5 STARS. OMG. I LOVE KENNEDY RYAN.

Kennedy Ryan is one of my favorite authors. Every single time I read one of her novels, that book becomes my immediate favorite. "The Kingmaker" is no exception. Good lord, does she know how to write steam! This book took me on a roller coaster of emotions. It is so evocative, so provocative, so sexy, so heartbreaking. It's a slow-burning romance between the main characters Lennix and Maxim, but when the burning begins, it ignites with the fury of a thousand suns. This book is a JOURNEY. The plot glides effortlessly from one scene to the next, never sparing any detail. Ryan clearly took the time and effort to research her subject matter with precision, and it shows in this final product. I feel like I learned so much about the history of Lennix's tribe, the struggles of her people, and life on the reservation that is largely ignored by the rest of the U.S. population. Ryan puts her heart and soul and brain into each word she writes. The intensity. The passion. The determination. My god, it made me SWOON. It made me ACHE. It made me fall in love with Lennix and Maxim. I rooted for them to find their way back to one another throughout the entire novel. They aren't just good characters when they are together. They are incredible characters when they are apart, too. Lennix is a disrupter, a warrior, a woman who is "tough on the outside but slightly mushy on the inside." She fights for her tribe, she fights for indigenous peoples' rights, she fights for the marginalized, she fights and advocates for herself. Maxim is stubborn but driven. He (mostly) uses his privilege for good, to turn around and undo the injustices his father has perpetuated for decades. When Lennix and Maxim are together, all of that power and that passion is channeled into each other with extremely successful results. You're doing yourself a disservice by not reading this book.

If you're not reading Kennedy Ryan novels, you're missing out on one of the best authors alive at this point. Every single thing she touches turns to gold. I am in awe of her incredibleness! This book is full of pride and ambition and sensuality and fantastic lines of dialogue. It will make you feel even if you are unfeeling. Incredible book!!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Kennedy Ryan, and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Book for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.

I just finished reading "The King Maker" by Kennedy Ryan, and it left me in complete awe! From the moment I started this captivating story, I knew I was in for an extraordinary reading experience. ✨ This book deserves all the ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!

🌸 Starting my Kennedy Ryan journey with "Before I Let Go" months ago, I was already captivated by her incredible storytelling. "The King Maker" exceeded all my expectations and solidified my admiration for Ryan's talent. I can't wait to dive into the rest of her catalog! 📖

💔 This emotionally charged tale takes readers on a rollercoaster ride, exploring complex relationships and societal issues. Ryan's writing is impeccable, seamlessly blending romance, passion, and social commentary. It's a truly immersive experience! 🎭

🔥 Maxim and Lennix's journey is raw and intense, their chemistry leaps off the pages, setting the heart ablaze. The depth of their characters and their vulnerabilities make their love story captivating and unforgettable. 💑

💥 I found myself completely engrossed in the world Ryan created, with its political backdrop and gripping plot twists. I couldn't put the book down, constantly turning pages with bated breath. The blend of passion, suspense, and heartfelt emotion is perfection! 🌟

📚 If you're a fan of captivating romance with a touch of social commentary, I highly recommend "The King Maker"! I'm so excited to dive into "The Rebel King," the next installment in this remarkable series. 🌹

🙏 A big thank you to Sourcebooks, Bloom Books, the talented author Kennedy Ryan, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I feel privileged to have experienced this relaunch of a beautiful story with its stunning new covers! 🌺


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Every once in awhile, a book comes around with such a unique plot that it sucks you right in. Climate change? Politics? Not usually my cup of tea by Kennedy Ryan had me not only reading it, but gobbling it up Throw in some spice scenes and this book was just shy of 5 stars for me!

In a world of haves and have-nots, Maxim Cade's family and their oil empire have it all…and he wants nothing to do with it. At odds with his mogul father, he's determined to build his own empire, even if it means traveling far from home, painted as the black sheep.

Lennix Hunter is the exception to every one of Maxim's rules. At a protest for the oil pipeline that threatens to mar her ancestral land forever, they meet in a flurry of stars and sparks, and that one moment changes everything. But Maxim's family is the one stealing from hers, and his father is the man she hates most. He has to lie in order to have her once, and despite the truth, he'll do anything to keep her.

