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Blood of Assassins

(The Wounded Kingdom #2)

R.J. Barker (Goodreads Author)

4.11 · Rating details · 2,417 ratings · 310 reviews

The epic sequel to RJ Barker's fantasy debut Age of Assassins, set in a world ravaged by magic, featuring a cast of assassins, knights, and ambitious noblemen.

In a desperate bid to escape the bounty on his head, assassin Girton Club-Foot has returned to Maniyadoc, but the kingdom he knew no longer exists.

Three kings battle for supremacy in a land ravaged by war-and

...more

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Kindle Edition, 480 pages

Published February 13th 2018 by Orbit

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Sep 13, 2018 Petrik rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5/5 stars

Blood of Assassins magnificently transitioned The Wounded Kingdom into a much darker series in an awesome way.

Girton and his master have been living as a mercenary for five years since the end of the event in Age of Assassins. The past five years experience has changed or repressed Girton's personality to something worse. This sequel was a much darker book than its predecessor; at times I feel like it totally belongs in the grimdark genre due to how grey the moral code of Girton was. ...more

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Jan 23, 2018 James Tivendale rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, freecopy

I received an advanced review copy of Blood of Assassins in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank RJ Barker and Orbit Books. *May include minor spoilers*

The second novel in The Wounded Kingdom trilogy picks up the action 5-years after the climactic events of Age of Assassins. The assassin Girton Club-Foot and his master have been operating as mercenaries since they left Maniyadoc. They've travelled throughout the majority of the Tired Lands following violence and battles, putting I received an advanced review copy of Blood of Assassins in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank RJ Barker and Orbit Books. *May include minor spoilers*

The second novel in The Wounded Kingdom trilogy picks up the action 5-years after the climactic events of Age of Assassins. The assassin Girton Club-Foot and his master have been operating as mercenaries since they left Maniyadoc. They've travelled throughout the majority of the Tired Lands following violence and battles, putting their skills in dealing death to use and getting paid for completing vicious and bloody set objectives. On the road and after a confrontation his master gets poisoned and Girton races to return to Maiyadoc, which is ruled by his old friend Rufra; seeking aid and hoping to find sanctuary. Times have changed as have the people Girton trained with half a decade earlier. Three of them all believe they are the rightful King and are now competing for the throne. Girton focus now is on being at his friend's side and finding a cure for his master's ailment.

As mentioned, times have changed. Once again presented in the first person perspective, Girton is not the same character he was when Age of Assassins concluded. Beforehand for him, the killing was an art, a poem, a song, a ballet, now it is just a necessity in this ever-decaying world. He replaced his blades with an almighty war hammer and is not always the rational thinker the way he was. His master has to tone down his destructive nature and as someone who has magic within him, he could wield catastrophic city annihilating power. When his master is ill he sometimes loses his focus and has a creeping voice in his head offering him all the possibilities he could wish for. It's like Girton is suffering from a sort-of magic influenced psychosis or schizophrenia yet still remains intelligent, fiercely loyal and an assassin at heart. Blood of Assassins features a variety of unfamiliar characters, new religions, and unvisited settings. I'd say half of the ensemble we are familiar with name-wise, however; not always with who they have become. My favourites to be reintroduced were Nywulf, the former sword trainer and now war commander, Boros, once pretty boy warrior and now a scarred veteran out for revenge, and Rufra, an overthinking but loved King who can't see the threats and dangers within his camp and the surrounding world.

As well as aiming to heal his master and aid Rufra if he can, Girton is tasked with finding a spy. It is in this area of his focus that the amazing mystery and espionage element that wowed me in the first book is reintroduced. Age of Assassins blew me away with its mix of sleuthing and fantasy that seemed completely original to me, making the story one of my favourites from last year. In great fashion Blood of Assassins is more of the same and the writing is just as beautiful and poetic in manner. Similar to my thoughts regarding the prior book, I don't think anything written here is coincidental and Barker maps his work out expertly in this puzzling narrative throwing up twists, shocks, betrayals, and surprises where we have to reanalyse where certain characters loyalties may lie. Some of the set-pieces featuring battles and sieges are true standout moments. The world presented here is truly decaying and that is reflected in just how dark some of the scenes in this story are. I didn't care too much for a few of the brief interlude dream sequences but that is the only negative I have. That isn't to say they won't be engrossing to others. In my opinion, Barker's work is superbly unpredictable and engaging and Blood of Assassins is just as enjoyable and addictive as the first. If anything it's a better standalone written in a style that has led me to devour both his books within a handful of days. If you haven't already - do yourself a favour and start this series. Girton is a brilliant character and luckily King of Assassins is only a few months away from release. ...more

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Sep 24, 2018 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-all, paperback-own, own

Fantastic sequel! I love Girton Club-Foot! I recommend to all fantasy lovers!

