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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
I liked Death Sworn by Leah Cyress. I received this galley from Edlewiess awhile ago and have been meaning to read it. When the second book was released I decided to dive into the story. I can say that I enjoyed the mystery, storyline and romance. The characters are intriguing and have depth. I am looking forward to reading Death Marked and to see how the story unfolds.
Actual rating - A grudging 2.5 stars.
Let's do a fun review today, I thought. So here we go.
Anchor - Ladies and gentlemen, we bring you the latest and greatest in magical and assassin-related news, only on Fee Fi Fo FM. Our guests for this evening are Ileni, a bright young lady with no future or magic, Sorin, a dark young man who doesn't want a future and the mysterious Master, who refuses to comment on anything. Welcome, everyone.
Ileni - Erm, thanks.
Sorin - (Smirks.)
Master - Hmmm.
Anchor - Ileni, tell us, what drove you to go to the assassin's caves as their teacher when you clearly knew you might get killed? It seems like a suicide mission, though you obviously survived (since this is the first book of the series).
Ileni - I simply gave up hope I guess. My entire life I was trained to use magic and be adept at wielding it, but all of a sudden my power started diminishing so the Elders decided I would be more useful dead if I could solve the mystery of the previous teachers deaths. I won't pretend I'm not bitter about it, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.
Sorin - Essentially, she had a death wish. (Smirks.)
Ileni - (Glares.) Like you don't, you brain-wished killer who lives to die for some godforsaken old man.
Sorin - What do you know, little brat who couldn't lift a knife to save her non-violent, pointless life?
Master - (Nods.) It rhymes. Somewhat. All according to plan.
Anchor - Now, now. Ileni and Sorin, you love each other, remember? It may or may not be part of the mysterious Master's master plan, but you developed romantic feelings.
Ileni - Come to think of it, I'm not sure why. Granted, Sorin may be ridiculously good looking and rippling with muscles, but I didn't have to fall for him. Maybe because I was on the rebound?
Sorin - She was the only girl around. And the first one I knew. Plus, the author told me she would die without my help. (Shrugs.)
Master - The less you realise, the better for me...
Anchor - Well there must be something. Think harder.
Ileni - Well, I do have to credit Sorin for being the first guy to teach me something useful - self-defence. He's also the only one who can handle my snark.
Sorin - Ileni challenges everything. Kind of like me. Though we rebel in different ways.
Master - Hmph.
Anchor - The both of you went through a great many adventures together, or so I heard.
Ileni - Well, I was basically trying to solve the mystery of Cadrel's death without CSI, while trying to hide my dwindling magic supply (feebly at that) from a bunch of cold-blooded killers who I am highly suspicious of.
Sorin - (Raises an eyebrow) Cold-blooded? That must be why I spent most of my time trying to save your butt when I knew it could get me in trouble.
Ileni - I refuse to listen to reasonable arguments.
Master - [Insert mysterious comment on war, necessity, life and Pop-tarts.]
Anchor - Speaking of which, the Master is supposed to know all, see all, control all. How did that enormous plot twist at the end happen?
Master - A magician never reveals his secrets.
Ileni - Overconfidence. And old age.
Sorin - Deus ex machina?
Anchor - How do you guys feel about the magic and mythology of the novel?
Ileni - I think it's pretty cool. Our magic actually has practical applications other than making pretty dresses appear out of nowhere and it's not easy to use. It requires skill and practice.
Sorin - The mythology is vague though. I know we're fighting against the Empire. But then, so is everybody else in every other high-fantasy book/RPG/manga. Whatever. They're oppressive and mean. I might not know why, but I'll get them anyway.
Master - I know. But I won't tell you anything. As usual.
Ileni - (Grumbles.) Shady old coot.
Sorin - (Sighs.)
Anchor - One final question. What do you think is the over-arching message of the book?
Ileni - That love doesn't equate to trust?
Sorin - That I was created solely to be tortured by Ileni?
Master - That the first book in a series is intended not to tell a story, but to create suspense and a setting for the next five.
Anchor - I see. Well, thanks for joining us today. That session was thoroughly informative, I'm sure, for our viewers/listeners.
Ileni - (Dryly.) Just like the book, I suppose?
Sorin - (Smirks.) At least we agree on that.
Master - It's time for the first FIFA match. All shall go according to plan...hopefully.
