“Wow, this was a fantastic way to start this book. The prose is beautiful and the tone was built really well around Liam and the king torturing him. I was hooked all the way through his execution, and even read past the first two chapters because I was excited to see where it went. It is a very intricate but well spelled-out plot that deserves looking into. I can’t even begin to explain how quickly I would pick this up from a bookstore, given the proper cover. Everything about it gives me Assassin Creed vibes! It has ‘adventure’ written all over it.”
~Lauren Johnson, Editor, Genz Publishing
“This was so thoroughly engaging and intense, I am just an exhausted smear on the footpath. Like, exhausting in the best possible way. You know when you get really into a story so you’re kind of racing along with it?? See, bookworms workout. Our little hearts get to bust out of our little chests. CARDIO.
Now I fully confess to not being the best with epic fantasy because my brain is t i r e d. But I loved this. I loved the depth of the world and the complexity of the city. But what got me the most?? The characters. I am trash for good characters and this had the found-family that I liiiive for. It’s basically a group of kids hiding out from their death warrants and they fiercely protect and love each other. And while I didn’t keep up with the king’s chapters so super well (that’s on me though lol), I just lived and breathed for every scene with Kayo and Rose.
Can we just pls take a moment for characters who steal your hearts??? A+ here omg. Kayo is the softest cinnamon son, total Gryffindor, and his brother was this famous vigilante, but Kayo really sucks at filling in his boots because he wan’t hurt people. (Yeah, my heart MELTED.) He’s also super messed up so, ya. You got me. I am yours. And Rose was just my scrappy biting feral queen of the gutter. (Like if Lila Bard from A Darker Shade of Magic had a kid?? IT WOULD BE ROSE.) Her character arc is glorious. She just goes from trying to stab everyone, to only occasionallywanting to stab everyone. <3 Bless. And Kayo and Rose’s hate-to-love romance, peppered with the cutest vulnerability and worries and softness, was my absolute favourite thing.
The plot is super intense and full on too…but the last chapters are what leaves you screaming softly into the void. I didn’t want my CHILDREN to be hurt, ok. (Which brings me to point out: this book likes to hurt its characters…and me.)
This is a fantasy adventure of crime and desperation, all wrapped up in the intensity that comes with kids who make their own families when the world spits them out. Also it has like a medieval Batman so I’m here for it.
~C.G. Drews, author of “A Thousand Perfect Notes” and “The Boy Who Steals Houses”
“I won The Orphan’s Code in an Instagram giveaway and was sent the book by the author.
Firstly, I’d like to start this book review by stating that this book is not for the faint hearted. The Orphan’s Code is 496 pages long! So bear that in mind if you do intend on reading it. This book is by no means a quick read.
I was daunted by the size of the book when I received it from the author. But I’m not one to back down from a challenge and decided to give this book ago.
The only negative feedback I have about this book is the text font size. I felt the font size was extremely small and could have been slightly bigger.
The Orphan’s Code is the ultimate fantasy novel. This book has magic, a cast of complex characters, a well-developed setting, a power structure/system government and a central conflict at the root of the story which made it a compelling read.
I can tell this book has been a labour of love for the author because of the detailed descriptions, complex plot line and sheer imagination by creating an epic fantasy world in which the reader can escape into.
Even though I found this book a challenge to read because of the complex plot line and length, I enjoyed it. My favourite character in the book is Rose because of her tough girl attitude which mellows a bit towards the end of the story. I also didn’t expect this fantasy novel to develop into a touching love story which I found unique.
This book definitely deserves five stars and I can’t wait to see what happens in book two, The Sword and the Rose.
~Elsa Joseph, Author of “Best Kept Secret”
“I got a d&d assassin vibe from it…I truly love it. I have no bad thoughts about it. It’s beautiful. I love it. I will purchase it. I couldn’t put it down. It’s perfect. The cliffhanger made my heart stop…. I will go leave my review right now. But I left suggestions on what I think could be changed. Other than that… This is a flawless piece. I enjoyed reading every word. Thank you so much for the wonderful opportunity to edit your book.
I 100% recommend it to all lovers of fantasy, action, and drama. If you’re looking for a book that will keep you up all night reading (it sure did for me!), I would definitely recommend buying it on Amazon as soon as you can!
It was a pleasure working with [the author] on such a wonderful book. It came in the mail today and I’m so excited to read it again!”
