Leena gets the jump on her supposed killer ! She's brazen and brave but Noc has secrets of his own and if he can get the Charmer to cooperate and gift him with Beasts of his own he can offer her safety from his Guild but Leena really should pay attention to his terms !
I really enjoyed this as it had magic, strong characters and of course the varied and amazing Beasts. The world building felt very organic and not pushed on the reader with chunks of useless information. The Beasts are very interesting and I'd love to know more. As for the romance it's a slow build which made it much more satisfying. All this meant the plot and what happens leaves me believing you should read this book yourself. I very much look forward to more in this series and happily recommend it.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Kingdom of Exiles, first in the Beast Charmer series, was a very good story!! It had fantasy, adventure and romance. It was beautifully written and was very hard to put down. The author did a great job to kick off this series in which we meet an array of characters. Characters that are not perfect and have extraordinary powers. Leena is a beast charmer who had been exiled and a bounty is placed on her. Noc is the leader of Cruor, who are responsible for fulfilling these bounties. It is his job to take care of her bounty, but in exchange for her freedom she offers him four beasts. He agrees and along the way in searching for these beasts they get to know each other and learn that some secrets are worth sharing.
I really liked the beasts and how they play an important role in their lives. The whole concept of the story was very new and refreshing for me. I really enjoyed reading it and I highly recommend it!! The only bad part of it is that we'll have to wait for the second part to come out for a while.

I love love loooove strong independent female leads. They always make me dig deeper into a book and clap with excitement. I have a daughter and I am always looking for books/characters to one day read to her to explain how important it is to be a strong female.
I loved the twists and turns in this book, it kept me on the edge of my seat while holding my breath . It has that dark slow burning romance that feels like eating melted chocolate and strawberries. Rich and perfect.

This is definitely a book to check out.

Never having read anything by this author before I was immediately drawn in by the story. There was excitement, suspense, intrigue and romance with hot steamy sex. It kept my attention and I couldn't put it down. Can't wait for the next one.

Kingdom of Exiles takes you on a journey through a world of assassins, magical beasts, curses, and romance.

What I most enjoyed about this book is that it’s both romance and fantasy, and both are done equally well. I get a bit tired of contemporary and historical romances, but toss in some magical beasts, a curse, and a quest, and I’m one happy reader. I loved the dynamic of the budding romance, and the tension builds on multiple levels. None of that mess where the love interests hate each other, but true internal conflict, desire, and sacrifice. Solid.

That being said, while the beast magic is fleshed out, the world building isn’t quite there. I picked up that the Charmers live separately, but didn’t understand where until the very end. I understood that there was a kingdom, but there were only hints and inklings of it and its history, as if it were a faraway place rather than the country where everyone in the story lives. The story tends to focus more on the character interactions, the building tension, and the development of backstory, but at the expense of the larger world.

As for the steam rating, it’s up there, especially later on in the book. Detailed, steamy, and a bit coarse. Nothing is left to the imagination, so yeah. If you’re in it for the fantasy alone, you might be in for a surprise. I read through the first scene, but the others, well, I just kind of skimmed through. The good thing, in my opinion, is that the racy content doesn’t take over the book. It’s a part of it, but not the main event.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to fans of romance who dig fantasy as well. Definitely targets adult readers who either prefer or don’t mind erotic content.

I received the review copy of this book from NetGalley.

I thoroughly enjoyed exploring this new fantasy world with different types of creatures and factions of people like exiled Charmer Leena and Guild Master of the Assassins and Leader of Cruor, Noc. Leena has a bounty on her head and the assassins of Cruor have been hired to kill her. However, Noc is intrigued by her and what she can do so he makes a deal with her. He still intends to kill her but as he finds out more about her he realizes that he is developing feelings for her. Lots of action, romance, and imaginative fantasy elements, make this a great read! This is book one in a trilogy.

Fantastic beasts meets Assassins Creed is an excellent description for Kingdom of Exiles.

Leena is a Charmer who can charm beasts and bond with them. They can protect her. She is exiled from her people for reasons you learn as the story progresses, and she’s forced to sell her beloved beasts on the black market. This is the number one law for her people to never break, and she thwarts an assassin hired to kill her. Leena takes him hostage to find out who was trying to kill her, and she makes a truce with Noc, leader of the assassins. He won’t kill her, and she will gift him and his assassins beasts.

