Night of the Assassin

Assassin #0.5

by Russell Blake

An alternate cover of this ASIN can be found here.

Night of the Assassin is the gritty, edge-of-your seat prequel to King of Swords. A no-holds-barred, breakneck-paced thriller, Night of the Assassin charts the early years of El Rey - the King of Swords - a super-assassin responsible for some of the world's most spectacular and daring executions.

Framed against the backdrop of present-day Mexico's brutal narco-trafficking violence, Night of the Assassin chronicles the making of a monster - a cold-blooded, ruthless killing machine. Raw, disturbing, edgy and unflinching, this epic saga defies convention to create a roller-coaster of intrigue, suspense and thrills that will leave even the most jaded thriller aficionados gasping for breath.

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Action, Ebooks, Crime

191 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 12, 2011

Reviews

[Toni Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book# 0.5 in the Assassin series

This prequel to “King of Swords” is a raw and unflinching thriller introducing El Rey, one of Russell Blake’s most brutal characters.

The book opens with the deadly El Rey as he carries out his latest job- the assassination of a drug cartel boss. Then the story switched to his childhood where we find out how he was groomed to become the most notorious and deadliest assassin known to date. The story is framed against the backdrop of Mexico drug trafficking and in the midst of a bloody war of power.

The world of Drug cartels depicted in this book is very scary but fortunately the author spares us the many gory details. As the story keeps moving it tells us how El Rey setups his hits and how he manages to get away. No doubt, the plot is fast-paced, one that kept me on the edge waiting for his next move. It is definitely an action filled thriller that grabs attention from the first page and holds it all through. Although violent, I loved this cold blooded killer; El Rey is all what I expected from this kind of character. Mr. Blake excels in moving his plot between characters and scenes and pulling us into the environment of a deadly killer.

The story is well-written, moves along without getting bogged down and is an easy and captivating read.

[Sharon Mariampillai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5

This was an interesting read. This is the beginning of El Rey's story about how he became an assassin. It was interesting because it had a lot of action and the writing was really good. I can't believe that this is a prequel story to the King of the Swords. I am very interested in finding out how the rest of the series will turn out. If it is anything like this prequel, then it will be a great series to read about. I give Kudos to Russell Blake for his writing. Overall, a great read.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a Twitter find, I'd never heard of Russell Blake before. So here's a shining example that readers will stumble upon your works with no help from a high priced publicist.

While I'm at it, I'll give a plug for his blog "How To Sell Loads of Books," http://russellblake.com/how-to-sell-l.... Something to bring the starry-eyed authors among us down to earth.

Probably the best advice any aspiring writer can get is to read a lot and write a lot and of course, become very good at writing. Blake has followed that well. Night of the Assassin had me hooked from the beginning. I'm not a big fan of violent action thrillers, but this one held my interest to the end.

It's the story of El Rey, the best hit man that the Mexican drug cartel money can buy. In this book, Blake shows the forces that molded the assassin and how he worked his way to the top of his profession. There's a great deal of violence, revenge and the bodies piling up.

I'm looking forward to reading more books by Blake. Definitely worth the price of a latte.

[Richard (Davros) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this off Amazon for free. I think it is like a drug-dealer giving away a free sample.

It had me from the the beginning, From the first kill, on the yacht, I was hooked. I am more into gruesome and macabre work. And the only reason I tried this was it was free. I am hooked. I read that someone thought his explanation of things was too lengthy, and detracted from the story. I disagree. Yes, I like it in your face, gritty, and the more gore the better. This, however, was more serene. He tried to pull you into why the events were happening. I was annoyed with the use of the time-line, though in the end it probably did work.


As I am not a particularly fast reader, I turn my ebooks into MP3 files, using a combination of Calibre and TextAloud. This book was transferred to my Samsung Galaxy S2 phone, and was continuously playing. It was one of the only books I was playing whilst shopping. Usually I have music playing whilst driving around Asda (Electric wheelchair).

I am definitely hooked on this author. I want to read more of this series.

Highly recommended.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Russell Blake's reasoning behind writing this story about El Rey. He said it was to give a background into what made him who he was. The story was a great story and I enjoyed reading about his development into what he became. However, I still feel like I don't know WHY he decided, at the age of 16, that he would become the world's most prolific assassin. Clearly the Don was not his father, but where did he come from? A few unanswered questions for me but it was still a great read.

