The barbarian warlord Loethar from the Steepes and his army conquers the Set states one by one with his sights on Penraven. King Brennus of Penraven has devised a plan should they be conquered to continue the Valisar bloodline. The Prince Leonel (Leo) with the aid of Gavriel De Vis escapes from the invasion into the castle at Brighthelm.

The new king of Penraven, Leo, meets several people in his escape. Firstly Lily who guides Leo and Gavriel north to find a highway man King Brennus spoke to. Secondly Kilt Faris the leader of the highway men who had sworn a blood oath the King Brennus to aid Leo.

McIntosh has written a story with themes of loyalty, betrayal, friendship, magic and secretes all wound up in adventure.

I am interested in seeing what has happened to Gavriel De Vis and the mysterious woman who saved him from the barbarians. I would like to learn more about Gravriel’s twin Corbel who was entrusted with the sister of Leo. ( )

Cannibalism, murder, plotting and barbarians all come together in this story to produce quite a complex story. I did quite enjoy the story and some of the characters were seriously interesting.

The story opens with a barbarian hoarde invading the Denova Set, a peaceful set of kingdoms with the Valisar Monarchs at the core. The Vasilar Monarchs have a legendary power that the barbarian covets, the power of compulsion. King Brennus is the current Vasilar monarch and he knows he's going to die, all he can do, on the day of his latest child's birth is to try to make sure that some of his family survive. The pain and terrible decisions he has to make are quite clear. He keeps trying to do the right thing, up to the end. As the Barbarian Loethar takes control and cannibalises Brennus in front of his wife, you can see where people make terrible decisions, often to try to do the right thing.

It's an interesting read, I did have some moments in the middle where I was almost lost but I'm looking forward to the sequel. ( )

Een geweldig boek. Fiona kan echt erg leuk en onderhoudend schrijven. Het verhaal is niet bijster origineel, maar wel leuk. ik zag wel veel aankomen, maar dat mocht de pret niet drukken ( )

Review by Christine Tursky Gordon

With an infanticide and a cannibalism scene early in the book, Royal Exile doesn’t take the easy options. However, if you like a story that has the promise of satisfying and challenging developments to come, then it is worth reading.
A conquering army led by Loethar, a skilled warrior, takes over a loose alliance of kingdoms, leaving the most powerful for last. Loethar seeks control of the legendary Valisar Enchantment, the ability to coerce the actions of others. Unfortunately, the surviving crown prince has no idea whether the power is real. He escapes to begin a classic journey of self discovery, a quest to regain his kingdom, and the search for the answers about the fabled Valisar Enchantment.
The “hero’s journey” structure of the book is a familiar one, but Fiona McIntosh rises a step above and creates a detailed world and a compelling plot. The characters have interesting backstories that come out gradually and appropriately, adding to the richness of the book’s landscape. There is enough mystery to give the promise of good things to come.
This is the first book of the Valisar Trilogy. I think it's certainly worth reading books two and three as well.

Fiona McIntosh has done it again. This is the start of another BRILLIANT McIntosh epic....
Over the course of her three previous series, McIntosh has built a strong reputation for fast-paced epic tales of palace intrigues, derring-do and double-crosses. McIntosh’s prose is tight, the dialogue realistic, the action fierce and the realism of her fantasy worlds solid. There’s nothing out of the ordinary in that mix – many fantasy writers deliver this time and time again. Her true skill is her ability to immerse her readers in a world so finely detailed that we look up expecting to see swords and magic in our lounge rooms. As well, her distinctly dark way of looking at life displays a ruthlessness which is often surprisingly missing from epic fantasy.
Royal Exile is the first in her new series The Valisar Trilogy and it is as full of depth, colour, honour, romance, blood, guts and glory as we’ve come to expect from McIntosh’s previous works.
A ravening barbarian lord has come out of the East, rampaging through the countryside taking off left, right and centre. Only one country remains, the richest and most powerful realm of Penraven. Unfortunately, the country has been so rich and so powerful for so long that its king has become complacent. Never believing the barbarian hordes are capable of breaching their defences, the King and his councillor leave it until the last minute to try to save something from the disaster being visited upon them. The King’s son, a mere child, beloved and protected heir to the throne, is handed over to a trusted knight, and the king and queen walk out to their doom. It’s not enough that the boy-prince sees his land taken; he must also witness the vicious death and betrayal of his parents. The horrific experience sets the steel in his backbone, giving him a reason to fight on.
Fiona McIntosh has grown as a writer and now takes a well-deserved place in the genre; she does not sit in the realms of mediocrity or anywhere near it. On the cover of Royal Exile is a quote from Robin Hobb (another of my favourite authors) that sums up McIntosh and her work: 'Two words on the cover - "Fiona McIntosh" - always let me know that I'm in for a good read'.
I read this in one sitting - and I can’t wait for number 2 - and number 3! ( )