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The Perfect Assassin

(The Chronicles of Ghadid #1)

K.A. Doore (Goodreads Author)

3.86 · Rating details · 932 ratings · 274 reviews

A novice assassin is on the hunt for someone killing their own in K. A. Doore's The Perfect Assassin, a breakout high fantasy beginning the Chronicles of Ghadid series.

Divine justice is written in blood.

Or so Amastan has been taught. As a new assassin in the Basbowen family, he’s already having second thoughts about taking a life. A scarcity of contracts ends up being just ...more

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Paperback, 350 pages

Published March 19th 2019 by Tor Books

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Feb 12, 2019 Acqua rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, predictable, adult, db, fantasy, loved-it, mystery-th-su, q, qm, assassin

The Perfect Assassin is the first book in the high fantasy series Chronicles of Ghadid, which follows a family of assassins in a desert city. I found it a solid, imaginative and very gay debut - but don't go into it expecting a romance.
This first book follows Amastan, an unusually reluctant assassin, as he has to find and kill a mysterious murderer on the run and survive the attacks of angered jaani.

The first thing that stood out to me about this book was the worldbuilding: Ghadid has now become The Perfect Assassin is the first book in the high fantasy series Chronicles of Ghadid, which follows a family of assassins in a desert city. I found it a solid, imaginative and very gay debut - but don't go into it expecting a romance.
This first book follows Amastan, an unusually reluctant assassin, as he has to find and kill a mysterious murderer on the run and survive the attacks of angered jaani.

The first thing that stood out to me about this book was the worldbuilding: Ghadid has now become one of my favorite fantasy cities and it's been a while since I read a book whose world I loved so much.

Let's talk about Ghadid: it's a city in the desert, and of course I love atmospheric desert fantasy, but it's also a city built in the sky where people run and fight on rooftops. It's built over pylons, which would have made it one of the most interesting settings ever even if the characters hadn't risked to get attacked by angry undeads spirits every day. Another thing I loved was the way the magic system was tied to the setting and to the economy. I always appreciate when that happens - the last time I saw it was in Jade City, I think - because it makes the world feel more real. In Ghadid, water is magic, water is wealth, water is money - which makes sense in a place where dying of thirst is not so uncommon after all.

I have read many fantasy books that followed groups of assassins, gangs, and guilds, but I had never read anything about a family whose role was to kill dangerous people - like spies or water-wasters - in a way that didn't further damage the city. The Perfect Assassin talks about assassins and morality, because at its heart, this book is about whether killing can ever be just. It doesn't give you an answer, it gives you the elements to draw your own conclusions, which I really appreciated.
What it said about "what makes a perfect assassin" was also really interesting to read, especially for the way it was tied to the main character's development.

I could describe this book as a fantasy mystery, because that's what it was about, but as the mystery aspect was somewhat disappointing and really predictable - I found the foreshadowing to be clumsy and very heavy-handed at times - I'm not sure I would recommend it for that. I'd rather say that it's perfect for those who want something with the atmosphere of S.A. Chakraborty's City of Brass and Tasha Suri's Empire of Sand but with tighter pacing and far more queer characters. The main character likes men, is implied to be asexual, and also read as demiromantic to me (but I'm not sure that's canon), there is a prominent female side character who is in a relationship with a woman, and multiple other queer side characters. ...more

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May 31, 2019 anna (½ of readsrainbow) rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1-fantasy, 2-mlm, 2-protags-of-color, 2-lgbt, pub-2019, 2-lgbt-authors, 5-adult-lit, 2-sff-non-western-world, 2-side-sapphic

rep: poc cast, gay ace mc, side lesbian characters

very extremely gay, with a great water (and economy!) based magic system & a cool setting inspired heavily by islamic culture

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Mar 06, 2019 TS Chan rated it liked it

Shelves: arc-review-copy

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

A decent debut, The Perfect Assassin impressed me most with its fascinating worldbuilding.

It is refreshing to see more and more fantasy releases of late not relying on the more traditional Europe-centric medieval setting for its worldbuilding. In The Perfect Assassin, the setting was decidedly Middle Eastern with an interesting twist. Ghadid was a city built hundreds of feet above sand dunes, made up of nume I received an advanced reading copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

A decent debut, The Perfect Assassin impressed me most with its fascinating worldbuilding.

It is refreshing to see more and more fantasy releases of late not relying on the more traditional Europe-centric medieval setting for its worldbuilding. In The Perfect Assassin, the setting was decidedly Middle Eastern with an interesting twist. Ghadid was a city built hundreds of feet above sand dunes, made up of numerous connected platforms balanced on top of pylons. As the spirits of the deceased roam the sand dunes seeking for new bodies, such construction of the city was meant as a form of protection. The possession of such spirits can render a person mad, and sometimes even kill. My favourite element in the worldbuilding was the currency of water, which fit well into the desert scenario. The commodity was not only precious for sustaining life, it also powered miraculous healing and the magic needed to control the deadly spirits. As such, the deliberate act of wasting water can bring about a death sentence.

The story was primarily centred around a murder mystery. One which was tasked to a freshly ‘graduated’ assassin to solve. Amastan was not your usual assassin. While he was delighted to pass his final test, he was also relieved that learn that there was a ban on assassin contracts because he wasn’t certain that he can kill. A senior official, termed as a drum chief, was found dead when contracts were supposed to be non-existent. And Amastan had to find out who did it, or his entire family of assassins would take the fall for the murder.

I love mysteries in my stories. It can overshadow the assassin aspect and I’d still be fine with it, so long as I also cared about the characters. This was where the book fell short for me. The writing was easy to read. The setting was atmospheric. Some of the action scenes were exciting. However, I was just not fully invested in Amastan, the main protagonist. I wouldn’t call the character development disengaging as we do get to be in Amastan’s head pretty much all the time. Somehow or rather, the character development didn’t resonate with me all that much. For those who are looking for diversity and inclusiveness in their reads, you would get LGBT representation in this book. And for the record please, the gay romance had absolutely no bearing on how I felt about the characterisation.

The handling of the plot and pacing also felt a bit clumsy at times. Fortunately, it did not extend to the ending which I found satisfactory. The title of the book can be deceiving as well, as it did not in any way allude to a story about a superlative assassin with loads of badass action. It did, nonetheless, make sense right at the end.

The Perfect Assassin will be released on 19th Mar 2019.

You can pre-order this book from: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Book Depository (Free shipping worldwide)

You can also find this and my other reviews at Novel Notions. ...more

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May 14, 2020 Holly (Holly Hearts Books) rated it it was ok

I’m so sad I didn’t love this but everything from the world and characters felt very base level. There wasn’t a whole lot of depth to anything.

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Jan 02, 2019 Silvia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: rep-gay, fantasy, rep-ace

A perfect 4.5 stars aaaaaaah I'm rounding up because I never not enjoyed it

Also my pre-review ↓ was 100% correct

____
I don't know but it sounds like "be gay, undo crime" would be one way to describe this book

...more

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Feb 02, 2019 Terence rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs-and-galleys

Amastan has trained to be an assassin. After completing his final test, he learns there are no contracts and he feels relieved. His relief is short lived when he discovers the body of one of Ghadid's leaders, a drum chief. Amastan finds himself ordered to solve the murder of the drum chief soon or he and his assassin family will pay the consequences. On top of all that the spirit of the deceased is roaming free seeking a new body.

The Perfect Assassin is a murder mystery with slightly different s ...more

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Aug 04, 2020 Ellie (faerieontheshelf) added it

Shelves: aspec-august, lgbtqia, recieved-for-review, fantasy

rtc!

Read for #AspecAugust 2020. Thank you to the publishers for a finished copy in exchange for an honest review! <3 ...more

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Dec 05, 2018 Megan Lyons rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

3 1/2 stars

This was a very solid fantasy. I tend to really like books with assassin's and thieves as the main characters, and this was done well. The world building and plotting were strong, though I felt like the central mystery was a bit too obvious.

Honestly, I feel like I should have liked the book more. I think it lacked a little in terms of characters. They weren't as memorable as I would have liked, which caused the book to drag a little in the beginning. However, the ending was strong, s ...more

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May 30, 2020 Holly (The Grimdragon) rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi, the-infinite-library

“At the time, becoming an assassin had seemed both exciting and intangible. He’d wanted to learn everything. He knew all there was to know about how to fire glass, but how to fight, how to climb, how to hide, how to conceal, how to poison–he knew nothing. When he’d learned how to kill, he’d been fascinated. A person could die in so many ways. Life was surprisingly fragile.”

The Perfect Assassin is the first installment in The Chronicles of Ghadid series by K.A. Doore.

As someone who doesn’t read m ...more

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Mar 19, 2019 The Captain rated it it was ok

Shelves: young-adult

Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .

Now obviously the title and cover are what grabbed me attention for this one. I love me some assassins so I had to read this author's debut novel. This story follows Amastan who is training to be an assassin. However, he is unsure if he will be able to kill when the time comes. Life becomes difficult when he stumbles across the body of a clan leader that has Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .

Now obviously the title and cover are what grabbed me attention for this one. I love me some assassins so I had to read this author's debut novel. This story follows Amastan who is training to be an assassin. However, he is unsure if he will be able to kill when the time comes. Life becomes difficult when he stumbles across the body of a clan leader that has been murdered. Then other assassins start being murdered. The uneasy spirits of the dead begin to gather in the city and are intent on harm. Amastan has to find the murderer before the fabric holding the city together breaks.

I thought overall that this was a solid book. It did feel like a YA title even though it doesn't seem to be marketed as such. I felt that the world building was the best part of the book. The city is set on a platform above a desert and water is scarce. I enjoyed the currency set around water. I enjoyed that women hold high positions in society. I liked the LGBTQ relationships. I thought the set-up of the murders was rather nice and intriguing. I also liked the jaani who are malevolent spirits of the dead.

In the end however, I did not like many of the plot points. Most of this stems from the identity of the killer which I saw from far away while hoping that I was wrong. I wasn't. So very sad and rather cliche. The murder mystery plot ended up being shoddy in terms of how it was solved. I also wished that the jaani played a more awesome role. How that problem was wrapped up was also lackluster.

I am glad I finished the book and I did enjoy it. Apparently there is a second book in the series even though this book reads as a standalone. The next book may be from a different point of view. I am not sure if the world building is strong enough for me to want to read it. That said, I am interested in the author's future work based on the solid foundation of this tale. Arrr!

So lastly . . .

Thank you Macmillian-Tor/Forge!

Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp... ...more

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Jul 27, 2018 Dan rated it it was amazing

This book is so much fun!

K.A. Doore writes the way an assassin creeps up on a mark. Her prose glides effortlessly, leading readers along with clues and misdirection that's never heavy-handed.

But I think the most impressive feat was the balancing act Doore strikes throughout.
This is a story about assassins, and it definitely delivers on the fight scenes, but it also doesn't revel in violence. A murder mystery drives the plot forward, while the rich secondary world setting will delight fantasy re ...more

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Mar 26, 2019 Kyle rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sf-fantasy, lgbtqia

I enjoyed it for the most part.

It’s hard to put into words why this type of story speaks to me; I guess I’m just a sucker for fantasy, conflicted assassins, mystery, and angst. I also can’t neglect to mention the good amount of representation presented in this book: an Asexual main character, a gay character, two lesbian assassins... and all POC. Speaking on the characters, however, a majority were fairly two-dimensional. Amastan and Tamella were nearly there in being fully fleshed-out, but they ...more

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Mar 25, 2019 Lady H rated it it was ok

Shelves: read-in-2019

I'm struggling to decide how to rate and review this. I decidedly did not enjoy it, yet I'm not sure that makes it a bad book.

I found this book incredibly boring. Now, that's hard to do, when your premise is a fantasy murder mystery with assassins. But it was. So, so boring. For one thing, the book is marketed as being about assassins, but you find out within the first chapter that these assassins 1) operate within the boundaries of the legal system and 2) are no longer allowed to kill anyone, I'm struggling to decide how to rate and review this. I decidedly did not enjoy it, yet I'm not sure that makes it a bad book.

I found this book incredibly boring. Now, that's hard to do, when your premise is a fantasy murder mystery with assassins. But it was. So, so boring. For one thing, the book is marketed as being about assassins, but you find out within the first chapter that these assassins 1) operate within the boundaries of the legal system and 2) are no longer allowed to kill anyone, as per this legal system. So...no assassinating. I don't think I liked this particular representation of assassins, though that's just my personal taste.

But anyway - yes, folks start dying, and Amastan has to figure it out. It all felt a little bit contrived from the get-go. And then things just plod along at a snail's pace. So much of the plot felt repetitive and so much was formulaic and predictable. It was like I could see this book's behind-the-scenes outline, because I knew exactly everything that was going to happen. I mean, how can you have a decent murder mystery when there's really only one suspect? It was so incredibly obvious what was going to happen, and it was just...so cliche. And so many scenes felt shoehorned, inserted only as filler.

I wasn't as invested in Amastan as I wanted to be. I liked the idea of his character, but for some reason I just never connected with him. I didn't care about any of the side characters, who were barely fleshed out. The book tried to have some interesting conversations about whether killing can ever be just or justified, but I just...didn't care. It wasn't as hard-hitting as it thought it was. There was just something keeping me at arm's length the entire time.

So, why am I hesitating with this rating? Because I really enjoyed the worldbuilding. It was clever and original. Ghadid is a city built on pylons above the sand dunes to keep safe from wild jaani, spirits that can possess you and make you go mad. This was easily the best and creepiest part of the book; I loved this idea. Also, the worldbuilding is heavily tied with the economy; water is scarce and is therefore tied in with the currency. Little things about the world were interesting too. For example, people cover their faces in public. The world is casually gender neutral and queer. I wanted to know a little more about where Ghadid sat within the apparent "Empire" that came out of left field halfway through the book, but overall I do think the worldbuilding was pretty fantastic. Unfortunately that's all I liked about this book.

I feel kind of guilty giving this such a low rating because I truly don't think it was a terrible book by any means, but I was just...so bored. And it was so predictable. Basically, this is a great world to set a story in, but I very much wish it had been a different story than the one we got. ...more

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Nov 29, 2019 rin (￣ヘ￣) read/watch mo dao zu shi rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019

i long for the day where i have a longer attention span than a goldfish but my hyperfixations wouldn't let me

anyway that's the first book I've finished since june and it only took me like. 4 months to read. utterly tragic

the book is good tho ...more

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Feb 13, 2019 Chris rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: review-copy-net-galley

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

From the blurb, "A novice assassin is on the hunt for someone killing their own..." this pretty much sums it up nicely. I was pleased with this debut effort from K.A. Doore, who may very well be an author to keep an eye on.

Great worldbuilding and lots of action highlight this one, and though some of the twists and turns aren't totally surprising, the novel was very well written and engaging all the way through.

I understand that ...more

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Mar 12, 2019 Lauren Stoolfire rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery, fantasy, epic-fantasy, lgbtq

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Perfect Assassin (The Chronicles of Ghadid #1) by K.A. Doore is an epic fantasy novel featuring a reluctant assassin from a family of assassins. I didn't know how much I needed to read about assassins who kill the dangerous and those who endanger their city. Doore is fantastic at world-building and the character arcs are pretty cool to follow over the course of the story - the city of Ghadid itself is practically a character i ...more

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Aug 23, 2018 Nathan Makaryk rated it it was amazing

Really unique fantasy world, and a far departure from the usual “slight-variation-of-medieval-England” so common in fantasy. I tore through my advance copy in mere days. I loved the supernatural element in this world, and how it gave profound and terrifying consequences to the main characters’ actions. Fast-paced, fun to read, check it out!

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May 04, 2019 Sam Hawke rated it it was amazing

Fuller thoughts to come but I LOVED this book, with its DEADLY BUT ALSO SOFT SQUISHY ASSASSINS and the worldbuilding and the mystery, it was just a bloody delight. Go buy it.

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Jan 17, 2021 rachel ☾ rated it liked it

Shelves: adult-lit, 2021, own, rep-queer-author, fantasy, 3-star, rep-queer

#2) The Impossible Contract ★★★☆☆

➸ Trigger warnings for (view spoiler).

▷ Representation: full poc cast; Amast ...more

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Nov 29, 2018 Andrea Rothman rated it it was amazing

I received an advanced reader copy of this book, coming out March 19. This is the first book in a series about Ghadid, a desert city built on platforms, that is terrifying as much as it is magical. I was absorbed by the story of Amastan, a young novice assassin who has reservations about killing but who ultimately has chosen this way of life for himself. He is extremely modest, courageous, and utterly compelling as a character. His personal life, which is masterfully weaved in the action, kept m ...more

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Jan 02, 2019 Sarah rated it really liked it

Shelves: other-world, 2019-release, lgbtq-protagonists, fantasy, protag-male

Like the sound of queer fantasy assassins? Then The Perfect Assassin is the book for you.

Amastan’s family has an important place in the city of Ghadid. They protect it from the shadows, assassinating criminals who need to be taken care of quietly. Amastan has just earned his place as the newest assassin in the family, but he’s secretly worried that he doesn’t have what it takes to kill. So when he finds out that the family’s been blackballed by Ghadid’s rulers and that no new contracts are on th Like the sound of queer fantasy assassins? Then The Perfect Assassin is the book for you.

Amastan’s family has an important place in the city of Ghadid. They protect it from the shadows, assassinating criminals who need to be taken care of quietly. Amastan has just earned his place as the newest assassin in the family, but he’s secretly worried that he doesn’t have what it takes to kill. So when he finds out that the family’s been blackballed by Ghadid’s rulers and that no new contracts are on the horizon, he’s relieved. Only, he soon gets an assignment after all — a drum chief, one of the rulers of the city, has been murdered, and his jaan (AKA his murderous ghost) has been running rampant through the city. Either Amastan finds the true killer, or his family gets the blame.

I loved the world building in The Perfect Assassin. Ghadid is a desert city and their society is built around the needs of their environment, mainly the importance of water. They are elevated above the desert floor and the murderous jaan that roam it, but with the dry season lingering and water supplies growing low, the city still has plenty of problems. The platforms the city is built on are the remnants of a long-ago civilization. While this is a fairly common convention in fantasy, used well it gives the world a sense of history and mystery… and it’s used well here.

As I mentioned at the beginning of my review, The Perfect Assassin is delightfully queer. Amastan is asexual and has a male love interest. They’re far from the only queer people in the book, and the world building lacks any notable homophobia. There are same-sex marriages and no hint that they’re anything other than completely normal, which is a refreshing change.

I was never super invested in Amastan’s romantic subplot, but that’s okay because I still cared about Amastan himself and the city of Ghadid. Also, if you’re a regular reader of my reviews, you’ll know it takes a lot to get me interested in romantic subplots. Amastan is an interesting protagonist, and I enjoyed how he and the narrative grappled with the morality of assassination in a way I haven’t seen from other fantasy assassin stories. Also, I appreciate the presence of numerous, well-written women in supporting roles. This is a fantasy novel with a male protagonist, but it isn’t a novel dominated by men.

In terms of criticism, I found the beginning of the novel a bit slow, but it did pick up speed eventually. I also figured out the culprit before Amastan… but I think I was supposed to. Sometimes the tension of knowing something the protagonist doesn’t is more interesting than the tension of an unsolved mystery.

The Perfect Assassin is the first in a series, but the plot stands on its own. Overall, it’s a strong debut novel, and I plan to read the sequel!

I received an ARC in exchange for a free and honest reveiw.

Review from The Illustrated Page.t ...more

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Jul 17, 2018 Ellen rated it it was amazing

K.A. Doore's debut novel is spectacular. I was fortunate enough to receive one of the ARCs and WOW. First and foremost, the world is tangible. I tasted sand in my teeth, I felt the blessed moisture in Ghadid's pumphouses, I smelled the threat of jaan. I am so thrilled to (not soon enough) read two more novels set in this beautiful, brilliantly constructed city atop the sand. Not only is the world well-constructed, but it also unfolds expertly. K.A. Doore does an incredible job of introducing the ...more

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Mar 24, 2019 Amber rated it it was amazing

Shelves: netgalley-reviews

I received a complimentary copy of this e-book ARC from the author, publisher, and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Amastan is training to be an assassin like the rest of his family. When he discovers a murder, it is up to him to find out who did it. Can he do so and clear his name before he is accused of being the killer? Read on and find out for yourself.

This was a pretty good action-packed fantasy read. It was full of intrigue and more. If you love stories like this, be sure to chec ...more

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Aug 20, 2018 Kim rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, read-in-2018, ebook, read-in-2021

5 Stars

The blurbs don’t lie. Those rooftop scenes are exquisite.

Amastan is a scribe by day, assassin by night. Or he would be if contracts weren’t banned. Instead of hunting marks and eliminating Ghadid’s problems, Amastan practices with fellow assassins on Ghadid's many rooftops. And one such night leads to the discovery of a Drum Chief’s body. Amastan takes on the task of discovering who killed the Drum Chief. But soon there are two more bodies and wild jaan running loose with a taste for reve 5 Stars

The blurbs don’t lie. Those rooftop scenes are exquisite.

Amastan is a scribe by day, assassin by night. Or he would be if contracts weren’t banned. Instead of hunting marks and eliminating Ghadid’s problems, Amastan practices with fellow assassins on Ghadid's many rooftops. And one such night leads to the discovery of a Drum Chief’s body. Amastan takes on the task of discovering who killed the Drum Chief. But soon there are two more bodies and wild jaan running loose with a taste for revenge. With the end of season drawing near, Amastan is running out of time. And if he can’t find the murderer, and quiet the jaan, then more people could die. And he’s too determined to let that happen.

--

I cannot tell you how much I loved this book. I nearly died when I received an early copy.

The world of Ghadid is so incredibly detailed that I truly felt transported there. K.A. Doore clearly has a firm grasp of her world and all its potential and possibilities. The city of Ghadid towers high above the sands and has a unique setup of wires and carriages to reach the ground, and Doore makes sure you know how it works. Which I enjoyed because I had some confusion about this city in the sky. So often in fantasy works, I feel like I am left to fill in the blanks of how things work, but Doore’s writing is clear and left me with very few questions about how this world, and this city, functioned. The different aspects of desert living like the heat and water usage are well worked into the plot, and I think that was part of what made this world feel so concrete. I left with a good understanding of how jaan work, which makes me very excited to read on. I can only assume they’ll continue to play an intriguing part in future books and I can’t wait to see what more trouble they can cause.

I loved every character. Their individual personalities and their complex relationships were so good. I adore Amastan of course, but my second favorite is probably Menna. Her added experience keeps the jaan from becoming confusing while her general existence keeps some good bits of humor in what could easily become a dark plot. I’d say more but I wouldn’t want to ruin someone’s joy of discovering the other characters on their own. I loved them, I worried for them.

(Though, I will say I’m a sucker for cranky older mentor-ish characters and this book’s got one and he’s awesome)

The plot keeps you on your toes, always waiting for a jaani to pop out or the murderer to suddenly attack from a rooftop or the shadows. And it was fun to go along with Amastan as he tried to put together the pieces of this puzzle. I couldn't tear my eyes away from tense or actiony scenes and every time I had to put it down I couldn't wait to return to it.

If I had deducted stars, then I would tell you why here. But I was truly impressed by this book. It quickly became one of my favorite books, and it’s definitely going to remain one of my favorites. I can’t wait to see what book 2 has in store. ...more

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Jun 03, 2017 Anya rated it it was amazing

Beta read this and it is AMAZING!!!!!!

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May 13, 2019 Freya Marske rated it really liked it

Fantastic worldbuilding, a murder mystery, some impeccably exciting action sequences, and a sprinkling of fraught queer romance! Exactly my kind of genre-soup.

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Jun 02, 2020 Anna Stephens rated it really liked it

A brilliantly inventive world and an absorbing cast of characters make this a debut that packs a punch. Though I'm not entirely sure I've forgiven the author yet...
Ghadid is a city above the endless sands of the desert, connected by a series of pumps to an aquifer filled once per year by the annual storms. This makes for a VERY intriguing society and barter/magic/economical system whereby those who plan poorly run out of tokens to access water before the end of season and, basically, die. To co ...more

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Sep 29, 2020 Aleksandra rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-releases

This was a solid adult fantasy novel, featuring ace protagonist, set in a desert fantasy type of world. The book is a murder mystery story.
Amin El Gamal has done a great job narrating this audiobook.
I’m rating it three stars because the book was fine but it didn’t gripped me. However I do think I’ll be listening to book2 in the series because it’s narrated by my favorite narrator Suehyla El-Attar.

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Mar 06, 2019 Ash | Wild Heart Reads rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-reviews, ace-rep, adult-fiction, lgbtqia, fantasy, queer-side-characters

High above the sands, the people of Ghadid are desperately waiting for the end of the season, but they will find that it's not just running out of water that might kill them. Wild jaan are on the loose, a killer is stalking the streets and long buried secrets are being unearthed.

"Courage, after all, isn't an absence of fear-it's doing something despite the fear. I'll know you'll find that courage when you need it."

The Perfect Assassin is what I can only call a cute assassin story. Do High above the sands, the people of Ghadid are desperately waiting for the end of the season, but they will find that it's not just running out of water that might kill them. Wild jaan are on the loose, a killer is stalking the streets and long buried secrets are being unearthed.

"Courage, after all, isn't an absence of fear-it's doing something despite the fear. I'll know you'll find that courage when you need it."

The Perfect Assassin is what I can only call a cute assassin story. Don't get me wrongs there's murders and assassins but it was such a soft, cathartic read. I think this comes down to the marshmallow that is Amastan. Amastan is an ace and homo-romantic assassin who has just completed his training but he's not so sure he's cut out to be an assassin, after all most don't complete their training and feel relief that there have be no contracts for years and they might never have to take one. I loved following Amastan so much and I love him. The relationship between Amastan and Yufit was just so tender and it was a joy watching it unfold.

What I love about The Perfect Assassin is how it tackles the concept of assassins and murder. With Amastan at the front this isn't a book that ignores the consequences of assassinating someone nor is it taken lightly, the Family don't just run around murdering people willy-nilly. As Amastan says, they walk a very fine line between justice and murder.

Everything builds to a crescendo and as the story unfolds and the secrets come to light it gets intense. Even once the killer is revealed The Perfect Assassin still grips you until the very last word. I didn't see that ending coming and even though it was bittersweet I couldn't see it ending any other way. Which I think says something about Doore's writing because I tend to prefer ending where everything wraps up nicely and the slate is wiped clean and everyone's happy. Yet this was perfect because it didn't do that, it was the only way to end it given how Doore doesn't let any of her characters get off scot-free from the consequences of their actions.

"When you asked for tea instead of baats-was that a need or a want?" Amastan's whole face grew hot. He fought the urge to tug his tagel up over his eyes and hide.

I'm hoping the finished copy has some sort of map of Ghadid. Whilst it's set entirely in Ghadid or on the sands next to it, a map of the city and it's sections would have helped orientate myself a bit.

I highly recommend The Perfect Assassin. It's a beautifully crafted story with an amazing setting and wonderful characters. Even as the pace ramps up Amastan is like a soft hug where the world is a more beautiful place with him in it.

*I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own*

This review and more can be found at https://wildheartreads.wordpress.com/ ...more

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Apr 06, 2019 Tessa rated it it was amazing

An Ace main character that struggles with loyalty, murder, and defining himself. This isn’t your typical queer coming of age story. In a world where queer relationships seem commonplace, a 19 year old struggles to find his place in his family legacy while investigating a series of murders that could destroy it. Intricate world building, morally complex, hints of magic, spine chilling action scenes, and political intrigue. This desert world isn’t built for happily ever afters, though it is home t ...more

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About K.A. Doore

K.A. Doore

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K.A. Doore grew up in Florida, but has since lived in lush Washington, arid Arizona, and cherry-infused-everything Michigan. While recovering from climate whiplash, she has raised chickens, learned entirely too much about property assessment, photographed cacti, and now develops online trainings, none of which has anything to do with – or perhaps has everything to do with – her BA in Classics.

She ...more