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A review by its_justine
King of Assassins by RJ Barker
5.0
So closes the tale of Girton Club-Foot, Death’s Jester and Chosen of Xus. All the threads have come together to weave this magnificent tapestry that is known as The Wounded Kingdom trilogy. King of Assassins has not only landed on the list of my favorite reads of the year, but is also one of the most satisfying endings to a series I have ever experienced.
The story takes place many years after the events of Blood of Assassins as King Rufra ap Vthyr embarks on an arduous journey to acquire the throne of High King. With the constant threat of assassination plaguing him, there is only one who can truly protect him, his own assassin and Heartblade, Girton Club-Foot. They meet conflict at every turn as danger lurks in every shadow and alliances are forged and broken. It is up to Girton to solve the many mysteries surrounding the supposed curse that haunts his king in order to protect those he holds dear to him.
Barker delivers a brutally beautiful and tragic tale with exquisite and poetic prose. It is deeply rooted in the importance of love and family, while also diving into the conflict between duty and loyalty. We often find Girton struggling between what his king asks of him and doing what he believes is right, his decisions often leading to unexpected consequences.
Each of the characters we have come to know and love throughout the series, as well as those newly introduced, are flawlessly crafted, complex and three-dimensional. The interludes finally give us insight into Marela’s past, which adds a deeper and welcomed emotional element to her relationship with Girton. Aydor, who I absolute loathed in book one, quickly became my favorite character within the first thirty pages of this one.
The revelations of this book are simply mind-blowing and completely unexpected, evidence of masterful storytelling. As all the pieces fall into place and all mysteries come to light, you’re left with a genuine feeling of contentment. Lastly, the epilogue was perfection. I absolutely love this book and I cannot recommend this series enough.
The story takes place many years after the events of Blood of Assassins as King Rufra ap Vthyr embarks on an arduous journey to acquire the throne of High King. With the constant threat of assassination plaguing him, there is only one who can truly protect him, his own assassin and Heartblade, Girton Club-Foot. They meet conflict at every turn as danger lurks in every shadow and alliances are forged and broken. It is up to Girton to solve the many mysteries surrounding the supposed curse that haunts his king in order to protect those he holds dear to him.
Barker delivers a brutally beautiful and tragic tale with exquisite and poetic prose. It is deeply rooted in the importance of love and family, while also diving into the conflict between duty and loyalty. We often find Girton struggling between what his king asks of him and doing what he believes is right, his decisions often leading to unexpected consequences.
Each of the characters we have come to know and love throughout the series, as well as those newly introduced, are flawlessly crafted, complex and three-dimensional. The interludes finally give us insight into Marela’s past, which adds a deeper and welcomed emotional element to her relationship with Girton. Aydor, who I absolute loathed in book one, quickly became my favorite character within the first thirty pages of this one.
The revelations of this book are simply mind-blowing and completely unexpected, evidence of masterful storytelling. As all the pieces fall into place and all mysteries come to light, you’re left with a genuine feeling of contentment. Lastly, the epilogue was perfection. I absolutely love this book and I cannot recommend this series enough.