What do you think?
Rate this book
Valisar Trilogy #1
Royal Exile
From out of the East they came riding like a merciless plague—destroying kingdom after kingdom and the sovereigns who had previously mocked the warlord Loethar and his barbarian horde. Now only one land remains unconquered—the largest, richest, and most powerful realm of the Denova Set…
Penraven.
The Valisar royals of Penraven face certain death, for the savage tyrant Loethar covets what they alone possess: the fabled Valisar Enchantment, an irresistible power to coerce, which will belong to Loethar once every Valisar has been slain. But the last hope of the besieged kingdom is being sent in secret from his doomed home, in the company of a single warrior. The future of Penraven now rests on the shoulders of the young Crown Prince Leonel who, though untried and untested in the ways of war, must survive brutality and treachery in order to claim the Valisar throne.
Penraven.
The Valisar royals of Penraven face certain death, for the savage tyrant Loethar covets what they alone possess: the fabled Valisar Enchantment, an irresistible power to coerce, which will belong to Loethar once every Valisar has been slain. But the last hope of the besieged kingdom is being sent in secret from his doomed home, in the company of a single warrior. The future of Penraven now rests on the shoulders of the young Crown Prince Leonel who, though untried and untested in the ways of war, must survive brutality and treachery in order to claim the Valisar throne.
441 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 2008
107 people are currently reading
2759 people want to read
About the author
Fiona McIntosh
70 books1,983 followersFiona writes best selling historical adventure-romance alongside the heroic-romantic, often brutal, fantasy she built her career upon. She lives in Australia but frequently roams the world meticulously researching the locations and gathering material for her historical novels that have international settings. Her books are published worldwide and in various languages.
Her most recent historical fiction has gathered such a following that she is now hosting a tour in 2014 to Paris and Provence so eager readers can walk in the footsteps of her characters.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Her most recent historical fiction has gathered such a following that she is now hosting a tour in 2014 to Paris and Provence so eager readers can walk in the footsteps of her characters.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
January 9, 2014
I can count on my hands the number of books I personally have picked out, then given up reading half way through. This is one of them. It makes it all the worse when it looked to be such a good story too.
Firstly, the petty complaints. I have a first edition of this novel, all shiny and new, and I am distinctly unimpressed by the editing errors. The fly leaf misspells Denova as Devona twice. The map at the front of the book does not mark on Brighthelm despite this being, according to the contents of the book, the capital city of Penraven. Instead the capital of Penraven is marked as Penraven. Way to go. Where commas actually appear in this book, (which they rarely do, leading all the characters to sound like they’re on crack) they only do so in the middle of hideously long sentences and in the middle of phrases.
Now to why I didn't like the book itself:
The central premise is immediately very problematic, and the plot overly simplistic.
Bearing in mind that the following issues are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head that occurred in the first 80 pages, here goes:
The idea that the King and Queen just accept that their country is doomed and sit in the castle waiting to die, while failing to even plan a sensible defence strategy, is completely unbelievable. I’m sorry, but why on earth is a random teenage boy brought in and ordered to smother the princess instead of a servant doing the deed, or the king himself? Like, is there a point? Also, why on earth do Leo and Gavriel, (bearing in mind the entire point of the book is that they can flee and survive) actually wait in the palace till the last minute, instead of escaping weeks before the invasion? Instead, they run merrily around and are heeded by neither friend nor foe, despite the fact the castle is literally being stormed at this point.
It's unrealistic that the king decides he’ll accept the terms of Loether before he has even heard them, rather than trying to assert his dominance. It’s also unrealistic that the king confers directly with soldiers rather than having generals, and seems to have literally no-one in his retinue apart from one legate. What about some advisors, or guards? It's laughable that an archer, who actually dreams of promotion, also has a petty grudge leading him to make the snap decision to randomly betray the entire city. It’s ridiculous that said betrayal consists of 'opening a gate', which lets the entire army of barbarians swan merrily in. Er, were there not guards at this gate? It’s also ridiculous that the king had actually allowed said traitor to deliver a personal message to the enemy without vetting it first; I mean, for all he knew it might have contained such vital advice as 'I’m feeling douchey today, so I'll open the unguarded gate for you, lol!'
