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Kaliya Sahni #1
Bounty
Kaliya Sahni.
Tribunal Executioner. Bounty hunter. The last nagini.
Her reputation is larger than the desert she lives in.
Dangerous. Irresponsible. Antagonistic.
When a friend asks her to look into a supernatural bounty on a human, Kaliya finds herself taking the first steps into a conspiracy that had been in the shadows for nearly a decade. Too intrigued to get out before it’s too late, she dives straight into the deep end, ready to discover the truth.
When the mysterious bounty takes a personal turn, she knows there’s no turning back, no putting the lid back on the box.
It’s all or nothing in her world and Kaliya doesn’t like to lose.
Tribunal Executioner. Bounty hunter. The last nagini.
Her reputation is larger than the desert she lives in.
Dangerous. Irresponsible. Antagonistic.
When a friend asks her to look into a supernatural bounty on a human, Kaliya finds herself taking the first steps into a conspiracy that had been in the shadows for nearly a decade. Too intrigued to get out before it’s too late, she dives straight into the deep end, ready to discover the truth.
When the mysterious bounty takes a personal turn, she knows there’s no turning back, no putting the lid back on the box.
It’s all or nothing in her world and Kaliya doesn’t like to lose.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 14, 2020
995 people are currently reading
1465 people want to read
About the author
K.N. Banet
36 books719 followersAuthor of the Jacky Leon series, Kaliya Sahni series, and Everly Abbott series, along with standalones that belong in the same world as all of them!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
April 22, 2020
This is the start of a series in the same world as the author's Jacky Leon series and this book starts after the first book in that series. So the timeline is clear and if you read this one first, you'll spoil the end of Oath Sworn. So if you plan on reading the other series (and I liked it, so would recommend you do), then at least read that first book before this one.
Shared world aside, there isn't any real crossover between the books and I'm fine with that. This one is set in the Phoenix area and I'm pretty familiar with that burgh and its surrounds so I found the setting familiar and recognized not only the places but how well Banet presents them—not least in the travel times involved in getting from one neighborhood to another because while traffic isn't often horrible, that urban center sprawls. So I have new respect for the author's craft as she presents an area I'm very familiar with so well.
It was interesting getting to know Kaliya, too. One of my main draws to the Jacky Leon story is how very much she is a paladin at heart and I wondered if we'd get that same flavor here. And the answer is that we don't, and I'm good with that. Kaliya is obsessive, straightforward, and driven and she doesn't have any brakes. Hers is a harsh, dangerous world and she doesn't have many friends and she settles for being feared over being liked. Which becomes imminently reasonable as we learn that her species is being hunted for some nefarious reason (she is the last female of her kind) that will almost certainly play a major role in the series to come. So her reactions are very "destroy them first" and she doesn't feel bad about it. Much.
And I even liked the "mate bond" dynamic as it was presented here. In Kaliya, it isn't so much "fated bond" as it is "there are only a handful of males who are 'compatible' with my physiology and can thus produce children from our union". It's part magic, part science, and not at all about personality or suitability so finding someone she's compatible with is equal parts horror and desire for reasons the story reveals over time so I won't go into. Suffice to say that a species on the verge of extinction is very interested in finding the few who might be compatible and the pressure to complete that bond is no less immense for being internal (mostly).
So I liked the main character, the plot was well-paced, held together rationally, and engaged my interest, and I liked the worldbuilding added to what I already know from Jacky's stories. So this is a win on pretty much every level, frankly. At least, for me personally. I'm glad I took the chance with this additional series in this shared world and look forward to the next installment.
A note about Chaste: One of the more interesting relationship dynamics in the story is that one of the more important people in Kaliya's circle is her ex-boyfriend, Cassius. They obviously have a ton of respect for each other, even if their romantic relationship didn't go well and seeing them work together so well in this story was a delight. I bring this up because there's frank talk of sex, referred to "in the vernacular" (i.e. using the "dirty" words), but there's no actual sex or anything explicit in this story. So I find it very chaste, but not in a way others will universally agree with.
Shared world aside, there isn't any real crossover between the books and I'm fine with that. This one is set in the Phoenix area and I'm pretty familiar with that burgh and its surrounds so I found the setting familiar and recognized not only the places but how well Banet presents them—not least in the travel times involved in getting from one neighborhood to another because while traffic isn't often horrible, that urban center sprawls. So I have new respect for the author's craft as she presents an area I'm very familiar with so well.
It was interesting getting to know Kaliya, too. One of my main draws to the Jacky Leon story is how very much she is a paladin at heart and I wondered if we'd get that same flavor here. And the answer is that we don't, and I'm good with that. Kaliya is obsessive, straightforward, and driven and she doesn't have any brakes. Hers is a harsh, dangerous world and she doesn't have many friends and she settles for being feared over being liked. Which becomes imminently reasonable as we learn that her species is being hunted for some nefarious reason (she is the last female of her kind) that will almost certainly play a major role in the series to come. So her reactions are very "destroy them first" and she doesn't feel bad about it. Much.
And I even liked the "mate bond" dynamic as it was presented here. In Kaliya, it isn't so much "fated bond" as it is "there are only a handful of males who are 'compatible' with my physiology and can thus produce children from our union". It's part magic, part science, and not at all about personality or suitability so finding someone she's compatible with is equal parts horror and desire for reasons the story reveals over time so I won't go into. Suffice to say that a species on the verge of extinction is very interested in finding the few who might be compatible and the pressure to complete that bond is no less immense for being internal (mostly).
