Anji Kills a King Audiobook By Evan Leikam cover art

Anji Kills a King

The Rising Tide, Book 1

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Anji Kills a King

By: Evan Leikam
Narrated by: Moira Quirk
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About this listen

An unlikely assassin struggles to escape a legendary bounty hunter in this breakneck fantasy debut that will grab you by the throat—perfect for fans of Joe Abercrombie, R.F. Kuang, and Christopher Buehlman.

She killed for a cause. Will she die for it too?

Anji works as a castle servant, cleaning laundry for a king she hates. So when a rare opportunity presents itself, she seizes the chance to cut his throat. Then she runs for her life. In her wake, the kingdom is thrown into disarray, while a bounty bigger than anyone could imagine lands on her head.

On her heels are the fabled mercenaries of the Menagerie, whose animal-shaped masks are magical relics rumored to give them superhuman powers. It’s the Hawk who finds Anji first: a surly, aging swordswoman who has her own reasons for keeping Anji alive and out of the hands of her fellow bounty hunters, if only long enough to collect the reward herself.

With the rest of the Menagerie on their trail, so begins an alliance as tenuous as it is temporary—and a race against death that will decide Anji’s fate, and may change the course of a kingdom.

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor Books.

©2025 Evan Leikam (P)2025 Macmillan Audio
Action & Adventure Epic Fantasy Royalty King
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Critic reviews

"Anji Kills a King is a masterful debut, with breakneck pacing and a main character whose relentless tenacity makes her an absolute joy to read. The ending is perfect, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes from here."—Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld

"A stunning debut, fast-paced and as grim as grimdark gets, relentless till the end."—Glen Cook, author of The Black Company

"Leikam catapults onto the scene with this unforgettable debut that adds a refreshing new note to the beloved choir of dark fantasy. Fans of breakneck pacing, quippy characters, and grimdark with heart should run, not walk, to the bookstore for this one."—M.J. Kuhn, author of Among Thieves and Thick as Thieves

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The action starts early in this novel about a palace servant turned King-killer and her bounty hunter captor. The pace never really lets up as the pair is relentlessly pursued by the Menagerie, more bounty hunters from the same order. The two lead characters, Anji and The Hawk, are very well drawn and interesting. Both are at times unlikable, but that just adds to the complexity of each woman, and does not do the book any disservice.

I appreciate a modern fantasy writer not bogging down the book with endless pages of magic theory and world building. So often now fantasy writers are just trying to outdo one another for how complex and intricate they can make their world. Leikam does not do that. This book is tight. You’re never more than a couple chapters away from a major action event. The plot moves forward constantly. Along the way you are learning about the world, how magic works in this fantasy realm, the politics and the culture, but it’s never self-indulgent. I was left wanting book 2 immediately, which is exactly what you want from a fantasy series. I will definitely listen to this one another time or two before the sequel comes out.

Fast Paced Fantasy

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An intense and gripping adventure filled with action and mystery, with a few well-placed moments of humor to lighten the mood.

Pleasant Suprise

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I honestly liked everything about this story. It's twist and turns and the way everything comes together is nothing short of amazing!

The story never slows down or gets boring.

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I waited (not so very) patiently for this book for so long and it does not disappoint. I love Anji! I love this world. I can’t wait (not so very patiently again!) for what’s next.

Everything I’d hoped for

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The pacing was perfect. Story was snappy. Characters were creative. And simply all together fun. I definitely think this will come up on some best of the year list. I was very impressed that this was from a debut author. The world building was light with depth not found in most books clocking in under 400 pages. I will very much be looking forward to book 2 when it is released.

Fun and quick.

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Brutal story and broke my heart a few different times. The narrator was outstanding. I will definitely be on the lookout for more of their work.

Devastatingly good

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This was a really good book. I’m definitely hoping for further books in this series. 👍

Cool

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The book was ok. Lots of action, good set up for a series & I would like to read the second book but… If you are grossed out by spit, snot, vomit & descriptions of it this is not the book for you. I gagged thru half of it. I know I have an aversion to that stuff but I kept thinking surely there can’t be any more of it. Nope it’s the 3rd main character in the book. Coulda done with less of that. Otherwise it’s a good book

Slobber, snot and vomit

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