Sections of plot are jumped over too: one moment, Loether's army is a whole country away. Next, they're right outside the castle gates. Wow, can Loethar teleport? Next, Loether's suddenly in the throne room where the king was conveniently waiting for him (how kind!). Wait, didn’t anyone fight him? Where were all the guards? Oh wait I know - it’s because this book doesn’t have any god forsaken guards.
Okay. Moving on.
The prose is not just sparing, it is full on sketchy, which grates when much of the dialogue is actually unnecessary. Despite the occasional page of background worldbuilding, description throughout the novel is non existant, leaving the fantasy world bare and unconvincing.
The dialogue is clunky and pretentious (twelve year old Leo talks like a dictionary) in a prose which lacks the levity to sustain it. Big words are used clumsily, and turns of phrase are used just unusually enough to make it sound as though the author is either trying too hard, or not actually a native English speaker. Examples from pages 87- 88:
1) 'There was not sufficient room' - the word you're looking for is 'insufficient'.
2) 'A smile broke across his mouth' - actually, the expression is 'face' not 'mouth'.
3) 'I will never lose that image' - 'forget' sounds much smoother.
The interactions between the characters are awkward as a result of the dialogue, and there are far too few characters described to paint a convincing picture of two armies and an entire court (even if they DON'T have any guards). Characters explain and tell, rather than showing and doing, which makes them seem two dimensional and almost comical.
Problems like this make the story lacklustre; there is no sense of peril, or possibility. The characters, rather than real people making decisions which weave the plot as they goes along, are puppets McIntosh is forcing down the nonsensical and linear path she has fated them to go.
Oh, and I can totally see where the plot of the 'dead' daughter is going.
Why on earth this is marketed as an adult novel, and has garnered such a positive critical reception, is beyond me. I may be overreacting to give up on it completely. But I simply cannot summon the force of will to suspend disbelief enough to actually finish this book, let alone enjoy it, when I know there are so many superior fantasy novels out there.
Would not recommend this to book anyone who has actually read a good adult fantasy novel in their life.
Firstly, the petty complaints. I have a first edition of this novel, all shiny and new, and I am distinctly unimpressed by the editing errors. The fly leaf misspells Denova as Devona twice. The map at the front of the book does not mark on Brighthelm despite this being, according to the contents of the book, the capital city of Penraven. Instead the capital of Penraven is marked as Penraven. Way to go. Where commas actually appear in this book, (which they rarely do, leading all the characters to sound like they’re on crack) they only do so in the middle of hideously long sentences and in the middle of phrases.
Now to why I didn't like the book itself:
The central premise is immediately very problematic, and the plot overly simplistic.
Bearing in mind that the following issues are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head that occurred in the first 80 pages, here goes:
The idea that the King and Queen just accept that their country is doomed and sit in the castle waiting to die, while failing to even plan a sensible defence strategy, is completely unbelievable. I’m sorry, but why on earth is a random teenage boy brought in and ordered to smother the princess instead of a servant doing the deed, or the king himself? Like, is there a point? Also, why on earth do Leo and Gavriel, (bearing in mind the entire point of the book is that they can flee and survive) actually wait in the palace till the last minute, instead of escaping weeks before the invasion? Instead, they run merrily around and are heeded by neither friend nor foe, despite the fact the castle is literally being stormed at this point.
It's unrealistic that the king decides he’ll accept the terms of Loether before he has even heard them, rather than trying to assert his dominance. It’s also unrealistic that the king confers directly with soldiers rather than having generals, and seems to have literally no-one in his retinue apart from one legate. What about some advisors, or guards? It's laughable that an archer, who actually dreams of promotion, also has a petty grudge leading him to make the snap decision to randomly betray the entire city. It’s ridiculous that said betrayal consists of 'opening a gate', which lets the entire army of barbarians swan merrily in. Er, were there not guards at this gate? It’s also ridiculous that the king had actually allowed said traitor to deliver a personal message to the enemy without vetting it first; I mean, for all he knew it might have contained such vital advice as 'I’m feeling douchey today, so I'll open the unguarded gate for you, lol!'
