The Kingmaker (All The King's Men, 1)

4.5 “Girl Who Chases Stars” “Doc” “wolf” “Amsterdam” Kisses

I had a reeeeeeally good feeling about The Kingmaker. I can’t really put my finger on exactly what it was…but I mean it had a lot of good things working in its favor. I mean…the blurb…all the teasers I read…that cover!!!! Just wow…seriously, that cover might be one of my favorites ever – but I digress…the icing on top of the cake was the fact that it’s written by Kennedy Ryan. The writing was ah-maze-inggggg…I loved her words so much and seeing what she did with Lennix and Maxim was perfection on the page. It was an angsty romance, it was empowering, it was suspenseful, it was so many things that I was never expecting and I loved how much Kennedy surprised me with this book. I couldn’t get enough of The Kingmaker…truly never wanted it to end…this story is truly unique and Nix and Maxim are completely unforgettable.

Lennix Moon Hunter…a gorgeous name to match an equally gorgeous woman, inside and out. I loved going on the journey of meeting and getting to know Lennix…she is so unique…an old soul, trapped in a time that isn’t ready for her and honestly doesn’t deserve her. I could tell from the first moment I read her thoughts that she was going to be a fierce, impactful character…and I was beyond correct. I loved her passion and her drive…you could feel it with every action she took, with every word she spoke – she fights for everything she believes in with her whole heart and soul and that is an inspiring thing to read. I wish I had half the conviction she has in her pinky…she doesn’t care who she is up against because they have never faced someone like her. She is beyond intelligent…witty…kind…generous…loving…a thoughtful daughter, a caring friend…she is a warrior, an activist, a fighter…she is so many things and I feel like I am barely scratching the surface of how truly amazing she is. Clearly I kind of have a bit of a crush on Ms. Hunter…but luckily I’m in good company ;-)

‘Humor crinkles the edges of those beautiful eyes, and I’m suddenly sad I’ll probably never see this man again. I know it’s crazy. We’ve only shared a few words in not much more than an hour, but I’m the kid so often trapped between worlds, split in two and finding my place. On rare occasion, you come across someone who just gets you, and you don’t have to figure out your place. Wherever you are is okay. I think he could be a “wherever you are” person.’

Maxim Kingsman Cade…good Lord have mercy, I need to send Kennedy Ryan and personal thank you card for creating this man because he’s just too amazing for words. Unlike with Lennix, who I could clearly start a fan club for, it’s really hard for me to try and put my thoughts and feelings about Maxim into coherent thoughts. He is so unexpected…and in a world where he could make easy choices to do the wrong thing and be what is expected of him…he chooses to fight for what he believes is right. He is nothing like you would expect him to be and that was one of the things I loved most about him. I loved how brilliant he was…I loved how much he wanted to fight for the planet and yet also make money too (can’t really blame him for that…he is a Cade)…I loved how charming he was…I just adored him. His determination…his drive…if he wants something, he never gives up and I loved that. I still feel like I’ve not said enough about how amazing Maxim is…not done his character enough justice…he’s absolutely one of a kind – I mean clearly, Lennix Moon wouldn’t have fallen for a guy who was anything less than.

“Ask me how many times I’ve thought about you since that protest.” My voice scratches gruffly against the cool silk of the quiet night. She stares up at me, and at first I think she’ll wave off my question, pretend this is normal, what’s happening between us. But she doesn’t do that. She doesn’t pretend or wave it off. She meets it head-on and answers with unflinching honesty. “Maybe as many times as I’ve thought of you.”

Lennix and Maxim are…chemistry and passion personified. They are so different and yet so much alike…they make come from different backgrounds but they have that same burning desire to do more, be more, and change the world. And they’re doing it. They have an instant connection…obviously some of that is attraction and lust based, but it has roots that are far deeper. They make a mark on each other from the very beginning and it never fades. Lennix and Maxim have staying power…it doesn’t matter what they come up against, there is no denying the power of what they have, it’s as strong as the passion that they have for their separate causes. I loved that this wasn’t a ‘typical’ romance where one person puts his or her own dreams and aspirations to the side so that they can be together – there is absolutely nothing at all wrong with that – but it would not have felt right or authentic with these two. They are more realistic…pragmatic…and it felt so much more genuine – it was a sucker punch to the heart but completely worth it to see them achieve their own goals. Plus…absence makes the heart grow fonder. I loved their connection…their banter…how they each supported each other in what they were passionate about. There is so much right and perfect and wonderful about the bond that Maxim and Nix have.

