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lbarsk's review against another edition
2.0
review forthcoming, it's just late and i finished it today so i want to make sure i mark it as finished!
magikspells's review against another edition
2.0
I can't even really review this cause it's a little boring and not much happening.
renuked's review against another edition
2.0
That was mildly disappointing. I was hoping for...well, better. As a story set in a different world, usually I enjoy the fantasy and magic of another realm. But not really this time. Plus the romance was a failure, and the plot was...bland. It was just boring.
I went into this looking for a quick short read before starting a larger book. And it was a short read, but it was still too long by my standard because it was really uneventful. After our heroine Ananna saves the life of her would be assassin, literally nothing else happens. They just leave to go on a journey to break the curse. And this journey is really slapped together. They cross a desert. The main guy almost dies. They end up at the house of his ex-lover (boo). They end up going on a sea voyage. They end up stranded on some magic islands. Yay....not really. It just took off in random directions, none of it connected and the magic wasn't even that good. Blood magic should be a lot more interesting. Some of the terms and places? They were just tossed in like a salad. The Otherworld? The Mists? The Isles of the Sky? The Confederation? The Order? The Jadorr'a? The Impossible Curse? I need more to back this stuff up! Where is the world-building!
The romance? *shudders* It was awful. Naji is one of the worst male figures I have had the misfortune to meet. He's whiny, self-interested, and cannot see past his own face. He can't even realize the lovely Ananna is in love with him. Instead he remains hung up on his ex, a superficial hag. He was weak, constantly getting sick, having Ananna rescue him. For an intense assassin, I expected someone with a much deeper past. He was constantly negative and kind of nasty and condescending. Well, I hated him.
That brings me to the one redeeming factor. Ananna. She was funny, she was bright and she was smart. She knew what she wanted, and she plans to take it even if she's being dragged along by a whiny, terrible assassin. She wasn't just a great fighter and pirate, she also wanted to learn mathematics and navigation. She wasn't shallow and honestly loves Naji for who he is. If only he wasn't too dense to see it. She might be the only potential reason I read the next book.
So, we have a brilliant main character, but a terribly vague world and an unfortunate male interest. Sigh. This usually doesn't happen. I'll probably give the next book a try in the hopes that we learn a little more and that Naji gets his stuff together. But maybe not, since now we have the utterly cliché 3 Impossible Tasks to complete and an Impossible Curse to break. *yawn*
I went into this looking for a quick short read before starting a larger book. And it was a short read, but it was still too long by my standard because it was really uneventful. After our heroine Ananna saves the life of her would be assassin, literally nothing else happens. They just leave to go on a journey to break the curse. And this journey is really slapped together. They cross a desert. The main guy almost dies. They end up at the house of his ex-lover (boo). They end up going on a sea voyage. They end up stranded on some magic islands. Yay....not really. It just took off in random directions, none of it connected and the magic wasn't even that good. Blood magic should be a lot more interesting. Some of the terms and places? They were just tossed in like a salad. The Otherworld? The Mists? The Isles of the Sky? The Confederation? The Order? The Jadorr'a? The Impossible Curse? I need more to back this stuff up! Where is the world-building!
The romance? *shudders* It was awful. Naji is one of the worst male figures I have had the misfortune to meet. He's whiny, self-interested, and cannot see past his own face. He can't even realize the lovely Ananna is in love with him. Instead he remains hung up on his ex, a superficial hag. He was weak, constantly getting sick, having Ananna rescue him. For an intense assassin, I expected someone with a much deeper past. He was constantly negative and kind of nasty and condescending. Well, I hated him.
That brings me to the one redeeming factor. Ananna. She was funny, she was bright and she was smart. She knew what she wanted, and she plans to take it even if she's being dragged along by a whiny, terrible assassin. She wasn't just a great fighter and pirate, she also wanted to learn mathematics and navigation. She wasn't shallow and honestly loves Naji for who he is. If only he wasn't too dense to see it. She might be the only potential reason I read the next book.