Sections of plot are jumped over too: one moment, Loether's army is a whole country away. Next, they're right outside the castle gates. Wow, can Loethar teleport? Next, Loether's suddenly in the throne room where the king was conveniently waiting for him (how kind!). Wait, didn’t anyone fight him? Where were all the guards? Oh wait I know - it’s because this book doesn’t have any god forsaken guards.
Okay. Moving on.
The prose is not just sparing, it is full on sketchy, which grates when much of the dialogue is actually unnecessary. Despite the occasional page of background worldbuilding, description throughout the novel is non existant, leaving the fantasy world bare and unconvincing.
The dialogue is clunky and pretentious (twelve year old Leo talks like a dictionary) in a prose which lacks the levity to sustain it. Big words are used clumsily, and turns of phrase are used just unusually enough to make it sound as though the author is either trying too hard, or not actually a native English speaker. Examples from pages 87- 88:
1) 'There was not sufficient room' - the word you're looking for is 'insufficient'.
2) 'A smile broke across his mouth' - actually, the expression is 'face' not 'mouth'.
3) 'I will never lose that image' - 'forget' sounds much smoother.
The interactions between the characters are awkward as a result of the dialogue, and there are far too few characters described to paint a convincing picture of two armies and an entire court (even if they DON'T have any guards). Characters explain and tell, rather than showing and doing, which makes them seem two dimensional and almost comical.
Problems like this make the story lacklustre; there is no sense of peril, or possibility. The characters, rather than real people making decisions which weave the plot as they goes along, are puppets McIntosh is forcing down the nonsensical and linear path she has fated them to go.
Oh, and I can totally see where the plot of the 'dead' daughter is going.
Why on earth this is marketed as an adult novel, and has garnered such a positive critical reception, is beyond me. I may be overreacting to give up on it completely. But I simply cannot summon the force of will to suspend disbelief enough to actually finish this book, let alone enjoy it, when I know there are so many superior fantasy novels out there.
Would not recommend this to book anyone who has actually read a good adult fantasy novel in their life.
July 23, 2015
I am conflicted by this book. The first half or so really seemed to drag, and for the first few chapters I was rather confused, as nothing was explained at all, and I had to work everything out for myself based on context. I was close to marking it as DNF and moving on, but the action finally picked up and the book got interesting. The climax was certainly hard to stop reading, but I felt let down by the lack of resolution. I am undecided if I continue with the next book of the series.
May 27, 2016
Almost four days for this 450-page book and yeah, not worth it. Too cliched in approach and execution, too stilted in characterization, too much telling and not enough showing. I tried McIntosh's other series for 2.5 books before giving up, but I am throwing the towel on the Valisar series after only one. There is a chance this could, somehow, mature into something better, but I felt the same way with the Percheron books, was patient for hundreds of pages and it failed to pay any reward.
May 3, 2016
it is a very tiring book is the first thing i want to say. yes, there are thrills at every moment. but it is that kind of a book where "whatever can go wrong shall go wrong" sooner or later. too much confusion , too many twists, too many secrets, it is not part one of a trilogy, its just a big-big-BIG introduction to the story. have no patience left to move to the next part. it was hard completing this one too, but can't gather my wits to move further. i need a long break from reading after this.
as far as the storyline goes it has a good premise but filled with too much frustration as it moves. doesn't make sense, mostly. at places it seems like a few things are done for the sole sake of making things appear more conspirational and sad, however senseless it may seem.
didn't like it..it has a making of a good story, but desperation to make it appear desperate has succeeded, though not just for the characters in the story but also to me as a reader. and it is a desperate attempt to give conspiracy in the world of kings and princes.
as far as the storyline goes it has a good premise but filled with too much frustration as it moves. doesn't make sense, mostly. at places it seems like a few things are done for the sole sake of making things appear more conspirational and sad, however senseless it may seem.
didn't like it..it has a making of a good story, but desperation to make it appear desperate has succeeded, though not just for the characters in the story but also to me as a reader. and it is a desperate attempt to give conspiracy in the world of kings and princes.
June 18, 2020
Mam mieszane uczucia do tej powieści. Jest to pierwsza książka z motywem królestw i przejęcia władzy, więc było to dla mnie coś nowego i fascynującego.
