The Assassin's Curse

The Assassin's Curse
by Cassandra Rose Clarke

416 pages
Published October 2, 2012

This is a pre-release review. Thanks to the publisher, Strange Chemistry, for letting me read it early!

Ananna of the Tanarau is the eldest daughter of a highly-ranked family in the loose assortment of cutthroats and thieves in the Pirate's Confederation. When she runs away from the marriage her parents have arranged for her, they hire Naji the assassin to murder her.

When a mysterious woman in a dress shop offers her magical assistance for dealing with the assassin, Ananna accepts. She never went in much for magic herself -- she lacks the talent for it -- but she's not quite ready to die yet, either. Unfortunately, the woman's magic fails.

Fortunately, Ananna inadvertently saves the assassin's life in the skirmish, thus activating a curse that had been placed on him a few years earlier. Now, whenever her life is in danger, he must protect her -- or else he experiences tremendous physical pain. Neither Ananna nor the assassin, Naji, are pleased about this development.

Follow Ananna and Naji as they sail across the globe, visiting such mysterious places as the Court of Salt and Waves, in their desperate effort to lift the curse. Soon they will discover that only by completing three impossible tasks will they be able to set themselves free.

* * *

This book had me from the first glimpse of the cover. (Isn't it cool?)Then I read the blurb.

Magic? Yep. Adventure? Sure. Pirates? Hooray! Assassins? Of course. Curses? Um, could this get any better? I really don't think so.


Wonderful characters, beautiful language, great adventure. I couldn't ask for more. Well, maybe just a little. I have two complaints: I have to wait to find out what happens next, and then there was the matter of a certain kiss that didn't happen.


5/5 stars