So, we have a brilliant main character, but a terribly vague world and an unfortunate male interest. Sigh. This usually doesn't happen. I'll probably give the next book a try in the hopes that we learn a little more and that Naji gets his stuff together. But maybe not, since now we have the utterly cliché 3 Impossible Tasks to complete and an Impossible Curse to break. *yawn*
mars_aria's review against another edition
2.0
Not as good as I'd expected it to be. The main character, Ananna annoyed me at times. So did Nija. Ananna was too whiny and complained too much to me. There were not as many love scenes as I'd expected. The fact that the romantic part of the story that the summary mentioned did not come about until the very end of the story seemed cheesy, as though it was partly used as a way to keep the story going. I honestly had not expected there to be a second book. There were no 'haughty manticores' as it said on the summary either and I would have liked to have seen some more action packed scenes. That's usually what you expect when you read the word "assassin" on a summary. Basically the summary did not fully lie to me, but it made it sound like the book was better than it was. I didn't like the fact that background about the curse was not told to the reader until toward the end of the story. The whole thing kinda sounded like a disney movie, based on the summary (like Prince of Persia: Sands of Time).
sarahlreadseverything's review against another edition
3.0
Really this is a 2.5, rounded up to 3. I enjoyed the swashbuckling concept (pirates and assasins, who would say no??) and there was some interesting world-building going on. BUT it fell down on almost every other point
- There was no conclusion to the story. None, nada. The blurb you can see above? That literally spoils the entire book. When we reach the end, they have only just discovered that they need to do three impossible tasks. It made me feel rather cheated.
- It relied far to heavily on the mysterious-boy-won't-tell-girl-what's-going-on trope. Sometimes all his mysteriousness made me want to punch Naji. In the face.
- The romance element was almost non-existent.
- The world built was fascinating, but there wasn't enough elaboration. This was partly due to point two above, but even with that there were ignored opportunities for expansion that would have made the story richer
Overall? Great concept, bad execution. I'll be reading the second in the series, but literally just because otherwise it would feel like I'd read half a book
- There was no conclusion to the story. None, nada. The blurb you can see above? That literally spoils the entire book. When we reach the end, they have only just discovered that they need to do three impossible tasks. It made me feel rather cheated.
- It relied far to heavily on the mysterious-boy-won't-tell-girl-what's-going-on trope. Sometimes all his mysteriousness made me want to punch Naji. In the face.
- The romance element was almost non-existent.
Spoiler
He's in love with somebody else. And acts like it- The world built was fascinating, but there wasn't enough elaboration. This was partly due to point two above, but even with that there were ignored opportunities for expansion that would have made the story richer
Overall? Great concept, bad execution. I'll be reading the second in the series, but literally just because otherwise it would feel like I'd read half a book
mamo__'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75
celjla212's review against another edition
3.0
Ananna is a pirate, born and bred on a ship. She wants nothing more than to be captain of her own vessel one day. Then she learns that her parents have betrothed her to another pirate family's son--this is unacceptable. Ananna runs, determined to live a life of her own.
Then, an assassin is sent after her. In a strange twist, she ends up saving HIS life. Unfortunately, it means a curse is now upon him. He must keep her safe at all costs, or experience excruciating pain. Ananna and Naji set off to find a remedy for the assassin's curse.
Well, I must say--pirates are definitely a new addition to the YA lit world. This book was refreshing, but I had a lot of problems with it.
I loved Ananna! I loved the general...pirate-ness she had. She was nowhere near ladylike, and not ashamed of it. She cusses, steals, lies all with no regrets. She can fight and knows her way around a ship. She was truly a cool main character.
Naji...well, I had a little more trouble liking him. I get that he's this magical assassin, but we get almost no background on him...though a bit is revealed throughout the course of the story.
There were many facets of the story that I didn't really get, and weren't explained all that well, IMO. Who or what are The Mists and why do they want Naji? Ananna seemed to be close with her parents, were they not searching for her as well?
I know that this was the first book in a series, so I hope the books get better from here on out. I will probably read the next book.
Then, an assassin is sent after her. In a strange twist, she ends up saving HIS life. Unfortunately, it means a curse is now upon him. He must keep her safe at all costs, or experience excruciating pain. Ananna and Naji set off to find a remedy for the assassin's curse.
Well, I must say--pirates are definitely a new addition to the YA lit world. This book was refreshing, but I had a lot of problems with it.
I loved Ananna! I loved the general...pirate-ness she had. She was nowhere near ladylike, and not ashamed of it. She cusses, steals, lies all with no regrets. She can fight and knows her way around a ship. She was truly a cool main character.
Naji...well, I had a little more trouble liking him. I get that he's this magical assassin, but we get almost no background on him...though a bit is revealed throughout the course of the story.
