The Assassin's Tale by Kristen Jones
A lot happening to keep you reading; a tolerable start for any fan of young adult literature.
I like my assassin novels with a good level of intensity and attitude. The deadly art, woven into a plot of political intrigue, casts a certain tension and excitement that keeps you turning the pages and incorporates, well at least the ones I enjoy reading, a romance as seductive, dangerous and exciting as the art itself. However despite the title which suggests a tale about assassins Kristen Jones’s The Assassin’s Tale barely explores anything to do with them. There was, however, something that kept me reading, despite the fact that I found myself often getting continuously frustrated and often reeling in embarrassment into the corners of my sofa.
My main issue was directed at the main character, Mistral, and her attitude the novel refused to condemn in a way I thought acceptable. Jones allowed Mistral to bombard her way through the book without fully recognising the consequence of her actions or showing compassion for people who had and did so much for her. I would go as far to say that she lacked empathy and I was not able to connect with her. The Assassin’s Tale follows Mistral as she trains to become a warrior for the Valley of the Ri – a place for half-blood mythical creatures to be used by the Council in order to manage matters ranging from political to domestic disturbances from creatures, but it is also a place where they are welcomed and acknowledged when their tribes would otherwise turn their noses up at them. Mistral comes to learn a lot about the world she lives in and makes some wonderful and boisterous friends, who teach her and help her on her way to freedom, but there is more going on between the Ri and the Council, especially now that Mistral and her closest friends, the twins, have magical gifts that could be beneficial to a lot of people: good and bad.
I found myself reading just to know what was happening between the Ri and the Council – corruption and the greed of man is always an interesting exploration. There was just the right amount of subtlety woven into the story and you knew when important information or hints were being given that would explained itself later, or in this case, lend itself into another conspiracy. The book, unfortunately (which I find myself being quite surprised at since I love a romance), was overloaded with the most frustrating relationship between Mistral and the deadly Ri warrior, and Mage although he refuses to use his power, Fabian. On Kindle The Assassin’s Tale is 789 pages long and the majority is filled with this ridiculous love and with Mistral unable to function at all when her Mage is away from her because she has ‘bonded’ with him spiritually; a zombie state similar to Bella’s in Twilight. I totally understood the concept, the whole ‘him being the one’ and to be ‘separated from him is like missing part of yourself’, but it was so embarrassing to witness a woman, who was strong and independent and did things from herself, to wither into a dependent and whiny being who constantly heeled to Fabian’s protective and possessive nature (I have read the second novel this factor only continues). I desperately wanted a strong woman like Kasta and Fire from the fantasy novels by Kristen Cashore, it would have shorten the novel considerately and been more compelling.
Despite my annoyance there were worthy aspects to The Assassin’s Tale. The friendships formed between the new apprentices of the Ri were very powerful, indeed an aspect that kept me reading as the humour and affection between the group was truly inspiring; you could certainly feel the friendship as genuine which was quite beautiful, and refreshing, to follow as it developed throughout the book. Jones most definitely crafted a strong bond and warmth between her characters. An interesting aspect I also found myself enjoying was the agility of the novel. There was always something going on whether it was a contract taken by the apprentices that developed their relationship, or a mission that offered an insight into the world they lived in or hinted at a conspiracy afoot. The story constantly moved so that, rather than gradually building tension in order to present a grand ending, it focused on their lives and how they lived it.
An interesting start, I’m interested in the plot, but it could definitely have done with a lot of work and development beforehand.
#1 - The Assassin's Tale
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