Kennedy Ryan hit all the emotions with this book. It was so good from the very beginning you’re drawn into their story and you go up and down then you are left with a cliffhanger. I cannot wait for the next book like I cannot wait.

Kennedy Ryan is so amazing at bringing awareness to topics that are so difficult to talk about. Every time I read a new book I find a new topic I'm passionate about and new characters that I root for like they are my best friends. I was worried the pacing was going to be weird in this book at first, but it didn't feel slow, or rushed. It was perfect. Every time, it is just incredible.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for providing me an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t the right fit for me. I found myself struggling to connect with the characters and their story, and decided to DNF at 44%. Reading through some of these other reviews, I’m glad I stopped there, as I don’t think I would have liked where the story progressed from there.

I liked the beginning of their story, even though she was only 17, and he 24 when they met, and it was somewhat “insta-lusty”, I didn’t have a problem with it, and it was somewhat of a “meet-cute” situation at an oil pipeline protest.

I appreciated the incorporation of the missing and murdered indigenous women issue, and the author bringing more attention to it. I also appreciated that she reached out to indigenous women in order to hopefully bring a respectful portrayal of an Apache woman to the page. (Usually I prefer having members of these communities being the ones to bring these stories to the page/film, but at least reaching out and seeking guidance is good.)

I did not connect with the characters very much, especially Maxim. I just didn’t jive with his personality, and he irked me whenever he talked…he’s the kind of person I try to avoid in real life 😂; overconfident and preachy.

I also didn’t really enjoy all the MANY discussions on all the political issues. I understand that these issues are important for the story, there was just a little too much of it in my opinion…(and I agree with all these positions!)

I definitely think others will enjoy this book, and can see that many people do. It just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC.

Sadly, this book wasn’t for me. It was very heavy on the political activism to a point where it felt a bit on the nose.
It also fell a bit into clichés at times.
I did really like the FMC, but I‘m not sure how to feel about Maxim, who felt a bit too much ‚rich white boy‘ and not ‚sexy billionaire heir‘.
I didn’t get far enough in the book to comment on the overall plot and romance development.

Overall, I just didn’t get invested in the story and had to DNF, but I‘m sure other people will enjoy the book a lot more.

This one just wasn't for me - the beginning started off so confusing and it didn't draw me in at all. From there it felt like a chore. I typically really enjoy Kennedy Ryan's writing though, this one just wasn't my favorite.

<i> Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for providing me an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!</i>

<b>Before I let go</b> by Kennedy Ryan was one of my favorite reads from 2022 and I couldn’t be more excited for having the opportunity to review other book from her.

This book follows the story of Lennix, an Apache descendent, passionate about giving voice to minorities and difficult causes and Maxim, a son of an oil baron, who is fully dedicated to environmental causes and energy transition.
The plot itself was very predictable and I found the love story quite flat. Although the MC have some interests in common, I couldn’t see what was keeping them together besides lust and physical attraction.

It was interesting to learn a bit about the heritage and culture of apaches and I enjoyed the inclusion of serious issues such as colonization impacts.
The information provided regarding the climate crises and USA politics is basic, which per se is not a problem as this is a romance and not a non fiction book. However, I must confess this book left me increasingly worried about the climate. If the information provided is not common knowledge to everyone, we have indeed a long path ahead to protect the planet.

I recommend this book for contemporary romance readers who enjoy:
- insta love
- Alpha heroes
- Age gaps
- Dual POV

Although I did not like this story as much as other Kennedy works, I’m curious about the next installment as this one ends on a cliffhanger.

Kennedy Ryan never misses...her books are powerful, steamy and so emotional. This duology is one you don't want to miss! The chemistry between Lennix and Maxim is there. If you did not read this series while it was indie published, be prepared...this duology ends with quite the cliffhanger. You'll want book two asap.


Can we also talk about how well researched this book is? The authors note is one you'll want to read.

Ms.Ryan has never missed and never will!!!! She does her research and it shows!! Just wow! The writing is on point!! The romance romanced hard af!!! Overall, another W for Ms.Ryan!!!