Even though Lennix tries to hate Maxim, too, their hearts are pointed in the same direction. The inexorable pull between them, across miles and years, will not be denied.

And neither will Maxim.

A great entry into Kennedy Ryan's work that launches a three-book series. I could easily see this being adapted: I would like to experience it in an experimental way. Perhaps as audio series or graphic novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've read 21% of this book and I just can't. I just can't.

I even tried to give it a chance since I saw other two or three reviews where it said the book is set over a large period of time but the FMC is 17!!! SEVENTEEN when they met while the MMC is writing his damn thesis.

As I recall, I've never tried to read an age-gap book before, but why WHY do authors think it's okay to write about a MINOR and an adult???? The MMC adresses it, he knows her age and doesn't feel any less bad about it, he even thinks/says it more than ONCE.

Even with these things going on, I tried to "ignore" it because I kindly received an ARC but then I got into the d*** talk and the way they (MMC and friends) talk about women and their bodies, what they would do with those girls and I couldn't continue.

The only good things might be the indigenous topics but I'm not sure if it's well spoken and well done, maybe it could have a little more depth to it and honestly that's why I kept going a little longer because I wanted to see how things were going.

[My review contains spoilers]

I had goosebumps on the first chapter. The story was beautiful... In the first 75%. It highlights the injustice Native Americans face daily. The depth of the characters was revealed at a great pace without info-dumping. Nix had my heart. I was pulled in SO deeply. Also the politics? Described flawlessly for this type of fiction, the author did fantastic on that.

And then came the stalking and coercion.

I can't do either of those things. And I get that the creepy stuff within the Dark Romance sub-category is popular right now; but to take a strong, beautiful, smart, and feminist advocate like Lennix and have her drop her panties after Maxim spends [x] amount of chapters pining after her, ignoring her when she says no, showing up to the place she has coffee and corners her... Like c'mon? The Lennix we were introduced to would NEVER have done that. There is no redemption that could have been good enough for her to end up wanting him after all of that.

At one point, Lennix argues with Kimba about their firm and how they were built on wanting to help elect politicians that had both the world's current problems with inequality, and to elect someone who understood the importance of the little amount of Native American land left. They do their job with those two in mind, and one other: a POC or woman as an elected official.

And then they take on Owen Cade, Well... Lennix is GUILTED into taking on Owen Cade. And then Maxim quite literally forces herself on her. It's like the author spent all of this time building up Lennix, and then boom, all of her character and character development is shattered.

While I didn't enjoy the book, I am still grateful to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to test out this book.

The only bad thing about this book is how long I am going to have to wait for the next in the series!
The Kingmaker was such a beautiful story of first love and betrayal, with characters that had you cheering for a happy ending. Lennix and Maxim are so different, yet the same in so many ways and fall so hard in love that you just know that Maxim’s lie is going to throw their whole work into turmoil when it comes out.
The character of Lennix is easily my favourite, she’s so passionate about life, the causes she fights for and her love for Maxim. I sincerely hope she gets the happy ending she deserves….that cliffhanger ending though!!!!!!!
This was my first Kennedy Ryan read and I now need to go and read everything else she has every written. It’s safe to say The Kingmaker has been one of my top reads this year so far.

4.5 stars rounded up

"This is not about blaming for the past. It’s about us all being responsible for the future."

There's something magical about the way Kennedy Ryan manages to weave stories that are easy to read, but that contain magnitudes of emotion and depth in her words. Heritage, family and tradition are pillars of The Kingmaker and the characters within, and those values are a major driving point of their motivations, dreams and goals in life and with each other.

The passion that both Lennix Moon Hunter and Maxim Cade had for not only each other, but for their individual dreams was astounding. With history and heritage being a major driving point, it's mentioned frequently throughout the story that you are responsible for your own future, and can be instrumental in creating a better future for others. The Kingmaker also places heavy emphasis on how change can't come about if you just sit around and wish for it. It definitely won't always be easy and can often be painful, but it's something you have to work for and keep working for if there's any hope that it'll stick.