Amended 4/10/12 - I just finished King of Swords. Many of the questions I had from Night of the Assassin were answered in King of Swords.

[Delaney Diamond · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a prequel and origin story of the antagonist in a future book, a feared assassin by the name of King of Spades, or El Rey. It's a fascinating narrative with so much detail, I have to wonder if the author really did that much research or is involved in the drug trade himself, LOL. Just kidding! It's very well done. Another winner by Blake.

[Nick Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very exciting to read, every turn of a page brought more excitement. After I began reading I never wanted to put it down. The author did such a good job and writing this book that it made me want to continue reading the series. Just because of how exhilarating this book was I am going to continue and read all five. This series is already looking like one of the best I have ever read.

“He would be named after the cursed card that had ruined his life, and freed him at the same time” (Blake 212).

El Rey was a young boy that lived on a farm and was trained daily by his mentor Emilio, his dad was a drug lord that decided it would be safer if El Rey stayed with Emilio. El Rey grew up on the poor farm in Mexico until he learned all he could from Emilio, he then went to join the Mexican marines. All of these events in his life were turning points that would eventually shape him into an adult, but still waiting was the greatest turning point of his life. El Rey was one of the best marines that were being trained at the time, when he was put into live action he did not like that he couldn’t control what he was allowed to do. He then took the long trip back to the poor farm where he would be changed forever. When he arrived at the farm there was no sign of residents. His mentor was no where to be found, when he knocked on the door there was no answer, he decided to walk into his former home when he heard emilios' daughter. She told him not to come in, he asked what happened to everyone. What he heard would shape him forever, his father was and so were all of his workers including emilio. All of this was done by one of his fathers workers that now ran the cartel. El Rey also loved emilios daughter from when they were little, her face was burned with acid and she was raped by the gang members. El Rey was a trained killer and now had motivation.

I recommend this book to anyone that wants a book that has ton of action. There are some parts in the book it can be chapters of explaining, but soon after that you will be on the edge of you seat reading more and more.

[The · Rating 4 out of 5]

Streamlined thriller


Another rollercoaster of a thriller from this author. It is a prequel of sorts to the "King of Swords" but you don't have to have read that book to enjoy this one.

It is episodic in structure and the various assassinations that are carried out are seem quite authentic ( Not that I have ever been a contract killer) and you don't need to suspend your disbelief too much.
It has an interesting setting, right in the heart of Mexican Cartel country

This book is well written and it is a very fast paced and slickly put together.
I have read a few books by this author and have enjoyed all of them so far. His book could easily, in my opinion have been released by one of the big publishers.

[George Gutowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting insight into the feuding drug cartels in Mexico. A Mexican marine becomes a feared assassin commanding the highest prices for the toughest hits. Scene after scene this gun for hire takes out the top ranking cartel bosses. Every security system is foiled. Time and again psychopatic drug lords get their just desserts.

Readers will enjoy following the unique preparations the assassin makes to hit his mark. A few guys over at CIA should read this one. You know the guys who work for that group that does not exist. In the mean time enjoy the thriller about how its probably done if it is ever really going to happen.

Pace never slackens. Buy this book immediately.

[Jim A · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fast paced and pretty well written book. Even the first half or so, which is all back story, moves along without getting bogged down. In addition to the back story of the character, El Rey, Blake gave me a pretty good education into the workings of the drug cartels in Mexico. Any time I can be entertained and learn something from a writer, I am a very happy reader.

This is my third Blake novel, Zero Sum, which I really enjoyed, being the first and The Voynich Cypher which I didn't really like. But, hey, I enjoyed this one and will read King of Swords shortly.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual, Russell Blake blows his readers out of the water with his new novel, Night of the Assassin, the prequel to King of Swords. Blake pushes the boundaries, gripping the reader with powerful imagery and epic storytelling. In Night, the reader gets to explore the life behind the madness of one of Blake's most terrifying charactures to date.

Blake's work just gets better with every novel published!

