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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
Original Review found at: www.beawesomebeabooknut.blogspot.com
If you suffer from claustrophobia, do not read this book. Why? because 99.7 % of this book is done underground, in caves. Yeah... there were times I was needed to step outside to get my head out of the book and remember I'm not trapped in caves. I would NOT have done well if I was Ileni (the main character), nope.
This book was fun, it has it all, murder, magic, mayhem, political intrigue, no love triangles, plot twists, no insta-love. It was great!
So Ileni, our heroine, is on a suicide mission--pretty much-- due to her fading magical power. She was one of the greatest, most powerful sorceress and then she kind of grew out of it. She didn't understand it and so she volunteers herself to enter the caves of-just men-assassins, to teach them the art of magic and how to best use it in what they are being trained to become, assassins. Because she knows her power is fading, and fading fast, she leaves her lover, her life and pretty much the only family to knew to become a teacher for as long as she is able until one of the assassins decides to kill her like the 2 previous teachers were before her. Not only is she brought there to teach but to find out what happened to the 2 precious magical teachers brought here to help only to be murdered after a short time.
However throughout the entire book she struggles to survive, and keep herself one step ahead of the "game" and keep herself afloat for as long as she possibly can without letting anyone know of her fading power because once that's gone, what use will they have for her? And she can't be set free to divulge any of their secrets.
Then there is Sorin, an assassin asked to be her protector-she after all the ONLY female in all the caves-yet they don't get a long because Ileni can't/doesn't understand how someone can be taught to be completely devoid of feeling and take something so precious as life and end it, without thought or conscious. And Sorin can't/doesn't understand why her people don't protect and use their power to take down evil for the greater good. Sorin is a great character, not a "bad guy" and yet is quick to do what is asked of him without hesitation. He desires to be of use and not sit around guarding some female who is hold secrets, stubborn and impulsive.
These 2 together are just....great! They work so well together because they come from completely different worlds but compliment each other as opposites. I loved it!
The whole story was different, and this was a great start for the next few books, it's paved the way with and built up so many different things that is exciting, I can't wait to see what else this series holds!
Overall: It was quick and fun and I completely enjoyed myself
Sexual Content: mild (some kissing)
Language: mild
Violence: moderate (scenes of murder, suicide (not graphic) and some mild fight scenes)
Drugs/Alcohol: mild (1 mild party scene where alcohol is present)
If you suffer from claustrophobia, do not read this book. Why? because 99.7 % of this book is done underground, in caves. Yeah... there were times I was needed to step outside to get my head out of the book and remember I'm not trapped in caves. I would NOT have done well if I was Ileni (the main character), nope.
This book was fun, it has it all, murder, magic, mayhem, political intrigue, no love triangles, plot twists, no insta-love. It was great!
So Ileni, our heroine, is on a suicide mission--pretty much-- due to her fading magical power. She was one of the greatest, most powerful sorceress and then she kind of grew out of it. She didn't understand it and so she volunteers herself to enter the caves of-just men-assassins, to teach them the art of magic and how to best use it in what they are being trained to become, assassins. Because she knows her power is fading, and fading fast, she leaves her lover, her life and pretty much the only family to knew to become a teacher for as long as she is able until one of the assassins decides to kill her like the 2 previous teachers were before her. Not only is she brought there to teach but to find out what happened to the 2 precious magical teachers brought here to help only to be murdered after a short time.
However throughout the entire book she struggles to survive, and keep herself one step ahead of the "game" and keep herself afloat for as long as she possibly can without letting anyone know of her fading power because once that's gone, what use will they have for her? And she can't be set free to divulge any of their secrets.
Then there is Sorin, an assassin asked to be her protector-she after all the ONLY female in all the caves-yet they don't get a long because Ileni can't/doesn't understand how someone can be taught to be completely devoid of feeling and take something so precious as life and end it, without thought or conscious. And Sorin can't/doesn't understand why her people don't protect and use their power to take down evil for the greater good. Sorin is a great character, not a "bad guy" and yet is quick to do what is asked of him without hesitation. He desires to be of use and not sit around guarding some female who is hold secrets, stubborn and impulsive.
These 2 together are just....great! They work so well together because they come from completely different worlds but compliment each other as opposites. I loved it!
The whole story was different, and this was a great start for the next few books, it's paved the way with and built up so many different things that is exciting, I can't wait to see what else this series holds!