This was a wonderful start to a fantasy series. I loved the beasts, they were my favorite part of the story. They were each so unique, and I loved how many there were. I need some fan art of them. The world building was also remarkable, and woven nicely throughout the plot. No info dumps here.

Leena is a strong heroine. She’s in a hard place, doing what she can to survive. But she’s kind to animals, and she’s a softy beneath her tough exterior. Noc is mysterious. He has hints of a tragic past, and I hope that book two will explore his story.

I kept thinking about Amanda Bouchet’s Promise of Fire while reading this book. Both have strong heroines, alpha male heroes, well developed supporting characters, and unique world building. I think fans of fantasy romance will enjoy Kingdom of Exiles, and I’ll be eagerly awaiting the second book in the series.

I received this ARC in exchange for a honest review.

I am amazed at the detail and plot lines in this book. The story isn't finished, but it could be and this I did feel there was a HE A at the end. It's not up in Amazon or I would have reviewed it. Give stars. I want the author to make a coloring book of all the beasts!!

A deliciously delightful tale. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series to see what happens next. I enjoyed the adventure both Leena and Noc were on. It was fascinating to read the book with alternating points of views and see the events play out without loosing the reader. The descriptions were great as they pulled you deeper into the story and made your mind leap with its creative flair. The characters didn't fall into the stereotypical good guy bad guy but some of them lacked a bit more depth that I hopes gets more developed in the next book. Overall, I enjoyed this book and am anxious to read the next one. Give it a try. You won't be disappointed.

This book was received as an ARC from SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was jawdroppingly brilliant. I could not stop reading it. Leena and Noc were very intriguing characters that met under the most darkest of circumstances. I love books with twists that are mostly made of of events that no one saw coming. Every chapter and event in the plot were so entertainingly addicting that this was the book that you can't stop reading. I also love Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them so if you are a fan of that book you will definitely enjoy Kingdom of Exiles.

We will consider this title in our YFantasy collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

*4.5 Stars*
Fantastic Beasts meets Assassin’s Creed? Oh yeah. The author had me at Assassin’s Creed, and when I saw it was a fantasy romance, I nearly swooned and made some serious grabby hands. I was so excited to read this book, and the only reason I delayed was the fact I was dead-center in Leigh Bardugo’s King of Scars, and there was no putting that one down. But then, THEN I was onto Kingdom of Exiles, and let me tell you, it was worth the wait.

The world building is awesome, fresh and fun. Leena is a kickass heroine with a sweet side who has the very useful skill of charming monsters that roam the land. She keeps them in a bestiary, and I’m not going to lie—the monsters and how they fought reminded me a lot of Pokemon. And now I want a Poof of my own.

Leena winds up on a hit list, which leads her to a meet and greet with Noc, the sexy, aloof, powerful leader of the realm’s deadliest assassins. Noc has his own issues to deal with, but when Leena manages to strike a bargain with him, the fun and their rocky journey really begin. I loved the assassins together, the bantering, their quirks and personalities, but it is the one quibble I had and is probably just my personal preference sliding in. Because the assassins were so friendly and personable, they didn’t seem like assassins. I just couldn’t reconcile that these normal, caring (albeit deadly) people could accept kill contracts from anonymous people (who could be good or evil) without questioning who they were killing or why. And that’s why I dropped the stars to 4.5. But with that aside, I loved the history behind how they acquired their assassin abilities, another great piece of world building.

If you’re looking for a fantasy romance with action and danger, a unique, intricate world, a band of assassins and a fierce protagonist with all sorts of monsters, not to mention some steamy and touching romance, I highly recommend Kingdom of Exiles.

I received this ARC for an honest review. Maxym Martineau is a new to me author. I admit I was a little nervous because I have read some not for me books, but Maxym Martineau was a nice surprise. I really enjoyed this book. The author’s character and world building was well done. I was able to see the author’s world and characters. This story is about Leena and Noc. Leena is a charmer. Who is a person that creates a bond with different creatures and the creatures choose them and serve them. Noc is an assassin who leads the Cruor. The Cruor is an assassin for hire. They can control shadows and turn them into weapons. Noc was hired to kill Leena. He sent his second in command, Kost, to do the job. Leena was able to bind Kost before he got to do the job. She wanted to barter with the Cruor for her life. When she arrived, things did not go as planned.
I stayed up late just to find out what happens next. I recommend this book, and I will definitely read the next book.

