Knight Assassin

by Rima Jean

Seventeen-year-old Zayn has special powers she cannot control—powers that others fear and covet. Powers that cause the Templar Knights to burn Zayn’s mother at the stake for witchcraft. When a mysterious stranger tempts Zayn to become the first female member of the heretical Assassins, the chance to seek her revenge lures her in. She trains to harness her supernatural strength and agility, and then enters the King of Jerusalem's court in disguise with the assignment to assassinate Guy de Molay, her mother’s condemner. But once there, she discovers Earic Goodwin, the childhood friend who still holds her heart, among the knights—and his ocean-blue eyes don’t miss a thing. Will vengeance be worth the life of the one love she has left?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal, Historical, Magic, Historical Fiction, Action

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 4, 2014

About the author

I write magical, researched, and sometimes dark historical fantasies. I love mixing magic with history and a bit of romance.

I will read pretty much anything. Generally, though, I'd rather be writing. ;)

I also make digital art, including book covers. You can see my work here:
http://fiction-chick.com/blog/portfolio/

Reviews

[Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.5

If you liked the Grave Mercy series, you will love this book. Frankly, I found Grave Mercy to be boring as fuck, and I ended up liking this book a lot better. If you are a fan of the video games Prince of Persia, Assassin's Creed, you will find the setting in this book pretty fucking awesome, because that's where we are, yo!

Mysterious sect of assassins training in a desert hideout? Check!
Crusadin' Templars? Check!
Saladin? (Yes, THAT Saladin!). Check!

There is political intrigue, there is vengeance, there is bloodshed. If you're in need of your lords and ladies and palaces, there is that, too; we spend a considerable amount of time spying within the royal courts of Medieval Jerusalem.

This is one of the more unusual books I've read. It is set in the time of the Crusades, in Syria. The heroine is a Muslim (Saracen ) girl who trains to be an Assassin. Don't worry, there is nothing preachy and religious about this book. I am the first to cry bloody fucking murder if a book tries to impress religion upon me; this book talks about religion, both Christian and Islam, with a more analytical perspective, appropriate to the historical time period. This book is about a Muslim warrior girl, but it does not try to push any religion upon its reader at all.

There are a number of good things about this book:

1. An assassin girl who actually kills
2. An assassin girl who's completely uninterested in pretty pretty clothes; SHE WANTS VENGEANCE, BLOODY VENGEANCE
3. Believable characterization (and "damaged," she is raped, and she has to come to terms with her self-loathing)
4. No insta-love, no love triangle, light on the romance
5. An awesome setting
6. No girl-on-girl hate, positive portrayal of other female characters

So why the 3.5 instead of 5?

1. More assassin, please
2. The beginning & the plot - it took quite some time for this book to get going
3. The writing - it was good, not great; no purple prose, but the writing didn't have anything amazing going for it. There was a lot of telling, and it lacked the kind of brilliant psychoanalytical insight I seek. The writing is action-filled, but I found it to be very much dry at some points. It just lacks pure emotion.
4. The flashbacks - again, in the beginning, there was a considerable amount of flashback that dragged the story down considerably
5. The magic - it felt completely unnecessary, it was largely unexplained; I felt that the main character and the book itself, would have been stronger without it
6. The names. WHY ZAYN? Most of the Muslim characters in the book have somewhat normal names, but I just don't really get why the main character has to have such a strange, outlandish name that does not befit the time period.

The Summary: Zayn is a 17-year old Saracen (Muslim) girl, living in the village of Rafaniyah with her mother, Miriam. We are in Syria, in the time of the Medieval Crusades. Their little village has been conquered by the Frankish lords, and they are serfs who harvest olives for a living.

Zayn is not a well-loved girl within her village. She is a bastard. Her mother, Miriam, is shunned for having a child out of wedlock. She is branded a whore. Her daughter is little more than disgrace. Zayn doesn't know who her father is---her mother keeps that a closely guarded secret, but Zayn has always been different, she is stronger, faster than others; she feels a fire within her when she gets enraged.

Zayn turns down a forced marriage to a village leaders' son; in vengeance, the village turns against her.

The villagers claim that Zayn is a witch. They say that her mother is a whore. Guy de Molay, the village's Templar leader, captures them. Guy de Molay burns her mother at the stakes, he forces Zayn to watch that fiery death, he rapes Zayn.

Zayn survives the rape, but she wants to die. On her way to kill herself, she is interrupted by a man. He has an offer for her.

“Be reasonable. If I leave you here, you will most likely die, and Guy de Molay wins. Come with me, and you get your chance at retribution. Which option appeals to you more?”