[Marsha Cornelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

From a woman's point of view, I like the characters I follow to have some redeeming values, but from a realistic point of view, I understand that these barbarians in the drug cartels are ruthless. Blake does a thorough, if gut-wrenching job of showing just how far these peddlers will go as they traffic drugs to the U.S. And the book also illustrates what an overwhelming task the Mexican government has, trying to stop it. There is no happy ending in the drug wars.

[Carl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really great origin story. Well written and easy to read, just flows of the page.As good as any thriller on the market.
The Mexican settings and the Drug Cartel wars make a fantastic backdrop.
El Rey is a master assassin who wages war on the Cartels, for a remuneration of course!
The action is superbly written and I look forward to reading the authors other books in this series to see how El Rey is further fleshed out.
Top notch.

[William Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Good Action Novella

This is a short novella penned by the author of King of Swords, the best selling action Assassin series by Russell Blake. He says he penned it as a prequel character study so his readers would better understand where his protagonist came from, and to interest new readers in the series. I enjoyed it. It's a quick read, and I might download King of Swords when my reading cue. empties out a bit more.

[Len Cenotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't enjoyed a book this much in a long time. I was up late into the early morning hours reading it because I hated to put it down. I've already downloaded The King of Swords and will start reading it as soon as I finish this review. Bottom line... I thoroughly enjoyed The Night of the Assassin and highly recommend it.

[David Donaghe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found Night of The Assassin to be an entertaining read. It takes you into the dark world of Mexico's drug cartels, A world filled with violence. Russel Blake weaves a good tale and does not pull any punches.

[D.V. Berkom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blake's writing is crisp and straight-forward in this prequel to the King of Swords. I think the book would have been more intriguing if I had read KoS. As it stands, it's an interesting look at the inner workings of an elite assassin in Mexico's drug cartel and it does its job well.

[Terry Parrish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely fast paced. Sad in parts of it, but the strangest thing is the age of El Rey. Seemed way too young to be so strong minded. And choosing a profession way beyond his years. Determined, for sure. Never really had a childhood to speak of. Always learning. Now on to the next one.

[Kim Cano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved hearing about El Rey when he fell in love. He's probably the most fascinating bad guy I've ever read about. Even though he's a psycho he's endearing. I'm off to read more in the series.

[Marie Solka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome prequel! Read this book after you read King of Swords, then continue with Revenge of the Assassin to find out what happens next!

[A.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The King of Swords - named for the tarot card - is the best assassin in Mexico. El Rey is a feared professional in a world where money is no object and rivals are everywhere; he’s in high demand, but only because he is very, very good at what he does.
But how did he come to this life?
This is that story.
***
A small boy watches as his family is murdered. He is taken by Don Miguel to be his heir, and is raised and trained by Emilio. Five years later a ten year old is taught to be smart, strong and silent. His lessons start with pitching bales of hay from one side of the barn to the other. He’s intelligent and so very angry. Every lesson teaches him to be a predator.
By fourteen he is strong and has trained himself to be ambidextrous. His birthday gift from the Don is a weapons budget. Once he has that down pat, they move to physical training and he does karate, kung fu and judo classes.
The complication is Jasmine, Emilio’s daughter. They find another kind of physical training at fifteen. Her love of the spiritual seeps into his bones. Jasmine takes him to get his palm read. The old lady tells him he will have a long life, one love and many brushes with death. She deals the tarot for him. Death is everywhere. When she tells him the King of Swords is inverted, he denies it. To him, it’s the right way up. Regardless, the reading changes his relationship with Jasmine. She doesn’t like his skepticism.
She backs off and eventually dumps him. To his mind, his life had a fork; down one road lay happiness and life with Jasmine, and down the other lay the life he was training for. Without her, he throws himself into more training. On the morning of his seventeenth birthday, the Don is found dead and the boy has disappeared.
He lies about his age and joins the Marines and changes his name to Raul. He trains as a sniper and a diver. But within twelve months he has learned all they have to teach him; mostly plan your operations better. It takes him another six months to walk away. He’s almost nineteen now.
In a fit of homesickness, he goes back to the Don’s place but his reunion with Jasmine is not what he had hoped. Altamar, the Don’s rival, killed everyone, raped Jasmine and burned her face with acid.
He decides to make him pay, then offers to take out all the competition for Altamar’s next level deputy. It’s an offer too good to refuse.
The King of Swords sits in judgment and others pay.
***
Drugs as cash crops are easy money and so tempting for people to grow. Until we have a better option people will continue to grow them. The American War on Drugs has merely fueled the drug lords and put literal millions in their pockets - probably billions. The Prohibition didn’t work and they learned nothing from their own history. The people who grow the crops don’t profit that much from them but everyone else between grower and user does.
I was trying to work out where I got this book, and then I remembered that I heard a podcast with him on Simon Whistler’s rocking self publishing. He works in construction and lives in Mexico… I know, right… and he writes thrillers about Mexican drug cartels and assassins.
Flippers? No diver calls them flippers… fins, honey.
Rather intriguing but might be better to read after finishing the next volume. This is a gap filler kind of book rather than a prequel and I don’t know what the gaps were; not having read King of Swords, but it was pretty entertaining.
4 stars.

