4.5 stars!!

Anji Kills a King was such a solid debut! The writing was really simple and accessible, but not too simple to where anything felt stilted or awkward. I liked how young and headstrong Anji was and how it lead her to make some mistakes. I enjoyed her growth by the end and I am really curious to see her development throughout the series. There wasn’t as much world building as I would have liked. A lot of it happened in conversations between Anji and the Hawk, but I would have liked to learn a bit more. Hopefully the next book expands on it! This is a travel story, so it did feel slowly paced at times, but I enjoyed seeing Anji and the Hawk’s interactions in the various places they travels to and with the various characters they encountered along the way. The ending was wild and it has me excited for book two! Moira Quirk did an amazing job narrating the audiobook!

Thank you so much to Tor Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the Audio ARC!

3.75/5 stars

Moira Quirk is a top tier narrator and everything she reads is magic - wonderful job!

This was a well written, fun, interesting, and engaging story. It had all the makings of an amazing fantasy, but I can't say that it felt incredibly unique. But regardless, it was a lot of fun to read and I really did enjoy the story and the characters. I loved the concept of a group of bounty hunters in the persona of animals, employed by the government and make into folk heroes to the masses.....who are also just people that become twisted by power and begin to enjoy the pain they inflict. It was fascinating to read and watch develop, especially when entwined with the poignant commentary on corruption in power and religion.

But my favorite part was how Anji became an assassin and perpetrator of regicide - basically by accident. She is brash and stubborn and annoyingly unwilling to change or listen most of the book, but she's an interesting FMC that just sort of stumbles into the history books - I really enjoyed wondering what she would do next.

This is an amazing debut and while it wasn't perfect, you can bet I'll read whatever Leikam puts out next - every epic fantasy lover needs to check this out!

I had some high hopes for this book despite knowing it's a debut, and I'm very happy to see that it met and exceeded those hopes! Leikam has a great sense of humour and infuses that into his characters with witty banter and easy charisma. The pacing is awesome, and the writing feels like it has a lot of depth and understanding of the world that's being created. I could feel the anxiety and frantic need to *move* as Anji is launched into the story and quite literally on the run.

This was a very strong debut, I don't have any complaints and I'm excited to see where this author can go not only with this story but others in the future.

Moira Quirk is always an exceptional narrator and I was so happy to see she was taking on this story. Her voice was fantastic for Anji and she added extra depth to an already compelling and well written story. I'm so grateful I got to listen to this one, it was like an extra layer of magic.

Anji and Hawk have a fantastic dynamic. I loved their banter and watching their relationship develop over the course of the story. The world-building, the humor, the action, the pacing—I loved it all, and I cannot wait for the next book!

✧ ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰʀᴇᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋ, @tor @netgalley

➤ 𝚂𝚈𝙽𝙾𝙿𝚂𝙸𝚂

Anji, a castle servant turned assassin, kills a hated king and goes on the run with a massive bounty on her head. Hunted by the deadly Menagerie, mercenaries with magical animal masks, she’s caught by the Hawk, a grizzled swordswoman with her own agenda. What follows is a tense and uneasy alliance as they race to survive, with the fate of the kingdom hanging in the balance. Perfect for fans of Joe Abercrombie, R.F. Kuang, and Christopher Buehlman.

➤ 𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝙶𝙷𝚃𝚂

Anji Kills a King opens with a bold move when Anji kills the king, and the story takes off at full speed from there. What follows is a gritty, fast-moving fantasy that stands out for its originality and emotional weight. Anji and the Hawk feel like real people, not just fantasy archetypes. Their choices have consequences, their goals shift, and their pain feels earned. The book explores heavy themes like grief, addiction, and religious trauma without turning overly dramatic. Some side characters could have used more development, but the core relationship more than carries the story. It is raw, intense, and surprisingly moving.

The pacing is relentless, which will appeal to readers who enjoy a quick and urgent story, though it might feel rushed for those who prefer deeper world-building. Still, the tension stays high, and even the more predictable twists land with impact. The story leans into its weird, eerie tone in all the right ways and ends on a dark and satisfying note. It also sets up the next book without feeling like a placeholder. For a debut, this is a strong and memorable start. Evan is clearly a talent worth watching, and I will be picking up the sequel.

I have followed Evan's IG profile @BookReviewsKill for a long time, appreciating his considered thoughts on not just modern popular books, but the full breadth of sci-fi and fantasy literature. His massive collection of tattered paperbacks and well-worn trade editions from the background of his older videos evoked an instant feeling of comradery with a fellow book lover. I was thrilled when he announced he had a book deal with Tor and would be coming out with his very own fantasy series, and so pleased when I saw a copy of the audiobook in my inbox for early review.

Long story short, I'm impressed.