Come with him, train to be an assassin. Use her extraordinary strength to be an asset. In return, he will help her get revenge on Guy de Molay.

The man's name is Junaid, he is a Commander with the Assassins, a heretical sect of Islam. They are little more than mercenaries. They are spies, killers, in a truce with the great warrior, Saladin. Zayn is to become one of them. There is no room for weakness, there is no time for self-pity. It is a brutal test to become an Assassin, and it doesn't matter that Zayn is a woman. She has to survive, she has to excel like anyone else to become one of them. Failure is not an option. There is no room for fear.

Junaid did not smile back. His eyes were hard. “I cannot teach you if you are afraid. Faithful Ones are chosen not only because of strength of mind and body, but also strength of character. You will be expelled at the slightest sign of weakness, and I will take you back to the sheepherder’s shed so that you may finish what I interrupted.”

Zayn trains, day in and out. She fights. She hones her skills. Not everyone is her friend, in fact, almost nobody is; Zayn is a woman, reviled, distrusted for the rumors regarding her strength. Zayn is hated by her male peers, she is seen as filthy because she is a woman, because she menstruates.

“I speak for many of us when I say this,” Bashar continued, ignoring her. “We do not think she belongs here. She will only cause us trouble. Furthermore, it has come to our attention that she is currently unclean.” He watched Zayn’s jaw drop with relish. “We strongly believe she should abstain from handling holy texts and training with us until she is clean again.”

That douchebag.

*ahem*

Zayn undergoes extensive training. She learns to fight, she learns social graces, courtly etiquette. It doesn't come second nature to Zayn, because she is not a girly girl, but these skills will come in handy, for Zayn's next mission will take place in the royal courts in Jerusalem, as a lady-in-waiting to a noblewoman, Lady Marguerite.

In Jerusalem, a childhood friend will resurface. A former crush, which may grow to be something more, if he doesn't blow her disguise first. Zayn has a lot to overcome, including her own passion, her anger (which is so thoroughly justified)...

“Your anger,” he interrupted, his voice firm but gentle. Like his eyes. “She says your passion burns brightly in your face, Zayn. How will you deceive a Frank, a lady, a knight, when your hatred for them is so clearly written in your eyes?”

And her own self-loathing because of her rape.

You are ruined, and no man will ever love you.

The Setting: This is such an unusual setting, and I absolutely loved it. I can probably count on one hand the number of books with a Middle-Eastern medieval setting. I hate to use the word exotic, but that's what it was. It is different, it is unusual, it's not something you encounter every day in a book. We are taken from small olive-farming villages to the large town of Acre. It is glorious, brilliant with color.

Its domes, spires, and minarets shimmered white in the sun, contrasting brightly with the aquamarine water. Ships from Venice and Genoa and even farther away crowded the harbor, a forest of galleys and pinnaces, all laden with goods. A caravan of bedouin camels traipsed through the dust, carrying bolts of silk and bales of spices.

Which mask some very real human suffering as they travel deeper into the kingdom of Jerusalem.

Beggars pulled at her skirts, stretching their disfigured hands out to her in supplication. Blind, legless, leprous—they were all there, hiding in the shade. A one-eyed woman, cradling a tiny baby, peered up at her from within a worn, sun-beaten face. Zayn tossed down her coins and tried to shut the woman—all of them—from her mind. She had never seen such human suffering. And this in the holiest of cities.

We are brought into the royal courts, gloriously decorated, wined and dined with sumptuous feasts. There is King Baldwin, the young Leper King of Outremer and his sister, the widowed Queen Sibylla. As far as I can tell, the history and the timeline within this book are historically accurate, nothing sticks out for the worse.

Zayn, The Girl: Zayn is deeply sympathetic, and I felt a great deal of compassion for her. There is the major driving force of her rape...though she survives, she can't help but feel like she has been violated by it, body and mind. She thinks she is unloveable. She thinks she is ruined. Zayn is afraid to love, because she feels like love will never find her again because she has been rendered worthless because of her rape.

I’m damaged. I’m afraid to trust men. I don’t know how to cope with my feelings for you.
I’m afraid to love you.

Zayn hates herself so much, her rape has changed the way she sees her own body. Zayn thinks she is worthless, she hates her body, she hates her body for what it has brought her.

She hated herself, the curves of her body, the hairless skin of her face, her childlike eyes and lips…everything that made her female and feminine.

She detested men and their lust, and she loathed herself for inspiring it in them.

Filth. Nothing but filth.

