Friday, April 26, 2013

Review of The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke



My Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars


Warning May Contain Slight Spoilers.


This story is told from the point of view of 17 year old Ananna of the Tanarau, who yearns to captain her own ship, despite the fact the Pirate Confederation does not allow woman captains. The only way for a pirate to better themselves is through murder, mutiny, or marriage. So it is because of this belief system that Ananna finds herself in an arranged marriage to Tarrin of the Hariri clan. Not too keen on being tied to a man, Ananna makes a hasty getaway with the help of a camel. Enraged by her treachery, the Hariri sends the Assassin, Naji, after her.


Naji at first embodies all that Ananna remembers from the frightening childhood stories her father used to tell her.  He appears cold and deadly, seeming to be made more of shadows than of flesh. Ananna’s perception of Naji gradually begins to shift after Ananna accidentally saves the assassin’s life. Ironically, Ananna finds herself bound to this man (thanks to his curse) soon after having escaped being bound to another through marriage. So begins this duos unorthodox relationship. They begin a quest to find the cure to Naji’s curse and along the way they must traverse deserts and oceans, all the while battling characters from both their world and the other world, referred to as The Mists.


With each passing moment we see that Ananna begins to develop feelings for Naji. In her eyes he turns from a deadly assassin into a man that must constantly battle with his inner turmoil. Both characters are quick to define others as beautiful, but when it comes themselves all they can see is their own flaws. However, when they look at each other they are able to see what lay beyond the surface. When Ananna looks upon Naji she sees not a scared face of a murderer, but rather a man that is insecure and vulnerable. Likewise, when Naji looks upon Ananna he sees not a weatherworn girl, but a fierce, independent woman. It seems in this case beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.


Both characters come across as stubborn and strong willed, which is perhaps one of the reasons I found their interactions to be so amusing. It’s clear that there is chemistry between the two, though for the moment it seems to be more one sided, this is perhaps owning to the fact that everything is in the point of view of Ananna. In addition to the relationship between the main characters, this book was strong in the sense that it offered something for everyone. Featuring everything from pirates to assassins to other worldly beings, with a nice pinch of magic thrown in for good measure, this book is sure to appeal to both men and women. At no point did I feel as if the plot were dragging, instead I found myself unable to put the book down.


As a Lover of young adult adventure novels, I found the Assassin’s Curse to be quite refreshing. The main characters are both intriguing and believable, and the story is well paced. The prose remains consistent throughout the novel, and Clarke is not afraid to add some zest to the narrative by throwing in some swear words.  Clarke could have easily gone overboard with this “pirate talk”, but she does it in such a manner that it adds more authenticity to Ananna’s character (she is a pirate after all!). I also appreciated the fact that the romance in this novel was gradual and subtle. I liked the fact that Clarke did not feel as if she had to either exaggerate the main characters’ relationship or add an over the top love triangle into the mix.


The only downside to this book was the fact that there was no clear climax in the book; instead we get a series of ups and downs, and no resolution in the end. However, the way in which the relationship between Ananna and Naji has begun to develop has left me wanting more, and I eagerly await the next installment, entitled The Pirate’s Wish, which hits stores June 4th.


What I hope to see in this next novel is some sort of resolution, either partial or otherwise. I also hope to get more insight into the thoughts and feelings of Naji. That being said, with this debut novel, author Cassandra Rose Clarke has proven to me that she has what it takes to contend with the likes of Suzanne Collins and Tamora Pierce.

If you enjoyed The Assassin’s Curse I highly recommend you check out these similar books:
Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
Call of the Sea by Rebecca Hart
Blood Red Road by Moira Young

As always your thoughts and comments are most welcome. Thanks for visiting the blog. Happy Reading!
-The Quiet Girl

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