So I liked the main character, the plot was well-paced, held together rationally, and engaged my interest, and I liked the worldbuilding added to what I already know from Jacky's stories. So this is a win on pretty much every level, frankly. At least, for me personally. I'm glad I took the chance with this additional series in this shared world and look forward to the next installment.
A note about Chaste: One of the more interesting relationship dynamics in the story is that one of the more important people in Kaliya's circle is her ex-boyfriend, Cassius. They obviously have a ton of respect for each other, even if their romantic relationship didn't go well and seeing them work together so well in this story was a delight. I bring this up because there's frank talk of sex, referred to "in the vernacular" (i.e. using the "dirty" words), but there's no actual sex or anything explicit in this story. So I find it very chaste, but not in a way others will universally agree with.
March 29, 2020
The best thing Banet has ever written. And I’ve read them all, and loved them all. Wow she’s knocked this one so far outta the park I can’t even see that ball anymore .
I would say it’s in a league of its own but I’m putting this is in the same league as IA. Also worth pointing outit's not Reverse Harem.
I’ve never read a series with a Naga as it’s FMC before.
So original and Kaliya is not just a shifter she is a snake, the last female of her kind. Her snake like qualities show all the time. Tasting the air, sleeping in cold, loving the heat, eating very few days... Banets google search history’s must look like she keeps snakes for a living. I bet a lot of research went into this.
It’s based in the same world and time as Oath Sworn Jackie Leon. Now Jackie was a slow burning love affair for me. I now love her and her story but Kaylia was insta love. There’s a little similarities in that we get a lot of the Tribunal and politics featuring here but not to the same extent. Kaliya is a tribunal executioner. AKA completely bad-ass and blood thirty. That’s the good side of blood thirty, the side that makes for a great UF.
Ugh I loved every minute of it.
Completely binged it.
Gutted it’s over.
Raging the next is so far away!
In these self-isolated, quarantined times we need more books like this to read. Like now.
I would say it’s in a league of its own but I’m putting this is in the same league as IA. Also worth pointing outit's not Reverse Harem.
I’ve never read a series with a Naga as it’s FMC before.
So original and Kaliya is not just a shifter she is a snake, the last female of her kind. Her snake like qualities show all the time. Tasting the air, sleeping in cold, loving the heat, eating very few days... Banets google search history’s must look like she keeps snakes for a living. I bet a lot of research went into this.
It’s based in the same world and time as Oath Sworn Jackie Leon. Now Jackie was a slow burning love affair for me. I now love her and her story but Kaylia was insta love. There’s a little similarities in that we get a lot of the Tribunal and politics featuring here but not to the same extent. Kaliya is a tribunal executioner. AKA completely bad-ass and blood thirty. That’s the good side of blood thirty, the side that makes for a great UF.
Ugh I loved every minute of it.
Completely binged it.
Gutted it’s over.
Raging the next is so far away!
In these self-isolated, quarantined times we need more books like this to read. Like now.
March 21, 2020
Returning home from attending the trial of Jacky Leon (Oath Sworn) Kaliya, one of the last nagini, stumbles into a job searching for a human on the run. She is doing it as a favour for a friend but then Sinclair a cold blooded vampire killer joins the hunt and things get personal.
Raphael has been on the run for 5 years. Moving from town to town, working for cash in hand, always staying just ahead of his pursuers. Those who want him will stop at nothing and he has never had an ally, at least not until Kaliya showed up.
Bounty is the first in a new urban fantasy series set in the same world as Jacky Leon. It's actually a little more dense than most UF. Kaliya is a nagini and that needs a bit of explaining and Raphael is something completely new so more world building. But explanations are left intentionally sparse with the idea that things will gradually be revealed over the series so it's not too much.
I don't think it's for everyone, this series will take a commitment (much more so than Jacky Leon) but for those who are willing to put in the effort it's well worth it.
A review copy was provided to me in exchange for an honest review
Raphael has been on the run for 5 years. Moving from town to town, working for cash in hand, always staying just ahead of his pursuers. Those who want him will stop at nothing and he has never had an ally, at least not until Kaliya showed up.
Bounty is the first in a new urban fantasy series set in the same world as Jacky Leon. It's actually a little more dense than most UF. Kaliya is a nagini and that needs a bit of explaining and Raphael is something completely new so more world building. But explanations are left intentionally sparse with the idea that things will gradually be revealed over the series so it's not too much.
I don't think it's for everyone, this series will take a commitment (much more so than Jacky Leon) but for those who are willing to put in the effort it's well worth it.
A review copy was provided to me in exchange for an honest review
September 21, 2024
I am loving the world of the tribunal. I don't often spend money on audiobooks but these are so good and not available from the library.
Note after reading the entire series. Please read this series before reading Jacky Leon Book 7.
Note after reading the entire series. Please read this series before reading Jacky Leon Book 7.
August 1, 2021
I am not quite set on if I enjoyed this book.
Kaliya is a bounty hunter and also the executioner for the Tribunal. This book starts off with her doing a favor to a friend, she discovers that the case might have a connection to the people who killed her family when she was a child. She decides to rescue the bounty in hopes that she discovers something.
The premise was terrific, the characters not so much. They were so unlikable. The hero was very lackluster, I know his temper was what powered his transformation but it just seemed as though he was always angry and most of the time at the heroine. The heroine was also very short with everyone, she seemed always annoyed with everyone. I liked it initially but after a while I just wanted her to lighten up. I have no idea what Cassius deal was, why was he so annoying, it seemed as though he didn't like the heroine at all, he sounded bothered and tired every time he had to talk to the heroine.
This all made for a very boring book. I am curious as to the mystery of the murderers so I 'might' read the next book.
Kaliya is a bounty hunter and also the executioner for the Tribunal. This book starts off with her doing a favor to a friend, she discovers that the case might have a connection to the people who killed her family when she was a child. She decides to rescue the bounty in hopes that she discovers something.
The premise was terrific, the characters not so much. They were so unlikable. The hero was very lackluster, I know his temper was what powered his transformation but it just seemed as though he was always angry and most of the time at the heroine. The heroine was also very short with everyone, she seemed always annoyed with everyone. I liked it initially but after a while I just wanted her to lighten up. I have no idea what Cassius deal was, why was he so annoying, it seemed as though he didn't like the heroine at all, he sounded bothered and tired every time he had to talk to the heroine.
This all made for a very boring book. I am curious as to the mystery of the murderers so I 'might' read the next book.
March 25, 2020
I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK!
K N banet always brings the goods
This is a urban paranormal fantasy action slow burn MF 1:1 romance
As always, the world building is impeccable, the characters are flawed and relatable. Mistakes happen and everyone is morally grey not black and while good guy bad guys. This world builds off the jacky Leon story line but this time Our MC is the last of her kind, a female naga (if your a Harry Potter fan then you know the species, yep SNAKE!). She is also the tribunals executioner. Kaliya (love that name) has no problem killing for her job and to survive, she isn’t all coldness because something or someone is about to ROCK her world apart.
I am hanging out to read the next book !
K N banet always brings the goods
This is a urban paranormal fantasy action slow burn MF 1:1 romance
As always, the world building is impeccable, the characters are flawed and relatable. Mistakes happen and everyone is morally grey not black and while good guy bad guys. This world builds off the jacky Leon story line but this time Our MC is the last of her kind, a female naga (if your a Harry Potter fan then you know the species, yep SNAKE!). She is also the tribunals executioner. Kaliya (love that name) has no problem killing for her job and to survive, she isn’t all coldness because something or someone is about to ROCK her world apart.
I am hanging out to read the next book !
June 19, 2020
I'm torn about this book. I like the plot, the world, the different types of characters. And obviously an Indian woman who is Hindu, brown, badass, nagini is awesome.
BUT...
I hated the writing style. There was a sheer mountain of thought dump. She wrote out every single thing that flitted in her brain, some in regular font, some in italics (I can't figure out why the difference). Some were even spoken out loud.
All the dialogue was so forced. It was as if this was the first book series the author had penned but I realized that there was a whole another series (Jacky Leon) that came before this, set in the same world.
And then there was the question of research... The author researched snakes well. But only mediocre research for Indian mythology.
1. Kaliya is a boy's name. Which wouldn't bother me so much if there wasn't already a famous Kaliya from Bollywood film. Every time I read the name, I thought of the side-bandit Kaliya!
2. MC is supposed to be Hindu. But she mentions how there are boxes full of
3. Finally, they never said why Rafael would be
I know that the author said she wanted to keep some suspense for the next novels but the characters or the story aren't compelling enough for me to continue.
BUT...
I hated the writing style. There was a sheer mountain of thought dump. She wrote out every single thing that flitted in her brain, some in regular font, some in italics (I can't figure out why the difference). Some were even spoken out loud.
All the dialogue was so forced. It was as if this was the first book series the author had penned but I realized that there was a whole another series (Jacky Leon) that came before this, set in the same world.
And then there was the question of research... The author researched snakes well. But only mediocre research for Indian mythology.
1. Kaliya is a boy's name. Which wouldn't bother me so much if there wasn't already a famous Kaliya from Bollywood film. Every time I read the name, I thought of the side-bandit Kaliya!
2. MC is supposed to be Hindu. But she mentions how there are boxes full of
3. Finally, they never said why Rafael would be
I know that the author said she wanted to keep some suspense for the next novels but the characters or the story aren't compelling enough for me to continue.
March 15, 2020
Kristen Banet is one of my favourite writers because you always know you are going to get quality.
She writes excellent female characters and actually bothers to create complex world building. Her Redemption Saga is my favourite RH series, as well, so I was delighted to get an ARC of her latest book.
Bounty is set in the same world as the Jacky Leon series and focuses on the Tribunal executioner (and bounty hunter), Kaliya, who is the last female of her species, the naga (she shifts into a snake and has descending poisonous fangs). I loved the originality of her species and I feel like we've just scratched the surface of her capabilities.
Kaliya gets drawn into an unusual bounty and definitely gets more than she bargained for!
I had a couple of issues, which meant that I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the Jacky Leon books.
The first was Kaliya herself. She is even pricklier than Sawyer from The Redemption Saga, and that sometimes made her hard to get behind. I completely get why she is the way she is, but there were times she frustrated me.
I'm also not sure I'm feeling the potential romance. This is very slow burn, like the Jacky Leon and Redemption Saga series'. I love a good slow burn, but I wish there had been a little bit more chemistry between Kaliya and Raphael to wet my appetite. But it made sense for their characters to be the way they were, I just wanted a little more tension maybe? The set up for future books is there and promises to be a good ride, though!
Regardless, I highly recommend this to fans of the author's previous works and to anyone who like a well written, interesting Urban Fantasy.
She writes excellent female characters and actually bothers to create complex world building. Her Redemption Saga is my favourite RH series, as well, so I was delighted to get an ARC of her latest book.
Bounty is set in the same world as the Jacky Leon series and focuses on the Tribunal executioner (and bounty hunter), Kaliya, who is the last female of her species, the naga (she shifts into a snake and has descending poisonous fangs). I loved the originality of her species and I feel like we've just scratched the surface of her capabilities.
Kaliya gets drawn into an unusual bounty and definitely gets more than she bargained for!
I had a couple of issues, which meant that I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the Jacky Leon books.
The first was Kaliya herself. She is even pricklier than Sawyer from The Redemption Saga, and that sometimes made her hard to get behind. I completely get why she is the way she is, but there were times she frustrated me.
I'm also not sure I'm feeling the potential romance. This is very slow burn, like the Jacky Leon and Redemption Saga series'. I love a good slow burn, but I wish there had been a little bit more chemistry between Kaliya and Raphael to wet my appetite. But it made sense for their characters to be the way they were, I just wanted a little more tension maybe? The set up for future books is there and promises to be a good ride, though!
Regardless, I highly recommend this to fans of the author's previous works and to anyone who like a well written, interesting Urban Fantasy.
July 2, 2025
This whole series was excellent, disappointed that I failed to leave goodreads reviews for it. I read it months ago, and iirc, I went through all the books very rapidly.
January 20, 2021
While I adore Banet's Reverse Harem worlds (Age of Adina anyone?) I find myself doubly captivated by the Urban Fantasy Universe she is crafting. That world, The Tribunal Archives, first introduced in the Jacky Leon series, is made larger here, focusing on the mysterious Kaliya.
Obsessive and a bit impulsive, Kalyia is a fierce and deadly predator, the last living Nagini and one of only a few sanctioned Tribunal Executioners. Her very nature drives her to interfere in a suspicious bounty, one that leads her down a rabbit hole of scientific experiments, shadowy conglomerates, unknown supernaturals and laws that are just begging to be broken.
It's fast, intense and just the right amount of funny. In other words, it's everything an Urban Fantasy junkie could want.
Pros:
~ Great Character Development.
~ Cassius... I really don't know if I should love him or hate him, but he's a force regardless.
~ The mystery is slowly doled out, dragging the reader along as Kaliya falls deeper into the mess.
~ Hasan!! (Brief, but memorable)
~ Well written.
Cons:
~ There is a heart punch near the end... I won't spoil it, but dang...
Perspective
~ First Person, Single POV
Ending Type
~ HFN, Episodic
Rating
~ R for violence.
Romantic Dynamic
~ While romance is not the focus of an UF novel, this would be M/F
Character Age Range
~ Adult
My Final Verdict on Bounty
Obsessive and a bit impulsive, Kalyia is a fierce and deadly predator, the last living Nagini and one of only a few sanctioned Tribunal Executioners. Her very nature drives her to interfere in a suspicious bounty, one that leads her down a rabbit hole of scientific experiments, shadowy conglomerates, unknown supernaturals and laws that are just begging to be broken.
It's fast, intense and just the right amount of funny. In other words, it's everything an Urban Fantasy junkie could want.
*I received an ARC of this book and am thrilled to share my honest opinion*
Pros:
~ Great Character Development.
~ Cassius... I really don't know if I should love him or hate him, but he's a force regardless.
~ The mystery is slowly doled out, dragging the reader along as Kaliya falls deeper into the mess.
~ Hasan!! (Brief, but memorable)
~ Well written.
Cons:
~ There is a heart punch near the end... I won't spoil it, but dang...
Perspective
~ First Person, Single POV
Ending Type
~ HFN, Episodic
Rating
~ R for violence.
Romantic Dynamic
~ While romance is not the focus of an UF novel, this would be M/F
Character Age Range
~ Adult
My Final Verdict on Bounty
April 4, 2022
Even though the Jacky Leon series is one of my absolute favorites, I really dithered about reading this series. A couple friends who jumped right in noted that it's super different, and Kaliya is pretty unlikeable...and so I was torn and sat on it for ages.
I'm going to firstly say that yes, I agree: she's pretty unlikeable. And she seems to revel in it. Raphael is pretty unlikeable in this book too, though that is more forgivable given the confusing shitshow his life is, this poor dude who knows nothing about the supe world but has been tortured by them, and is now being hunted by them, yeah, I get him having a hair-trigger hot temper.
I can't really make sense of Cassius and Kaliya's relationship. They like each other, then don't, then sometimes seem to like each other a lot more than either wants to admit. You get some soft hints that Cassius maybe liked her a lot, but couldn't live in her self-destructive, and honestly pretty self-absorbed, world anymore. Like, he left for his own mental health.
And maybe physical health, because as we see in this book, Kaliya makes bad choices which get the people around her hurt.
But in this book, for what it's worth, they are the more compelling relationship - part of me (pointlessly) hopes Kaliya grows up and they work it out. I feel like that will change, not just because I know who the male lead is, but also because after the rough start here where we set all the pieces on the board, things are going to settle into a more normal pace with their lives, and they'll have a chance to get to know each other outside the insane chaos.
But man... I get that it is because her life has been hard and heartbreaking, and she's probably somewhat broken, but Kaliya is a hard character to care about. She is bitchy to everyone, pretty much all the time. And is prone to changing the plan, on her own without discussing it with her team (for literally no logical reason I can think of - seriously, why couldn't they know that? She seemed like she was trying to hint, and later told Cassius she hoped he'd pick up on it faster... How about open your fucking mouth and share the plan???). So yeah, a bitch who makes bad choices that gets her friends hurt. It's a tough sell.
I'm going to firstly say that yes, I agree: she's pretty unlikeable. And she seems to revel in it. Raphael is pretty unlikeable in this book too, though that is more forgivable given the confusing shitshow his life is, this poor dude who knows nothing about the supe world but has been tortured by them, and is now being hunted by them, yeah, I get him having a hair-trigger hot temper.
I can't really make sense of Cassius and Kaliya's relationship. They like each other, then don't, then sometimes seem to like each other a lot more than either wants to admit. You get some soft hints that Cassius maybe liked her a lot, but couldn't live in her self-destructive, and honestly pretty self-absorbed, world anymore. Like, he left for his own mental health.
And maybe physical health, because as we see in this book, Kaliya makes bad choices which get the people around her hurt.
But in this book, for what it's worth, they are the more compelling relationship - part of me (pointlessly) hopes Kaliya grows up and they work it out. I feel like that will change, not just because I know who the male lead is, but also because after the rough start here where we set all the pieces on the board, things are going to settle into a more normal pace with their lives, and they'll have a chance to get to know each other outside the insane chaos.
But man... I get that it is because her life has been hard and heartbreaking, and she's probably somewhat broken, but Kaliya is a hard character to care about. She is bitchy to everyone, pretty much all the time. And is prone to changing the plan, on her own without discussing it with her team (for literally no logical reason I can think of - seriously, why couldn't they know that? She seemed like she was trying to hint, and later told Cassius she hoped he'd pick up on it faster... How about open your fucking mouth and share the plan???). So yeah, a bitch who makes bad choices that gets her friends hurt. It's a tough sell.
April 15, 2020
I enjoyed the first half of the book although the author was trying to be a bit too enigmatic about Kaliya's past. It started to go wrong when she found Raphael and the author decided the story was going to be about breeding and lusting after a mate. Incidentally, I found both of the main male characters, Raphael and Cassius very annoying.
To make matters worse this is set in the same 'world' as the Jacky Leon books, which I like, but it also has some of the same problems with illogical laws and the Tribunal, both of which I find quite irritating.
The author also isn't very good at writing big fights, the timings and actions often don't make sense and too many ridiculous things happen.
After reading the Jacky Leon books I had high hopes for this one, but unlike Jacky, Kaliya couldn't make up for the poorly designed 'world' and in the end I could only give two stars.
To make matters worse this is set in the same 'world' as the Jacky Leon books, which I like, but it also has some of the same problems with illogical laws and the Tribunal, both of which I find quite irritating.
The author also isn't very good at writing big fights, the timings and actions often don't make sense and too many ridiculous things happen.
After reading the Jacky Leon books I had high hopes for this one, but unlike Jacky, Kaliya couldn't make up for the poorly designed 'world' and in the end I could only give two stars.
May 24, 2020
Kristen Banet is fast becoming one of my favourite authors, I'm low key sad to have read this book because it sets up so much, and I just want to get to the bottom of it. As someone who ethnically from the subcontinent it was cool to see small drops of indian culture throughout the book, but it was nothing major. Despite being set in the Jacky Leon series, you could totally read this one without the other.
March 31, 2020
Exciting addition
Starts a bit slow but once the action starts you wouldnt want to put it down until the end. Excited for this world
Starts a bit slow but once the action starts you wouldnt want to put it down until the end. Excited for this world
June 30, 2020
Please read Jacob's
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
June 20, 2020
I like how this book is connected to the Jacky Leon series, made it easy to jump into the book and be familiar with the world. Kaliya was interesting, a bit of a hard ass, someone who plays things close to her vest. None of that is bad in and of itself, but it caused issues for her in this book as she needed help and she needed to explain things about her world.
I felt bad for Raphael, he ended up dumped in a world he had no clue about and left alone to flounder. Finally after encountering Kaliya Raphael learns a lot, so much that at times you can tell his head is about to explode. Yet as much as he learns there is so much to find out too, mostly about himself.
The big battle at the end was interesting, in that they all almost didn't come out on top and what they learned and what they learned only lead to more questions. The Tribunal afterwards was a great exercise in playing poker, they bluffed big and won. It will be interesting to see where things go for all of them from here.
I felt bad for Raphael, he ended up dumped in a world he had no clue about and left alone to flounder. Finally after encountering Kaliya Raphael learns a lot, so much that at times you can tell his head is about to explode. Yet as much as he learns there is so much to find out too, mostly about himself.
The big battle at the end was interesting, in that they all almost didn't come out on top and what they learned and what they learned only lead to more questions. The Tribunal afterwards was a great exercise in playing poker, they bluffed big and won. It will be interesting to see where things go for all of them from here.