~Kayla Zarate, Editor
“Since we are talking high fantasy we are talking a big book here (love) with multiple narratives (love!). Actually, what drew me to ORPHAN’S CODE were the similarities between it and MISTBORN by Brandon Sanderson (which, if anyone ever asks me for a recommendation…you know is my go to).
The city of Bermeia is in chaos after the execution of its beloved criminal hero, the Black Death (wink Kelsier wink). Things go even worse when the usurper king begins a hunt for the missing heir to the throne. On the other hand we have Rose who, as much as she tries to stay out of trouble, gets kidnapped by a gang of orphans, outlaws and runaways that have their own deep dark secrets. I just looooove when you can see glimpses of how these arcs wil come together. Ughhh, high fantasy (I love it).”
~James Trevino, @james_trevino
“So I just finished this upcoming book… For those who like fantasy I highly recommend it. I loved the beginning of this book and I was the happiest person when I saw that my favorite character didn’t die. He is a badass. I’m more of a romance fan, but I really liked this book…I recommend it. Five stars.”
~Delia, @deliaph.reads
“This was a great read from start to finish, I’ve never heard a story like this one before!
When I read that first chapter, I was immediately intrigued. I’ve never read a book that opened with a torture scene, only to have the person be executed shortly after. It left me wanting to know more, and I’m so glad that I continued to read on because oh my goodness was this a good book! It took me a little longer than usual to finish this book but when you have a toddler and a puppy to take care of, time is something that I don’t have too much of. But nevertheless, this book was great from start to finish. When I got near the end of the book I noticed how many pages were left and it started to get me nervous, because I didn’t know how this book was going to end when there were so many unanswered questions to be solved! The book ends on a cliffhanger, and oh man was I frustrated. Which is amazing, because it makes me hope for a sequel! So let’s put it out into the universe for a sequel to happen, BECAUSE I NEED ANSWERS.
This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read before, but I love it. All too often we read books that have similar premises or they revolve around the same type of character or genre, so this was a wonderful breath of fresh air. If you’re looking for a good story that will keep you turning each page with a newfound quest for answers, then this is the book for you. Thank you to the author C.R.R. Hillin for giving me the chance to read this book, it was a great read from start to finish!”
~Courtney, @theliterarycoterie – Read the Full Review Here!
“I fell in love with this novel, from the first sentence I was hooked! I liked the build-up of the events, and how the characters’ lives are intertwined with each other. The opening line of this novel is this statement “They deserved it”, and suddenly I felt as if I was right there in the dungeon with [them]. When I received the ARC, I didn’t know that the novel has a sequel; I was nervous as I was reaching the final pages with no sign of any resolution, and when I finished it my reaction was “NO! no no no noooo!” I need to know what happens next. The end is such a cliffhanger that it left me on the edge of my seat! I did not expect the events will turn out the way it did! I can’t wait for the sequel to come out, hopefully soon enough!
The novel is totally worth reading, I highly recommend it!”
~Noor, @steady.ready.getlostinabook – Read the Full Review Here!
“Ahhhh this book!! I fell in love with it from the very first page, actually I was hooked from the very first sentence! Bermeia is a whole other world that draws you in and makes you feel like it’s real. Slowly throughout the first couple of chapters you get to meet all the epic characters and see how their lives are intertwined. I love the buildup of events that leave you wanting more. Such a clever beginning of the story!
As the story unfolds, we are introduced to different characters. Kayo – who is stubborn, loyal and has such a good heart, Rose – a girl who has had her heart broken before, she has trust issues and is aggressive, but once she feels safe she ends up being such a sweetie, Dominic – who always cares, has Kayo’s back constantly and is super sweet, and Alysia – who is always trying to take care of people around her, has a strong personality and helps everyone out. They are such an awesome squad!
I loved getting to see the story progress and getting to know the characters more as it went on. It was a book that made you feel like you were really there, which was amazing! The storyline is so exciting and gets you really invested in characters, I didn’t want it to end! I am in awe of the author’s ability to craft such a magical world, beautiful characters and fascinating plots. If you haven’t read this book yet, than please pick it up. I promise you won’t regret it!!”
~Raya, @notesfromabookworm.com – Read the Full Review Here!
