amarylissw's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 stars.
A solid protagonist, intriguing world, and not too bad of a plot. The cast of characters could use some work, especially the love interests -- I didn't find myself too interested in either of them, there was some insta-love, and the original love interest ended up becoming flat and one-dimensional, which I hated.
The world had a lot of potential, but I felt like some of the views and ideals were skewed. If fleshed out more, it could've been pretty cool. The writing was really nice, and the action scenes flowed well. Some of the plot was a little slow, but it never really dragged.
Overall, not a bad story, which I'm grateful for, because it had a great premise.
A solid protagonist, intriguing world, and not too bad of a plot. The cast of characters could use some work, especially the love interests -- I didn't find myself too interested in either of them, there was some insta-love, and the original love interest ended up becoming flat and one-dimensional, which I hated.
The world had a lot of potential, but I felt like some of the views and ideals were skewed. If fleshed out more, it could've been pretty cool. The writing was really nice, and the action scenes flowed well. Some of the plot was a little slow, but it never really dragged.
Overall, not a bad story, which I'm grateful for, because it had a great premise.
bridrizzle72's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bookishlizz's review against another edition
3.0
The book reads like a knock-off of Throne of Glass. I love Throne of Glass, I enjoyed this. But if you compare the two, this one comes up lacking. Lacking world building, lacking character development, suffering from a rushed plot.
I picked this up simply because it was available on Overdrive and I needed something since Playster is down right now. The story was good, at least, it was interesting. I never wanted to stop reading, but between overused phrases and weak characters, there were points I struggled through.
Lea belongs to a family of assassins who kill under the game of their god. This is an interesting plot line. She loves a boy and it is a very Romeo and Juliet story. Which is actually where I thought this story was going ... but it wasn't. That isn't a spoiler, because it happens within the first 30 pages of the story.
Anyway, Lea must bring revenge against the Da Vias after they destroy her family in an attempt to be the best. Along the path of revenge it becomes a holy mission. There are about a billion characters introduced and enough places that I started to lose track of what was important and what wasn't.
Because the story felt like it could have been something Sarah J Maas could have written, I kept waiting for her rich detailing of the surrounding areas, the incredible character development she brings to main and minor characters alike, and the complex plot that makes her stories so fantastic. However, that is all lacking here. The book was great, don't get me wrong, but it lacked what makes other stories amazing.
I picked this up simply because it was available on Overdrive and I needed something since Playster is down right now. The story was good, at least, it was interesting. I never wanted to stop reading, but between overused phrases and weak characters, there were points I struggled through.
Lea belongs to a family of assassins who kill under the game of their god. This is an interesting plot line. She loves a boy and it is a very Romeo and Juliet story. Which is actually where I thought this story was going ... but it wasn't. That isn't a spoiler, because it happens within the first 30 pages of the story.
Anyway, Lea must bring revenge against the Da Vias after they destroy her family in an attempt to be the best. Along the path of revenge it becomes a holy mission. There are about a billion characters introduced and enough places that I started to lose track of what was important and what wasn't.
Because the story felt like it could have been something Sarah J Maas could have written, I kept waiting for her rich detailing of the surrounding areas, the incredible character development she brings to main and minor characters alike, and the complex plot that makes her stories so fantastic. However, that is all lacking here. The book was great, don't get me wrong, but it lacked what makes other stories amazing.
thegabecole's review against another edition
4.0
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was so fun! This assassin revenge book was everything I would've expected: tons of action, chock-full of badass characters, loads of emotion (and frowny faces, on my part) and a fascinating world to boot. I really enjoyed reading about the super unique prominent polytheistic religious system set up in the novel, the politics of the assassin Families was really interesting and I'm so very pleased with the ending. While the voice didn't quite pull me in as much as some other YA Fantasies I've read, overall this was a really enjoyable book that I totally recommend to those who like their YA Fantasies with awesome assassins.
