Evan leikam is truly an amazing author. They have to be to have me invested and finish a book where I absolutely hate the main character. Anji is stupid, annoying and I felt sympathy for anyone that had to endure her presence. But the Hawk and the writing kept me with this book to the end

This was a unique fantasy pick, and a really excellent debut. The book was fast paced, quirky, brutal, dark, with horror elements (the spider tornado, iykyk).

The world building was done in a really thoughtful way - the author gave us only the relevant details and didn’t “dump” the whole world on to the reader, which made the setting feel more natural. The characters and the political intrigue were excellent.

At the same time, the book could have been longer, especially to let some of the action breathe, but I'm expecting that this is a great setup for the rest of the series! The author really packed a lot into just over 300 pages. This feels like a book that I will revisit to really absorb all the details.

Moira Quirk is always a top-tier narrator, and I really enjoyed her performance in this one. Highly recommend for fantasy, sci-fi and horror readers, or more specifically, grimdark fans!

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an advance copy of the audiobook. It’s out now - opinions are my own!

*4.5 stars*

Anji is not having a good time. This was nonstop action and suspense with a sassy main character who’s just trying to survive.

I loved Anji and Hawks banter. The world was full of danger and monsters. I would have liked a little more world building, the pacing left little room for anything but action. I will definitely be picking up the sequel.

The audio was fantastic, though I might be a little biased because Moira Quirk is my favorite narrator. She always delivers and this is no exception.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ALC of this work. All opinions in this review are my own.

Book review: 4/5 ⭐️
Genre: fantasy series, book 1
Themes: revolution, assassin, bounty hunters

Anji is an orphan relegated to being a castle servant, working for a man she despises. When opportunity strikes, she decides to take matters into her own hands and kills this most loathsome man. As she runs for her life, the largest bounty on record makes her a prime target for everyone. What’s more, she is unknowingly pursued by the deadly band of mercenaries called the Menagerie. Their animal masks are imbued with magic that gives them strength beyond measure making them a deadly foe.

When Hawk seizes Anji she will begin to understand the true cost of living for a cause. An aged swordswomen with fowl manners and a disgruntled attitude she is not pleasant company, but her Menagerie companions are even worse. As Anji is tossed from one to another she will be tortured and beaten, dragged and drugged into obedience.

This is not a feel good story, but one of retribution and the cost of rash decisions. It is horrible, but gives a new perspective on the inherent brainwashing of soldiers and on how toppling a corrupt institution takes more than knocking over one figure, even the one at the top. Anji and Hawk’s relationship is full of teeth. It has hatred, but also unexpected tenderness. This unlikely duo will forge a bond that is not quite friendship, but one that will tie them together nonetheless. The twist at the end was great and left me wanting more for the next instalment. This is a refreshing adult fantasy that was hard to put down. The POVs were interesting with several flawed and damaged characters. There was also a nice edge of humour glazed over the gore to make it all more palatable. Overall, it was entertaining and easy to read.

🎧 Thank you to @Macmillan.Audio for a copy of this audiobook. The narrator was perfectly able to give variation and life to the naive girl and the curmudgeon solider. Even the religious fantastic and the other deadly Menagerie member were given their own twist. It had an old world air with the story easily coming to life.

Characters: 4⭐️
Setting: 4⭐️
Plot: 4⭐️
Themes: 3⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 4⭐️
Emotional Impact: 4⭐️
Overall rating: 4/5⭐️

In this grimdark fantasy Anji assassinates the king and is on the run from ruthless mercenaries when she is found. The hawk, a member of the menagerie, captures her. Instead of turning Anji in, the Hawk has other plans.
Action packed with epic battle scenes and witty dialogue. I especially enjoyed the audiobook. Moira Quirk does a fantastic job bringing the characters to life and adding to the humorous dialogue.

I loved this story and the characters! Great balance of action, humor, and character development. I will definitely be recommending this book to people who enjoyed books like the Poppy War series.

This book immediately thrown you into the action. The stakes are high, the banter is there, and the action is at sonic speed. I liked so much of this book, and I LOVED Moira Quirk's narration.

My biggest issue with this is, since the action and stakes started on page one, there was 0 time for character building and I just didn't have any emotional attachment to any of the characters. I'm interested incontinuing this series, however, because Anji stays being a mess.

This was definitely different than the average fantasy book I have read, and I really appreciated that. Typically, the whole plot of the book would be working up to Anji killing a king however this book is about everything after the title happens. There were some surprising plot points to keep things fresh but if you like fantasy in general it had a lot of usually fun stuff too. Also loved no random plot points to add length the story, not every fantasy book needs 800 pages to be well written and enjoyable. Can't wait to see what happens next.

Furthermore, the audio narrator did an amazing job. Moira Quirk does a wonder with all the characters. I also didn't realize how many books she has done that I have enjoyed.

"If you’re willing to kill for a cause, you should be ready to die for one too."
▪️Evan Leikam, Anji Kills a King, 4⭐
Narrator: Moira Quirk
Pub day: May 13, 2025

Anji kills the king who she blamed for the poverty and corruption of her society as well as the death of her parents. She's arrested by The Hawk, then darkness, drama, shenanigans, and horror ensues.

Leikam's world is so interesting! The story has a running start and the setting unfolds without apology or info dumping. Here are some highlights:

🦅 Grimdark fantasy
🦅 Lots of villains!
🦅 Political intrigue
🦅 Monsters, mutants, magical powers
🦅 Quest
🦅 First of a series
🦅 V exciting cliffhanger!

But also some warnings:
⚠️ It's grimdark, so obvs v violent
⚠️ Lots and lots of cussing
⚠️ Drugs and drug addiction

Audio-arc fr0m NetGalley and MacMillan Audio.

ANJI KILLS A KING is a mix of fun, dark, and edgy adventure!

All the characters felt real enough to walk off the pages.

I could visualize the setting and feel the intensity sizzling in the atmosphere.

A surprisingly powerful look at addiction is expertly woven into the story.

Moira Quirk provided a completely immersive listening experience.

*Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook download!*

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for Anji Kills A King by Evan Leikam

While working as a servant in the castle, Anji manages to kill the tyrant king. Now she is on the run and has caught the attention of the feared mercenaries, the Menagerie. She is captured by the Hawk who intends to collect the bounty without her companion mercenaries. Anji, kicking and screaming, is dragged to her fate and the journey is perilous.

First in a fantasy series and a debut novel for Evan Leikam, Anji Kills A King is 1000% a yes you need to read this book! AKAK managed to get me out of my fantasy slump, it was so refreshing. I love fantasy books where they travel and encounter monsters and battles along the way. I felt the fantasy world and magical elements were easy to understand. Instead of info dumping, the world was built over time and easy to digest. It was brutal and action packed, but also heartfelt and soft at times. It’s got a clear direction and I’m so excited to watch what happens to the kingdom next. The narrator was amazing! Moira Quirk’s character voices were distinct and I was hanging on her every word as she brought this story to life.

Anji Kills A King releases tomorrow May 13, 2025 and I can’t wait to see it in everyone’s hands!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this arc.

Ultimately, the story overall felt like something I’ve read before. It started off really interesting and good, but by the middle it kind of fell flat. Then at the end it got somewhat interesting but at that point, I was like ok sure.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review!

Anji is a servant in the castle. She finds herself in the right place at the right time; in the king’s room when he’s alone. She seizes the chance at killing the king. Now Anji is on the run but not for very long. The Menagerie is sent after her. With a hefty bounty and magic on their side, it’s not long before Anji is found by the Hawk. Anji was told the stories of the Menagerie when she was young and found it odd that it was only one of the mercenaries attempting to turn her in. The Hawk has other motives for keeping Anji away from the others and alive. As they trek across the land, moving back to the kingdom, Anji and the Hawk begin to learn more and more about each other and how their lives have crossed paths.

WHAT A CRAZY STORY!! This book moves at a BREAK NECK speed. I could not stop picking it up. It’s been a long time I was this invested in a story to the point where I just keep coming back to it. Leikam does an amazing job with world building and characters. Everything feels thought out on each detail. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I will read it again in the future for sure. I love how much the magic system isn’t the center of the story and stays consistent throughout. Some characters have magic, most don’t, and at no point does it feel like the plot says, “it’s like this cuz magic!” Like a lot of stories we see today. This feels like the hobbit with a hostage! The story is the fantasy and it feels like a work of Tolkien.

The ending of this story is CHEF’S KISS!! I won’t put any spoilers but I thought it was going to go one way and it went another but I was close! The narrator of this story is brilliant as well. I couldn’t put my finger on where I knew Moira Quirk from until I looked up her other work and she is the narrator of THE LOCKED TOMB SERIES!! Her pacing is amazing and her inflection and tone bring so much of the story to life. If you want to listen to a top tier narrator, pick this up via audiobook!!

