Book Review for The Executioner by Ana Calin

The Executioner, by Ana Calin, is a romantic suspense about the disturbing details of underworld dealings, as well the twisted romance that blossomed from this world.

Alice Preda had just broken up with her douche of a boyfriend. After going to a party, she meets a mysterious boy who manages to ingrain himself into her life. However, after she and a group of students become stranded at the edge of a mountain, she unwittingly becomes a target of an organ trafficking ring. Soon, she that she can only rely on the same, monstrous boy for protection.

Daman is a genetically engineered assassin who manages to carry out orders without fail. He is assigned to protect Alice Preda from the very people who to use her as a pawn. But little does he know, he becomes captivated by her beauty, and falls for her. Still, enemies lurk near, and it’s up to Daman to protect Alice, no matter what the cost.

I liked the dynamic between Alice and Daman. To me, Daman reminded me of a black knight that’s used to carrying out the sins of his princess. He was to hide Alice away from the corrupted realities of the world, though in the end he can only do so much to cover up his own past. Meanwhile, Alice is able to keep a level head about things, though she has a temper that can stretch on for miles. It was entertaining, seeing how these characters interacted with one another, and was one of the reasons why I enjoyed the story so much.

Calin builds up a sort of lonely suspense in the solitary setting Alice and Daman live in. It constantly kept me looking at other characters, wondering who was going to betray Alice, or, heaven forbid, who would kill Daman. Not only that, but Alice’s determination to continue living her life without any fear was admirable. It shows that while she does appreciate Daman looking out for her, she is her own being, and she won’t tolerate anyone trying to interfere.

I did wish that Daman’s upbringing was a bit more fleshed out. And while I did enjoy reading about Alice and Daman’s relationship, I felt like it could’ve used more development. It would’ve been interesting for Alice to show Daman the more extraordinary aspects of being a normal person. Though I did find Svetlana unlikeable, I felt like she could’ve added more to the story, rather than just play the role of the woman scorned.

Nevertheless, I did enjoy the story. Alice and Daman’s relationship was interesting, as was the world Calin created. Although I did want more details in other characters, the book captured my attention and mind. Thus, I would give this book  a rating of a 3.6 out of 5 stars, and would recommend it to fans of Stephanie Meyer and Ellen Schreiber.