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A review by bookish_botanic_baker
The Assassin Thief by Madeline Te Whiu
adventurous
medium-paced
3.0
Assassin Thief by Madeline Te Whiu has a lot of potential, but ultimately falls a little short of its mark. The premise is intriguing, blending elements of fantasy and heist, and Te Whiu's world-building shows promise. There are glimpses of a really interesting magic system and a diverse cast of characters that kept me engaged.
However, the pacing felt uneven. The story started strong, but then bogged down in the middle with what felt like unnecessary exposition and a few too many side quests. While world-building is important, some of it felt info-dumpy and slowed the narrative momentum. I also found some of the character development to be inconsistent. Some characters were richly drawn and complex, while others felt a bit one-dimensional.
The action sequences, when they occurred, were exciting and well-written, but they were too few and far between. I was hoping for more of the "thief" aspect to come into play, but the heists themselves felt rushed and lacked the intricate planning and execution I was expecting. The ending also felt a little abrupt, leaving some plot threads dangling.
Overall, Assassin Thief is a decent read with some good ideas and moments of brilliance. With a bit more polish and tighter pacing, it could have been a truly fantastic book. I'd be interested to see what Te Whiu does next and would consider reading future installments in this world.
However, the pacing felt uneven. The story started strong, but then bogged down in the middle with what felt like unnecessary exposition and a few too many side quests. While world-building is important, some of it felt info-dumpy and slowed the narrative momentum. I also found some of the character development to be inconsistent. Some characters were richly drawn and complex, while others felt a bit one-dimensional.
The action sequences, when they occurred, were exciting and well-written, but they were too few and far between. I was hoping for more of the "thief" aspect to come into play, but the heists themselves felt rushed and lacked the intricate planning and execution I was expecting. The ending also felt a little abrupt, leaving some plot threads dangling.
Overall, Assassin Thief is a decent read with some good ideas and moments of brilliance. With a bit more polish and tighter pacing, it could have been a truly fantastic book. I'd be interested to see what Te Whiu does next and would consider reading future installments in this world.