Book Review: The Pirate’s Wish (The Assassin’s Curse #2) by Cassandra Rose Clarke

Publication Date: June 18, 2013

Publisher: Strange Chemistry

Synopsis: After setting out to break the curse that binds them together, the pirate Ananna and the assassin Naji find themselves stranded on an enchanted island in the north with nothing but a sword, their wits, and the secret to breaking the curse: complete three impossible tasks. With the help of their friend Marjani and a rather unusual ally, Ananna and Naji make their way south again, seeking what seems to be beyond their reach. Unfortunately, Naji has enemies from the shadowy world known as the Mists, and Ananna must still face the repercussions of going up against the Pirate Confederation. Together, Naji and Ananna must break the curse, escape their enemies — and come to terms with their growing romantic attraction.

Ananna is a feisty yet often frustrating character.  She is so stubborn and childish at times.  For a pirate, she gets into trouble way more than she should. I would have thought that with everything she has experienced firsthand, she would be more cautious of her surroundings and possible danger, but she wasn't. With that said though, I did enjoy the story and felt that it was a nice sequel to The Assassin’s Curse.

Ananna and Naji begin the story stuck on an island waiting to hopefully be rescued soon. While there Annana encounters for the first time a haughty manticore. They develop an interesting and unexpected type of friendship. Once rescued by Marjani, Naji and Ananna’s main goal is to get through the three impossible tasks in order to lift the curse that bind these two together.

If you’ve read the first book, then you know that there wasn’t that much romance in the story, I was happy to discover that in this story there was a bit more romance/romantic tension.  

I enjoyed The Pirate’s Wish a little more than I did The Assassin’s Curse, but they were both fun and quick reads. Pirates, magic, fights, curses, a manticore, and some romance….all mix together to create one heck of a supernatural adventure. Fans of YA Fantasy and Pirates might find this book right up their alley.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

**I received this book on behalf of Strange Chemistry/Angry Robot in exchange for nothing, but my honest opinion only. Thank you.**

 

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Between Two Thorns by Emma Newman

Synopsis:

Something is wrong in Aquae Sulis, Bath’s secret mirror city.

The new season is starting and the Master of Ceremonies is missing. Max, an Arbiter of the Split Worlds Treaty, is assigned with the task of finding him with no one to help but a dislocated soul and a mad sorcerer.

There is a witness but his memories have been bound by magical chains only the enemy can break. A rebellious woman trying to escape her family may prove to be the ally Max needs.

But can she be trusted? And why does she want to give up eternal youth and the life of privilege she’s been born into?

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Between Two Thorns starts off with Sam who is a Mundane being in the wrong place at the wrong time and witnessing a dead body being carried out of a building by otherworldly creatures He is caught before he has a real chance of escaping, and because the perpetrators cannot kill him, they instead bind his memory, so he will not remember anything. Sam ends up playing a vital role in the story, though his presence is scattered throughout the story.

And then there is Max, who is an Arbiter. What makes Max interesting is the fact that he lack emotions because his soul was taken from his body. So everything that Max would normally feel is felt instead by the carrier of his soul. Max is assigned with trying to find the missing Dignitary. His job is made ten times harder seeing as the witness to the crime cannot recall anything…enter Sam.

The picture perfect world of the Nether is not so prefect, and beneath that seemingly perfect façade lies a big struggle for power.

This is the home that Cathy comes from. She is tired of living in the Nether, and by rules laid out by the Fae Lords. In an attempt to escape and live a normal life, she uses a spell to help her blend in as a normal college student in Mundanus. However, this life for her is short lived because she is soon discovered and forced back into her old live in the Nether. But she does not give up and will try just about anything to gain her freedom, including offering her help to Max.

Final thoughts:

The world building was done really well. I think that it helped to enhance the story and draw me in deeper. The different characters were interesting to read about. Cathy was my favorite main characters. Her determination and spirit made her a strong character with a unique voice.

I thought this was fun story to get into. There seemed to be a lot going on and I had some questions regarding the reason behind certain things that were not answered. I am not sure if the writer did that on purpose or not.

All the loose ends do not get tied up in this story because there is a sequel in the works. Hopefully the big questions get answered in the next novel.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

** I received this book from Angry Robot / Strange Chemistry in exchange for nothing, but my honest review. Thank you!**

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Pantomime by Laura Lam

Synopsis:

R.H. Ragona’s Circus of Magic is the greatest circus of Ellada. Nestled among the glowing blue Penglass – remnants of a mysterious civilization long gone – are wonders beyond the wildest imagination. It’s a place where anything seems possible, where if you close your eyes you can believe that the magic and knowledge of the vanished Chimeras is still there. It’s a place where anyone can hide.

Iphigenia Laurus, or Gene, the daughter of a noble family, is uncomfortable in corsets and crinoline, and prefers climbing trees to debutante balls. Micah Grey, a runaway living on the streets, joins the circus as an aerialist’s apprentice and soon becomes the circus’s rising star. But Gene and Micah have balancing acts of their own to perform, and a secret in their blood that could unlock the mysteries of Ellada.

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****As a warning, this review does contain a spoiler!****

  

When I first began reading Pantomime, I was expecting a possible love story involving both Gene and Micah Grey or that somehow they would stumble upon a great secret/world involving them.

Turns out I was wrong. There was no love story or two people being joined together by the circus.

Gene and Micah are in fact the same person. Gene/Micah is an intersex character who was tired of trying to live up to the expectations of his/her parents, wearing dresses and living the life of a girl, she decides that she wants a change. She then decides to dress up as a boy and become Micah Grey who will later join the circus. Micah is not welcomed into the group immediately, and it takes time for that to happen.

The story alternates back and forth between the past and the present until Gene/Micah’s past finally catches up to the current times. The flashbacks reveal Gene’s life before Gene ran away from home. It is then the reader has a better glimpse into Gene/Micah’s struggle with their self-identity and soon the past collides with the present.

Final thoughts: 

This story was not what I thought it was going to be. However the author does a good job with the subject matter. The world building and the details of the circus were so clear. I love the circus and that air of mystery, the unknown, and magic that it holds.  

Pantomime is a coming of age story about identity and acceptance. It takes the reader on an interesting journey that is filled with emotional struggle.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

** I received this book from Angry Robot/Strange Chemistry in exchange for nothing, but my honest review. Thank you.** 

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E-Book Short Review: The Witch's Betrayal by Cassandra Rose Clarke

The Witch’s Betrayal is a short story involving Naji before he met Ananna in The Assassin’s Curse. During this point in time he is trying to complete an assignment to kill Lisim Sarr, a dangerous man who practices powerful dark magic. 

While he is in search of Lisim, he crosses paths with Leila, the river witch. He soon discovers that this assignment is not as simple as he once thought and to accomplish his goal he will need to utilize more than just his magic skills.

This story gives the reader a little more background on Naji as well as shows the complexity of his relationship with Leila. I enjoyed it a lot. And I cannot wait to read The Pirate’s Wish when it releases on June 4, 2013. 

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke

Ananna is a seventeen year old girl has lived the life of a pirate alongside her parents. She has plans of her own. And those plans do not include marriage to a son from a low ranking Pirate clan. She wants to be captain of her very own ship one day. Being forced into marriage by her parents, she does what any independent, strong-willed teenager would do….she steals the nearest camel she can spot and hightails it out of town before someone catches her.

During one of her nights of hiding out in a nearby town she encounters an assassin (Naji). Not just any assassin, but one who can blend into the night and use magic to overtake his victims. For the assassin things do not go as planned on his attempt to kill Ananna. While trekking through the desert Naji has another opportunity to kill her this time, but ironically she is the one who ends up saving his life, from a snake no less. It is because of this, that a curse is set into motion and things at least for the moment will not be the same for these two. 

Together they embark on a journey that will hopefully lead them to a cure that will break the curse and hopefully restore their lives back to they way they were. Of course they will have to watch their backs as the pirate clan Ananna escaped from come looking for revenge of their own.

“I can't believe this," I muttered, cradling the skein of water up close to my chest. "Two weeks in the desert all on account of some assassin who doesn't know how to look out for snakes."    

"If you hadn't killed that snake," Naji said calmly, "I would have killed you." 

-Cassandra Rose Clarke, The Assassin’s Curse

The banter between these two was cute. I think their personalities help to balance each other out.

Naji's unwillingness to answer Ananna's questions or let her in on the whole situation that they were facing together irked me at times. He seemed to act like he is in this predicament alone and Ananna was not with him. And for all of Ananna's feistiness and attitude, she sometimes gave up a little too quickly in her quest for answers.

I had wanted to read this book for months and I finally bought it…so glad I did. This was such an enjoyable read. I hadn't read a good pirate story in years. There are no big twists and turns in this story, but I was still entertained by the adventure that occurred during their time together and read the book in the course of a day.  The Assassin’s Curse is a story filled with adventure, magic, romance, and a good old fashion pirate fight or two. The ending leaves room for the second book in the series, The Pirate’s Wish set to release on June 4, 2013. I cannot wait to see what will happen next with Ananna and Naji. If you are into fantasy, pirates, and assassin’s then this book may just be what you are looking for. Happy Reading! J

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

 

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Cover Reveal!! - The Pirate's Wish (The Assassin's Curse #2)

For those of you who fell in love with The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke, here is the cover reveal for the sequel, The Pirate's Wish!!

I love the cover for the Assassin's Curse, and this one is equally gorgeous. I am excited for this book to be released. Strange Chemistry will be releasing The Pirate's Wish in June 2013, so make sure to mark it on your calender and on Goodreads!

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