‘“I’ve been drawn to you since I first I saw you on that hill with stars and stripes on your face. You cried, and there was such conviction in every word you spoke. I didn’t know you were seventeen, but I knew you were young. And I wondered, what made her this way? What shaped her into this remarkable person already? Now I know. That girl, the girl who drew me in that day, I would never expect things to be simple or typical with her.” For a moment, I’m stunned by his vision of me—of how he saw me so clearly. There are few things more affirming than someone seeing you exactly as you aspire to be—for them to say I see that in you.’

Clearly I knew Kennedy Ryan was a talented author…I mean, you don’t win a RITA for nothing…but I feel like The Kingmaker is just a whole other level of brilliance. Granted…I haven’t read all of Kennedy’s books (yet!!! Don’t stone me! I’m working on it!!!) but everything I have has blown me away…and The Kingmaker COMPLETELY blew me away! I loved the way she crafted the story and the characters and it just felt fearless - the way she tackled not only their love story but also the causes that Nix and Maxim were passionate about. With Maxim’s focus on climate change and Nix’s focus on Native American rights, you’ve got two huge, important topics that both mean a great deal to people…it can be very polarizing and (unfortunately) political. It’s impossible not to internalize how Maxim and Nix feel about their own causes…I loved feeling their passion, but there were times when it started to edge toward a bit much for me, mainly because it got a bit repetitive and I felt like I had read the same thing over and over which is a pet peeve of mine. I truly applaud Kennedy for taking the stand and writing about truly important topics – there are things that she mentions in this book that I had no idea about, so it was kind of awesome that I got to read a brilliantly wonderful book and also learn a few things at the same time.

‘What do I want from Lennix? To know if my memory tricked me, and she wasn’t as fantastic as I remember? Do I need that reassurance to move forward? I can’t call this love, the near-obsessive burn in my gut when I think of her, when I saw her last night. She was a candle lit and extinguished too quickly, but the smoke of what we had has endured, lingering in the air all these years. I wouldn’t call it love, but it’s something I’ve never found elsewhere, and I need to know if I could have it again. If I could have her again.’

I didn’t see the last 20% of the book coming at all…I mean, let’s be honest I didn’t see any part of the book happening the way it did. Maxim and Nix took over and I just held on for the right but it was a pretty amazing ride so I’m not complaining in the least. I did however know to expect a cliffhanger – this is the All the King’s Men DUET for a reason…there’s a book two and Kennedy is going to make sure we want to read book two! And she definitely achieved that goal for me. I am the strange reader who loooooves cliffhanger’s – but they have to be GOOD cliffhanger’s and Kennedy definitely gave me a goodie. Totally unpredictable…unique…made sense with the events that was happening and it is not drama for the sake of drama. I absolutely cannot wait to see what she is going to do with The Rebel King…cause I seriously have no idea – I mean if I thought I couldn’t have guessed The Kingmaker, I’m even more clueless as to what she is going to do with my poor Maxim and Lennix…but I’m sure her amazing, creative brain will blow me away again.

I have no idea how I missed this book when it first came out, but I am sure glad that I snagged it while it was free because it absolutely blew me away and I know I will definitely be rereading this one over and over again!

I won’t get too much into the plot or this review will end up being more like a short story, but I will say that there are a couple of time jumps—one small one at the beginning and one 10-year one toward the middle-ish—that I think were handled really well and contributed to the overall story arch and characters really well.

Before I get into the characters, I have to say that the way Kennedy Ryan described the different settings in her book was absolutely brilliant, not only did she paint a gorgeous picture, but she also infused feeling and life into each place. Having grown up in Arizona, I really appreciated the scenes at the Reservation when Lennix participates in the Sunrise Dance because it beautifully captures the spirit, sacredness, and almost magical quality of the land all in one. Then, the scenes in Amsterdam with the wind turbines, and tulips, and secluded alleyways all bring something extra to Lennix and Maxim’s young love. And finally, Maxim’s descriptions of Antarctica left me in chills thinking about the harshness and desolation of the untouched but sometimes fatal land—and I thought it fell right into step with what follows in Lennix and Maxim’s relationship.