Zayn has to overcome so much in order to trust herself again, and I admire her so much for it.

Zayn, The Assassin: Zayn has natural, slightly magical talents, but she works hard, and she trains hard for it. She is "different," yes, but it doesn't define her, because this is a girl who actually puts in the sweat, the blood, and the tears. Zayn is not afraid to kill. But sometimes, she falters, and it pissed me off.

But there was something else, too…something that maddened her with its simplicity, with its validity: Earic Goodwin. His presence had shattered her focus.

She is so obsessed with her conscience sometimes, and how she is perceived by someone she admires that she allows that to fuck with her focus and thus make her lose track of her mission. I liked the fact that she is a warrior, I just wished Zayn was more bad-ass.

The Romance: Very light, but it's a little unbelievable. It's a childhood crush that comes back to haunt her. Their interaction is thankfully few, and that's what makes the romance---when it sends twinges into Zayn's heart---so much more unbelievable. I'm glad that the romance is not the focus of the book, but I wish that there was either less of it, or more of it, so that the relationship feels more realistic.

Overall: A solid debut, and an interesting premise that you don't come across every day.

Quotes were taken from an uncorrected proof subject to change in the final edition.

[Ash Wednesday · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 STARS

Throne of Glass, Graceling, Grave Mercy.

I’m looking warily at The Assassin’s Curse because I’ve yet to read that one (and it’s part of a challenge) but I’m suspecting, with how I feel about Knight Assassin in the end, I’m well on my way towards Assassin Fatigue.

It wasn’t a bad book. But save for this being set in Syria during the time of the Crusades, it offered very little in innovation. This didn’t commit any of the offense I found in the previous assassin books I read, if anything this did exceptionally well in avoiding the pitfalls that usually accompany the female assassin lore. But still, I can’t quite bring myself to stay still, pay attention and read what will become of Zayn in one go.

A young woman with special kick-ass abilities gets raped after witnessing her mother murdered for being a witch by Templar Knights. Taking advantage of her hunger for vengeance, a mysterious man recruits her into the Assassins, militant Ismaili Muslim fanatics who hunts both Muslims and Franks alike. Eventually, she gets sent to a mission to infiltrate court by being a lady-in-waiting in Jerusalem to murder her rapist who also happens to be a growing threat to the Saracens’ cause, rising in the ranks among the knights. But her purpose gets complicated by discovering new and old friends among enemies, uncovering secrets about her she never knew existed and giving her a purpose beyond hatred and revenge.



I think I commented in one review how everything I know about the history of The Crusades I learned from Ridley Scott. I’m pleasantly surprised how effective that movie is in terms of a companion piece to reading this book. Sibylla, King Baldwin, Guy de Lusignan and Saladin were mostly peripheral characters in Zayn’s story but it was quite fun revisiting these characters and knowing what becomes of them based on the movie (No “I am Jerusalem” moment for King Baldwin though). I should probably read more reliable texts on this part of history (it IS quite fascinating) than base it off an Orlando Bloom-starrer but for the moment, it was a serviceable background.

I had a bit of a hard time trying to identify exactly what didn’t work for me in this book because any other time than now, I feel this would’ve ended up in my favourites’ shelf. I think my biggest issue was the length and the romance.

This is probably the first time I’ll be complaining about a book being too short.

I appreciate that this had the pace I’d expect in a novel about assassins. It didn’t skimp on the action and I like that this had a lengthier focus on Zayn’s training as an Assassin (which was what I was hankering for in Grave Mercy)… but it also has a story line about a young woman who watched her mother die, got raped and in the process has been made to view her femininity as an affliction.

She hated herself, the curves of her body, the hairless skin of her face, her child-like eyes and lips… everything that made her female and feminine.
—————
She was no longer genderless, wearing this gown. She was very much a woman, and she hated it. Filth. Filth.

And unlike Katsa in Graceling I find that I can fathom this character and her rejection of all things feminine. But there was this one scene, while Zayn’s being prepared for a party with the other ladies in waiting that she has a moment of appreciation of being a woman.

That was my favourite bit in this book. Because I’ve seen a lot of the twists and turns this story had to offer in previous reads but that was quite unique. I would’ve liked the pace to have dwelled more in Zayn’s understanding of being a woman and coming to terms with her anger outside the killing even if the killing of Guy de Molay was much deserved handled without going the over-dramatic route. Maybe more memories of her mother which I quite liked in the early chapters but gradually gave way to developing a relationship with that nice boy from long ago.



Eh.

