Reviews with content warning for Violence - The Kingmaker

"I'm too preoccupied with a second chance I never thought I'd get. Can it be called a second chance when there was never a chance before?" Maxim Cade

This references the line in the sand Maxim's character makes when he meets Lennix. He's stunned at the incongruity of the strength and power of her words and her maturity but her being only 17 and leading a group that includes her elementary school teacher. Again, as a writer Kennedy Ryan chose this line in the sand and I'm giving her an enthusiastic tennis clap.

This book has some things readers needs to be aware of:

-Death of Parent
-Colonialism
-Obsession/Stalking
-Rape/Murder (not described)
-Kidnapping/Violence

I am very glad I found out this book is part of a series. I thought it wasn't when I finished it leaving me quite stunned. I need more Kennedy Ryan books in my life. Her writing is exquisite.

Thank you to NetGalley and SourceBooks Bloom Books for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

Content Warnings

escapismforlife's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This is my first Kennedy Ryan book. And I finshed this in a day.

Partly because:
1. The native, relational, and family dynamic issues in this book are exceptional.

2. I adored and related to both leads guarded behavior in this intentional, meaningful story. And now understand the appeal of second chance romance.

3. It also had to due with the fact I got accepted for earc of The Rebel King in this duology from SOURCEBOOKS Bloom on Netgalley.

I'm so happy I did because I'm going right on with this series this weekend. With its ending but also through setup for the plot in Lennix's and Maxim's relationship it's hard not to.

Content Warnings

deidrelj's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Literal cliffhanger…I had other books scheduled to read after this one but they’ll just have to wait because I have to read the next in this series!

Content Warnings

bookwormbullet's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

churrosmom's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Content Warnings

unsuccessfulbookclub's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book is bonkers - just absolutely bananas - and it ends on a huge cliffhanger that had my heart pounding at 1030pm, and not in a good way. I was *not ready* for Kennedy Ryan, y’all.

There’s a pipeline protest! There’s an Antarctic expedition! There are missing and murdered Indigenous women! There is a trip to Amsterdam (complete with tulips)! There’s a PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN?!? A trip to Central America to distribute vaccines! A billionaire boyfriend who can provide private jet dates! There are lies of omission! There is sex! There is swoon!

I loved Lennix, the heroine. She is brilliant and brave and so resolved in her convictions. Maxim, well, he’s okay. He has a possessive streak that borders on invasive, and despite very clearly knowing that this is a book about the super wealthy, I picked it up and was once again reminded that super-wealthy protagonists piss me off. Try all you want to make him a “good” billionaire, I’m just envisioning Elon Musk. 🥴

👍🏻 All told I think this is definitely worth your time if you’re looking for a book with love in it but also with a LOT of other stuff going on. Anticipate the cliffhanger and mind the CW (I’ve put them in the comments).

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