Let's do a fun review today, I thought. So here we go.
Anchor - Ladies and gentlemen, we bring you the latest and greatest in magical and assassin-related news, only on Fee Fi Fo FM. Our guests for this evening are Ileni, a bright young lady with no future or magic, Sorin, a dark young man who doesn't want a future and the mysterious Master, who refuses to comment on anything. Welcome, everyone.
Ileni - Erm, thanks.
Sorin - (Smirks.)
Master - Hmmm.
Anchor - Ileni, tell us, what drove you to go to the assassin's caves as their teacher when you clearly knew you might get killed? It seems like a suicide mission, though you obviously survived (since this is the first book of the series).
Ileni - I simply gave up hope I guess. My entire life I was trained to use magic and be adept at wielding it, but all of a sudden my power started diminishing so the Elders decided I would be more useful dead if I could solve the mystery of the previous teachers deaths. I won't pretend I'm not bitter about it, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.
Sorin - Essentially, she had a death wish. (Smirks.)
Ileni - (Glares.) Like you don't, you brain-wished killer who lives to die for some godforsaken old man.
Sorin - What do you know, little brat who couldn't lift a knife to save her non-violent, pointless life?
Master - (Nods.) It rhymes. Somewhat. All according to plan.
Anchor - Now, now. Ileni and Sorin, you love each other, remember? It may or may not be part of the mysterious Master's master plan, but you developed romantic feelings.
Ileni - Come to think of it, I'm not sure why. Granted, Sorin may be ridiculously good looking and rippling with muscles, but I didn't have to fall for him. Maybe because I was on the rebound?
Sorin - She was the only girl around. And the first one I knew. Plus, the author told me she would die without my help. (Shrugs.)
Master - The less you realise, the better for me...
Anchor - Well there must be something. Think harder.
Ileni - Well, I do have to credit Sorin for being the first guy to teach me something useful - self-defence. He's also the only one who can handle my snark.
Sorin - Ileni challenges everything. Kind of like me. Though we rebel in different ways.
Master - Hmph.
Anchor - The both of you went through a great many adventures together, or so I heard.
Ileni - Well, I was basically trying to solve the mystery of Cadrel's death without CSI, while trying to hide my dwindling magic supply (feebly at that) from a bunch of cold-blooded killers who I am highly suspicious of.
Sorin - (Raises an eyebrow) Cold-blooded? That must be why I spent most of my time trying to save your butt when I knew it could get me in trouble.
Ileni - I refuse to listen to reasonable arguments.
Master - [Insert mysterious comment on war, necessity, life and Pop-tarts.]
Anchor - Speaking of which, the Master is supposed to know all, see all, control all. How did that enormous plot twist at the end happen?
Master - A magician never reveals his secrets.
Ileni - Overconfidence. And old age.
Sorin - Deus ex machina?
Anchor - How do you guys feel about the magic and mythology of the novel?
Ileni - I think it's pretty cool. Our magic actually has practical applications other than making pretty dresses appear out of nowhere and it's not easy to use. It requires skill and practice.
Sorin - The mythology is vague though. I know we're fighting against the Empire. But then, so is everybody else in every other high-fantasy book/RPG/manga. Whatever. They're oppressive and mean. I might not know why, but I'll get them anyway.
Master - I know. But I won't tell you anything. As usual.
Ileni - (Grumbles.) Shady old coot.
Sorin - (Sighs.)
Anchor - One final question. What do you think is the over-arching message of the book?
Ileni - That love doesn't equate to trust?
Sorin - That I was created solely to be tortured by Ileni?
Master - That the first book in a series is intended not to tell a story, but to create suspense and a setting for the next five.
Anchor - I see. Well, thanks for joining us today. That session was thoroughly informative, I'm sure, for our viewers/listeners.
Ileni - (Dryly.) Just like the book, I suppose?
Sorin - (Smirks.) At least we agree on that.
Master - It's time for the first FIFA match. All shall go according to plan...hopefully.
Dark yet delightfully refreshing
I truly enjoyed every moment of Ileni's journey. It is a story of hope for the least of us. The unwanted, the hopeless, a story that shows you should never underestimate someone. I look forward to reading book 2.
I truly enjoyed every moment of Ileni's journey. It is a story of hope for the least of us. The unwanted, the hopeless, a story that shows you should never underestimate someone. I look forward to reading book 2.