February 2, 2022
I picked up my first K.N. Banet book just a few weeks ago with the first Jacky Leon book. I loved it so much I flew through the entire series (to this point) in record time. So trying this book and series was really a no-brainer. And while I found it just as well written and ultimately interesting, it was a bit slower going to begin with and the main character of Kaliya is not nearly as easy to connect with. Part of that is her more harsh personality, part (at least for me) is that she is a snake shifter. Not nearly as romantic or exciting as a werecat (think saber tooth tiger) for sure!
Still after about the 25% mark, the story started to pick up and it grew to become just as intriguing and riveting as any I’ve read. SO… there is no doubt I will be continuing with almost as much enthusiasm as before!
Still after about the 25% mark, the story started to pick up and it grew to become just as intriguing and riveting as any I’ve read. SO… there is no doubt I will be continuing with almost as much enthusiasm as before!
March 23, 2020
Four Stars
As an obsessive fan of the urban fantasy genre, I'm always psyched to find a new series with innovative and exciting concepts. Both series that I have had the pleasure of reading by Banet have been top-notch so far, and I'm incredibly eager to see what her genius mind thinks of next.
Would highly recommend fellow fans of the genre to look into this author. You won't regret it!
4.5/5
As an obsessive fan of the urban fantasy genre, I'm always psyched to find a new series with innovative and exciting concepts. Both series that I have had the pleasure of reading by Banet have been top-notch so far, and I'm incredibly eager to see what her genius mind thinks of next.
Would highly recommend fellow fans of the genre to look into this author. You won't regret it!
4.5/5
June 14, 2024
Kaliya with her quick trigger temper and impulsiveness feels super young-- more early-2os than 117. Having a temper is fine, it is a character trait for sure, but also makes her choices eye-roll worthy. Her hidden plans (for no reason) and then getting mad for her colleagues not realizing her plan??? She is definitely not my favorite character, but the story is still interesting so I'll keep reading.
November 9, 2020
DNF 15 %
September 28, 2021
4 stars
March 15, 2020
Superb Spin Off Urban Fantasy
This book is set in the same universe as the Jacky Leon books that I have enjoyed so much, by the same author. KN Banet is the pen name Kristen Banet is using for her Urban Fantasy books.
Kaliya is a Tribunal Executioner. The Tribunal is the only ruling body the supernatural world has and they were set up to prevent the exposure of the supernatural to humans, beyond what little is already known. They mainly enforce the various treaties in place between the species as the species usually deal with problems within their own race without getting the Tribunal involved.
Kaliya is the last female naga alive and as such is one of the two leaders of her race. She is a loner and is often bad tempered and unpleasant to deal with, but I loved her character, despite her many and various flaws. She has very few friends, but one of them reaches out to her to get her to find out about a bounty that has been raised in order to capture a human, which is pretty unusual for a supernatural bounty. Her curiosity is piqued and she agrees to look into the matter, and she finds much more than she bargained for.
This book is to be the first in a series of 6 books and the set up of this first one is exceptional. This author proves time and again with each new book that she is the master of the set up. She grabs hold of your attention from page one of a book and doesn’t let up until the last page of the last book in the series is read. With using The Tribunal universe again, there is already a lot of work in place for her to draw on when setting up this series, but you don’t need to read the Jacky Leon books to understand the set up.
I liked that Kaliya is prickly and has many enemies. She is defensive and sharp when prodded. However, she is strong, loyal, intelligent and determined. Her character as well as all others in the book are well thought out and have depth. I love hearing all about them.
This book does not end on a cliff hanger but there are lots of questions left unanswered, which is why it’s unsurprising that this is intended to be the first book of six. This book is such a great set up that I can’t wait to read what this author has in store for us next.
This book is definitely worth a read, and if you haven’t read the Jacky Leon books, I’d recommend those books too.
This book is set in the same universe as the Jacky Leon books that I have enjoyed so much, by the same author. KN Banet is the pen name Kristen Banet is using for her Urban Fantasy books.
Kaliya is a Tribunal Executioner. The Tribunal is the only ruling body the supernatural world has and they were set up to prevent the exposure of the supernatural to humans, beyond what little is already known. They mainly enforce the various treaties in place between the species as the species usually deal with problems within their own race without getting the Tribunal involved.
Kaliya is the last female naga alive and as such is one of the two leaders of her race. She is a loner and is often bad tempered and unpleasant to deal with, but I loved her character, despite her many and various flaws. She has very few friends, but one of them reaches out to her to get her to find out about a bounty that has been raised in order to capture a human, which is pretty unusual for a supernatural bounty. Her curiosity is piqued and she agrees to look into the matter, and she finds much more than she bargained for.
This book is to be the first in a series of 6 books and the set up of this first one is exceptional. This author proves time and again with each new book that she is the master of the set up. She grabs hold of your attention from page one of a book and doesn’t let up until the last page of the last book in the series is read. With using The Tribunal universe again, there is already a lot of work in place for her to draw on when setting up this series, but you don’t need to read the Jacky Leon books to understand the set up.
I liked that Kaliya is prickly and has many enemies. She is defensive and sharp when prodded. However, she is strong, loyal, intelligent and determined. Her character as well as all others in the book are well thought out and have depth. I love hearing all about them.
