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Hearts And Thrones #2
Spy's Honor
Rhianne, mind mage and Imperial Princess of Kjall, cannot openly challenge the emperor. Instead, she acts in secret to aid the victims of his worst excesses. But now the emperor plans to wed her to the cruel Augustan, the man leading Kjall’s attack against the nation of Mosar. Soon she will be torn from her supporters and shipped overseas, where she can help no one.
Mosari crown prince Janto is desperate to save his country from invasion. When one of his most trusted spies disappears while gathering intelligence at the Kjallan palace, Janto takes his place and continues searching for information that could save his people. But falling for the Imperial Princess was not part of his plan. Nor was having his true identity revealed…
Now Rhianne must make a choice—follow the path of tradition or the one of the heart, even if it means betraying her own people.
Mosari crown prince Janto is desperate to save his country from invasion. When one of his most trusted spies disappears while gathering intelligence at the Kjallan palace, Janto takes his place and continues searching for information that could save his people. But falling for the Imperial Princess was not part of his plan. Nor was having his true identity revealed…
Now Rhianne must make a choice—follow the path of tradition or the one of the heart, even if it means betraying her own people.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2013
13 people are currently reading
1298 people want to read
About the author
Amy Raby
15 books219 followersAmy Raby is literally a product of the U.S. space program, since her parents met working for NASA on the Apollo missions. After earning her Bachelor’s in Computer Science from the University of Washington, Amy settled in the Pacific Northwest with her family, where she’s always looking for life’s next adventure, whether it’s capsizing tiny sailboats in Lake Washington or riding dressage horses. Assassin’s Gambit is her debut novel.
Awards: 2011 Golden Heart® finalist, 2012 Daphne du Maurier winner.
Awards: 2011 Golden Heart® finalist, 2012 Daphne du Maurier winner.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
May 20, 2017
You know what the latter half of this book reminded me of? The siege and spy games of
The Winner's Curse,
but more drawn out like if the siege and rebel takeover of Curse took place over a longer period of time. Out of automatic adoration for Curse, this book gets an immediate three stars. Just because.
I also glimpsed a few reviews first and, as a result, read Spy's Honor before Assassin's Gambit since apparently Spy's Honor takes place first.
THE STORY
We have two main characters:Kestrel Rhianne, the Imperial Princess of Kjall and niece to the Emperor, and Arin Janto, the Crown Prince of Morsar who's undercover as a slave in the Imperial Palace at Kjall. Why? Because Morsar is losing the war with Kjall and he needs all the information he can get.
There's also a magical element: twenty-five-year-old Janto is a shroud mage with a magical familiar (talisman) in the form of a ferret, and twenty-two-year-old Rhianne is a mind mage, which means she can cast confusion and forgetfulness spells.
Rhianne and Janto meet in the palace gardens, fall in instalurve, and somehow must bring peace between their two kingdoms despite the war and bloodshed.
THE GOOD
Entertaining! Again, parts of this story were strongly reminiscent of The Winner's Curse and anything having to do with that book is fine by me. I liked the politicking on the side -- Emperor Florian is a bad dude and poor Heir Lucien is caught trying to appease both his father and protect Rhianne at the same time -- and the "forbidden lurve between different classes" element is always delicious.
THE BAD
I had a hard time getting with the feel of this book. The unimaginative instalurve and clunky, simplistic narratives screamed "young adult" but the occasional language, sex scenes, and scope of the war made this an adult book for sure. It's a shame that none of the characters truly came across as early or mid-twenties nobility.
THE VERDICT
Instalurve, base character believability, and intermediate storytelling aside, this book was quite enjoyable. Probably more juvenile romance than fantasy, but there's also a halfway decent effort to establish the magic system and political tensions between countries. Sure, I'd recommend if you're looking for an entertaining book that doesn't quite manage to hold a candle to The Winner's Curse but still delights well enough on its own.
I also glimpsed a few reviews first and, as a result, read Spy's Honor before Assassin's Gambit since apparently Spy's Honor takes place first.
THE STORY
We have two main characters:
There's also a magical element: twenty-five-year-old Janto is a shroud mage with a magical familiar (talisman) in the form of a ferret, and twenty-two-year-old Rhianne is a mind mage, which means she can cast confusion and forgetfulness spells.
Rhianne and Janto meet in the palace gardens, fall in instalurve, and somehow must bring peace between their two kingdoms despite the war and bloodshed.
THE GOOD
Entertaining! Again, parts of this story were strongly reminiscent of The Winner's Curse and anything having to do with that book is fine by me. I liked the politicking on the side -- Emperor Florian is a bad dude and poor Heir Lucien is caught trying to appease both his father and protect Rhianne at the same time -- and the "forbidden lurve between different classes" element is always delicious.
THE BAD
I had a hard time getting with the feel of this book. The unimaginative instalurve and clunky, simplistic narratives screamed "young adult" but the occasional language, sex scenes, and scope of the war made this an adult book for sure. It's a shame that none of the characters truly came across as early or mid-twenties nobility.
THE VERDICT
Instalurve, base character believability, and intermediate storytelling aside, this book was quite enjoyable. Probably more juvenile romance than fantasy, but there's also a halfway decent effort to establish the magic system and political tensions between countries. Sure, I'd recommend if you're looking for an entertaining book that doesn't quite manage to hold a candle to The Winner's Curse but still delights well enough on its own.
November 22, 2021
DNF, pg 142.
I just don’t care. I’ve only been picking at it for a few days, but despite the dumbed-down prose it’s like slogging through a muddy field—forced effort, but no distance covered. Though marketed as adult romance, this is bad YA with some cheesy “tell me if you’re uncomfortable & I’ll stop” sex tossed in—the storyline feels simplistic & the characters are talking heads, while the humor is cutesy & episodic hurdles are resolved with no feeling of genuine peril or suspense.
Too bad. The first book wasn’t perfect, but at least it was geared toward adult eyes—mild violence, intriguing MCs, & a magical/socio-political system with some depth to the conflict. This one…nope. I’m done.
I just don’t care. I’ve only been picking at it for a few days, but despite the dumbed-down prose it’s like slogging through a muddy field—forced effort, but no distance covered. Though marketed as adult romance, this is bad YA with some cheesy “tell me if you’re uncomfortable & I’ll stop” sex tossed in—the storyline feels simplistic & the characters are talking heads, while the humor is cutesy & episodic hurdles are resolved with no feeling of genuine peril or suspense.
Too bad. The first book wasn’t perfect, but at least it was geared toward adult eyes—mild violence, intriguing MCs, & a magical/socio-political system with some depth to the conflict. This one…nope. I’m done.
November 11, 2014
3 stars
It's Book 2 and it should came out first, not Assassin's Gambit. Anyway, it was a good read.
What I liked.
1. The world.
2. The politics.
3. Jan-Torres for his intelligence, kindness, and mercy.
4. His bloodthirsty ferret.
5. The brindlecats.
What I disliked.
1. It was too slow-paced at the beginning.
2. Insta-love dull romance.
3. Rhianne was stupid, ignorant and spineless.
......
