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The Wounded Kingdom #3
King of Assassins
THE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING . . .
Many years of peace have passed in Maniyadoc, years of relative calm for the assassin Girton Club-Foot. Even the Forgetting Plague, which ravaged the rest of the kingdoms, seemed to pass them by. But now Rufra ap Vthyr eyes the vacant High-King's throne and will take his court to the capital, a rat's nest of intrigue and murder, where every enemy he has ever made will gather and the endgame of twenty years of politics and murder will be played out in his bid to become the King of all Kings.
Friends become enemies, enemies become friends and the god of death, Xus the Unseen, stands closer than ever - casting his shadow over everything most dear to Girton.
Many years of peace have passed in Maniyadoc, years of relative calm for the assassin Girton Club-Foot. Even the Forgetting Plague, which ravaged the rest of the kingdoms, seemed to pass them by. But now Rufra ap Vthyr eyes the vacant High-King's throne and will take his court to the capital, a rat's nest of intrigue and murder, where every enemy he has ever made will gather and the endgame of twenty years of politics and murder will be played out in his bid to become the King of all Kings.
Friends become enemies, enemies become friends and the god of death, Xus the Unseen, stands closer than ever - casting his shadow over everything most dear to Girton.
508 pages, Paperback
First published August 7, 2018
379 people are currently reading
2970 people want to read
About the author
R.J. Barker
27 books1,738 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 348 reviews
May 4, 2023
4.5/5 stars
I honestly can’t believe I almost didn’t pick up this trilogy; King of Assassins was a superb finishing touch to The Wounded Kingdom.
Bloody, poignant, intense, heartwarming, tragic, and dark; I finished this entire trilogy within six days, I just didn’t expect it to be this damn good and engaging. The Wounded Kingdom trilogy practically stole my life for an entire week, and the only antidote to my addiction was to finish reading the entirety of the series.
Love, redemption, forgiveness, tragedy, prejudice, loyalty, responsibility, family, and friendship; these are the major themes that surrounded the trilogy and they all exploded in this memorable concluding installment. Fifteen years have passed since the end of the previous book, Blood of Assassins and for the first time in the trilogy, Barker moved the setting of the story from Maniyado to Ceadoc. The change in location was a brilliant decision as Ceadoc elevated the series with a new level of tension and grimness; as a setting, it was one heck of a dark place with palpable gloomy atmosphere. A celebration of darkness, crumbling morale, grey moral codes, and plentiful awesome action sequences, there’s no shortage of intense and memorable scenes in this book. Just because the setting of each book in the series was constructed within a single location, it definitely didn’t make the story less impactful. Not only the trilogy was smartly plotted (if you checked the interludes in the first book after you finished this, you’ll find the foreshadowing for the events in this installment within the interludes), Barker’s capability in melding mystery into fantasy to make a compelling narrative was brilliant. Also, whether it was Barker’s or Orbit’s decision, I seriously must praise the formatting in this book that added dramatic moments to some of the scenes. I can’t really talk about them, but the formatting itself helps to totally display just how bizarre and confusing the experience the characters felt during those specific moments.
This installment also marks Barker’s prose at his best. I found myself almost completely immersed in Barker’s prose. The writing in this novel has a way of absorbing me such that I am seeing things with a vivid vision from Girton’s perspective and because of that, every moment became so tense and real. It took a while for me to acclimate myself to the intentional switching of tenses in the last sections of the book, but despite my personal issue with these changes in a single paragraph with no warning, Barker handled them greatly. I am amazed by the sheer character developments that everyone went through; none of the characters stayed the same as they were at the beginning of the first book. If a series weaved a tale of epic proportions with awesome actions, amazing world-building, but the characterizations still don’t click with me, in the end, it would still be pointless to me. Characters matter the most to me and luckily, I was invested and cared so much about knowing Girton’s and his companions’ fate.
Magnificent, vivid, and immersive experience aside, I would also like to discuss a bit about the disabled characters presented in this trilogy. It is with permission from my little brother that I talk about this. I am not disabled, I won’t even claim to understand the difficulty and hardship of being one, but my brother was born with a disability on one of his legs that prevented him from walking normally or participate in any sports activities, and after talking to him about the series, he said Girton sounds like a character he would definitely love to know. I have lived with my little brother for many years, and I found Girton Club-Foot’s story to be highly convincing and inspiring; Girton wasn’t a man defined by his disability; he won’t fall to it, he allowed it to be a part of him, and he rose above himself. Maybe this series won’t become a big hit in the market; it really should be but we’ll never know. Maybe someone eventually will dislike this conclusion - I have no doubt that will happen as taste differs among readers. But maybe, this trilogy might have the power to inspire a person with disabilities, like my brother, to be able to rise above the challenges forced upon them, like Girton and many more characters in the series did. There’s no hard rule that stated we can’t be inspired from fantasy or any work of fiction; my personality and lifestyle were definitely influenced and shaped through countless hours of escapism. Girton to me is not just a stranger; the disturbing images he saw and the emotions he felt, I saw and felt them too. I have known his past, his struggles with his inner demons. No, Girton is not a stranger to me. I’ve read his journey to the end, and I see him as what my brother could be when he decided to rise above himself; not an easy thing to do but after years, I have seen his acceptance and his perseverance by using his main strength - knowledge.
Conclusion wise, I really couldn’t ask for more. Barker ended his first published trilogy with so much impact, and he has definitely earned a new reader in me. I still can’t believe how underrated and overlooked this trilogy is. People really need to move past the expectation of expecting tons of badass assassin actions in the first book and give this series another go with the right expectation; you have no idea what you’re missing here. I absolutely recommend this trilogy to anyone who’s looking for an incredible trilogy with amazing characterizations and elegantly destructive combat scenes. Without a doubt, I will be reading whatever Barker produced next because he showed so much talent just from the first trilogy he wrote; one which he started and finished in 18 months too! King of Assassins was a tragic, heart wrenching, and poignant conclusion; one series that I will definitely recommend to any fantasy reader who has a heart to read.
Read the first word of each paragraph above; so ends the first and last confession of the reviewer, Petrik Leo.
Series Review:
Age of Assassins: 4.5/5 stars
Blood of Assassins: 4.5/5 stars
King of Assassins: 4.5/5 stars
The Wounded Kingdom: 13.5/15 stars
You can order the book HERE!
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
I honestly can’t believe I almost didn’t pick up this trilogy; King of Assassins was a superb finishing touch to The Wounded Kingdom.
Bloody, poignant, intense, heartwarming, tragic, and dark; I finished this entire trilogy within six days, I just didn’t expect it to be this damn good and engaging. The Wounded Kingdom trilogy practically stole my life for an entire week, and the only antidote to my addiction was to finish reading the entirety of the series.
Love, redemption, forgiveness, tragedy, prejudice, loyalty, responsibility, family, and friendship; these are the major themes that surrounded the trilogy and they all exploded in this memorable concluding installment. Fifteen years have passed since the end of the previous book, Blood of Assassins and for the first time in the trilogy, Barker moved the setting of the story from Maniyado to Ceadoc. The change in location was a brilliant decision as Ceadoc elevated the series with a new level of tension and grimness; as a setting, it was one heck of a dark place with palpable gloomy atmosphere. A celebration of darkness, crumbling morale, grey moral codes, and plentiful awesome action sequences, there’s no shortage of intense and memorable scenes in this book. Just because the setting of each book in the series was constructed within a single location, it definitely didn’t make the story less impactful. Not only the trilogy was smartly plotted (if you checked the interludes in the first book after you finished this, you’ll find the foreshadowing for the events in this installment within the interludes), Barker’s capability in melding mystery into fantasy to make a compelling narrative was brilliant. Also, whether it was Barker’s or Orbit’s decision, I seriously must praise the formatting in this book that added dramatic moments to some of the scenes. I can’t really talk about them, but the formatting itself helps to totally display just how bizarre and confusing the experience the characters felt during those specific moments.
This installment also marks Barker’s prose at his best. I found myself almost completely immersed in Barker’s prose. The writing in this novel has a way of absorbing me such that I am seeing things with a vivid vision from Girton’s perspective and because of that, every moment became so tense and real. It took a while for me to acclimate myself to the intentional switching of tenses in the last sections of the book, but despite my personal issue with these changes in a single paragraph with no warning, Barker handled them greatly. I am amazed by the sheer character developments that everyone went through; none of the characters stayed the same as they were at the beginning of the first book. If a series weaved a tale of epic proportions with awesome actions, amazing world-building, but the characterizations still don’t click with me, in the end, it would still be pointless to me. Characters matter the most to me and luckily, I was invested and cared so much about knowing Girton’s and his companions’ fate.
Magnificent, vivid, and immersive experience aside, I would also like to discuss a bit about the disabled characters presented in this trilogy. It is with permission from my little brother that I talk about this. I am not disabled, I won’t even claim to understand the difficulty and hardship of being one, but my brother was born with a disability on one of his legs that prevented him from walking normally or participate in any sports activities, and after talking to him about the series, he said Girton sounds like a character he would definitely love to know. I have lived with my little brother for many years, and I found Girton Club-Foot’s story to be highly convincing and inspiring; Girton wasn’t a man defined by his disability; he won’t fall to it, he allowed it to be a part of him, and he rose above himself. Maybe this series won’t become a big hit in the market; it really should be but we’ll never know. Maybe someone eventually will dislike this conclusion - I have no doubt that will happen as taste differs among readers. But maybe, this trilogy might have the power to inspire a person with disabilities, like my brother, to be able to rise above the challenges forced upon them, like Girton and many more characters in the series did. There’s no hard rule that stated we can’t be inspired from fantasy or any work of fiction; my personality and lifestyle were definitely influenced and shaped through countless hours of escapism. Girton to me is not just a stranger; the disturbing images he saw and the emotions he felt, I saw and felt them too. I have known his past, his struggles with his inner demons. No, Girton is not a stranger to me. I’ve read his journey to the end, and I see him as what my brother could be when he decided to rise above himself; not an easy thing to do but after years, I have seen his acceptance and his perseverance by using his main strength - knowledge.
Conclusion wise, I really couldn’t ask for more. Barker ended his first published trilogy with so much impact, and he has definitely earned a new reader in me. I still can’t believe how underrated and overlooked this trilogy is. People really need to move past the expectation of expecting tons of badass assassin actions in the first book and give this series another go with the right expectation; you have no idea what you’re missing here. I absolutely recommend this trilogy to anyone who’s looking for an incredible trilogy with amazing characterizations and elegantly destructive combat scenes. Without a doubt, I will be reading whatever Barker produced next because he showed so much talent just from the first trilogy he wrote; one which he started and finished in 18 months too! King of Assassins was a tragic, heart wrenching, and poignant conclusion; one series that I will definitely recommend to any fantasy reader who has a heart to read.
Read the first word of each paragraph above; so ends the first and last confession of the reviewer, Petrik Leo.
Series Review:
Age of Assassins: 4.5/5 stars
Blood of Assassins: 4.5/5 stars
King of Assassins: 4.5/5 stars
The Wounded Kingdom: 13.5/15 stars
You can order the book HERE!
You can find this and the rest of my reviews at Novel Notions
September 27, 2018
I love this trilogy!! And I cried a little bit!! I'm trying not to cry any more but these books!!
I'm so glad I took a chance on these books and the wonderful characters!
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐺🐾
I'm so glad I took a chance on these books and the wonderful characters!
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐺🐾
July 25, 2018
I received an advanced copy of Kings of Assassins in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to RJ Barker and Nazia and Jenni at Orbit. *This may contain slight spoilers for the trilogy*
Well, The Wounded Kingdom trilogy. Where should I start? I can safely say in the (almost) two years I have been reviewing that this is my favourite trilogy that I have read that was released in that timeframe. I was the first person to review Age of Assassins, one of the first to review Blood of Assassins, and I had a to-be-read quota of thirty books as of last Friday. That was until King of Assassins ended up on my doorstep. Everything else took a back seat and I devoured this exquisite mystery, magic and assassin-tinged fantasy conclusion in two days.
Set fifteen years after the conclusion of Blood of Assassins, in Maniyadoc under the caring rule of King Rufra the atmosphere and events have been of the peaceful variant. A plague has led to the loss of life for two out of every three civilians around the Tired Lands everywhere, but for some reason, the catastrophic destruction passed Rufra's city by almost as if it didn't exist at all.
The high king of Ceadoc was not so lucky. He fell victim to the illness which leads people to become living and breathing empty shells. At his final demise, all eyes across the nation turn onto the capital. Every individual with power, armies, or an influence proceeds to attend a meeting where a next high king will be assigned. Rufra, with his new wife and three children, decides to 'throw his hat into the ring' and hopes he can bring the positivity and beneficial lifestyles that his civilians have revelled within to the capital and the whole world. Of course, it won't be that simple. Assassins, betrayals, rivalries and enemies from the past are lurking within every shadow of this giant, mysterious and confusing city.
My favourite genre to read after fantasy is a mystery or detective thriller and the combination here is unique, thrilling and completely unpredictable. I had no idea what was going to happen until about 10 pages from the end of the book. It gave me goosebumps, it made me sweat and then in the epilogue I was presented an even bigger reveal that left me speechless. Throughout this narrative, I cried a couple of times. There are a large number of characters that have been in previous entries and also a lot of new players joining the ensemble for the epic finale. Girton once again takes on the role of a sleuth to discover and analyse all sorts of events including assassinations, dead people still walking around, the true emotions of the Gods and many more unanswerable dilemmas. We even have a classic "locked room" murder to investigate which reminded me of Gaston Leroux's classic - The Mystery of the Yellow Room and many others similar scenarios from film and TV since. Girton is arguably the finest assassin in the world but he is a just above average detective and in the first person perspective I believe the affinity created with Girton and his dilemmas shows Barker's exceptional skills as a writer.
