Blog Tour + Review: The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan
The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan Published by Scribechick Media, LLC on October 28, 2019
Pages: 344
Format: ARC
Goodreads
𝙋𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧. 𝙋𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝘽𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙡.
𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗔® 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱-𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗞𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗱𝘆 𝗥𝘆𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗰 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴’𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝘂𝗲𝘁.
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, I’m 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.
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘐.
I am laid out after reading Kennedy Ryan’s The Kingmaker. LAID OUT. I knew there was going to be a cliffhanger as this is a duet. I knew it! Yet I didn’t prepare myself properly. I am over here shook.
Ok, whew! Hold on, let me calm my ass down.
Alright, I’m back – let’s talk about this book.
The Kingmaker is a sweeping tale that takes place over the course of 15ish years featuring Maxim Cade and Lennix Moon Hunter. Longtime readers of this blog know that I was a huge fan of ABC’s Scandal. I used to do recaps of the show on here before I switched to strictly talking about books. When I learned that this book had Scandal vibes, I was in.
Maxim Cade’s last name holds weight. It wields power. It’s respected in some areas and absolutely hated in others. His father is ruthless, to put it mildly. Maxim and his father clash a lot, his dad wants him to work for his energy company – Maxim is firmly against most of his father’s business practices. His father wants to build a pipeline on sacred ground and takes Maxim to the site where there is a protest.
Without saying too much, this is where Lennix and Maxim meet. It’s a brief time but there’s a current there, and though it’s nowhere near the right time, they know its something there. However, Maxim isn’t quite truthful about his identity and that omission will cost him.
Years go by and they see each other again in a bar in Amsterdam. A whirlwind week solidifies Maxim and Lennix’s bond. And bond may be too small of a word. However, we know the truth always finds its way out and in this case, it’s no different. An omission is still a lie and it seems as if their relationship shatters into a million pieces before it really had a chance to begin.
Time passes and these two are in each other’s orbit and well, I can tell you more but it’ll be so much better reading it firsthand.
A lot of people will talk about Maxim, and he deserves praise. He’s honest and ruthless as hell. He knows and acknowledges his privilege and is trying to do his part to fix the world. He’s an #environmentalbae of sorts. He knows who he is, even when he tries to run from certain parts; for good and bad. He wants to save the world but he also wants to be rich, a capitalist crusader as he’s known as in the book. I can respect the honesty. He’s great and loving and all of that with Lennix. BUT LENNIX. Lennix is the star. She’s the center. She’s the warrior, she wears the white hat. Lennix is unflinching in her beliefs and is willing to go war for what she believes in. She’s a truth and justice seeker. Lennix is a warrior in every sense of the word. Her beauty isn’t just breathtaking, it’s her spirit, her soul. She is the Kingmaker.
As I wait with bated breath for book #2, I recommend reading this novel. It’s a nuanced tale of history, gut-wrenching grief, manipulation, and a love that simply can’t be denied.
Read The Kingmaker, you’ll love it.
Natalya is the author of All The Things I Never Said, a soul-stirring collection of short stories, prose and love letters for the soulful wanderers, the brokenhearted and the hopeless romantics.
You can follow her rantings and occasional sparks of brilliance on Twitter @NatalyaMuncuff.
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