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Assassin's Magic #1

Assassin's Magic

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Is love worth the danger?

When Hunter Cassidy plans to infiltrate the Assassin's Legion, posing as an assassin-in-training, she is prepared to encounter danger every step of the way. What she doesn't expect is the ruggedly handsome and relentlessly fierce trainee, Slade Baines.

It's hard enough that Hunter is the first female to be accepted to train with the Master Assassin himself. Even when she beats the other candidates, the Master ranks her lowest of all. In the male-dominated Legion, the other trainees see her as a weak link to be driven out of their ranks.

When they try to force Hunter out, Slade gets in their way, becoming an unexpected ally. Despite her best intentions, Hunter finds herself lowering her guard around him, which only makes carrying out her secret mission more difficult and puts her in danger of falling for him.

But there's more at stake than Hunter's heart. The Master Assassin possesses the key to locate a weapon that Hunter must ensure remains hidden at all costs. In her quest to stop this deadly power from falling into the wrong hands, she must make a choice between following her heart... or fulfilling her destiny.

This is a full-length novel at 90,000 words, the first in the Assassin's Magic series.

Assassin's Magic 1 (December 2018)
Assassin's Magic 2: Assassin's Mask (March 2018)
Assassin's Magic 2.5: Assassin's Menace (June 2018)
Assassin's Magic 3: Assassin's Maze (September 2018)

323 pages, ebook

First published December 26, 2018

1056 people are currently reading
1743 people want to read

About the author

Everly Frost

45books1,105followers
USA Today bestselling author Everly Frost writes fantasy romance and paranormal romance with badass female leads and morally grey heroes who fall first. When she isn't dreaming up spicy enemies to lovers romances, she's binge-watching Lord of the Rings, tending to her fur baby, or learning to sew. Subscribe to Everly's newsletter for a free novella today!

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5 stars
1,090 (47%)
4 stars
758 (33%)
3 stars
331 (14%)
2 stars
82 (3%)
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24 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
Profile Image for Mellea.
155 reviews31 followers
June 19, 2022
4.5 Stars - I definitely have a type when it comes to books, and this is it. Paranormal/fantasy stories with a strong, snarky butt-kicking heroine, lots of fighting/action/conflict, and a touch of romance. I know, not terribly deep or original. There are tons of books out there just like this, and I want to read them all! So entertaining!
Profile Image for Alaina.
7,082 reviews207 followers
January 22, 2019
This book reminded me of so many other books, like: divergent and a little bit of the red queen.

In Assassin's Magic you will meet Hunter Cassidy. After seeing her mother's dead body, she's thrown into being a full on training assassin. Of course, right of the bat, people hate her here. Unsurprisingly it's the teachers who do the most.. but she ends up getting some allies throughout the book.

I loved Hunter. She doesn't just sit there and whine, no she takes it and plots her revenge. I loved it . She was such a bad ass and I loved when she proved everyone wrong. She's powerful but she also has a lot of secrets. It doesn't help that the people who hate her know.

The romance in this book was okay but I didn't really care for it honestly. Hunter and Slade were cute but I also knew that something was going to go down. Now for that cliffhanger, I have no idea how these two feel towards one another or what's going to happen next for them.. but I hope it's a good one.

The action, magic, and the quests were interesting. I want to know about the assassin world so I can't wait to dive into book 2.
Profile Image for Namera [The Literary Invertebrate].
1,390 reviews3,658 followers
December 30, 2020
Skimming the other reviews, most readers seem to have loved it... Meanwhile, I just pushed my rating down to a 2 from a 3.

I've done that because, in the 12 days since I read this book, I remember almost NOTHING about it. Not the name of either main character, and only the barest amount regarding the plot. What I do remember is that the romance is RIDICULOUSLY fast-burn - like, getting their hands all over each other at about 20% in, and then some manufactured drama to keep them apart.

I liked that the heroine is some kind of immortal paranormal creature but I don't think she made enough of this. How can you be such a cool creature and still such a boring heroine?! It's criminal. The hero made about as much impression on me as whoever I sat next to on the Tube last month. That's how much personality he has.

I feel zero urge to read the sequel, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.



Profile Image for ~ Tara Bezeau ~.
94 reviews25 followers
July 14, 2021
Such a great book. I couldn’t put it down. I’m very excited for book 2 to come in the mail 😂
Profile Image for Chanel.
373 reviews58 followers
December 28, 2019
Assassin's Magic features Hunter Cassidy who is trying to make her way into the ranks of the Legion. The story opens with her in an endurance test against Slade. The Legion has historically always been make with the exception of Hunter's mother, also known as the Glass Fox, and is the reason Hunter is going through the paces. Members of the Legion have access to the Cathedral which holds the Clave. The Clave is a feather that holds the location to a great and destructive power but it's also a feather Hunters mother used the last of her life's blood to protect and is something Hunter will stop at nothing to get so she can destroy it and nobody can have it.

From the very beginning Hunter is treated worse than the other boys. Slade is the only one that has her side from the beginning. I'm assuming after reading it all it's due to his attraction to her. It was pretty insta-lust that grows into more. Hunter didn't reciprocate because she doesn't trust anyone. She also has her own secret that could change the way people, especially Slade, perceives her. However as she continues to progress in her training, more secrets about her mother as well as other plays out and she has to figure out how to proceed even if it means hurting people she comes to care for.

I have been stewing as to how to review this book for 2 days and basically, I liked it. It hooked me from the beginning and I admired Hunter's tenacity. However as more secrets were revealed, I started to view it as more of a clusterfuck and she sort of became more needy and less independent towards the end. Also the ending was very anti-climatic for everything that went on and the steam level for the romance was just medium. Normally that doesn't bother me but I felt like I was set up for more and it doesn't deliver. I most likely won't be continuing the series in the near future.
Profile Image for Shelley.
5,541 reviews485 followers
February 6, 2019
*Source* Kindle Unlimited
*Genre* Urban Fantasy, Romance
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Thoughts*

Assassin's Magic is the first installment in author Everly Frost's Assassin's Magic. 20-year old Hunter Cassidy has entered the Home of the Assassin's Legion in Boston. Her mother died 4 years ago and Hunter is on a mission to retrieve an important object to make sure her mother did not die in vain. She is the only female in the entire group that has been chosen to compete as Novices to become Superiors, and later Masters if they manage to survive.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

117 reviews4 followers
December 29, 2018
Oh my

Assassin's Magic follows Hunter through her time at what is an assassins academy essentially. She has lost everyone and is there for a reason. We get to see her go through the training, deal with her enemies and find her match.
The world building is cool. It's basically this world but with pocket realms on top. That's fairly standard. What made it cool was how the author dealt with the rules of the creatures, the realm and the assassins themselves.
The characters were well developed. Our two main characters, Hunter and Slade, had the most depth of course, but even the more peripheral characters showed weakness and strengths. They had backstories that helped define their characters and made sense. The dialogue between characters was believable.
The editing was well done. I did not notice any issues along those lines.
Obviously there was violence in this book. It is about assassins after all. It wasn't over the top though. There was also a few sex scenes but those were not very explicit. They were "on scene"(aka didn't fade to black), but focused more on feelings than body parts.
Overall, I would recommend this book. I really enjoyed it and I look forward to the next installment(where I hope we get to see a bit more of Cain). Definitely worth a read.
Profile Image for Michelle Fritz PA.
1,316 reviews98 followers
December 2, 2018
I loved this book so very much that when I reached those last few words, I literally burst out in tears!! My kindle lied!! It said that I still had six minutes left!! Sooo not fair!! It wasn't the end I imagined, no one died, which is both good and bad. I love Hunter so very much!! I so want her to be able to depend upon others and not have to run from everything. She has had such a tragic existence. Being that this is the first book, I will hold out hope that all my wishes for her will come to be. Slade is pretty amazing and totally my new book boyfriend 💖💖 But.... I'll gladly give him up for a happily ever after with Hunter. Hunter is one of my favorite characters ever!! I loved her heart and her mind and her dedication in her pursuit of attaining the Clave. I absolutely love Ms. Frost's writing style!! Her characters are strong and expertly fleshed out! You feel like that by the end of this book that you know them, they each are so well detailed. This is without a doubt one of the best assassin books ever penned!! This will leave you breathless and begging for more!!!
Profile Image for Kodie Mackay.
1,150 reviews68 followers
November 11, 2021
Fantasy for the win.

I thoroughly enjoyed Assassin's magic in ways I didn't think I would.

I'm a romance lover. I like fantasy with my romance but for me normally romance is the main priority and yet something about the way Everly has written this story just completely drew me in to Hunters world.

Hunter is a take no bull, pulls no punches, stronger than the strongest kind of woman. She's fierce and fragile. She's sweet and lord she's so sharp she could cut you on times. I enjoyed her journey so far in book one. I feel like the foundation is there to build on and I know enough to be completely invested whilst being very curious at how her journey will infold in the following stories.

Slade is positively delightful. A strong alpha. Protective, loyal and so freaking sweet. I swear this man stole my heart. I loved getting to see the more vulnerable side to this hard man. I enjoyed watching him grapple with his own emotions and navigate loving a woman like Hunter.

Their journey is crazy and its not an easy one and this is just the beginning. I love the slow burn romance. The true friendship that blossomed into something they couldn't deny. I could feel the tension between them along with the respect they had for one another. It was surprising in the best ways.

This journey was a rocky one and unexpected in many ways. Its chock full of surprises. Its suspenseful and it's packed with action. It's very light on the romance aspect in my opinion but it's enough that I was HOOKED on Hunter and Slade. I also loved the character development with all the characters. There is much growth and plot progression.

Of course this is a continuous series so we don't get all the answers and there is no conclusion, only a cliffhanger and so much anticipation. But this story built perfectly and the characters had me hooked in all the right ways so I'm not made because I wrnt straight on to read book two.

Definitely recommend if your a pnr/fantasy lover.
Profile Image for Maddye.
416 reviews8 followers
November 28, 2020
I just finished this book in a day 🤣

It’s so hard to write this review without spoilers!

Another EPIC tale from Everly, based in the brutal world of assassins and magical beings. I was intrigued by the way the species and magic were woven together during this story, especially the gifts and teaching of your typical (or not so typical?!) assassin.

Everly’s writing is filled with a perfect balance of information, plot building and dialog that makes her books so easy to binge and beautifully engaging for me, hence reading them at a pace that feels like I’ve had 4 cups of coffee. 🙈

Hunter was a strong, fierce character to be reckoned with, carrying a lot of pain and secrets whilst struggling to withhold and learn her own power and role to play. Slade was man candy from the first moment I met him; I hope he holds up that view in the rest of the series for me after that seriously PAINFUL ending, goodness.

Can’t wait to move on to book two!
Profile Image for shelly.reads.books.
148 reviews30 followers
March 10, 2023
4⭐️ This was a total romp, I loved it!

Read via audiobook, narrator was very easy to listen to.

If you are looking for a paranormal romance with a badass highly capable FMC and tropes we know and love but with delightfully clever takes on them—then I highly recommend this book.

Let me just say spoiler free IYKYK: when 👀 a thing happens 👀 and the FMC wears the dagger in that place to the other thing� SO GOOD ❤️‍� I needed that power move in my life SO MUCH ❤️‍�

Lots of slow burn tension, 1.5🌶�. I have a strict TBR this month so I have to keep moving right now—but will absolutely continue with this series—I am hooked!

The main area lacking for me was diversity rep. Hopefully that picks up in future books! Plus the vibe the MMC gave towards the end worries me a bit (too spoilery to say, but combined with the lack of diversity rep it has me a little teeny bit nervous!), but will see how it is handled and plays out in future books!
Profile Image for Chelsey.
29 reviews
January 25, 2020
I was expecting 15% paranormal, 85% romance. I was hoping for some light, forgettable fluff to read on my way to and from work. But my expectations were way off, and I enjoyed Assassin's Magic much, much more than I thought I would. Indeed, there's romance, and it's certainly a light read, but Everly Frost has created a very cool urban-fantasy (set in Boston), and I'm delighted and excited to explore more of it.

Book 1 is set within an assassin guild's compound, but we have a few glimpses of the world outside the compound's walls. There's magic, a variety of fantastical beings, and tonnes of mystery. Ms. Frost has conjured some very compelling and engaging characters, and I'm looking forward to learning more about them in the subsequent books.

I'm thrilled that the core characters are assassins (I... don't think that's a spoiler, right?), but I'm also intrigued by the characters who aren't members of the guild. I'm really hoping they play a bigger role in the coming books.

I think my biggest criticism is that the... shall we say "smutty" segments of the book, did not really live up to my standards. There's loads of very compelling tension that builds up between a couple of characters, but when those special moments actually happen, it's just a bit lackluster. There's great chemistry between these characters on an emotional level: there's longing, shit's complicated, lots of miscommunication... all that good stuff. But, the description of "the deeds" are kind of mediocre.

That said, this is definitely a series I am going to continue (probably later today), and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys the paranormal / urban fantasy scene.
Profile Image for deb,1970,uk_bookrecs.
1,788 reviews18 followers
October 22, 2019
A Complex & Deep Urban Fantasy Romance!💔💘💥
(Read using Kindle Unlimited)
Assassin’s Magic (Assassin’s Magic, #1)

I thought this would be an emotionally lighter read than it was, more fool me when you consider the title!🙈😳 It's not all darkness because they're out killing, it's emotionally heavy because of the main characters past & present!!😢💔 I anticipated a different at the end of this book, I'm not convinced I'm completely wrong - I will have to continue this series to find out though, very clever!!😉😂

A gripping new world & new characters. 👍

Debbie, 1970, UK
1,514 reviews10 followers
January 4, 2019
An outstanding must read!

This book is an amazing start to a new series! This is my first book that I have read from this author and I can't wait for more. The characters are fantastic. It has a good plot, betrayal, lies, secrets, love, kicka$$ assassins, and constant action. Bring on book 2.
Profile Image for Bookgyrl.
1,338 reviews23 followers
January 4, 2019
My first (official) book in 2019 and it took me a bit longer with all the festivities and work obligations. But I finished and immediately pre-ordered the next book! I totally enjoyed this book, my first by Everly Frost.

Hunter has entered the Realm to train as an assassin, just like her mother once has. Her mother died 4 years ago and Hunter is on a mission to retrieve an important object to make sure her mother did not die in vain. One of the other assassin's -in-training is Slade and both Hunter and Slade are attracted from day 1. But Hunter can't afford to sway from her path. She needs to hide what she is and achieve her goal.

The story pulled me in and I really enjoyed it. Hunter is a likeable character and the blossoming romance with Slade is believable and hot (after a slowburn). There is an interesting backstory for the mother we do not yet know and I am eager to know where the story will lead Hunter and Slade.



Profile Image for Tassi (Read Ramble Repeat).
375 reviews66 followers
January 15, 2019
Wow holy dang...that was just WOW! I think actually my mind might be broken right now. So much just went down in that book, I'm kinda nearly wordless. Okay just give me a minute....or two.

Okay lets do this.

First I just gotto say...isn't that Cover just to die for?? It's so eye-catching and completely perfect. Love, Love, LOVE it. 😍

This was truly an incredibly structured story. Not only did it have kick-butt characters but the development of each character through this story was so beautifully done. You not just read about each one of them but you formed connections with them, became friends, and enemies. Hating on the characters that the MC disliked and wanting to get your own good sucker punch in. I was legit captured right away and drawn into the story. It was like Everly herself grabbed her fingers around me and pulled me into her world. And what an incredible world it was.

There was so much that I loved about this book. Like SO much. It had so many awesome elements. But lets hear a little bit about the story itself.

It has a strong lead female character, Hunter, who is dead set on collecting an item that was taken by the Master Assassin, to protect the work her mother had died to keep hidden. To do any of this she needs to get accepted into the Assassins realm but the problem is, females are not usually part of the legion. Can Hunter prove to all the Assassins and the Master himself that she is worthy to become an Assassin in training?

"It grows heavier and heavier. I know I cant hold on much longer. But if I fall before Slade, I'll be out. It won't matter that I held on longer than most of the males. I'm female. A different standard applies to me. Master Gareth will never agree to train me unless I beat all of them. I grit my teeth and hold on.....Master Gareth leans closer, a gleam in his eyes....He says 'No woman has ever been allowed to train in my Legion. You will not be the first.' I meet his eyes, allowing the slightest challenge to enter mine."

Lets just say there is absolutely no love between the Master and Hunter. Lets just say he knows what it could cost by letting this girl into his Legion and he is not about to make it easy. Life is just about to get a hell of a lot more interesting for Hunter.

This is the perfect time to introduce Slade the one guy who decides to throw all caution to the wind and have Hunter's back without understanding or knowing why he would risk so much for this girl and heck yes he's gorgeous and swoon worthy. Could he maybe her soul mate? Guess you'll have to read to find out.😉

Guys just pick up the book and let the magic unfold. This is one unique story you don't want to miss out on.

Thank you Everly Frost for this amazing read. It truly was a whirlwind of emotions and craziness. I hope you're all ready for it. There's a truck load of awesomeness in this book and its popping with twists and turns. You won't regret picking up this book. Believe me.

Now for the readers who have already made it to the end of this book....can we just take a moment for that ending??? I think my heart literally hurts. Why are you doing this to us Everly? Why?



And yet I still wanted more...call me crazy. But I live for this stuff.



Thanks again Everly Frost another amazing book! Cannot. Wait. To. Read. More.

Happy Reading My Nerdy Friends 🤓
Profile Image for Pam Foster.
666 reviews7 followers
December 26, 2018
Wow what an exciting story!!

Assassin’s Magic is a thrilling series opener with wonderfully written characters and a fantastic plot. This author is one of my favourite finds of 2018 and I’ve read all her books now: this new series has a more grown up feel to it because of the themes in the story and I really enjoyed it. Hunter is a badass character with a great back story and I loved her from page one: cannot wait to see how the story develops in book 2 😁 5 stars from me ❤️
Profile Image for Tash L.
205 reviews6 followers
December 27, 2018
Amazing new series!

Everly has written an amazing first book in what I think will be one of my favourite series. Hunter is a great heroine and you feel for her throughout the book. Slade wow just wow! He is Hunter’s match. This book draws you in to an amazing world that you can’t put down. Assassin’s Magic is well written and leaves you wanting to pick up the next book straight away. I can’t wait for the next book to be released.
Profile Image for Jen J.
82 reviews
December 28, 2018
Great and Formidable

This book is very easily one of my favorites that I have read this year, and I have read over 200. I did find it funny that the names in the books follow a pattern. I don’t know if it was intentional or not...🤔 The main FMC and MMC had different initials but the others all we like this...
CC Cain Carter
LL
BB
RR
52 reviews1 follower
December 13, 2018
This book absolutely exceeded my expectations! Wow! I wish I had discovered Everly Frost's book sooner. The story involves a great deal of mystery with a strong female protagonist driving the scenes. Even her name is befits her role. I love Hunter and Slade's interactions. They are a perfect match. Furthermore, she's a role model to her classmates and garners their respect as well as their loyalty. Hunter is amazing. Like any being, she too has weaknesses and recognizes them. She learns to overcome her darkness. She shapes her own destiny while saving the world/finishing her mom's goal. The end scene was quite the cliffhanger and heartbreaking. It's definitely thought provoking. Would we have made the same choices/decision? I can't wait for the next book! I would love to see more Cain. He's a mystery. Slade is as well. Kudos! #mustread
Profile Image for é.
802 reviews121 followers
December 7, 2018
Assassin’s Magic is the beginning of Hunter Cassidy’s story, and what a story it is. Everly Frost has written a captivating book, with a detailed and action packed storyline, characters you’ll love and some you’ll hate, a strong female MC, and an emotional touch that will dig into your heart and connect you right into what Hunter is experiencing.

I really don’t want to give anything away about this book, but Assassin’s Magic is a must read and one that I highly recommend.

Looking forward to continue the journey with Assassin’s Mask, as the ending left me wanting this immediately. But then again, that’s what a cliffhanger is supposed to do.
239 reviews
February 17, 2019
This book is so irritating. I thought this book was going to be good but from the very first chapter my dislike for Spade began when he wanted to sleep with Hunter in the same bed. It was also irritating how the other novices and the Master Trainee was okay with that. It was just wierd. The whole vibe of this book is annoying.
Profile Image for B..
130 reviews3 followers
February 6, 2019
Bonzinho, mas não gostei do drama.
Sem vontade de ler continuação, nem gostei do tapado do principal.
Profile Image for Rachel (The Rest Is Still Unwritten).
1,601 reviews208 followers
November 17, 2019
Find this review and more on my blog !

Assassin’s Magic is the first novel in Everly Frost’s series of the same name and is a fast paced and deeply addictive urban fantasy full of magic, action, danger and romance!

Having seen her mother die, Hunter Cassidy plans to infiltrate the Assassin’s Legion in order to avenge her death and recover the relic her mother died trying to protect. Pretending to be an assassin-in-training, Hunter thought she was prepared for danger, but she certainly wasn’t prepared for Slade Baines, a fellow candidate and someone who treats Hunter with respect and kindness. In the male dominated Legion, Hunter is the first female to train with the Master Assassin and seen as weak by the other candidates. All except for Slade who quickly becomes an ally. As Hunter attempts to fulfil her secret mission, getting close to Slade can only be a mistake, yet he makes her lower her guard despite her best intentions. As the Master Assassin closes in on a weapon of immense power, getting her hands on it first is the only way Hunter can ensure he can’t use it but with her growing feelings for Slade weighing on her mind and clouding her vision, will Hunter be able to make difficult choices or will the Master Assassin find a way to destroy her first?

As the first novel by Everly Frost I have ever read, I have to say I was very impressed by Assassin’s Magic. Heading into the story I don’t think I was as prepared to like the characters and the story as much as I did, but I will say one thing�..I’m seriously hooked! Perfectly paced, Assassin’s Magic introduces readers to an intriguing world of magic and monsters where certain individuals train to become assassins and hunters of things that go bump in the night.

Assassin’s Magic unfolds through the perspective of Hunter Cassidy, a young woman with secrets. I genuinely loved Hunter and thought she was intelligent, capable and kick-ass. Her voice is distinct and easy to follow with author Everly Frost writing Hunter as someone you can’t help but like. I felt she was honourable and mission orientated even as it becomes clear that she has many secrets and isn’t what people think she is.

Everly Frost implores some really interesting mythology within her novel and I’m really keen to see more of her take on Keres and Valkyries. Greek myth is some of my favourite and I always enjoy seeing something a little different which I think Frost manages to succeed with in Assassin’s Magic. I appreciated the way Frost slowly revealed certain parts of Hunter’s past and heritage and allowed readers to come to their own conclusion about what is happening while also making sure you needed to know more.

There’s so much about Assassin’s Magic to love—the mythology, the action, the mystery and most definitely the romance. Hunter and Slade’s romance has that slow burn feeling that develops over time from the initial attraction to slithers of friendship with an undeniable chemistry. I really liked seeing Hunter let Slade in. Slade was sexy and capable while also being kind and respectful and he clearly cared about Hunter. They have plenty of obstacles in the way of their relationship, the biggest of which the truth about what Hunter is, but I for one am cheering for them and can’t wait to see them find their way to each other again.

Thrilling and very enjoyable, Assassin’s Magic felt like The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare meets Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder and is something I can’t wait to continue with. I’ll be starting the next novel straight away to see what Everly Frost has in store for Hunter next!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
1,494 reviews9 followers
July 13, 2023
This was amazing! I was obsessed with it from the very beginning. I was a little confused about the age of the characters; they have to be 20 to train to become an assassin, but her mom as been dead for 4 years, which is also when her last relationship ended, meaning she was 16. So how did she survive for those 4 years? That's the only thing that confused me. Otherwise, everything was spectacular. It took a very long time for us to find out why she was there, what she was looking for, and what exactly she is. When we find out she's a Valkyrie it's a great reveal. Slade, one of the candidates in her class, is smoking hot, and just as good as she is; they are neck and neck in their classes and he is determined to protect her from everyone. One of the teachers as well as the master assassin hate her, one we find out later is her father but the master was her mother's bonded mate whom she rejected. Hunter always thought the old master was her father so it was a bit of a surprise when she found out it was actually Ridley, one of her teachers. Hunter and Slade go from an alliance to a friendship to a relationship. Master Garrett doesn't want to pick a replacement so he changes the pace of instruction trying to get Hunter and Slade killed, since they are the top 2, and doesn't tell Hunter when she becomes a superior (she is requested for an assassination and gets her own ledger whereas the other candidates have been given assignments from the superiors). Finally, he gets a book that tells him how to break the protection on the feather, which is what Hunter was there to steal. He needs a special plant which is guarded by the furies so he sends Hunter and Slade and which ever one kills the furies and returns with the plant will be named the new master. Well, the day before Slade took out a gang and Hunter had to use one of her feathers to heal so now he's not fully human, but the doesn't know what she is because even though they bonded her wings didn't come out. Hunter managed to get the feather from Garrett before she left, but when the furies attack they tell Slade he's not fully human. She distracts him so she doesn't have to answer any questions. Then Garrett shows up, she hides, but he attacks him which forces her to reveal herself, including her wings. She saves Slade, tells him that he is her bonded mate and that she can't lie to him. He asks if she loves him and she says yes. He doesn't know how to handle that because a woman with wings killed his brother and he saw it happen, and we can assume it was her mother. She leaves. He calls for a ride. She decides that she is going to find out what kind of weapon the feather protects. That's where the book ends. I cannot wait to read the next one! This was amazing!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sarah Nowicki.
9 reviews
February 12, 2019
I love a good story about a young woman, laced with power, trying to infiltrate a male-dominated profession and this one was worth the read.

Our heroine, Hunter Cassidy, has a secret. Many secrets in fact. And right now, her main goal is to avenge her mother's death and locate an item that could be deadly in the wrong hands.

In order to accomplish this, she must become a member of The Legion. This is a group of fierce and revered Assassins for hire. It's almost impossible for a woman to infiltrate this faction but Hunter is determined to follow in her mother's footsteps and get what she came for. Once admitted, she ends up getting a lot more than she bargained for. Secrets about her mother and herself are revealed and Hunter is forced to make choices and sacrifices she hadn't anticipated.

Luckily for her, she has a very important trick up her sleeve. She isn't entirely human and her heritage will allow her to move up the ranks and gain the respect and authority that she deserves. She is a Valkyrie and because of this, she is a target and some within The Legion are actually out to expose and destroy her and those that she has come to care about; especially Slade.

What's not to love about Slade Baines? He's just the type of hero our heroine needs. He's intelligent, strong, dutiful and brimming with power. I love a man who isn't afraid of a strong woman and Slade is that in spades. Their relationship is a slow burn built on a strong foundation of mutual respect and their deep attraction and affection for each other is palpable and intense. But is it enough?

I really did enjoy this book. There is interesting world building, exciting action, unfurling mysteries and I loved the connection made to mythology. I appreciated the emphasis on "girl-power" and thought Hunter was likable and her actions and decisions matched the intense and dangerous world around her.

Having said that, I think the writing was written in a more straight-forward "tell" rather than "show" manner and, in my opinion, could have been a little more colorful. A lot of the mysteries were bluntly explained rather than creatively revealed which was fine, but a tad disappointing. I also stumbled on a few grammatical errors, but not enough to ruin the flow or the story.

Unlike most of the romances I read, this story has a big and heart-wrenching cliffhanger, which can absolutely drive me crazy. Luckily, I don't have to wait too long for relief. Book 2, Assassin's Magic 2: Assassin's Mask, will be available this March and is firmly placed on my tbr list.
182 reviews8 followers
May 10, 2022
Be the Light in the Dark.

Who would have thought a story about professional killers could be so appealing. The Assassin's Legion has a code, strict rules they must abide by or face the ultimate consequence. Despite the fact that this story is about killers-in-training, it is full of magic. Magical beings are seen as the enemy, but Hunter discovers that this isn't always the case. Secrets are concealed and others revealed along the way to discover the stories behind the characters and their relationship to Hunter.

Pace - fast, full of action, mystery and intrigue

Plot � twists at every turn that keep you glued to the pages. I couldn't put this down.

Characters � Hunter is complicated, strong-willed and driven. She has a mission, enemies all around her, but a determination to succeed at all costs. Yet she is shown as quite vulnerable at times. Slade is also a complex character. She doesn't know if she can trust him at first. He wants to protect her, help her, but they are pitted together as rivals time and time again. How will their story end? There are many characters who are surrounded by mystery in this story. A few of the characters have a minor role, but I feel they will become more significant in the future. As this is the first book of the series, there are more secrets to come to light.

World Building - the world of the Realm is wonderful. The fact that this exists in the midst of the human world is tremendous. A hidden world, in plain sight, unbeknownst to ordinary humans. The supernatural element of this story adds to the romance and mystery. It is a refreshingly different in its use of ancient mythical beings along with the traditional Witches and Goblins. Throw in a few underworld criminal humans and it becomes a riveting tale.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was totally absorbing. Hunter is a strong capable female, but even she needs help at times. She finds that secrets are difficult to hide from those who you want to trust them with and showing your true self is the ultimate sacrifice. I am keen to read the next two books in this series to find out how Hunter manages to complete her mission and what it costs her.
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