This book ended up being a DNF for me. At first I was very into the story and my attention for it was great. But I just could not latch onto the dynamic Lennix and Maxim. I would like to try to come back to this story as I feel it does have a great plot topic when it came to Lennix and what she represents. Even though I DNF'd from what I read this book was a 3 star leaning towards 4. DNF'd at 45%

This was my first Kennedy Ryan book and I was blown away. The Kingmaker is the first book in the All the King’s Men duet and it is filled with prose, passion and deep context that makes you think.

You can’t help but fall in love with both the main characters Lennix and Maxim. Both are ambitious and driven and yearn to make a difference in their world in their own way.

“𝐷𝑜 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑜. 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑, 𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑔𝑜 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡, 𝐼’𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢.”

Without giving any spoilers away, this is a passionate love story that spans decades and across continents. This book is filled with intense longing, star-crossed lovers, secrets and lies. But in the end, love prevails. Love always wins.

Read if you like:

🫶🏻 Native American heritage
✈️ Globe hopping
🌟 Star crossed lovers
✌🏼 Dual POV
🗣️ Politics
🌍 Climate Change
⛰️ Cliffhanger

Thanks NetGalley and Bloom Books for this ARC!

This is my first experience with Kennedy Ryan's writing and I loved it very much! This book is so much more than a love story! It is a story of growth, forgiveness and hope.
The two main characters have an instant connection, but due to their life goals and powerful motivations, unfortunately, they cannot seem to find a way to stay together. There is so much angst between them, so many obstacles.
The writing is very visual and fast-flowing, and the chapters are short. If this is how all author's books are written, I will definitely be reading more!
I've been to Amsterdam many times, and keep going there since I live just two hours away, but I haven't been to the places described in the book :) The author just gave me a whole bunch of places to visit!
I'm not a fan of reading books with cliffhangers, or reading multiple books about the same characters but I was warned so it's okay.
The only thing that seemed weird to me is the female character realizing her problems/fears on her own, as if she was her own therapist. That seemed a bit too self-conscious for her, kind of like a cop-out for the author to reveal the real reason behind her being closed off. I wished a little that it was revealed in a different way. But that didn't hinder my enjoyment of this wonderful story!
I am definitely buying/reading the second one!

The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan is book one in her All The King's Men Duet.
It tells Lennix and Maxim's story and oh boy what a story that is.
There's a strong heroine and a stubborn hero. Sidekicks that deserve to be main characters themselves.
Once started I couldn't put the book down. The story spans years and I loved that they're grown ups when the real story starts out.
The storyline gave me all the feels, it's heart wrenching, unputdownable, soulamtes stories like that I love the most.
I can't wait for the next book, The Rebel King.

The Kingmaker was my first Kennedy Ryan book, and it did not disappoint.
The story centers on Lennix, a young Apache woman trying to figure out her place in the world while fighting her hardest for her heritage, her ancestors and her culture; and Maxim, the son of her archenemy.
I enjoyed how different the structure of their story was, compared to a lot of romance novels. Gone the traditional 3 acts, here you follow Lennix and Maxim on their journey, each of them fighting like hell for their own ideals and convictions, and trying to figure out if they can fit together. The story follows them around for more than a decade, and it's been great to get to see them grow. I would have loved if we got deeper into who they became as more mature adults, but it was still amazing to have followed them on their journey.
The other and most important thing to me was that this book highlighted two central struggles of our modern world: how marginalized people (here Native American specifically) and climate change. I've learned a lot during this read, especially about indigenous culture and the struggle it is for Native Americans to try and keep it as intact as possible, to just be able to pass in down from generation to generation.
I love me a book with badass women of colour, achieving their colours, getting what they deserve and what they're owed 👏👏👏
All in all, I'd definitely recommend the read if you're looking for an innovative romance. Be warned, it's not the light-hearted kind, but it's definitely worth it 🩷
Oh and side not, be careful, that cliffhanger at the end, what on earth was that! I was not prepared. So get the second book before you start this one cause you'll want to continue the series immediately.