For some reason, I was utterly uncharmed by the romance between Zayn and Earic. Maybe because the beginnings of their story has been done to death that it has started to come across flimsy and shallow to me. Or maybe I just really didn’t like how Earic figures into every scene. There’s a ultilitarian quality in the way Rima Jean wrote the book as a whole… except when it comes to Earic.: “bright blue eyes”, “golden hair”, dashing, handsome and virile. It was almost embarrassing to read about him. For all the depth and complexity of Zayn’s character, “virile” feels like an ill-fit to her lexicon just as how a two-dimensional hero like Earic is an ill-fit for this book. I actually hoped for an evil twist in Earic's character and a surprising turn in Bashar'swithout resorting to a love triangle, just to set this apart from the rest of the assassin books out there.

And finally, there seems to be a gap between the majestic story of The Frank-Saracen conflict and Zayn’s own. The two plot lines felt detached from each other and Zayn’s story could’ve happened anytime else in history where there’s conflict between two nations and it wouldn’t make much of a difference. I would’ve liked Zayn’s story to be better integrated to the historical aspects of this novel, which is one of the few things that Grave Mercy to have done well in its setting.

So a pretty decent read that would probably work better for readers who haven’t got their fill of the attractive kick-ass assassin on a revenge streak storyline. I have quite a short list of books to recommend under the Young Adult Historical Fiction and save for a few pitfalls and faults, this is quite a solid addition to that shelf.

ARC provided by publishers in exchange for an honest review. Quotes may not appear in the final copy.

Also on Booklikes.

[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Assassins, Knights Templar and a holy war sets the scene in the Crusader States of 1180. I didn’t have a lot or any knowledge of this time frame in history but that didn’t diminish from my enjoyment of the story.

I love stories with strong female characters that take the tragedies that happen to them in life and turn them into something else. Zayn is that girl, the last thing she ever wanted was to grow into a woman because then she would have to marry and be caged and trapped forever.

Warning: There is a rape in this book. I generally do not like rape in YA novels as sometimes I think authors just throw the threat of sexual molestation into their books for shock factor…however in this book it fit with the story line and the was done in the least graphic way possible. The death of Zayn’s mother and her subsequent rape are the driving force for her training to become an assassin and really necessary for the character development she goes through.

"Zayn, you are here only because of me. You will face great adversity from everyone – the Assassins, the Franks, the Saracens. No one wants you, a headstrong girl reputed to have supernatural abilities. They would all rather see you dead, for in death you cannot threaten them or their beliefs about the world."

Because Zayn comes from a Muslim culture I think the rape hits her a little differently than if she were Anglo. It is deemed her fault and she struggles with being unclean and filthy because of it. Someone right after makes a comment like ‘why haven’t you died of shame already’. She must overcome cultural biases as well as gender roles in her training as an assassin.

After her training is complete and she is sent on her mission into the gentry where she lies in wait to kill the man who ruined her simple life. There she becomes fast friends with the Lady Marguerite. I adored Marguerite’s character she is feisty and wants nothing more than to learn all the things that men do as well. She is tired of embroidery and other useless tasks. I loved that Zayn was able to make a female friend and there wasn’t that caddy girl angst that seems prevalent in YA novels today.

"If only I were a man.” Zayn said to Marguerite when the two of them were alone again. She paced the solar, her fists clenched.
Marguerite smiled. “I used to wish that as well, not too long ago. But I see the advantages of being a woman now – we are underestimated, and therefore, have much more power over men.”

Even though there is the mention of religions multiple times in the story it is never preachy and is used more as a debate on the morality of killing and the driving forces of the frictions between the apposing Assassins, Templars and Saladin.

There is a small romance in the story as well but it never takes over the plot and there isn’t any insta-love from across the room happening. I really liked the love interest and how he saw Zayn and the world around them. He is just as stuck as she is but for entirely different reasons.

This would be closer to a five stars but the magic of where Zayn gets her power and the lore behind it where never well explained although I’m sure if there is another novel it will be explored more completely. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the flashbacks to childhood that Zayn and Earic had.

Super fun story that once it got going moved quickly other books sort of like this with a different setting are Grave Mercy, Throne of Glass and Assassins Creed (based on the video game).

[Tandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This book impressed the pants off of me!

Zayn and her mother Miriam live an isolated existence in the village of Rafaniya. They're tolerated by their fellow villagers, but feared. Zayn has strange fits of power she doesn't understand and can't control. She's ashamed and believes the whispers that she's evil. Zayn is frustrated by the limits placed upon her because she's a woman and isn't eager to marry & place herself under a husband's control.

