Exiles' Refrain

by Mel Todd

When gods turn their backs, exiles remain.Jadaya, the cast-out warrior branded by her former goddess.
Note, the survivor whose scars run deeper than the ocean.
Rylix, the trader whose exile never truly ended.

Fate didn’t choose them. The gods certainly didn’t bless them. But when children are being taken and a mad god tightens his grip, these three have only one thing left—each other. Together, they’ll face the whims of deities, the weight of expected behavior, and the bone-deep exhaustion of never being enough.

To break the cycle, they’ll risk their fragile alliances, the rage of gods both slumbering and awake, and the only chance any of them have for redemption. But in a world that worships power and demands obedience, sometimes the greatest act of rebellion is refusing to break—even if it means setting the tearing the world apart first.

Becoming Exile isn’t the end.It’s the beginning of refusing fate, forging bonds, and burning down every lie the gods ever told.

Genres: Fantasy

721 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 25, 2025

About the author

Hey everyone! I'm Mel Todd and I live in Atlanta, Georgia at this moment. I write mostly romance free urban fantasy, urban science fiction, and soon fantasy.

Here are 4 truths and one lie about myself.
1 - I know how to milk a goat.
2- I once propositioned Dean Cain.
3 - I had my picture taken with Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner.
4 - I have driven across the US.
5 - I have a library with over 2000 RPG books.

I'm working on the next book in the Twisted Luck series and have an duology I'm planning on writing for Nanowrimo in 2021.

Reviews

[Liora Chandler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Exiles’ Refrain, and wow… this book really got to me. It’s the kind of story that sneaks up on you. At first, I wasn’t even sure what I was feeling, the pacing is slow, the world feels strange but by the end, I was completely pulled in.

Jadaya’s story hit me hard. She’s not your typical fantasy heroine, she’s tired, hurting, and just trying to find her place again after everything that happened. I loved how real she felt. There’s this quiet strength about her that stays with you even when the story ends.

The raid scene? Brutal. I had to stop for a bit after that. And when Note opened up about his guilt, I felt that in my chest. Mel Todd did such a good job showing how messy grief and survival can be.

What really broke me was the ending. When Jadaya went back to the sea and sang again even though her voice cracked, it was such a small, beautiful moment. No grand happy ending, no magic fix, just her choosing to try again. It felt honest.

If I’m being real, it’s not a fast read. The beginning moves slowly and takes some patience, but once you get into it, it’s so rewarding. The writing is lyrical but not overdone, and some lines just stick in your head long after.

It’s not the kind of book you read for action, it’s the kind you feel. It’s heavy, emotional, and sometimes hard to sit with, but it’s worth it.

[Henry Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not even sure what to say except… wow. Exiles’ Refrain is a strange, beautiful ache of a book. It’s full of gods and magic, sure, but it’s also about very human things, regret, love, and survival.

What I loved most was how every character is allowed to be messy. There are no easy answers here, no tidy morals. Just emotion and consequence. Mel Todd writes like someone who respects her readers enough to let them feel uncomfortable.

[Ethan Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

So… I loved this book, but I also spent half of it slightly confused 😂. The worldbuilding is incredible, but there’s a LOT to absorb, and sometimes I felt like I was missing context.

That said, the characters? Amazing. Jadaya’s pain, Note’s guilt, I felt all of it. The ending hurt (in a good way), but part of me wanted just a little more closure. Still, Mel Todd’s writing is so lyrical I didn’t even care half the time.

[Daniel Stashower · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exiles’ Refrain isn’t the kind of fantasy that throws you into battles or big twists. It’s emotional, reflective, and slow, like the sea it’s built around. The way Mel Todd writes about exile, silence, and survival is raw and real.

It made me think about how healing rarely comes in one big moment; it comes in pieces, in breaths, in learning to move forward. I finished this book feeling both heavy and comforted at the same time.

[Patti Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s fantasy, and then there’s whatever Mel Todd is doing. Her world feels alive, full of coral cities, singing people, and gods who cry rain. The imagery is stunning.
But what really grabbed me was the emotion. You feel Jadaya’s exile in your bones. You feel Note’s rage like a heartbeat. Todd doesn’t just tell you their pain, she lets you sit in it. And somehow, it heals you a little.

[CJ Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not a perfect book, the beginning is slow and there’s a lot of world info to digest, but by the halfway point, I was totally invested.
What won me over was Mel Todd’s voice. She writes like someone who respects her readers. No shortcuts, no sugarcoating. Just truth and emotion. I’ll be recommending it for a long time.

[Gary McAvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What hit me hardest was how quiet the story is. There’s no big hero moment, no sweeping prophecy. Just survival. The writing is stunning, almost too beautiful sometimes but underneath all that poetry is something raw and bruised. It reminded me that strength doesn’t always look like fighting. Sometimes it looks like forgiving yourself enough to keep going.

[Fabbro Fabricant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished Exiles’ Refrain last night and I’m still thinking about it. I don’t even know how to explain what Mel Todd did here. It’s fantasy, sure, there are gods, oceans, songs, strange powers but it’s not about any of that. It’s about people. It’s about loss and guilt and trying to live when you feel like you don’t belong anywhere.