I could have honestly read seven books about Barker's Tired Lands and the players involved. That being said, I really appreciate what RJ has done with the time that passes between each novel. We first met Girton at fifteen and he is now thirty-five in King of Assassins. The character development is amazing, all the characters have changed so much but Barker cleverly links back to past relationships, traits, friendships in expert fashion so however grotesque the world and current events are we still see aspects of those fifteen-year-old children who were training, bullying, making first friends and trying to impress girls. They've changed drastically of course but little snippets, maybe often subtext reminds us of the innocence these major players came from. That all being said, I hope Barker returns to the Tired Lands and will present a few short stories of what Girton, Boros, Rufra or Aydor were up to in between the three main novels.
Girton Club-Foot is a character I could read about all day long. He's currently Death's Jester and when fighting still uses his balletic numbered poetic moves of murder. Some scenes that happen here are utterly grimdark - a character gets his tongue cut out, somebody drowns, limbs are lopped off, and magic annihilation of people and the environment - but King of Assassins could never be referred to as that genre because the main characters are so likeable and even a world famous assassin is only doing things as he believes it's true and the best for the world. In fact, Girton's previous antics are so famous that it seems every army who approaches Ceadoc has an assassin. Some worship Girton, some wish to test their worth against him and some remain completely unseen. My favourite of these characters was definitely the mute Tinia Speaks-Not. Aside from her Aydor and Boros are the most interesting to follow. Both were in Age of Assassins and have changed so much they are almost unrecognisable. It makes me want to go back and start the trilogy again.
There is one statement in King of Assassins that Barker presents that I analysed to state that physically or mentally disabled individuals can and often are the real heroes. Girton has a Club-Foot, Tinia is mute, his master has post-traumatic issues from her past and yet they are respected as the finest of their friends or groups. I thought that was a poignant touch. I'm not sure if it was intended but that is what I took away from it.
Barker wrapped up this trilogy almost perfectly. There is a showdown of epic proportions which may decide the future of the Tired Lands and that was expertly played out. After that about fourty pages remain to tie the knots and fill the gaps. Some epic action happens during this finale, however, I wish it would have been fleshed out a bit. One of the final showdowns seemed more of a ticking of a box to say that that plot arc had been finished as opposed to presenting the keen acute legendary battle of the ages that we could have witnessed between two fine warriors. That being said, this is one of the best fantasy trilogies I have ever read and I can't wait to see what RJ presents us next. As long as he knows in the future I need more Girton, even if he writes them for me and nobody else!
Well, The Wounded Kingdom trilogy. Where should I start? I can safely say in the (almost) two years I have been reviewing that this is my favourite trilogy that I have read that was released in that timeframe. I was the first person to review Age of Assassins, one of the first to review Blood of Assassins, and I had a to-be-read quota of thirty books as of last Friday. That was until King of Assassins ended up on my doorstep. Everything else took a back seat and I devoured this exquisite mystery, magic and assassin-tinged fantasy conclusion in two days.
Set fifteen years after the conclusion of Blood of Assassins, in Maniyadoc under the caring rule of King Rufra the atmosphere and events have been of the peaceful variant. A plague has led to the loss of life for two out of every three civilians around the Tired Lands everywhere, but for some reason, the catastrophic destruction passed Rufra's city by almost as if it didn't exist at all.
The high king of Ceadoc was not so lucky. He fell victim to the illness which leads people to become living and breathing empty shells. At his final demise, all eyes across the nation turn onto the capital. Every individual with power, armies, or an influence proceeds to attend a meeting where a next high king will be assigned. Rufra, with his new wife and three children, decides to 'throw his hat into the ring' and hopes he can bring the positivity and beneficial lifestyles that his civilians have revelled within to the capital and the whole world. Of course, it won't be that simple. Assassins, betrayals, rivalries and enemies from the past are lurking within every shadow of this giant, mysterious and confusing city.
My favourite genre to read after fantasy is a mystery or detective thriller and the combination here is unique, thrilling and completely unpredictable. I had no idea what was going to happen until about 10 pages from the end of the book. It gave me goosebumps, it made me sweat and then in the epilogue I was presented an even bigger reveal that left me speechless. Throughout this narrative, I cried a couple of times. There are a large number of characters that have been in previous entries and also a lot of new players joining the ensemble for the epic finale. Girton once again takes on the role of a sleuth to discover and analyse all sorts of events including assassinations, dead people still walking around, the true emotions of the Gods and many more unanswerable dilemmas. We even have a classic "locked room" murder to investigate which reminded me of Gaston Leroux's classic - The Mystery of the Yellow Room and many others similar scenarios from film and TV since. Girton is arguably the finest assassin in the world but he is a just above average detective and in the first person perspective I believe the affinity created with Girton and his dilemmas shows Barker's exceptional skills as a writer.
I could have honestly read seven books about Barker's Tired Lands and the players involved. That being said, I really appreciate what RJ has done with the time that passes between each novel. We first met Girton at fifteen and he is now thirty-five in King of Assassins. The character development is amazing, all the characters have changed so much but Barker cleverly links back to past relationships, traits, friendships in expert fashion so however grotesque the world and current events are we still see aspects of those fifteen-year-old children who were training, bullying, making first friends and trying to impress girls. They've changed drastically of course but little snippets, maybe often subtext reminds us of the innocence these major players came from. That all being said, I hope Barker returns to the Tired Lands and will present a few short stories of what Girton, Boros, Rufra or Aydor were up to in between the three main novels.
Girton Club-Foot is a character I could read about all day long. He's currently Death's Jester and when fighting still uses his balletic numbered poetic moves of murder. Some scenes that happen here are utterly grimdark - a character gets his tongue cut out, somebody drowns, limbs are lopped off, and magic annihilation of people and the environment - but King of Assassins could never be referred to as that genre because the main characters are so likeable and even a world famous assassin is only doing things as he believes it's true and the best for the world. In fact, Girton's previous antics are so famous that it seems every army who approaches Ceadoc has an assassin. Some worship Girton, some wish to test their worth against him and some remain completely unseen. My favourite of these characters was definitely the mute Tinia Speaks-Not. Aside from her Aydor and Boros are the most interesting to follow. Both were in Age of Assassins and have changed so much they are almost unrecognisable. It makes me want to go back and start the trilogy again.
There is one statement in King of Assassins that Barker presents that I analysed to state that physically or mentally disabled individuals can and often are the real heroes. Girton has a Club-Foot, Tinia is mute, his master has post-traumatic issues from her past and yet they are respected as the finest of their friends or groups. I thought that was a poignant touch. I'm not sure if it was intended but that is what I took away from it.
Barker wrapped up this trilogy almost perfectly. There is a showdown of epic proportions which may decide the future of the Tired Lands and that was expertly played out. After that about fourty pages remain to tie the knots and fill the gaps. Some epic action happens during this finale, however, I wish it would have been fleshed out a bit. One of the final showdowns seemed more of a ticking of a box to say that that plot arc had been finished as opposed to presenting the keen acute legendary battle of the ages that we could have witnessed between two fine warriors. That being said, this is one of the best fantasy trilogies I have ever read and I can't wait to see what RJ presents us next. As long as he knows in the future I need more Girton, even if he writes them for me and nobody else!
May 14, 2021
I received an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
King of Assassins is a powerfully poignant conclusion to a remarkably captivating trilogy.
The Wounded Kingdom is so underrated in my opinion; this trilogy spins a compelling and unconventional assassin story that is deep, dark and personal. Please do not expect Night Angel or Assassin's Creed or a narrative filled with badass action. Make no mistake though, Girton Club-Foot is still a killer to be reckoned with, but it was his refusal to allow his disability and his cursed talent to define who he is which made his characterisation so fascinating.
In my opinion, the beauty of the trilogy lies in character growth and development of Girton in the harsh and brutal Tired Lands. Told in the first person perspective of Girton, we are first shown his coming-of-age story in the Age of Assassins and subsequently, his threshold years of adulthood as he struggled with angst and despair in the sequel. Finally, in the King of Assassins, sixteen years have passed, and our main protagonist is secure and confident in his identity and abilities.
In my usual fashion for concluding volumes of a series, I will not make mention of the plot as I believe there may potentially be spoilers, especially for those who have yet to start even the first book and look to this review to decide if the journey is worth it. I will also like to point out that each volume of the trilogy wrapped up pretty conclusively and has a significant time jump in between.
Firstly, what I got out of this trilogy as a whole is empathetic character development that goes through some dark and troubled paths. There are numerous moments of introspection and even some strange dreamscape ones that allude to the unusual worldbuilding that I will talk about shortly. What made it even more enthralling for me was the fact that the author drew inspiration for Girton from himself and his long battle with chronic pain. There will never be a more personal and relatable story than that which was written from one's own struggles. The growth of our main protagonist is shown through his relationship with his master, his friendships with the unlikeliest of individuals, and his struggles and eventual acceptance of who and what he is. There is also a tale of redemption in this narrative, which is more often grim than hopeful, in which a character became a favourite of mine despite being utterly unlikeable in the first book.
While there are several great action sequences throughout the trilogy (my personal favourite of the lot was one intense battle scene from Blood of Assassins), it is not the primary focus of the story. Having said that, the assassin's fighting style is beautifully portrayed as a dance as one movement or iteration connects to another with fluidity; another unique factor in this unusual account of the life of a professional killer.
Then there is the worldbuilding that has both the familiar and the weird. The title of the trilogy, The Wounded Kingdom, and the name of this known world, The Tired Lands, are most appropriate in describing the setting in which Girton's story took place. A land that has been significantly scorched of life by magic, and which has a social structure dictated by a distasteful caste-system. There is the worship of dead gods and the fear of powerful hedgings, which I only have begun to have some comprehension of in this volume. Throughout the entire trilogy, there was not a single moment where exposition overshadowed the plot and characterisation. In my opinion, there was a right balance between each of these essential elements of fantasy storytelling. And I especially enjoyed the mystery subplot evident in each instalment. Even though there are still unanswered questions about the world and its lore, I felt that there was sufficient revelation to drive the narrative forward and to enable me as a reader to feel compassion for the people involved. This final volume, in particular, conveyed a greater sense of the religious and political strive in The Tired Lands.
In summary, The Wounded Kingdom is an compelling and powerful story about loyalty, friendship, redemption and rising above oneself. While I have read both this novel and its predecessor in the form of advanced reading copies, I have bought both in physical form for my collection as I firmly believe that they deserve to be on my bookshelves, limited space notwithstanding.
You can purchase the book from Book Depository (Free Shipping) | Bookshop.Org (Support Independent Bookstores | Amazon US | Amazon UK
King of Assassins is a powerfully poignant conclusion to a remarkably captivating trilogy.
The Wounded Kingdom is so underrated in my opinion; this trilogy spins a compelling and unconventional assassin story that is deep, dark and personal. Please do not expect Night Angel or Assassin's Creed or a narrative filled with badass action. Make no mistake though, Girton Club-Foot is still a killer to be reckoned with, but it was his refusal to allow his disability and his cursed talent to define who he is which made his characterisation so fascinating.
In my opinion, the beauty of the trilogy lies in character growth and development of Girton in the harsh and brutal Tired Lands. Told in the first person perspective of Girton, we are first shown his coming-of-age story in the Age of Assassins and subsequently, his threshold years of adulthood as he struggled with angst and despair in the sequel. Finally, in the King of Assassins, sixteen years have passed, and our main protagonist is secure and confident in his identity and abilities.
In my usual fashion for concluding volumes of a series, I will not make mention of the plot as I believe there may potentially be spoilers, especially for those who have yet to start even the first book and look to this review to decide if the journey is worth it. I will also like to point out that each volume of the trilogy wrapped up pretty conclusively and has a significant time jump in between.
Firstly, what I got out of this trilogy as a whole is empathetic character development that goes through some dark and troubled paths. There are numerous moments of introspection and even some strange dreamscape ones that allude to the unusual worldbuilding that I will talk about shortly. What made it even more enthralling for me was the fact that the author drew inspiration for Girton from himself and his long battle with chronic pain. There will never be a more personal and relatable story than that which was written from one's own struggles. The growth of our main protagonist is shown through his relationship with his master, his friendships with the unlikeliest of individuals, and his struggles and eventual acceptance of who and what he is. There is also a tale of redemption in this narrative, which is more often grim than hopeful, in which a character became a favourite of mine despite being utterly unlikeable in the first book.
While there are several great action sequences throughout the trilogy (my personal favourite of the lot was one intense battle scene from Blood of Assassins), it is not the primary focus of the story. Having said that, the assassin's fighting style is beautifully portrayed as a dance as one movement or iteration connects to another with fluidity; another unique factor in this unusual account of the life of a professional killer.
Then there is the worldbuilding that has both the familiar and the weird. The title of the trilogy, The Wounded Kingdom, and the name of this known world, The Tired Lands, are most appropriate in describing the setting in which Girton's story took place. A land that has been significantly scorched of life by magic, and which has a social structure dictated by a distasteful caste-system. There is the worship of dead gods and the fear of powerful hedgings, which I only have begun to have some comprehension of in this volume. Throughout the entire trilogy, there was not a single moment where exposition overshadowed the plot and characterisation. In my opinion, there was a right balance between each of these essential elements of fantasy storytelling. And I especially enjoyed the mystery subplot evident in each instalment. Even though there are still unanswered questions about the world and its lore, I felt that there was sufficient revelation to drive the narrative forward and to enable me as a reader to feel compassion for the people involved. This final volume, in particular, conveyed a greater sense of the religious and political strive in The Tired Lands.
In summary, The Wounded Kingdom is an compelling and powerful story about loyalty, friendship, redemption and rising above oneself. While I have read both this novel and its predecessor in the form of advanced reading copies, I have bought both in physical form for my collection as I firmly believe that they deserve to be on my bookshelves, limited space notwithstanding.
You can purchase the book from Book Depository (Free Shipping) | Bookshop.Org (Support Independent Bookstores | Amazon US | Amazon UK
January 4, 2021
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Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars
Every single review I saw regarding this book said that it was the best in the series and I am happy to say that I strongly add my voice to all those reviewers. King of Assassin’s was an epic finale to this trilogy and once again, Barker stepped up his game with this one.
The writing is gritty and poetic as usual, I just loved how the chapters were divided with the Interludes between each few chapters and those interludes were just my favorite part in the whole series.