Happy Reading!

Mel 🖤🐺🐾

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Feb 10, 2018 TS Chan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: physical-owned, arc-review-copy

I received an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars.

An impressive sequel to an excellent debut, Blood of Assassins draws upon the compelling character development of Girton Club-Foot to underscore a storyline which is at once engaging and unpredictable.

RJ Barker's debut, Age of Assassins, is a coming-of-age story which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. There were varied and mixed reactions, however, due to expectation. Most readers who were disappointed expected a book a ...more

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Feb 23, 2018 Gavin rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I felt like Blood of Assassins was a decent enough read but not nearly as much fun as Age of Assassins. I'm not sure if it was a proximity thing or not as I read a bunch of duds in the build up to reading the first book while this sequel caught me coming out of a run of 5 star reads. The end result was I ended up thinking this was a decent enough story but not a particularly memorable or special one.

Girton and Merela Karn have spend 5 years travelling and plying their trade in foreign lands but I felt like Blood of Assassins was a decent enough read but not nearly as much fun as Age of Assassins. I'm not sure if it was a proximity thing or not as I read a bunch of duds in the build up to reading the first book while this sequel caught me coming out of a run of 5 star reads. The end result was I ended up thinking this was a decent enough story but not a particularly memorable or special one.

Girton and Merela Karn have spend 5 years travelling and plying their trade in foreign lands but Blood of Assassins picks up just as the duo are making their way back to Maniyadoc. What they find is a kingdom in the midst of a civil war as Rufra, Thomas, and even Aydor battle for the crown. Girton soon pitches up at his old friend Rufra's war camp where he is tasked with hunting down a spy in Rurfa's inner circle.

The story was OK but definitely not as fun as the story from the first book. It did end well as all the mystery plots came together in dramatic action-packed fashion!

The big flaw of this second instalment of the series was Girton himself. He is 5 years older than he was in the first book but appears not to have matured mentally or emotionally at all. If anything he has regressed and stomped around reacting to things like a 14 year old having a temper tantrum. I was fine with him in the first book as he was quite young but I feel like he should have matured a bit by this one given the time jump! I'd also like to see Girton using a bit more of his magic powers but I guess one of the more memorable aspects of this series is how having magic seems to be more of a hindrance than a help in this world!

The one thing I did really like was Aydor's story arc.

Overall I felt like this recovered from a slow start to develop into a decent enough story. It is coming of age fantasy with plenty of action and intrigue and a slightly YA-ish feel to both the tone and writing.

Rating: 3.5 stars.

Audio Note: I feel like Joe Jameson did a good job with the audio. His is always dependably good and seems a great fit for coming of age fantasy stories!
...more

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Jun 10, 2020 Hamad rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-reads, fantasy, adult-books, e-books, good-covers

This Review ✍️ Blog 📖 Twitter 🐦 Instagram 📷

“We are cursed to be the sum of our deeds, black as they may be. They are like an arrow: once the shot is made, there is no escaping the consequences.”