The setting is Syria during the time of the French invasion (thanks to Khahn for clarifying that). There are prejudices & Muslim/Christian turf wars over holy places. The Franks own the land and the villagers are just serfs. Zayn's rejection of a marriage proposal proffered by the tribal chief's son brings the Frankish powers that be down upon her & her mother. The villagers are not so tolerant any more and bring the Frankish landowner and Knights in to punish them. The landlord's son, Guy de Molay, is the worst of all the terrible men. Zayn is forced to watch in horror as her mother is burned alive, accused of being a witch. She's raped and left for dead.

Zayn wakes up hearing the morning call to prayer. Her mother was burned at the stake the night before and people are carrying on as they normally did.
"Perhaps her story would be relayed to disobedient girls as a cautionary tale. See what happens to women who seek to make their own future?"
Grief and shame overwhelm her, and she truly believes she is filth because of what de Molay did to her. Just as she's going to take her own life, a stranger's voice speaks these words to her. “Seek revenge, not death." This is where things get really good. Junaid has sought her out, having heard the rumors about her possessing power. He takes her to the secret assassin dojo and she begins training. Her humiliation has turned into a lust for revenge and she's determined to kill de Molay. This is the part where I started to cheer.

I kept waiting for the story to either get boring or lame. It can't keep being this good! I was wrong and I'm so happy that I was. It just keeps getting better. A lot of the assassins are ass-asses and every group in the story has some kind of political agenda. I loved Zayn. I'm so glad there's going to be another book!

[Farrah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing, thrilling, romantic, and just wonderful! Knight Assassin was a brilliant YA read. I loved this book. Everything about it, from the impeccable setting to the thrilling action, was perfect. Loved it!

I love how the setting was done. Since I know quite a bit about Arab culture, from the religion to the everyday way of life, I would have been turned off right away if something was inaccurate. But, everything was spot on and vividly described. The lush details made me feel totally transported into the setting. I thought it was brilliantly done.

Zayn was a fantastic heroine. This poor girl went through so much, from the disapproval of the entire town she dealt with while growing up, to her mother's murder and something even worse. But, she found a way to keep her strength and, eventually, become strong enough to take on everyone who tried to get in her way. She was definitely a survivor. I especially liked that she didn't let her bad experiences turn her cold. She was still a genuinely nice person (unless you wronged her; then she would take you down). I really liked her. I thought she was a wonderful character.

Earic was also wonderful. We only get glimpses of his character from Zayn's memories for about the first half, but those glimpses made me like him right away. Then, when he came into the picture, I liked him even more. He was very strong and loyal to what he believed in, even if it sometimes meant going against the rules. And he was so sweet and devoted to Zayn. I just adored him. I thought he was wonderful.

The romance was fairly light, since Zayn and Earic don't reunite for a while. But, that didn't mean it wasn't there. Even when they were separated, Zayn was thinking about Earic and, when they met again, it was obvious that they still cared for each other. These two were so perfectly matched and so meant to be together. I thought they were a lovely couple.

The plot was fast paced and I was hooked the entire way through. There were enough secrets and surprises to keep me on the edge of my seat. I really enjoyed the story and the ending has me excited to see what happens next. I can't wait to read book 2!

Knight Assassin was a brilliant YA read. I absolutely loved this book. It was just amazing, from the characters, to the setting, to the action, and the romance. All of it was perfect. Lovers of YA romance, this book is a must read.



*I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Elisabeth Wheatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the main character gets raped within the first three chapters, you know you’re in for a grueling, gut-wrenching ride. There was a moment where I wondered what I’d gotten myself into, but putting this book down was never an option—I’ve been hopelessly hooked since I saw the cover reveal on a friend’s blog and I downloaded it the same week it came out.

The plot:
There were lots of parts where I put down my Kindle and paced, chewing a hole in my cheek and trying to stave off a panic attack as I worried at what would happen next. At around the 90% mark I started to panic because this appears to be a standalone and things were far, far from where I wanted them to be. As for mechanics, this book was a concise, compact read that flowed smoothly and I really can’t think of anything I’d like to add to the plot.

I very much found the author’s exploration of the post-Crusade Holy Lands to be interesting. With jinn and magical cults thrown in, there’s a bit of historical reshaping, but I still thought the historical influences to be one of the main draw points for the story.

The characters:
Normally, virago characters get on my nerves very easily, but Zayn didn’t. She has so much emotional baggage and turmoil and struggles and her victories are never guaranteed, but in spite of everything she’s been through she still has a heart—you’d have to be a soulless robot not to love her.

I’ve been fantasizing about making a delivery to a Mord’Sith dungeon again. This time I would be dropping off Guy de Molay. I just…he…ugh. I’m getting angry just thinking about him. There’s a persona to bring out your inner psychopath.

I really wish Earic had gotten more time on page. He was a sweet, brave love interest and a welcome deviation from the bad boy archetypes that have been going around like a virus lately. (The scene where he turns up kind of reminded me of Ivanhoe, on a random note.)

This appears to be a standalone, but…I’m sure there could still be more to this story. The twist at the end about Earic’s friend back in England had me going “OOOOooooh” and crossing my fingers, wishing the author would write more books.

Knight Assassin is not a fluffy read, it is not a bubbly read. It will punch you right in the feels and rip you apart like a blender. But I highly, highly recommend it to anyone who loves dark fantasy, historical fantasy, or assassins. Well done, Ms. Jean, and I really, really want that sequel.

[Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

From her fast paced plot line, to the characters and vivid setting, Rima Jean totally hooked me with Knight Assassin. I didn't take me long until I totally found myself immersed in her story. I enjoyed reading this book! Rima did a fabulous job at combining the elements I love in both a YA fantasy and YA romance, and created something both new and exciting.

Zayn is an awesome heroine. She deals with so much in this book, that even I was amazed at the incredible strength she had to go on. This poor girl literally goes through hell. From being shunned by her own town's people, to losing her mother in a tragic way, to a brutal attack that left her broken, Zayn somehow found this inner strength to keep going, even when it would have been ok for her to just give up. She is a survivor. She's a fighter, and she's not someone who gives up. Instead all her grief, brokenness & passion for revenge into fuels her desire to not fail at her mission as an elite Assassin.

Zayn can kick some serious butt. She is not someone anyone wants to cross. She's got nothing to lose and everything to gain, and that makes her a deadly weapon. Combine that with her training, and Zayn is a force to be reckoned with. That doesn't mean that she's still not vulnerable. Earic is the only boy who's ever had her heart. Since they were kids these two had something. Even though at first we see Earic through Zayn's memories, it's obvious that he's always held her heart. These two always protected each other, and helped each other. When Earic re-enters the picture, that doesn't change, but now there's a lot more at stake, and both of them are a danger to each other.

Read my full review here http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/2014/0...

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5
This review also appeared on my blog.

“…I thought my life was over.”

Zayn looked up suddenly, the soapy bath water rippling from her. “Was it?”

Aysha smiled. “No. It was a brutal beginning.”

Knight Assassin follows Zayn, a young girl living in the village of Rafaniyah at the time of the French invasion of Syria. Zayn has had strange powers all her life, and she’s faster and stronger than any normal human being. But her whole village loathes her and her mother Miriam because she’s illegitimate. Rumours spread about Zayn’s powers, and Guy de Molay, a Templar Knight, has Miriam burned at the stake while Zayn watches. He then rapes her and leaves her for dead. Just then, a passing stranger offers her a chance to get her revenge on Guy if he will come with her. Zayn agrees, and the man takes her to the Assassins. Dun dun dun. Points if you said that in your head like this:


I’m sorry. I don’t know why I just thought of that. So we follow Zayn’s assassin training, and then she leaves to seek out Guy and get her revenge. We get to see Zayn at court, with all its intricacies and friends in unlikely places and Lady Marguerite whom I love with all my soul. It’s pretty great.

Anyway, Knight Assassin was a step for me in that it had a really different setting from what I’m used to. The descriptions of Jerusalem, the Leper King’s court, the entire setting was so interesting – I’m assuming it’s historically accurate. But the best thing about this book was undoubtedly Zayn.

Except her iffy name, Zayn is everything I look for in a strong heroine. She’s special because of her powers, yes, but that makes her anything but a speshul star student. She still has to work just as much as anyone else to be a good assassin. She still has to go through the same training. And she had such believable, excellent development – going from self-loathing after her rape to something else, not hating her body. It’s an inspiring journey, and I loved reading it. Her life at court was fascinating too, with the added bonus of badass superstar Lady Marguerite.

I’m a little unsure about the romance, though – it turned out a bit much considering she’d only known him for a short time when she was twelve. That didn’t make it any less cutesy to read about though, and I really like both Zayn and Earic as characters.

All in all, this was a really enjoyable book, and I look forward to reading the author’s next books.

[Helen · Rating 1 out of 5]

*This book was an E-Galley sent to me in exchange for an honest review*

THE STORY:
I feel like this book had a lot of ups and downs. The beginning was painfully slow, and just when the book would start to pick up, it would suddenly slow back down again. I felt as if a lot of the things I was looking forward to were things that kind of got brushed aside. I wanted to know more about her training, I wanted to get all of the gory details about her time with the assassins, but instead there were just a lot of confusing time jumps with very little explanation as to how she learned her physical skills, as well as how she learned to control her power.

The two main things which were supposed to be plot twists within this story, I found to be very predictable. In fact, one of them we as the readers actually know from the beginning due to the fact that the main character repeatedly says that it can't possibly be the case. Over all, considering how much potential the plot of this book has, I found it to be a let down.

THE CHARACTERS:
I almost don't want to step into this particular pool of water because it is deep, dark, and full of slimy, distasteful things. There is basically nothing good that I can say about the characters in this book. I found the main character to be whiny and rather pathetic, even though she was supposed to be so strong and powerful. Her thought process was annoying and repetitive, and not to mention her rather bad case of nearly insta-love. The only thing saving this book from insta-love is the fact that the two characters have known each other since they were small, and just haven't seen each other in many years. I probably would have enjoyed Earic a lot more if it wasn't for the fact that he is very two dimensional in the book. We don't get a whole lot of back story or personality from him, we merely see him react to the situations which he is put into.

I am not going to discuss any of the more secondary characters because, even though most of them had something to do in the way of plot and moving the story forward, they remain very undeveloped and it is hard, as a reader to find anything worth discussing about them.

MY THOUGHTS:
This book has taken me so long to read, even though it is arguably very short. I was so excited to dive into it when I read that it was going to be a story about a vengeful female assassin, but I found that it just couldn't hold my attention, and what little information we do get about the assassins and what they look like and what their training is like seems as if it all comes from Assassins Creed games. My hopes were high going into this book, and they came crashing terribly down. I do not recommend this book, and I doubt that I will read any more of this series, if that is what it is intended to be.

STAR RATING: ★ 1/2

[Devin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC for an unbiased opinion.

Zayn's life is torn apart when her mother is killed and she is raped. She is rescued and taken to be trained as an Assassin because she has a strange sort of power and because they think she will do anything for revenge on the man who raped her and killed her mother (they are pretty right). She eventually ends up in the Frank court as a lady in waiting where she finally gets to try and assassinate her tormentor. Things are complicated when other people from her recent and far past show up.

So I wanted to love this book. I really did. It had SO much potential.

Pros:
-Cool new setting. I haven't seen anything set during the Crusades/Templar time period
-POC (Syrian) heroine
-Interracial romance
-Secret societies
-The flashbacks to Zayn's childhood were sweet

Cons:
-I think the biggest con was a lot of the writing was telling and not showing. I was TOLD a lot of things, but rarely got to actually see those events or qualities in the characters. (i.e. Zayn's awesome powers, what WERE they? Why didn't we get to see her train at all? What was the point?)
-It was kind of embarrassingly hard to get past the fact that her name was Zayn (One Direction anyone?)
-Out of the blue romance (Wait...they are kissing?? Oh....ok?)
-Weirdly anti-feminine qualities (It made sense for Zayn to feel some things, but she made a lot of catty remarks about the other ladies-in-waiting that I found jarring)
-Though in a specific historical period, it didn't feel very researched or full. I wanted to know more about the king and society
-Zayn's love interest's nickname made me cringe every time.
-Plotting was awkward. It was go-go-go and then nothing for a lot of pages

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Entangled Publishing, LLC and Netgalley.)
17-year-old Zayn has a problem – sometimes she feels an overwhelming building of energy inside her and doesn’t know how to dissipate it without people getting hurt.
When she turns down a marriage proposal by the village leader’s son, her mother is killed, and Zayn somehow finds herself being trained as an assassin.
Where does this power come from? Is Zayn the only one affected? And can she use her powers for good?


This was an okay story, but I didn’t really enjoy it all that much.

Zayn was an okay character. She obviously loved her mother, wasn’t afraid to stand up for what she wanted, and always did her best. I liked the way that she didn’t accept a pity proposal and instead took the more dangerous option, and I also liked the way she didn’t use her power to hurt people, even when they weren’t necessarily friendly.

The storyline in this was okay, although I did get a bit bored. There was some action in this which is probably what saved the book for me, and I also liked the little snippets of romance that we got. I did find my attention slipping during most of the book though.
I will say that this book did remind me of Grave Mercy, and seeing as I didn’t like that much either it probably stands to reason that I wouldn’t like this much either. If you liked Grave Mercy you will probably like this though.
Overall; okay assassin story, with a good main character.
6 out of 10.

