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54 reviews for:
Magic of Blood and Sea: The Assassin's Curse; The Pirate's Wish
Cassandra Rose Clarke
3.82 AVERAGE
54 reviews for:
Magic of Blood and Sea: The Assassin's Curse; The Pirate's Wish
Cassandra Rose Clarke
3.82 AVERAGE
adventurous
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Book 1 - The Assassin's Curse - ★★★★☆
This was a great introduction to the world and characters of this story. While we never got to see Ananna at home on her own ship, I liked whenever she would reflect on past experiences and conversations with her parents as this revealed a lot about the life she had had among pirates. What I loved even more was getting to travel around various parts of this world. From bustling city markets to a scorching desert to a river canyon to mystical floating islands, each location offered something unique and interesting. The magic system was pretty standard, but I did appreciate that there were limits involved and practitioners can even run out if they overuse it.
It did take a couple of chapters before I warmed to Ananna and became more invested in the plot. Ananna was a fierce and determined protagonist who also showed her compassionate and caring side with Naji. Speaking of Naji, he certainly fulfilled the mysterious assassin role well. Even though I wished we knew more about him by the end of this book, I did enjoy seeing his protective nature and the few glimpses of a softer side. I really liked how these two started off as reluctant allies who eventually develop a friendship through their trials and travels together.
There were two issues I had with this first book:
This was a great introduction to the world and characters of this story. While we never got to see Ananna at home on her own ship, I liked whenever she would reflect on past experiences and conversations with her parents as this revealed a lot about the life she had had among pirates. What I loved even more was getting to travel around various parts of this world. From bustling city markets to a scorching desert to a river canyon to mystical floating islands, each location offered something unique and interesting. The magic system was pretty standard, but I did appreciate that there were limits involved and practitioners can even run out if they overuse it.
It did take a couple of chapters before I warmed to Ananna and became more invested in the plot. Ananna was a fierce and determined protagonist who also showed her compassionate and caring side with Naji. Speaking of Naji, he certainly fulfilled the mysterious assassin role well. Even though I wished we knew more about him by the end of this book, I did enjoy seeing his protective nature and the few glimpses of a softer side. I really liked how these two started off as reluctant allies who eventually develop a friendship through their trials and travels together.
There were two issues I had with this first book:
1) I wasn't always fond of Ananna's narration. She's written with a very unique voice and I admire the author for committing to that. However, it just didn't fit with how I imagined her sounding and came off rather jarring. (Thankfully this was less noticeable or prevalent in book 2.)
2) On its own The Assassin's Curse wasn't a satisfying story. There was a lot of setup and buildup with little payoff at this point. I'm hoping that book 2 offers some worthwhile resolutions.
Book 2 - The Pirate's Wish - ★★★☆☆
This offered a fairly satisfying conclusion with more of the seafaring adventures I had wanted since the start of book 1. While the world was never as fleshed out as I hoped it would be (there's not even a map 😕), I liked the variety of places featured. There was enough information provided that I could picture these settings in my mind and they felt believable to me.
Even though I had been looking forward to continuing the story after the cliffhanger at the end of the last book, I was a little frustrated at the beginning as the plot started off slow and dragged through the first few chapters. Thankfully, the introduction of the manticore helped to increase my interest and enjoyment. She added some much needed humor and lightness to the story. Things also began to improve with Marjani's reappearance. I liked getting to learn more about her character and past in this book.
There were two primary weaknesses that kept me from rating this series as a whole any higher:
1) I had been intrigued by the idea of having to complete three impossible tasks in order to break their curse. I was hoping for some clever thinking and teamwork leading up to each resolution. Unfortunately, two of the three were resolved through conveniences which involved little to no effort from the characters. Then the third task was solved in a way that was both abrupt and made me feel uncomfortable. I wish these had all been handled better.
2) Overall, I enjoyed the romance and its take on the reluctant allies trope. I came to really care for these two characters and wanted them to find happiness together. However, there were times when events, decisions, or misunderstandings led to an awkwardness between them which lasted for far too long. While the ending is left open-ended, I actually thought this conclusion fit these characters and their personalities.
This was an amusing YA fantasy filled with adventure and romance. If you can overlook the convenient solutions and occasional slowness, you might enjoy this duology.
Final rating: 3.5 stars
Magic of Blood and Sea by Cassandra Rose Clarke, the collected duology of The Assassin's Curse, is a fun YA fantasy adventure with pirates and some romance. It's a good read with a lot of potential, but it never lives up to it enough to be really great. I particularly enjoyed Ananna's story, but the world building left me wanting. I needed to know so much more about her world that aren't really touched upon in the story. I was hoping for something more along the lines of S.A. Chakraborty's The City of Brass as a pirate adventure, but that never happened. Either way, if you're looking for an interesting Middle Eastern and Mediterranean inspired fantasy, you may want to try Magic of Blood and Sea.
A friend recommended this one and I'm so glad she did because if the idea of pirates and assassins and adventures aren't enough; this book is hilarious.
Honestly in the first ten pages I think I was rolling laughing. The way the characters interact, the banter, the moments when they realize how annoying/stupid/face-palm a thing is, is so well written that the characters feel natural and real in a way a lot of stories don't. I loved it.
One of my favorite things is that the main character is an unusual female character. She's a pirate's daughter, tough and young and knows she doesn't know much as she probably should but will threaten you if you try to point it out. I love that the main aspects of her character; her big bluff attitude, her willingness to give her opinion to everyone loudly don't change. She grows, yes, but she doesn't ever become a 'nice young lady' or a 'tough bitch' character.
The story itself really is a romping adventure of pirates and magic and quests none of which are super predictable. It's highly fun and greatly entertaining and I look forward to reading more of the author's work.
One of my favorite things
Is the Queen and pirate Captain subplot love story that develops later in the book. I would've loved to see more of it or have a whole other short story or novel, but it was excellent and reall helped make the book a little something special.
Honestly in the first ten pages I think I was rolling laughing. The way the characters interact, the banter, the moments when they realize how annoying/stupid/face-palm a thing is, is so well written that the characters feel natural and real in a way a lot of stories don't. I loved it.
One of my favorite things is that the main character is an unusual female character. She's a pirate's daughter, tough and young and knows she doesn't know much as she probably should but will threaten you if you try to point it out. I love that the main aspects of her character; her big bluff attitude, her willingness to give her opinion to everyone loudly don't change. She grows, yes, but she doesn't ever become a 'nice young lady' or a 'tough bitch' character.
The story itself really is a romping adventure of pirates and magic and quests none of which are super predictable. It's highly fun and greatly entertaining and I look forward to reading more of the author's work.
One of my favorite things
WHY AM I ALONE IN THIS FANDOM?
THIS. BOOK. IS. PERFECT.
The thing is, I read this as the Assasin's Curse duology, and I love those books so much, I HAD to buy this new edition. And its in my hands now, and I re-read this beautiful book and I loved it just as much as I did the first time. I still had my problems with it. But it is amazing. If you like pirates, assassins, adventures, sea-battles, magicians, manticores and admiring characters... Please read this, and then thank me.
The last two pages ripped my heart, but I just loved that ending so so much, and even though I knew what was gonna happen, I still cried a lot. Its a sappy ending. And it's perfect.
THIS. BOOK. IS. PERFECT.
The thing is, I read this as the Assasin's Curse duology, and I love those books so much, I HAD to buy this new edition. And its in my hands now, and I re-read this beautiful book and I loved it just as much as I did the first time. I still had my problems with it. But it is amazing. If you like pirates, assassins, adventures, sea-battles, magicians, manticores and admiring characters... Please read this, and then thank me.
The last two pages ripped my heart, but I just loved that ending so so much, and even though I knew what was gonna happen, I still cried a lot. Its a sappy ending. And it's perfect.