[Lorna Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feels ancient and modern at once
Mel Todd builds worlds that feel mythic yet deeply personal. You believe every piece of her world the coral cities, the songs, the tears of the gods.
But it’s her people who stay with you. Jadaya is fierce, haunted, and unforgettable. Note is broken but still fighting. You don’t read them you meet them. Todd’s writing has that rare spark.

[Joy Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

We picked Exiles’ Refrain for our October read and wow, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a quieter Zoom call. Everyone just… sat there processing. Jadaya’s final scene by the sea hit all of us differently. Some thought it was freeing, others found it heartbreaking. Either way, Mel Todd gave us a lot to talk about.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really took me by surprise. I didn’t expect to get so emotionally attached to Jadaya, but somewhere along the line, I found myself rooting for her in silence. The story is heavy, full of pain, loss, and quiet moments but it’s also strangely beautiful. The ending wasn’t what I wanted, but it was exactly what it needed to be.

[Steph Macca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, so Mel Todd just decided to personally ruin my emotional stability, huh? Because that ending had no right to hurt like that. I was just minding my business, reading about ocean exile feelings, and suddenly I’m crying into my tea. This book needs a tissue warning label. It’s sad. It’s poetic. It’s so good.

[Eva Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that doesn’t spell things out for you, you have to meet it halfway. The worldbuilding feels more emotional than literal, which I actually loved once I adjusted to it. The pacing is deliberate, the language is rich, and the final act ties every theme together perfectly. If you want an intellectual yet emotional read, this is it.

[Erin Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first few chapters didn’t fully grab me, but I’m glad I stuck with it. Once I adjusted to the pace, I realized this book is about everything that happens quietly, the thoughts, the pauses, the small acts of courage.
By the end, I didn’t want it to rush. It’s rare to find a book that honors emotion this honestly.

[Summer Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

That’s the best way I can describe it. The story moves like waves, slow, soft, powerful when it needs to be. Mel Todd’s imagery is gorgeous without being overdone, and the emotional core is so strong.

This isn’t about grand action or drama; it’s about survival. About existing after loss. And that’s what makes it unforgettable.

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great story

I love Mel Todd’s writing and style. I have read everything in the catalog.
A great story of redemption and healing. It should have come with a trigger warning about off page child abuse and could have used another editing pass but the story was spooo good.

[Perez-Krueger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mel writes like someone who’s lived a thousand lives.
The emotional weight behind her characters feels too real to be made up. You can tell she’s seen darkness and beauty and knows how to write both.

[Siavash Saadlou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mel writes like someone who’s lived a thousand lives.
The emotional weight behind her characters feels too real to be made up. You can tell she’s seen darkness and beauty and knows how to write both.

[Rebecca Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mel Todd made me feel everything.
The way she wrote the raid scene??? My heart was racing. Then when Note opened up about his guilt, I just lost it. The emotional depth here is unreal. Yes, it’s slow, but I wouldn’t change a thing.

[Abigail Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of our most emotional discussions. A few people felt frustrated with the pacing, but everyone agreed the ending was perfect for Jadaya’s journey. I personally loved the raw honesty, no magic fix, no forced happy ending. Just survival and acceptance.

[Ruby Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book felt like being punched in the heart and hugged at the same time. Mel Todd doesn’t write for comfort, she writes truth. Jadaya’s pain, her exhaustion, her quiet strength… it’s all so real. I didn’t even realize I was crying until the last page.

[Thalia Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t think I’d connect with this story, but wow. I saw parts of myself in Jadaya’s struggle, feeling out of place, trying to forgive yourself. The ending wasn’t happy, but it was honest. That’s what made it powerful.

[Logan Poole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, this story is haunting. It’s not fast or flashy, but it makes you feel. I had tears in my eyes during the raid scene, and by the time Jadaya went back to the sea, I was just gone. It’s rare for a fantasy novel to feel this personal and raw.

[Frederick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a quietly powerful book. I won’t lie, it took me a while to adjust to the writing style. But once it clicked, it was like reading something alive. The emotion, the imagery, the way Todd describes grief… it’s all so vivid. The ending will stay with me for a long time.

[D. James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book isn’t for everyone, but if you like emotional stories that take their time, you’ll love it. I found myself highlighting so many lines. The sea imagery, the loneliness, the small glimpses of hope, everything connected perfectly by the end.

[Theophilus Author · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a few chapters to get into the rhythm of the story, but once I did, I couldn’t stop reading. I love when fantasy feels intimate instead of epic. The raid scene was devastating, and the ending was quietly powerful. Mel Todd’s writing stays with you.

[Kayla Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I was fine. I really did. But somewhere around the last few chapters, I started tearing up without realizing it.

The writing builds up emotion so gently that it catches you off guard. There’s grief in this story, but also forgiveness, not of others, but of yourself. That hit me hard.

[Jonathan Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can see why some readers might call this slow, but honestly, I liked that it wasn’t trying to be loud. The whole book feels like reflection.

Todd writes with purpose. You can tell every sentence was chosen carefully. This isn’t a book you read quickly, it’s one you absorb.

[Cavanagh David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t a book you rush through. It asks you to slow down and feel every page. Jadaya’s quiet pain and her search for a place to belong hit hard. Mel Todd captures that tired, restless kind of grief that never really leaves, and somehow turns it into something gentle.

[Trevor Aaronson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I liked most is that nothing about this story feels forced. The world is strange and layered, but the emotions are painfully real. When Jadaya wrestles with doubt, it reminded me of times I’ve second-guessed every decision in my own life.