This book does not end on a cliff hanger but there are lots of questions left unanswered, which is why it’s unsurprising that this is intended to be the first book of six. This book is such a great set up that I can’t wait to read what this author has in store for us next.
This book is definitely worth a read, and if you haven’t read the Jacky Leon books, I’d recommend those books too.
July 24, 2020
Pretty good
I like a strong, female heroines and this one is, but isn’t. The main character is supposed to be very feared by all the bad guys, but it’s difficult to believe that when she gets in what should be mild situations for someone with her reputation, but is easily overwhelmed. The scene where they are at her house and the villains attack - she’s easily put in a tail spin after we’ve read, earlier, how fortified her house is and how only 3 living people know where it is—but this guy finds it in about an hour?
The scene where she first meets Raphael and he gets the drop on her with a gun...if she’s easily subdued by a guy with a gun, how is she not dead already?
I enjoyed reading the book - but some of these holes you could drive a semi truck through and that bugged me.
I like a strong, female heroines and this one is, but isn’t. The main character is supposed to be very feared by all the bad guys, but it’s difficult to believe that when she gets in what should be mild situations for someone with her reputation, but is easily overwhelmed. The scene where they are at her house and the villains attack - she’s easily put in a tail spin after we’ve read, earlier, how fortified her house is and how only 3 living people know where it is—but this guy finds it in about an hour?
The scene where she first meets Raphael and he gets the drop on her with a gun...if she’s easily subdued by a guy with a gun, how is she not dead already?
I enjoyed reading the book - but some of these holes you could drive a semi truck through and that bugged me.
September 3, 2020
I did not like this book. The conversations between the protagonist and the male lead (her supposed eligible mate) were juvenile and petty for the most part. The characters were flat without any learning arc and I did not grow to like any of them. It seemed as if the writing was rushed, which is apparent with the lacklustre plot and characters. There seems to be a lack of time and effort put into developing these characters which reflects in the writing, which is shabby and all over the place. I almost set the book aside thrice before I made myself read it, hoping it takes a turn for the better. It didn’t. After Jacky Leon, I expected better. This was disappointing.
March 14, 2020
Wow! So good! The FMC is so strong mentally. I love that she has potentially found someone who could be her mate. The MC is hardheaded but i can’t wait to see what comes next from them.
November 1, 2021
Finally- I get to read this series! I waited until there were more books released before I dug in since I am getting tired of all these series' I am stuck in while waiting for more. But on the flip-side I am horrified at the thought that they would end some of these series- so please keep writing! You heard me TA White.
I really liked this world (same as Jacky Leon) and characters even though I really don't like snakes, when it first came out I was like "No way" but since then I have read "So I married a Lizardman" and my horizons have expanded :)
I will call her "Kal". She is badass and gives no shits. Has no patience as well. But hopefully that will change with (I will call him) "Dom" in her life. Kal is saving Dom from being captured by the evil corporation and runs into an old nemesis Vampire while researching her family's murder, all the while realizing that Dom can breed with her as the last female of her kind- gasp!
I was surprised, by the way the blub and reviews sounded I thought I was going to get more of an insta-love story than most of Ms. Banets' stories but no. Our hero Dom has no idea he is a prospective mate to Kal and I am curious to see how this plays out. And I know I saw at one point what he species he is but somehow forgot so I am blissfully unaware- on to the next!
I really liked this world (same as Jacky Leon) and characters even though I really don't like snakes, when it first came out I was like "No way" but since then I have read "So I married a Lizardman" and my horizons have expanded :)
I will call her "Kal". She is badass and gives no shits. Has no patience as well. But hopefully that will change with (I will call him) "Dom" in her life. Kal is saving Dom from being captured by the evil corporation and runs into an old nemesis Vampire while researching her family's murder, all the while realizing that Dom can breed with her as the last female of her kind- gasp!
I was surprised, by the way the blub and reviews sounded I thought I was going to get more of an insta-love story than most of Ms. Banets' stories but no. Our hero Dom has no idea he is a prospective mate to Kal and I am curious to see how this plays out. And I know I saw at one point what he species he is but somehow forgot so I am blissfully unaware- on to the next!
January 11, 2023
Good, but not quite as good as her Jacky Leon series which this is a spinoff from (read that one first cause this book spoils part of that story). The Jacky Leon series hooked me immediately, while I think this series will need to grow into itself a bit more.
The characters in this series have a lot of potential. And like Jacky’s series, the romance is going to be very slow to develop. Raphael sounds intriguing though, and devastatingly sexy. Kaliya took a few chapters to grow on me, but I soon came to like her. Cassius is an interesting friend/ex-lover.
One of the issues I had in this book is that Raphael felt like a background character, yet the whole book was about him and the situation he was in. All too often he was in another room, apparently just waiting while Kaliya and Cassius discussed what to next. If it were my fate in the balance, I’d have been demanding to be involved more. The author didn’t even say what Raphael was doing when he was off screen (so to speak). He felt more like an object to be put down and picked back up when needed than an active character sometimes. But, he is a good character, so as long as the author gives him a more active roll going forward, I think he’ll work out.
I’m definitely going to continue the series.
P.S. Loved seeing Hassan in this book and hearing references to other characters from the Jacky Leon series.