“It took me a little bit to get into the story, but as soon as I got into it, I was totally absorbed by it. I loved the characters and how the whole story was build-up. For me, it was just a great way, how the life of each character intertwined with the others. I liked every character in their own way and the story was just fascinating. I simply couldn’t stop reading once I was hooked…. I’m very happy to find out that there will be a sequel. When I was reaching the final pages, I got a little bit upset about the cliffhanger that will appear. As soon as I found out that there will be a sequel I was relieved because I need to know what happens next. The ending was unexpected, and the story didn’t turn out the way I’d expected it to be. Please, please hurry writing the sequel! So, after a rough start, I can highly recommend reading the book. I loved it.”
~Juliana, @juliana_loves_books
Please excuse my language in this review, but I swear if you read this book (please read it) you will understand why I have been screaming the last 20 minutes.I admit, I have called a ton of books a roller coaster. But this book was the MASTER roller coaster. It’s the coaster that EVERYONE wants to ride. That has a line backed up for MILES!This book left me breathless and shaky and screaming. Y’all, I don’t have the fucking WORDS for how I feel about this book! All I want to do it shove it in people’s faces and scream “READ IT NOW!” then watch over their shoulders going “uh huh. Uh huh. I know I know. Yep. Fucked up, yeah?”No one better ask me what this book is about because I can’t tell you. That’s how amazing this book was. “Lol nope, you better fucking read it.” I’ll tie you down and turn the pages for you. (I’m kidding) But yeah. Lol this book will haunt me for life.Hillin is such a amazing writer! While I read, I forgot I was real. Lol Her writing is so powerful that once you start reading, you’re gone. Lol And the characters.. Oh man, there is so much I want to say about the but I’m still screaming.I adore Rose. I hated Rose. You can ask Hillin. Lol I hated Rose with a passion but she promised I would love her, and she was right. I loved seeing her GROW. When you read a book, a character is usually set a certain way and nothing changes them – They are who they are. While Rose was this hard character, over time she didn’t become soft exactly, but she opened….. Exactly like a Rose. Soft but if you fuck with her, she will make you bleed.I really loved the Orphans. *hard laugh* love(d). Can I just leave it at that? I have never wanted to beat a book to death in my life because of characters. That was so sudden that it just left you screaming “What kind of shit is that!?” over and over. I’m gonna leave it at that because it just pisses me off all over again. I don’t want to damage my book by throwing it. Just saying. LolThe only thing I wasn’t all about was the kings part of the story. I mean yeah, he has a massive role to play in all this but I’m not sure of it’s because he is just disgusting or if it’s because I was so enthralled with Rose’s story that I didn’t really care for his story. Don’t get me wrong, the whole book is amazing but I don’t really know how to explain it other than Hillin wrote him so well, I’m 99.99% sure when you read his parts, your skin will want to crawl off your body. He is just *gags uncontrollably*THE LOVE STORY WAS AMAZING!!!!If you say it’s not a love story; First off, fuck you. Second, it’s a love story and I fucking adore it. It wasn’t instant love. Which most books are set on having. Not that I mind them, but it’s amazing to have a change once in a while. But even though it wasn’t instant love, when it FINALLY happened, the tension was like a rubber band popping. Like *boom*! It’s mind boggling but in a awesome way!They are so adorable together.But that ending. Omgggggg. It left me exhausted. Not kidding in the slightest. I was shaking and breathless and pissed and crying. I have never in my life had a ending make me feel every single emotion in the span of a page in ONE line.That last line. If it had to be written on my headstone, it wouldn’t be a damn lie either. LolIf you have a chance to read this book, please read it. It’s so amazing!My all time favorite quote from this book is: “Being selfish makes you rich ‘an gets you what you want. Bein’ good gets you fuckall.”~Ash, @reviewsofafearstreetzombie Read the Full Review Here!
“It’s amazing! Thank you for the first look in your book and the story, I love it, and now I read it as a paperback! Inlove it A LOT! …the book is written so freaking good!!”
~@secretlibrarygirl
“[CRR Hillin] is super funny and a big writing motivation! I haven’t come around to finishing [the book] yet…but so far I absolutely love it!”‘
~Elle D. Arkas, @woodlandwriter
“I finished The Orphan’s Code. Your writing is extremely intriguing! Although there was more violence than I care for in a story, I still thoroughly enjoyed Code and would be enthusiastic about reading further installments. Your character development is on point and the plot moved along at a good pace. The only times my interest pulled away from the book were with the king’s wives/palace events. Overall, absolutely awesome! Keep writing, you have real talent!”
~ Ruby Fitzgerald, author of Descendants of War: Magic’s Demise