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estapinto 's review for:
Warrior Princess Assassin
by Brigid Kemmerer
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Me: I’m done with love triangles.
Brigid Kemmerer: They all want each other.
Me: Go on...
Firstly, this isn’t a love triangle. I’m not an expert at terminology but no one is standing awkwardly in the corner twiddling their thumbs. A love circle? If you’re firmly in the monogamy camp, this probably won't be your cup of tea, I'm guessing.
Secondly, I loved how the relationship dynamic between our three main characters was handled because I was concerned it would feel lopsided. Someone always feels like the extra wheel. But in this case, it works. It’s built on trust, vulnerability and mutual consent and choice which sounds like I’m a therapist (I’m not)… But it truly feels earned, despite many precarious moments.
That said, I’ll be real. If you’re expecting spice early or even midway, abandon hope. This is the slowest of slow burns and nothing spicy happens until after 90%. But it's not tacked on. It's because this book wants you to sit in the tension and wait for trust to matter. I respect that. Even if I also muttered “just kiss already”.
But let me set the stage. We start with the dynamic between Assassin Asher (Assasher?) and his friendship with Princess Jory. It’s tender, childhood-sweet and a little Dawson’s Creek coded, complete with sneaky bedroom visits. Cute. Until it’s not. Until we get to know Asher’s trauma bingo card. Mind your triggers, loves.
Princess Jory herself… She’s naive, soft, frustratingly sheltered, brandishes hairpins as a weapon. Punches people often. However I really appreciated her growth. By the end, she takes up space.
Then, there’s Warrior King Ky. He respects women and he has big “touch her and die” energy. His relationship with Princess Jory starts with kindness and disguise, both of them meeting outside the roles they were born into. That thread of anonymity gives their connection warmth before duty throws a spanner in the works.
Meanwhile, Assassin Asher is quietly being handed orders to kill both of them. I found the fraught relationship between him and Warrior King Ky and the way they grow to understand each other possibly the most compelling. So yes, when I say this book has layers, I mean it. It’s a cracking premise.
Beyond the romance, I felt that Warrior Princess Assassin leans towards more character-driven. It’s about feelings and relationships and emotions and unpacking trauma. There’s war, politics, magic and a whole lot of travelling across dangerous landscapes, but the beating heart of this book is emotional growth. And I liked that. The plot definitely ramps up later in the book, though, after the journey.
Moreover, what really stayed with me were the themes. The book digs into privilege and complicity without turning into a lecture, which is impressive because those are loaded topics.
Do I recommend it? If you like romance which slow cooks, simmers and then sets the kitchen on fire peppered with political intrigue, trauma and bathwater heated by a guy who can summon fire, I’d def recommend it. If you need lots of plot and instant spice, I’d look elsewhere. Be mindful of content warnings going into this, it gets dark.
Thank you so much to NetGalley & HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | HarperVoyager for the ARC.
Brigid Kemmerer: They all want each other.
Me: Go on...
Firstly, this isn’t a love triangle. I’m not an expert at terminology but no one is standing awkwardly in the corner twiddling their thumbs. A love circle? If you’re firmly in the monogamy camp, this probably won't be your cup of tea, I'm guessing.
Secondly, I loved how the relationship dynamic between our three main characters was handled because I was concerned it would feel lopsided. Someone always feels like the extra wheel. But in this case, it works. It’s built on trust, vulnerability and mutual consent and choice which sounds like I’m a therapist (I’m not)… But it truly feels earned, despite many precarious moments.
That said, I’ll be real. If you’re expecting spice early or even midway, abandon hope. This is the slowest of slow burns and nothing spicy happens until after 90%. But it's not tacked on. It's because this book wants you to sit in the tension and wait for trust to matter. I respect that. Even if I also muttered “just kiss already”.
But let me set the stage. We start with the dynamic between Assassin Asher (Assasher?) and his friendship with Princess Jory. It’s tender, childhood-sweet and a little Dawson’s Creek coded, complete with sneaky bedroom visits. Cute. Until it’s not. Until we get to know Asher’s trauma bingo card. Mind your triggers, loves.
Princess Jory herself… She’s naive, soft, frustratingly sheltered, brandishes hairpins as a weapon. Punches people often. However I really appreciated her growth. By the end, she takes up space.
Then, there’s Warrior King Ky. He respects women and he has big “touch her and die” energy. His relationship with Princess Jory starts with kindness and disguise, both of them meeting outside the roles they were born into. That thread of anonymity gives their connection warmth before duty throws a spanner in the works.
Meanwhile, Assassin Asher is quietly being handed orders to kill both of them. I found the fraught relationship between him and Warrior King Ky and the way they grow to understand each other possibly the most compelling. So yes, when I say this book has layers, I mean it. It’s a cracking premise.
Beyond the romance, I felt that Warrior Princess Assassin leans towards more character-driven. It’s about feelings and relationships and emotions and unpacking trauma. There’s war, politics, magic and a whole lot of travelling across dangerous landscapes, but the beating heart of this book is emotional growth. And I liked that. The plot definitely ramps up later in the book, though, after the journey.
Moreover, what really stayed with me were the themes. The book digs into privilege and complicity without turning into a lecture, which is impressive because those are loaded topics.
Do I recommend it? If you like romance which slow cooks, simmers and then sets the kitchen on fire peppered with political intrigue, trauma and bathwater heated by a guy who can summon fire, I’d def recommend it. If you need lots of plot and instant spice, I’d look elsewhere. Be mindful of content warnings going into this, it gets dark.
Thank you so much to NetGalley & HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | HarperVoyager for the ARC.