As for Lennix and Maxim, those two are drawn to each other like a moth to flame and throughout the whole book you can almost feel the line that pulls them together in the moments when they’re most vulnerable with each other. However, Lennix is a strong woman of courage and conviction looking to heal from the unsolved disappearance of her mother and to return rights that were stripped away from the tribes at whatever cost. That even means letting go of Maxim when she realizes who his father is. I loved seeing Lennix 10 years later in Washington, D.C., because she’s still very much the same girl from the beginning, but now she’s smarter, wiser, and has a cause she’s devoted her whole heart to—all she needs to do is decide if she can let Maxim in it again. Also, I have to say I loved Kimba! She was an amazing loyal, caring friend to Lennix who, thankfully, was always willing to speak her mind with her.

And that cliffhanger at the end totally left me on the edge of my seat—I can’t wait to dive into the next book!

First of all Ms. Kennedy Ryan, how dare you! Second of all, HOW DARE YOU?! Oh my goodness!!! I have been really pumped for The Kingmaker and the All the King's Men Duet since the cover and summary were revealed. I've read a couple of books by Kennedy Ryan and I knew I was in for an emotional treat with this duet too. The minute the book released, I picked it up and then finished it in like half a day, which is almost UNHEARD of for me these days. This book completely wrecked my emotions and after I finished, I spent a solid half an hour in bed staring at the ceiling wondering how the heck I was going to wait THREE WHOLE WEEKS for the sequel, because HOT DAMN, was this good and I NEEDED MORE!!

This review is probably just going to be me shouting about how much I loved it and it probably won't make a lot of sense because truly, this book just about rendered me speechless, but who cares. The Kingmaker and the All the King's Men duet is a saga. It's a love story that spans decades and it freaking hurts, but man is it so worth all the pain. Lennix is probably one of my favorite heroines of all-time. Man, was she fierce. I just about loved everything about her, including her passion, loyalty, and smarts. Her Native American background is a prominent part of The Kingmaker. It was obvious that Kennedy Ryan put her time and effort into researching the cultures and traditions. We stan an author who does her research AND gets sensitivity readers when they write outside of their culture on this blog. I sound very ignorant, but I don't know much about Native American traditions other than some of the historical parts you hear in the news, so this book was super knowledgeable for me, and I always appreciate it when a book teaches me a thing or two. I was very invested in her motivations and her drive, and I was so rooting for her. I also really enjoyed how she tried to help her people by getting involved in politics to help elect Native American politicians. She was truly a powerhouse!

Her love interest, Maxim, was equally alluring. Listen, I haven't swooned as hard for a romance hero in quite a while, and Maxim sure got my ovaries saying hey! Phew, boy! I mean this was a man who was confident, assertive, and was determined to help save the world through his research in climate science. Is there anything hotter than a smart and passionate man? Nah! What about a smart, passionate man who is also a thoughtful lover in bed? NOPE. Maxim's complicated relationship with his big oil dad was at the forefront of this book. He rejects everything that his father stands for and they clashed constantly about their very differing views, but his father's name shadows him all the time. His father also happens to be Lennix' most hated man on Earth, which is why he keeps it from her when they first meet at a pipeline protest when she is 17. They connect, but they are unable to start a relationship as a result of her being underage. A chance encounter brings them together 4 years later in Amsterdam and they begin a short one-week affair that managed to be steamy, and soft at the same time. These two and their chemistry was a palpable force in The Kingmaker and while some readers might argue that their relationship is all about an instant connection, it was a connection that I personally found believable. Though they have no plans to continue their relationship beyond the one week since they both have career aspirations that will take them to opposite ends of the world, they form an attachment. Only, Maxim's secret comes back to haunt them both. I won't reveal what happens next, but you'll have to read the book to find out. Let me just tell you though, it is all good painful stuff!

Fair warning, The Kingmaker ends on a brutal cliffhanger, but thankfully the sequel will be out in just three weeks. I'm so glad I read this book. If you're looking for something that will have you reading while ignoring all your responsibilities, and a book that will leave you absolutely breathless, The Kingmaker is for you,

OMG! This book! After weeks of reading dull books with predictable plots and cookie-cutter characters, I discovered this brilliant gem--a story that stole my breath and touched my heart. I devoured every finely-crafted word in this stunning blend of romance, suspense, political intrigue, family conflict, danger, betrayal . . . and quite possibly the most erotic sex scenes I've ever read. In short, this book has everything I've been craving, and this is just the beginning of a three-book series!

No big spoilers from me this time, because nothing should spoil your enjoyment of this compelling reading experience. I loved our hero, Maxim Cade--a dark, powerful and brilliant capitalist/environmentalist who plans to invest billions of dollars in clean energy projects designed to reduce the effects of climate change. In short, he wants to save the world. Unfortunately, Maxim is the son of Warren Cade, an oil tycoon whose gas pipelines disturb Native American burial grounds and contaminate rivers on Indian reservations.

