Sunrise Dance, Shattered Bonds

Thirteen-year-old Lennix undergoes her tribe's sacred Sunrise Dance, a rite of passage marking her transition to womanhood. The ceremony is a profound, communal event, connecting her to her Yavapai-Apache heritage and the spirit of Changing Woman. Yet, the joy is short-lived. Her activist mother, Liana, leaves for a protest and never returns, vanishing into the epidemic of missing Indigenous women. Lennix's world fractures—her family split, her sense of safety gone. The loss is a wound that shapes her, instilling both a fierce pride in her roots and a deep wariness of hope. The trauma of her mother's disappearance becomes the silent drumbeat beneath every step Lennix takes into adulthood.

Pipeline Protest, Fateful Meeting

Four years later, Maxim Cade, heir to an oil empire, is dragged by his ruthless father to Arizona, where a new pipeline threatens sacred Apache land. Lennix, now a passionate activist, leads a protest against the pipeline, her voice echoing with grief and defiance. Maxim is captivated by her strength and conviction, even as he's torn between family loyalty and his own ideals. The protest turns violent—dogs, tear gas, and chaos. Maxim intervenes to protect Lennix, getting bitten in her place. Both are arrested, thrown together in a jail cell. In the crucible of protest and pain, a spark ignites between them—one that neither age nor circumstance can easily extinguish.

Jail Cell Sparks

In the holding cell, Lennix and Maxim's differences are stark—her activism and trauma, his privilege and conflicted loyalties. Yet, their conversation is electric, full of humor, vulnerability, and mutual fascination. Lennix's old soul and Maxim's restless intellect find common ground. She reveals her second name, Girl Who Chases Stars; he, his own sense of not fitting into his family's mold. The chemistry is undeniable, but so is the chasm between their worlds. When Lennix's father arrives, the moment ends. They part, changed—each marked by the other, a star-shaped scar on Maxim's heart, a new ache in Lennix's.

Loss, Land, and Legacy

The protest fails. The pipeline is built, desecrating sacred ground and erasing Lennix's last physical connection to her mother. The loss is communal and personal, a fresh wound layered atop old ones. Yet, in the ashes of defeat, Lennix's resolve hardens. She vows to fight the systems that perpetuate injustice, to learn their rules and wield them for her people. The trauma of loss becomes fuel for her ambition. Meanwhile, Maxim's clash with his father deepens, culminating in a painful break—he chooses his own path, vowing never to work for Cade Energy if it means betraying his principles.

Four Years Forward

Lennix, now a college senior, stands at a crossroads: graduate school, a prestigious fellowship, or a job in Washington. Her activism has matured, but so has her fear of vulnerability. She's never found a man worthy of her trust or her body. Her friends tease her about her high standards, but Lennix knows she's waiting for something—or someone—extraordinary. Meanwhile, Maxim, now Dr. Kingsman, has built a life in Europe, estranged from his family, pursuing clean energy and climate science. Both are driven, both haunted by the past, both on the cusp of new beginnings.

Amsterdam: Chance Reunion

In Amsterdam, Lennix and Maxim's paths cross unexpectedly in a crowded bar. The years fall away; the chemistry is instant and overwhelming. They catch up, sharing stories of ambition, loss, and the battles they've fought. The city becomes their playground—canals, brown bars, and moonlit walks. Old wounds resurface, but so does hope. For the first time, Lennix considers surrendering her guarded heart—and her virginity. Maxim, too, is drawn in, recognizing in Lennix the rare spark he's never found elsewhere. Their reunion feels like destiny, but both know their time is short.

Old Wounds, New Fire

As their connection deepens, Lennix and Maxim confront the barriers between them—her trauma, his family's legacy, the ticking clock of their separate futures. Lennix confesses her virginity, her reasons rooted in the sacredness of her Sunrise Dance and the pain of her mother's loss. Maxim is moved, determined to be worthy of her trust. They agree to a week together—no promises, no attachments, just the truth of what they feel. Yet, beneath the surface, Maxim hides his true identity, afraid that revealing he is a Cade will destroy what they've found.

A Week of Firsts

Their week in Amsterdam is a whirlwind of firsts—first touch, first kiss, first time. Lennix gives herself to Maxim, and the experience is transformative for them both. They explore the city and each other, their bodies and souls entwined. Yet, the specter of separation looms. Maxim is bound for Antarctica; Lennix for a new life in activism and politics. They promise to walk away, but both know it's a lie. The intensity of their connection defies logic, time, and distance. When Maxim's true identity is revealed by the media, Lennix feels betrayed, her old wounds ripped open.

Promises and Departures

Lennix confronts Maxim about his lies. The revelation that he is the son of the man who destroyed her land and her mother's memory is too much to bear. She ends things, refusing to be another casualty of Cade power. Maxim, devastated, throws himself into his work, surviving a near-fatal Antarctic expedition. Both try to move on—Lennix building her career as a political strategist, Maxim becoming a billionaire clean energy mogul. Yet, neither can forget the other. Their lives run parallel, haunted by what might have been.

