Spotlight & Giveaway: Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym Martineau

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Maxym Martineau to HJ!

Assassin’s Creed meets Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them in this gripping, epic fantasy romance trilogy.

Please share your favorite quote from the book.

Before I dive into my favorite quote, I just want to say a quick thank you for having me, Harlequin Junkie! I’m so excited for Kingdom of Exiles to be out in the world, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone.
 
All right, onto my favorite quote(s)… see what I did there? Hehe. Okay, okay, I swear it’s not that bad. I spent some time combing through my manuscript and narrowed it down to two – one from Leena’s perspective, my main female character, and one from Noc’s perspective, my main male character. Seems fair to include them both, right? Right. At least, that’s what I’m going with.
 
Let’s start with Leena’s line:

Angry heat bloomed in my chest, and I scrubbed my lips with the back of my hand to try to wipe away the feeling of his nearness. But that was the problem with honey—wiping was more like smearing, and suddenly I was covered in the sting of his rejection and wishing I’d thought twice before flirting with a harbinger of death.

To give a bit of context, Noc’s scent has traces of honey in it, and while Leena initially finds this appealing, this quote shows how much she’s fighting against her feelings for him (and the way he is fighting against his feelings for her by fleeing during this almost-kiss interaction). I love creating angsty, slow-burn romances, and the push and pull this couple feels is highlighted here. The longing, the fear (he’s an assassin, for crying out loud!), the rollercoaster emotions. Leena is experiencing so much in this moment.
 
Okay, and now for Noc’s quote:

“Assassins are not warriors. We don’t fight fair. We don’t battle, and we don’t give forewarnings. We strike when we know we’ll win. In the silence, when you least expect us. You survived Kost because Iky was concealed. You survived Calem because he gave you the opportunity to summon your beasts. But let me tell you something, Leena…”
I positioned myself directly in front of her.
She froze, not backing down but visibly wary.
“No matter how hard you try, no matter how many battles you win, you will never survive me.”
And that was the honest truth.

Really, the line I’m pointing toward here is, “…you will never survive me.” But, the context leading up to it is so vital that I had to include it.
 
Noc had just seen Leena summon some of her beasts and beat his fellow assassin in a sparring match. Rather than congratulating her on her prowess, he has to check himself – and her. He’s getting dangerously close to allowing certain feelings to the surface, and acknowledging them would be detrimental. There’s also the matter of the bounty, his curse… but you’ll have to read to get the inside juicy context surrounding this loaded moment. I don’t want to spoil anything for you! But, like Leena’s quote, this interaction points to his developing feelings and how much he’s battling against them and trying to push her away by reminding her of how dangerous he is.
 
I’m such a sucker for quotes, so I’d love to know – for those of you who have read Kingdom of Exiles, what was your favorite quote? And if you haven’t yet, I’d love to know what your favorite quote is from any other fantasy romance out there!
 
 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: Paperback copy of Kingdom of Exiles by Maxym Martineau

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: I’m such a sucker for quotes, so I’d love to know – for those of you who have read Kingdom of Exiles, what was your favorite quote? And if you haven’t yet, I’d love to know what your favorite quote is from any other fantasy romance out there!

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Book Info:

My heart wasn’t part of the deal when I bargained for my life,
But assassins so rarely keep their word.

Exiled Charmer Leena Edenfrell is running out of time. Empty pockets forced her to sell her beloved magical beasts—an offense punishable by death—and now there’s a price on her head. With the realm’s most talented murderer-for-hire nipping at her heels, Leena makes Noc an offer he can’t refuse: powerful mythical creatures in exchange for her life.

Plagued by a curse that kills everyone he loves, Noc agrees to Leena’s terms in hopes of finding a cure. Never mind that the dark magic binding the assassin’s oath will eventually force him to choose between Leena’s continued survival…and his own.

Book Links: Amazon| Barnes & Noble| iBooks| Indiebound| Books-a-Million

Meet the Author:

Maxym M. Martineau is an article and social media writer by day and a fantasy romance author by night. When she’s not getting heated over broken hearts, she enjoys playing video games, sipping a well-made margarita, competing in just about any sport, and of course, reading. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Arizona State University and lives with her husband and fur babies in Arizona. Connect with her at MaxymMartineau.com or through Twitter and Instagram @maxymmckay.