There were many facets of the story that I didn't really get, and weren't explained all that well, IMO. Who or what are The Mists and why do they want Naji? Ananna seemed to be close with her parents, were they not searching for her as well?
I know that this was the first book in a series, so I hope the books get better from here on out. I will probably read the next book.
pomochi's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
Although the world building wasn't very strong, I really enjoyed this book. It was full of action, mystery, and amazing characters!
Although the world building wasn't very strong, I really enjoyed this book. It was full of action, mystery, and amazing characters!
steph01924's review against another edition
4.0
This took me by surprise; I definitely enjoyed it way more than I expected to! Interesting story, great characters, a slow-burning and thoughtful romance, and a plot that made sense and moved itself along nicely.
As I am with most books that aren't standalones, I'm glad I waited to read this and it's companion after they were both released! I also like the fact that it's a duology (well, it was really one book that the author had to split up, because heaven knows all publishers think that teenagers can't read a book longer than 350 pages) and not a trilogy, as is the new standard.
I saw some reviewers made the comparison to Ananna (the only name I really didn't care for in this book...it's so awkward to say in your head; it sounds like you're trying to say 'Banana' or you a stutterer.) being like a grown-up Jacky Faber from the Bloody Jack series, and it felt so apt!
As I am with most books that aren't standalones, I'm glad I waited to read this and it's companion after they were both released! I also like the fact that it's a duology (well, it was really one book that the author had to split up, because heaven knows all publishers think that teenagers can't read a book longer than 350 pages) and not a trilogy, as is the new standard.
I saw some reviewers made the comparison to Ananna (the only name I really didn't care for in this book...it's so awkward to say in your head; it sounds like you're trying to say 'Banana' or you a stutterer.) being like a grown-up Jacky Faber from the Bloody Jack series, and it felt so apt!
halcyone's review against another edition
4.0
This review was posted at The Cozy Armchair.
The minute I read the summary for The Assassin’s Curse I knew I had to get my hands on it.This book has pirates, magic, and, of course, assassins, and it all adds up to one fantastic debut novel! This is honestly one of my top reads for the year, that’s just how much I enjoyed reading it.
Here are the facts: Ananna is the daughter of a successful pirate lord who wants to marry her to another pirate clan in order to cement an alliance. But Ananna doesn’t want that life for herself so she runs away, ruining all the plans her parents had made and inciting the fury of the other clan. That’s what brings Naji, the assassin that uses blood magic, after her. He intends to kill her, as per orders, but things don’t quite go as planned. Without revealing too many details, let’s just say that they end up forced together and must travel to find a solution to Naji's curse.
I love, love, love the accidental-bond trope, but I haven’t come across it very often in YA, so it was great to see it in this book. Unfortunately, it’s more of a plot device than actually a part of the plot. The ramifications of this cursed bond are talked about a lot but we rarely got to see it in action and we didn’t get proper “rules” for how it works (the rule we did get seemed to shift?). But that didn’t really detract from my enjoyment of the book.
Ananna’s POV is funny and honest; she’s a really headstrong, slightly naive, and definitely admirable pirate. This is one protagonist you want to root for because she’s badass and can stand up for herself, and through her narrative you can trace how this adventure she’s on changes her, probably for the better. She matures emotionally, but she’s never once a total damsel in distress. She’s quick to get a handle on difficult situations, and she spends a good chunk of the book caring for Naji as his brand of magic takes a toll on him.
Naji, on the other hand, is the polar opposite of Ananna, personality-wise. He is mysterious, stoic assassin that is harsh and borderline cruel at first. But throughout the story, his vulnerable side is slowly revealed in bits and pieces. He has a scar that disfigures his face and it becomes clear that he is self-conscious about it, so for once we have a male protagonist that isn’t completely confident in himself. Naji battles with insecurities a lot, and Ananna is there to continuously push him.
On that note, the romance in this book is practically nonexistent. It’s very subtle and, as far as we can tell, one-sided, which is also pretty rare in YA. But don’t let that make you dismiss The Assassin’s Curse! It’s so much more than the romance or the possibility of it.
It’s set in an super interesting world, where pirates can use water magic to ease their way and there are floating islands and mist creatures. Yes, it is lacking a bit in the overall worldbuilding; details are sparse so the setting is a collection of impressions, but I have a feeling this might be remedied in the second book. Regardless, The Assassin’s Curse tackles so many concepts and somehow manages to make them all work together cohesively, without coming off as a mishmash of tired ideas.
It’s also a page-turner! The pacing never lags, although plot development is interspersed with the odd info-dump here and there, but these are things I noted in passing as I flew through the book. I didn’t want to put it down! The only absolutely major complaint? The ending. It was incredibly abrupt, leaving me to momentarily think the book was missing some pages! It’s not quite a cliffhanger - you’re left at the start of a plot twist, where new obstacles have been introduced. While Ananna muses about what’s to come, the final thoughts aren’t conclusive.
But it’s okay, because everything about The Assassin’s Curse was a pleasant surprise, from the characters, to the romance, to every single plot point. It is a spectacular fantasy adventure that deserves tons of recognition from the reading community. The minute I finished I was already pining for the sequel, and I hate that I read this as an ARC because I have to wait even longer than usual
Just take my word for it and get yourself a copy of The Assassin’s Curse!
The minute I read the summary for The Assassin’s Curse I knew I had to get my hands on it.This book has pirates, magic, and, of course, assassins, and it all adds up to one fantastic debut novel! This is honestly one of my top reads for the year, that’s just how much I enjoyed reading it.
Here are the facts: Ananna is the daughter of a successful pirate lord who wants to marry her to another pirate clan in order to cement an alliance. But Ananna doesn’t want that life for herself so she runs away, ruining all the plans her parents had made and inciting the fury of the other clan. That’s what brings Naji, the assassin that uses blood magic, after her. He intends to kill her, as per orders, but things don’t quite go as planned. Without revealing too many details, let’s just say that they end up forced together and must travel to find a solution to Naji's curse.
I love, love, love the accidental-bond trope, but I haven’t come across it very often in YA, so it was great to see it in this book. Unfortunately, it’s more of a plot device than actually a part of the plot. The ramifications of this cursed bond are talked about a lot but we rarely got to see it in action and we didn’t get proper “rules” for how it works (the rule we did get seemed to shift?). But that didn’t really detract from my enjoyment of the book.
Ananna’s POV is funny and honest; she’s a really headstrong, slightly naive, and definitely admirable pirate. This is one protagonist you want to root for because she’s badass and can stand up for herself, and through her narrative you can trace how this adventure she’s on changes her, probably for the better. She matures emotionally, but she’s never once a total damsel in distress. She’s quick to get a handle on difficult situations, and she spends a good chunk of the book caring for Naji as his brand of magic takes a toll on him.
Naji, on the other hand, is the polar opposite of Ananna, personality-wise. He is mysterious, stoic assassin that is harsh and borderline cruel at first. But throughout the story, his vulnerable side is slowly revealed in bits and pieces. He has a scar that disfigures his face and it becomes clear that he is self-conscious about it, so for once we have a male protagonist that isn’t completely confident in himself. Naji battles with insecurities a lot, and Ananna is there to continuously push him.
On that note, the romance in this book is practically nonexistent. It’s very subtle and, as far as we can tell, one-sided, which is also pretty rare in YA. But don’t let that make you dismiss The Assassin’s Curse! It’s so much more than the romance or the possibility of it.
It’s set in an super interesting world, where pirates can use water magic to ease their way and there are floating islands and mist creatures. Yes, it is lacking a bit in the overall worldbuilding; details are sparse so the setting is a collection of impressions, but I have a feeling this might be remedied in the second book. Regardless, The Assassin’s Curse tackles so many concepts and somehow manages to make them all work together cohesively, without coming off as a mishmash of tired ideas.
It’s also a page-turner! The pacing never lags, although plot development is interspersed with the odd info-dump here and there, but these are things I noted in passing as I flew through the book. I didn’t want to put it down! The only absolutely major complaint? The ending. It was incredibly abrupt, leaving me to momentarily think the book was missing some pages! It’s not quite a cliffhanger - you’re left at the start of a plot twist, where new obstacles have been introduced. While Ananna muses about what’s to come, the final thoughts aren’t conclusive.
But it’s okay, because everything about The Assassin’s Curse was a pleasant surprise, from the characters, to the romance, to every single plot point. It is a spectacular fantasy adventure that deserves tons of recognition from the reading community. The minute I finished I was already pining for the sequel, and I hate that I read this as an ARC because I have to wait even longer than usual
Just take my word for it and get yourself a copy of The Assassin’s Curse!