Read the excerpt of Book 3 and it didn't sound promising. But then, that might change.
Read on your own peril.
It's Book 2 and it should came out first, not Assassin's Gambit. Anyway, it was a good read.
What I liked.
1. The world.
2. The politics.
3. Jan-Torres for his intelligence, kindness, and mercy.
4. His bloodthirsty ferret.
5. The brindlecats.
What I disliked.
1. It was too slow-paced at the beginning.
2. Insta-love dull romance.
3. Rhianne was stupid, ignorant and spineless.
......
Read the excerpt of Book 3 and it didn't sound promising. But then, that might change.
Read on your own peril.
October 9, 2013
I kind of wish that this had been the FIRST book in the series, since the first book made the ultimate ending of this book VERY obvious. I think that's about my only complaint. I loved learning about the different cultures even as the characters learned themselves. I am eagerly awaiting the next book.
October 13, 2013
Kind, intelligent hero & an adorable, bloodthirsty ferret. In other words, fantasy romance at it's finest.
Janto is the crown prince of Mosar, but his country is succumbing to an unwarranted attack by the larger, greedier country of Kjall. In a last-ditch effort to save his country, he goes to Kjall as a spy on the trail of information that could alter the course of the war. Posing as a slave, he meets Imperial Princess Rhianne, whose uncle, Emperor Florian is responsible for the terrible war crimes against Janto's people. Rhianne is nothing like her uncle. Where he is greedy, hard, and inflexible, Rhianne is generous, loving, and eager to learn.
When Rhianne becomes a pawn in her uncle's war, things take a turn for the personal where Janto is concerned. He and Rhianne both learn that sometimes there are no good decisions. But Janto proves a worthy hero. He makes decisions for the good of his country, even when it means denying his deepest desires.
Amy Raby puts her characters in a perfectly impossible situation. There seems to be no way these two can come together, but as this is a fantasy-romance, she pulls off a happy-ever-after that is hard-won, believable, and satisfying.
Raby excels at world-building. Using an admirable economy of words, she paints vivid scenes and situations with clean, efficient brushstrokes. Her characters are flawed enough that they have room to grow and they worm their way into your heart within the first few pages. The pacing is swift, the story spellbinding, just like in Raby's first fantasy-romance, Assassin's Gambit.
The events of Spy's Honor take place before those of Assassin's Gambit. It was a delight to see the hero of Raby's first book, Lucien, as a younger man before he became ruler of Kjall. It was also exciting to see the consistency of Raby's magic system, my favorite aspect of which is the animal familiars used by some of the mages in her world. The hero in Spy's Honor has an unlikely familiar, a ferret named Sashi, who steals every scene he is in. The bond between Janto and Sashi is endearing and plays an important role in the story. I especially love Sashi's bloodthirstiness as he chants "kill, kill, kill," whenever anyone threatened Janto.
The romance to plot ratio in this book is about 50/50. The story is intricate but not complicated. Raby shows a mastery of weaving together several threads. There are political plots, family relationships, a war carried out on several fronts, and through it all, the romance develops beautifully. I flew through the pages to find out whether Janto could save his country at all and if he could do it while not alienating Rhianne, who has as much loyalty and love for her country as he does for his. I also HAD to find out if these two get the happy-ever-after they both richly deserve.
A highly-recommended read from a fantasy-romance author who is proving she has the sticking power to help shape the genre.
Janto is the crown prince of Mosar, but his country is succumbing to an unwarranted attack by the larger, greedier country of Kjall. In a last-ditch effort to save his country, he goes to Kjall as a spy on the trail of information that could alter the course of the war. Posing as a slave, he meets Imperial Princess Rhianne, whose uncle, Emperor Florian is responsible for the terrible war crimes against Janto's people. Rhianne is nothing like her uncle. Where he is greedy, hard, and inflexible, Rhianne is generous, loving, and eager to learn.
When Rhianne becomes a pawn in her uncle's war, things take a turn for the personal where Janto is concerned. He and Rhianne both learn that sometimes there are no good decisions. But Janto proves a worthy hero. He makes decisions for the good of his country, even when it means denying his deepest desires.
Amy Raby puts her characters in a perfectly impossible situation. There seems to be no way these two can come together, but as this is a fantasy-romance, she pulls off a happy-ever-after that is hard-won, believable, and satisfying.
Raby excels at world-building. Using an admirable economy of words, she paints vivid scenes and situations with clean, efficient brushstrokes. Her characters are flawed enough that they have room to grow and they worm their way into your heart within the first few pages. The pacing is swift, the story spellbinding, just like in Raby's first fantasy-romance, Assassin's Gambit.
The events of Spy's Honor take place before those of Assassin's Gambit. It was a delight to see the hero of Raby's first book, Lucien, as a younger man before he became ruler of Kjall. It was also exciting to see the consistency of Raby's magic system, my favorite aspect of which is the animal familiars used by some of the mages in her world. The hero in Spy's Honor has an unlikely familiar, a ferret named Sashi, who steals every scene he is in. The bond between Janto and Sashi is endearing and plays an important role in the story. I especially love Sashi's bloodthirstiness as he chants "kill, kill, kill," whenever anyone threatened Janto.
The romance to plot ratio in this book is about 50/50. The story is intricate but not complicated. Raby shows a mastery of weaving together several threads. There are political plots, family relationships, a war carried out on several fronts, and through it all, the romance develops beautifully. I flew through the pages to find out whether Janto could save his country at all and if he could do it while not alienating Rhianne, who has as much loyalty and love for her country as he does for his. I also HAD to find out if these two get the happy-ever-after they both richly deserve.
A highly-recommended read from a fantasy-romance author who is proving she has the sticking power to help shape the genre.
October 4, 2013
Spy's Honor captured me right from the beginning.
The book was very exciting. Who couldn't love this mix: Two kingdoms. Two unsuspecting royals. Both at war due to tyranny, bloodthirst and greed. Both royals fall in hopeless love, but cannot ever be together because of the war. . or can they?
It is easily to love her royal highness Rhianne, and to fall for cunning hero Janto who is a spy for his kingdom, and who is the crown prince as well. This book had a well constructed plot as well as a great romantic plot. The story's flow was very even. The writer went into enough detail (but not too much) to give the magical world a life of its own. I can easily picture every scene.
I would recommend this author to a reader who wants to be swept away in a magical world.
PS, Also. . .I loooove the ferret. What an honorable and cunning sidekick to partner with the hero. They match perfectly.
The book was very exciting. Who couldn't love this mix: Two kingdoms. Two unsuspecting royals. Both at war due to tyranny, bloodthirst and greed. Both royals fall in hopeless love, but cannot ever be together because of the war. . or can they?
It is easily to love her royal highness Rhianne, and to fall for cunning hero Janto who is a spy for his kingdom, and who is the crown prince as well. This book had a well constructed plot as well as a great romantic plot. The story's flow was very even. The writer went into enough detail (but not too much) to give the magical world a life of its own. I can easily picture every scene.
I would recommend this author to a reader who wants to be swept away in a magical world.