Przerażały mnie brutalne sceny, nieludzkie zachowanie, których nie potrafię dopuścić do siebie. Mimo to historia mnie zaciekawiła i rozwijała się naprawdę dobrze. Akcji niestety było niewiele i w zasadzie jak już się pojawiała, to miałam wrażenie, że i tak się mało dzieje. Te sceny nie wzbudzały we mnie jakichś większych emocji.
Bohaterowie jak dla mnie ludzcy i wyraźnie podkreśleni. Ten kto miał być zły był zły, a dobrzy byli dobrymi. Szokowała mnie postać doradcy królowej - Freath. No tutaj mnie zaskoczył. Główny bohater Leo, czyli książę rodu Valisarów, nie przekonał mnie do siebie. Zdecydowanie jestem skłonniejsza ku Gavrielowi. Jest lojalny, ale ma też takie luźne podejście do życia.
Generalnie większość mi się podobała. Zakończenie - trochę nijakie, ale i tak będę kontynuować tą serię.
Przerażały mnie brutalne sceny, nieludzkie zachowanie, których nie potrafię dopuścić do siebie. Mimo to historia mnie zaciekawiła i rozwijała się naprawdę dobrze. Akcji niestety było niewiele i w zasadzie jak już się pojawiała, to miałam wrażenie, że i tak się mało dzieje. Te sceny nie wzbudzały we mnie jakichś większych emocji.
Bohaterowie jak dla mnie ludzcy i wyraźnie podkreśleni. Ten kto miał być zły był zły, a dobrzy byli dobrymi. Szokowała mnie postać doradcy królowej - Freath. No tutaj mnie zaskoczył. Główny bohater Leo, czyli książę rodu Valisarów, nie przekonał mnie do siebie. Zdecydowanie jestem skłonniejsza ku Gavrielowi. Jest lojalny, ale ma też takie luźne podejście do życia.
Generalnie większość mi się podobała. Zakończenie - trochę nijakie, ale i tak będę kontynuować tą serię.
February 23, 2009
Read from 2/12 to 2/16. First in the Penraven trilogy. I tend to like Fiona McIntosh's brand of "dark fantasy". I think she walks the fine line between shocking her audience and grossing them out. In fact, this one was a bit on the mild side, judging by her previous books. Still, quite enjoyable.
December 17, 2019
(4.5)
Omg. This book was a suprise! When I borrowed it from the library expected a young fantasy book which I could read in two days top. After 30 pages I have fast understood my mistake. People are dying in this book a lot and not necessary in the pleasent way. There were things I did not expect at all and was not sure about the reason of the first death but the ending brings more insight. For sure I will read second part. My only problem with the book is the lack of convincing explanations of some people actions. I can imagine that some characters like violence but seriously, there must be some other reason for their decisions (like beating sb almost to dead). It simply feels flat and don't help with enjoying more complicated main story.
Omg. This book was a suprise! When I borrowed it from the library expected a young fantasy book which I could read in two days top. After 30 pages I have fast understood my mistake. People are dying in this book a lot and not necessary in the pleasent way. There were things I did not expect at all and was not sure about the reason of the first death but the ending brings more insight. For sure I will read second part. My only problem with the book is the lack of convincing explanations of some people actions. I can imagine that some characters like violence but seriously, there must be some other reason for their decisions (like beating sb almost to dead). It simply feels flat and don't help with enjoying more complicated main story.
August 2, 2020
2.5 stars
I think the trilogy has potential but unfortunately it has many flaws (the biggest one being that it felt very generic at times, I also saw all of the plot twists coming by three miles). Overall it felt like a very long beginning to a first installment instead of an actual first installment. I’m curious about what the author will do for the rest of the trilogy though. It was a fast read so I’m not complaining.
I think the trilogy has potential but unfortunately it has many flaws (the biggest one being that it felt very generic at times, I also saw all of the plot twists coming by three miles). Overall it felt like a very long beginning to a first installment instead of an actual first installment. I’m curious about what the author will do for the rest of the trilogy though. It was a fast read so I’m not complaining.
January 30, 2021
Very enjoyable read. Lots of action, suspense and violence. I couldn't put it down and can't wait to read the next one.
October 2, 2019
This book starts on a distinctly dark note with a kingdom being invaded and a child being killed - so bleak that I thought about putting it down as I wondered how much darker it was going to get. But I'm glad I stuck with it.