Blood of Assassin’s is what I wanted Age of Assassin’s to be. While I thought the first book to be okay but entertaining, this entry takes the series to a higher level. The story follows a time jump a few years after the first book and I believe that gave time to the characters to grow into be ...more

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Mar 31, 2021 Deborah Obida rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, fantasy

Blood of assassins is the second book in The Wounded Kingdom. The events in this book happened five years after the first book with Girton and Merela his master in a far off country, they have been here after the events that happened in Maniyodioc. They had to return to their country which has an ongoing war due to the fact that Tomas,Rufra and Aydor all have claims to the throne, the three of them have armies supporting them. A kingdom riddled with war can never progress, especially a kingdom t ...more

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Jan 14, 2019 Faith rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, audio, overdrive, netgalley

This trilogy combines fantasy with mystery and political intrigue. Girton Club-foot is apprenticed to Merela Karn, an expert assassin. He is also secretly a sorcerer who has never explored his powers and suppresses them with the help of Merela, because in this world sorcery is considered a dangerous curse. At the very beginning of the book Merela is poisoned and Girton has to find a cure for her. He also must solve a murder, identify a traitor and help his old friend King Rufra who is engaged in ...more

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Jan 18, 2019 Esme rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book picks up 5 years or so after the events of the first book. It’s going to be difficult to talk much about the plot without spoiling things, so I suggest you not read this unless you’ve read the first book. I audiobooked this one as well and I apologize for any spelling gaffs.

Following the death of the Queen, the land has been split into three factions – those following Rufra, those following Thomas, and those following Ador. A complex situation arises where Girton is forced to accept a ...more

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Feb 23, 2018 J.P. Ashman rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Fabulous sequel to a fabulous debut, both of which are right up my cobbled street.

I really enjoyed R.J's first book. The War of the Roses feel, coupled with definite magical (albeit subtle) fantasy elements was a win for me from the off. The castles. The people. The mounts and the exciting combat. The court life and the intrigue and mystery worked so very well together....

The second book continues this, but on a grander, wider scale.

It's some years later and our favorite apprentice assassin has ...more

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Oct 26, 2018 Eon ♒Windrunner♒ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

RTC

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Feb 28, 2018 Kitty G Books rated it really liked it · review of another edition

*I was sent this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Another super solid book in this series and I am really happy that the series has continued strong. I love the character of Girton Club-foot, he makes mistakes, but he does them because of passion and emotion, and I really like that in him. Girton is our main character from the first book, and it's been a few years since the end of book one when we pick the storyline back up. He's been travelling with his master, *I was sent this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Another super solid book in this series and I am really happy that the series has continued strong. I love the character of Girton Club-foot, he makes mistakes, but he does them because of passion and emotion, and I really like that in him. Girton is our main character from the first book, and it's been a few years since the end of book one when we pick the storyline back up. He's been travelling with his master, Merela, and they've done quite a few things in the name of escaping their past and keeping their present hush hush. They've journeyed with some rather terrible people and they've tried to allow time for the Kingdom to establish itself, but right when we join the story we see them getting attacked and Girton's master is in grave danger, and only returning to their past will potentially save her...

Once we get into the story we see Girton as he has to forge a way on his own, conduct an investigation, reunite with old enemies and friends, and find out who the traitor may be. The story starts a little slow, to re-immerse you in the world, but soon you will be drawn back in and wondering just where this story will lead you.

We do learn a bit more about the magic of this world, but not as much as I wanted to know. There's so much more to learn and I hope that the next book may cast a little more light that way. I did enjoy seeing other characters who interact with magic through hunting sorcerers down, finding magical plants and being consumed by magic. Magic isn't a desirable trait in this world..

This book and series is written in quite a charming forth-right way. The characters and plot are blunt, but honest. Seeing the way the story unfolds on the page is part of the allure of the series, and I really enjoyed the final third of the book where all the action starts to unfold and we see all the plot points coming together.

Overall, I really enjoyed this. There are battles that kept me interested throughout, characters I like a lot, and plot twists and turns that keep you guessing. There's also the Mounts which continue to be epic. Another solid 4.5*s from me :) ...more

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Jul 12, 2021 Eva rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Wow, this had an ending just like the famous Sanderlanche you usually only get with Brandon Sanderson - really masterfully done. This epic finale full of several plot twists and revelations was amazing. Blood of Assassins also has very deep characterization that touched my heart, lyrical, dynamic prose, and a multi-layered mystery plot. It made me think and feel deeply, which is why it's landing on my shelf of all-time favorites - just like the first book.

Minor quibble: the dynamic, lyrical lit Wow, this had an ending just like the famous Sanderlanche you usually only get with Brandon Sanderson - really masterfully done. This epic finale full of several plot twists and revelations was amazing. Blood of Assassins also has very deep characterization that touched my heart, lyrical, dynamic prose, and a multi-layered mystery plot. It made me think and feel deeply, which is why it's landing on my shelf of all-time favorites - just like the first book.

