The Guild of Assassins: Book Two of The Majat Code by Anna Kashina

Fantasy

From Goodreads:

Kara has achieved something that no Majat has ever managed – freedom from the Guild!

But the Black Diamond assassin Mai has been called back to face his punishment for sparing her life. Determined to join his fight or share his punishment, Kara finds herself falling for Mai.

But is their relationship – and the force that makes their union all-powerful – a tool to defeat the overpowering forces of the Kaddim armies, or a distraction sure to cause the downfall of the Majat?

While some things were resolved in Blades of the Old Empire many were not.  In The Guild of Assassins those unresolved issues are at the heart of the story. While there is a lot of action in The Guild of Assassins the characters really drive the story.  Mai, Kara and Kyth seem to be locked into a hopeless love triangle with Kara at the center.  Their reactions as they have to work together as they try to defeat the Kaddim are a large part of what is driving the story.

Anna Kashina has added to the intricate world building started in the first book.  There is much to learn about the Majat and over the course of the book much more is woven into the story.  She has also shown facets of the characters that were previously hidden.  The plot itself is an extension of the action in Blades of the Old Empire and follows a path that does not always go where I expected.

I felt that I knew more about both the world and the characters after reading The Guild of the Assassins.  What made it so enjoyable was that all that knowledge was wrapped up in an exciting story that was difficult to put down.  While the book came to a very satisfying conclusion there is much more story to be told.  Read Anna’s guest post (click here) to see what she has to say about the plans she has the world of the Majat.

Read Blades of the Old Empire first.  It will make the story in The Guild of the Assassins much better.

Angry Robot will release The Guild of the Assassins by Anna Kashina in August of 2014.

I received an ARC of The Guild of the Assassins from Netgalley.

Marked (A Mindspace Investigations Novel) by Alex Hughes

Paranormal Mystery

From Goodreads:

FORESEE NO EVIL.

Freelancing for the Atlanta PD isn’t exactly a secure career; my job’s been on the line almost as much as my life. But it’s a paycheck, and it keeps me from falling back into the drug habit. Plus, things are looking up with my sometimes-partner, Cherabino, even if she is still simmering over the telepathic Link I created by accident.

When my ex, Kara, shows up begging for my help, I find myself heading to the last place I ever expected to set foot in again—Guild headquarters—to investigate the death of her uncle. Joining that group was a bad idea the first time. Going back when I’m unwanted is downright dangerous.

Luckily, the Guild needs me more than they’re willing to admit. Kara’s uncle was acting strange before he died—crazy strange. In fact, his madness seems to be slowly spreading through the Guild. And when an army of powerful telepaths loses their marbles, suddenly it’s a game of life or death.

I have been looking forward to Book 3 in the Mindspace Investigation series.  After reading it I came away with mixed feelings.  Before I go further I do want to say that this is not a series you just drop into.  Go back to the beginning and start with book one, Clean.

On the plus side Marked continued with the world building started in the first two books.  There is more background about the Tech Wars and the Guild.  Along with the world building the characters continue to be fleshed out.  Finally Adam and Cherabino start to work on their attraction, just working – nothing resolved.

On the minus side the main premise for Marked just does not make sense.  Why on earth would Adam ever go back to help the Guild.  They used him to test a drug that was very addictive and threw him out instead of helping him when that experiment left him an addicted.  I have never liked the Guild and I really had trouble believing he would every willing walk back into a situation that gave them any power over him. They have not changed - they do not treat him well this time either.

Having said all of that after I got over how stupid I though Adam was the plot was interesting.  Like Adam I would think I knew what was going on only to be fooled again and again.  I do hope the next book leaves the Guild way, way in the background.  I like Adam and did not enjoy seeing him back in the power of the Guild.

Roc published Marked by Alex Hughes in 2014.

Blades of the Old Empire (Majat Code #1 )by Anna Kashina

Fantasy

From Goodreads:

Kara is a mercenary – a Diamond warrior, the best of the best, and a member of the notorious Majat Guild. When her tenure as protector to Prince Kythar comes to an end, custom dictates he accompany her back to her Guild to negotiate her continued protection.

But when they arrive they discover that the Prince’s sworn enemy, the Kaddim, have already paid the Guild to engage her services – to capture and hand over Kythar, himself.

A warrior brought up to respect both duty and honour, what happens when her sworn duty proves dishonorable?

Blades of the Old Empire was not exactly what I expected.  While Kara and Prince Kythar are major characters they are not the only ones who drive the story.  It is the first book in a new series so there was a lot more that had to go into the book.

World Building:  This is a complex world and almost each scene has elements that add to the world.  There were time when I felt lost but by the end I felt I had a pretty good handle on the world.

 

Back Story:  I have some questions about the back story.  I kept feeling like I was missing something.  There were times when it felt like this was book two.  The characters would talk about things that had happened in the past and it sounded like I should know about those things.  However when I went to check this is book one.

Plot:  Like the world building the plot is very complex.  There are several distinct groups of people in this world.  There is the past trying to come into the present. Added to that are the main characters who do not stay together.  The plot unfolds as the past, the present and the characters are worked into the story. Since this is book one in the series there are also numerous hooks for future stories worked into the plot. Look for some things to be resolved but a lot left up in the air.

Characters:  Each of the main characters have their own story stream.  The formatting does indicated when you switch from one character to another but several times I had to go back because I had not made the switch.  There is some character development but this is very much an action driven story.

Writing:  Each scene is very well written.  Action and dialog keep the story moving at a fast clip.  The fight scenes were especially well written making it easy to see what was happening.

Enjoyment Level:  I found it difficult to get into the book at first.  There was a lot I did not understand but once I got past the first few chapters I was hooked.  Now I want to see what happens in the next book. 

Angry Robot published Blades of the Old Empire by Anna Kashina in 2014.

I received an ARC of Blades of the Old Empire from Netgalley.