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Exiles' Refrain
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.
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.
721 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2025
43 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Mel Todd
83 books212 followersHey 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
October 26, 2025
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.
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.
October 22, 2025
Alright, spoilers ahead, you’ve been warned!
So Exiles’ Refrain absolutely destroyed me. I was NOT prepared for how emotional Jadaya’s story would get. The moment she went back to the sea and started singing again after everything she’d been through?? I actually teared up.
The raid on Pelisic was the turning point for me, brutal, heartbreaking, and so well-written. When Pel stayed behind, I literally shouted “nooo”. And Note? Don’t even get me started. I didn’t think I’d care about him that much, but he ended up being my favorite character.
The ending wasn’t happy, but it was honest. Jadaya doesn’t magically fix everything; she just accepts who she’s become. That felt real. That’s what made the book hit so deep for me.
Not gonna lie, it starts slow, but once it grabs you, it won’t let go.
5 stars. Easily.
So Exiles’ Refrain absolutely destroyed me. I was NOT prepared for how emotional Jadaya’s story would get. The moment she went back to the sea and started singing again after everything she’d been through?? I actually teared up.
The raid on Pelisic was the turning point for me, brutal, heartbreaking, and so well-written. When Pel stayed behind, I literally shouted “nooo”. And Note? Don’t even get me started. I didn’t think I’d care about him that much, but he ended up being my favorite character.
The ending wasn’t happy, but it was honest. Jadaya doesn’t magically fix everything; she just accepts who she’s become. That felt real. That’s what made the book hit so deep for me.
Not gonna lie, it starts slow, but once it grabs you, it won’t let go.
5 stars. Easily.
October 22, 2025
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.
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.
October 22, 2025
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.
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.
November 4, 2025
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.
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.
November 4, 2025
I spent most of this book with a lump in my throat. The story isn’t loud or dramatic, it’s steady, like watching waves come and go. There were parts that hurt to read because of how close they came to feelings I’ve had before: losing faith, trying to start over, realizing you don’t fit where you used to.
It’s one of those stories that makes you quiet afterward. I just sat there thinking about everything it stirred up in me.
It’s one of those stories that makes you quiet afterward. I just sat there thinking about everything it stirred up in me.
November 4, 2025
I connected with this book in ways I didn’t expect. I’ve known that feeling of being stuck between two lives, not sure which one you’re supposed to claim. The loneliness in some of those scenes hit hard, that kind of silence where everything you want to say gets caught in your throat.
It’s not a story that gives you big moments, but it gives you real ones. The kind that sit heavy on your chest and take a while to let go.
It’s not a story that gives you big moments, but it gives you real ones. The kind that sit heavy on your chest and take a while to let go.
October 20, 2025
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.
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.
October 22, 2025
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.
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.
October 24, 2025
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.
October 24, 2025
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.
October 25, 2025
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.
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.
October 26, 2025
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.
October 28, 2025
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.
October 28, 2025
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.
October 28, 2025
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.
November 4, 2025
This isn’t my usual type of read, it’s slow and emotional but something about it just got under my skin. I’ve felt that kind of “in-between” space in my own life, and Jadaya’s struggle to keep going despite everything really spoke to me.
Mel Todd’s writing is like breathing underwater: heavy but soothing.
Mel Todd’s writing is like breathing underwater: heavy but soothing.
November 4, 2025
I get what the author was doing, and it’s impressive, but I found myself wishing for a little more plot movement. The introspection and silence are powerful, but I wanted something more tangible to hold on to.
Still, it’s undeniably well written and full of emotion. I respect what Mel Todd achieved here.
Still, it’s undeniably well written and full of emotion. I respect what Mel Todd achieved here.
November 4, 2025
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.
By the end, I didn’t want it to rush. It’s rare to find a book that honors emotion this honestly.
November 4, 2025
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.
This isn’t about grand action or drama; it’s about survival. About existing after loss. And that’s what makes it unforgettable.
November 4, 2025
This is the kind of book I’ll recommend carefully, not to everyone, but to people who love stories that feel like prayers. It’s heavy, but in the most human way.
Jadaya’s inner conflict is the heart of it all. You can feel the weight of her choices in every silence. I closed the book feeling like I’d witnessed something sacred.
Jadaya’s inner conflict is the heart of it all. You can feel the weight of her choices in every silence. I closed the book feeling like I’d witnessed something sacred.
August 31, 2025
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.
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.
October 22, 2025
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.
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.
October 24, 2025
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.
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.
October 26, 2025
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.
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.
October 26, 2025
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.
October 26, 2025
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.
October 26, 2025
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.
October 28, 2025
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.
October 28, 2025
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.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews