ARC Review: Assassin's Heart by Sarah Fine


Title: Assassin's Heart
Author: Sarah Ahiers
Series: Assassin's Heart #1
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date:  February 2nd 2016
Pages: 400
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
  In the kingdom of Lovero, nine rival Families of assassins lawfully kill people for a price. As a highly skilled member of one of these powerful clans, seventeen-year-old Lea Saldana has always trusted in the strength of her Family. Until she awakens to find them murdered and her home in flames. The Da Vias, the Saldanas’ biggest enemy, must be responsible—and Lea should have seen it coming. But her secret relationship with the Da Vias’ son, Val, has clouded her otherwise killer instinct—and given the Da Vias more reason than ever to take her Family down.

  Racked with guilt and shattered over Val’s probable betrayal, Lea sets out to even the score, with her heart set on retaliation and only one thought clear in her mind: make the Da Vias pay.

  With shades of The Godfather and Romeo and Juliet, this richly imagined fantasy from debut author Sarah Ahiers is a story of love, lies, and the ultimate vengeance.

  I was given an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

  In the kingdom of Lovero, murder is not looked down upon, as long as it’s done by one of the nine clipper/assassin families. Seventeen-year-old Lea Saldana is from the first Family and she has a secret - she’s been going out with one of the second Family, Val Da Via. That is, until she wakes up one day after meeting with Val to see her house set aflame and her family murdered. As the only Saldana left now, Lea is set on revenge - killing the Da Vias as they had killed her family.

  I have to be honest. When I first read the synopsis of the book back then, I was really worried that it would be the same with Throne of Glass since the idea that it gave me was just so similar. However, I am really glad that all those were just speculations. Assassin’s Heart has its own story to tell, and it’s a pretty great story at that.

  I definitely liked the world building in this story, and how the action was immediately there after the story began, as I have noticed that fantasy books usually take time to let things set first. However, towards 40% of the book, I felt really bored and I was just skipping narratives and I just wanted to get things over with. Lucky, after a few more chapters, the story picked up again.

  It was interesting how everything unraveled, although it was not what I expected at all. I cannot say more because I’m afraid I might spoil something, but boy was I surprised by the turn of events! I loved how everything wrapped up together though, and I’m really interested about what the second book might be about!

3.5 page-turning stars

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