---

“Bad friends are worse than no friends”

What is the Book about?

Girton is on the brink of becoming one of the country’s best assassins, as he apprentices under his Master, a living legend in the business of death. One night, Girton and his master are summoned to the royal court: Within the thick stone walls of Maniyadoc Castle, whispers abound of a planned assassination on the crown prince. True to the motto “To catch a murderer, you must send a murderer,” the queen hires the two assassins to prevent the attack. Neither Girton nor the Master suspect that the attempt on the prince is just the beginning of a series of conspiracies and intrigues that could plunge the entire kingdom into a horrific war, sparing not even loyal assassins…

---

Rating
Plot ★☆☆☆☆
Characters ★★☆☆☆
Excitement ★★☆☆☆
Atmosphere ★★☆☆☆
Writing Style ★★★☆☆

Favourite Character
Girton

My thoughts while reading it

Assassins hold a very special fascination for me. Whether they work in secret with poisons or other treacherous weapons, or if they engage in combat for their employers, each assassin has a unique style that makes them enjoyable to read about. And so, I hoped that through the promising word “Assassin,” this series could convince me. However, my expectations were unfortunately not met, despite the promising approaches of mentor-apprentice dynamics and infiltration into the nobility.

One of the biggest weaknesses of the novel lies in character development, which I had high hopes for due to the extravagant author. And even though Girton had great potential as a character, his traits did not shine through because the supporting characters lacked depth, and little time was given overall to allow him to shine. I find it very interesting that Girton is a rather flawed youth who doesn’t quite know how to interact with his peers, as he has always had to focus on his work as an assassin, making him seem very innocent and endearing, which contrasts strongly with his profession’s requirement for cold-bloodedness and adds to the character’s appeal. However, his shy nature could only be seen through his inner thoughts and not through interactions with other characters, as these interactions were always very brief and lacked significance. Thus, while his inner world was intriguing, it unfortunately didn’t manifest outwardly. Consequently, all characters remained mostly flat. Additionally, no emotional connection could be established, which I had hoped for, particularly through the mentorship. However, there is hardly any interaction between the two, and as with all interactions, these are very brief, without anything emotional occurring. While one could argue that this popular trope exists, it was unfortunately barely depicted in the book.

I must also say that the theme of assassins doesn’t come to fruition here. Although the two assassins have a mission, they are simply thrown into it without much ado. They are supposed to play two nobles and suddenly appear out of nowhere without anyone at the castle wondering about them? No, it seems to be perfectly natural to appear out of nowhere, as I’ve noticed in many instances. Also, considering Girton is supposed to be such a skilled assassin for his age, it’s hardly noticeable. He tries to gather information from his peers, but he never attempts to skilfully interrogate or spy on them; instead, he simply tries to fit in. Additionally, the mentor and apprentice meeting in the evenings to exchange their findings was futile, as neither of them really conducted any research. Thus, the two simply get lucky as others gradually reveal themselves to them without them having to do anything.

The plot of the novel is unfortunately predictable and drags unnecessarily at many points. It lacks tension and surprising twists that would truly captivate the reader. Instead, the story often meanders along without reaching a real climax. This is mainly because the two assassins simply don’t do anything typical for their job; instead, things just happen out of nowhere.

Another criticism concerns world-building. Although the setting is potentially interesting, it is only superficially explored. Especially the fact that the world and its power were stolen by the magicians, while not very original, immediately reminded me of “The Last Unicorn,” and I was very intrigued! However, there is a lack of details and atmosphere that would bring the fantasy world to life. Consequently, “Age of Assassins” falls short of expectations and fails to captivate the reader.

Despite the book having many good ideas, it severely lacks in their execution. The book has everything that could make for a good story: original characters with unusual traits, a magical world where magicians are the villains, infiltration into noble ranks, yet all of it feels flat. Therefore, after much consideration, I must say that I do not intend to continue reading the series. However, if you enjoy the tropes, give the book a chance, as it is loved by the community. And I will swing through the air and try to find another assassin story that excites me.

Reading Recommendation? ✓✘
Favourite? ✘