Minor quibble: the dynamic, lyrical literary style in some early magical dream/trance sequences was a tad too much for me sometimes and I had a bit of trouble following what was going on there. That was probably due to me listening to an audiobook instead of eye-reading it, though! I'm sure it will all make sense on a reread.

What I've seen other people criticize but it was a plus for me: the main character makes some very poor, misguided choices in this one, but they were all entirely believable and explained really well. He's just emerged from a few years of incredible trauma, and for his whole life, his master has been like a mother and guiding light for him, as well as his confidant and the only person who truly knew him. Her injury at the start and the threat of losing her is more than he can deal with emotionally, which affects his actions. His traumatic experiences with landsmen have also had a big impact on his ability to judge people impartially, which leads him to some misguided false conclusions. He ends up damaging his relationships quite badly, but it was so wonderful to see how he grows and learns and repairs the damage.

I can't wait to see how RJ is going to break my heart next time (he always does it just right!) and I'm very excited for the trilogy's conclusion. Highly recommended if you feel like reading a genre mix of mystery, dark epic fantasy, and a story about friendship and loyalty, and how hard but rewarding those can be. I also really love the master-apprentice (or adoptive mother and son) relationship in this series. It's so moving, unique, and interesting. ...more

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Jan 11, 2018 Kristen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Full review is here, on my blog!

This volume takes place five years after the end of Age of Assassins. Girton Club-Foot and his master Marela Karn are returning to Maniyadoc after several years of absence, and on the way, they get into a scrap with some bounty hunters out for the price on their heads and Girton’s master gets poisoned. Badly. Luckily, they’re close enough to Maniyadoc that one of the three kings who are at constant war in the area picks him up and offers him help. Weirdly, it’s th Full review is here, on my blog!

This volume takes place five years after the end of Age of Assassins. Girton Club-Foot and his master Marela Karn are returning to Maniyadoc after several years of absence, and on the way, they get into a scrap with some bounty hunters out for the price on their heads and Girton’s master gets poisoned. Badly. Luckily, they’re close enough to Maniyadoc that one of the three kings who are at constant war in the area picks him up and offers him help. Weirdly, it’s the last person he expects to help him. But, it turns out that they showed up with some impeccable timing, as his best friend Rufra, one of the three kings, is in grave danger, and it’s up to Girton to puzzle out who the traitor in his war camp is. On top of everything else, Girton is struggling to control the magic inside of him, and with his master out of commission, he can’t rely on her help. Shenanigans ensue!

This was one of those books that was really difficult to put down once I picked it up. It’s not overly long, as fantasy books go, which I often find refreshing, and it’s quite gripping. The plot grabs on and takes you on an adventure pretty much immediately. Girton and Rufra and their friendship was the highlight of Age of Assassins for me, and so their reunion made me smile. Nonetheless, Girton (and Rufra, for that matter) has changed. He’s older, and has spent the last five years as, more or less, a mercenary (battling rather in the open rather than in the shadows). He’s seen some shit now, and it does show from time to time in Girton’s mood… he has an increasingly short temper these days. With his master out of commission for the most part, he’s also on his own, and it shows, because he’s definitely more inclined to rush into things without thinking about them from every angle. He doesn’t have Marela there to smack him upside the head when he’s being lead by his emotions. He’s given up his stabsword (best weapon name ever) for a warhammer, and at first, the reason why left me curious, because an assassin with a warhammer seems odd. You do find out the reasoning behind it though. You find a lot out throughout the story that is only hinted at in the beginning.