It's always risky throwing the reader straight in as the author has to make sure we have enough information to understand what's going on, but at the same time avoid info-dumping. In this case, the author mostly gets the balance right, giving enough details to keep me interested even when the plot gets a bit predictable. But there's enough here that I'll look for the second book.
It's always risky throwing the reader straight in as the author has to make sure we have enough information to understand what's going on, but at the same time avoid info-dumping. In this case, the author mostly gets the balance right, giving enough details to keep me interested even when the plot gets a bit predictable. But there's enough here that I'll look for the second book.
December 13, 2017
Dawno nie czytałam tak złej książki. Poziom literacki gimnazjalnego fan-fiction. Nie wiem, czy to styl samej autorki, czy wina tłumacza, ale strasznie drażni pospolity język, sztampowe słownictwo, źle dobrane porównania, nieadekwatnie pompatyczny sposób wypowiadania się bohaterów, nie mówiąc już o zupełnej nieumiejętności opisywania wydarzeń co sprawia, że czarne charaktery i ich wątki są bardziej interesujące, niż główni bohaterowie.. Jest to właściwie dobre studium wszystkich błędów, jakie można popełnić, pisząc powieść.
April 17, 2015
*SPOILERS
first of all i curse my childhood habit of makin sure to finish a novel no matter how boring or offencive i find it.. because this is the Most stupid piece of rubbish i have read in last couple of years. .
and i have read some really rubbish stuff in name of fantasy in last 2-3 years (having read around 250 fantasy novels in this period)
while the first part was enjoyable the 2nd nd 3rd part just shows the bankruptcy of the author.there is no coherency. .no logic no underling theme ..i mean a 5 year adorable retarded infant suddenly without any explanation becomes the 15 year main evil incarnate of the story and a barbarian who eats his enemy flesh becomes the hero and is being justified nd forced feeded to us to consider him such throughout 3rd part. .a major villain is left injured by d good side without any explantion to create more problems nd people makes starts making sudden illogical decisions against their past nature ..
i think fiona tries to makes a pathetic attemt to becomes first mark Lawrence nd shows pure gory in her villain. .than GRM nd like jamie lanister tries to redempt her villain than she tries to become sanderson coming of age hero plot . and in process becomes a miserable nothing. .
lyf is to short guyz so my advice don't waste your money and time on this piece of rubbish
first of all i curse my childhood habit of makin sure to finish a novel no matter how boring or offencive i find it.. because this is the Most stupid piece of rubbish i have read in last couple of years. .
and i have read some really rubbish stuff in name of fantasy in last 2-3 years (having read around 250 fantasy novels in this period)
while the first part was enjoyable the 2nd nd 3rd part just shows the bankruptcy of the author.there is no coherency. .no logic no underling theme ..i mean a 5 year adorable retarded infant suddenly without any explanation becomes the 15 year main evil incarnate of the story and a barbarian who eats his enemy flesh becomes the hero and is being justified nd forced feeded to us to consider him such throughout 3rd part. .a major villain is left injured by d good side without any explantion to create more problems nd people makes starts making sudden illogical decisions against their past nature ..
i think fiona tries to makes a pathetic attemt to becomes first mark Lawrence nd shows pure gory in her villain. .than GRM nd like jamie lanister tries to redempt her villain than she tries to become sanderson coming of age hero plot . and in process becomes a miserable nothing. .
lyf is to short guyz so my advice don't waste your money and time on this piece of rubbish
October 13, 2009
It seems that most fantasy books these days are part of a series. I guess there's so much that needs to be thought out in order to invent a fantasy universe, that it seems like a waste to only use it for one book, so they're turned into series instead. That in itself doesn't bother me, but it does get old when one constantly reads books with no real conclusion, because the plot continues in the next novel.
Royal Exile is such a book. Thankfully I'm familiar with Fiona McIntosh's writing, so I was forewarned that this might be the case before I started the book, and therefore didn't mind as much as I usually would. It also helped a lot that the book was absolutely brilliant, so I was completely drawn in by the universe and the characters. Royal Exile sets the scene magnificently. The characters are complex, and the complication without no simple resolution. I'm very interested in seeing what happens next.
