Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym M. Martineau

Code Status:

Star rating DOA—EMS: Stable: 4

Allergies/Sensitivities:

Content that some readers may find triggering or objectionable, not exhaustive

Betrayal, curses, mind control, on-page sex m/f, binary gender language

History:

Is this part of a series, a spin off, a debut, or a stand alone?

This is a debut fantasy romance and I fully expect there to be another several books

Temperature:

Heat level- 1 to 5 thermometers noting the amount of explicit content

I'd call this a 2.5, there is a little bit of sex in this slow burn but it isn't explicit and there isn't much of it.

Pain Level:

How much angst, drama, or emotional pain is contained, 1-10?

6 Both characters have had a tough time and I really felt for them. Their personal history/challenges were a huge factor in the conflict in the story and I found both very sympathetic.

Heart Rate:

How much Action, Horror, Thriller, Mystery, and Excitement etc 0-5

3 There were battles and an despicable villain

Breathing:

How long is the novel and how was the pacing? 1-3

I thought the resolution moved quickly but the pacing felt natural to the story line

Blood Pressure:

Did something get my blood pressure up? Something infuriating or upsetting?

I found it frustrating that a fair amount of the conflict could've been prevented or resolved with a short conversation. I understand that this is often the case and that conversation doesn't happen in order to have there be conflict for the story. Still, I found it particularly interesting in this case because it resulted in more issues than typical and there were other villains present to focus the conflict on.

Diversity:

How much and what kind of diversity is found among the characters? Any glaring issues noticed by the reviewer?

I didn't notice much in terms of physical diversity. It is also pretty gender binary. I was pleased that the hero appears to be bi/pan considering that he recalls two people he previously loved in a romantic sense and one is apparently female and the other male. There is also plenty of respect for platonic love, which should make this friendlier to some aro readers than the average romantic book. Two side characters are also gay and there are indications they will have a side romance or perhaps even their own book.

Examination:

Overall review; may contain minor spoilers

This was a dual POV fantasy romance switching back and forth between the hero and heroine.

Undead assassins who can manipulate shadows and make up a found family. A race of people who can connect to magical animals and form a bond with service and communication between these animals and themselves. Curses, betrayal, redemption, and magic make up a fantasy with romance. The hero is bound to complete the assassination but he is less and less willing as he gets to know our heroine. Our heroine has been unjustly exiled and is forced to sell beasts against Charmer law and custom. Now she has to bargain for her life with assassins that never fail. Oh and try to capture an incredibly rare beast to prove her innocence and return home.

I really enjoyed this story. It has intricate world building and the exposition generally fit well into the story and the characters' internal monologues. My main issue was the way the author tried to build mystery by not sharing the details of the curse the hero labored under. The heroine frequently thought about her exile even if she forced her mind away from the details. The hero not thinking about details of the curse to maintain mystery even as he dwells on said curse, the people it's killed, and how it killed them without actually revealing the curse, even in his eternal monologue, just felt like a false attempt to build tension and mystery. The unrequited would-be lover was very unlikable until quite close to the end. I also didn't understand how the heroine retained her interest in the hero despite the way he blows hot and cold without explanation. The next book is well set up with an oath committing the hero to assassinating the heroine, also his implied hidden identity as a member of a royal family (though he's been killed once so I'm not sure how it will impact the story), plus the concerning detail about who wanted said heroine dead from among her people.

This really is a fabulous debut novel that melds epic fantasy and a romantic plot and I read it in one very enjoyable sitting and now I have to wait for book two!

#SlowBurn #mf #onpagesex #Binarylanguage #MFbutinclusive #ParanormalRomance #violence #assasin