PS, Also. . .I loooove the ferret. What an honorable and cunning sidekick to partner with the hero. They match perfectly.
November 20, 2013
I don't want to wait until April for the next book! Spy's Honor is technically a prequel to Assassin's Gambit, but I really think it makes more sense to read them in publication order. Even knowing the outcome of the story I was still sucked in and obsessively thinking about what had happened and would happen next. I loved watching the relationship between Janto and Rhianne develop. It was also nice to see the events leading up to Lucien becoming the emperor.. and of course there was the briefest mention of a female Caturanga player who I'm guessing is Vitala.
My only question is...how do you pronounce Janto/Jan-Torres?
I am seriously a huge Amy Raby fan and I hope that the Hearts and Thrones series proves to be much longer than three books because everything I've read so far is absolutely stunning.
My only question is...how do you pronounce Janto/Jan-Torres?
I am seriously a huge Amy Raby fan and I hope that the Hearts and Thrones series proves to be much longer than three books because everything I've read so far is absolutely stunning.
October 15, 2015
Wonderful!!! I loved every page of this book. I got it from the library, and I will be purchasing it soon along with Assassin's Gambit.
Amy Raby shows such talent with her ability to create a world so detailed with a magic system that is also very unique. She was also smart to leave that magic system not completely explained, and we can learn more and more about it as we continue to read the series. This shows promise as a fantasy writer.
On the romance side, Raby captures the emotions of both the hero and heroine perfectly. I love that neither of them were willing to give up their morals or their kingdoms for the other. This made it more real because that's how good monarchs would actually behave. She also showed growth in her characters in that they can forgive and admit when they themselves have done wrong. This made the romance more truthful and beautiful.
I am eagerly awaiting Prince's Fire which will be released April 2014 (which happens to be my birth month, so maybe it'll be my birthday present to myself;)). This series is phenomenal on it's own and then to add in that this is the author's second book, shows that Amy Raby will become one of the greats!
I highly recommend this book to epic romance enthusiasts (who are adults!).
Amy Raby shows such talent with her ability to create a world so detailed with a magic system that is also very unique. She was also smart to leave that magic system not completely explained, and we can learn more and more about it as we continue to read the series. This shows promise as a fantasy writer.
On the romance side, Raby captures the emotions of both the hero and heroine perfectly. I love that neither of them were willing to give up their morals or their kingdoms for the other. This made it more real because that's how good monarchs would actually behave. She also showed growth in her characters in that they can forgive and admit when they themselves have done wrong. This made the romance more truthful and beautiful.
I am eagerly awaiting Prince's Fire which will be released April 2014 (which happens to be my birth month, so maybe it'll be my birthday present to myself;)). This series is phenomenal on it's own and then to add in that this is the author's second book, shows that Amy Raby will become one of the greats!
I highly recommend this book to epic romance enthusiasts (who are adults!).
December 1, 2013
This was so good I need to go back and reread Assassin's Gambit, but I lent it to a friend, so I'm hosed.
I realized what this series reminds me of: Pern. The politics are intense, the world is amazing and the details bring it all to life. Without the structure of the caturanga game, I didn't think Spy's Honor could be as intensely detailed as the first book in the series - but I was wrong. I really liked the way the hero and heroine developed a relationship over language lessons, the battles, the sibling rivalry and sibling confrontations on both sides, etc.
My only tiny itty-bitty disappointment was that a particular character was exiled rather than dispatched permanently ... but the weasel makes up for it. I want that bloodthirsty weasel to show up in every book I read.
If for no other reason, read Spy's Honor for the weasel.
Here are the two questions I need to ask Amy Raby: (1) How many times have you seen Beastmaster? and (2) can you write two Hearts and Thrones books per year? What about three?
I realized what this series reminds me of: Pern. The politics are intense, the world is amazing and the details bring it all to life. Without the structure of the caturanga game, I didn't think Spy's Honor could be as intensely detailed as the first book in the series - but I was wrong. I really liked the way the hero and heroine developed a relationship over language lessons, the battles, the sibling rivalry and sibling confrontations on both sides, etc.
My only tiny itty-bitty disappointment was that a particular character was exiled rather than dispatched permanently ... but the weasel makes up for it. I want that bloodthirsty weasel to show up in every book I read.
If for no other reason, read Spy's Honor for the weasel.
Here are the two questions I need to ask Amy Raby: (1) How many times have you seen Beastmaster? and (2) can you write two Hearts and Thrones books per year? What about three?
May 8, 2014
In this the second book of the Hearts and Thrones series, we actually take a step back in time. This book occurs before the events of Assassin's Gambit. I am not really sure why they were written this way, but it works for me!
Rhianne is a Kjallian princess and the cousin to the emperor. As such, she is expected to make a political alliance more than a marriage. Her country is in the midst of political turmoil, primarily because her uncle the emperor is a vicious tyrant (which you know from reading the other book...) but for some reason, Rhianne supports her uncle publicly and tries to help his victims in secret. When her uncle wants her to marry another evil tyrant, she turns to a most unlikely place for aid. Little does she know that the person she turns to is a spy for her uncle's fiercest enemies. He is the crown prince for the very country her fiance is planning to destroy. As a political prisoner, Rhianne is priceless and Jan, the crown prince, wastes no time in taking advantage of that.
For the full review, please go to http://www.thewindowseat13.com/2014/0...
Rhianne is a Kjallian princess and the cousin to the emperor. As such, she is expected to make a political alliance more than a marriage. Her country is in the midst of political turmoil, primarily because her uncle the emperor is a vicious tyrant (which you know from reading the other book...) but for some reason, Rhianne supports her uncle publicly and tries to help his victims in secret. When her uncle wants her to marry another evil tyrant, she turns to a most unlikely place for aid. Little does she know that the person she turns to is a spy for her uncle's fiercest enemies. He is the crown prince for the very country her fiance is planning to destroy. As a political prisoner, Rhianne is priceless and Jan, the crown prince, wastes no time in taking advantage of that.
For the full review, please go to http://www.thewindowseat13.com/2014/0...
December 18, 2015
Rhianne is the Imperial Princess of Kjall and a mind mage. As she is the emperor's niece, she has to marry a brutal man she doesn't love. And, of course, she falls in love with Janto, heir of Mosar throne and enemy of her uncle, who comes to Kjall to spy on.
In this book, we find all romance's codes. A nice princess fall in love with a nice prince. They want to change the world and stop the war between their countries.
Rhianne has magic power but it is not very useful because she can't use it against others mages. She is sometimes very caricatural such as her love story with Janto.
Janto is more interesting than Rhianne. His magic power is useful and he uses it !
To conclude, Spy's honor (Hearts and thrones #2) is a good book but it is more romance than fantasy.
I would have like that there is more action and a little less of romantic scene.
I recommend to people who like romance but not to fantasy's lovers.
In this book, we find all romance's codes. A nice princess fall in love with a nice prince. They want to change the world and stop the war between their countries.
Rhianne has magic power but it is not very useful because she can't use it against others mages. She is sometimes very caricatural such as her love story with Janto.
Janto is more interesting than Rhianne. His magic power is useful and he uses it !
To conclude, Spy's honor (Hearts and thrones #2) is a good book but it is more romance than fantasy.
I would have like that there is more action and a little less of romantic scene.
I recommend to people who like romance but not to fantasy's lovers.
October 24, 2013
The full review can be found at my blog.
I was a little nervous to read this book because of the time frame of it. This one occurs before the events in the first book and tells Rhianne’s story. Aside from that I really enjoyed this book. I loved Rhianne and Janto as characters and it was nice seeing them interact and how they got together. The one thing I wish we had gotten to see with this book was Mosar, their people and the life that they lead. From what we were giving about the country they seem to be very interesting and I would love it f we got to see more of them in the future, with a book set in their country. Raby is a wonderful story teller and I had a hard time putting this book down, I cannot wait for the next one!
I was a little nervous to read this book because of the time frame of it. This one occurs before the events in the first book and tells Rhianne’s story. Aside from that I really enjoyed this book. I loved Rhianne and Janto as characters and it was nice seeing them interact and how they got together. The one thing I wish we had gotten to see with this book was Mosar, their people and the life that they lead. From what we were giving about the country they seem to be very interesting and I would love it f we got to see more of them in the future, with a book set in their country. Raby is a wonderful story teller and I had a hard time putting this book down, I cannot wait for the next one!
October 30, 2013
This book was awesome. A perfect blend of heart wrenching romance and political intrigue, all in a unique and interesting fantasy setting. It fit my tastes to a tee, and I stayed up way too late finishing it.
October 15, 2013
Should be book one in the series since it takes place before Assassins Gambit and sets the world and a couple of the characters. I enjoyed the verbal sparring and would have liked more and a little less battle strategy.
October 30, 2013
I loved it!
December 8, 2013
This joint review was originally published at The Book Pushers
Marlene: First of all, let me say that the Romans gave great empire! Where would epic historical fiction and epic fantasy be without them? Amy Raby’s Hearts and Thrones isn’t the only epic fantasy series that owes a lot of its inspiration and overall situation to some of the best and worst elements of the Roman Empire. There’s also Crista McHugh’s Deizian Empire series (its awesome too) as well as Lindsay Buroker’s The Emperor’s Edge series and Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera series. The Romans are as big as they ever were.
Has: I definitely agree with you that I love this element of the world-building in the Hearts and Thrones series. Spy’s Honor is more of a prequel story because it is set before the events from Assassin's Gambit and I liked that it delved more into the backstory of some of the characters such as Lucien and his autocratic father. In this book, Amy Raby’s world is a rich tapestry of a kingdom who is hungry for resources and it explains much more into that background. I definitely think that Raby’s world-building is very detailed and well thought out and it is definitely cemented that the world of Hearts and Thrones series is one of the best romantic fantasy series out at the moment.
Marlene: Two things that stand out: this is the second book I read this week that is a prequel to the first book in its series, and this is the second series I read recently that starts with a female assassin falling for her target. Those are not the same book, but still make for interesting trends. Ahem. What makes Amy Raby’s world in Hearts and Thrones seem so realistic, or makes her worldbuilding so easy to fall into, is that the condition of the Kjall kingdom that we discover has a basis in history. What her spy Janto learns and takes advantage of is part of what caused the Roman Empire to both rise and eventually fall. This device works because it really did work. Or not work, so to speak. Raby knows her history, and understands how to exploit it for the purpose of a great story.
Has: This is what I found really interesting about the series. She made it feel alive especially with the build up on the ongoing wars and the conflict this has with the kingdom and its neighbours. There were no easy outs and there were repercussions for the characters. And while I am not a huge fan of the spying premise, Janto was a fantastic leading hero. Again, Amy Raby painted another multi-dimensional character and I loved the fact he was a beta hero who was sensitive and understanding towards his heroine as well empathic to her plight because she was being forced to marry the man who decimated his Kingdom.
I also enjoyed the world-building with the magical system. with Janto’s people their use of magical abilities are linked with animal familiars instead of rift stones which the Kjallans use. I liked the different contrast of cultures and philosophy which really made the world vivid and vibrant. I also loved the scenes which Janto shared with his familiar a ferret who produced some humourous moments which helped to balance the tone of the book which was pretty dark in places.
Marlene: There was an interesting switch in the character’s perspectives past the midway point in the book, and Raby did a great job pulling it off. At the start of the story, Janto is definitely a beta hero, not just because he is more sensitive and empathetic than the average, but because he doesn’t believe in himself and his people question his authority. Rhianne appears to be the alpha heroine, not just because she is an Imperial Princess, but because she seems to be doing mostly as she pleases. Then Janto’s kingdom is conquered and his parents are murdered, and they switch.
Janto doesn’t merely become king, he takes his throne from his younger and more popular brother through a trial-by-combat of their familiars. Janto visibly takes on the mantle of leadership, and it changes and isolates him. Rhianne, on the other hand, is forced into a lower status as the fiance of the conqueror of the Mosari, a man who is not just prepared to break her spirit, but who is looking forward to that task.
Has: I definitely agree with you about the switch and the power dynamics between Rhianne and Janto which I think developed an interesting factor with their relationship but without falling into the usual roles. A similar thing happened with the first book, with heroine being more alpha in the relationship as well.
However, I did find the plot and pace especially in the first half wasn’t as fast paced compared to the first book, although I definitely was engaged with the characters and the world-building which felt more fleshed out, which kept me drawn into the world and story. But I think this was more about the premise with Janto being established in his role as a spy and I am not that keen on plots with this premise. I always find it slow going because it is not that action packed and it does affect the pace and tone of the story for me. The second half of the book, picks up in pace and flow and definitely becomes very action packed with the war between the Mosari and the Kjallans in full force. I think Raby has a great voice in painting battles but with a good eye on the small details.
Marlene: I agree that the first half of the book was heavy on the worldbuilding and a bit slower on the action, particularly in comparison to the first book. And again, in comparison to the first book, it felt disappointing to see more and more of Rhianne’s agency get taken away as the story moved into the second half. She starts the story as one of the movers-and-shakers, even if it is from the shadows, and spends too much of the second half being locked up either because she’s being disobedient or for her own good, depending on the perspective of the male doing the locking up. Including among those males the hero.
One of the things I liked most about the first book was that the heroine moved as much of the action of the story along as the hero did. It’s more than not true in this story, Rhianne goes from being active to imprisoned, while even when Janto was locked up, he was able to still use his familiar to be an active participant in the action. This does not mean I didn’t find Janto’s story compelling, because I did, but the “lock her up for her own good” thing bothered me more than a bit.
Has: Yes! I definitely agree about Rhianne’s agency takes a back step in the second half although I can see why because so much was happening with the war and conflict. However I did find Rhianne to be more naive and the people around her used that to hold her back. I wished she could have managed to do more in the end to break out of the box some of the characters placed her in. Although I liked Janto realised and recognised this and gave her the space and the ability to decide about the direction of her life. But like you say I wished she could do it by herself and breakout because I think it hindered her characterisation.
Overall, I enjoyed Spy’s Honor, it does lay out and set up the world of Hearts and Thrones with more details and it did offer some surprises about the fate of certain characters who I hope appear in future books. Nonetheless, I did find the pace and plot was slow in the first half, and even though the rich world-building, setting and characters were vivid and entertaining – it didn’t capture the magic of the first book for me. But it is a very solid installment in the series and I think this is one of the best Fantasy Romance series out right now. Amy Raby has a freaking fantastic imagination and I love how much thought and depth she puts into this world and I am definitely hooked!
I give Spy’s Honor a B-
Marlene: The worldbuilding in this series is stellar. And unlike my friend Has, I find Janto’s spy role every bit as fascinating as the assassin that Vitala played in Assassin’s Gambit. It is also very cool to see Lucien before he becomes the Lucien that we met in Gambit. And speaking of gambits, Janto’s tactical ability to exploit the weaknesses of the Kjallans were very well played. The action in the second half of this story was well done. The weak point for me was the character of Rhianne. There are tremendous story possibilities in her conflict between her family, her established role and her conscience, but she gets sidelined by imprisonment for the second half of the story. She loses her agency and the story is poorer for it.
I give Spy’s Honor a B-
Marlene: First of all, let me say that the Romans gave great empire! Where would epic historical fiction and epic fantasy be without them? Amy Raby’s Hearts and Thrones isn’t the only epic fantasy series that owes a lot of its inspiration and overall situation to some of the best and worst elements of the Roman Empire. There’s also Crista McHugh’s Deizian Empire series (its awesome too) as well as Lindsay Buroker’s The Emperor’s Edge series and Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera series. The Romans are as big as they ever were.
Has: I definitely agree with you that I love this element of the world-building in the Hearts and Thrones series. Spy’s Honor is more of a prequel story because it is set before the events from Assassin's Gambit and I liked that it delved more into the backstory of some of the characters such as Lucien and his autocratic father. In this book, Amy Raby’s world is a rich tapestry of a kingdom who is hungry for resources and it explains much more into that background. I definitely think that Raby’s world-building is very detailed and well thought out and it is definitely cemented that the world of Hearts and Thrones series is one of the best romantic fantasy series out at the moment.
Marlene: Two things that stand out: this is the second book I read this week that is a prequel to the first book in its series, and this is the second series I read recently that starts with a female assassin falling for her target. Those are not the same book, but still make for interesting trends. Ahem. What makes Amy Raby’s world in Hearts and Thrones seem so realistic, or makes her worldbuilding so easy to fall into, is that the condition of the Kjall kingdom that we discover has a basis in history. What her spy Janto learns and takes advantage of is part of what caused the Roman Empire to both rise and eventually fall. This device works because it really did work. Or not work, so to speak. Raby knows her history, and understands how to exploit it for the purpose of a great story.
Has: This is what I found really interesting about the series. She made it feel alive especially with the build up on the ongoing wars and the conflict this has with the kingdom and its neighbours. There were no easy outs and there were repercussions for the characters. And while I am not a huge fan of the spying premise, Janto was a fantastic leading hero. Again, Amy Raby painted another multi-dimensional character and I loved the fact he was a beta hero who was sensitive and understanding towards his heroine as well empathic to her plight because she was being forced to marry the man who decimated his Kingdom.
I also enjoyed the world-building with the magical system. with Janto’s people their use of magical abilities are linked with animal familiars instead of rift stones which the Kjallans use. I liked the different contrast of cultures and philosophy which really made the world vivid and vibrant. I also loved the scenes which Janto shared with his familiar a ferret who produced some humourous moments which helped to balance the tone of the book which was pretty dark in places.
Marlene: There was an interesting switch in the character’s perspectives past the midway point in the book, and Raby did a great job pulling it off. At the start of the story, Janto is definitely a beta hero, not just because he is more sensitive and empathetic than the average, but because he doesn’t believe in himself and his people question his authority. Rhianne appears to be the alpha heroine, not just because she is an Imperial Princess, but because she seems to be doing mostly as she pleases. Then Janto’s kingdom is conquered and his parents are murdered, and they switch.
Janto doesn’t merely become king, he takes his throne from his younger and more popular brother through a trial-by-combat of their familiars. Janto visibly takes on the mantle of leadership, and it changes and isolates him. Rhianne, on the other hand, is forced into a lower status as the fiance of the conqueror of the Mosari, a man who is not just prepared to break her spirit, but who is looking forward to that task.
Has: I definitely agree with you about the switch and the power dynamics between Rhianne and Janto which I think developed an interesting factor with their relationship but without falling into the usual roles. A similar thing happened with the first book, with heroine being more alpha in the relationship as well.
However, I did find the plot and pace especially in the first half wasn’t as fast paced compared to the first book, although I definitely was engaged with the characters and the world-building which felt more fleshed out, which kept me drawn into the world and story. But I think this was more about the premise with Janto being established in his role as a spy and I am not that keen on plots with this premise. I always find it slow going because it is not that action packed and it does affect the pace and tone of the story for me. The second half of the book, picks up in pace and flow and definitely becomes very action packed with the war between the Mosari and the Kjallans in full force. I think Raby has a great voice in painting battles but with a good eye on the small details.
Marlene: I agree that the first half of the book was heavy on the worldbuilding and a bit slower on the action, particularly in comparison to the first book. And again, in comparison to the first book, it felt disappointing to see more and more of Rhianne’s agency get taken away as the story moved into the second half. She starts the story as one of the movers-and-shakers, even if it is from the shadows, and spends too much of the second half being locked up either because she’s being disobedient or for her own good, depending on the perspective of the male doing the locking up. Including among those males the hero.
One of the things I liked most about the first book was that the heroine moved as much of the action of the story along as the hero did. It’s more than not true in this story, Rhianne goes from being active to imprisoned, while even when Janto was locked up, he was able to still use his familiar to be an active participant in the action. This does not mean I didn’t find Janto’s story compelling, because I did, but the “lock her up for her own good” thing bothered me more than a bit.
Has: Yes! I definitely agree about Rhianne’s agency takes a back step in the second half although I can see why because so much was happening with the war and conflict. However I did find Rhianne to be more naive and the people around her used that to hold her back. I wished she could have managed to do more in the end to break out of the box some of the characters placed her in. Although I liked Janto realised and recognised this and gave her the space and the ability to decide about the direction of her life. But like you say I wished she could do it by herself and breakout because I think it hindered her characterisation.
Overall, I enjoyed Spy’s Honor, it does lay out and set up the world of Hearts and Thrones with more details and it did offer some surprises about the fate of certain characters who I hope appear in future books. Nonetheless, I did find the pace and plot was slow in the first half, and even though the rich world-building, setting and characters were vivid and entertaining – it didn’t capture the magic of the first book for me. But it is a very solid installment in the series and I think this is one of the best Fantasy Romance series out right now. Amy Raby has a freaking fantastic imagination and I love how much thought and depth she puts into this world and I am definitely hooked!
I give Spy’s Honor a B-
Marlene: The worldbuilding in this series is stellar. And unlike my friend Has, I find Janto’s spy role every bit as fascinating as the assassin that Vitala played in Assassin’s Gambit. It is also very cool to see Lucien before he becomes the Lucien that we met in Gambit. And speaking of gambits, Janto’s tactical ability to exploit the weaknesses of the Kjallans were very well played. The action in the second half of this story was well done. The weak point for me was the character of Rhianne. There are tremendous story possibilities in her conflict between her family, her established role and her conscience, but she gets sidelined by imprisonment for the second half of the story. She loses her agency and the story is poorer for it.
I give Spy’s Honor a B-
January 7, 2019
Qu'une série ne soit pas dans l'ordre chronologique, bon ça perturbe un peu pour le suivi global mais soit.
Mais que le 2nd tome présente le même défaut principal que le 1er ... Rhianne en veut à Janto, ok ça se comprend tout à fait, mais on ne ressent pas d'affaiblissement de sa position juste "paf!" la veille au soir de son départ "non, je ne peux pas te laisser partir sans moi!" oO
Par ailleurs je trouve que l'auteure aurait pu pousser au delà du "oui je veux bien t'épouser et partir dans ton pays". Surtout quand on sait par le 1er tome certaines choses qui sont arrivées à ce couple.
Bref bien dommage.
Mais que le 2nd tome présente le même défaut principal que le 1er ... Rhianne en veut à Janto, ok ça se comprend tout à fait, mais on ne ressent pas d'affaiblissement de sa position juste "paf!" la veille au soir de son départ "non, je ne peux pas te laisser partir sans moi!" oO
Par ailleurs je trouve que l'auteure aurait pu pousser au delà du "oui je veux bien t'épouser et partir dans ton pays". Surtout quand on sait par le 1er tome certaines choses qui sont arrivées à ce couple.
Bref bien dommage.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2018
Ni mieux ni pire que le précédent, de la romance plus que de la fantasy, je passe mon tour pour le 3e tome pour l'instant :-/
September 18, 2018
I enjoyed this book. Assassin's Gambit has to be my favorite though.
January 18, 2019
4,5 J’ai absolument adoré ce tome qui se déroule quelques années avant le 1er tome!
July 28, 2021
Quite enjoyed the tale of Rhianne and Janto. A strong second instalment in this series.
May 20, 2025
Bon livre
May 15, 2018
9/10: Fantastic, left me wanting more.
“Someday, when no one’s pointing a gun at me, I’m going to kiss you.”
Loved this. And loved Janto the Mosari spy. Very nicely done.
Annnnd loved the familiars, especially Sashi.
You are mine and I am yours, su-kali, said Sashi. I am with you until the end.>
Very cool.
Looking forward to the next.
“Someday, when no one’s pointing a gun at me, I’m going to kiss you.”
Loved this. And loved Janto the Mosari spy. Very nicely done.
Annnnd loved the familiars, especially Sashi.
You are mine and I am yours, su-kali, said Sashi. I am with you until the end.>
Very cool.
Looking forward to the next.
March 20, 2015
4 stars
It's been almost 2 years since I read Assassin's Gambit and I like the premise that I didn't hesitant to bought Spy's Honor. The problem is, when you read the first book a long long time ago, you will miss some detail. Spy's Honor is a prologue to Assassin's Gambit and I admit, I'm a little bit confused when read this one. Spy's Honor is about Rhianne, Imperial Princess of Kjall and Jan-Torres aka Janto, the Crown Prince of Mosari. Both are cameos in the first book but play important role. It's not necessary to read Assassin's Gambit first. In fact, I will read this one then Assassin's Gambit.
The story is back when Lucien, the hero of book 1 is not emperor yet. His tyrant father is invading Mosar, and Janto is desperate to find a way to claim his country back. As a spy he enter the palace and instead finding his lost spy, he meet Rhianne first. What begin as a languange lesson between Janto and Rhianne turn to something more. They begin to fall to each other, with Janto still hide his true identity. When fate cruelly separate them and Kjall succeded in invading Mosar, Janto must take his responsibility as the heir of the crown to claim what his. Even its mean he must betray Rhianne.
What I praise most from Spy's Honor is Raby's ability to mix fantasy, romance, intrigue and politic with ease. All mixed in perfect balance and produce a good read. Even I admit that some part can be so slow. The part when Rhianne and Janto exchange about languange might be boring to read, but on the other side it show that languange is one of important element of high fantasy. No map here, but I will set aside for it. No glossarium either, which if there's one it will be nice. The conflict is well written, even the romance part is not silly or too Harlequinesque. Of course there some drama in the end, especially when Rhianne know about Janto's true identity. But its handle well.
My problem maybe is Rhianne. Maybe because I think Vitala, the heroine from first book is so badass, Rhianne seems pale compared to her. Sure Rhianne is strong, being rebel and challenge his uncle, the current emperor to save her loved one, but in some part she strike me as naive. Sometimes too compassionate too, but what bothering me is her naivete. As for the hero, I like Janto a lot. He's a beta hero, not alpha, not act like "I'm Tarzan, hear me roaaar, but can be commanding when situation need him. Janto is a shroud mage, with ability to make himself and his target-if he desire- invicible. A cool ability (and yeah, it will show in what I think the steamiest sex scene in this book, ehm), add it with his familiar, the ferret named Sashi, make him an unforgettable hero.
If you want to read a fantasy romance full of intrigue, politic manuveur but crave your happy ending, Spy's Honor is a must read.
It's been almost 2 years since I read Assassin's Gambit and I like the premise that I didn't hesitant to bought Spy's Honor. The problem is, when you read the first book a long long time ago, you will miss some detail. Spy's Honor is a prologue to Assassin's Gambit and I admit, I'm a little bit confused when read this one. Spy's Honor is about Rhianne, Imperial Princess of Kjall and Jan-Torres aka Janto, the Crown Prince of Mosari. Both are cameos in the first book but play important role. It's not necessary to read Assassin's Gambit first. In fact, I will read this one then Assassin's Gambit.
The story is back when Lucien, the hero of book 1 is not emperor yet. His tyrant father is invading Mosar, and Janto is desperate to find a way to claim his country back. As a spy he enter the palace and instead finding his lost spy, he meet Rhianne first. What begin as a languange lesson between Janto and Rhianne turn to something more. They begin to fall to each other, with Janto still hide his true identity. When fate cruelly separate them and Kjall succeded in invading Mosar, Janto must take his responsibility as the heir of the crown to claim what his. Even its mean he must betray Rhianne.
What I praise most from Spy's Honor is Raby's ability to mix fantasy, romance, intrigue and politic with ease. All mixed in perfect balance and produce a good read. Even I admit that some part can be so slow. The part when Rhianne and Janto exchange about languange might be boring to read, but on the other side it show that languange is one of important element of high fantasy. No map here, but I will set aside for it. No glossarium either, which if there's one it will be nice. The conflict is well written, even the romance part is not silly or too Harlequinesque. Of course there some drama in the end, especially when Rhianne know about Janto's true identity. But its handle well.