This book is written in a way that not only gives the reader epic romance and spice, but really brings to the forefront some hard-hitting social issues that are core to the characters. I didn't expect to learn things from what I thought was a romance, but I ended up learning about climate change and missing and murdered indigenous women (MMIW). The female main character is a Native American activist and daughter of a woman who went missing in her formative years. The male main character is the son of an oil company legacy who has completely separated himself from his family and dedicated his life to researching climate change and clean energy. This is definitely not your typical romance, but it's one of the best I've read in a long time. It's a slow-ish burn, second chance romance where the main characters come from completely different worlds.

Warning: MAJOR cliffhanger ending

The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan is an enthralling and passionate start to the All the King's Men duology. Set in a world divided by wealth and power, Maxim Cade is determined to forge his own path away from his family's oil empire. When he meets Lennix Hunter, a woman fighting against the very industry that his family represents, their connection is immediate and intense. Despite their differences and the obstacles in their way, their hearts are undeniably drawn to each other. Ryan's writing is filled with emotion and the chemistry between Maxim and Lennix leaps off the pages. The story captivates with its themes of love, loyalty, and the pursuit of dreams. Readers will eagerly anticipate the continuation of Maxim and Lennix's journey in the next instalment of this compelling duology.

I need the sequel to this immediately.

I really enjoyed this one. The chemistry between the two main characters was no joke. And I actually liked the way politics was encorporated within the story. I wasn't a big fan of the big time jumps. And I kind of get why they were there, but damn, ten years?

This is such a unique read. I love how it spanned an entire decade. The book really showed how the characters developed and grew through the book. The passion and chemistry between Lennix and Maxim is so electrifying. I could feel the heat between them page after page. I love how the relationship developed throughout the book. They truly are a modern day Romeo and Juliet. Lennix and Maxim are powerful alone but together they make a powerhouse couple. #couplegoals Overall, it is a beautiful love story that I can’t wait to continue reading in Book 2.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for this Advanced Copy.

#netgalley #thekingmaker #kennedyryan

Entertaining and a page turner. Love the bipoc rep. Looking forward to the series. I think fmc and mmc had insane chemistry but I could have done with less politics in the book.

I read The Kingmaker when it was first published and 4 years later Lennix and Maxim's story has still stayed with me. The Kingmaker is the first part of the All The King's Men duology by Kennedy Ryan. The story spans over a decade as we meet Max and Lennix, 2 people who seem to be diametrically opposed. Ryan deftly weaves a story of love, loss, and social justice set against the backdrop of DC politics. I especially appreciate the attention Ryan brings to the countless missing Indigenous women who's stories have been ignored and silenced. Ryan has done a significant amount of research and has treated this topic with care and respect. Of all of Ryan's novels this series will always remain my favorite

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Bloom Books to let me read this advance reading copy through Netgalley. I read this book willingly, this opinion is my own.

I love the beginning of this book. Lennix is an incredible woman character. I love that she is Yavapai-Apache, I love reading about her culture, her convictions, her morals ; she's an amazing, strong woman who knows where she is going and isn't afraid to let other people know.

At first, I really liked Maxim Cade. I love how he fights for his convictions even against his father. I loved how he felt so badly and fast for Lennix.
But, he's also really ambitious, cunning and wants to win at all prices. For these reasons, he made bad choices (in my opinion) and he's a little bit of an asshole. He thinks about himself first a lot. And when he decides that he's ready for her, he doesn't let go until he gets her back. The more I read, the more I had difficulties liking him. It was tough to reconcile how he was younger and who he become older.

In the end, it was difficult to root for them being together. I still kept reading because I love Lennix, I love her story. I'll keep reading the next book for the same reason.

It is a hard book to rate because for Lennix story, the Yavapai-Apache nation, the issue about indigenous women disappearance (who happens in everyday life); I would give this book a 4.5 stars but because of my dislike of Maxim, at the end it was hard to keep reading.

3.5 stars for me. I recommend this book to everyone who wants to learn more about Apache culture. If you like your MMC more possessive and dark, you're gonna love this book.

"Grief is its own kind of intimacy, a bond of sorts between you and the one you lost. No one else feels it the way you do about that person you loved most."