This book was a lot better than I expected. I didn’t remember why I had wanted to read it, but there it was on my device so I started it up. For a few chapters I was expecting a typical fantasy story, not realizing this was also a mystery novel. And as the novel went on, I really started liking the main character. I think I must look into the next book in this series now.
The master is such a compelling and powerful character despite how infrequently he is in any room. That’s a really interesting effect. I need to think about that idea for a bit.
The master is such a compelling and powerful character despite how infrequently he is in any room. That’s a really interesting effect. I need to think about that idea for a bit.
A surpisingly new, fresh story where assasins and magic blend. The plot was original and many times i wondered where the next crucial point will be.
Both Ileni and Sorin kept me with their dialogues and their struggle. Since there quite a mystery in the book, i found myself wondering what Sorin's role would be. But as the ending came and the relevation hit Ileni I was left gripping the e-reader tightly not wanting to believe what i read.
At the ending, i could say that we me on a cliffhanger wondering what fate would bring to Ileni and Sorin, not to mention the fate of the Empire and its enemies alike.
A fresh read, highily recommended!
Both Ileni and Sorin kept me with their dialogues and their struggle. Since there quite a mystery in the book, i found myself wondering what Sorin's role would be. But as the ending came and the relevation hit Ileni I was left gripping the e-reader tightly not wanting to believe what i read.
At the ending, i could say that we me on a cliffhanger wondering what fate would bring to Ileni and Sorin, not to mention the fate of the Empire and its enemies alike.
A fresh read, highily recommended!
This book was quite refreshing. Although I could have actually used a bit MORE romance, it was so nice to have a main character who realizes "the guy" likes her and doesn't have such low self esteem that she can't see what's right in front of her. i'll probably read the second one.
What is it with these books that take place in a cave? (At least reading this one reminded me that I still hadn't reviewed Stolen Songbird.) Anyway, I'm beginning to wonder if this is a trend. Take a girl that's destined for something and send her to a cave with trolls assassins.
I'll admit, I read this book for two reasons.
Reason One: That cover. Enough said.
Reason Two: Assassins. Okay, I'm one of those readers of fantasy that has an unhealthy interest in assassins. Give me the harmless-seeming ones that would rather buy clothes, the ones that have a special skill for it, that use poison at the order of royalty or any of a dozen other types of assassins and I am fascinated. I really think this was handled well by the book.
The assassins are all different, as befits a group of any type, with different personality types. It was a little too easy for both Ileni and me to forget that these boys, who sometimes just seem like normal boys, were killers - and most of them viewed that as an honor. The assassins know that killing is painfully easy, even if Ileni doesn't.
Ileni herself was merely okay. I never got truly attached to her, mostly because at the start of the story she's just too indifferent to everything. She only cares to not die because that will mean she failed her final mission. She's been ripped away from everything she's even known, so I understand this, but have you ever seen those people that hold themselves stiffly, like if they move too quickly, they'll break? That's what Ileni acted like. Like I said, I understand, but she's supposed to be the main character in this story (and, in fact, less than ten pages wasn't told from her perspective) and it's as though every thought she has she's filtered to not give anything away.
I wanted to like her because of her strength, but I was left thinking it was a hollow strength - one that would vanish under a breeze. The other characters were so unimportant and I got so little feeling from them that I won't even mention them here.
Honestly, I didn't much like this book, but it took me until the last two pages to realize why. All I knew before that point was that it was failing in something.
Nothing happens in this book. There. I said it and I don't apologize.
There's no feelings of peril. No true enemy to fight. There was little driving force behind the plot. When the 'mystery' was solved, it was done in such a way that one of the cardinal rules of mystery writing was broken (playing fair with your clues) and left no emotional impact because it was such a lame resolution. I mean, what happened was impossible, with a cave full of assassins.
Also, there was a sever lack of descriptions. I couldn't really picture anything - except maybe the love interest. There was no talk of location - just rocks. Of course, how many ways can you actually describe a rock? This goes hand in hand with the poor world building.
There's these three kingdoms. The two less powerful ones are 'fighting' the Empire (I think that's even what it was called). Ileni is from the kingdom that is willing to wait and non-violently rebel. The assassins are from a kingdom actively trying to undermined the Empire. That's it. That's the extent of the world building. Gee, like that doesn't sound like every fantasy world since...well, ever.