When I read that this book is like the Fantastic Beasts meets Assassin's Creed, I knew I just had to read it. Then I started the book and was like I’m not sure what this is what I wanted. I pushed on as I don’t give up. It was a good thing I did as I started to enjoy it. The more I read the more I liked it. When it ended I wanted more.

This book has a beast charmer named Leena Ednfrell. She is an exile from her lands and does what she needs to survive. However, what she does is sell beasts on the black market and if she is caught, she could be killed. She knows her life is in danger and is always looking over her shoulder. What she didn’t expect is a bounty to be placed on her head.

Now meet Noc the leader of the brotherhood of assassins. He is not happy when the assassin sent to kill Leena returns with her. Now she wants to negotiate with him. He listens to what she has to say and thinks he can turn it to benefit him and his group.

Next comes the time together and the feels start. Both Leena and Noc are keeping secrets and both think they will make it out of this unharmed. Neither one sees what the future holds.

* ARC provided through NetGalley and publisher for an honest review.

This novel is a wonderful escape into a world where anything is possible. The characters are well-developed and the story line is full of unexpected surprises. Great read for anyone who enjoys wondering if there really is a hidden world of magic out there!

I had a feeling the book wouldn't live up to the description. I was wrong! It surpassed it and more. I've never read a book in this genre, but it was so captivating and such a page turner that I will certainly look for more of it's kind!
I like how Maxym built the characters and the story along in an engaging and enthralling way. Kept me reading for sure. Can't wait to read more from this author!
All opinions are my own!
Thank you NetGalley, Maxym Martineau, and SOURCEbooks Casablanca for allowing me the privilege of this ARC.

When I read in a description that a book is a cross between two things (Assassin's Creed and Fantastic Beasts in this book's case) I expect it to be derivative. That's absolutely not the case here and that description does it a disservice.

This book was fun and unique, and it didn't want to put it down. The author creates a fantasy world full of beasts and magic, but she doesn't feel the need to spend time laying out that world for you. Instead, you discover it as you're reading the book. I really appreciate this. It's so much better to discover things naturally through the story. The characters are great and well-developed. I was rooting for all of them. I can't wait for more from this story in particular and from the author in general.


I received an ARC from Netgalley and this is my honest review.

Wow! I was really surprised by how much I liked this book! Leena is a Charmer, meaning she can charm magical beasts, adding them to her personal bestiary. The descriptions of the beasts are amazing and make you really believe in them. Unfortunately, Leena is exiled from her home for something that she insists she didn't do, and is forced to sell some of her magical beasts to get enough money to live on and to buy a particular beast to help clear her name, and that is punishable by death. She is handling everything as well as she can, but then she finds out that she is being stalked by an assassin for hire, which really doesn't help her situation at all! She is forced to make a deal with the assassins in exchange for her life, and this sets in motion a journey and a quest that will forever change her life.

I'm going to say first that I loved all of the main characters, and felt they were very well fleshed out. They were complex and very real. The world building was amazing and the action intense. Then we come to the romance, which was slow to build (I really hate insta-love) and very, very hot. I found myself really pulling for everything to work out for these two!

In summary, I loved this book so much and am looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy!! I definitely recommend it for fans of fantasy and romance.

I was surprised by how much I loved this book! The world building really took me in, The charmers' animals were so magical; the author's descriptions of the animals were so well formed that I could envision them,
The assassins were a surprise since I expected stone cold killers but found people who were anything but cold, unless they were in assassin mode.

And then there are the main characters, Leena the Charmer and Noc the assassin. Leena had so much goodness in one person, so much love for her animals and so much sorrow for the loss of her homeland. Noc, the head of the assassin guild, was such a troubled soul, burdened with responsibilities; I kept wondering how he was going come through everything.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this story! It was an exciting new tale for the fantasy genre. I would love to see certain characters fleshed out a bit more and other parts given more detail, but I enjoyed the writing and the idea of Charmers and beasts so much!! Looking forward to more.

What a great book. Really enjoyed the world building and the character development of the heroine. I did not like the mystery surrounding the hero, though I’m pretty sure this will be revealed in the next book. I loved the supporting characters and hope they will also get their own books. I also thought it was very cute how much they loved and cared for their beasts. This book really caught my attention. I’m a big paranormal genre fan and love when there’s a book that’s different from the vampire/werewolf story, but just as engrossing. Highly recommend.