Ambition and Aftermath

A decade passes. Lennix becomes the Kingmaker, a powerhouse in progressive politics, helping elect marginalized candidates. Maxim builds an empire, always watching Lennix from afar, never able to let go. Their paths cross again when Lennix is tapped to run the presidential campaign of Maxim's brother, Owen Cade. Old feelings resurface, but so do old fears. Lennix is determined to keep Maxim at arm's length, hiding behind a fake relationship with her best friend. Maxim, undeterred, is ready to fight for a second chance, but both are wary—of each other, of themselves, of the past.

Ten Years, Two Worlds

As the campaign heats up, so do the tensions between the Cades and Lennix. Maxim's father, Warren, remains a looming threat, a symbol of everything Lennix has fought against. Maxim and Lennix circle each other, their chemistry undiminished but their trust fragile. Both have changed—older, wiser, more scarred. The campaign becomes a crucible, forcing them to confront not just their feelings, but the legacies of family, ambition, and betrayal. When Maxim finally confesses his enduring love, Lennix must decide if she can risk her heart again.

The Kingmaker's Dilemma

Lennix faces a choice: cling to the armor of her past, or risk everything for love. Maxim, too, must prove he is not his father—that he can be both ruthless and good, ambitious and loving. Their reconciliation is hard-won, built on honesty, vulnerability, and the willingness to forgive. They rediscover the joy and passion that once bound them, but now with the wisdom of experience. Together, they navigate the treacherous waters of politics, family, and public scrutiny, determined to build a future on their own terms.

Family, Power, and Betrayal

As Owen's campaign gains momentum, the Cades' family drama threatens to derail everything. Warren Cade's machinations put Lennix in danger, forcing Maxim to choose between loyalty and love. The ghosts of the past—missing women, stolen land, broken promises—haunt every step. Lennix's activism and Maxim's innovations collide, challenging them to redefine what power means. In the crucible of crisis, they discover the true meaning of family—not just the one you're born into, but the one you choose.

Second Chances, Old Fears

Lennix and Maxim's reunion is passionate, but fraught with old fears. Lennix must confront her terror of loss, rooted in her mother's disappearance and Maxim's past recklessness. Maxim must prove he can be trusted, that he is more than his name. Their love becomes a sanctuary, a place where both can be fully seen and accepted. Yet, the world outside is unforgiving. When Lennix is kidnapped during a service trip, the stakes become life and death. Both must draw on everything they've learned—about themselves, each other, and the world—to survive and find their way back.

Love, Lies, and Forgiveness

In the aftermath of trauma, Lennix and Maxim face their greatest test. The lies and betrayals of the past threaten to unravel their hard-won happiness. Yet, through honesty, courage, and the willingness to be vulnerable, they find a way forward. Lennix learns to hope again, to believe that love can coexist with ambition and justice. Maxim learns that true power lies not in domination, but in partnership. Together, they forge a new legacy—one rooted in truth, resilience, and the refusal to be defined by the wounds of the past.

Danger in the Jungle

On a humanitarian trip to Costa Rica, Lennix and her friend Wallace are kidnapped by mercenaries. The ordeal is harrowing, forcing Lennix to confront her deepest fears and draw on every ounce of strength. Maxim, desperate to save her, mobilizes every resource at his disposal. The experience is a crucible, burning away the last remnants of doubt and fear. In the face of death, Lennix realizes the depth of her love for Maxim, and the two are finally, irrevocably united—not just by passion, but by survival, trust, and the knowledge that together, they can face anything.

Reckoning and Reunion

With the campaign's success and their personal demons faced, Lennix and Maxim step into a new era—both for themselves and the world they hope to change. Their love, forged in fire and tested by time, becomes a beacon for others. They honor the past, fight for justice, and build a future where hope and ambition are not mutually exclusive. The story ends not with a fairy tale, but with the hard-won promise of partnership, purpose, and the courage to keep chasing stars—together.

Characters

Lennix Moon Hunter

Lennix is the heart of the novel—a Yavapai-Apache woman forged in the fires of loss, activism, and ambition. Her mother's disappearance shapes her, instilling both a fierce pride in her heritage and a deep wariness of hope. Lennix is brilliant, driven, and uncompromising, yet her greatest battle is with vulnerability. She is a bridge between worlds—tradition and progress, pain and healing, love and justice. Her relationships—with her parents, her godmother Mena, her friends, and Maxim—are complex, marked by loyalty and the fear of loss. Over the course of the story, Lennix transforms from a wounded girl into a formidable woman, learning that true strength lies in the courage to hope, forgive, and love.

Maxim Kingsman Cade

Maxim is the prodigal son of an oil dynasty, torn between the expectations of his ruthless father and his own vision for a better world. Brilliant, restless, and deeply principled, Maxim rejects the path laid out for him, pursuing clean energy and climate science. His relationship with Lennix is both a refuge and a crucible—she challenges him to be better, to confront his privilege and his fears. Maxim's journey is one of self-definition, as he learns to balance ambition with vulnerability, power with partnership. His love for Lennix is transformative, forcing him to confront the legacy of his family and the meaning of true success.