Royal Exile is such a book. Thankfully I'm familiar with Fiona McIntosh's writing, so I was forewarned that this might be the case before I started the book, and therefore didn't mind as much as I usually would. It also helped a lot that the book was absolutely brilliant, so I was completely drawn in by the universe and the characters. Royal Exile sets the scene magnificently. The characters are complex, and the complication without no simple resolution. I'm very interested in seeing what happens next.
July 23, 2016
If I was to be completely honest? This book was average at best. I couldn't really get into it, and for me it was a struggle to read to the end. It was just..... So sloooow.
The plot was dragged out way to much and there was too much going on to fully focus on one part of the story. It was written in too many people's POV for me and jumped around a lot. Before long I was forgetting what was going on with each person and had to keep going back to re-read sections.
This book frustrated me, I just felt like I completely wasted my time reading it as I won't be continuing with this series.
The plot was dragged out way to much and there was too much going on to fully focus on one part of the story. It was written in too many people's POV for me and jumped around a lot. Before long I was forgetting what was going on with each person and had to keep going back to re-read sections.
This book frustrated me, I just felt like I completely wasted my time reading it as I won't be continuing with this series.
August 22, 2020
People die. And are beheaded. And their heads are chopped in two. More people die in unpleasant ways. A ten-year old girl is about to be raped.
It's a bit like reading the Mongol conquest of Central Asia, but then with some magic hidden in the background.
Borrowed it at the library, gave up after about 40 pages.
Another reviewer said this was one of her mild novels, which made me shiver. And not in a nice way.
It's a bit like reading the Mongol conquest of Central Asia, but then with some magic hidden in the background.
Borrowed it at the library, gave up after about 40 pages.
Another reviewer said this was one of her mild novels, which made me shiver. And not in a nice way.
September 30, 2015
This was the first Fiona McIntosh book I have read. I have been missing out on some superior writing. Royal Exile is a great read, well developed characters, story flow with no "dead" or "dry" spots. I've already picked up the rest of the trilogy! Fiona McIntosh will be an author I seek out. Looking forward to reading more and more of her work.
December 9, 2014
Great. Lots of fun; a few flaws and I can kinda see where it's going (and I don't think there's anything wrong with that). Lots of characters full of depth; a few plot points too neat but overall, great! I'm enjoying finding engaging fantasy again.
April 3, 2010
I enjoyed the plot, but the writing style was simplistic and the dialogue in some places was just plain bad.
December 1, 2014
Couldn't finish. Too awful.
For a review that couldn't be more accurate, see this one: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
For a review that couldn't be more accurate, see this one: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
November 18, 2022
Valisar - Tome 1 : L’Exil de Fiona McIntosh aux Éditions France Loisirs
C’est la conquête de l’Ensemble de Denova qui regroupe 7 contrées par un seigneur de guerre tribal.
Il veut anéantir par le sang et se proclamer Empereur de l’Ensemble, son but ultime détruire la lignée des Valisar à tout prix.
Or, le roi de Penraven ne l’entend pas de cette manière et confiera des missions aux fils intrépides de son légat pour y remédier.
J’assiste à des destins brisés, de lourdes responsabilités à porter, des sacrifices énormes seront demandés au prix de nombreuses vies.
L’espoir est la lumière qui persiste lors des drames et auquel on se rattache.
Il y a un certain attrait dès le début, mêlé à de la curiosité, de nombreux secrets ambigus, de l’action palpitante se fait sentir à la lecture de cet exil et un brin de traîtrise, de félonie bien dosé histoire d’instaurer le doute au sein de l’empire.
Le personnage le plus énigmatique et intéressant est celui de Loethar avec sa complexité. Il est sombre, rude et sans pitié avec parfois une pointe de sensibilité au milieu d’un maelström de vengeance haineuse dont j’attend la source avec impatience.
Certains passages sont terrifiants et oppressants. La barbarie des guerriers tribales des Steppes est d’une violence sans limite et d’une puissante détermination.
La plume de Fiona McIntosh est entraînante et fluide. Elle maintient ses lecteurs sur le qui-vive en dévoilant lentement les péripéties et l’enchaînement du récit. Elle intègre les nouveaux personnages avec minutie, chacun apporte une nouvelle perspective au récit, un nouveau revirement. La magie de la description des territoires sont facile à s’y glisser.