Between this and the distance Ileni keeps you at throughout the book, nothing feels real or compelling.
(Originally posted on my blog: http://pagesofstarlight.blogspot.com/)
I'll admit, I read this book for two reasons.
Reason One: That cover. Enough said.
Reason Two: Assassins. Okay, I'm one of those readers of fantasy that has an unhealthy interest in assassins. Give me the harmless-seeming ones that would rather buy clothes, the ones that have a special skill for it, that use poison at the order of royalty or any of a dozen other types of assassins and I am fascinated. I really think this was handled well by the book.
The assassins are all different, as befits a group of any type, with different personality types. It was a little too easy for both Ileni and me to forget that these boys, who sometimes just seem like normal boys, were killers - and most of them viewed that as an honor. The assassins know that killing is painfully easy, even if Ileni doesn't.
Ileni herself was merely okay. I never got truly attached to her, mostly because at the start of the story she's just too indifferent to everything. She only cares to not die because that will mean she failed her final mission. She's been ripped away from everything she's even known, so I understand this, but have you ever seen those people that hold themselves stiffly, like if they move too quickly, they'll break? That's what Ileni acted like. Like I said, I understand, but she's supposed to be the main character in this story (and, in fact, less than ten pages wasn't told from her perspective) and it's as though every thought she has she's filtered to not give anything away.
I wanted to like her because of her strength, but I was left thinking it was a hollow strength - one that would vanish under a breeze. The other characters were so unimportant and I got so little feeling from them that I won't even mention them here.
Honestly, I didn't much like this book, but it took me until the last two pages to realize why. All I knew before that point was that it was failing in something.
Nothing happens in this book. There. I said it and I don't apologize.
There's no feelings of peril. No true enemy to fight. There was little driving force behind the plot. When the 'mystery' was solved, it was done in such a way that one of the cardinal rules of mystery writing was broken (playing fair with your clues) and left no emotional impact because it was such a lame resolution. I mean, what happened was impossible, with a cave full of assassins.
Also, there was a sever lack of descriptions. I couldn't really picture anything - except maybe the love interest. There was no talk of location - just rocks. Of course, how many ways can you actually describe a rock? This goes hand in hand with the poor world building.
There's these three kingdoms. The two less powerful ones are 'fighting' the Empire (I think that's even what it was called). Ileni is from the kingdom that is willing to wait and non-violently rebel. The assassins are from a kingdom actively trying to undermined the Empire. That's it. That's the extent of the world building. Gee, like that doesn't sound like every fantasy world since...well, ever.
Between this and the distance Ileni keeps you at throughout the book, nothing feels real or compelling.
(Originally posted on my blog: http://pagesofstarlight.blogspot.com/)
Overall impression:
Deathsworn is a dangerous fantasy story full of high stakes, deadly assassins, and a heroine you can't help but root for.
Read the full review on YABooksCentral.com.
Deathsworn is a dangerous fantasy story full of high stakes, deadly assassins, and a heroine you can't help but root for.
Read the full review on YABooksCentral.com.
So, I gave it 3 stars. I'm definitely conflicted about it. Short and sweet review.
Good things- it was an easy read. The plot is a cool idea and it has action and magic which is good. There's a really cool twist that left me squeaking. Some of the action scenes are really intense and cool in that sense where you feel like you're there.
Bad things- lots of damsel in distress. One of the main plot points is that the female protagonist is pretty defenseless and has to rely on her love interest guy to protect her 24/7. Literally 24/7 because she's living in a cave of assassins. She cries a lot. And I get that it makes sense w the plot but still. And it does have a sequel and ends in a way that makes you know that there's a sequel but I don't think I'm going to read the sequel because I have other books to prioritize.
Hope this helped :)
Good things- it was an easy read. The plot is a cool idea and it has action and magic which is good. There's a really cool twist that left me squeaking. Some of the action scenes are really intense and cool in that sense where you feel like you're there.
Bad things- lots of damsel in distress. One of the main plot points is that the female protagonist is pretty defenseless and has to rely on her love interest guy to protect her 24/7. Literally 24/7 because she's living in a cave of assassins. She cries a lot. And I get that it makes sense w the plot but still. And it does have a sequel and ends in a way that makes you know that there's a sequel but I don't think I'm going to read the sequel because I have other books to prioritize.
Hope this helped :)