[Dean C. Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you just read this book for content, it’s a solid four star assassin story that both meets and exceeds genre requirements. Great plotting and an engrossing lead character are offered up as table stakes. Plenty of action, and evidence that the author knows his stuff, from sniper rifles and ammo, to everything an assassin needs to know to get the job done in a way that convinces the reader the writer might actually have done a stint as a Special Forces operative once upon a time.

What made the story really leap off the page for me though was the execution of a very solid concept on a line by line level. The narrative voice is entirely engrossing. The dry humor exquisite. Not one moment of the tale felt rushed. Every sentence was the perfect beat to forward the drama. It was the excellence in the crafting that made this book so remarkable.

I’m officially hooked on this series.

[Tamara aka SoMysteriousLee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never read any of the El Rey books, as well, not a genre I'm normally drawn to, but grabbed the free eReader version thinking I'd check it out and let my 'Other' know if I thought he'd like it as he's more of the manly spy vs spy or war type reader. I found myself enjoying more than expected. It didn't fill in many gaps about the character, since it never explains why at his tender young age he kills the Don and goes into a life of assassin, but I will assume that will all work itself out in future books. Fast, brutal and furious, and more than a little heartbreaking at times with the senseless killing that seems to surround the drug cartels, and yet, I couldn't stop reading, had to know who was on the hit list next! We'll be looking into the rest of this series indeed.

[Raye · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters are well-developed, the places and settings are real. This is a story about how El Ray becomes the consummate assassin. There is a great deal of detail about his life, why he is the way he is.

But, other than that, there is no story. I enjoy learning why a person is the way they are, but there was really no story to read about. It would have been better if Mr. Blake had described something monumental in his life, some life-changing circumstance.

It is a book worth reading.

[Pat Byrnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good intro to the Assassin Series by Mr. Blake. El Rey’s life started out hard and made him a trained killer in the Mexican drug world. After having his family die before his eyes at a young age, he was groomed to become the most sought after assassin in Mexico. El Rey did everything to boost his image to bigger and bigger paydays for his line of work.

I truly enjoyed the style and pace of the book. The story clipped along at a fast pace with no threads unaccounted for. With this being the introduction to the Assassin Series, I’ll definitely go and purchase the next one.

[Tulay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay

Enjoy reading Jet series, but not this book. Emilio character as he was growing up had feelings, but later became ruthless assassin El Rey. No care, no feelings, just how to kill heads of the cartel bosses and money.

[Kay Van Slyke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would really give this one 3.5. Good prequel to the King of Swords.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read this I knew it was a prequel and maybe that affected my expectations. It was ok. Good background if you have read King of Swords I expect.

[Sboysen · Rating 2 out of 5]

It read like an automatic weapons brochure. Don't bother.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a long time where I have started a thriller that immediately grabs your attention, gets you into the action and heads of the characters, and you're not calling "b.s." on some of the situations in the book. That's exactly what you get with this book and you won't want to put it down - in my case, I stayed up way too late as I lost all track of time finishing this book.

Blake does an excellent job of moving between characters and scenes, and describes the environment and people situations in such a way that you feel like you are personally right in the middle of it and I could feel the high s and lows as I was reading.

I picked this up for free during a Kindle promotion, and as I type this review the book is still free vs. its normal pricing of $3.97: you'll certainly get a heck of a lot more than $3.97 of entertainment value out of this one. As for me, I've already purchased the next book in the series!