Cauldron of Iniquity

The Cloak and Dagger #3

by Anne Lesley Groell

Known as the Cloak and Dagger, rookie assassins Jenifleur and Thibault have been hired as bodyguards for a temporary job. But in world of high-tech drugs, death is permanent..

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy

448 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1999

About the author

Editor and author Anne Lesley Groell is a native New Yorker who grew up on the Upper West Side. She received a B.A. in Biology from Yale University and a M.S. in Developmental Biology from the University of California at Irvine, specializing in limb regeneration in salamanders. Eventually, missing seasons, she returned to the Upper West Side, where she still resides, to become an editor and writer. She worked for two and a half years at Avon Books, then moved on to Bantam, where she is a SF/Fantasy editor for Bantam Spectra , editing such authors as George R. R. Martin, Robin Hobb, Connie Willis, Lynn Flewelling, Mark Anthony, Catherine Asaro, Kay Kenyon and John Marco. In addition to being an editor, she is also a popular fantasy author. Her first published novel, Anvil of the Sun, was released from Penguin/Roc in 1996; Bridge of Valor, the sequel, in 1997; and Cauldron of Iniquity, in 1999. The three novels follow the adventures of the fledgling assassins, Jenifleur and Thibault, as they strive to become full members of the legendary Assassin's Guild. Her books are a blend of fantasy, adventure and romance which have been highly praised by publications such as Locus, Starlog and Romantic Times. In addition to her vivid characters, her stories are also known for their inventive settings and their wonderful sense of humor.

Reviews

[Amber DiTullio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cauldron of Iniquity was actually the first Cloak and Dagger novel I picked up. I got it in the grocery store one day and picked it up because the cover interested me. Being as inattentive as I sometimes have a tendency to be, I didn't realize that it was part of a series until I got it home. But I read it anyway and I was incredibly glad to have done so.

Jen, Thib, Vera and Absolom are back for the third installment of the series. This time, Jen & Thib have been given a bodyguard job for their Guildmaster's old friend, Saul. He has been feeding information to Owen (the Guildmaster) regarding the Dreamsmoke trade and the family of someone he informed on has sent an assassin after him. His own bodyguards are on vacation. Since it should be a fairly easy job, he sends Jen & Thib. But things are never as easy as they seem. Saul has a lot to hide and has the help of beautiful psychopath Gideon to try to keep them from finding out what is going on.

This is by far one my favorite of the three books. Even though you can see where the main plot of the story was going, it was interesting to see how Jen & Thib find out what is really going on. Gideon is a truly scary psychopath. Charming when he wants to be, but completely without morals. And the worst is that Jen is completely blind to it. Saul is just as ruthless as Gideon, but doesn't take it to the extremes.

The best part for me, though, was the character development. Jen grew up a lot in this book and her eyes actually opened to what she had in Thib. But as with many of the best stories, it isn't really a pay off, because they still are afraid to tell each other what they are each thinking and miscommunication becomes the norm. Jen manages to lose her confidence and gain it back, and Thib gains a backbone. We find out more about Vera's past and one of the most important relationships of her life. While we don't learn more about Absolom, his relationship with Vera gets explored more.

The only problem that I have with this series is that there hasn't been a new book in over a decade. I keep hoping that Anne Lesley will come out with a fourth book in the series, but I haven't heard anything new on it. Still, I constantly have hope. Because I can't have anything less!

[emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

this trilogy is in a good category in that they can be enjoyed by teens and adults (i think!) alike. the characters are fun, the dialogue snappy, and the plots interesting, even if the reader can be absolutely certain that everything will turn out alright. always wished the author had done more with the protagonists' romance, but you can't have everything. :)

[T J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd in the Cloak & Dagger series and it doesn't disappoints. Jen and Thibault are out on an easy assignment guarding and old friend of the guildmaster. While her aunt is secretly tagging along with her pet wizard. There is a lot of intrigue, mystery behind the scenes that will keep you guessing to the very end. Be prepared this is last book but it will have wanting more.

[Steph Goose]

From Dorri

[Kathleen May]

Cute. But I like The Anvil of the sun better than this one.