There is another time jump so we have adult characters in this book and I think this series is for adult readers and the adult characters are much more fitting for its atmosphere. Speaking of which, I liked all the changes and risks that the author took. We have a bit of a different geographical setting for this one and the addition of the menagerie made this even darker! Girton is finally not childish and I don’t wanna punch him in the face, on contrary, I wanted to hug him by the end of this series!!
So in short, there were many great changes in this series including a time jump, a new city, new mysteries and still cool action scenes, I finally grew to like the magic and the characters are much more likable! This is just an excellent finale and I wouldn’t have asked for more!
Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars
THE KING IS DEAD LONG LIVE THE KING
Every single review I saw regarding this book said that it was the best in the series and I am happy to say that I strongly add my voice to all those reviewers. King of Assassin’s was an epic finale to this trilogy and once again, Barker stepped up his game with this one.
The writing is gritty and poetic as usual, I just loved how the chapters were divided with the Interludes between each few chapters and those interludes were just my favorite part in the whole series.
There is another time jump so we have adult characters in this book and I think this series is for adult readers and the adult characters are much more fitting for its atmosphere. Speaking of which, I liked all the changes and risks that the author took. We have a bit of a different geographical setting for this one and the addition of the menagerie made this even darker! Girton is finally not childish and I don’t wanna punch him in the face, on contrary, I wanted to hug him by the end of this series!!
So in short, there were many great changes in this series including a time jump, a new city, new mysteries and still cool action scenes, I finally grew to like the magic and the characters are much more likable! This is just an excellent finale and I wouldn’t have asked for more!
September 13, 2018
5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2018/09/10/...
Holy crap, this book. THIS DAMN BOOK. I’m not crying, you’re crying.
Seriously, I can’t even. I’m a mess. A quivering, sobbing mess. Everyone one of these Wounded Kingdom books has been a boatload of emotions, and King of Assassins was easily the most powerful and poignant of them all. I’ve traveled this long road with Girton, Merela, Rufra, Aydor, and the others, and after witnessing their trials and tribulations, finally being able to see it all culminate into this one big epic finale was both a little euphoric and cathartic.
But first, a recap. The Wounded Kingdom is a trilogy of books that follows protagonist Girton Clubfoot, so-named because of his malformed foot, but if you think this causes him any kind of disability, think again. From a young age, he has been trained as an assassin by his master Merela, becoming quite an accomplished fighter. The entire series is told from the point-of-view of an older Girton, recalling the events of his past, with each book focusing on an important time in his life. As a result, the novels stand alone in that they each feature a self-contained story, but together they form a complete picture of the character’s evolution over a period of decades. As such, it would be worth it to read the full trilogy, and in order. This is definitely an epic fantasy trilogy you won’t want to miss, and it’s one that is best experienced fully.
This does mean though that we’ve once again jumped forward in time in King of Assassins. Fifteen or sixteen years have passed since we saw Girton last in Blood of Assassin, and those of us who remember what a restless and volatile young adult he was would be happy to know that time gap has mellowed him somewhat, with age bringing maturity and more self-restraint. Now in his 30s, Girton has become a full-fledged assassin, and has even taken on an apprentice as his own. Still, as his friend King Rufra’s most trusted advisor, Girton’s main role these days often involves providing security and protection for the royal family. Together with his rival-turned-ally Aydor, the two of them have their hands full guarding the king and his wife and children, with the work only getting more difficult now that Rufra has set his sights on becoming the High King. The last guy who had the job died along with much of his city when it was ravaged by a deadly plague, and with no heirs, the throne now sits vacant. Those with aspirations to fill it will soon be gathered in Ceadoc where the decision will be put to a vote. While this was meant to prevent more bloodshed in a world already ravaged by war, apparently not everyone is so willing to play by the rules. On the way to the city, Rufra’s retinue is ambushed by an assassination attempt, which ends up being thwarted by Girton—though just barely. Someone out there is intent on keeping Rufra from his goals, and once more it is up to Girton to find out who.
Like the first two installments, King of Assassins is an epic fantasy with mystery, action, adventure, and suspense elements. But fifteen to sixteen years is a long time, and many changes have occurred in Girton’s life. Many are not spelled out for us but are instead picked up in the subtle nuances in the conversations and interactions between the protagonist and the people closest to him. Of these, the most dramatic of all may be Girton’s relationship with Aydor. In case I didn’t make it clear in my review of the previous book, I am a huge fan of Aydor. And I didn’t think it was possible to make me love him even more than I already did, but this book managed to do it. Girton may be the star of this series, but hands down, Aydor has one of the best character arcs I have ever read.
And then there’s Merela. Girton’s bond with her has always melted my heart. It’s a rarity these days in the genre to see a master-apprentice relationship filled with such nurturing love, support, encouragement and compassion. I’ve long gotten the sense that Merela’s role goes beyond that of teacher to Girton; she’s also a friend, counselor, and maternal figure, and this book lays it to rest. Our main character may be a grown man now, but seeing him look up to his old master with still so much fondness and respect is just so touching and fills me with warmth and joy. I was also very glad the author decided to include interludes that reveal more about Merela’s past in this one; I loved every moment where I got to read about the life of this incredible woman, even the heartbreaking and painful parts.
Finally, no discussion of the story or characters would be complete without taking a look at Rufra. King of Assassins delivers heart-wrenching moments and emotional gut punches aplenty, but perhaps one of the most tragic aspects of this book is what has become of our protagonist’s relationship with his king. “He was my friend” was a remark that came up several times when Girton spoke of Rufra, and despite his unwavering loyalty, the implications of that sneaky past tense were never lost on me. While the two men still obviously mean a lot to each other, the tensions between them now are pretty much unmistakable. Power changes people, and even though Rufra is good person through and through, paranoia and the pressures of ruling have caused a divergence in his and Girton’s thinking.
I emphasize the character relationships in this review because I truly believe the details surrounding them have everything to do with why the ending hit me so hard in the feels. In fact, I had figured out a big part of the mystery’s resolution very early into the book, but RJ Barker’s storytelling and character building is so riveting and complex that I took any flaws in the story in stride and simply devoured the rest of the pages in my hunger for more action and intrigue. Obviously, I also shed a lot of tears. The last couple of chapters completely destroyed me. I’ve followed these characters from the beginning, and they’ve been so masterfully written by Barker that it was impossible for me not be affected. Ultimately though, this series conclusion was oh so satisfying.
Bottom line, King of Assassins put the perfect cap on a trilogy that has already been winning me over. This trio of books now represents one of the best, most extraordinary and delightful reading experiences I have ever had, and The Wounded Kingdom has shot up the ranks to become one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. It is truly a superb and dazzling achievement by RJ Barker, who debuted with Age of Assassins. His three novels now sit in a place of honor on the shelf where I put my most beloved reads, and trust me, they need to be on yours too. If you haven’t started this series yet, I highly recommend doing so, for it is an absolute must-read.
Holy crap, this book. THIS DAMN BOOK. I’m not crying, you’re crying.
Seriously, I can’t even. I’m a mess. A quivering, sobbing mess. Everyone one of these Wounded Kingdom books has been a boatload of emotions, and King of Assassins was easily the most powerful and poignant of them all. I’ve traveled this long road with Girton, Merela, Rufra, Aydor, and the others, and after witnessing their trials and tribulations, finally being able to see it all culminate into this one big epic finale was both a little euphoric and cathartic.
But first, a recap. The Wounded Kingdom is a trilogy of books that follows protagonist Girton Clubfoot, so-named because of his malformed foot, but if you think this causes him any kind of disability, think again. From a young age, he has been trained as an assassin by his master Merela, becoming quite an accomplished fighter. The entire series is told from the point-of-view of an older Girton, recalling the events of his past, with each book focusing on an important time in his life. As a result, the novels stand alone in that they each feature a self-contained story, but together they form a complete picture of the character’s evolution over a period of decades. As such, it would be worth it to read the full trilogy, and in order. This is definitely an epic fantasy trilogy you won’t want to miss, and it’s one that is best experienced fully.
This does mean though that we’ve once again jumped forward in time in King of Assassins. Fifteen or sixteen years have passed since we saw Girton last in Blood of Assassin, and those of us who remember what a restless and volatile young adult he was would be happy to know that time gap has mellowed him somewhat, with age bringing maturity and more self-restraint. Now in his 30s, Girton has become a full-fledged assassin, and has even taken on an apprentice as his own. Still, as his friend King Rufra’s most trusted advisor, Girton’s main role these days often involves providing security and protection for the royal family. Together with his rival-turned-ally Aydor, the two of them have their hands full guarding the king and his wife and children, with the work only getting more difficult now that Rufra has set his sights on becoming the High King. The last guy who had the job died along with much of his city when it was ravaged by a deadly plague, and with no heirs, the throne now sits vacant. Those with aspirations to fill it will soon be gathered in Ceadoc where the decision will be put to a vote. While this was meant to prevent more bloodshed in a world already ravaged by war, apparently not everyone is so willing to play by the rules. On the way to the city, Rufra’s retinue is ambushed by an assassination attempt, which ends up being thwarted by Girton—though just barely. Someone out there is intent on keeping Rufra from his goals, and once more it is up to Girton to find out who.
Like the first two installments, King of Assassins is an epic fantasy with mystery, action, adventure, and suspense elements. But fifteen to sixteen years is a long time, and many changes have occurred in Girton’s life. Many are not spelled out for us but are instead picked up in the subtle nuances in the conversations and interactions between the protagonist and the people closest to him. Of these, the most dramatic of all may be Girton’s relationship with Aydor. In case I didn’t make it clear in my review of the previous book, I am a huge fan of Aydor. And I didn’t think it was possible to make me love him even more than I already did, but this book managed to do it. Girton may be the star of this series, but hands down, Aydor has one of the best character arcs I have ever read.
And then there’s Merela. Girton’s bond with her has always melted my heart. It’s a rarity these days in the genre to see a master-apprentice relationship filled with such nurturing love, support, encouragement and compassion. I’ve long gotten the sense that Merela’s role goes beyond that of teacher to Girton; she’s also a friend, counselor, and maternal figure, and this book lays it to rest. Our main character may be a grown man now, but seeing him look up to his old master with still so much fondness and respect is just so touching and fills me with warmth and joy. I was also very glad the author decided to include interludes that reveal more about Merela’s past in this one; I loved every moment where I got to read about the life of this incredible woman, even the heartbreaking and painful parts.
Finally, no discussion of the story or characters would be complete without taking a look at Rufra. King of Assassins delivers heart-wrenching moments and emotional gut punches aplenty, but perhaps one of the most tragic aspects of this book is what has become of our protagonist’s relationship with his king. “He was my friend” was a remark that came up several times when Girton spoke of Rufra, and despite his unwavering loyalty, the implications of that sneaky past tense were never lost on me. While the two men still obviously mean a lot to each other, the tensions between them now are pretty much unmistakable. Power changes people, and even though Rufra is good person through and through, paranoia and the pressures of ruling have caused a divergence in his and Girton’s thinking.
I emphasize the character relationships in this review because I truly believe the details surrounding them have everything to do with why the ending hit me so hard in the feels. In fact, I had figured out a big part of the mystery’s resolution very early into the book, but RJ Barker’s storytelling and character building is so riveting and complex that I took any flaws in the story in stride and simply devoured the rest of the pages in my hunger for more action and intrigue. Obviously, I also shed a lot of tears. The last couple of chapters completely destroyed me. I’ve followed these characters from the beginning, and they’ve been so masterfully written by Barker that it was impossible for me not be affected. Ultimately though, this series conclusion was oh so satisfying.
Bottom line, King of Assassins put the perfect cap on a trilogy that has already been winning me over. This trio of books now represents one of the best, most extraordinary and delightful reading experiences I have ever had, and The Wounded Kingdom has shot up the ranks to become one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. It is truly a superb and dazzling achievement by RJ Barker, who debuted with Age of Assassins. His three novels now sit in a place of honor on the shelf where I put my most beloved reads, and trust me, they need to be on yours too. If you haven’t started this series yet, I highly recommend doing so, for it is an absolute must-read.
April 30, 2019
‘I am Girton-Club Foot, sorcerer, life was the clay with which I wrought terrible miracles.
And I would wreak one here today.’
~
King of Assassins by RJ Barker is the final book in the Wounded Kingdom trilogy, and I’m so sad it’s all over. I can’t even... I have loved these books so much and grown immensely attached to many of the characters. Gah, Barker, how dare you destroy me like this?!
😭
I’m not going to say much about the plot, it’s a conclusion to our main protagonist Girton’s story, and I’m not risking spoiling anything from the previous two books. However, I will say this one had so much political warfare, so much betrayal, and once again a murder mystery that had me scratching my head trying to guess who the assassin was. The Tired Lands is still a harsh and unforgiving terrain, but this book showed Girton was fighting for hope to make it a better place.
😭
This entire trilogy has one of the best character developments that I’ve come across in a fantasy series. Young Girton in Age of Assassins, was a boy who struggled to fit into a world where his disability made him an outcast. He had much angst, sulkiness and a lot of self loathing. Now, in King of Assassins, we finally see him as grown man who still has anger and flaws; he is never perfect, but now he is much wiser, stronger, he has that bit more self confidence, and has finally come to accept his identity, and find friendship. He’s just one of my all time favourite characters.
😭
Although the narrative is written in first person, Barker still managed to flesh out so many of the side characters too. He showed how a life of heavy responsibilities grated on Rufra, Girton’s best friend. He made Aydor; who was a complete ass in the first book, mature, change, become more humble, and in turn my opinion of him completely went from hate to love. Aydor was without a doubt my favourite in this book. His atonement was realistically done, and not to mention how humorous he became! He made me laugh so many times.
😭
Then there’s Merela Karn, Girton’s Assassin Master. Her interludes brought some well anticipated backstory of her troubled past, and my god was it heartbreaking. You can’t help but love her strength, and devotion to Girton.
~
‘She would end this here if she could, destroy it all. But she cannot. She is not the cure for all ills, she can only cure what ails her, and she has come a long way to do that.’
~
I’ve said this before but it’s my review and I want to say it again. I LOVE BARKER’S PROSE. He’s an author who can seamlessly switch from a linear narrative to sequences that are almost poetic. This was mainly used for dreams or for action scenes when Girton had to use his Assassins fighting style. His battle scenes were truly glorious. I just applaud Barker here, because these passages built up so much atmosphere and tension, they became almost hypnotic to envision, and I loved that I could fully get consumed by it.
~
‘Pulse.
All is quiet.
Pulse.
The rasp of my breath. The beat of my heart. The insistent drop of my my blood on the floor.
Pulse.’
~
During the last hundred pages, Barker had my heart racing with worry; yes he’s another author that should come with a health warning! It was seriously an emotional rollercoaster, and by the end I was in floods of tears. I’m even tearing up now as I write this. I have no words left except; GO READ THIS SERIES.
And I would wreak one here today.’
~
King of Assassins by RJ Barker is the final book in the Wounded Kingdom trilogy, and I’m so sad it’s all over. I can’t even... I have loved these books so much and grown immensely attached to many of the characters. Gah, Barker, how dare you destroy me like this?!
😭
I’m not going to say much about the plot, it’s a conclusion to our main protagonist Girton’s story, and I’m not risking spoiling anything from the previous two books. However, I will say this one had so much political warfare, so much betrayal, and once again a murder mystery that had me scratching my head trying to guess who the assassin was. The Tired Lands is still a harsh and unforgiving terrain, but this book showed Girton was fighting for hope to make it a better place.
😭
This entire trilogy has one of the best character developments that I’ve come across in a fantasy series. Young Girton in Age of Assassins, was a boy who struggled to fit into a world where his disability made him an outcast. He had much angst, sulkiness and a lot of self loathing. Now, in King of Assassins, we finally see him as grown man who still has anger and flaws; he is never perfect, but now he is much wiser, stronger, he has that bit more self confidence, and has finally come to accept his identity, and find friendship. He’s just one of my all time favourite characters.
😭
Although the narrative is written in first person, Barker still managed to flesh out so many of the side characters too. He showed how a life of heavy responsibilities grated on Rufra, Girton’s best friend. He made Aydor; who was a complete ass in the first book, mature, change, become more humble, and in turn my opinion of him completely went from hate to love. Aydor was without a doubt my favourite in this book. His atonement was realistically done, and not to mention how humorous he became! He made me laugh so many times.
😭
Then there’s Merela Karn, Girton’s Assassin Master. Her interludes brought some well anticipated backstory of her troubled past, and my god was it heartbreaking. You can’t help but love her strength, and devotion to Girton.
~
‘She would end this here if she could, destroy it all. But she cannot. She is not the cure for all ills, she can only cure what ails her, and she has come a long way to do that.’
~
I’ve said this before but it’s my review and I want to say it again. I LOVE BARKER’S PROSE. He’s an author who can seamlessly switch from a linear narrative to sequences that are almost poetic. This was mainly used for dreams or for action scenes when Girton had to use his Assassins fighting style. His battle scenes were truly glorious. I just applaud Barker here, because these passages built up so much atmosphere and tension, they became almost hypnotic to envision, and I loved that I could fully get consumed by it.
~
‘Pulse.
All is quiet.
Pulse.
The rasp of my breath. The beat of my heart. The insistent drop of my my blood on the floor.
Pulse.’
~
During the last hundred pages, Barker had my heart racing with worry; yes he’s another author that should come with a health warning! It was seriously an emotional rollercoaster, and by the end I was in floods of tears. I’m even tearing up now as I write this. I have no words left except; GO READ THIS SERIES.
August 2, 2018
Another very solidly good book from RJ, and I must admit a very satisfying ending to a series I have greatly enjoyed. I found myself drawn back into this world easily, despite it having been a little while since I read the previous two. I love the fact that over the three books in this series we are following one young man (assassin) who is growing up, developing, and learning. Lots of stories feel like they show just a snippet of a character's life, but this series shows development and growth, and we feel as though we really get to know Girton as the years go by and more and more misadventures take place.
In terms of story, this one focuses on a race and political upheaval to create/find or win a new high kingship. There are a few different contenders, and many who would like to back each of them, so it could easily turn to war if things are not handled carefully...
The plot of this one felt pretty fast-paced, as have the previous two in the series. I found it easy to get into the book and I enjoyed seeing the twists and turns as we followed our characters through. I think that there is a lot to love in a fun sword and sorcery, and this book and series has exactly the sort of light tone but dark consequences that I like to read about.
The characters are great in this, although I do feel that as time has beaten them down there has been more and more of a sombre tone showing through the banter and light-heartedness we used to see. The Tired Lands are a harsh land, and they will take a lot from a man who is ruling or second to the throne...
Overall, this was a bittersweet ending and yet it felt like closure. I really enjoyed it even with the darker and more somber hints, and I look forward to seeing what RJ's next venture will be as you can be sure I'll pick it up!! 4*s from me :)
In terms of story, this one focuses on a race and political upheaval to create/find or win a new high kingship. There are a few different contenders, and many who would like to back each of them, so it could easily turn to war if things are not handled carefully...
The plot of this one felt pretty fast-paced, as have the previous two in the series. I found it easy to get into the book and I enjoyed seeing the twists and turns as we followed our characters through. I think that there is a lot to love in a fun sword and sorcery, and this book and series has exactly the sort of light tone but dark consequences that I like to read about.
The characters are great in this, although I do feel that as time has beaten them down there has been more and more of a sombre tone showing through the banter and light-heartedness we used to see. The Tired Lands are a harsh land, and they will take a lot from a man who is ruling or second to the throne...
Overall, this was a bittersweet ending and yet it felt like closure. I really enjoyed it even with the darker and more somber hints, and I look forward to seeing what RJ's next venture will be as you can be sure I'll pick it up!! 4*s from me :)
September 10, 2019
A wonderful conclusion to probably one of the best trilogies by a debut author that I've ever read. Every Fantasy fan should be reading RJ Barker. Let's get the number of ratings up there with the likes of Joe Abercrombie and Mark Lawrence ! He's every bit as good as they are!
July 10, 2021
King of Assassins is the final book in the wounded kingdom trilogy, it picked up fifteen years after book two. I like the time jump, it shows that things happened over the years.
This book has some great things that I love, one of them is friendship, the friendship between Aydor and Girton is great yet surprising, I did not see that coming. I also love the depictions of the fight scenes and magic.
“You cannot catch poverty and ugliness. You have them forced upon you.
Like pain.
Like shame.
Like hate.”
Rufra has his eyes set on the high king’s throne, the former high king died without any successor or live relatives so any noble in the kingdom can become king. Girton has to do most of the job of course. This book follows the pattern of the first two books, there’s a mystery to be solved, lots of intrigue and mind blowing revelations.
The world building is great which isn’t a surprise, given how cool book one and two is. The book is written in third person POV of Girton but the interlude is written in Marela’s POV. We finally get to know about her mysterious past and how she met Girton.
“Sometimes I think having a king as friend is worse than having an enemy.”
Aydor is my favorite character in this book, he is so different from the asshole in book one, now he is kind, accepting and loyal. The way he accepted Girton and his secret was unexpected.
Girton is still as awesome as ever, he has indeed suffered in his life, he is brave and loyal even when Rufra doesn’t deserve it, I’m glad he has Merela and Aydor, to make life worthwhile.
Rufra is so different from the person in the previous books, he is now just like the other nobles, hypocritical and abuses his friends to gain approval. He hides behind the crown to mistreat his friends and let the bad people free.
Merela is ever the same, she stood by Girton and he by her. After reading about her story I get why she is the way she is.
Selah is a new character that I adore, he is a bit simple but very kind even when it costs him.
I’m glad I read this series, it’s one of those books that shocks you with how awesome it is.
This book has some great things that I love, one of them is friendship, the friendship between Aydor and Girton is great yet surprising, I did not see that coming. I also love the depictions of the fight scenes and magic.
“You cannot catch poverty and ugliness. You have them forced upon you.
Like pain.
Like shame.
Like hate.”
Rufra has his eyes set on the high king’s throne, the former high king died without any successor or live relatives so any noble in the kingdom can become king. Girton has to do most of the job of course. This book follows the pattern of the first two books, there’s a mystery to be solved, lots of intrigue and mind blowing revelations.
The world building is great which isn’t a surprise, given how cool book one and two is. The book is written in third person POV of Girton but the interlude is written in Marela’s POV. We finally get to know about her mysterious past and how she met Girton.
“Sometimes I think having a king as friend is worse than having an enemy.”
Aydor is my favorite character in this book, he is so different from the asshole in book one, now he is kind, accepting and loyal. The way he accepted Girton and his secret was unexpected.
Girton is still as awesome as ever, he has indeed suffered in his life, he is brave and loyal even when Rufra doesn’t deserve it, I’m glad he has Merela and Aydor, to make life worthwhile.
Rufra is so different from the person in the previous books, he is now just like the other nobles, hypocritical and abuses his friends to gain approval. He hides behind the crown to mistreat his friends and let the bad people free.
Merela is ever the same, she stood by Girton and he by her. After reading about her story I get why she is the way she is.
Selah is a new character that I adore, he is a bit simple but very kind even when it costs him.
I’m glad I read this series, it’s one of those books that shocks you with how awesome it is.
November 30, 2018
This made me cry at work. I told my workmates that it's just allergies, but we're in the middle of winter so I don't think anyone believed me. Worth it.
April 22, 2019
Any book that makes me cry deserves more stars than I can give here...
This final installment was best of the series imo, I loved how the characters have grown and who they've become.
The story was dark and twisted and captured me from the start.
I'm sorry I can't read more of The Tired Lands now but I'm sure I'll reread them at some point.
This final installment was best of the series imo, I loved how the characters have grown and who they've become.
The story was dark and twisted and captured me from the start.
I'm sorry I can't read more of The Tired Lands now but I'm sure I'll reread them at some point.
August 15, 2018
King of Assassins is a great conclusion to a brilliant series!
Taking a page from the previous books, King of Assassins shows us Girton evolving into a man. While the first book was about innocence - his childhood - and the second was a whiny & angsty Girton - a teenager, the third is about growth & responsibility - an adult. This is certainly one of the best character arcs I have ever read; but it not without its dangers. Girton, as a character, put me off in the second book due to his whining. King of Assassins thankfully redeems the character and catapults the series amongst the all time greats.
What else? While Girton & The Wounded Kingdom certainly share similarities to Robin Hobb's Fitz & the Farseer series, I consider The Wounded Kingdom to be far superior in terms of writing, character development as well as world building. An additional plus is the lack of a self-flagellating main character.
I love the ending too. When I read the final words, I sat there thinking for some time. I felt satisfaction and a sense of disappointment since the series is over. And unlike some authors who refuse to take a clear cut path, there is no wishy-washiness - Girton has closure as do other characters.
In conclusion, King of Assassins is one of the best books this year and it ends a series which is one of the best ever.
Taking a page from the previous books, King of Assassins shows us Girton evolving into a man. While the first book was about innocence - his childhood - and the second was a whiny & angsty Girton - a teenager, the third is about growth & responsibility - an adult. This is certainly one of the best character arcs I have ever read; but it not without its dangers. Girton, as a character, put me off in the second book due to his whining. King of Assassins thankfully redeems the character and catapults the series amongst the all time greats.
What else? While Girton & The Wounded Kingdom certainly share similarities to Robin Hobb's Fitz & the Farseer series, I consider The Wounded Kingdom to be far superior in terms of writing, character development as well as world building. An additional plus is the lack of a self-flagellating main character.
I love the ending too. When I read the final words, I sat there thinking for some time. I felt satisfaction and a sense of disappointment since the series is over. And unlike some authors who refuse to take a clear cut path, there is no wishy-washiness - Girton has closure as do other characters.
In conclusion, King of Assassins is one of the best books this year and it ends a series which is one of the best ever.
August 10, 2018
Brilliant, tragic, heart-wrenching closure to a formidable series.
May 10, 2023
The third and final installment of Barker's The Wounded Kingdom trilogy returns us to the travail of Girton Club-Foot - Death's Jester, assassin, and his king's official Heartblade.
There's been a long period of peace under the great Rufra's rule, and justice of a sort, but this singular royal has refused to dismantle the Landsmen and repudiate their quest to capture and kill anyone in his realm possessed of magical capabilities. As such, Girton's been left to hide his gift and chafe beneath the roiling tumult such restriction forces upon him.
Our last adventure involves Rufra's ambitious plan to become king of all kings, and the danger inherent in striving toward such lofty aspirations. Deadly plots unfurl as all contenders converge on the city of Ceadoc, the seat of the high king - a poisoned place of archaic custom and mysterious forces that Girton must navigate in an effort not only to protect his lord but those allies his ruler requires to attain this throne. Old grudges must be sublimated, half-hearted loyalties sustained, traps neutralized and schemers vanquished if Rufra is to survive long enough for a vote to be taken.
The tale grows quite a bit darker in its last leg; our author's "menagerie" is the stuff of genuine nightmare. However, I'm happy to report that the character work remains rock-solid and the plotting strong enough to drive the story straight to its final page. This is an impressive introduction to the skills of R.J. Barker - and a trilogy I would unreservedly recommend to the (adult) fans of the work of fantasy favorites Robin Hobb and J.V. Jones. That's the strain on offer here, and a substantial one it is.
There's been a long period of peace under the great Rufra's rule, and justice of a sort, but this singular royal has refused to dismantle the Landsmen and repudiate their quest to capture and kill anyone in his realm possessed of magical capabilities. As such, Girton's been left to hide his gift and chafe beneath the roiling tumult such restriction forces upon him.
Our last adventure involves Rufra's ambitious plan to become king of all kings, and the danger inherent in striving toward such lofty aspirations. Deadly plots unfurl as all contenders converge on the city of Ceadoc, the seat of the high king - a poisoned place of archaic custom and mysterious forces that Girton must navigate in an effort not only to protect his lord but those allies his ruler requires to attain this throne. Old grudges must be sublimated, half-hearted loyalties sustained, traps neutralized and schemers vanquished if Rufra is to survive long enough for a vote to be taken.
The tale grows quite a bit darker in its last leg; our author's "menagerie" is the stuff of genuine nightmare. However, I'm happy to report that the character work remains rock-solid and the plotting strong enough to drive the story straight to its final page. This is an impressive introduction to the skills of R.J. Barker - and a trilogy I would unreservedly recommend to the (adult) fans of the work of fantasy favorites Robin Hobb and J.V. Jones. That's the strain on offer here, and a substantial one it is.
April 29, 2019
"Pain like he has never known, the junctures of bone and joints being twisted in ways they were never meant to twist. The sharp edge of the blade digging through his skin and something else, something darker and older and more terrifying. Something that moves along the veins of his body and pours through his blood in a tide of razors. There was nothing like this in the school. It is nothing like the drownings, the brands, the beatings or the hunger. It is worse than anything he has ever imagined."
I'm really good at beginning a series, but not so great at finishing them. I read the sequel over a year ago. WHAT TOOK ME SO LONG TO GET TO THIS?!? I'm wicked thankful for my friends Nils and Cait for urging me to buddy read this with them. Without a doubt, King of Assassins ending up being my favorite of the series!
If you have not read the previous two books, you have been warned! Try as I might to avoid spoilers, it becomes that much more difficult when reviewing the final book in a series. AVERT YOUR EYE HOLES!!
The Wounded Kingdom series jumps through decades. Each installment is a separate story. You *could* read them as individual standalones if you wanted, but why do that? WHY?!? This series is so bloody good. It's best to read them one by one and see the way these glorious characters progress. It's truly quite something!
King of Assassins takes place 15 years after the events in Blood of Assassins. Girton Club-Foot is now 35 years old and is Death's Jester. A plague has ravaged much of the kingdom, leaving a vacant high throne, which King Rufra ap Vthyr is after. Girton is still Rufra's heartblade, but during the time that has passed, they have gone from being the best of friends to having a strained relationship. However, Girton has grown close to Aydor over time.
Girton is searching for an assassin (I MEAN.. HELLO, TITLE!) The suspects begin to pile up, since there are many guilty parties in this world! There is a whirlwind of action among the quieter moments. The last 100 pages or so were especially brutal and I loved every second!
The interludes that weave in and out of the main narrative are gut-punchy, to put it lightly. We finally discover Merela's tragic origin story, which is so intensely emotional. It made me love her that much more as realization dawned on me what it all meant. Puzzle pieces began falling into place. Barker did a fantastic job slowly unraveling the details in such an organic way. Oof.
As I previously mentioned, Barker's characterizations are wonderful. Girton, Merela, Aydor, Rufra, Voniss, Arketh, Marrel, Tinia, Gusteffa, Feorwic, Adran, XUS.. these are all complex, fully-realized individuals. Each character had an important role in telling this story. I've loved the badass Merela since the start, but it was Aydor that I came to absolutely adore by the end of this. Which is surprising, considering the type of person he was in the first book! Trust me.. his character arc is E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!!
I can't discuss genius characterization without mentioning our protagonist Girton. It was incredible watching him grow as a character. We first met him as a teenager that is struggling with his disability, who then becomes a young (sullen) man and now he has grown into this self-assured assassin with an apprentice of his own. Girton is a flawed, multilayered, extraordinary character!
"Once I would have been insulted to have someone discount me so offhandedly, but time had worn down my spikier edges and age had brought with it the gift of knowing my own strengths."
Political intrigue, murder, mystery, espionage, beautifully executed battle scenes, diverse characters. King of Assassins is about revenge and loyalty; love and family; self-discovery and redemption. RJ Barker’s prose is unique and fascinating and just.. it’s great. Really. But above all, the relationship between Merela and Girton is the beating heart of this series. Their bond will forever be my favorite part of these novels. Gut-punchy, difficult, raw and genuine.. it's gorgeous to experience!
The twists were twisty and the turns didn't stop until the last page. My heart was racing once I was done. I felt drained and yet energized. I was a sobbing mess! Saying goodbye to these characters was hard. I AM NOT OKAY, DAMNIT!! Between finishing this and then watching The Battle of Winterfell a few short hours after, I needed a fucking hug and some whiskey. Talk about an emotional day!
I just loved this book so stupid much! It's a thrilling and poignant ending to such a rewarding series.
ALL THE BLOOD-SOAKED STARS!!
(Massive thanks to Orbit Books for sending me a copy ages ago! Sorry for the delay!)
I'm really good at beginning a series, but not so great at finishing them. I read the sequel over a year ago. WHAT TOOK ME SO LONG TO GET TO THIS?!? I'm wicked thankful for my friends Nils and Cait for urging me to buddy read this with them. Without a doubt, King of Assassins ending up being my favorite of the series!
If you have not read the previous two books, you have been warned! Try as I might to avoid spoilers, it becomes that much more difficult when reviewing the final book in a series. AVERT YOUR EYE HOLES!!
The Wounded Kingdom series jumps through decades. Each installment is a separate story. You *could* read them as individual standalones if you wanted, but why do that? WHY?!? This series is so bloody good. It's best to read them one by one and see the way these glorious characters progress. It's truly quite something!
King of Assassins takes place 15 years after the events in Blood of Assassins. Girton Club-Foot is now 35 years old and is Death's Jester. A plague has ravaged much of the kingdom, leaving a vacant high throne, which King Rufra ap Vthyr is after. Girton is still Rufra's heartblade, but during the time that has passed, they have gone from being the best of friends to having a strained relationship. However, Girton has grown close to Aydor over time.
Girton is searching for an assassin (I MEAN.. HELLO, TITLE!) The suspects begin to pile up, since there are many guilty parties in this world! There is a whirlwind of action among the quieter moments. The last 100 pages or so were especially brutal and I loved every second!
The interludes that weave in and out of the main narrative are gut-punchy, to put it lightly. We finally discover Merela's tragic origin story, which is so intensely emotional. It made me love her that much more as realization dawned on me what it all meant. Puzzle pieces began falling into place. Barker did a fantastic job slowly unraveling the details in such an organic way. Oof.
As I previously mentioned, Barker's characterizations are wonderful. Girton, Merela, Aydor, Rufra, Voniss, Arketh, Marrel, Tinia, Gusteffa, Feorwic, Adran, XUS.. these are all complex, fully-realized individuals. Each character had an important role in telling this story. I've loved the badass Merela since the start, but it was Aydor that I came to absolutely adore by the end of this. Which is surprising, considering the type of person he was in the first book! Trust me.. his character arc is E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G!!
I can't discuss genius characterization without mentioning our protagonist Girton. It was incredible watching him grow as a character. We first met him as a teenager that is struggling with his disability, who then becomes a young (sullen) man and now he has grown into this self-assured assassin with an apprentice of his own. Girton is a flawed, multilayered, extraordinary character!
"Once I would have been insulted to have someone discount me so offhandedly, but time had worn down my spikier edges and age had brought with it the gift of knowing my own strengths."
Political intrigue, murder, mystery, espionage, beautifully executed battle scenes, diverse characters. King of Assassins is about revenge and loyalty; love and family; self-discovery and redemption. RJ Barker’s prose is unique and fascinating and just.. it’s great. Really. But above all, the relationship between Merela and Girton is the beating heart of this series. Their bond will forever be my favorite part of these novels. Gut-punchy, difficult, raw and genuine.. it's gorgeous to experience!
The twists were twisty and the turns didn't stop until the last page. My heart was racing once I was done. I felt drained and yet energized. I was a sobbing mess! Saying goodbye to these characters was hard. I AM NOT OKAY, DAMNIT!! Between finishing this and then watching The Battle of Winterfell a few short hours after, I needed a fucking hug and some whiskey. Talk about an emotional day!
I just loved this book so stupid much! It's a thrilling and poignant ending to such a rewarding series.
ALL THE BLOOD-SOAKED STARS!!
(Massive thanks to Orbit Books for sending me a copy ages ago! Sorry for the delay!)
November 11, 2019
King of assassin is taking place sixteen years after the events in book 2 and yes a lot of things had changed but you will say life is like that nothing last forever. Girton club Foot is a full grow man but in a way he changed but he is still the same. On the last book he must go to a place full of dangers the place where the high king rule and it won’t be an eventful journey. As usual RJ Barker weaves his cobweb with plots and treasons at every corners. Let’s say all the enemy aren’t necessary plain to be discover. This is the last act of the assassin, his last sorrowing.
February 23, 2020
Originally posted to I Should Read That
This is a spoiler free review for King of Assassins, however it will contain spoilers for Age of Assassins and Blood of Assassins.
I discovered the Wounded Kingdom series in mid-2019 and devoured it before the year-end -- very uncharacteristic for me, a notoriously slow series reader. I loved the first two books, but was a little wary of finishing it up, as I was seriously let down by two of my most anticipated trilogy conclusions of 2019. However, King of Assassins proved to be the best book in the trilogy and one of the most satisfying ends to a series I’ve ever read.
I don’t want to say a huge amount about King of Assassins, as it takes place so many years after Blood of Assassins and the story and characters have changed so much. It’s well worth diving in knowing as little as possible and experiencing how characters and their situations have shifted and evolved over the years. What I can say is that I absolutely loved the direction that Barker took the story in for the final arc of the trilogy. Throughout the series, he has done a great job of making each book distinct, yet completely connected to the other -- it comes full circle in the most perfect way. I cannot think of a better way to end the series. Although you may cry. I cried.
My favourite aspect of this book is comparing the characters from their introduction in Age of Assassins to to their finished story arc in King of Assassins. Girton is, of course, still a complex man and such a compelling character, but someone else stole the show for me. If you had told me that Ador would end up being my favourite character in the series and he must be protected at all costs, I would have laughed in your face. Ador has some of the best and most believeable character arcs I've ever read and it was such a pleasure to see such an incredibly well-written character.
I cannot recommend The Wounded Kingdom series more highly -- it is one of the most polished and satisfying trilogies I've ever read and I will not stop shouting about it. If you haven't picked up King of Assassins yet, then I highly encourage you do it soon!
This is a spoiler free review for King of Assassins, however it will contain spoilers for Age of Assassins and Blood of Assassins.
I discovered the Wounded Kingdom series in mid-2019 and devoured it before the year-end -- very uncharacteristic for me, a notoriously slow series reader. I loved the first two books, but was a little wary of finishing it up, as I was seriously let down by two of my most anticipated trilogy conclusions of 2019. However, King of Assassins proved to be the best book in the trilogy and one of the most satisfying ends to a series I’ve ever read.
I don’t want to say a huge amount about King of Assassins, as it takes place so many years after Blood of Assassins and the story and characters have changed so much. It’s well worth diving in knowing as little as possible and experiencing how characters and their situations have shifted and evolved over the years. What I can say is that I absolutely loved the direction that Barker took the story in for the final arc of the trilogy. Throughout the series, he has done a great job of making each book distinct, yet completely connected to the other -- it comes full circle in the most perfect way. I cannot think of a better way to end the series. Although you may cry. I cried.
My favourite aspect of this book is comparing the characters from their introduction in Age of Assassins to to their finished story arc in King of Assassins. Girton is, of course, still a complex man and such a compelling character, but someone else stole the show for me. If you had told me that Ador would end up being my favourite character in the series and he must be protected at all costs, I would have laughed in your face. Ador has some of the best and most believeable character arcs I've ever read and it was such a pleasure to see such an incredibly well-written character.
I cannot recommend The Wounded Kingdom series more highly -- it is one of the most polished and satisfying trilogies I've ever read and I will not stop shouting about it. If you haven't picked up King of Assassins yet, then I highly encourage you do it soon!
April 2, 2019
This is a good book to end a very good trilogy.
I found some similarities between R.J. Barker's style and Robin Hobb. I also drew one or two parallels with Tolkien's 'The Hobbit' (Xus; Girton's mount, was similar to the Elf-king's in the 3rd film).
I liked the fact that though Girton has a disability he didn't let it stop him from achieving his goals. I rate the three books as follows;
Blood of Assassins 5-stars
King of Assassins 4-stars
Age of assassins 3.5-stars
This is based on how much I enjoyed the books and has no bearing on the quality of the writing, (which was excellent all the way through).
The reason I've marked this down as a 4-star is the interludes. I didn't find they really did much for me. (Similar to book 1). Don't be put off by my opinion though, you may love them for the same reasons that I did not.
So, if you like your fantasy to be wrapped up in a trilogy (as opposed to a sprawling epic over 10 or 12 books) then this is a very good place to look.
Thanks for reading.
I found some similarities between R.J. Barker's style and Robin Hobb. I also drew one or two parallels with Tolkien's 'The Hobbit' (Xus; Girton's mount, was similar to the Elf-king's in the 3rd film).
I liked the fact that though Girton has a disability he didn't let it stop him from achieving his goals. I rate the three books as follows;
Blood of Assassins 5-stars
King of Assassins 4-stars
Age of assassins 3.5-stars
This is based on how much I enjoyed the books and has no bearing on the quality of the writing, (which was excellent all the way through).
The reason I've marked this down as a 4-star is the interludes. I didn't find they really did much for me. (Similar to book 1). Don't be put off by my opinion though, you may love them for the same reasons that I did not.
So, if you like your fantasy to be wrapped up in a trilogy (as opposed to a sprawling epic over 10 or 12 books) then this is a very good place to look.
Thanks for reading.
August 12, 2018
I love a good tragedy. This is a phenomenal finale.
July 9, 2018
Full review is here on my blog!~
It’s all lead to this one. This review is going to be a bit difficult to word in a way that is not going to spoil anything that was revealed in Age of Assassins, or further revealed in Blood of Assassins but I will do my level best to not be spoilery here. I want you to have all the surprises that I had, and there were plenty! So, I’m not going to give any sort of plot summary, because even the basics are going to spoil at least some part of the first two books for you.
This one was one of those books that was very difficult to put down. Each volume of the series has its own mystery within. They all add to the overall story of the entire trilogy, but each book resolves its own mystery by the end, and this one was no exception. I was only 20% or so in and I had to pry the damn book out of my own hands to make dinner. All kinds of stuff happens that keeps this one a fantastic read from beginning to end.
I love a good story that’s told in the first person, and this one is fantastic example of it. I especially like first person POV when there is a mystery involved and the person whose perspective you are seeing the story from might not see or learn all the parts of it. Girton is a great character to follow, as he is interesting and has very interesting things happen to him… or at least in and around him. He’s such a unique person in this world, and has unique problems within it, and getting the inside scoop, so to speak, is awesome. But seeing this story from Girton’s perspective gives us the chance to uncover the mystery as he does. Gain clues as he does. Maybe see things happen that are a clue but not realize it until it is clearly a clue! Things have happened and now they are smacking you in the face because they matter! Things like that. :)
Like the other books in the series, this one also has interludes every now and then, which are told in a different point of view than the rest of the story, and usually give us a bit of insight into events that aren’t happening right at the time that the rest of the story takes place, but events that tie into those events somehow. The interludes are one of my favorite parts of this series, and the interludes in this one especially give me some backstory on events that I have been really hoping to learn since the very beginning of the whole story.
This book, like Blood of Assassins (and I assume Age of Assassins as well, though I wouldn’t really know because I listened to the audiobook) uses text formatting to its advantage. Clever use of text formatting gave some of the book a bit of flair. In this one, there is a set of dialogue that uses formatting as a tool to show how… odd it is. Out of place, or odd. And it worked. In the specific example I am thinking of, it made it a bit difficult to read, but in a way that definitely shows that what is being said is difficult to understand. There is another section of text that is formatted in a way that shows two definite points of view in one place. This series is, maybe not the first example I’ve known of, but definitely one of the best remembered examples I can think of where text formatting has added to the narrative in some way.
This particular volume is also the darkest of the three books. There are events that happen is this volume that certainly seemed darker or… perhaps more gruesome than in previous installments, and I say that even knowing that this is a story about assassins. Things are coming to light in this one that… well they aren’t great. You learn about things that have happened which are quite shocking, and things that do happen that are quite shocking. There are consequences to things that have happened over the course of the book, and those consequences are catching up.
All told, I thought this was a fantastic conclusion to the series. This series is an example of one of the very best assassin stories I have ever read! Girton is one of those characters that I just can’t help but like. Even when he sometimes makes a decision too hastily, or does something that I don’t necessarily agree with, he’s one of those characters that I just root for. The last few chapters of this one had me very nearly in tears. An emotional and very well put together conclusion.
Thanks to the author, as well as Orbit via NetGalley for the review copy!
It’s all lead to this one. This review is going to be a bit difficult to word in a way that is not going to spoil anything that was revealed in Age of Assassins, or further revealed in Blood of Assassins but I will do my level best to not be spoilery here. I want you to have all the surprises that I had, and there were plenty! So, I’m not going to give any sort of plot summary, because even the basics are going to spoil at least some part of the first two books for you.
This one was one of those books that was very difficult to put down. Each volume of the series has its own mystery within. They all add to the overall story of the entire trilogy, but each book resolves its own mystery by the end, and this one was no exception. I was only 20% or so in and I had to pry the damn book out of my own hands to make dinner. All kinds of stuff happens that keeps this one a fantastic read from beginning to end.
I love a good story that’s told in the first person, and this one is fantastic example of it. I especially like first person POV when there is a mystery involved and the person whose perspective you are seeing the story from might not see or learn all the parts of it. Girton is a great character to follow, as he is interesting and has very interesting things happen to him… or at least in and around him. He’s such a unique person in this world, and has unique problems within it, and getting the inside scoop, so to speak, is awesome. But seeing this story from Girton’s perspective gives us the chance to uncover the mystery as he does. Gain clues as he does. Maybe see things happen that are a clue but not realize it until it is clearly a clue! Things have happened and now they are smacking you in the face because they matter! Things like that. :)
Like the other books in the series, this one also has interludes every now and then, which are told in a different point of view than the rest of the story, and usually give us a bit of insight into events that aren’t happening right at the time that the rest of the story takes place, but events that tie into those events somehow. The interludes are one of my favorite parts of this series, and the interludes in this one especially give me some backstory on events that I have been really hoping to learn since the very beginning of the whole story.
This book, like Blood of Assassins (and I assume Age of Assassins as well, though I wouldn’t really know because I listened to the audiobook) uses text formatting to its advantage. Clever use of text formatting gave some of the book a bit of flair. In this one, there is a set of dialogue that uses formatting as a tool to show how… odd it is. Out of place, or odd. And it worked. In the specific example I am thinking of, it made it a bit difficult to read, but in a way that definitely shows that what is being said is difficult to understand. There is another section of text that is formatted in a way that shows two definite points of view in one place. This series is, maybe not the first example I’ve known of, but definitely one of the best remembered examples I can think of where text formatting has added to the narrative in some way.
This particular volume is also the darkest of the three books. There are events that happen is this volume that certainly seemed darker or… perhaps more gruesome than in previous installments, and I say that even knowing that this is a story about assassins. Things are coming to light in this one that… well they aren’t great. You learn about things that have happened which are quite shocking, and things that do happen that are quite shocking. There are consequences to things that have happened over the course of the book, and those consequences are catching up.
All told, I thought this was a fantastic conclusion to the series. This series is an example of one of the very best assassin stories I have ever read! Girton is one of those characters that I just can’t help but like. Even when he sometimes makes a decision too hastily, or does something that I don’t necessarily agree with, he’s one of those characters that I just root for. The last few chapters of this one had me very nearly in tears. An emotional and very well put together conclusion.
Thanks to the author, as well as Orbit via NetGalley for the review copy!
August 15, 2018
Thanks to Hachette Audio and Libro.fm for an ALC of ‘King of Assassins (The Wounded Kingdom #3)’ in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this ALC in no way influences my thoughts or opinions on the novel, author, or narrator.
The Wounded Kingdom is, to date, one of the BEST fantasy trilogies I have ever read. Girton Club-Foot is, hands-down, one of my favorite characters of all-time and will forever hold a place in my heart. RJ Barker has absolutely earned his place on my ‘must-read’ list for years to come.
Oh, and Joe Jameson killed it AGAIN, per his norm.
The King is Dead. Long Live the King.
Fifteen (15) years have passed since the conclusion of Blood of Assassins (The Wounded Kingdom #2). Maniydoc continues to live peacefully under King Rufra ap Vthyr’s reign, even with the Forgetting Plague sweeping across the rest of the kingdoms and thinning out their populations at an extraordinary rate, which seemed to just pass them by without so much as a sneeze from one of its civilians.
The High-King’s throne now sits vacant and several look to set themselves upon it, whether that simply means by vote or through the use of blades. King Rufra takes his court to the capital in the hopes that he will one day reign, though there are many obstacles set in his path that will hinder his progress. Fortunately for him, Girton is by his side, but even he has his own demons to exorcise and gods to please.
One, My Master…Two, My Master…Three, My Master…
The only thing I am disappointed about with KoA is the fact that it concludes this trilogy. The capital is an evil place, full of enemies to not only Rufra, but to Girton as well for many know of his talents. Another assassin lurks in the background of the main plot, creating constant havoc and turmoil, and pointing all fingers at Girton. But he makes the best of his bad situation, or at least attempts to. He does receive assistance from some of the unlikeliest of places, which makes for a consistently puzzling adventure. It is the mystery that surrounds this entire novel that makes it so intriguing, though it does have some very grimdark moments and intense fight scenes.
The characters of the Wounded Kingdom are truly what shine in these novels. Girton and his master have one of the greatest relationships I have ever seen in fantasy; one of great care, compassion, and grace. I also loved that the author gave us a glimpse into Merela’s past, culminating in such a heart-wrenching ending that I had to pause the audiobook and ball up into the fetal position.
Barker has written a sensational finale to his first series as an author and I simply can’t commend him enough. At this point last year, I thought to put Age of Assassins to the side in order to get on to something else. Now, I can’t believe I didn’t read it sooner. It’s funny how we judge books before we give them chances, only to be completely enamored by what is written. If you haven’t given this series a chance, you are missing out on something truly special.
The Wounded Kingdom is, to date, one of the BEST fantasy trilogies I have ever read. Girton Club-Foot is, hands-down, one of my favorite characters of all-time and will forever hold a place in my heart. RJ Barker has absolutely earned his place on my ‘must-read’ list for years to come.
Oh, and Joe Jameson killed it AGAIN, per his norm.
The King is Dead. Long Live the King.
Fifteen (15) years have passed since the conclusion of Blood of Assassins (The Wounded Kingdom #2). Maniydoc continues to live peacefully under King Rufra ap Vthyr’s reign, even with the Forgetting Plague sweeping across the rest of the kingdoms and thinning out their populations at an extraordinary rate, which seemed to just pass them by without so much as a sneeze from one of its civilians.
The High-King’s throne now sits vacant and several look to set themselves upon it, whether that simply means by vote or through the use of blades. King Rufra takes his court to the capital in the hopes that he will one day reign, though there are many obstacles set in his path that will hinder his progress. Fortunately for him, Girton is by his side, but even he has his own demons to exorcise and gods to please.
One, My Master…Two, My Master…Three, My Master…
The only thing I am disappointed about with KoA is the fact that it concludes this trilogy. The capital is an evil place, full of enemies to not only Rufra, but to Girton as well for many know of his talents. Another assassin lurks in the background of the main plot, creating constant havoc and turmoil, and pointing all fingers at Girton. But he makes the best of his bad situation, or at least attempts to. He does receive assistance from some of the unlikeliest of places, which makes for a consistently puzzling adventure. It is the mystery that surrounds this entire novel that makes it so intriguing, though it does have some very grimdark moments and intense fight scenes.
The characters of the Wounded Kingdom are truly what shine in these novels. Girton and his master have one of the greatest relationships I have ever seen in fantasy; one of great care, compassion, and grace. I also loved that the author gave us a glimpse into Merela’s past, culminating in such a heart-wrenching ending that I had to pause the audiobook and ball up into the fetal position.
Barker has written a sensational finale to his first series as an author and I simply can’t commend him enough. At this point last year, I thought to put Age of Assassins to the side in order to get on to something else. Now, I can’t believe I didn’t read it sooner. It’s funny how we judge books before we give them chances, only to be completely enamored by what is written. If you haven’t given this series a chance, you are missing out on something truly special.
August 2, 2018
As always this review can also be found on my blog The Tattooed Book Geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...
I suffered a burnout reading fantasy after the start of the year and stepped away from the genre indulging in my growing liking for the crime genre (thrillers/mystery). Since then, I’ve gotten back into fantasy (it is my first love) but now temper it with reading more thrillers. The first fantasy book that I read after my burnout was Blood of Assassins (BoA), the mixture of fantasy and thriller merging together really well and acting as a bridge to help me rediscover my lost love for fantasy. Due to this, I have a great appreciation for the mystery elements that Barker has included in his trilogy blending the two genres together like a master storyteller and making The Wounded Kingdom trilogy thrilling fantasy.
It’s always with a sense of melancholy that you start the last book in either a trilogy or a series as come that final page you know that there’s no more. It’s over, the journey ends and you will never again get to spend time with the characters that you’ve come to know and care about.
Yes, of course, there is the chance that the author will revisit the characters and the world a few years down the line and you can always re-read the trilogy or series yourself. But, you won’t get to experience the thrill of reading and finishing for the first time again with all of the subsequent shocks and emotions that accompanied your initial read through.
When you finish a book, though, it’s at the forefront more with either a trilogy or a series as you will have put more time into reading them and come to the end your disappointment will be heightened if that last book fails to live up to your (often lofty) expectations. You will ask yourself, was it worth my precious reading time? And I should answer that question before I continue. So! For The Wounded Kingdom trilogy, was it worth my time? Resoundingly yes! It is a trilogy that was definitely worthy of my time and it is more than worthy of yours too (hint, go and read it).
There were some similarities between Age of Assassins (AoA) and BoA (for those unaware they are the first two books in The Wounded Kingdom trilogy) with both featuring mysteries that needed solving centring around Maniyadoc but the books were also different too. BoA expanded the scope of AoA to include more of the surrounding area (and through Girton’s journey during the time between when the books are set we got to see snippets of the wider world too) but it was mostly the same location as AoA just altered by war and changed by the intervening years.
AoA predominantly took place inside the walls of Castle Maniyadoc whereas quite a lot of BoA took place in the surrounding areas and included far more large battle scenes. King of Assassins (KoA) is similar once again with Barker ramping up the expansion and taking us out into his wider world as we leave behind the confines of Maniyadoc and venture forth to Ceadoc (which is similar to Maniyadoc but far grander in size and scale with a variety of towers, their individual keeps and a town on the outskirts of the castle) and Ruthra’s goal of becoming the new High King and instigating change throughout the Tired Lands.
Rufra, however, isn’t the only one to venture to Ceadoc and stake his claim to the throne of the high king, many others also journey there either for the same reason, they too wish to be the new high king or, to support their chosen candidate. There are many factions in the Tired Lands and many machinations (religious, political and personal) at work in KoA. Ceadoc is rife with betrayals, rivalries, old enemies and new, conspiracies and behind the scenes plotting and scheming.
For me, KoA shares more with AoA than with BoA as there are less large battles and more intrigue and like AoA most of the story takes place within the walls of a castle. Though it is perhaps better of me to write and it’s certainly a true statement to say that KoA takes the best of both of the previous two books and creates the best book of the trilogy. The setting works well for the story told in KoA and Ceadoc itself is a labyrinthine location that feels huge.
The Wounded Kingdom has never been about constant large battles and excessive amounts of fighting. As I mentioned, BoA did have more large battle scenes than AoA (and we finally got to see the mounts in visceral goring action) but the main focus has always been on the characters and the intrigue and not on killing copious amounts of nameless fodder. Whilst that statement rings true for KoA I will point out that there is action aplenty in the book (don’t worry folks, the story isn’t all skulking in shadow and endless politicking) and a battle near the end of the book which serves to propel us towards the climax of the trilogy and also served to satisfy my cravings for exhilarating and bloody action.
