In the end, though, it just didn’t grab my attention as I was hoping it would. I also liked the presence of ghosts, which added an interesting element to the story. I liked the world in which the assassin’s in this story were performing the killings as a deeply held religious belief, not as a sacrifice, but as a way to ease suffering. There were a few spots that took a little too long to get to the point and, overall, the climax seemed rushed after a very long and drawn out lead-up to the ultimate confrontation. It wasn’t a bad story, it just wasn’t unique.

Unfortunately, I just didn’t find that with Assassin’s Heart. If you are going to write a book about a teen assassin in this market, there really needs to be something that makes it stand out. I didn’t feel very invested in any of the characters, which made it difficult to really become invested in the book. There is a star-crossed lover element to this story that I thought might be interesting, but the story veered away from that and turned into a tale of revenge. Families live in secret compounds and perform assassinations, something that’s legal in this world, as a service to those who wish to hire them. The heart of this assassin craves revenge.Īssassin’s Heart takes place in a fantasy world that has definite Italian overtones. Devastated over his betrayal and the loss of her clan, there's just one thing on her mind: making the Da Vias pay.

With horror, she realizes that Val and his Family are the only ones who could be responsible. Although she narrowly escapes, she isn't able to save her Family as their home is consumed by flames. Then she awakens one night to a house full of smoke. Despite her better judgment, Lea has fallen in love with him but she's confident she can anticipate any threat a mile away. As a member of the highest-ranking clan, loyalty to Family is valued above all, but that doesn't stop Lea from getting into a secret relationship with Val Da Via, a boy from a rival clan. She was born into one of the nine clipper Families in the kingdom of Lovero who lawfully take lives for a price. Seventeen-year-old Lea Saldana is a trained assassin.

Fans of Kristin Cashore and Rae Carson will devour the flawlessly crafted action and inventive world building. With shades of Game of Thrones and Romeo and Juliet, this richly imagined fantasy from debut author Sarah Ahiers is a tale of love, lies, and vengeance.

Assassin's Heart by Sarah Ahiers