Genre: Romance
Pages: 344
Release Date: October 27, 2019
๐๐ค๐ฌ๐๐ง. ๐๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฃ. ๐ฝ๐๐ฉ๐ง๐๐ฎ๐๐ก.
๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ยฎ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ-๐๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐๐ฎ๐น๐น๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐น๐น ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ดโ๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐๐ฒ๐.
Raised to rule, bred to lead and weaned on a diet of ruthless ambition. In a world of haves and have nots, my family has it all, and I want nothing to do with it.
My path takes me far from home and paints me as the black sheep. At odds with my father, Iโm determined to build my own empire. I have rules, but Lennix Hunter is the exception to every one of them. From the moment we meet, something sparks between us. But my family stole from hers and my father is the man she hates most. I lied to have her, and would do anything to keep her. Though she tries to hate me, too, the inexorable pull between us will not be denied.
The Kingmaker is not at all what I thought it was going to be. To be honest, I’m not exactly sure why I decided to buy the novel without reading the synopsis and assuming the novel followed a royal family, a plot I’m not overly enthusiastic about. Fortunately, for me, The Kingmaker is an incredibly poignant romance that has nothing to do with the stereotypical royalty.
The Kingmaker is told in three parts with time jumps in-between. Ryan takes the time to develop her characters and their attraction to each other through the first two parts, thereby making the third part best of the three.
The chemistry and angst between the main characters, Lennix and Maxim, are off the charts. The angst and smoulder between these two would have set the pages on fire had I been reading a paperback.
Lennix is an incredible protagonist. She’s headstrong, fierce, and wicked smart as she fights for the causes most important to her. Though Lennix is a virgin, Ryan doesn’t make Lennix naive or sexually inexperienced. The trope of experienced love interest and inexperienced protagonist is one I despise immensely. I’ve deducted star ratings from novels for using this trope. Ryan’s use of the trope and Lennix’s heritage as an indigenous person plays a key role that enhances the trope and made me appreciate it all the more in this novel.
Maxim is the perfect balance of aggressive alpha male and sweet without being overbearing or a doormat. He’s intense in all the right ways.
“A riot is the language of the unheard.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about Lennix’s heritage in this review. Lennix is part of the Yavapai-Apache Nation and is an advocate for indigenous rights as the novel opens up with a powerful protest scene. Lennix’s heritage plays a large role in who she is as an individual and the decisions she makes. Lennix makes this novel the success that it is. Diversity is a strength, not a weakness.
There is a huge cliff hanger at the end of The Kingmaker. I was not expecting it since I assumed the second novel would follow Maxim’s brother. I was wrong and I can’t wait to get more of Lennix and Maxim! The Rebel King releases November 18, 2019!!
Overall, The Kingmaker is an incredible romance with a poignant message about climate change and inequality. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone!
Have you read The Kingmaker? What did you think?
I’ve never heard of this but I do like the idea of a Native American protagonist ๐
It really makes this romance special since Ryan did a great job of incorporating the culture in the character without it being in your face. Ryan is not flaunting it, itโs simply the way it is. Itโs refreshing.
Fantastic review! I got this one on KU the other day and I’ve been thinking about reading it soon. I don’t think I read the blurb as well so I’m really only finding out about it after reading your review. Definitely has me excited to check it out ๐
I hope you enjoy it! Definitely worth reading thatโs for sure.
I always think itโs odd when they put things like King or kingmaker in the title and itโs not actually about kings. lol.
I agree the inexperienced protagonist with the experienced one is a trope I usually dislike also. Sounds like itโs used well here though!
The title makes sense after reading the book I just wasn’t expecting it.
It definitely was! One of the very few times it works out.