The fighting in KoA and The Wounded Kingdom is often incorporated using small-scale fights or duels involving Girton. There is a beauty and a poetry to how he fights, like a dancer, full of grace and moving through various iterations which take him from one move fluidly into the next.
Just like with the previous books a span of years separates the ending of BoA and the start of KoA and we now find Girton Club-Foot under the guise of Death’s Jester (for most of the book) at thirty-five years of age, twenty years older than when we first met him back at the beginning of AoA. Decades have passed and during the course of the trilogy Girton has come of age, grown and matured, he is still flawed and suffers from occasional bouts of self-pity and foolishness but now he has a more measured and world-weary approach and wisdom to him that’s not to say that he isn’t still recognisable as the same character from the start of AoA, he is but like they do with us all both life and time have changed him, Finally, there are plenty of the now compulsory moments where you will find yourself sighing ‘oh, Girton‘ in KoA. In the more than capable hands of Barker, his stellar characterisation (not just for Girton but with other characters too) and his writing Girton really becomes his own unique character.
Girton is the best assassin (though he’s not only an assassin and transcends the moniker to be something more. An amalgamation of both assassin and warrior as adept at killing on the battlefield as from the shadows) in the Tired Lands. Unfortunately, his Detective skills aren’t as good and whilst he’s passable, he’s definitely not Poirot when it comes to solving mysteries and there is plenty of intrigue and mystery in KoA including one particularly sublime scenario involving an impossible killing that Girton needs to solve.
The Forgetting Plague (which is a dreadful disease that after ravaging the physical body leaves its victims as empty husks) has run rampant throughout most of the Tired Lands, decimating the population and killing two out of every three people that caught it. Maniyadoc wasn’t affected, only in places and mainly escaped free of the devastation caused by the plague.
Time isn’t always kind and the once close relationship between Girton and Rufra has cracked and is very far removed from what it once was. Experiences and the weight of being King have changed Rufra. The friendship between the two that was once so strong is still there in very rare glimpses but it is now a more formal, fractured and strained relationship, a King and his subject rather than that of two people who were like brothers.
Many characters return from the previous two instalments and are supplemented with various new characters too. Whilst reading KoA I realised something that I never thought I would write but Aydor turned into one of my favourite reoccurring characters from the entire trilogy (sadly, I can’t explain unless I spoil it, which I won’t, so, you’ll just have to read the trilogy and find it out for yourselves).
One of the standout parts of the whole Wounded Kingdom trilogy for me, has been the relationship between Girton and Merela, his master. Girton is quite hot-headed and Merela is often the calming influence and the water to douse the fire that is Girton guiding him, making him look, think and question before jumping in. Their relationship transcends master and apprentice to something so much more, they both need and thrive off each other and you can see the strength of the bond between them brimming with emotion and resonating from off the pages.
I really like the world-building in The Wounded Kingdom. Barker doesn’t bog you down in overly excessive detail but what you do learn about the world is fascinating, as is the magic system and it is well incorporated into the story.
I’m a sucker for animal companions in fantasy books and whilst Xus (Girton’s Mount) doesn’t get much page time in KoA, he still has a role to play and whenever he does appear he always has a mighty (or should that be mounty, groan) presence.
I have to admit that I wasn’t a big fan of the interludes that Barker previously included. This time, however, I found them to be fantastic, revealing the backstory of a character I had been eager to find out the truth about and instead of taking you out of the current story they added so much more to the whole book.
I’ve mentioned thrillers in my review and for those of you who read that genre, you know that often, you are kept guessing as to the outcome of the story and/or who the actual killer is until the last possible moment. KoA is similar, not with the killer bit (obviously, Girton is an assassin and if there’s killing to be done it’ll more than likely be done by him) but with the outcome bit. Near the end of a book you will often have an idea of which way the wind will blow yet even after the final battle has ended and right up until the final few pages the story in KoA could still go in any one of a number of different directions before things fall into place and Barker ties everything together with a shocking twist and concludes the trilogy……and then there is the epilogue which throws one last revelation at you before you turn the final page.
With KoA Barker has saved the best for last and that is saying something as I loved both of the previous books but damn, you will be hooked, you will read, you will read some more, you will think to yourself ‘fuck it, I’ve got stuff to do‘ and inevitably you will decide ‘sod it, the book is more important‘ and then you will read even more, you’ll care, you’ll be entertained and on occasion, you might even find your eyes welling up with manly tears. If you haven’t yet guessed it then I thought KoA was a remarkable book and I loved it!
King of Assassins is nigh on perfection and a tremendous conclusion to The Wounded Kingdom trilogy.
I’ll end simply with this, for giving me the chance to traverse the Tired Lands, journey with Girton, spend hours lost in your wondrous story and experience The Wounded Kingdom trilogy, R. J. Barker, thank you.
I suffered a burnout reading fantasy after the start of the year and stepped away from the genre indulging in my growing liking for the crime genre (thrillers/mystery). Since then, I’ve gotten back into fantasy (it is my first love) but now temper it with reading more thrillers. The first fantasy book that I read after my burnout was Blood of Assassins (BoA), the mixture of fantasy and thriller merging together really well and acting as a bridge to help me rediscover my lost love for fantasy. Due to this, I have a great appreciation for the mystery elements that Barker has included in his trilogy blending the two genres together like a master storyteller and making The Wounded Kingdom trilogy thrilling fantasy.
It’s always with a sense of melancholy that you start the last book in either a trilogy or a series as come that final page you know that there’s no more. It’s over, the journey ends and you will never again get to spend time with the characters that you’ve come to know and care about.
Yes, of course, there is the chance that the author will revisit the characters and the world a few years down the line and you can always re-read the trilogy or series yourself. But, you won’t get to experience the thrill of reading and finishing for the first time again with all of the subsequent shocks and emotions that accompanied your initial read through.
When you finish a book, though, it’s at the forefront more with either a trilogy or a series as you will have put more time into reading them and come to the end your disappointment will be heightened if that last book fails to live up to your (often lofty) expectations. You will ask yourself, was it worth my precious reading time? And I should answer that question before I continue. So! For The Wounded Kingdom trilogy, was it worth my time? Resoundingly yes! It is a trilogy that was definitely worthy of my time and it is more than worthy of yours too (hint, go and read it).
There were some similarities between Age of Assassins (AoA) and BoA (for those unaware they are the first two books in The Wounded Kingdom trilogy) with both featuring mysteries that needed solving centring around Maniyadoc but the books were also different too. BoA expanded the scope of AoA to include more of the surrounding area (and through Girton’s journey during the time between when the books are set we got to see snippets of the wider world too) but it was mostly the same location as AoA just altered by war and changed by the intervening years.
AoA predominantly took place inside the walls of Castle Maniyadoc whereas quite a lot of BoA took place in the surrounding areas and included far more large battle scenes. King of Assassins (KoA) is similar once again with Barker ramping up the expansion and taking us out into his wider world as we leave behind the confines of Maniyadoc and venture forth to Ceadoc (which is similar to Maniyadoc but far grander in size and scale with a variety of towers, their individual keeps and a town on the outskirts of the castle) and Ruthra’s goal of becoming the new High King and instigating change throughout the Tired Lands.
Rufra, however, isn’t the only one to venture to Ceadoc and stake his claim to the throne of the high king, many others also journey there either for the same reason, they too wish to be the new high king or, to support their chosen candidate. There are many factions in the Tired Lands and many machinations (religious, political and personal) at work in KoA. Ceadoc is rife with betrayals, rivalries, old enemies and new, conspiracies and behind the scenes plotting and scheming.
For me, KoA shares more with AoA than with BoA as there are less large battles and more intrigue and like AoA most of the story takes place within the walls of a castle. Though it is perhaps better of me to write and it’s certainly a true statement to say that KoA takes the best of both of the previous two books and creates the best book of the trilogy. The setting works well for the story told in KoA and Ceadoc itself is a labyrinthine location that feels huge.
The Wounded Kingdom has never been about constant large battles and excessive amounts of fighting. As I mentioned, BoA did have more large battle scenes than AoA (and we finally got to see the mounts in visceral goring action) but the main focus has always been on the characters and the intrigue and not on killing copious amounts of nameless fodder. Whilst that statement rings true for KoA I will point out that there is action aplenty in the book (don’t worry folks, the story isn’t all skulking in shadow and endless politicking) and a battle near the end of the book which serves to propel us towards the climax of the trilogy and also served to satisfy my cravings for exhilarating and bloody action.
The fighting in KoA and The Wounded Kingdom is often incorporated using small-scale fights or duels involving Girton. There is a beauty and a poetry to how he fights, like a dancer, full of grace and moving through various iterations which take him from one move fluidly into the next.
Just like with the previous books a span of years separates the ending of BoA and the start of KoA and we now find Girton Club-Foot under the guise of Death’s Jester (for most of the book) at thirty-five years of age, twenty years older than when we first met him back at the beginning of AoA. Decades have passed and during the course of the trilogy Girton has come of age, grown and matured, he is still flawed and suffers from occasional bouts of self-pity and foolishness but now he has a more measured and world-weary approach and wisdom to him that’s not to say that he isn’t still recognisable as the same character from the start of AoA, he is but like they do with us all both life and time have changed him, Finally, there are plenty of the now compulsory moments where you will find yourself sighing ‘oh, Girton‘ in KoA. In the more than capable hands of Barker, his stellar characterisation (not just for Girton but with other characters too) and his writing Girton really becomes his own unique character.
Girton is the best assassin (though he’s not only an assassin and transcends the moniker to be something more. An amalgamation of both assassin and warrior as adept at killing on the battlefield as from the shadows) in the Tired Lands. Unfortunately, his Detective skills aren’t as good and whilst he’s passable, he’s definitely not Poirot when it comes to solving mysteries and there is plenty of intrigue and mystery in KoA including one particularly sublime scenario involving an impossible killing that Girton needs to solve.
The Forgetting Plague (which is a dreadful disease that after ravaging the physical body leaves its victims as empty husks) has run rampant throughout most of the Tired Lands, decimating the population and killing two out of every three people that caught it. Maniyadoc wasn’t affected, only in places and mainly escaped free of the devastation caused by the plague.
Time isn’t always kind and the once close relationship between Girton and Rufra has cracked and is very far removed from what it once was. Experiences and the weight of being King have changed Rufra. The friendship between the two that was once so strong is still there in very rare glimpses but it is now a more formal, fractured and strained relationship, a King and his subject rather than that of two people who were like brothers.
Many characters return from the previous two instalments and are supplemented with various new characters too. Whilst reading KoA I realised something that I never thought I would write but Aydor turned into one of my favourite reoccurring characters from the entire trilogy (sadly, I can’t explain unless I spoil it, which I won’t, so, you’ll just have to read the trilogy and find it out for yourselves).
One of the standout parts of the whole Wounded Kingdom trilogy for me, has been the relationship between Girton and Merela, his master. Girton is quite hot-headed and Merela is often the calming influence and the water to douse the fire that is Girton guiding him, making him look, think and question before jumping in. Their relationship transcends master and apprentice to something so much more, they both need and thrive off each other and you can see the strength of the bond between them brimming with emotion and resonating from off the pages.
I really like the world-building in The Wounded Kingdom. Barker doesn’t bog you down in overly excessive detail but what you do learn about the world is fascinating, as is the magic system and it is well incorporated into the story.
I’m a sucker for animal companions in fantasy books and whilst Xus (Girton’s Mount) doesn’t get much page time in KoA, he still has a role to play and whenever he does appear he always has a mighty (or should that be mounty, groan) presence.
I have to admit that I wasn’t a big fan of the interludes that Barker previously included. This time, however, I found them to be fantastic, revealing the backstory of a character I had been eager to find out the truth about and instead of taking you out of the current story they added so much more to the whole book.
I’ve mentioned thrillers in my review and for those of you who read that genre, you know that often, you are kept guessing as to the outcome of the story and/or who the actual killer is until the last possible moment. KoA is similar, not with the killer bit (obviously, Girton is an assassin and if there’s killing to be done it’ll more than likely be done by him) but with the outcome bit. Near the end of a book you will often have an idea of which way the wind will blow yet even after the final battle has ended and right up until the final few pages the story in KoA could still go in any one of a number of different directions before things fall into place and Barker ties everything together with a shocking twist and concludes the trilogy……and then there is the epilogue which throws one last revelation at you before you turn the final page.
With KoA Barker has saved the best for last and that is saying something as I loved both of the previous books but damn, you will be hooked, you will read, you will read some more, you will think to yourself ‘fuck it, I’ve got stuff to do‘ and inevitably you will decide ‘sod it, the book is more important‘ and then you will read even more, you’ll care, you’ll be entertained and on occasion, you might even find your eyes welling up with manly tears. If you haven’t yet guessed it then I thought KoA was a remarkable book and I loved it!
King of Assassins is nigh on perfection and a tremendous conclusion to The Wounded Kingdom trilogy.
I’ll end simply with this, for giving me the chance to traverse the Tired Lands, journey with Girton, spend hours lost in your wondrous story and experience The Wounded Kingdom trilogy, R. J. Barker, thank you.
September 30, 2018
King of Assassins by R.J. Barker is the final book in The Wounded Kingdom series and a thrilling tale of murder, betrayal, magic, broken friendships, sibling rivalry and so much more. It picks up roughly 15 years after the Blood of Assassins and for a change we find Girton and Merela in quite a decent and happy place, hanging out together and growing old and playing with Rufra’s children. He has a favourite, a young girl he hopes may have what it takes to become his apprentice and his king’s ideas are beginning to change the politics of the land. He has even become a bit of a celebrity, inspiring a new generation of assassins and providing a platform for some of the other, genuine practisers of the art, to make their come back. It’s a very pretty picture and a moment to enjoy because you know it cannot possibly last.