Overall: It was quick and fun and I completely enjoyed myself
Sexual Content: mild (some kissing)
Language: mild
Violence: moderate (scenes of murder, suicide (not graphic) and some mild fight scenes)
Drugs/Alcohol: mild (1 mild party scene where alcohol is present)
Would've like this book if there were no romance in it. The MC has a boyfriend back home, but all she's thinking about is the fact that she's about to die at any moment and since said boyfriend is light-years away, she'll just have to make do with the young assassin here who's never been with a girl in his life. Seriously?
Do not recommend. Seriously.
Do not recommend. Seriously.
DEATH SWORN wasn’t exactly what I expected, but it was an enjoyable read. You can’t really go wrong with sorcerers and assassins, which is at the heart of DEATH SWORN.
The novel picks right up from page one and carries on with good pacing throughout most of the book. I flew through this one once I just sat down and started reading, the writing is easy to fall into and the story goes by fast enough that you will be halfway done with the book before you even realize it.
On the other hand, plot wise, not much was going on. A romance was being semi-developed and the main character was training assassins in the art of magic but there weren’t any huge happenings in the storyline until the very end.
Anyway, going back to the romance. It was predictable from the very beginning a relationship would develop between Ileni and one of the assassins, who I liked as a character but not a love interest. As for the development, it is one of the romances where little things like looks and touching happen and then BAM-love confession.
The world building has such potential, I can’t wait to see more of it fleshed out in the next book. I would also like some more history about the Empire, why there are sorcerers and assassins, etc. Otherwise, I was fairly happy with the magic system and concept in general.
Bottom line is that for all the fantasy books I’ve read this one won’t be that memorable, but it is a good book in a series that I will probably be following.
The novel picks right up from page one and carries on with good pacing throughout most of the book. I flew through this one once I just sat down and started reading, the writing is easy to fall into and the story goes by fast enough that you will be halfway done with the book before you even realize it.
On the other hand, plot wise, not much was going on. A romance was being semi-developed and the main character was training assassins in the art of magic but there weren’t any huge happenings in the storyline until the very end.
Anyway, going back to the romance. It was predictable from the very beginning a relationship would develop between Ileni and one of the assassins, who I liked as a character but not a love interest. As for the development, it is one of the romances where little things like looks and touching happen and then BAM-love confession.
The world building has such potential, I can’t wait to see more of it fleshed out in the next book. I would also like some more history about the Empire, why there are sorcerers and assassins, etc. Otherwise, I was fairly happy with the magic system and concept in general.
Bottom line is that for all the fantasy books I’ve read this one won’t be that memorable, but it is a good book in a series that I will probably be following.
Synopsis
Ileni was set to be one of the most powerful Regenai until her magic began to fail. With limited power left, Ileni is chosen by the Elders to fulfill the agreement between sorcerers and assassins, tutoring in exchange for the assassins leaving them in peace. But she’s not just there as a teacher. She’s also supposed to investigate the deaths of the last two tutors. With her magic failing, surrounded by people who could kill her with ease, Ileni must hide her waning magic and make them believe that she’s powerful enough to protect herself.
Thoughts
This book is everything that I love in a fantasy novel. The world, the heroine, the writing style. This book was perfection for me. Despite the fact that we never venture outside the cave that is the book’s setting, it never feels stagnant as we learn about the politics and people of this high fantasy world. Ileni is a fast-on-her-feet thinker who acts powerful and confident despite being anything but. Ileni has lead a rather sheltered life surrounded by the ideals of her Elders, but her time in the assassins’ cave really forces her to re-evaluate her beliefs. Oh and there’s amazing chemistry between Ileni and Sorin, a mysterious assassin who could possibly be an ally or the one that killed the previous tutors. Their exchanges are full of awesome. I can’t gush about this book enough. I need book two in this duology now!!
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I felt like this book had way more potential. It was really a slow start, and I mean the book has 19 chapters and things didn't get good up until chapter 14 or 15. Even so its an okay book. I was interested in the book before I got it but it clearly took longer then expected to finish because it was not as great as some people have put it.
Actual rating: 3.75 While still a good story, there was just something holding me back from a solid rating, maybe just not enough building? I'm not sure if I want to read the next book, but we'll see.
I like Assassins and I like magic so I was really excited to read this book but it was a bit of a let down. I didn't connect to any of the characters and the only thing that kept me reading this was the plot. I think it was a really good idea for a book but it wasn't well written