I read this on vacation, lazily choosing it from my Nook library when I realized it had gone unnoticed for the past few months. Though a good story for an escape while nestled in the hotel sheets, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
At 188 pages, it was a quick read. It’s Clarke’s debut novel, for a debut, it really wasn’t bad. However, I didn’t quite feel the ‘wow factor’, either.
On one hand, the story was very imaginative and original. I’ve read my fair share of pirate and assassin books (respectively), but this was completely different than anything I’ve ever read.
The story begins with a runaway pirate bride on a camel. No joke. Her betrothed is angry, and his family sends an assassin after her—she ultimately saves the assassin’s life, which means he is forever indebted—or cursed—to protect her. She is unable to leave his side, which is obviously pretty frustrating. Together, they work to find a cure for the curse.
There is mystery and magic. Intrigue and an elaborately fabricated world. The two main characters are pretty complex, though I found myself grinding my teeth at Ananna’s uneducated pirate speak. If she used the word ‘ain’t’ in a sentence one more time, I thought I was going to flip.
In all, the book was decent, but it wasn’t spectacular. I’m not sure I’ll pick up the second book, but I don’t regret reading the first! I gave it 3/5 stars on Goodreads for being average.
lifebetweenreads.com 