I love characters who aren't afraid to fight for what they want. That formidable drive is part of Maxim's character (and the characters of his father and brother) but it's also a major part of who Lennix is. As part of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, Lennix knows firsthand what it's like to have to constantly fight for not only what you want, but for your rights. America has made great strides as a country, but in areas like Indigenous relations, we still have so so far to go. I for one, found the political/factual sides of The Kingmaker engrossing, and I'm constantly baffled by how distorted and horrific politics and human rights issues often are. Those issues were presented and dealt with quite masterfully in my opinion, and gives readers a chance to realize how important issues like these are and how change is very much needed.

I'm so glad I got to read this, and cannot wait to pick up The Rebel King and witness the continuation of Lennix and Maxim's story. The Kingmaker was originally published in October of 2019, and was republished on May 23, 2023. Thank you to Bloom Books, NetGalley and the author for the digital arc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

"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."

Time & time again Mrs. Kennedy Ryan blows it out the water. I know whenever I pick up one of her books I am in safe hands and go along for whatever journey. After reading so many books by her it amazes me that each story feels unique and different from the last. This one is no different.

This is my first time reading this book in this series and I fell in love with all the characters, The passion between Lennix & Maxim had me all the way hot and bothered. They were so powerful and I ate it right up. My favorite thing about Ms. Ryan's books is that it is never just a love story having so many more important conversations and themes within. Also all he characters are always well-developed and can stand on their own which makes the worlds she writes so much richer.

I cannot say enough if you have not experienced any great work by this author you are seriously missing out!

Ryan knows just how to pull at my heartstrings. She did pull me along The Kingmaker. I loved everything about it. Lennix was such a strong FMC, and wow sure it was part of her trauma but her setting boundaries until she was ready is one of my favorite things about her. Ohhh Maxim, such a dream chaser and visionary. He laid his cards out every single time. The progression of their relationship was beautiful, passionate, and explosive which I enjoy. One thing I am personally not a fan of is “lies by omission” and this one has that trope 😒. I am glad that the offending party groveled a lot.

From reading another book by this author I see that there is a pattern of using jealousy as a way of pushing the characters together, which works here but I just don’t love it as a way to cause tension. The reunion was a chef’s kiss, now that said. What the heck was that cliffhanger I need the next book immediately. I would recommend this to people who enjoy things like political activism and insta-love turned second chance over a long period of time. Do take the time to read the CW/TW before deciding if this book is a good fit for you.

Thank you to Bloom Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Kennedy Ryan is brilliant! The characters the topics are well researched, and the plot flowed beautifully! The spice and chemistry is spot on. I started reading and had to stay up all night to see what happens between Nix and Max. I cannot wait until book 2! This was a pleasure to read with such a cliffhanger!

4.5/5 stars and 2 on the spice scale

"I thought I wanted her then, but it was just a struck match. What burns inside me now is rampant, a wildfire I'm tired of trying to contain."

Tropes: soulmates, second chance, alpha male

This book was a journey. As with most Kennedy Ryan books, this story is heavy on romance and substance. Lennix and Maxim's story unfolds over the course of 15 years and is challenging at every turn. The only thing not challenging is their physical and emotional attraction to each other.

I am not usually a fan of instant love, but this felt believable and their chemistry jumps off the page and I was cheering for them.

Maxim is an alpha male relentless in his pursuit to get what he wants and meets his match in Lennix who is out to do the same. Neither sacrifices their dreams for the other, despite some heartache that causes.

"..."But remember this, Nix." I bend my head so close my breath stirs her hair and her scent stirs my pulse. "The harder I have to work for something, the harder I take it.""

This book does end on a cliffhanger, so I recommend having Rebel King at the ready to continue where they leave off.

Originally published in 2019, Kingmaker is getting a makeover! I had never heard of this new adult romance until last month when I received an arc from NetGalley. I love how the author takes several timely issues, oil, clean energy, missing indigenous women, Etc..and finds a way to weave them together in an effortless way.

I admit that I was unbelievably frustrated when Nix found out the big secret. I knew she would feel betrayed but I felt her reaction was too immature and short-sighted.