The premise is self-described in the title. Anji, a servant in the king's castle, kills him in the prologue. It becomes clear shortly after that she was not quite anticipating the wider implications of his death either for herself, or the greater realm. What follows is a reluctant journey she can't escape.

I really loved Moira Quirk's narration of this novel. Anji has a strong voice and it felt all the more powerful with the right narrator to do her justice.

The novel is relatively fast paced. I found it got a little meandering around the two thirds mark where I was craving something new, but I can't disparage it much on pacing, as it gets going right away and the integrity of the writing itself maintains itself all the way through. The world building is far from overwhelming, giving only bits and spurts in a way that kept it interesting and intriguing.

Overall, this is a very strong debut, and after that ending, I am so interested to find out what happens next for Anji. Way to go Evan, this really lived up to the hype I was expecting.

Note:: I received an early copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The debut fantasy novel “Anji Kills a King” by Evan Leikam follows the castle servant Anji that escaped the capital after killing the current King. With the kingdom in turmoil she is being hunted by the famous mercenaries of the so called Menagerie.This group of powerful, animal mask wearing bounty hunters will stop at nothing to see Anji brought to justice.

This was a good debut! The writing and plot were immediately engaging. This is a book with the characters constantly on the move and focused on their destination. So if you like road trip heavy books without any romantic subplot this will be for you!

I especially enjoyed the relationship between Anji and the Hawk. The dynamic and development between Anji and the older woman was fascinating. Furthermore I always find it refreshing to read a unique character pairing. Sadly the story lost a lot of its momentum in the middle part, which was filled with action scenes but could stick the landing for me.

The world building was well done while the magic system rarely really factored much into the story during their trip. It felt more like an introduction into a world that would span multiple books while for me the story had a great end point. I always appreciate fantasy books that work great as a standalone.

I had the pleasure to listen to the book as an audiobook and can only say good things about the performance by Moira Quirk. I found her voices fitted the characters and I was always aware who was speaking. I particularly liked her portrayal of the raspy voice of the Hawk.

A big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Macmillan Audio for giving me the opportunity to listen to an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

So look. Anji Kills a King is basically a long, tortuous road trip with so much blood and other gross bodily fluids that it was tough for me to finish! Basically you've got Anji, who (yes) kills the tyrant king of her country and then goes on the lam. She's quickly picked up by a bounty hunter, the Hawk, and then the rest of the book is them on the road back to the capital where Anji is to be tortured and executed for her crime. And I'm not talking about an Immortals After Dark "Torture Island" road trip that, while tortuous, is also sexy. The Hawk takes a lot of time bringing Anji to the capital city, and the encounter a lot of different people on the roads who want to separate them so they can get the money for her capture themselves. We will eventually discover why Anji killed the king, why the Hawk is so single-minded about collecting the bounty, and what the consequences will be for both of them if Anji escapes, but it takes a lot of miles traveled, blood spilled, and black saliva spit to get there.

If you like fantasy road trips but wish there was less romance and lots more blood than LOTR, this is the book for you. I listened to the audiobook and narrator Moira Quick does a great job of differentiating all of the characters. This is the first in a series, but I don't know if my stomach is strong enough to continue, despite my interest in the continued plot (assuming Anji gets off the road)!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the audiobook.

3.75
This is a quick read, especially for a fantasy book. Anji is on the run after killing the king and her sense of urgency propels the reader through the narrative. She is pursued by the Menagerie, a famous band of bounty hunters, but not all is as it seems. This book raises a lot of interesting questions about rebellions and their pitfalls. I found it a bit heavy handed at times and inconclusive at others, but there's a plot twist at the end that caught me by surprise and really added a lot of depth to the narrative. Of course, Moira Quirk is one of the best narrators and her use of different voices for different characters is so fun.

**Review of *Anji Kills a King* by Evan Leikam**

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*Anji Kills a King* is an outstanding debut novel by Evan Leikam, packed with action, intrigue, and a strong central character. The story centers around Anji, a determined servant girl who takes a bold and impulsive step to kill a wicked king. This unexpected act sets off a thrilling chase, as Anji is hunted by the royal mercenaries known as the Managerie, a group of ruthless, animal-masked warriors tasked with maintaining the kingdom’s order. With a bounty of $1,000,000 for her capture (alive), the stakes couldn’t be higher.

What makes this book truly special is its rich development of Anji as a character. Driven by her parents’ tragic fate—killed while advocating for change—Anji’s actions and motivations feel both personal and profound. She’s not just running from the Managerie; she’s fighting for a cause, seeking justice for her people. Her resilience, resourcefulness, and determination make her a fierce and relatable protagonist.

The world-building is immersive, and the stakes never feel too far from Anji’s reach, with the Managerie constantly on her tail. The action scenes are fast-paced and well-executed, keeping the tension high throughout. The ending is especially satisfying, tying together the story’s threads and leaving readers eager for more.

