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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
Be sure to read through to chapter 5. It may seem so hard and not great but if you make it that far you will fall into and read the entire book in one sitting. The characters are strong and wonderful. I absolutely love the creatures in the book. They were probably the greatest part of the book. Fantastic beasts would be proud to be known along with this one. I am excited to see what will happen in the next books.
Die Tiermagierin – Schattentanz by Maxym M. Martineau
3.5
3.5
When an exiled Charmer teams up with the assassin sent to kill her in order to break the dark magic controlling both of their lives, neither one imagines their attraction could be the key to keeping them both alive.
Lena Edenfrell is a Charmer, one of the humans with magical powers who collects and wields the power of magical beasts. Normally, she would spend her life in idyllic Hireath, but she fell in love with the wrong man who got her cast out for a crime he committed. Forced to sell some of her beloved beasts to stay alive, an act absolutely forbidden among her kind, she is on the hunt for the Myad, the one beast she knows can make the Charmers Council listen to her side of the story and maybe allow her back home.
Noc is the master of the guild at Cruor, the most feared assassins whose ranks are made up of people brought back from the dead, and he is struggling with a secret curse: anyone he loves will sicken and die from an incurable disease. While he doesn’t have much hope of breaking the curse, a Gyss, one of the Charmer’s beasts who grants wishes for a price, just might work.
Lena and Noc strike a bargain: he won’t fulfill his contract to kill her if she provides person-specific beasts for himself and his three top assassins. But secrets from both their pasts that neither have chosen to reveal catch up with them, threatening their newfound love and their very lives in this first book in a fantasy trilogy by Maxym M. Martineau, co-founder of AllTheKissing.com. Witty and sexy, featuring a diverse range of people and beasts living in a fully-imagined world, Kingdom of Exiles is an exciting beginning to a debut author’s new series.
Lena Edenfrell is a Charmer, one of the humans with magical powers who collects and wields the power of magical beasts. Normally, she would spend her life in idyllic Hireath, but she fell in love with the wrong man who got her cast out for a crime he committed. Forced to sell some of her beloved beasts to stay alive, an act absolutely forbidden among her kind, she is on the hunt for the Myad, the one beast she knows can make the Charmers Council listen to her side of the story and maybe allow her back home.
Noc is the master of the guild at Cruor, the most feared assassins whose ranks are made up of people brought back from the dead, and he is struggling with a secret curse: anyone he loves will sicken and die from an incurable disease. While he doesn’t have much hope of breaking the curse, a Gyss, one of the Charmer’s beasts who grants wishes for a price, just might work.
Lena and Noc strike a bargain: he won’t fulfill his contract to kill her if she provides person-specific beasts for himself and his three top assassins. But secrets from both their pasts that neither have chosen to reveal catch up with them, threatening their newfound love and their very lives in this first book in a fantasy trilogy by Maxym M. Martineau, co-founder of AllTheKissing.com. Witty and sexy, featuring a diverse range of people and beasts living in a fully-imagined world, Kingdom of Exiles is an exciting beginning to a debut author’s new series.
2.5 ? 3 ?
Very interesting and original by some aspects, a blurry and unfinished taste in others.
Very interesting and original by some aspects, a blurry and unfinished taste in others.
This was a fun read with very likeable characters and an interesting world concept. I enjoyed reading it, though I did not expect the heavy emphasis on romance. Unfortunately the plot left me with a lot of questions (maybe to drum up interest in a sequel). I'd recommend this if you love romance, but if not, the insta-love and constant pining/denial between the main characters may be a little off putting.
I just...meh..it's alright?... not sure why so many 5 stars honestly, I didn't love any of the characters, everything just felt a little too easy and the pacing is a little strange. NFM
I received an ARC of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review,
Once I picked this book up, I could not put it down. Leena is a trope-defying character, both strong and vulnerable. The instantaneous attraction between she and Noc had me devouring pages as their fascination grew. Noc's inner struggles and herculean dedication to avoid hurting those he loves broke my heart.... and then stitched it up again. The world-building, character development and relationship evolution were fantastic.
Pick this one up if you are a fan of Amanda Bouchet, Kristen Callihan, C.L. Wilson and Robin LaFevers. You won't regret it!
Once I picked this book up, I could not put it down. Leena is a trope-defying character, both strong and vulnerable. The instantaneous attraction between she and Noc had me devouring pages as their fascination grew. Noc's inner struggles and herculean dedication to avoid hurting those he loves broke my heart.... and then stitched it up again. The world-building, character development and relationship evolution were fantastic.
Pick this one up if you are a fan of Amanda Bouchet, Kristen Callihan, C.L. Wilson and Robin LaFevers. You won't regret it!
I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym M. Martineau is the first book in a new paranormal romance series called The Beast Charmer. Billed as a cross between Fantastic Beasts and Assassin’s Creed it lives up to the hype. I found myself fully immersed in Leena’s world and fascinated with her creatures. Personally I can’t wait for more from the world!
Leena Edenfrell is an exiled beast charmer with a price on her head. She is bitter about the events that led to her exile, and she is cunning. She has to be with the people she now deals with. To live outside her community she must trade in beasts. Raised to love them and cherish her beasts, this is agony for her to hand over a beast in exchange for gold. This alone made me like her. Her conscience gets the best of her time and again, but she will do anything to protect her creatures.
Noc is the leader of the undead assassins…yep they are like vampires. At least that’s how I pictured them. He is cursed though. Anyone he loves falls ill and dies. So Noc keeps himself separate from his clan and keeps a firm (imaginary) line in the sand that he will not cross. He will not allow himself to feel for anyone. Then he meets Leena, and despite his hard and fast rules, he finds himself falling.
Noc’s assassin failed to kill Leena and instead gets himself captured by her. To bargain for her own life, she exchanges the assassin with Noc and promises to deliver four beasts in exchange. This leads Leena, Noc and three of his skilled assassins on a trip across the continent looking for a beast that will allow Leena back into her community and the beasts she promised him.
I love the world-building more than anything else in the book! Each beast mentioned is unique with its own abilities and talents. I found myself visualizing them as Leena describes them. Leena’s exile is also at the forefront of the story, along with Noc’s curse. Noc wants a cure, Leena wants to go home. Together they might just get what they want.
Overall I really enjoyed Kingdom of Exiles. I struggled a little at the beginning of the story. The author fully immerses the reader in the world and it took a bit for me to catch up. Once I did though, I fell in love with the beasts, their world, and of course Leena and Noc. I can’t wait for more
Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym M. Martineau is the first book in a new paranormal romance series called The Beast Charmer. Billed as a cross between Fantastic Beasts and Assassin’s Creed it lives up to the hype. I found myself fully immersed in Leena’s world and fascinated with her creatures. Personally I can’t wait for more from the world!
Leena Edenfrell is an exiled beast charmer with a price on her head. She is bitter about the events that led to her exile, and she is cunning. She has to be with the people she now deals with. To live outside her community she must trade in beasts. Raised to love them and cherish her beasts, this is agony for her to hand over a beast in exchange for gold. This alone made me like her. Her conscience gets the best of her time and again, but she will do anything to protect her creatures.
Noc is the leader of the undead assassins…yep they are like vampires. At least that’s how I pictured them. He is cursed though. Anyone he loves falls ill and dies. So Noc keeps himself separate from his clan and keeps a firm (imaginary) line in the sand that he will not cross. He will not allow himself to feel for anyone. Then he meets Leena, and despite his hard and fast rules, he finds himself falling.
Noc’s assassin failed to kill Leena and instead gets himself captured by her. To bargain for her own life, she exchanges the assassin with Noc and promises to deliver four beasts in exchange. This leads Leena, Noc and three of his skilled assassins on a trip across the continent looking for a beast that will allow Leena back into her community and the beasts she promised him.
I love the world-building more than anything else in the book! Each beast mentioned is unique with its own abilities and talents. I found myself visualizing them as Leena describes them. Leena’s exile is also at the forefront of the story, along with Noc’s curse. Noc wants a cure, Leena wants to go home. Together they might just get what they want.
Overall I really enjoyed Kingdom of Exiles. I struggled a little at the beginning of the story. The author fully immerses the reader in the world and it took a bit for me to catch up. Once I did though, I fell in love with the beasts, their world, and of course Leena and Noc. I can’t wait for more
I tried to get into this one, I really did, but I couldn't for a few reasons: no truly likable character, predictable personalities, lacking belief in a character's motives, and it just ...dragged. I don't know. It just didn't do it for me. I ended up skimming and skipping most of it, which I hate doing when it's an ARC, but I simply couldn't get interested in it. Maybe it's one someone else will like, but it is not my cup of tea.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The best and only redeeming part of this book is the group of men the MC befriends. The main romance is stupid and contrived.