But, the author uses it to develop some absolutely SICK tension between the two main characters. So masterfully created that the ending will shock the hell out of you. There is no doubt that Maxim will literally bomb the entire continent to look for her

Lennix and Maxim were explosive together. I felt every emotion these two portrayed. The longing. The anger. The need to be with one another when circumstances kept them apart.

I can’t wait to dive into book 2. The cliffhanger this book left on…WOW!!

Seeing these two meet, fall in love and then are torn apart, only for them to come back together years later with one of them fighting for a love that he knows is worth everything made for a really interesting romance. I fell hard for both Lennix and Maxim. They were both intense characters that were strong on their own but in my opinion, better together. Their love was strong and it was fierce and it never completely fizzled out after years and years of separation. Kennedy Ryan will pull at your emotional strings with this one because it’s not an easy romance but man was it a worthwhile one. This book isn’t getting 5 stars from me but that’s only because of that ending. I’m not a fan of cliffhanger endings and this has one so if you’re wanting to read this, there’s your warning…but on the bright side, the follow-up book, The Rebel King is available for you to immediately jump into if you need to.

What a beautiful story. Be aware that this is book 1 in a duet because I did not know and now I NEED The Rebel King!!

𝚆𝚎 𝚐𝚛𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚝 𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚠𝚎’𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚘𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚙𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚝 𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚕𝚎. 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚞𝚗𝚎. 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚕𝚞𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚎𝚊𝚌𝚑 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗.

I loved reading about a Native American heroine, that was a first and if you know Kennedy’s writing - you know it came off beautiful and raw. Time is never on Maxim and Lennix’s side, but you’ll be rooting for them the whole time. The time jumps had me so into it - I love those, idk why!

𝙼𝚊𝚡𝚒𝚖’𝚜 𝚜𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐.

The story was uplifting and powerful with smart MCs who have everything going for them, except getting to be with the one who feels different than anything they’ve ever had. The spice was 🥵 and so was Maxim as a billionaire 🤩😍 he was possessive and damn, I loved it. Some parts had me on the edge of my seat! I need the rest of Maxim and Lennix’s story!

The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan! Where to begin? This story spans four different continents. We have an indigenous MC and a billionaire climate activist MMC. This love story was beautiful from start to finish. The connection forged between Lennix and Maxim is bone deep from the beginning. The way these two interact with one another, talk to each other, and see one another for who they are and who they will be (as they follow their dreams) was magical. Kennedy Ryan’s writing is incredible. Her research and love for people is very clear in her storytelling. I fell in love with Lennix immediately as well as Maxim. They were both so layered and incredible on their own and together. Nobody is doing it like Kennedy Ryan! I know this is part of a duology and I am jumping into The Rebel King immediately. Especially with the way The Kingmaker ends. I was a fan of Kennedy Ryan before but this story has truly cemented her as one of my top favorite authors. 5 ⭐️ Definitely recommend!

I’ve heard of Kennedy Ryan but this was my first read of her works and wow. This is a re-release of her popular All the Kings men duology and I can see why she is so popular.
This book delivered on so many fronts, there was:
- Politics (who knew building a nation was so interesting)
- Environmental issues that are still so relevant today
- Strong determined FMC who’s not afraid to fight for what is right (she’s also very likeable)
- Second chance romance but spread out between two time jumps and it works sooo well
- The Angst!! My word the Angst of Maxim and Lennix was just intense
The words just flowed like silk and There’s just so much depth to the story that I loved every second of it. Read this in two sitting and that Ending!! 😱 I did not realise it was a duology before the end and phew… I’m need the next book straight away because there is no way I am sitting on that cliffhanger. 😭

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @sourcebloom for an eArc of this book… you have allowed me to open my heart to a whole new author I can’t wait to read more from.

Wow I was skeptical at first about the fact that Lennix was underage when she met Maxim. But the thing about Kennedy Ryan is she’s going to put her characters throughout and evoke so much emotion from the reader. I became so invested in the story. Both the romance and the climate change and Native side plots. The political aspect was also super interesting. I’m so glad I have the next book downloaded so I can continue!

Loved this! I wasn't sure how I was going to feel going in but this was beautifully done. I love the struggles the character's faced and the conflict. Super slow burn but I really love it. Can't wait to dive in to the next one.