The characters in this series have a lot of potential. And like Jacky’s series, the romance is going to be very slow to develop. Raphael sounds intriguing though, and devastatingly sexy. Kaliya took a few chapters to grow on me, but I soon came to like her. Cassius is an interesting friend/ex-lover.
One of the issues I had in this book is that Raphael felt like a background character, yet the whole book was about him and the situation he was in. All too often he was in another room, apparently just waiting while Kaliya and Cassius discussed what to next. If it were my fate in the balance, I’d have been demanding to be involved more. The author didn’t even say what Raphael was doing when he was off screen (so to speak). He felt more like an object to be put down and picked back up when needed than an active character sometimes. But, he is a good character, so as long as the author gives him a more active roll going forward, I think he’ll work out.
I’m definitely going to continue the series.
P.S. Loved seeing Hassan in this book and hearing references to other characters from the Jacky Leon series.
January 26, 2021
Different city and lens for the tribunal world than the Jacky Leon series. The MC is interesting and has believable flaws, which is nice, and overall I enjoyed the first book.
Biggest flaw for me was some of the bigger info dumps going on (she needs a different technique than just Q&A sessions). They tended to slow down the pacing. The fight scenes could have also been a bit better.
One other thing I wished I had seen was more tension/interest between Kaliya and Raphael. There’s a mate bond, but there’s not much on the page yet to make me root for them. Her books tend to get stronger as you go through the series, so I’ll definitely give book 2 a shot.
Biggest flaw for me was some of the bigger info dumps going on (she needs a different technique than just Q&A sessions). They tended to slow down the pacing. The fight scenes could have also been a bit better.
One other thing I wished I had seen was more tension/interest between Kaliya and Raphael. There’s a mate bond, but there’s not much on the page yet to make me root for them. Her books tend to get stronger as you go through the series, so I’ll definitely give book 2 a shot.
October 6, 2023
4 stars
It took me a while to get into this one, but I enjoyed it. As with some of her other books, there were some things I really liked and some things I really didnt. The relationship between Kahliya and Cassius didn't ring true. They kept going on about how they didn't like each other, but were written altogether differently. Overall, thoigh, it was good and Ill continue with the series.
It took me a while to get into this one, but I enjoyed it. As with some of her other books, there were some things I really liked and some things I really didnt. The relationship between Kahliya and Cassius didn't ring true. They kept going on about how they didn't like each other, but were written altogether differently. Overall, thoigh, it was good and Ill continue with the series.
March 15, 2020
At a 4.5 for me! I read this new spin-off after diving into Banet's Jacky Leon series (definitely worth checking out for UF fans). Kaliya is like Jacky in some ways; there's a social awkwardness that's been bred into both of them, and each woman has baggage that comes along with being a member of a sort of elite yet also low-population species. Kaliya, unlike Jacky, is a bit further enmeshed in the supernatural world that Banet has crafted because she's an executioner for the ruling body of supes.
That means she's pretty no-nonsense, kick*ss, and can definitely defend herself without needing a white knight to rush on to the scene. In short, she's the kind of heroine that the UF loves so much- for good reason.
In this first book, Kaliya winds up in a bit of a hot spot when she gets involved in a bounty that may or may not provide some leads in a case that she's been investigating for decades- the murder of her family. She's super-driven, possibly to the point of obsessed, and she meets her match in Rafael.
He's a leading man who won't just fade away behind our heroine. Rafael is strong-willed, strongly moral, and even though there are some growing pains between him and Kaliya, he's willing to become an active part in the supernatural world (at least eventually). I think the two of them are going to develop a great rapport, and even the way they struggle in book one is still entertaining and shows us glimpses of what traits they'll each need to accommodate in the other and how they might adapt as Banet lets their relationship evolve.
As far as the plot, I think it's well-paced, but it's definitely not an open-and-shut kind of situation. For every answer that we get, there are definitely more questions that abound. Banet is keeping us guessing, but she's also great at dispersing little crumbs that help us know we're not just spinning our wheels without any development or forward movement in our characters or plot. Overall, I'm very pleased with both this series and Jacky's, and I really believe these are lining up to be some great UF hits.
That means she's pretty no-nonsense, kick*ss, and can definitely defend herself without needing a white knight to rush on to the scene. In short, she's the kind of heroine that the UF loves so much- for good reason.
In this first book, Kaliya winds up in a bit of a hot spot when she gets involved in a bounty that may or may not provide some leads in a case that she's been investigating for decades- the murder of her family. She's super-driven, possibly to the point of obsessed, and she meets her match in Rafael.
He's a leading man who won't just fade away behind our heroine. Rafael is strong-willed, strongly moral, and even though there are some growing pains between him and Kaliya, he's willing to become an active part in the supernatural world (at least eventually). I think the two of them are going to develop a great rapport, and even the way they struggle in book one is still entertaining and shows us glimpses of what traits they'll each need to accommodate in the other and how they might adapt as Banet lets their relationship evolve.
As far as the plot, I think it's well-paced, but it's definitely not an open-and-shut kind of situation. For every answer that we get, there are definitely more questions that abound. Banet is keeping us guessing, but she's also great at dispersing little crumbs that help us know we're not just spinning our wheels without any development or forward movement in our characters or plot. Overall, I'm very pleased with both this series and Jacky's, and I really believe these are lining up to be some great UF hits.
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