There are mysteries and murder, battles and murder, and mounts (and murder). Oh, the mounts though. I was afraid right at the beginning that we wouldn’t get to see Xus (Marela’s goddamned awesome mount) again, but then he was there in all his clawed, tusked, and antlered glory. Biting, goring, and skewering his way into the hearts of many. Never change, you magnificent beast! <3<3<3

There is, like in Age of Assassins, a mystery in this volume as well, and it was well plotted. I, who will try and guess at things with varying levels of success, was unable to guess at it, and so the ending, with all its revelations was quite riveting. The pacing was great, and I was never bored with the plot. There were parts that legitimately made my eyes go wide, and a part or two where I had some feels reverberating, and maybe a tear or two well up. There was quite a few ‘Oh, Girton….’ moments- whether they be in a good or bad way, I will leave for you to find out. There is also (and I say this having read an early ebook, so I can only imagine how neat it will look in print.) some excellent use of text formatting in one of the ‘in between the events happening’ chapters (like Age of Assassins had) where Girton is dreaming of or remembering the past. A feeling like falling. Down, and down, and down. 10/10 use of space.

All told, I thought the book was fantastically done, and certainly a good addition to this series!

I really liked it. Loved it, even. Like I loved Age of Assassins. It was really, really close either way. So far, this is my favorite read of this year! ;D I can’t wait to find out how this story ends. I bet it’s going to be bonkers! 5 stabby stabs out of 5!

This review is brought to you by RJ Barker, Orbit, NetGalley, and coffee. Thank you to all of you for this read! ...more

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Mar 30, 2019 Nils | nilsreviewsit rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

‘The cold night air is golden. Dying men bleed life into the land. They make a well that is sweeter and deeper than my needs require. I see every danger. I count the glittering spear point. I count the shining sword blades. I count the rusty axeheads. I see the faces twisted in hate, blackened teeth, roaring mouths.’
~
It seems that 2019 is my year for awesome fantasy books, because I have read so many great ones. Blood of Assassins by RJ Barker, is no exception because this one was right up my st ‘The cold night air is golden. Dying men bleed life into the land. They make a well that is sweeter and deeper than my needs require. I see every danger. I count the glittering spear point. I count the shining sword blades. I count the rusty axeheads. I see the faces twisted in hate, blackened teeth, roaring mouths.’
~
It seems that 2019 is my year for awesome fantasy books, because I have read so many great ones. Blood of Assassins by RJ Barker, is no exception because this one was right up my street, and I adored it from beginning to end.
⚔️
Blood of Assassins is the sequel in The Wounded Kingdom trilogy, and felt like a total natural progression in terms of plot and characters. Things have changed in Maniyadoc, several years have passed and war has devastated much. Three sides continue to fight for the throne. When Girton Club-Foot returns he is made aware of a plot to kill his friend Rufra, and uncovering the truth becomes his sole responsibility.
⚔️
Immediately I got the sense that this book is a whole lot darker than it’s predecessor. There is this overwhelming bitter, angry and often melancholic tone right from the onset. As we slowly discover what Girton had been experiencing over the years, we see that the dark deeds of being an assassin/warrior have taken a heavy toll on him. Although Girton now comes across as insolent, and pretty frustrating at times, I could understand his reasons, and I had a lot of sympathy for his character.
~
“‘Don’t be a slave to old hatreds, Girton. People change, remember that. Forgiveness is it’s own reward.’”
~
Besides he was not the only one to have altered in character. Aydor, Girton’s old enemy, and Rufra; both now older too, have matured but still remain flawed. Barker really nailed it here, he showed that no character is perfect in this world, they all make mistakes, they all can be wrong, and it is circumstances that have forced them to have dark sides and shady morality. No act is without its consequences.
⚔️
The pace is very well balanced in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the one on one combat action and riveting battle scenes. Bows, swords, spears and battle magic; they were all included to create very intense moments. Each scene had me captivated; Barker writes so vividly and uses such beautiful lyrical prose that I found it intoxicating. Some parts were just written so poetic, with flowing surreal imagery. Gah, it was perfect.
~
‘I vomit black birds of hate and death. They twist through the air around me echoing the patterns of the scars on my body.’
~
It was also great to see the murder mystery plot injected once again into the narrative. The twists and turns for this just kept on coming and it all became so unpredictable. Let’s just say it made for a very dramatic ending! ...more

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Mar 08, 2018 Mogsy (MMOGC) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, fantasy, audiobook, review-copy, assassins

5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/03/13/...

In general, I find that most second books of a trilogy rarely live up to the first one, and so I foolishly thought this would be the case here as well. Well, I’ve never been happier that I was wrong. R.J. Barker has topped his first book with a spectacular sequel containing even more intrigue, more action, and more heart.

Several years have passed since the end of Age of Assassins, and in that time, many changes have come t 5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/03/13/...

In general, I find that most second books of a trilogy rarely live up to the first one, and so I foolishly thought this would be the case here as well. Well, I’ve never been happier that I was wrong. R.J. Barker has topped his first book with a spectacular sequel containing even more intrigue, more action, and more heart.

Several years have passed since the end of Age of Assassins, and in that time, many changes have come to the Tired Lands. Among the biggest of these is the ousting of Aydor, former heir to the throne, and now Rufra rules as king. War, however, still rages across the land, with three ambitious men all vying for the same crown. In the intervening years, our protagonist, the assassin-in-training Girton Clubfoot, as well as his master Merela have been traveling with a band of mercenaries, trying to keep a low profile amidst the conflict in order to escape the bounty hunters on their trail. But despite their best efforts, disaster finds them in the end, and with Merela incapacitated by a deadly poison, Girton has no choice but to return to Castle Maniyadoc at the behest of an old foe.

Still, coming back to Maniyadoc has its upsides. Girton is reunited with his friend Rufra, who has not forgotten our protagonist’s role in helping him become king. The problem now is keeping things that way, as rumors abound that Rufra has a spy among his inner circle. Girton has been tasked to root the traitor out, but this time he is on his own without his master’s guidance and advice. Furthermore, with Merela out of commission, there is no one to help him with his greatest secret—the fact he has the ability to wield magic, a crime that carries a penalty of torture and death in the Tired Lands. As the power in him grows stronger each day with no outlet for release, Girton fears that his control will fail him before he can save his friend.

Blood of Assassins has a similar premise to Age of Assassins, but this time the stakes involved are so much higher. To find the spy, Girton must also think like a spy—except he’s not very good at it. As an assassin, he’s more well-versed in the business of killing rather than the business of subterfuge and espionage. In the first book, he was also able to move around Castle Maniyadoc relatively unnoticed as just another squire, but now that he is lauded as King Rufra’s champion, staying under the radar has become impossible, making his job that much harder. Ultimately though, Girton’s greatest challenge will be to overcome his own demons. Without Merela’s counsel, there’s no one to steer him in the right direction or tell him when he’s letting his own emotions cloud his judgment, and he becomes his own worst enemy. Like an impulsive teenager, Girton often comes out swinging without thinking things through, and that lack of subtlety burns him more than once throughout the course of this tale.

What we’re seeing here is an older but not quite so wiser version of our protagonist who is trying to find his own way. Despite his blunders and occasional selfishness though, one just can’t help but feel for him. The last few years have not been kind to Girton, and he has suffered many losses which have challenged his worldview, even going as far as to make him change his fighting style. He has also become a lot more guarded towards Merela, because of the events in the last book that strained their relationship. Along with that comes a realization that his master is not invulnerable, and the possibility that he may lose her—to death or to abandonment—is a fear that drives him to take some reckless actions. All things considered, the level of character development and exploration we see here is quite astounding, and my feelings of endearment for our protagonist have only grown. In addition, Girton and Merela’s relationship continues to be one of the best master-apprentice dynamics I have ever encountered.

The best part of this book, though, is a possible spoiler so I can’t go into too much detail; suffice to say, I admire R.J. Barker so much right now for making me do a one-eighty on a particular character that I despised in the first book. It allowed things to build up to an epic finale, which had me holding back tears from all the different emotions roiling inside me.

Bottom line, Blood of Assassins is the kind of book you want to shout about from the rooftops at the top of your lungs and demand everyone you know to pick it up and read it. I’m beyond excited and a little nervous to read the final book in the trilogy, but if things continue trending in this direction, I have no doubt it will be a stellar conclusion.

Audiobook Comments: The awesomeness of this book was such that I could not bring myself to stop reading even when life got in the way. Fortunately, I was also able to listen to the audiobook while on the go, and I’m happy to say that this format provided just as much entertainment as the print edition. Joe Jameson is a seasoned narrator who has read for many other titles I’ve enjoyed in the past, and he’s once again delivered a wonderful performance in Blood and Assassins, providing the perfect voice for Girton. ...more

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Jul 06, 2019 John McDermott rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: camelot-its-only-a-model

A brilliant sequel to a brilliant first book. A mystery novel inside a grimdark epic ! Just wonderful. Stunning world building,first rate characterizations ,all delivered by writing of the highest quality. Girton Club-Foot will in turn in madden and infuriate you and then break your heart ; a wonderful lead character. I can't praise this trilogies highly enough. An absolute must read ! ...more

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Dec 15, 2017 Sabrina marked it as to-read · review of another edition

I’m read for this book since the moment I finished the first one.
✨ Is closer by the minute!!! Just a couple more days and finally I’ll have this book🙌.

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Oct 04, 2020 Virginja ↢ 99% imp rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.25 🌟

This second book was a great step forward! It was less naive and put the readers in front of a masterfully crafted mystery. All those “mistakes” that made the first volume less enjoyable were not present in here, however I felt that in this installment the plot struggled to go in the direction it should. The level of introspection we got in Blood of Assassins was unparalleled, but many of the informations and details necessary to solve the mystery were overshadowed by the amounts of the b ...more

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Feb 22, 2018 The Tattooed Book Geek (Drew). rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

As always this review can also be found on my blog The Tattooed Book geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...

Blood of Assassins is the sequel to Age of Assassins. Age of Assassins was on my Top Ten Books of 2017 list, it is that good and was one of the fantasy debuts of last year (which let’s face it, 2017 was filled with some amazing debut books from fantasy authors).

If you are yet to read Age of Assassins then you need to rectify that, trust me, you won’t be disappointed! Firstly, becaus ...more

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Feb 21, 2018 FanFiAddict rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

I want to thank Orbit for the ARC and Hachette Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review, as both provided equal parts enjoyment. I also want to thank the author, RJ Barker, for giving us yet another refreshing and engaging novel in The Wounded Kingdom series.

Be forewarned: This Book is Full of Antlers (sorry David Wong) and will have some spoilers for those who have not read Age of Assassins (and if you are in that group, shame on you).

Some of you may know (if you follow my blog thin ...more

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Jul 16, 2018 Patricia Crowther rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Actual rating 4.25* - intrigued to see where King of Assassins will go!

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Sep 23, 2019 David S Meanderings) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-favorites

This is the story of a war. Of a man haunted and ashamed by the things he’s done. A story of a king desperately trying to survive and claim his throne. A story of love, of loyalty to family and friends. And, as always in this series, a story of mystery and assassins.

At this point I have read the entire Wounded Kingdom Trilogy and I can say that this book was my favorite. It had a perfect blend of great pacing, character development, intrigue, world building, and amazing action sequences.

We start This is the story of a war. Of a man haunted and ashamed by the things he’s done. A story of a king desperately trying to survive and claim his throne. A story of love, of loyalty to family and friends. And, as always in this series, a story of mystery and assassins.

At this point I have read the entire Wounded Kingdom Trilogy and I can say that this book was my favorite. It had a perfect blend of great pacing, character development, intrigue, world building, and amazing action sequences.

We start off this book with a 5 year time jump from where the previous book, Age of Assassins, ended. This was a bit of a shock for me at first as I had not expected it. However, R. J. Barker does an amazing job of weaving in the important details of those 5 years throughout the present day story and because of that we get believable character development. Excellently done.

I really enjoyed getting to learn more about the magic system in this one. Getting to explore it more and learn it as Girton learns it was really cool. The stakes were raised in this one as Girton struggles to learn to control his sorcery amid the strife, intrigue, and mystery that surrounds Rufra’s war camp.

Girton’s perspective was so compelling in Blood of Assassins! There were times when I wanted to scream at him to stop making stupid choices and there were other times I just wanted to give him a hug. Girton may have matured into a man, but at times he is still emotionally a boy and it shows quite frequently throughout this book. That, along with the fact that he is trying to find a mysterious assassin and spy while trying to not get killed himself, made for an intense and gripping perspective that kept me turning pages late into the night. Girton’s relationship with his master Merela Karn was one of my favorite parts of the book. More akin to a mother and son, their bond is deep and the love they have for each other was an amazing thing to see, especially in a story that took a darker turn than its predecessor. Two other characters that I found very interesting and had a surprising amount of depth were Rufra and Aydor. The character development that R. J. Barker is able to do outside of Girton with only that one perspective continues to amaze me.

The battle sequences were as always, beautifully described. I love assassins in large part because when they fight it is like a dance and R. J. Barker is adept at describing this dance of assassins. Beyond the descriptions, there was a palpable tension and realness to this bleak world of The Tired Lands. This made the possibility that the characters you know and love may not survive all the more credible and the tension even greater throughout the entire story.

With epic battle sequences, an intriguing mystery, and heartwarming moments, Blood of Assassins has it all. If you haven’t already you need to check this series out. ...more

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Nov 23, 2018 Mili rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: own-the-book

Great sequel! Follows up on the plot nicely and kinda with the same recipe, looking for a traitor. So a lot of mystery and lack of trust of your fellow people and surroundings. The heaviness of this combined with Girton his struggles make it a gloomy/dark atmosphere. Girton is after all just a person and he gets confronted with hard choices, and his strong emotional feelings towards people make him struggle to make the right ones. This gets him into some difficult situations with big consequence ...more

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Dec 16, 2018 Olivia rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Girton is such a perfect character. Honestly, if you like flawed yet likeable and just a bit lost and torn but also strong and determined, Girton is your man.

It’s five years later and things have changed. Girton lost a lot of his youthful naïveté and gained a lot of anger and fear.

Loyalty is a prominent theme in this book, and I’m a big fan of RJ Barker’s writing.

I recommend this series to all fantasy fans who don’t mind a coming of age story in the first book. I know that’s not everyone’s cup ...more

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Mar 23, 2018 Paul rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Great continuation to the series. Girton is a great main character, a walking ball of contradictions and internal struggles that makes him both interesting and likeable.
Overall I think I enjoyed the first book marginally more but there is little in it, with no mid series slump.
The story is great with good plot twists and great action with a three way struggle between kings to win out , and really good character development from book 1.
Now I want to create a decent map of the world. to try to se ...more

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Apr 27, 2018 Charlie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I loved the first book, I loved the second book. It was very different, a bit darker and bit more grown up, but it still had everything I loved from Age though and added a great deal to the world and the lives of all the characters.

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Mar 29, 2018 Mike Everest Evans rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: heroic-fantasy, low-fantasy, grimdark

The Good: A return to one of the most relatable POVs in fantasy, development that breathes life into characters-plot-and-world alike, more twists and turns than a maze of mirrors, with a heart at its centre that beats with the life of a full fleshed-out fantasy favourite for years to come.

The Bad: Struggling to put my finger on a ‘bad’ with this one, and the only thing I can come up with is that a few of the ‘reveals’ were ones I expected, however they also served as a double bluff of sorts in s ...more

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Feb 01, 2018 ~Dani~ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Read this review and more at Book Geeks Uncompromised!

4.5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. A big thank you to them and to RJ Barker who was kind enough to come on our podcast for an interview!

This review contains minor spoilers for Age of Assassins.

Blood of Assassins picks up five years after the events in Age of Assassins. Girton and his master, Merela, have been travelling as mercenaries for those five years while Maniyadoc has been at ...more

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Feb 13, 2018 kartik narayanan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: unfinished-series

Blood of Assassins is a great book but I consider it to be a step-down from Age of Assassins. While it has the same elements that made me give Age of Assassins 5 stars, like the great dialogues and excellent pacing, it is let down by a unnecessarily whiny and angst ridden protagonist. For this reason alone, I am removing a star. If Age of Assassins was The Name of the Rose, Blood of Assassins is The Farseer Trilogy with its self-flagellating main character.

But that's just my disappointment at wh ...more

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About R.J. Barker

R.J. Barker

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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Other books in the series

The Wounded Kingdom (3 books)

Books by R.J. Barker

Age of Assassins (The Wounded Kingdom, #1)

Call of the Bone Ships (The Tide Child #2)

The Bone Ship's Wake (The Tide Child, #3)

King of Assassins (The Wounded Kingdom, #3)

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Quotes from Blood of Assassins

“We are cursed to be the sum of our deeds, black as they may be. They are like an arrow: once the shot is made, there is no escaping the consequences.” — 5 likes

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