Our heroine--Lennix Moon Hunter--is half Apache and a crusader, courageously fighting for the rights of Native Americans and all marginalized people by giving speeches and organizing protests. Lennix hates Warren Cade and everything he represents, blaming men like him for the disappearance of her mother--one of countless Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in this country. Lennix gets involved in politics, supporting candidates who champion the causes she believes in.

Initially meeting at a violent protest, Maxim and Lennix eventually come together in a blaze of passion in Amsterdam, but he conceals the fact that he's the son of Warren Cade. When Lennix learns of his deception, she rejects him completely and spends the next ten years as a top political consultant, supporting candidates who fight for the rights of marginalized people. She's so successful at getting candidates elected that she's dubbed "The Kingmaker." And her next candidate is none other than Senator Owen Cade, a presidential hopeful and Maxim's brother.

As they work together on Owen's campaign, the smoldering passion between Maxim and Lennix flares to new life, finally burning through all of Lennix's defenses in a secluded garden on New Year's Eve. (That scene is incredibly hot, but it only gets better. There's a flight on Maxim's private jet, where he . . . oh, yeah. I'll say no more.)

Their story doesn't stop there, because danger awaits in a remote jungle in Costa Rica, leading to a literal cliffhanger. I held my breath just long enough to jump into Book 2, The Rebel King. With matchless prose, flawless proofreading, a compelling plot and unforgettable characters, The Kingmaker easily earns five brilliant stars and MY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!

This is the story of Lennix Moon Hunter. At the beginning of this story she is on the Apache reservation in Arizona . She is 17 and she is going through what is called the Sunrise Dance. This ritual last for 4 days and it is the ritual where the Apache woman goes from being a girl to being a woman. Her mother Lidia and her mothers best friend Mena stands in as her godmother. After the ceremony her mother leaves to go to a protest and she never sees her again, but this is only the beginning of the story. Her father is a native American professor and does not live on the reservations because he is not Apache and he never married Lennix's mother. Her mother's name is Liana Reynolds and she was a protestor, standing up for native American rights. Then there is Maxim Kingman Cade he had been picked up by his father Warren Cade who is the owner of Cade Energy. Maxim is the splitting image of his father. His father was taking him to Arizona where he was going to see about the problem they were having with a pipeline they were getting ready to lay near the river that runs . through their Apache Reservation. When they got out their car and drove to the area he heard this young lady talking and Maxim was intrigued by what she was saying and then her father told the project manager to let the doberman and some kind of spray that stings the eyes to push them back away from the equipment so they can start the job. Maxim tells his father not to do it and because he doesn't he ends up trying to keep the dogs from hurting the young girl who ends up being 17 year old Lennix. Maxim had went to school for Business and Energy Reserve Engineering and he was now at Berkley getting his Masters. His father wanted him to run the West Coast Office of Cade Energy now that Owen his older brother was in the Senate. Maxim is 6'3 dark hair green eyes. This book is broken up into three parts. Part one where Lennix is 17 and getting ready to graduate and Maxim is still in College. Part two Lennix is getting ready to graduate from college 4 years later and getting ready to go to Amsterdam with her two best friends, Kimba and Vivienne. Part three Lennix and Maxim are grown and doing good things in there respective careers. I have to say that I really enjoyed part one and I am trying to hurry so I can let you know that book is worth every penny to purchase. It has drama. drama, angst more drama. It made me laugh, cry and kept me on the edge of my seat as to what was going to happen next. I know that I can't wait to read the second book in the duet the Rebel King. I highly recommend this book. I really enjoyed all the characters. This book told of some of the issues of the day. How the native people are treated, sex trafficking of young ladies, environmental issues, and politics. It really is so good. Thanks Kennedy.

Kennedy Ryan is on my short list of favorite authors. I have NEVER given her anything but five starts. Until now. I feel as if I’m in the minority (no pun intended) with all the accolades given for The Kingmaker, the first book of this duet. Do not fear, this is an accolade, but maybe for some different reasons.

I was THRILLED that the female lead, Lennix, was a Native American. As a girl who lived on many reservations in her beginning years, and many family members who still live on the Res, to say that I was excited is an understatement. It’s too bad that we didn’t get to see more of a backstory and the history of Lennix and her culture. Ms. Ryan did a phenomenal job with her research and respect for America’s First Nation people, but for the first time, Kennedy Ryan had me not liking the heroine very much. I found Lennix abrasive, angry, self-absorbed, juvenile, racist and selfish. But before you think that I based this review on culture, don’t. I just didn’t like Lennix.