My problem maybe is Rhianne. Maybe because I think Vitala, the heroine from first book is so badass, Rhianne seems pale compared to her. Sure Rhianne is strong, being rebel and challenge his uncle, the current emperor to save her loved one, but in some part she strike me as naive. Sometimes too compassionate too, but what bothering me is her naivete. As for the hero, I like Janto a lot. He's a beta hero, not alpha, not act like "I'm Tarzan, hear me roaaar, but can be commanding when situation need him. Janto is a shroud mage, with ability to make himself and his target-if he desire- invicible. A cool ability (and yeah, it will show in what I think the steamiest sex scene in this book, ehm), add it with his familiar, the ferret named Sashi, make him an unforgettable hero.
If you want to read a fantasy romance full of intrigue, politic manuveur but crave your happy ending, Spy's Honor is a must read.
January 24, 2014
Full review available on AAR - http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookRev...
Have you ever been scared to start a sequel? Sometimes the first book in a series just works so well, with all the pieces fitting together, that it’s hard to think of topping it - sometimes it seems hard to even match it! I recently read Assassin’s Gambit, the first of the Hearts and Thrones series, quite recently, and was excited to read the next - until I actually got it. And then I spent a week or two reading the first page and putting it back down. There was nothing wrong with those first few pages, but I already felt so invested in the characters from the first book that I wasn’t sure I could find room for our new couple, Rhianne and Janto. I am so glad, though, I got past my hesitation, because this story was definitely worth the read.
Rhianne is Imperial Princess of Kjall, a militaristic nation, who is about to be married off to Augustan, a military leader and future governor of Mosar. Well, he'll be the future governor if Kjall is finally able to subdue Mosar, killing its nobles and royals and taking its people as slaves. Deciding that learning the language of the newest country to fall to Kjall would be a good thing, Rhianne calls over a palace garden slave, Janto, to help her with pronunciation. But Janto isn’t just a slave - he’s a mage and the Mosari crown prince. And he’s there as a spy, to stop the Kjall invasion and save his country. Fully prepared to hate the Kjallans, Janto is surprised at Rhianne’s desire to learn more about those her country is planning to subjugate, and then attracted to her mind and soul. But she has no idea who he is, and he has no idea what he can do salvage the situation and keep them together.
The world-building in this series is definitely top-notch. All the different countries feel fully fleshed out, and the problems between them make sense. And the magic works beautifully. We get a bit more information about the different types of magic - mind mages, war mages, etc. Most of it isn’t flashy - war mages, for example, are simply very good fighters, and able to anticipate their enemies by more than just instinct. I thought it was rather fascinating. We also get a good amount of political machinations, and a lot of explanation about how things came to pass. Surprisingly, the explanations don’t grate - instead everything just works to further fill out the world. Things like slavery and conquest are not simply vilified, but instead are explained, and I really appreciated that - I may not approve of slavery or conquest, but having an actual, economic reason spelled out for Rhianne makes a lot more sense in terms of the world the characters live in.
Have you ever been scared to start a sequel? Sometimes the first book in a series just works so well, with all the pieces fitting together, that it’s hard to think of topping it - sometimes it seems hard to even match it! I recently read Assassin’s Gambit, the first of the Hearts and Thrones series, quite recently, and was excited to read the next - until I actually got it. And then I spent a week or two reading the first page and putting it back down. There was nothing wrong with those first few pages, but I already felt so invested in the characters from the first book that I wasn’t sure I could find room for our new couple, Rhianne and Janto. I am so glad, though, I got past my hesitation, because this story was definitely worth the read.
Rhianne is Imperial Princess of Kjall, a militaristic nation, who is about to be married off to Augustan, a military leader and future governor of Mosar. Well, he'll be the future governor if Kjall is finally able to subdue Mosar, killing its nobles and royals and taking its people as slaves. Deciding that learning the language of the newest country to fall to Kjall would be a good thing, Rhianne calls over a palace garden slave, Janto, to help her with pronunciation. But Janto isn’t just a slave - he’s a mage and the Mosari crown prince. And he’s there as a spy, to stop the Kjall invasion and save his country. Fully prepared to hate the Kjallans, Janto is surprised at Rhianne’s desire to learn more about those her country is planning to subjugate, and then attracted to her mind and soul. But she has no idea who he is, and he has no idea what he can do salvage the situation and keep them together.
The world-building in this series is definitely top-notch. All the different countries feel fully fleshed out, and the problems between them make sense. And the magic works beautifully. We get a bit more information about the different types of magic - mind mages, war mages, etc. Most of it isn’t flashy - war mages, for example, are simply very good fighters, and able to anticipate their enemies by more than just instinct. I thought it was rather fascinating. We also get a good amount of political machinations, and a lot of explanation about how things came to pass. Surprisingly, the explanations don’t grate - instead everything just works to further fill out the world. Things like slavery and conquest are not simply vilified, but instead are explained, and I really appreciated that - I may not approve of slavery or conquest, but having an actual, economic reason spelled out for Rhianne makes a lot more sense in terms of the world the characters live in.
October 20, 2023
It is the second book in the series, but chronologically it comes first. So it is interesting because you start off the book having some impressions of the main characters after seeing them (albeit somewhat briefly) as the King and Queen of Mosar and as husband and wife who are expecting a baby in the thick of the first book. But this not only takes you back to when they were younger and the peculiar but strained circumstances under which they met but lets you see a whole other side of their characters (particularly for Jan-Torres, seeing him as a desperate crown prince instead of the settled and self-assured King is really endearing).
The magic system, established in the first book of the series, is expanded on, particularly when it comes to the custom of Mosar of casting their magic into an animal familiar rather than a riftstone. Rhianne is a mind mage (and only women can be mind mages) and so we get a more up close and personal look at the boundaries and tolls and affordances of this type of magic, especially when it comes to the high-stakes political maneuvering of the royal court.
For me, the romance maybe doesn't stand out quite as much compared to some of the other books, but is still compelling. It is a slow burn, and so many of the other political circumstances both the characters are in sets the tone for what their romance is. I liked but didn't truly love Rhianne, even though I really wanted to. She has definitely got that idealistic but headstrong princess who will fight for what she wants and believes is right and is stronger than others give her credit for thing going on, all of which I love. But maybe she is less of a compelling character to me because plot-wise, there is less of an urgency for her than there is for Janto. So, I think the stakes end up feeling a bit unbalanced because they are political and emotional for him, but less overtly political for her.
The military tactics and workings of the intelligence network remain fascinating to me and one of the things that I would say is really well done with this.
It is my least favorite out of the first three, but definitely still very much worth the read!
The magic system, established in the first book of the series, is expanded on, particularly when it comes to the custom of Mosar of casting their magic into an animal familiar rather than a riftstone. Rhianne is a mind mage (and only women can be mind mages) and so we get a more up close and personal look at the boundaries and tolls and affordances of this type of magic, especially when it comes to the high-stakes political maneuvering of the royal court.
For me, the romance maybe doesn't stand out quite as much compared to some of the other books, but is still compelling. It is a slow burn, and so many of the other political circumstances both the characters are in sets the tone for what their romance is. I liked but didn't truly love Rhianne, even though I really wanted to. She has definitely got that idealistic but headstrong princess who will fight for what she wants and believes is right and is stronger than others give her credit for thing going on, all of which I love. But maybe she is less of a compelling character to me because plot-wise, there is less of an urgency for her than there is for Janto. So, I think the stakes end up feeling a bit unbalanced because they are political and emotional for him, but less overtly political for her.
The military tactics and workings of the intelligence network remain fascinating to me and one of the things that I would say is really well done with this.
It is my least favorite out of the first three, but definitely still very much worth the read!
April 6, 2017
(4.5 stars) Wow! I have read that Raby's aim with this series is to write books that are equally satisfying to fantasy or romance readers. She made a good bash at it with Assassin's Gambit (Book 1), with an original world that felt real enough to inhabit, but as a fantasy reader I felt we got a bit short-changed compared to the romance audience when it came to the second half of that book. By contrast, Spy's Honour actually pulls it off. The romance is swoony, the worldbuilding is convincing, and the action and intrigue kept me turning the pages. I stayed up late, late, late into the night to finish it off.
This book is another stand alone novel, set before the events of Assassin's Gambit. The Roman-like Kjallan Empire is invading the island nation of Mosar. The Mosari Crown Prince, Janto, is posing as a slave in the Kjallan capital while he attempts to gather intelligence to try and save his people. He strikes up a friendship and soon a romance with the Imperial Princess, Rhianne, but Rhianne is betrothed to the military commander leading the invasion of Mosar, and the Emperor is determined she go through with the wedding.
Romance and bloodthirsty manoeuvring ensue. However, I was impressed at Raby's choice to make Rhianne a gentle soul, and to restore kindness and compassion to their place in sensible politics--something seems to have disappeared in the current wave of Game of Thrones machismo. It is refreshing to have someone point out that wars may be won with butchery and terror, but prosperous nations require other qualities. Crazy idea, I know.
Fans of the first book will be pleased to see young Lucien feature here too as a major character. While Lucien and Vitala were both striking for their skill and intelligence, Rhianne and Janto are ordinary people who are drawn to each other's (gasp!) kindness. While they are not as striking as the couple in Assassin's Gambit, their ordinariness makes them more relatable, and ultimately this works for the story.
One of the most fun and satisfying books I've read in a while.
Bring on Book 3!
This book is another stand alone novel, set before the events of Assassin's Gambit. The Roman-like Kjallan Empire is invading the island nation of Mosar. The Mosari Crown Prince, Janto, is posing as a slave in the Kjallan capital while he attempts to gather intelligence to try and save his people. He strikes up a friendship and soon a romance with the Imperial Princess, Rhianne, but Rhianne is betrothed to the military commander leading the invasion of Mosar, and the Emperor is determined she go through with the wedding.
Romance and bloodthirsty manoeuvring ensue. However, I was impressed at Raby's choice to make Rhianne a gentle soul, and to restore kindness and compassion to their place in sensible politics--something seems to have disappeared in the current wave of Game of Thrones machismo. It is refreshing to have someone point out that wars may be won with butchery and terror, but prosperous nations require other qualities. Crazy idea, I know.
Fans of the first book will be pleased to see young Lucien feature here too as a major character. While Lucien and Vitala were both striking for their skill and intelligence, Rhianne and Janto are ordinary people who are drawn to each other's (gasp!) kindness. While they are not as striking as the couple in Assassin's Gambit, their ordinariness makes them more relatable, and ultimately this works for the story.
One of the most fun and satisfying books I've read in a while.
Bring on Book 3!
April 30, 2016
Even though this is the second book in the series, it takes place 4 or 5 years before Assassin's Gambit (the first book), and I really wish I'd read it first. While each book can be read as a standalone, I didn't really appreciate or understand Rhianne or Jan-Torres in Assassin's Gambit because I hadn't read their book first. I also went into this book with some preconceived ideas that made me impatient for certain parts because I'd read Gambit first.
I loved Assassin's Gambit so much, I was afraid this book would be a let down. It wasn't. I immediately fell in love with the characters, which really drew me into the story. I don't think this one was quite as action-packed as Gambit, but it was pretty exciting. Raby has a way of drawing you into the story and making you feel like you are the characters living the adventure. The bronze alligator part actually brought tears to my eyes.
I also loved the familiars in this book. They added an enjoyable aspect to Raby's world building. I fell in love with Sashi and had to laugh at his blood-thirsty nature.
I didn't feel the ending was quite as strong as Gambit's, though, but overall I loved this book, and I'm hoping to see more of Rhianne and Jan-Torres in book 4 since they weren't in book 3.
I loved Assassin's Gambit so much, I was afraid this book would be a let down. It wasn't. I immediately fell in love with the characters, which really drew me into the story. I don't think this one was quite as action-packed as Gambit, but it was pretty exciting. Raby has a way of drawing you into the story and making you feel like you are the characters living the adventure. The bronze alligator part actually brought tears to my eyes.
I also loved the familiars in this book. They added an enjoyable aspect to Raby's world building. I fell in love with Sashi and had to laugh at his blood-thirsty nature.
I didn't feel the ending was quite as strong as Gambit's, though, but overall I loved this book, and I'm hoping to see more of Rhianne and Jan-Torres in book 4 since they weren't in book 3.
March 3, 2016
Rhianne, is Imperial Princess of Kjall, who is very naive about the way of the world. She enlists her cousin Lucian into her plans for her dear friend Morgan. Lucian may be The Crown Prince but his father will see him as a kind of failure and second to last choice for ruling Kjall. Rhianne wants to know more about Mosari deciding to learn the language by teaching herself. Mosari Crown Prince Janto is searching for his spy at The Kjall Palace. He befriends a few slaves into helping him discover what became of his spy. Janto pretends to be a slave to gain access to the palace. He over hears Rhianne practicing his language badly then corrects her pronunciation. Rhianne happily excepts his offer to teach Mosari. Rhianne doesn't expect the feelings she's carrying are acceptable but that doesn't stop her either. Will Rhianne lose her naivete? Can Janto find his missing spy? Will either Rhianne or Janto admit their feelings? Find out in Spy's Honor.
This sequel didn't disappoint at all. The characters are well written and complex. The story presented is full of memories. I'm definitely looking forward to my next adventure in this series.
This sequel didn't disappoint at all. The characters are well written and complex. The story presented is full of memories. I'm definitely looking forward to my next adventure in this series.
September 1, 2014
I enjoyed this book better than the first in the series, which takes place after this one, but it lacked depth and strategy. The heroine is naive despite her intelligence and willfulness. The hero is a gentleman who is apparently the best strategist in several nations. However, that strategy doesn't appear until after late in the plot. Until then he makes a lot of rash decisions and depends a lot on luck. The princess is unbelievably able to run around as she pleases, even with her particular powers. I did feel that the relationship between them was realistic. It developed over several meetings and in-depth conversations. I actually would have liked to have seen more regarding the animal familiars. And Lucien was as generally nice and useless as I remembered from the start of Assassin's Gambit.
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