Review of The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke

Format: Paperback
Genres: Fantasy, Magic, Romance
Pages: 298
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Release Date: 02/10/2012
Find The Author: Website ¦ Twitter
Book Depository ¦ Amazon UK/US ¦ Goodreads


Ananna of the Tanarau abandons ship when her parents try to marry her off to another pirate clan. But that only prompts the scorned clan to send an assassin after her. When Ananna faces him down one night, armed with magic she doesn't really know how to use, she accidentally activates a curse binding them together.

To break the spell, Ananna and the assassin must complete three impossible tasks--all while grappling with evil wizards, floating islands, haughty manticores, runaway nobility, strange magic... and the growing romantic tension between them.



I'm going to dive right in and say that this is the exact type of fantasy I've been waiting for since I read Poison Study a good four years ago. It has everything I wanted - pirates, assassins, adventure, quests and a couple that I completely and utterly wanted together so much it hurt. The description is clever, because while there is some romantic tension, there is actually no kissing. Yet?

The story just threw me right in, when Ananna (who I kept wanting to call Anarra) is about to get married off to some guy who's only interested in a new ship his father will give him. Being the most perfect main character ever, she quickly nicks a camel and ditches him. I mean you would right? She always seems to go from one bad situation to worse one and picks up a fair share of enemies along the way.

I really did love the romance or rather the lack of it. I mean, I didn't enjoy that there wasn't much of any but I like the slow burn romances rather than the seeing someone and declaring your undying love to them, which just isn't realistic. Ananna and Naji are two people thrown together which very different lives and they clash a lot because of this. But at the same time you can see how much they care about each other in their actions.

One thing I really liked about this was that although it's a fantasy novel, I had no trouble picturing the scorching deserts or islands or pirate ships, because they're all elements taken from our own world. I prefer these, much easier than trying to imagine a gigantic glass castle or something. Although the desert scenes made me uncomfortable thirsty.

My only regret with this story is that I didn't buy the sequel and spin off before I'd read it - I now have to wait over a week to find out what happens! The story did end on a seriously good cliffhanger and I desperately need to find out what happens next.



Comments

  1. Mwahahahaha, you muuuuuuuust read the second book! I'm so excited for you to read the second book! I think I'm almost as excited as you are for you to read the second book! *faints*

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    Replies
    1. I bought it today! From BookDepository though and I'm on holiday next week so I feel like I'm going to have to wait forever to read the next part.

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  2. Based on this review alone I have gone out and bought this book. It is being started today and I'm hoping it's good. Who doesn't like a story where it's starts with the main character robbing a camel and being a runaway bride?

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    Replies
    1. Woo! I hope you love it. I need to read the next book like, yesterday *waits for it arrive*

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  3. But I hate cliffhangers...but I have both already dip that's not as bad then. Also it sounds like it had everything I want too. YARRRRR

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