Review: Mask of Shadows

Read if you like: fantasy worlds that are gender and sexuality inclusive, assassins, thieves, and to-the-death competitions.

Mask of Shadows | Linsey Miller

Series: Mask of Shadows

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Assassins
Released: August 29th 2017
Pages: 352
Format: Ebook
Source: Publisher

I Needed to Win.
They Needed to Die.

Sallot Leon is a thief, and a good one at that. But gender fluid Sal wants nothing more than to escape the drudgery of life as a highway robber and get closer to the upper-class—and the nobles who destroyed their home.

When Sal steals a flyer for an audition to become a member of The Left Hand—the Queen’s personal assassins, named after the rings she wears—Sal jumps at the chance to infiltrate the court and get revenge.

But the audition is a fight to the death filled with clever circus acrobats, lethal apothecaries, and vicious ex-soldiers. A childhood as a common criminal hardly prepared Sal for the trials. And as Sal succeeds in the competition, and wins the heart of Elise, an intriguing scribe at court, they start to dream of a new life and a different future, but one that Sal can have only if they survive.

Hard to resist making my entire review about Ruby and HOW RUDE that ending was. He was my fave, thank you.

I was surprised by this book. It draws from familiar (slightly overdone) fantasy elements - assassin/thief, a contest) but does it in such a unique way. I loved the gemstone elements, the elite of assassins that is the Hand, and the genderfluid, queer main character. This book is exciting, dramatic, and full of dangers - and at the heart of it, grief and revenge. There's competition, romance, friendship, and plenty of murder. I really liked it.

4.5 stars

ARC Review: Assassin's Heart

Assassin's Heart: Assassin's Heart | Sarah Ahiers

Published by: HarperTeen, February 2nd 2015

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Pages: 420

Format: Ebook

Source: HarperTeen, via Edelweiss

In the kingdom of Lovero, nine rival Families of assassins lawfully kill people for a price. As a highly skilled member of one of these powerful clans, seventeen-year-old Lea Saldana has always trusted in the strength of her Family. Until she awakens to find them murdered and her home in flames. The Da Vias, the Saldanas’ biggest enemy, must be responsible—and Lea should have seen it coming. But her secret relationship with the Da Vias’ son, Val, has clouded her otherwise killer instinct—and given the Da Vias more reason than ever to take her Family down.

Racked with guilt and shattered over Val’s probable betrayal, Lea sets out to even the score, with her heart set on retaliation and only one thought clear in her mind: make the Da Vias pay. 

Bloody and unforgiving. I LOVED it.

I wanted to read this because of the Italian vibe of the setting and the revenge story. I love a good fantasy revenge, and Assassin's Heart didn't let me down. In a world where murder is legal and Clipper Families 'clip' someone's life short for money, Lea was a fascinating character. A kind of assassin I'd never seen before, and when she went on her revenge mission, she was formidable and unforgettable.

As well as a great story, an inventive world, and the realistic and uber cool inclusion of Gods and Goddesses, there's romance that's all at once sweet, hot, and captivating. Les, the love interest, is caring and reliable and dangerous, and I loved him. Lea, the main character, is everything I want in a lady. And the two of them together just work.

A unique world, a dark revenge story that excels, and some romance to brighten it up. Will be reading Sarah Ahieh's next book for sure.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★☆

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Death Sworn (Review)

Death Sworn: Death Sworn | Leah Cypess

Published by: Greenwillow Books, March 3rd 2015

Genre: YA, High Fantasy, Magic

Pages: 345

Format: Paperback

Source: Purchased

When a young sorceress is exiled to teach magic to a clan of assassins, she will find that secrets can be even deadlier than swords. Teen Vogue proclaimed, "It's impossible not to fall deep into the dark yet alluring world of sorcery and secret assassins." A dangerous and eerie fantasy about murder, shocking discoveries, and fiery star-crossed romance that readers of Cinda Williams Chima and Robin LaFevers won't be able to put down.

Ileni is losing her magic. And that means she's losing everything: her position as the rising star of her people, her purpose in life, and even the young man she loves. Sent to the assassins' cave hidden deep within the mountains, she expects no one will ever hear from her again. The last two sorcerers sent died within weeks of each other. Accidents? Or something more sinister? As Ileni navigates the dangers--both natural and human--of the caves, she'll discover secrets that have been kept for decades. And she'll find an ally in Sorin, the deadly young man who could be the assassins' next leader. With Sorin determined to protect her, sparks--magical and romantic--will fly. But will even he understand the choice she must make in the end?

Death Sworn is one of the best fantasies I've read in a long time. There's none of the preamble, none of the lengthy OTT world building. It's just immersive. It throws you head-long into the assassin's caves from page one (literally) and builds the setting so expertly, so exquisitely, that you don't even realise it's happening. I haven't seen this in a YA high fantasy for a long time.

The story is packed with danger and intrigue and mystery without being bogged down by the setting or long winding stretches of the character's internal monologue. Death Sworn is just such a good book. It's fun and fast and hid a plot twist I didn't see coming. Truly, truly good. The characters are complicated and morally grey, the cave of assassins is hella cool (and weirdly reminds me of that underground bunker thing in Unravel Me), and I even loved the romance - it moved at a steady, natural pace.

Everything about this book is awesome and demands your full attention. My only gripe is there wasn't enough magic for my liking but given Ileni's fading magic I understand it. Hoping there's more in the next book!

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world building ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