J’aime la façon dont les chapitres sont construits, ils n’ont qu’une à deux directions différentes maximum, les dialogues sont bien dosés, ils ne sont pas trop lourds.
J’aime particulièrement les volte-face inattendues, par contre certains événements sont plus facile que d’autres à deviner à l’avance.
La fin de ce premier tome donne vraiment envie de continuer l’aventure !
C’est la conquête de l’Ensemble de Denova qui regroupe 7 contrées par un seigneur de guerre tribal.
Il veut anéantir par le sang et se proclamer Empereur de l’Ensemble, son but ultime détruire la lignée des Valisar à tout prix.
Or, le roi de Penraven ne l’entend pas de cette manière et confiera des missions aux fils intrépides de son légat pour y remédier.
J’assiste à des destins brisés, de lourdes responsabilités à porter, des sacrifices énormes seront demandés au prix de nombreuses vies.
L’espoir est la lumière qui persiste lors des drames et auquel on se rattache.
Il y a un certain attrait dès le début, mêlé à de la curiosité, de nombreux secrets ambigus, de l’action palpitante se fait sentir à la lecture de cet exil et un brin de traîtrise, de félonie bien dosé histoire d’instaurer le doute au sein de l’empire.
Le personnage le plus énigmatique et intéressant est celui de Loethar avec sa complexité. Il est sombre, rude et sans pitié avec parfois une pointe de sensibilité au milieu d’un maelström de vengeance haineuse dont j’attend la source avec impatience.
Certains passages sont terrifiants et oppressants. La barbarie des guerriers tribales des Steppes est d’une violence sans limite et d’une puissante détermination.
La plume de Fiona McIntosh est entraînante et fluide. Elle maintient ses lecteurs sur le qui-vive en dévoilant lentement les péripéties et l’enchaînement du récit. Elle intègre les nouveaux personnages avec minutie, chacun apporte une nouvelle perspective au récit, un nouveau revirement. La magie de la description des territoires sont facile à s’y glisser.
J’aime la façon dont les chapitres sont construits, ils n’ont qu’une à deux directions différentes maximum, les dialogues sont bien dosés, ils ne sont pas trop lourds.
J’aime particulièrement les volte-face inattendues, par contre certains événements sont plus facile que d’autres à deviner à l’avance.
La fin de ce premier tome donne vraiment envie de continuer l’aventure !
October 6, 2025
You know that feeling when you open a fantasy book and suddenly realize you’ve accidentally cleared your whole day? That was me with Royal Exile. Fiona McIntosh doesn’t just tell a story—she commandeers your attention, sprinkles in betrayal and heartbreak, and leaves you pleading for just one more page… until it’s 3 a.m. This is a tale steeped in blood, betrayal, and the kind of treachery that makes you doubt every alliance. Fiona McIntosh doesn’t just spin a fantasy—she laces it with venom and wonder, daring you to trust no one.
(Spoiler ⚠️ Alert)
And then there is Freath. A man who wears betrayal like a second skin. From the first moment, you’re certain he’s the Judas of the tale—sharp, cold, and merciless in his choices. But oh, how brilliantly Fiona twists the blade. For beneath his mask of treason lies the single thread upon which the Valisar line continues to exist. Without him, the legacy would have rotted in the grave. With him, it claws its way forward, bruised but unbroken. That is McIntosh’s genius—turning treachery into salvation, and making us question whether loyalty can ever truly be recognized until the very end. It’s bold, exciting, and incredibly addictive. This is EXACTLY the sort of fantasy that reminds you why the genre is pure magic
(Spoiler ⚠️ Alert)
And then there is Freath. A man who wears betrayal like a second skin. From the first moment, you’re certain he’s the Judas of the tale—sharp, cold, and merciless in his choices. But oh, how brilliantly Fiona twists the blade. For beneath his mask of treason lies the single thread upon which the Valisar line continues to exist. Without him, the legacy would have rotted in the grave. With him, it claws its way forward, bruised but unbroken. That is McIntosh’s genius—turning treachery into salvation, and making us question whether loyalty can ever truly be recognized until the very end. It’s bold, exciting, and incredibly addictive. This is EXACTLY the sort of fantasy that reminds you why the genre is pure magic
July 29, 2018
I really enjoyed this story.
