Reviews with content warning for Racial slurs - The Kingmaker

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The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan

9 reviews

imskylow's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

I wish there was more tension 🤣 some of these romance felt too easy and perfect to be all that fun to read about. That being said, I really loved the characters. The description of Lennix is gorgeous and she’s a complete BA 💪🏽

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wornpagesandendlesscoffey's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional medium-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

The Kingmaker was a much needed Romance featuring a diverse cast of characters. I enjoyed that the MC was indigenous, and though her story is tragic, it is necessary and I appreciate how Ryan is unafraid to delve into the depths of Lennix's experiences as the daughter of a woman who has been added to the ranks of the MMIW, entwining it with who she has become, without making it her entire story. It is a driving force throughout, but Ryan has left us room for love and laughter and friendship and ambition beyond Lennix's trauma. This book handles so well many social and cultural issues that lack representation too often.
The love story in this book is absolute gold. The Kingmaker jumps between several well known romance tropes, including the hard to perfect Second Chance, which Ryan has done superbly well, delivering a sweet, passionate romance without sacrificing a character's likability to do so. Both Lennix and Maxim are characters to root for, and I truly enjoyed how she handled bringing them back together without making that age gap creepy.
The Kingmaker shows us that, sometimes, love also has to wait on timing.

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sarah_thebooknerd's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

4 ⭐️
2 🌶️

I have a lot of thoughts about this book. I love Kennedys writing and her way to weave a story is superior. If you are a fan of Scandal I think you will like this book/ duet. Lennix and Maxim are both really strong characters that do not want to compromise! I liked that not going to lie.

Beware there is a cliffhanger and you are doing to want book 2 before diving into this one.

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psydneigh's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional fast-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

I love Lennix. Im kind of on the fence about Maxim in this one. Can’t wait to finish their story up!

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iamsammie27's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative sad tense medium-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

4.5

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thereadinghammock's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful fast-paced

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

4.75

I don't know if I've read a more intense, fiery couple than Lennix and Maxim. To start off with an "oh no" jailbait moment at their first meeting, to then the time skips leading us to their eventual reunions. It was as spicy and glorious as I could have hoped! Lennix was an absolute BAMF and I loved her from the moment we met her. I saw their inevitable fall out when Maxim's identity as a Cade was finally revealed. What I didn't see coming was the tease of their HEA and then a LITERAL cliffhanger of an ending!! I wound up finishing the book in the middle of the night (had trouble sleeping so I was reading to get back in a sleepy mood--boy was this the wrong book to pick!) and I bought the second book immediately when I woke up! Ms. Ryan knew what she was doing ending the book there!

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agnesbebon's review against another edition

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fast-paced

3.0

This would’ve been 4 stars if they didn’t meet when she was 17 and he was a masters student. I cannot give higher than a 3 to a book with “she doesn’t look seventeen” in it. I also had similar issues with The Kingmaker that I had with Grip.

I’m not sure if Lennix was supposed to be acespec/demi, but if so I didn’t love how that was talked about.

I liked the timeline of the book (minus the whole meeting when shes 17 thing), how it goes forward four and then ten years ahead. I like Lennix way more than I Like Maxium - I hate a man that plays devils advocate. The jobs and interests of the characters were just as interesting as the romance. Kennedy Ryan is also a great writer.

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girvinia's review against another edition

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5.0

When I see stuff like this in a description I usually run-don’t-walk away: “Raised to rule, bred to lead and weaned on a diet of ruthless ambition.“ etc.

But Kennedy Ryan actually made me like an “alpha” hero! (side note, totally problematic term and it’s silly for me to use it as a shortcut so ppl understand the type, and then have to put a disclaimer on why I don’t like it. Google ‘alpha male disproven.’) ANYWAY Ryan said she likes to call him the “woke alpha.” His confidence / arrogance / drive / zeal is aimed toward environmentalism. And he LISTENS. And respects.

One reason I don’t normally like alpha MCs is that I HATE the “I’ll make them mine”, pursuit trope. Dude, they said Not Interested!!

But Maxim does the pursuit perfectly: I want you, yes we'll be together; I get what I want so we WILL be together. And now I'll back off, wait, and let you come to me. Because I love that you’re so strong and go after what you want, and I want you to want me." HEARTEYES SWOON HEARTEYES

I love Lennix, too, BTW.

So run-don’t-walk to get to know Lennix Hunter Moon, The Kingmaker, and Maxim Cade, The Woke Alpha.

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emfass's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.75

I mean, I just, I can't....PHEW. Kennedy Ryan has been at the top of my list of Authors I Need to Check Out and my friends, the rumors are fuckin' true. She is writing on another level.

The intense emotionality, the crystal clear characters, the consent--my god, the CONSENT! The way Maxim checks in with Lennix, over and over again, while still making it abundantly clear all the ways he wants her. *fans self*

I was also SO INTO the political discussions in this book, and the awareness raised by making the heroine, Lennix, "a proud member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation."

I loved the way both Maxim and Lennix were uncompromising and ambitious in going after what they wanted for their lives. The way that (small spoiler) Ryan uses time in this story to track a relationship over many years, and the ways people grow and change and come to know themselves and hold onto the memories that matter most was just...UGH. SO GOOD.

That's all the words I have for now. Please note this one ends on about as high stakes a cliffhanger as they come, and you will want to have The Rebel King teed up and ready to go.

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