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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I just finished this book and I cannot wait for you all to dive into it too!
What you will find in this book:
🧡 Romantasy
🧡 Slow Burn
🧡 Adventure
🧡 Suspense
🧡 Political Intrigue
🧡 3 POVs
🧡 Queer Rep
🧡 Why Choose!
I felt so invested in all 3 characters’ stories and seeing them play out was perfection. At first, I was wary of the Warrior’s character and I found myself rooting for a Childhood Friends to Lovers situation between the Princess & Assassin. I was nervous about where it would go. But as soon as I got to the Warrior’s POV, I was eating him up too. The character development - in and out of the relationships - was fascinating to watch unfold. The Princess especially comes into her own!
I truly did not know where the story was going outside of the relationships between the main characters. I was addicted to trying to figure it out. It felt suspenseful throughout the entire adventure/book. I cannot wait for book 2 to find out more and I am very excited to see where the series goes from here!
I definitely recommend listening to this one. It totally made this book for me - the suspense, the yearning, the 🌶️🔥. I can never get enough of Teddy Hamilton and Abigail Reno & Aaron Shedlock also brought this story to life for me!
Thank you so much to Brigid Kemmerer, Harper Audio, Avon Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity of this ALC. It was a pleasure to listen to this book the last few days!
What you will find in this book:
🧡 Romantasy
🧡 Slow Burn
🧡 Adventure
🧡 Suspense
🧡 Political Intrigue
🧡 3 POVs
🧡 Queer Rep
🧡 Why Choose!
I felt so invested in all 3 characters’ stories and seeing them play out was perfection. At first, I was wary of the Warrior’s character and I found myself rooting for a Childhood Friends to Lovers situation between the Princess & Assassin. I was nervous about where it would go. But as soon as I got to the Warrior’s POV, I was eating him up too. The character development - in and out of the relationships - was fascinating to watch unfold. The Princess especially comes into her own!
I truly did not know where the story was going outside of the relationships between the main characters. I was addicted to trying to figure it out. It felt suspenseful throughout the entire adventure/book. I cannot wait for book 2 to find out more and I am very excited to see where the series goes from here!
I definitely recommend listening to this one. It totally made this book for me - the suspense, the yearning, the 🌶️🔥. I can never get enough of Teddy Hamilton and Abigail Reno & Aaron Shedlock also brought this story to life for me!
Thank you so much to Brigid Kemmerer, Harper Audio, Avon Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity of this ALC. It was a pleasure to listen to this book the last few days!
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*I received an ARC from HarperCollins Canada, Avon | Harper Voyager, & NetGalley. All opinions are my own.*
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Oh boy where do I start. Romantasy has been very hard to hit for me, but the moment I heard that this was a throuple pairing? Well colour me intrigued. This is the first Kemmerer book that I have finished and I have to admit you can see where her skills and strengths are after so many novels.
.
But oh my gosh I did not expect the worldbuilding to crumble the moment you started thinking about it. THE MOUNTAINS - THE HORSES - THE WINTER STORM - THE FREAKING ELK DURING A FAMINE! I CAN’T LET THESE THINGS GO!
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This is a very character driven story and the character that is the most and best fleshed out is Princess Jory. Kemmerer has done a fantastic job building her up, allowing us to understand her flaws, frustrations, her drive, her naivete. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the MMCs. Ky (who has the most eyerolling full name for a fire magic king I’ve read in a good while) is a paper cut out stand in for a basic romantasy love interest, except that he understands consent to a wonderful degree which is one thing I do truly enjoy. Asher on the other hand felt absolutely butchered. This is a man who has gone through so much trauma and torture simply has all the magical fixes to put this throuple together and his aversion to touch magically disappears with these two without any earned development.
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There are far too many plot holes, quick convenient fixes to be enjoyable for anyone who pays attention to the text. But what’s most frustrating is that you can SEE the talent Kemmerer has for some aspects of this story and they are so good - some of the best character expositions are in sex scenes, I love that! But it can’t only be the smutty scenes - and then the absolute let down when you start to question the world, the magic system - it’s a disappointment as you’re reading. But then the good parts are so good so - AHH! I don’t know.