So not my usual cup of tea, but it was just lying about so I picked it up for a read. I imagine with all fantasy books, the magic lies in the world building. And this novel certainly was great in that department. I felt like I was transported to another time and place. Although, I would have liked a touch more description to the culture and surroundings in the Set and tribes.
The characters were very interesting and I connected to all of them. Although, there were some instances of love triangles that I just thought were unnecessary. Writing was okay. No wow factor but no horrible mistakes either. Action plot line was really interesting.
Overall, it held my interest to the end.
So not my usual cup of tea, but it was just lying about so I picked it up for a read. I imagine with all fantasy books, the magic lies in the world building. And this novel certainly was great in that department. I felt like I was transported to another time and place. Although, I would have liked a touch more description to the culture and surroundings in the Set and tribes.
The characters were very interesting and I connected to all of them. Although, there were some instances of love triangles that I just thought were unnecessary. Writing was okay. No wow factor but no horrible mistakes either. Action plot line was really interesting.
Overall, it held my interest to the end.
May 16, 2020
3 razy porzucałam tą książkę podczas czytani, bo chodź pomysł jest dobry, to wykonanie i bohaterowie nie bardzo grają ze sobą.
Postać Lili to jakaś farsa, dziewczynka na prawo i lewo policzkuje wysoko urodzonego szlachcia, a potem króla złodziei? I co to jest takie prawdopodobne? Blagam....
Książka ma dużo krwawych momentów ale przez swoją infantylność nie odczuwa się tego.
Jestem ciekawa jak potoczą się dalsze losy i mam szczerą nadzieję że potem autorce idzie lepiej z utrzymaniem nastroju.
Postać Lili to jakaś farsa, dziewczynka na prawo i lewo policzkuje wysoko urodzonego szlachcia, a potem króla złodziei? I co to jest takie prawdopodobne? Blagam....
Książka ma dużo krwawych momentów ale przez swoją infantylność nie odczuwa się tego.
Jestem ciekawa jak potoczą się dalsze losy i mam szczerą nadzieję że potem autorce idzie lepiej z utrzymaniem nastroju.
October 24, 2017
To me the book is a somewhat uneven written - there are long parts where not much is happening, and where the language and characters just seem... off, or stereotypical.
Then suddenly we get lots of action and genuine and funny character developments.
Overall, the book reminds me of Game of Thrones, less spectacular, less rude and downright unpleasant, but same kind of story and same kind of instruments.
Then suddenly we get lots of action and genuine and funny character developments.
Overall, the book reminds me of Game of Thrones, less spectacular, less rude and downright unpleasant, but same kind of story and same kind of instruments.
January 1, 2021
A light fantasy read, a little cliched in parts, certainly not up there with the world building of say Game of Thrones. However if you are after a fantasy novel that doesn't require you to devote immense concentration to follow the plot, countries, peoples etc this could be for you. I will continue with the other 2 in the series. I'm on 'staycation' and don't want to have to 'think' while I read for pleasure.
June 9, 2022
Too cliche in story and execution. Drags on and on, around page 300 it picked up the pace a bit. Bending the story in annoying angles to keep the story going and failing. . Need to read the whole trilogy to get any kind of closure, one of the things I dislike the most.
September 10, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed Royal Exile. It was a solid story with a solid plot - granted, perhaps a little bit predictable at times. Yet, there were plenty of mystery and magic which has got me hooked on this trilogy.
March 31, 2020
Always loved a Fiona McIntosh fantasy series. This isolation time seemed the right time to read one of her series that was sitting on our shelves. Loved it. As always a bit too gruesome in parts for me but the characters and plot lines make it all worthwhile. Looking forward to reading Book 2.
September 12, 2021
J’ai adoré cette histoire alors que je m’y suis lancé sans attentes aucunes. L’intrigue est vraiment bien. Les personnages principaux énigmatiques. Si vous aimez le trône de fer ont peut prétendre que vous aimerez aussi ce livre. La bonne nouvelle est que "L’Exil" est le premier livre d’une trilogie. Excellent, vraiment.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews