Deathsworn (Deathsworn #1)

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Author(s)

Leah Cypess

Publisher

Greenwillow Books

Genre(s)

Age Range

13+

Release Date

March 04, 2014

ISBN

0062221213

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When Ileni lost her magic, she lost everything: her place in society, her purpose in life, and the man she had expected to spend her life with. So when the Elders sent her to be magic tutor to a secret sect of assassins, she went willingly, even though the last two tutors had died under mysterious circumstances.

But beneath the assassins’ caves, Ileni will discover a new place and a new purpose… and a new and dangerous love. She will struggle to keep her lost magic a secret while teaching it to her deadly students, and to find out what happened to the two tutors who preceded her. But what she discovers will change not only her future, but the future of her people, the assassins… and possibly the entire world.

Editor reviews

2 reviews

Assassins and magic and murder, oh my!

March 04, 2014 (Updated: March 04, 2014)

Overall rating

3.7

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What I Loved:
As a fantasy fan, I'm ashamed to say that this is my first foray into Leah Cypess's work. DEATHSWORN is a great place to start, though. I was immediately drawn into the world of the assassins in their dark, twisting caves and the Master who sees all. It was fascinating to see how they almost have a hive-like mindset, where every assassin's greatest desire is to please the Master, even if that means a painful death. They have a mission that has spanned centuries, and every action they take has meaning in the greater scheme. The reader slowly comes to realize just how wide the web is and how much the Master controls.

In fantasy, you see a lot of stories of individuals coming into their own, discovering powers they never knew they had. Ileni's journey is the opposite. Once, she was powerful sorcerer and the girl who had the most promise. Now her magic drains faster each day, until she'll have nothing left. I really felt for her as she struggled to come to grips with this weaker version of herself. I loved how Ileni felt powerless but didn't act like it. Her determination never wavered and she didn't lose her head when her life was in danger.

What Left Me Wanting More:
The romance felt a bit rushed to me, though I will say that I love the idea of it and I love even more where it left off at the end of the novel. That felt like the most realistic outcome of the two characters' situations. I'm really curious about how the relationship will progress.

I've already mentioned how much I enjoyed the world of assassins, but I want to know even more about where Ileni comes from and the Empire everyone is fighting against. It wasn't fully fleshed out for me, but based on how the novel ended, I have a feeling I'll get my wish in the next books.

Speaking of the ending, it made me really excited to see what Ileni does next.

Final Verdict:
DEATHSWORN is a dangerous fantasy story full of high stakes, deadly assassins, and a heroine you can't help but root for.

Ellie, Assistant Promotions Manager Top 100 Reviewer 59 reviews

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Utterly addictive

November 29, 2014

Overall rating

4.3

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'"Pretty, isn't it?" he said. "Didn't the Elders tell you about this?"

"Of course," Ileni said stiffly, letting the magelight vanish.

What they had said, actually, was 'Parts of the caves are very beautiful, but don't let that distract you from the evil within them.''

The good thing about losing everything, is that you've got nothing more to lose.

Ileni had everything - her magic, her society, a future, and even love. And like anyone, she expected those things to be permanent.

Until the day they weren't. Until the day she lost her magic.

Faced with such a crippling revelation about her abilities, Ileni was given an ultimatum by the Elders: to live a purposeless life shunned by society, or to become a magic tutor to a secret sect of assassins.

Enter a whole new world where death is a part of everyday life and each and every person has more than one weapon up their sleeve.

Willingly, Ileni leaves behind the only life she's even known to tutor assassins in the ways of magic. But that isn't her only task. Two of Ileni's predecessors died beneath the assassin's caves under mysterious circumstances, and Ileni is determined to discover why...and by whose hand.

Secrets will come to light...but which ones?

Ileni tries to balance staying alive with solving the mystery before her, whilst keeping her own secrets safe. But nothing that goes on beneath the assassin's caves is truly secret...not from the Master of the Assassins. And he is not someone Ileni wishes to have as an enemy - not when his words hold such sway over the assassins. Even assassins like Sorin.

Unlikely allies can be found in the darkest of places.

Against her better judgement, Ileni is drawn to Sorin - a skilled assassin, who is all the more dangerous due to his hidden streak of independence. Walking a fine line between obeying the Master and embracing freedom, Sorin offers Ileni his protection and his aid in discovering the killer of the previous tutors.

Yet, when loyalties are tested, will Sorin choose Ileni...or the life of an assassin, the only life he's ever known?

Dangerous. Addictive. Stunning.

Death Sworn is as sharp as a sword, with a twisting plot that readers will not be able to tear their eyes and imaginations away from. A cross between Sarah J Maas' Throne of Glass and Maria V Snyder's Poison Study, it is another fantastic tale filled with bravery, wicked weaponry and exemplary characters who will not disappoint.