In short, *Anji Kills a King* is a must-read for fans of action-packed fantasy with strong, complex characters and high stakes. I’m eagerly anticipating the next installment of this series. Highly recommended!

**A big thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing the opportunity to read and review this amazing book.**

The swift prose and witty banter quickly got me hooked into this action packed debut novel. I found it to be a very easy and almost compulsive read. It was truly a strong start. Even though I continued to zip through, I found myself getting a little tired of the repetitive narrative between Hawk and Anji about 40% in. We spent a lot of time having the same argument that would go nowhere and it felt like that happened a few too many times. While this was happening, it didn’t feel like the characters were developing much. I kept waiting for the wave to come and get our emotional character arcs off and to the races, but those arcs never truly came in my opinion. It felt like I learned what they were doing but I didn’t get enough about who they really were. I prefer to feel a bit more invested in and connected to characters.

I would have also liked to have seen some more world building. It was cold, I know that. What else? There are spider tornadoes or did I misunderstand? Do other weather events have living organisms in them? Show me more about the magic system. I kept asking why and how about so much in the book. There wasn’t enough character building for there to be so little world building.

There was a lot of action! Many battles and fights. There was a bit more gore than I usually gravitate towards but I attribute that to feeling like this is primarily a battle/action book. I did find myself thinking, “Ope, another fight,” from time to time but I think that it is a me thing. With that said, I think the fight scenes were written very well.

Overall, I think it is a decent debut. The overarching plot is interesting, the dialogue is incredibly strong. The book ends with a solid set up for the second book, which I think I will check out because I am interested in seeing how the Author’s writing will evolve.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was absolutely excellent! Moira Quirk nailed it! She did several, distinct voices throughout the book. She sounded great when voicing female AND male characters! I found her voices very believable and helpful with getting me into the world a little bit more than would have been possible with a digital copy. I will be watching for Moira in the future and hope to listen to her again soon!

(I do not think R.F. Kuang is a good author to compare this work to. That comparison was part of what made me interested but going in with that comparison in my head is part of the let down. The styles are not alike. I think maybe Brandon Sanderson would have still been a reach but a more fair comparison.)

The way I thought this book was just on the run thrills, until Hawk starts spitting knowledge- Good Gods. She dropped so many 💎s on Anji, like oh, okay- It’s THAT kinda book. I was so invested & then the ending came… Boy. I was heartbroken, but at the same time proud, like she really set forth this whole movement. Overall, this was such a story. The bounty hunters, magical animal relics, the Tide, the menagerie, just so many concepts I feel like I needed a lil more of, but nonetheless was such a wild ride w/ tons of quotes for the road 🤍

“You think a lil suffering makes you innocent?”

“What good is your pain if you learn nothing from it?”

“You cannot topple a pyramid by cracking its crown, you must to dismantle it brick by brick until its weight is lifted free & you can begin again.”

“If you’re willing to kill for a cause, you should be willing to die for one too.”

An impressive debut from one of my most trusted Booktube/BookTok reviewers! Leikam explores the ramifications of the titular king killing with main character, Anji, forced to face hard truths about herself and the world that she doesn’t fully understand, and has possibly made more dangerous. The darkness is interspersed with surprising but always welcome bursts of humor. All in all, a great read that I couldn’t put down!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for this ARC, I thoroughly enjoyed it! This book was not what I expected at all, and all of my theories were wrong, which is why I’m rating it so highly. You won’t see any of it coming either.

An opportunistic laundress kills a king she blames for all the evils in the world and suddenly everyone is chasing her. Being dragged to her doom by a legendary bounty hunter Anji learns first hand the consequences of killing a king.

The audio performance was engaging, and each character had a distinctive voice so it was easy to follow conversations.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan publishers for allowing me to listen to Anji Kills a King as an audio ARC. I have to say, the narrator of this story is EXCELLENT. She truly brought to life all characters and kept them consistent. This to me is a hard job because there are ALOT of important major and minor characters. She brought to life their emotions, personalities and it almost felt like you were listening to the audio of a dialogue to a movie! Truly, one of the best narrations Ive listened to in a long time! Anji Kills a King - and this is the start of her journey. As the MC, I was kind of annoyed with her. She reminded me of a younger bratty sibling who you just keep needing to reprimand. The other MC Hawk, I really enjoyed. At first you question the motive, but once you understand, youre perspective shifts. Im not sure what I expected out of this book - but I very much enjoyed the journey and all the characters. This is a world I definitely would not want to live in. The creatures were terrifying. Overall, I enjoyed the growth and interaction between both MCs. I look forward to book 2 and feel this would make a really cool animation adaptation series! I already have the broken binding SE ordered and cant wait to have it on my shelf! If you can, do yourself a favor and listen to this book as an audio!

I really enjoyed this, I can’t believe this was a debut. I think it was a great length for the first book in a trilogy and I think the story breaks in a good place to keep you coming back for the next book. The writing feels more character driven than plot driven. It reminds me of Robin Hobb’s writing. There’s certainly stakes but if you’re here for large scale battle scenes, you will be left wanting.

We meet our regicide Anji and the Hawk who is the bounty hunter charged with bringing her in. We learn so much about them on their journey and meet the rest of the cadre on the way. The banter is great, the journey trope is well executed, and the world building is naturally fleshed out. Im not sure I agree with the “break neck” speed, I thought the pacing was appropriate for a book this size.

Moira Quirk is the audiobook narrator (she does the Locked Tomb series as well) and she does a great job bringing these characters to life and making them feel animated. Would definitely recommend the audio if you can.

I will definitely be looking forward to the rest of this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audiobook arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is an action- packed fantasy adventure novel that doesn’t stop. From the opening pages when the young orphan Anji kills the despotic king, she is on the run with a huge bounty on her head. Fortunately she is worth more alive than dead, or it would be a short book! Since power abhors a vacuum, there are plenty of other villains ready to step in with egregious laws (plus bounties and methods of torture) that are no better than those the late king imposed. There are some graphic fight scenes and descriptions of torture. Anji is reckless, impulsive, and annoying, pestering her eventual captors with ceaseless questions. Yet, we are rooting for her. 4.5 rounded up for this well-narrated audiobook and its satisfying ending.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook #AnjiKillsaKing for review purposes. Publication date: 13 May 2025.

What do you get when you combine a cultish theocracy, fantasy meth, and a poorly-thought-out crime of passion?

Anji Kills a King has an explosive beginning and a fantastic ending. The middle sometimes felt episodic or disjointed, but only sometimes. The most interesting thing that Leikam has done here, in my opinion, is completely abandoned character tropes and archetypes. Our two main characters, Anji and the Hawk, are incredibly complex and real, even frustratingly so. Anji, in particular, is a radically unique main character. Impulsive, mouthy, and slow to figure things out; I often didn't like her, but loved the unique experience of being clueless in the wide wide world beside the clueless main character. There were a LOT of uncomfortable moments where I thought, "Dang it Anji, that was so dumb! ........ But I guess that's probably what I would have done. 😬"

And she definitely gets smarter by the end - smart enough to tease an exciting sequel that I am dying for. As excellent as this debut is, I get the sense that the full series is going to be so much bigger and even better. Well-done, Evan (and Moira)!

Anji kills a king.... which may or may not have been the right decision. He's a tyrant, so it had to be right, right? She's on the run, with a large bounty on her head. She thinks she's in the clear until a mercenary soldier known as the Hawk finds her to bring her in. But the bounty is high, there are others after Anji (who may have been poisoned by the Hawk), and their adventure back to the palace is challenging on physical and emotional levels.

I loved the tone of this fantasy novel! It's quippy and adventurous, even as it touches on unfairness of empires and wealth distribution. The worldbuilding exists in the margins of the story - it's character driven so we learn a lot about the way the government functions through critical conversations between Anji and the Hawk. They discover they come from similar backgrounds, with the religious Order of Inheritance providing food in exchange for sermons (and indoctrination).

Anji is young still, and her actions are inexperienced, but we see the implications of this on page as she struggles to learn nuance in her highly charged political world. Even as she discovers the Hawk's goals and believes them to be on the same side, she learns that being against the king isn't the same as having the same goal.

I selected this on audio so I could listen to Moira Quirk, who is fantastic. She narrates Anji with an enthusiasm that that enhanced her character for me.

CW: drug use and drug addiction to a fantasy drug are prevalent in the story.

3.5/5 Stars rounded up–
Anji Kills A King is a visceral dark fantasy anchored by its flawed, desperate characters. Anji, a reluctant assassin, pulses with raw humanity as she flees her vengeful act, while her reluctant ally, the surly mercenary Hawk, embodies gritty pragmatism. Their tenuous dynamic drives the story, with Evan Leikam’s sharp prose lending urgency to their deadly cat-and-mouse game. The Menagerie—animal-masked hunters with supernatural abilities—adds thrilling stakes, though the plot’s slow-burn political intrigue occasionally stalls momentum.

The finale delivers a satisfying punch as Hawk faces brutal comeuppance, balancing moral ambiguity with poetic justice. While uneven pacing dulls some of the novel’s breakneck potential, Anji’s evolution from terrified fugitive to cunning survivor shines. Leikam plants compelling seeds for future installments, particularly the promise of Book 2, which teases Anji’s ruthless transformation into a mercenary herself. A flawed but gripping start to a series that rewards patience with its antiheroic heart and blood-soaked ambition.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC!