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Age of Assassins

(The Wounded Kingdom Book 1) To catch an assassin, use an assassin...
By RJ Barker
Series: The Wounded Kingdom
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3.95 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 6,095 ratings, 789 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Age of Assassins by RJ Barker is set in a kingdom on the brink of change, where a young assassin named Girton Club-foot must navigate a treacherous court to uncover a deadly plot. Tasked with investigating a conspiracy, Girton and his master delve into a web of deceit and danger. The story mingles magic and intrigue, exploring themes of loyalty, identity, and survival in a richly detailed fantasy world.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you enjoy fast-paced fantasy tales featuring complex characters and intricate plots, this book may captivate you with its mix of political intrigue and dark magic. With a compelling assassin protagonist, it explores themes of loyalty and survival in a richly detailed world.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

It's a game of assassin versus assassin when Girton Club-Foot and his master are hired by the queen to catch a killer who's after her son. Set in a world ravaged by magic and the ambition of noblemen, this debut epic fantasy features a cast of assassins, knights and fools which will delight any fan of Brent Weeks, David Dalglish or Robin Hobb

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Look out for The Bone Ships, the start of a new fantasy series by RJ Barker!

Age of Assassins reveals its mysteries with the style of a magic show and the artful grace of a gifted storyteller - Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld

TO CATCH AN ASSASSIN, USE AN ASSASSIN...

Girton Club-Foot, apprentice to the land's best assassin, still has much to learn about the art of taking lives. But his latest mission tasks Girton and his master with a far more difficult challenge: to save a life. Someone, or many someones, is trying to kill the heir to the throne, and it is up to Girton and his master to uncover the traitor and prevent the prince's murder.

In a kingdom on the brink of civil war and a castle thick with lies, Girton finds friends he never expected, responsibilities he never wanted, and a conspiracy that could destroy an entire land.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE DAVID GEMMELL AWARDS 2018

SHORTLISTED FOR THE KITSCHIE AWARDS 2018

'Dead gods, dread magic, and a lead that feels like a breath of fresh air. Great fun' - Peter Newman, author of The Vagrant

'Outstanding. Beautifully written, perfectly paced and assured. Kept me reading well into the early hours of the morning. A wonderful first book - a wonderful book, period - that should be at the very top of your to-read list' - James Islington, author of The Shadow of What Was Lost

'Simply unputdownable . . . the perfect mix of fantasy and mystery' - Fantasy Book Review

'With an original, immersive world that wouldn't let me go and a pair of assassins worth rooting for, Age of Assassins is a pleasure to read. I can't wait for more!' - Melissa Caruso, author of The Tethered Mage

'A dark-humoured game of cat and mouse between assassins, with traitors on all sides' - David Dalglish, author of the Shadowdance series

Age of Assassins builds a compelling fantasy world and peoples it with characters you can care about. Riddled with intrigue and dangerous magic, this is a hugely enjoyable debut' - Jen Williams, author of The Copper Promise

Age of Assassins is a beguiling story of action and intrigue combined with a poignancy and humour that are as sharp as any blade' - Jon Skovron, author of Hope and Red

Compellingly complex political intrigue and steel-sparking action sequences leavened by warm humour and genuine emotional depth' - Chris Brookmyre, author of the Jack Parlabane novels

The Wounded Kingdom trilogy begins with AGE OF ASSASSINS, continues with BLOOD OF ASSASSINS and will continue with KING OF ASSASSINS.

Series: The Wounded Kingdom

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  • Age of Assassins
    Look out for The Bone Ships, the start of a new fantasy series by RJ Barker! Age of Assassins reveals its mysteries with the style of a magic show and the artful grace of a gifted storyteller - Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld TO CATCH AN ASSASSIN, USE AN ASSASSIN... Girton Club-Foot, apprentice to the land's best...
    By RJ Barker
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • King of Assassins
    Look out for The Bone Ships, the start of a new series by RJ Barker! 'Reveals its mysteries with the style of a magic show and the artful grace of a gifted storyteller' Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld THE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING . . . Many years of peace have passed in Maniyadoc,...
    By RJ Barker
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Blood of Assassins
    Look out for The Bone Ships, the start of a new series by RJ Barker! 'Reveals its mysteries with the style of a magic show and the artful grace of a gifted storyteller' Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld TO SAVE A KING, KILL A KING . . . The assassin Girton Club-foot and his master have returned...
    By RJ Barker
    Paperback
    Sold Out

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Age of Assassins by RJ Barker has been praised for its compelling blend of fantasy and mystery, featuring a captivating and original world. Readers appreciate the immersive storytelling and engaging characters, particularly the duo of assassins. The book's beautiful writing and perfect pacing have been highlighted, with many finding it difficult to put down until the early hours. It is described as an outstanding, beguiling mix of action, intrigue, poignancy, and humour.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780356508542

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 August 2017

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Orbit

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 29.0mm

Width: 169.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 296g

Pages: 432

Collections

Fantasy Fiction General Fiction RJ Barker Sci-Fi & Fantasy Series: The Wounded Kingdom

About the Author

RJ Barker lives in Leeds with his wife, son and 'a collection of questionable taxidermy'. He grew up reading whatever he could get his hands on, and having played in a rock band before deciding he was a rubbish musician, RJ returned to his first love, fiction, to find he is rather better at that. As well as his debut epic fantasy series, the Wounded Kingdom trilogy (Age of Assassins, Blood of Assassins and King of Assassins) RJ has written short stories and historical scripts which have been performed across the country. He has the sort of flowing locks any cavalier would be proud of. RJ's novel The Bone Ships is the winner of the British Fantasy Society's Best Novel, aka the Robert Holdstock Award.

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  • The Bone Ships
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  • Gods of the Wyrdwood: The Forsaken Trilogy, Book 1
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    'Swashbuckling awesomeness . . . a definite winner' John Gwynne, author of Malice Call of the Bone Ships takes readers on an exhilarating journey into a vividly imagined world filled with honour, glory, and fierce battles. As the much-anticipated sequel to RJ Barker's The Bone Ships, this captivating epic fantasy novel delves deeper into the perilous lives of its characters...
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    'You fear the forest... It is not foolish.' His words rang like bells in the clearing, each face reacting to their din. 'But the forest does not hate you, it does not hunt you. It simply does not care about you.' The Forester known as Cahan led the village of Harn in rebellion against the all-powerful, oppressive forces of the...
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    Look out for The Bone Ships, the start of a new series by RJ Barker! 'Reveals its mysteries with the style of a magic show and the artful grace of a gifted storyteller' Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld THE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING . . . Many years of peace have passed in Maniyadoc,...
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    OUR LANDS ARE WILD WITH GODS, OUR WOODS ARE WILD WITH MONSTERS . . . Cahan du Nahare is known as the forester - a humble man who can nonetheless navigate the dangerous Wyrdwood like no-one else. But once he was more. Once he was a warrior. Udinny serves the goddess of the lost, a goddess of the small and...
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  • Heart of the Wyrdwood
    That thing in Tiltspire, it keeps Cahan like a trophy. It says to us, here is your strongest and I have killed him. Cahan Du Nahare is lost, taken by a dark god whose tendrils reach throughout the world, intent on its destruction. Those who followed Cahan are spread across the land, desperate and lost now fate has turned against...
    By RJ Barker
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  • Heart of the Wyrdwood
    'That thing in Tiltspire, it keeps Cahan like a trophy. It says to us, here is your strongest and I have killed him.'Cahan Du Nahare is lost, taken by a dark god whose tendrils reach throughout the world, intent on its destruction. Those who followed Cahan are spread across the land, desperate and lost now fate has turned against them....
    By RJ Barker
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  • Warlords of Wyrdwood
    You fear the forest.. It is not foolish. His words rang like bells in the clearing, each face reacting to their din. But the forest does not hate you, it does not hunt you. It simply does not care about you. The Forester known as Cahan led the village of Harn in rebellion against the all-powerful, oppressive forces of the...
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  • Blood of Assassins
    Look out for The Bone Ships, the start of a new series by RJ Barker! 'Reveals its mysteries with the style of a magic show and the artful grace of a gifted storyteller' Nicholas Eames, author of Kings of the Wyld TO SAVE A KING, KILL A KING . . . The assassin Girton Club-foot and his master have returned...
    By RJ Barker
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