This was so fun! This assassin revenge book was everything I would've expected: tons of action, chock-full of badass characters, loads of emotion (and frowny faces, on my part) and a fascinating world to boot. I really enjoyed reading about the super unique prominent polytheistic religious system set up in the novel, the politics of the assassin Families was really interesting and I'm so very pleased with the ending. While the voice didn't quite pull me in as much as some other YA Fantasies I've read, overall this was a really enjoyable book that I totally recommend to those who like their YA Fantasies with awesome assassins.
iggyebab's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the world in this story although some parts were easy to figure out. I liked the main characters and will read the next installment.
raoxshna's review against another edition
4.0
Really like this book! The story was great and I loved the characters so much! But I wasn't able to give it 5 stars because for me, something was missing. I don't know what but it kept me from loving this book!
alicethejokerofspades's review against another edition
2.0
Yikes. Started off sounding strong and then the middle just fizzled out any interest I had. It's boring and the pacing is awful. She's supposed to be some baddy assassin but is constantly fumbling, and Les who was a floundering fool is taught in a matter of days? AND THEN, they fall in love just like that? She had a bf and her family just died and she should be in mourning and instead she just falls right back into a relationship? And Les saying he'd give his life for a girl he's known for 11 days? Sod off
OH AND ONE MORE THING
there's a fucking grammatical error (in fact I think there were two but I remember one very vividly) on page 210
Also who names their kid after an allergen medicine
OH AND ONE MORE THING
there's a fucking grammatical error (in fact I think there were two but I remember one very vividly) on page 210
Also who names their kid after an allergen medicine
mbro's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
isnoyafantasy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Absolutely loved it. Intriguing concept and likable characters. Couldn’t put it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, Police brutality, Vomit, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Classism and Kidnapping
lara_ghr's review against another edition
4.0
Inhalt: 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.
Rezension: Lange habe ich auf diesen Roman gewarteten, da es unter vielen amerikanischen Buchbloggern einen gewissen Hype genießt. Das Genre ist High Fantasy beziehungsweise Young Adult und obwohl ich lange kein High Fantasy mehr gelesen habe, hat mich der Klappentext direkt angesprochen. Es hat mich ein wenig an Throne of Glass erinnert, auch wenn mir dieses nicht so gefallen hat, ist mein Interesse an Assassinen ungebrochen.
Assassin's Heart kann mit einem innovativen Worldbuilding und einer starken Protagonistin überzeugen. Jedoch habe ich mir gerade bei solch hohen Erwartungen überwiegend die negativen Aspekte des Romans gemerkt. Logikfehler finden sich gerade im Genre High Fantasy zu Hau und finde ich auch meistens nicht störend, aber Assassines Heart weißt einige Fehler auf, die das gute Worldbuilding überschattet haben. Die Assassine tragen im Roman Masken, doch nirgendwo wird erklärt, wozu diese dienen. Die Funktion einer Maske wie wir sie kennen, ist ja die Unkenntlichkeit des Trägers, aber im Buch lernt jeder Assassine schon als Kind die Masken einer Person zuzuordnen, um diese erkennen zu können. Ich sehe keinen Sinn darin, wenn sowieso jeder weiß, wer sich hinter welcher Maske verbirgt.
Nun zum System der neuen Assassine-Familien, dass sich natürlich sehr nach Mafia anhört, aber theoretisch gesehen hätten sich die Familien doch längst umbringen müssen. Es wird im Buch deutlich, dass einige dieser Familien freundschaftlich miteinander umbringen, aber die Rivalitäten überwiegen, schließlich gibt es eine Hierarchy nach der sich die Familien richten müssen. Im Grunde genommen hätten sich die ersten beiden Familien, die Sardanas und Da Vias schön längst umbringen müssen, so sehr Rivalität herrscht zwischen den beiden.
Nun zu einem Thema, dass wohl sehr subjektiv bewertet wird, Religion. In Assassin's Heart spielt Religion eine übergeordnete Rolle, da jedes Land, manchmal sogar jede Stadt einem anderen Gott folgt, der auch tatsächlich existiert. Aber ich lese ungern über Religion in einem Fantasyroman und finde es generell etwas überflüssig für einen Roman über Assassine.
Dies sind aber solch geringe Störfaktoren, dass sie mir während des Lesens kaum aufgefallen sind. Das Buch hat so viel mehr positive Aspekte, wie die Originalität der Figuren zu bieten. Lea und Les bilden für mich ein tolles Team und auch wenn ich Val nicht mochte, ist er wohl ein ambivalenter Antagonist und als Figur großartig.
Ich konnte mir beim Lesen die Welt, in der die Figuren leben, richtiggehend vorstellen und habe mich zu keinem Zeitpunkt gelangweilt. Insbesondere das Ende war erfreulich, denn man liest nicht von dem typischen Cliffhanger, die Geschichte wirkt fast abgeschlossen. Es ist jedoch bekannt, dass es einen zweiten Band geben wird.
Fazit: Dieser High-Fantasy-Roman konnte mich überzeugen, auch wenn die Meinungen auseinandergehen. Ich freue mich schon auf den zweiten Band und mehr von Les und Lea zu lesen.
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.
Rezension: Lange habe ich auf diesen Roman gewarteten, da es unter vielen amerikanischen Buchbloggern einen gewissen Hype genießt. Das Genre ist High Fantasy beziehungsweise Young Adult und obwohl ich lange kein High Fantasy mehr gelesen habe, hat mich der Klappentext direkt angesprochen. Es hat mich ein wenig an Throne of Glass erinnert, auch wenn mir dieses nicht so gefallen hat, ist mein Interesse an Assassinen ungebrochen.
Assassin's Heart kann mit einem innovativen Worldbuilding und einer starken Protagonistin überzeugen. Jedoch habe ich mir gerade bei solch hohen Erwartungen überwiegend die negativen Aspekte des Romans gemerkt. Logikfehler finden sich gerade im Genre High Fantasy zu Hau und finde ich auch meistens nicht störend, aber Assassines Heart weißt einige Fehler auf, die das gute Worldbuilding überschattet haben. Die Assassine tragen im Roman Masken, doch nirgendwo wird erklärt, wozu diese dienen. Die Funktion einer Maske wie wir sie kennen, ist ja die Unkenntlichkeit des Trägers, aber im Buch lernt jeder Assassine schon als Kind die Masken einer Person zuzuordnen, um diese erkennen zu können. Ich sehe keinen Sinn darin, wenn sowieso jeder weiß, wer sich hinter welcher Maske verbirgt.
Nun zum System der neuen Assassine-Familien, dass sich natürlich sehr nach Mafia anhört, aber theoretisch gesehen hätten sich die Familien doch längst umbringen müssen. Es wird im Buch deutlich, dass einige dieser Familien freundschaftlich miteinander umbringen, aber die Rivalitäten überwiegen, schließlich gibt es eine Hierarchy nach der sich die Familien richten müssen. Im Grunde genommen hätten sich die ersten beiden Familien, die Sardanas und Da Vias schön längst umbringen müssen, so sehr Rivalität herrscht zwischen den beiden.
Nun zu einem Thema, dass wohl sehr subjektiv bewertet wird, Religion. In Assassin's Heart spielt Religion eine übergeordnete Rolle, da jedes Land, manchmal sogar jede Stadt einem anderen Gott folgt, der auch tatsächlich existiert. Aber ich lese ungern über Religion in einem Fantasyroman und finde es generell etwas überflüssig für einen Roman über Assassine.
Dies sind aber solch geringe Störfaktoren, dass sie mir während des Lesens kaum aufgefallen sind. Das Buch hat so viel mehr positive Aspekte, wie die Originalität der Figuren zu bieten. Lea und Les bilden für mich ein tolles Team und auch wenn ich Val nicht mochte, ist er wohl ein ambivalenter Antagonist und als Figur großartig.
Ich konnte mir beim Lesen die Welt, in der die Figuren leben, richtiggehend vorstellen und habe mich zu keinem Zeitpunkt gelangweilt. Insbesondere das Ende war erfreulich, denn man liest nicht von dem typischen Cliffhanger, die Geschichte wirkt fast abgeschlossen. Es ist jedoch bekannt, dass es einen zweiten Band geben wird.
Fazit: Dieser High-Fantasy-Roman konnte mich überzeugen, auch wenn die Meinungen auseinandergehen. Ich freue mich schon auf den zweiten Band und mehr von Les und Lea zu lesen.