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This book will do very well as a “brain off” kind of book and I’m certain it will do a good amount of time on social media, but I don’t see this story having any lasting power.
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Will I check out the sequel?... Maybe, but I’ll be mad about it.
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Hisses & Kisses 🐍
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
What an addicting read! Brigid immerses you in this fantasy world in a clear way without frilly words so that you can easily just jump right in. The slow burn in this book was delicious - and you absolutely get fed at the end. I love a good why choose romance and this did not disappoint 🤭🥵 I love all 3 of our MCs - they are all flawed but willing to grow and have such electric chemistry.
The warror - king Ky 🔥 - is both brutal and kind but struggling to show that kindness to his people so is feared instead of adored
The princess - Jory - is incredibly naive but also fierce and empathetic, willing to sacrifice it all for her kingdom
The assassin - Asher - is broken from years of abuse and learning to trust again
Why it lost 1/2 ⭐️ - the plot twists were very predictable in my opinion, and some parts felt really drawn out and like nothing really happened for a decent chunk of the book
I ate this book right up!! If you’ve been craving a why choose fantasy with a slow burn and an arranged marriage to save rival kingdoms, you absolutely need to add this to your TBR!
Thank you to Avon for sending me a finished copy!
The warror - king Ky 🔥 - is both brutal and kind but struggling to show that kindness to his people so is feared instead of adored
The princess - Jory - is incredibly naive but also fierce and empathetic, willing to sacrifice it all for her kingdom
The assassin - Asher - is broken from years of abuse and learning to trust again
Why it lost 1/2 ⭐️ - the plot twists were very predictable in my opinion, and some parts felt really drawn out and like nothing really happened for a decent chunk of the book
I ate this book right up!! If you’ve been craving a why choose fantasy with a slow burn and an arranged marriage to save rival kingdoms, you absolutely need to add this to your TBR!
Thank you to Avon for sending me a finished copy!
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for providing me with an eARC of this book!
I had a lot of fun with Warrior Princess Assassin! I haven't read any of Brigid Kemmerer's other books, but was excited for this one as it is her adult debut.
This book is about three characters, Ky, Jory and Asher, whose lives are tied together due to a political marriage and threats of assassination. The premise of the book was really interesting, as was the magic system. However, the world building and plot are definitely not super fleshed out, taking a backseat to the characters and the romance elements. So if you are looking for plot-heavy, this would not be the right read.
The three POVs were all definitely different from each other and I generally liked all of them - but perhaps preferred Ky's slightly. The way that the relationships developed between the characters was fun to read. I tore through this book pretty quickly because of how much I was enjoying it.
Is it the best book I've ever read? No. But it was fun! Some elements of the plot seemed pretty obvious from early on, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. But going into this book I was expecting a love triangle, and that is certainly not what this book ended up delivering! I won't spoil what it is, but it is pretty clear what the development will be from about 20% in.
Definitely check trigger warnings as there are quite a few, albeit mostly off-page and in a character's backstory rather than actively happening in the plot.
I will be checking out the rest of the series and hoping it's as fun as this first entry!
I had a lot of fun with Warrior Princess Assassin! I haven't read any of Brigid Kemmerer's other books, but was excited for this one as it is her adult debut.
This book is about three characters, Ky, Jory and Asher, whose lives are tied together due to a political marriage and threats of assassination. The premise of the book was really interesting, as was the magic system. However, the world building and plot are definitely not super fleshed out, taking a backseat to the characters and the romance elements. So if you are looking for plot-heavy, this would not be the right read.
The three POVs were all definitely different from each other and I generally liked all of them - but perhaps preferred Ky's slightly. The way that the relationships developed between the characters was fun to read. I tore through this book pretty quickly because of how much I was enjoying it.
Is it the best book I've ever read? No. But it was fun! Some elements of the plot seemed pretty obvious from early on, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. But going into this book I was expecting a love triangle, and that is certainly not what this book ended up delivering! I won't spoil what it is, but it is pretty clear what the development will be from about 20% in.
Definitely check trigger warnings as there are quite a few, albeit mostly off-page and in a character's backstory rather than actively happening in the plot.
I will be checking out the rest of the series and hoping it's as fun as this first entry!
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌: Warrior Princess Assassin
𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓: Brigid Kremmerer
𝑽𝒊𝒃𝒆𝒔: ⚔️☘️👑🥷💖🔥🏰
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again- waiter I’ll take 100 of whatever has been injected into this book. I happily pranced along from chapter to chapter in Warrior Princess Assassin. I was eating every single scene and piece of the yearning and tension right up.
I am a changed woman from the experience I had with this book and it’s for the better. It was such a ride and I loved it so much. The plot kept me engaged and I was completely giddy for every single moment between our three main characters. I LOVE them your honor.
Kremmerer has written a unique and engage Romantasy that had me hooked!! I need book two now because I need to be reunited with my loves- I like to think they’d have me ;) jk jk, but anyways. Urghhh so good, it was palpable. I’m obsessed. That’s the review. I’m just going to rave and say you need to meet Jory, Ky, and Asher Right. Now. Go. I’m so serious!!
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I DEVOURED this book. I stayed up till 3AM. I took a long lunch break. I was done in less than a day. It was my favorite read of the year so far. Six stars. Do I even need to keep going??
This book is highly character driven and I fell head over heels for my SWEET STABBY BABY ANGEL. I’ll let you guess which one that is.
🩷 Jory is equal parts courage and naïveté. It’s not her fault that the patriarchy has sheltered the world from her fury.
🖤 Asher has been broken by the world repeatedly, but his devotion is unwavering and rather than shatter he became sharper.
💙 Ky is our catcher of fists and hair pins, but just because he sees a battle everywhere he turns doesn’t mean he’s not a romantic.
The relationship dynamics? Yes please! The motivations and miscommunications were so believable / relatable. I felt their pain and struggles deeply. The plot was decent, but it was the character actions, conversations, trauma, tenacity, and optimism that had me in a death grip. The way the characters drew out one another’s stories and brokenness broke my heart for them. There are pieces of dialogue repeated in different contexts that really got me in the feels! Oh and the slow burn is worth the wait.
Plot wise, there were a few false starts that kept me guessing and the beginning and feeling like there was no way out of the mess. That helped pull me in. Some of the twists I guessed because there were good breadcrumbs. Overall, I thought the story built up well to the next book.
Cliffhanger warning: I was very satisfied with where we left off but this book definitely set the stage for a larger arc and there are some big questions at the end.
ARC Review
A compelling romantasy that feels both familiar and fresh.
The plot is very character driven. It has enough action and tension to move it along but keeps the focus on the trust building between the three characters.
The relationship between the characters is complex and had a lot of emotional depth. I appreciated that this didn't feel like a love triangle at any point and there's very minimal debate on choosing a love interest. It's a slow-burn by page number only. The bulk of the book covers only a few days, so from a story standpoint they all get together very fast. The intimacy does go from like zero to sixty in the blink of an eye, and to me seems unrealistic considering Jory's inexperience.
There isn't anything unexpected or surprising about Jory as a character, but, she is very likeable. She feels a little underdeveloped compared to Ky and Asher, but I think she has potential that will be met in future books.
Ky's emotional intelligence is a stark contrast to Jory's naivete and Asher's trauma. It gives him a level of control in the situations that their relationship needs, but creates a sort of emotional age gap. Jory is learning about herself and her feelings in a world she's been sheltered from, Asher is learning to trust, but it's less clear what Ky is getting out of it. He has the most built-up backstory, and a lot of his character development comes from unraveling that.
Overall the book is entertaining, easy to read, and has very light but approachable world building. The language is a bit more modern than what I would have expected, but not enough to be a deal breaker.
I'd recommend it to readers looking for a poly romantasy that's interesting while still building a strong jumping off point for the rest of the series.
A compelling romantasy that feels both familiar and fresh.
The plot is very character driven. It has enough action and tension to move it along but keeps the focus on the trust building between the three characters.
The relationship between the characters is complex and had a lot of emotional depth. I appreciated that this didn't feel like a love triangle at any point and there's very minimal debate on choosing a love interest. It's a slow-burn by page number only. The bulk of the book covers only a few days, so from a story standpoint they all get together very fast. The intimacy does go from like zero to sixty in the blink of an eye, and to me seems unrealistic considering Jory's inexperience.
There isn't anything unexpected or surprising about Jory as a character, but, she is very likeable. She feels a little underdeveloped compared to Ky and Asher, but I think she has potential that will be met in future books.
Ky's emotional intelligence is a stark contrast to Jory's naivete and Asher's trauma. It gives him a level of control in the situations that their relationship needs, but creates a sort of emotional age gap. Jory is learning about herself and her feelings in a world she's been sheltered from, Asher is learning to trust, but it's less clear what Ky is getting out of it. He has the most built-up backstory, and a lot of his character development comes from unraveling that.
Overall the book is entertaining, easy to read, and has very light but approachable world building. The language is a bit more modern than what I would have expected, but not enough to be a deal breaker.
I'd recommend it to readers looking for a poly romantasy that's interesting while still building a strong jumping off point for the rest of the series.
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Wow. I had to put the book down to scream into the void because I was getting so worked up (in the best way possible).
I loved almost every moment of this polyamorous romantasy. It’s an intriguing plot rolled into a world full of political intrigue, dangerous magic, and corrupt monarchies that kept me wanting to discover more as the slowest of slow burn romances began to spark. Seriously, if you’re looking for spice right away, this one is not for you. We get a little teaser at the very end, so I’m hoping for more spice in the second installment. And I need it now. We also have friends to lovers, enemies (rivals?) to lovers, forced proximity, arranged marriage, touch her and die, and so much sexual tension that my head almost exploded (see above about the screaming). There’s also lots of trauma and oppressive systems in play, so check those trigger warnings and take care of yourself as a reader.
I adore both of the MMCs (and I recommend checking out the character art that the author has commissioned, because they’re beautiful). The FMC is a bit bland, but that might be intentional so the intended (probably mostly female) audience can project themselves onto her. I’m still excited to see her grow into herself later in the story.
Overall, it’s a fantastic adult fantasy debut! As a big fan of Kemmerer’s Defy the Night series, it was an honor to receive an eARC for Warrior Princess Assassin. Thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for the complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for my thoughts.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault, War
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy
Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer is a first person multi-POV polyamorous fantasy romance. Jory has been arranged to marry the king of an enemy kingdom and move to his realm. Her childhood friend and assassin, Asher, swears to do whatever he can to see her again. But when Asher sees that both Jory and Ky, her betrothed, have a bounty on their heads, he needs to do whatever he can to save Jory. What none of them planned on was for the three of them to be attracted to each other.
One of the things that really worked well for me is that Asher and Jory already are attracted to each other and they are both aware of it by the time the book opens. Nothing has really happened between them, but they both do want something more. The one holding them back is Asher, for several reasons, including that he knows that he and Jory cannot be together despite him being born into the upper class as he was enslaved during their childhood. Because Asher and Jory already romantically care for each other and there is this barrier between them they have both acknowledged, it makes it easier to buy into what comes after Ky enters the mix.
Ky and Jory are attracted to each other fairly quickly after meeting and there is a bit of a mutual admiration as Ky notices Jory’s bravery and she sees that he’s not the monster that she was lead to believe he was due to his fire magic and the prejudices that tend to come with two countries being at war. When Ky meets Asher, it takes longer for something to start between them, but the both of them notice at about the halfway point that the other is attractive and that they are intrigued by the other. The two are connected through Jory at first, but they develop their own bond within the relationship.
This is definitely what I would call a fantasy romance. Everything revolves around the romance, we get the POVs of all members of the romance, and the plot takes its time to make sure everyone is comfortable with what is happening. As such, not a ton outside of the romance happens, but that’s fairly normal with a fantasy romance as a Romantasy and a romantic fantasy would put more weight behind the fantasy aspects.
Content warning for depictions of enslavement and mentions of sexual assault, forced prostitution, and torture
I would recommend this to fans of fantasy romance looking for a polyamorous book