[Buddy Reads] The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke

[Katie]

This thread may contain spoilers.
Please put anything plot-related under Spoiler tag, or if you are not sure just Spoiler your whole post.

"Ananna of the Tanarau abandons ship when her parents try to marry her off to another pirate clan. But that only prompts the scorned clan to send an assassin after her. When Ananna faces him down one night, armed with magic she doesn't really know how to use, she accidentally activates a curse binding them together."

Planned Schedule: 6 Chapters per week, total of 18 chapters over 3 weeks

[Fuwa]

I think I already said in discord how I felt the first few pages. That it felt childish.

Here's a short thought for up to chapter 4.
(view spoiler)[Naji is cool. Naji will be the reason I resume this novel. He's not oh-my-god-so-cool-perfect, but he's decent. He makes sense.

The main character that I forgot her name just... annoys me.

I don't hate how the story is progressing though. I quite like it.

Just wishing the main character redeems herself somehow. (hide spoiler)]

[Fuwa]

I just finished chapter 6.

I changed my mind, I'd suggest reading a few more chapters. I can understand why Ananna narrates the way she does, even if it's not the kind of vibe that I fancy from a main character, it makes sense.

The assassin though, gotta say, makes the story worth it so far.

(view spoiler)[I really enjoy reading about Naji. Not necessarily someone I'd consider my type, but he has all the qualities of an interesting character in my opinion and I feel like I'm playing DnD with a badass character, which made the story thrilling.

I love how Ananna describe him doing magic and giving her the charm as if he gave a part of him. Though he's cursed to do it, it's still my type of start to a love line. If they are gonna make romance out of these two, I want Ananna to grow up a bit more first. (hide spoiler)]

Overall I think the author redeemed herself in chapter 5 and 6 by making supporting characters interesting.

[Katie]

I agree the book really picks up once we're introduced to the titular assassin and actually get the main plot rolling.

As of this post I've already finished the book and about 50% of the next book (oops) so I'll just try to make some general comments on how I feel about it

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STORY
Without going into spoilers I think the plot/story and worldbuilding was quite interesting enough to keep me invested and wanting to keep reading to find out what happens, with the caveat being that the beginning backstory was a slog to get through. That said, I feel there were too many times where I feel like poor writing breaks immersion or where the characters behave in such absurd ways that I have to stop and cringe. The motivation for character decisions feel floaty and like mechanisms to move the plot forward.

With spoilers:
(view spoiler)[I can't stand the part where the meet the river witch and Naji is just SMITTEN with her even though she's a huge jerk. Perhaps this is why I stopped reading around here for several months, altho idk because where I picked up, they were just about leaving her house. This is just such a random irrelevant character lore.

I do really like the whole worldbuilding around the Jadorr'a and the blood magic system and the order. And even the other magic systems like the river or sea witches, the northern wizards etc. And also the mechanics of the curse is interesting to go into. I find myself reading to find out how they're going to deal with the curse, but also for the romantic subplot even though that part can get annoying

Since I mentioned it, I actually like the romance they have going on, and it felt like it was building up slowly and naturally. But like I said, the Leilla or whatever her name is thing is off putting lol. Also it feels like the characters are a little oblivious and maybe a little TOO innocent considering they are a pirate and an assassin.. but that's kind of typical for the genre. (hide spoiler)]

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CHARACTERS
So, I think it's often true that one of the most important things for stories is to have likable characters, and to be honest, I don't particularly like these characters. Ananna is a childish brat who doesn't know how to grow up and angrily misunderstands things all the time. Naji is a sulking, brooding, emo with a one-track-mind and is easily triggered. The more of the story I read, the MORE the characters feel totally one-dimensional to me. I also find it hard to picture them in my mind because of how random they seem to behave sometimes. If I had to pick between them, I like Naji more because at least he is mature and has cool powers.

With spoilers:
(view spoiler)[Theres not much to add under a spoiler tag cause their characters don't develop throughout the story. In the case of Naji I feel like he gets even worse because I becomes less mature and too much like a child where Ananna has to do like everything for him. I actually at first enjoyed moments where Naji would use all his power and Ananna would have to take care of him in turn, but I think this scenario just gets used too much, and Naji just gets headaches and whines to Ananna about her being in slight danger too much. I WANT to see them get better and be less annoying.. I like the set up of the story and the roles the characters play together, I just do not like the character-writing and development and it feels like lost potential. (hide spoiler)]

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PIRATE'S WISH
I don't want to say too much about book 2, and I've tried to leave out any content from book 2 in the above review. I just want to say one thing about it
Spoiler:
(view spoiler)[I absolutely LOVE the manticore. Best character. This series is redeemed. That is all. (hide spoiler)]

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SUMMARY
I didn't exactly mean to dunk on it so much, I do find reading it very enjoyable - and that's why the annoying parts are more pronounced. Anyway the overall story and world is definitely the strong part of this series. The magic system, various parties that sail the seas /the piracy system, the world and environment they exist in, etc are all very cool to read about and I want to find out more. Reading about where the curse is going, the backstory of Naji and his order and what he needs to do, are all very compelling. There's just too many contrived incidences, and characters are one-dimensional, and the writing makes the narrative hard to understand sometimes. So overall I gave book 1 a 3/5 - I liked it enough but I don't think it's amazing, emotionally compelling, or a must-read.

[Fuwa]

I finally finished Book 1, and boy, I gotta scream "WHAAAATT???". It doesn't feel like a conclusion at all. I know there was gonna be a second book, but that felt more like an end to a chapter instead of a book.

I agree that the story is and world building is interesting enough to keep me going, more the story and motivation than the world building. I did enjoy reading about the world they're in, but it's very forgettable.

I did sometimes feel that it's exhausting to continue despite having fun with reading it, maybe those came from poor writing. I thought I got used to the narration, but eh, guess it still wasn't my taste.

(view spoiler)[As for Leila and Naji, well, I didn't find it a problem, lol. I dislike Leila, but her character works in that book in my opinion. I think it's just the stereotypical way of saying men can't resist beautiful woman. And while Naji did kinda resist, she was actively charming anyone in her way, so it makes a lot of sense.

I like the romance as well, though that end where Ananna moved on from "Idk what this feeling is" or "Well I know but I don't want to say it" to "I'm in love with this man" just because of the mention of a kiss is just too.... I'll just say sudden, because that's how it feels like for me.

Also, I hope they would actually explain later the reasoning behind the impossible curse impossible cures, because if they don't I will feel very sad. It's like a good world build and then dump true love kiss out of nowhere. (hide spoiler)]

Going to read the 2nd part soon.

[Katie]

Yeah definitely does not feel like a complete story, so I feel it's no wonder they combined the 2 volumes together later. I guess the author or publisher wanted to put something out earlier/before the second half was finished so they just originally put it out half at a time?

(view spoiler)[Yeah I guess you're right to Naji's credit, Leila is a witch who regularly charms guys. Just kind of felt like it was added in as a reason for Ananna to get jealous.

Agreed that the romance was kind of strangely paced. I think cause their actions don't match their thoughts very well (hide spoiler)]

btw how do you pronounce Ananna in your head? It's been bothering me ever since I started reading... I switch between making it rhyme with "Banana" (Anne-Anne-Uh) or making it rhyme with something like "Fauna" (Awn-Awn-Uh)

[Fuwa]

I pronounced it as A-naan-na

[Fuwa]

Thinking about it now, maybe your Anne -Anne -Uh is more accurate

[Fuwa]

Finally finished it. I agree, Manticore is the best character

[Fuwa]

I don't have much feeling about the second book.
I feel like the title should be exchanged. Coz the first book was about Ananna's wish to be free and the second focused more on Naji's curse.

[Katie]

I finished it! Not much to add. I couldn't really get immersed/emotionally invested in this series cause the characters feel too unrealistic or unrelatable to me. Maybe the narrator's accents just throws me off too much, idk.

Ahah you're right, the titles of the books could have been switched and still be accurate.