“Can you see me? Because I don’t think you can.” I DIDN’T see her.

Maxim’s persona was clearer as you knew who and what his father was from the beginning. Who knows if his confidence was born of wealth or an innate sense of rightness and confidence, but Maxim was clear to me from the start. He was as passionate and focused on his truths as Lennix was to hers, he just wasn’t as angry. Maybe that’s because he never experienced the loss of who he was as Lennix did. I prefer to think that Maxim would have been Maxim no matter how rich or poor, or what color he was.

Ms. Ryan had plenty to say on the subjects of climate change, fossil fuels, the injustices faced by indigenous peoples, the two party system and politics. I think we are all concerned about those things, but it felt as if that’s ALL Maxim and Lennix thought of or talked about. I wasn’t offended by Ms. Ryan’s words or the politics involved, as she was thought provoking and perfect in writing about all sides, but the repetition was exhausting and perhaps took something away from the romance of the story. The decade they spent apart could have been the perfect opportunity to flesh out the characters and show the readers how Lennix and Maxim got to that point in their lives. I wanted the characters to be a little more well-rounded.

Part 3: The gift of Kennedy Ryan is that she makes you care. She makes you see. I didn’t like Lennix, but I wanted to see where her story lead. I wanted to see her evolve and grow. I wanted to care because Ms. Ryan kept shoving her beautiful, flawless words at me:

“If a kiss has a sound, this one is the concert of our breaths and sighs and moans.”

After a slow, difficult beginning I was finally able to get comfortable and move forward. Enter crime, betrayal, grief, politics, family and love. Add in current and social issues as she does so well and Ms. Ryan did what she always does: she left me wanting more. No, this isn’t my favorite Kennedy Ryan book, but ultimately it IS a Kennedy Ryan book, with the fluid, languid beat that she always infuses her stories with. The Kingmaker needs to be read.

Damn can this woman write. Every time I pick up one of her books, I know that it is going to be beautifully write, She uses words like a painter uses a brush. They layer and shift and create until they just sweep me into this other place. The characters are so clear. There is nuance and so many dimensions. No one is one note. Everyone of her characters live in my heart, even the ones i don't like so much. "We are the sky and the sea, and the horizon is where our hearts meet."

I have had this book since last year but knew that I needed to be in the right space to read it. I planned to pick it up and then co-vid hit. I needed lighter fare and books that took me far outside my world. So, Max & Nix had to wait. This book throws you right into the heart of Lennix. She is young but so strong and clear. She has already lost her mother and is watching the land of her people be taken as it always has been. The sacred burial land desecrated by greedy capitalists. I could see her standing there, with the stars and stripes on her face while the wind whipped her hair around. When the most handsome man she has ever seen saves her from a dog bite, something inside her shifts. Maxim is tired of his dad trying to control his life. He wants no part of his fathers pipelines that tear up this country. He is an environmentalist and when he sees a dog going for the most compelling woman he has ever seen, he runs to save her. When he finds out she is only 17, he knows that now is not their time. Thus begins the story of these two people who feel a pull but have so many differences. They meet again 4 years later in Amsterdam and the passion that had been simmering, explodes. I love the way that Lennix discusses her virginity. I love the traditions that she has from her mother and the connection she has with her mother's best friend. There is so much to live about this woman. I love that Maxim understands the dichotomy that exists with his father. He loves the man but wants no part of his machinations. He also knows that Lennix is not going to be able to separate him from his family. These two are fire but their story is not an easy one. The cliffhanger was a killer and I'm so glad I had book two waiting.

This is a romance with great components: lust, money, politics, family dynamics, and love. It is enhanced as it incorporates a heroine of Native American descent and brings along many issues that are rarely part of contemporary fiction, much less romance novels, including: the violation of protected lands and water despite treaty rights, including landed sacred to tribes, the huge number of missing indigenous women and the prevalence of mistreated and abused indigenous women who fall through the margins of society, due in part to indifferent law enforcement and the complexity of jurisdiction when reservation and non reservation law enforcement agencies may actually get involved, and the low numbers of younger indigenous peoples to complete both high school and/or secondary education, are all mentioned as they are issues Lennix, the heroine of the story champions or shape her life in some fashion. Indigenous people and tribes in the U.S. and Canada struggle with many more devastating problems, including pervasive poverty, hunger, unemployment, poor healthcare, addiction, lack of habitable living conditions, including limited or no access to adequate plumbing, energy, or internet. Lennix achieves a great deal in the story and much of her life's mission is to help marginalized people and communities by helping elect politicians who are more likely to champion these people. Maxim has been born into a live of of privilege but its not enough for him. He has the drive, ambition, and confidence to make transformative changes to world we live in, and to make money while being an agent of change. He desires to go beyond the family dynasty made from fossil fuels and move to clean energy sources, exploring and venturing beyond what is safe or easy while he begins to create his own empire. Lennix and Maxim meet for the first time at a crossroads for both of them. Lennix is protesting a pipeline being built over lands sacred to her tribe and endangering the water source by Maxim's family's company, especially Maxim's father and the politicians he has in his pocket. Maxim saves Lennix from being bitten by a dog from the Cade Company security force. Although sparks fly at their first encounter, Lennix is only seventeen and too young for anything Maxim wants from her. Lennix is heading out for college and Maxim makes a break from his father and Cade Company. When the two meet again Lennix is about to graduate from college and head into the world. Maxim is finishing doctoral studies and headed first for Antarctica, and then beyond. Despite their desperate mural attraction they agree that their time together will be limited to the week in Amsterdam they have. Both of them are ambitious, Maxim especially, but neither of them factor in the power of their feelings for each other. Maxim never tells Lennix he is actually Maxim Cade, the son of the man she believes embodies all that is evil and devastating to both the world for her tribe and the world as a whole.The two are separated without being able to say goodbye, or to allow Maxim the chance to explain his actual identity. When Maxim's in grave danger, Lennix learns of both the immense risk he faces as well as his true identity. She is devastated at the potential of losing him while simultaneously experiencing tremendous betrayal over both who he is and that he hid who was from her. Maxim survived his expedition, but any possibility of relationship is vanquished in Lennon's eyes. Ten years later, they find themselves together to campaign for Maxim's brother Owen as he enters the presidential race. Both have accomplished an amazing amount, with Lennix now nicknamed the Kingmaker and achieving great success at political consultancy and Maxim having explored, ventured, and conquered in order to acquire his own empire based on circular economic principles, including green energy and manufacturing. Despite Lennix's initial resistance, the two come together again in a cascade of sparks, in moments stolen from both of their actions packed lives. However the book ends with Lennix facing incredible danger, far from Maxim in South America, where it seems she will either be kidnapped or killed.

I wanted to love this book so much and right up until ~50% I did. I was so bought it, but unfortunately, the ending really let me down.

Quick Synopsis: Lenix is a Native American woman with ambitions to further the cause of Native Americans in the US and regain power in a system that actively seeks to silence Native American people (this is obviously entirely realistic). Maxim is the son of a wealthy oil conglomerate CEO, heir to the company, and a complete tree-hugger. Focused on getting his PhD in Climate Science and saving the world, Maxim encounters Lenix when she is just 17. When they meet again 4 years later, sparks fly.

Trigger warnings: violence towards Native Americans, racism, assault, reference to murder/kidnapping, kidnapping, politicians

Here’s what I liked: -The first 2 parts of this novel were really good and I was super bought into the story. I liked Lenix and I liked Maxim and I liked them together for sure. -I loved the focus on a Native American woman, the spotlight on the rates at which they are targeted and/or disappear and/or are murdered, the focus on climate change, etc. I loved all of that. -I really enjoyed the time skip between part 1 and part 2 and even how we are reintroduced to these character together again in part 2.

What I struggled with: -This book was about 50-100 pages too long and Part 3 absolutely dragged. -My main gripe is with Lenix: this is a proud Native American woman, she is strong and fierce and I loved that. What I didn’t love was how resentful and angry she was towards Maxim for not telling her his last name even though he had already shared with her that he and his family were estranged. His actions spoke way louder than his words. If Maxim had been complicit in the horrors his family had wrecked and hadn’t taken action to subvert them, then ok, be angry. But this man did everything he possibly could and then some to circumvent the harm his family had caused to the earth and to minorities. The fact that she held his last name against him for 10 years? It seems beyond unreasonable and made me dislike her character. -Part 3 dragged on for so long I ended up skimming the vast majority of it. I just didn’t care by that point anymore and wanted to see how it ended. -By the time we get to the end with the massive cliffhanger, I didn’t understand why the story was still going? There’s a second book? I’m afraid I won’t be reading it. It seems very much to me that this story is over.

Altogether, this could have been a great novel but ultimately let me down.