Warren Cade

Warren is the embodiment of old-school, ruthless capitalism—a man who believes in winning at any cost. He is both a formidable adversary and a tragic figure, unable to connect with his sons or relinquish control. His actions—building pipelines, manipulating politics, threatening those he sees as obstacles—drive much of the conflict. Yet, beneath the bluster is a man haunted by loss and longing, particularly for Maxim. Warren's relationship with Lennix is adversarial, but also a mirror for her own struggles with power and forgiveness.

Owen Cade

Owen is Maxim's older brother, a politician with integrity and ambition. He is the "good son," navigating the treacherous waters of family loyalty and public service. Owen's campaign becomes the backdrop for much of the novel's second half, forcing all the characters to confront their values and priorities. He is both a foil and a catalyst for Maxim and Lennix, embodying the possibility of change within the system.

Mena

Mena is Lennix's surrogate mother after Liana's disappearance, guiding her through grief and into womanhood. She is a source of wisdom, comfort, and tough love, pushing Lennix to confront her fears and embrace her power. Mena's own activism and resilience are a model for Lennix, and her presence is a reminder of the importance of community and heritage.

Wallace Murrow

Wallace is Lennix's closest friend and, briefly, her boyfriend. Their relationship is marked by deep affection and mutual respect, but lacks the passion she finds with Maxim. Wallace is a stabilizing force, offering humor, support, and a reminder that love can take many forms. His presence allows Lennix to explore her own desires and boundaries without fear of judgment.

Kimba Allen

Kimba is Lennix's business partner and best friend, co-founder of their political consulting firm. She is sharp, ambitious, and fiercely loyal, pushing Lennix to take risks and embrace her own power. Kimba's own journey—her relationships, her grief, her triumphs—parallels Lennix's, and their friendship is a testament to the strength of chosen family.

Liana

Liana's disappearance is the inciting trauma of Lennix's life, but her presence lingers throughout the novel. She is a symbol of resistance, sacrifice, and the cost of activism. Her memory shapes Lennix's choices, both as a source of inspiration and as a cautionary tale about the dangers of giving everything to the cause.

Millicent Cade

Millicent is Owen's wife, a formidable figure in her own right. She navigates the demands of public life with grace and cunning, serving as both ally and adversary to Lennix. Her relationship with Owen is complex, marked by love, ambition, and the constant negotiation of power.

Abe (Antagonist in Costa Rica)

Abe is the masked mercenary who kidnaps Lennix and Wallace in Costa Rica. He is a chilling figure, his violence and amorality a stark contrast to the ideals of the protagonists. Abe's actions force Lennix to confront her deepest fears and draw on every resource she possesses to survive.

Plot Devices

Dual Narrative and Time Jumps

The novel employs a dual narrative, alternating between Lennix and Maxim's perspectives, allowing readers to inhabit both worlds—Indigenous activism and corporate power, trauma and privilege, hope and cynicism. Time jumps—first four years, then ten—underscore the enduring nature of their connection and the slow, painful process of healing and change. The structure mirrors the cyclical nature of trauma and the long arc of justice, while also highlighting the ways in which personal and political histories are intertwined.

Symbolism and Motifs

The Sunrise Dance, the pipeline, and the recurring motif of stars and navigation serve as powerful symbols throughout the novel. Lennix's second name, Girl Who Chases Stars, encapsulates her journey—always reaching, always hoping, always fighting for something just out of reach. The land—sacred, stolen, desecrated—anchors the story in both history and emotion. The compass bracelet Maxim gives Lennix is a tangible symbol of their journey back to each other, a reminder that love, like justice, requires both direction and courage.

Secrets, Lies, and Revelations

The central conflict—Maxim's hidden identity—creates dramatic irony and tension, foreshadowing the inevitable reckoning. The novel explores the ways in which secrets, even well-intentioned, can become betrayals, and how the truth, once revealed, can both destroy and heal. The theme of missing and murdered Indigenous women is woven throughout, a haunting reminder of the stakes of silence and the necessity of bearing witness.

Political and Social Commentary

The novel is as much about the fight for justice as it is about love. Through Lennix's activism and Maxim's innovations, the story interrogates the nature of power—who wields it, who suffers from its abuse, and how it can be reclaimed. The campaign, the protests, and the family drama all serve as microcosms of larger societal battles, making the personal political and the political deeply personal.

Analysis

The Kingmaker is a sweeping, emotionally charged novel that transcends the boundaries of romance to become a meditation on power, justice, and the courage to hope. Kennedy Ryan weaves together the personal and the political, showing how the wounds of history shape individual lives and how individual choices can, in turn, reshape history. Lennix and Maxim's love is not an escape from the world's pain, but a crucible in which both are transformed—made stronger, braver, more whole. The novel refuses easy answers, insisting that healing requires both honesty and risk, that forgiveness is an act of will, and that true partnership is built not on perfection, but on the willingness to keep showing up, even when it hurts. In a world scarred by injustice, The Kingmaker offers a vision of hope—not as naïveté, but as the most radical act of all.

Last updated: November 26, 2025