Overall this book is a 5/5 star book. I can’t wait to read it again and pick up on things I might’ve missed the first time around. Congrats to Evan Leikam on such a SOLID debut!!

There were certainly things I really enjoyed about this book. I loved the mystery at the start of the bounty hunter group and then why Hawk had gone out on her own, as well as the dynamic between Anji and Hawk. But overall, outside of these interactions, I didn’t really like Anji. For someone who plotted to murder a king and successfully pulled off the assassination, she very much was too impulsive to be someone that could have succeeded in this. Especially since the only reason she was caught was because of something Hawk knew about her already.

“You want people under your control? Divide them. Fill them with fear. Then point that fear at something to hate and they'll do whatever you say."

The audiobook was great, however, and definitely kept me engaged.

3.5 stars

Thank you to @torbooks for the eARC and @macmillan.audio for the ALC. All thoughts are my own.

I pretty much went into this story completely blind, not knowing what to expect. I knew it was a fantasy story and that was it. I'm so happy I did because I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It explores the question: What happens when you cut off the head of the government? Does killing the figure head, or king, really make a difference? What impact does that have and how does it impact not only the world, but you? It discusses the struggles of being human. We see multiple characters introduced and each time a little more of the story is revealed.

Personally, I would love to see more in this world and would love to see Angi, the MC, grow up a little more. We did get character development in this book with Angi, but it's obvious she is still naive and has some work to do if she intends to make it with her decisions.

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC! I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the narrator, she did a fantastic job with the cast of characters!
4.5/5

Anji Kills a King is a grand debut! The worldbuilding was stellar. It felt very lived-in and unique, especially in the sociopolitical aspects and the consequences were real and earned. This is a world I would like to revisit as the series continues.

What a great debut novel! Definitely a strong 4-star read for me. The premise pulled me in right away, and I loved how fast-paced and intense it was from the start. The Menagerie and their relics were such a cool concept, and Anji was a really compelling character to follow. There were a few rough edges here and there, but overall, it was a super solid start to what feels like a fresh, exciting new fantasy series.

Evan truly served with this debut, it was everything I thought it would be! The world building and social commentary was chef’s kiss and I cannot wait for the next book after that ending. A quote that has stayed with me since reading it was “You want people under your control? Divide them. Fill them with fear. Then point that fear at something to hate and they’ll do whatever you say.” I absolutely loved that.

One question to Evan…WHY?!? That spider scene haunts me and I will never look at spiders or tornadoes the same way. You did that!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for this eARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review!

This was one of my most anticipated releases on 2025 especially because I have been followed the author on social media for years now. Then I saw this cover and was even more excited about it.

This book was a wild ride from page 1 and had several twists that I was not expecting! The main hook for me was the character development of Anji and Hawk. I am always a fan of morally grey characters and wow, were both Anji and Hawk so flawed.

Best part of this fantasy book, all the feels the author was able to make me feel. One second, I'm mad and frustrated, next, I'm devastated. Overall, loved it and I can't wait for the next book.

2.5
Things I liked:
-By the end of the book, the 2 central characters felt fleshed out and their dynamic felt like it had grown naturally.
-Some of the worldbuilding elements, like the wild creatures, the magic, and the dredgers, were interesting.
-One of the reveals at the end added some interesting extra layers to the dynamic between the characters.
-The narration of the audiobook was very good. The narrator did a good job with emotion of the characters.

Things I didn't like:
-I found both of the main characters to be pretty annoying. They are designed to be unlikeable so this wasn't out of character for them, I just didn't enjoy it. I don't usually have trouble connecting with an unlikeable protagonist but I just found them both frustrating, especially the Hawk. I really didn't understand why she acted the way she did for so long.
-There was a lot of repetitive language in this book. The amount of times a character was told to stop talking or a character made a (usually empty) threat was so high. I counted 6 instances of the Hawk saying "shut up", or something similar" in one short chapter.
-A lot of the reveals were pretty unsurprising. They were a small part of the book so this didn't bother me too much, I'm just usually a person who doesn't see things coming.
-I went into this book thinking it was a standalone and I was surprised to hear it was a series. There just doesn't seem like there's enough in this first book to warrant that much story. The first book seemed too long as it was and it wasn't that long to begin with.