When the high king of Cedoc kicks the bucket Rufra sees himself as the obvious choice for his replacement so takes his family and friends to play a bit of the old game of thrones. He wants nothing more than to see the policies that have lifted the poor and outlawed slavery flourish across the land. He really is a good and honourable man, especially because when he wants someone dead he only intimates this to his assassin and leaves it to him, as opposed to directly ordering him. Yeah. It’s a fine line. In the wounded kingdom things are never as black and white as the Death’s Jester makeup Girton wears. The reality is things are a lot greyer as characters you’ve come to see as part of the ‘good guys’ teams are revealed to be less squeaky clean and more complex and nuanced than expected. The same goes for characters that were initially very easy to dislike who have now become trusted friends and close allies of Rufra, in particular Aydor who I remember being an insufferable shit in Age of Assassins.
This third and final book is the best volume of the series, which in my opinion is something very difficult to achieve, especially taking into account the spread of time between the three books. It is a journey over decades and it is wonderful. Barker has to reinvent the characters each time showing development and change whilst also holding onto the elements and the pieces of familiarity that made the reader fall in love with them in the first place. Plus it’s so rare to find oneself with an instant inclination to start at the very beginning of a series so quickly after wrapping it up but I cannot help but think this is the best way to get the true story behind The Wounded Kingdom. The one that is constantly at play in the background but never intrudes until the very last moments, the one that shows us the mirror image of everything we thought we knew and flips it upside down. The reason for this is that I was in complete awe at the end of King of Assassins. The amount of threads that came together, that displayed their true colours for the first time, that revealed how interwoven they were from the very first book is utterly stunning.
King of Assassins is a masterful finale, thoroughly entertaining and constantly impressive. It is beautifully written and sports a reveal that makes Keyser Söze look like a rank amateur and had me itching to go back to the start and discover everything I missed the first time round. I cannot recommend this series highly enough.
When the high king of Cedoc kicks the bucket Rufra sees himself as the obvious choice for his replacement so takes his family and friends to play a bit of the old game of thrones. He wants nothing more than to see the policies that have lifted the poor and outlawed slavery flourish across the land. He really is a good and honourable man, especially because when he wants someone dead he only intimates this to his assassin and leaves it to him, as opposed to directly ordering him. Yeah. It’s a fine line. In the wounded kingdom things are never as black and white as the Death’s Jester makeup Girton wears. The reality is things are a lot greyer as characters you’ve come to see as part of the ‘good guys’ teams are revealed to be less squeaky clean and more complex and nuanced than expected. The same goes for characters that were initially very easy to dislike who have now become trusted friends and close allies of Rufra, in particular Aydor who I remember being an insufferable shit in Age of Assassins.
This third and final book is the best volume of the series, which in my opinion is something very difficult to achieve, especially taking into account the spread of time between the three books. It is a journey over decades and it is wonderful. Barker has to reinvent the characters each time showing development and change whilst also holding onto the elements and the pieces of familiarity that made the reader fall in love with them in the first place. Plus it’s so rare to find oneself with an instant inclination to start at the very beginning of a series so quickly after wrapping it up but I cannot help but think this is the best way to get the true story behind The Wounded Kingdom. The one that is constantly at play in the background but never intrudes until the very last moments, the one that shows us the mirror image of everything we thought we knew and flips it upside down. The reason for this is that I was in complete awe at the end of King of Assassins. The amount of threads that came together, that displayed their true colours for the first time, that revealed how interwoven they were from the very first book is utterly stunning.
King of Assassins is a masterful finale, thoroughly entertaining and constantly impressive. It is beautifully written and sports a reveal that makes Keyser Söze look like a rank amateur and had me itching to go back to the start and discover everything I missed the first time round. I cannot recommend this series highly enough.
November 4, 2018
King of Assassins is the best book in the series, period. RJ Barker found the right balance between action, dialogue, grit, and mystery. To my liking, the book was much darker than those that came before. The menagerie, particularly, was a horrible delight. If you have gotten this far in the series, FINISH IT. You will not be disappointed.
April 9, 2019
It took me 12 days to finish this one...12 days!!!! I confess to doing a lot of skimming the last 150 pages cos else I would still be here after 2 weeks.
Something was just not there. I enjoyed the two previous ones, but this one, nah, it felt slow, it dragged, it was a chore and I no longer felt the world.
I must say, it made me feel that I am done with this author if hershe makes me feel like this for this last book.
It had good parts, but most were ok, or just boring. Soulless.
And srsly, EVERYONE else loved it, EVERYONE
Arghhh what is wrong with me?!
Something was just not there. I enjoyed the two previous ones, but this one, nah, it felt slow, it dragged, it was a chore and I no longer felt the world.
I must say, it made me feel that I am done with this author if hershe makes me feel like this for this last book.
It had good parts, but most were ok, or just boring. Soulless.
And srsly, EVERYONE else loved it, EVERYONE
Arghhh what is wrong with me?!
December 16, 2018
What a beautiful series. The ending is fitting and satisfying. It left me sad and broody.
This series is a book about assassins, they are a special kind and the fight scenes are like a dance. There is plenty of disturbing and stabby stabby scenes throughout the book. There is also magic, a kind that eats its surroundings. It only takes. But the way Barker tells this assassin tale is through a journey of emotion, deep and sad and sometimes disturbing. We have a flawed main character called Girton, who makes his choices and sometimes regrets them. We all make mistakes. We go through the concequences with Girton and through the series we see how it shapes him. I found this such a pleasent read. It is so well fleshed out and takes you along easily!
This trilogy has plenty of action but also a certain slowness, the plot has a lot of mysteries to solve and has a lot of lurking and finding out what is going on. With the beautiful prose and focus on character growth this was a perfect combination in my opinion!
I am keeping my eyes out for more future work!
This series is a book about assassins, they are a special kind and the fight scenes are like a dance. There is plenty of disturbing and stabby stabby scenes throughout the book. There is also magic, a kind that eats its surroundings. It only takes. But the way Barker tells this assassin tale is through a journey of emotion, deep and sad and sometimes disturbing. We have a flawed main character called Girton, who makes his choices and sometimes regrets them. We all make mistakes. We go through the concequences with Girton and through the series we see how it shapes him. I found this such a pleasent read. It is so well fleshed out and takes you along easily!
This trilogy has plenty of action but also a certain slowness, the plot has a lot of mysteries to solve and has a lot of lurking and finding out what is going on. With the beautiful prose and focus on character growth this was a perfect combination in my opinion!
I am keeping my eyes out for more future work!
July 26, 2023
4.5 stars (rounded up)
Now, THAT is how you write a finale. I am very much a ‘beginnings’ person, so it’s rare for me to love a series more and more as I read on, but King of Assassins is easily one of the best finales I have ever read.
When I first found out that this series has significant time-jumps between each book, I got a bit wary. I am very much a character-driven reader and I like to be there with my characters every step along the way, but I should’ve known that I could trust R.J. Barker to handle this well.
The character development over the course of this series, which spans roughly 25-30 years, is absolutely astounding. Seeing how much the characters have grown (or deteriorated?) since the start of the series was so beautiful and I loved exploring all the shifting character dynamics over time. This series has one of the BEST redemption arcs I have ever read, making a character I despised in book 1 now one of my all-time favourite (side) characters in the entire SFF genre.
In this finale, I particularly enjoyed finally getting answers to questions that I had been sitting with since book 1. The world building continues to be largely elusive and mysterious, but we do get all the answers we needed for this story to wrap up in a satisfying way. Every single story thread gets resolved, though some in more surprising and painful ways than others.
Especially the backstory of Girton’s master, Merela, turned out to be everything I didn’t know I needed. Her story was absolutely devastating and I loved seeing how Girton ultimately became the one who (unknowingly) saved her life and put her on a path of light again. Their mentor/mentee relationship is simply incredible, and I loved seeing their dynamic develop over the course of the series. Their bond is so unbelievably deep and there was one pivotal scene that got me to tear up because of all the emotional weight that it carried, and I absolutely loved that.
The conclusion is terribly bittersweet, which is truly the only fitting way for this series to end. There is so much tragedy and pain in this story, and it wasn’t until I was reading all the gut wrenching scenes in this book that I realised just how emotionally invested I had become.
The simple yet lyrical prose just reaches right into your soul and makes all the emotional beats hit all the harder. Also, the sense of atmosphere that he is able to establish is just so captivating and I was completely immersed from start to finish.
Barker is simply a masterful and bold storyteller who isn’t afraid to defy genre and reader expectations, which is exactly what makes his works stand out from the crowd.
Safe to say, I am absolutely blown away by this finale and I have a feeling that I have found a new favourite author.
The Wounded Kingdom series is a character-driven dark fantasy with assassins who actually assassinate, mysterious and immersive world building, incredibly compelling character dynamics, riveting mysteries, cutthroat political intrigue, and all the emotional turmoil you could ever wish for. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Now, THAT is how you write a finale. I am very much a ‘beginnings’ person, so it’s rare for me to love a series more and more as I read on, but King of Assassins is easily one of the best finales I have ever read.
When I first found out that this series has significant time-jumps between each book, I got a bit wary. I am very much a character-driven reader and I like to be there with my characters every step along the way, but I should’ve known that I could trust R.J. Barker to handle this well.
The character development over the course of this series, which spans roughly 25-30 years, is absolutely astounding. Seeing how much the characters have grown (or deteriorated?) since the start of the series was so beautiful and I loved exploring all the shifting character dynamics over time. This series has one of the BEST redemption arcs I have ever read, making a character I despised in book 1 now one of my all-time favourite (side) characters in the entire SFF genre.
In this finale, I particularly enjoyed finally getting answers to questions that I had been sitting with since book 1. The world building continues to be largely elusive and mysterious, but we do get all the answers we needed for this story to wrap up in a satisfying way. Every single story thread gets resolved, though some in more surprising and painful ways than others.
Especially the backstory of Girton’s master, Merela, turned out to be everything I didn’t know I needed. Her story was absolutely devastating and I loved seeing how Girton ultimately became the one who (unknowingly) saved her life and put her on a path of light again. Their mentor/mentee relationship is simply incredible, and I loved seeing their dynamic develop over the course of the series. Their bond is so unbelievably deep and there was one pivotal scene that got me to tear up because of all the emotional weight that it carried, and I absolutely loved that.
The conclusion is terribly bittersweet, which is truly the only fitting way for this series to end. There is so much tragedy and pain in this story, and it wasn’t until I was reading all the gut wrenching scenes in this book that I realised just how emotionally invested I had become.
The simple yet lyrical prose just reaches right into your soul and makes all the emotional beats hit all the harder. Also, the sense of atmosphere that he is able to establish is just so captivating and I was completely immersed from start to finish.
Barker is simply a masterful and bold storyteller who isn’t afraid to defy genre and reader expectations, which is exactly what makes his works stand out from the crowd.
Safe to say, I am absolutely blown away by this finale and I have a feeling that I have found a new favourite author.
The Wounded Kingdom series is a character-driven dark fantasy with assassins who actually assassinate, mysterious and immersive world building, incredibly compelling character dynamics, riveting mysteries, cutthroat political intrigue, and all the emotional turmoil you could ever wish for. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
October 10, 2018
The concluding volume of an amazing introductory (for, of and by the author) series, King of Assassins is amazing.
Perhaps- while wholly unique and distinctive- not since Fitzchivalry FarSeer have I been so quickly enraptured in the first person perspective that RJ Baker bestows upon Girton Club-Foot, the mage-bent.
It would be difficult to describe the plot, in my opinion, without offering notes that could dip into spoiler categories.
So, instead, let me perhaps, offer up 'similar to's':
- if you like the introspection of Fitz by Robin Hobb, give this series a try because Girton is for you
- if you like the edge of darkness for characters, similar to a current genre master, Mark Lawrence, then this book, and the Wounded Kingdom is for your
- if you relish in the agony of seeing the excellence by which the author deftly opens the first person perspective 'just enough' for you to recognize the imperfections of the main character, this is for you.
- if you're ok with concentrated plots- and all 3 of the books in the series, including this one- are highly focused (similar to, in concentration if not tone, early books of the Wheel of Time)
- if you want books similar to the thematic excellence of true 'tragic' main characters, this is for you.
Let me be clear- Girton is flawed. He's myopic, if you will, of those around him- and, as Aydor so bluntly (and accurately stated)- he's stubborn... but those moments from tip to toe with Aydor, with Drusl (book one), Tinia (this book), Xus (horse and Deity)... with Merela, ahh Merela... Bueno!
RJ Baker's tone and stylistic nuances struck a chord with me. His thematic voice shines brightly in this tome, and in this series.
I hope he revisits the world he started here; however, regardless, when his next tome reaches the (virtual) bookshelves, I will be reading it.
For any one else: Read his works, read this series, and conclude it with this book - now.
TLDR: Excellent!
Perhaps- while wholly unique and distinctive- not since Fitzchivalry FarSeer have I been so quickly enraptured in the first person perspective that RJ Baker bestows upon Girton Club-Foot, the mage-bent.
It would be difficult to describe the plot, in my opinion, without offering notes that could dip into spoiler categories.
So, instead, let me perhaps, offer up 'similar to's':
- if you like the introspection of Fitz by Robin Hobb, give this series a try because Girton is for you
- if you like the edge of darkness for characters, similar to a current genre master, Mark Lawrence, then this book, and the Wounded Kingdom is for your
- if you relish in the agony of seeing the excellence by which the author deftly opens the first person perspective 'just enough' for you to recognize the imperfections of the main character, this is for you.
- if you're ok with concentrated plots- and all 3 of the books in the series, including this one- are highly focused (similar to, in concentration if not tone, early books of the Wheel of Time)
- if you want books similar to the thematic excellence of true 'tragic' main characters, this is for you.
Let me be clear- Girton is flawed. He's myopic, if you will, of those around him- and, as Aydor so bluntly (and accurately stated)- he's stubborn... but those moments from tip to toe with Aydor, with Drusl (book one), Tinia (this book), Xus (horse and Deity)... with Merela, ahh Merela... Bueno!
RJ Baker's tone and stylistic nuances struck a chord with me. His thematic voice shines brightly in this tome, and in this series.
I hope he revisits the world he started here; however, regardless, when his next tome reaches the (virtual) bookshelves, I will be reading it.
For any one else: Read his works, read this series, and conclude it with this book - now.
TLDR: Excellent!
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