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wasn't sure what to expect when I picked this up but anything having to do with a girl that is fierce, defies the rules and hello, is an assassin, is an okay read in my book.

I was worried in the beginning that this may have come off as a knock off from another really great series about a kick butt girl assassin but after the first few chapters I was happy to see that I had nothing to worry about. This story had a totally different tone to it and some twists and turns I didn't even see coming and that ending? The ending sort of through me and had retelling from a beloved childhood story written all over it.

Now, those are all the positives but sadly, now we have to move on to some of the not so positives, actually, there really aren't any negatives more just the fact that as much as I wanted to love this book and love Zayn, for whatever reason I just didn't. I had a hard time getting completely wrapped up in her story and I have no idea why. The writing was great, the storyline was great, I just wasn't feeling it and I have a feeling it was entirely my own fault. I had just read a fantastic book and may have just started this one a little too soon to be able to really appreciate it when I was still thinking about the last one.

Honestly, because I did like it and the writing was good, I would definitely pick up the next book (if there is one) and give it another try because overall I think this could be a really good series.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh! I REALLY hope this is turning into a series, because the next character that would be added...well, let's just say he is one of my favorite subjects in retellings! I will leave a longer review when it comes out next month, but SERIOUSLY! What a FANTASTIC story!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a good book. It ended in a good place but still gives room for a part 2.

[Janus the Erudite Artist · Rating 3 out of 5]

“It was all very simple. Her loyalties were with those who saw beyond their personal prejudices, who rose above self-righteousness and intolerance.”

I was mostly interested in Knight Assassin after reading on Netgalley that it was a “thrilling Grave Mercy meets Throne of Glass adventure...” I loved both when I read them and loved the second books belonging to their respective series, Dark Triumph and Crown of Midnight, even more. To be honest, I was apprehensive at first over reading that statement. Either it was a marketing strategy to get readers to give this book a shot; which mostly turns out to be just deceiving, or worse, a rip off of those. It wasn’t, thank goodness! I was being judgemental, I’m sorry. It’s not uncommon to be sceptical over such statements; some tend to oversell the books that readers having high expectations and being left disappointed in the end. Fortunately, Knight Assassin was able to live up to that. It has all the elements I’ve come to love from Grave Mercy and Throne of Glass: a kick-ass heroine with an empathizing past, a well thought-of storyline, an intriguing setting, action-packed fight scenes – all that awesomeness.

I wasn’t familiar with the events of the Crusades-era, other than snippets I snagged while trying out the Assassin’s Creed video games. Yes, I haven’t played the full games at all, I’m a horrible gamer. For the record, working in game design and animation doesn’t give you much playing time; unless you’re a game tester or critic but other than that, you wish! Anyway, being unacquainted with the historical events that Knight Assassin was based on did not hinder me from understanding and being drawn to Zayn’s story.

I didn’t notice the religious aspects involved in this book at first, and I’m glad I didn’t since I tend to stay away from books with such a sensitive topic. I have nothing against religion; nor am I saying that I’m an atheist (I’m a Roman Catholic, if you’re wondering). I just believe that a person’s relationship with God is solely his/her own business. I always believe that the more important thing to consider is not which religious group you belong to, but rather how it reflects the way you live your life. But enough about that, what I’m trying to point out here is that Zayn is a Muslim. And yet even with that, this book does not insinuate any religious beliefs but simply takes into perspective the rift between Christianity and Islam during the Crusades-era. So why did I point out Zayn’s religion? Simple – diversity. It’s not even her religion I’m trying to accentuate, but her ethnicity. It’s not often, in YA books (at least the ones I’ve read), that we find ourselves reading about a protagonist from a different culture. So, hooray for diversity!

You know when people say that you become more empathic when you read books? Well, I’m a lot worse, I guess. I’ve always been a “bleeding heart” before I became addicted – er, make that a lot more passionate – over reading books, so you could say I have a soft spot for Zayn. It broke my heart to see her violated by that scoundrel, Guy. Although, I have to admit that at some point she had her annoying moments, I can’t blame her for it either. Her outbursts and lack of emotional control make her more real. Also, I’m glad to see a character said to be an assassin that actually does her job. You know how some books portray an assassin protagonist but they don’t really kill anyone, and with all the goodness in their hearts blah-blah? I’m not morbid but Zayn’s disparity from them is one of the things I like about her. You should see how she takes her revenge. *snickers* No, I am not morbid. Okay, maybe a little.

I like to be well informed as best as I can. So as much as I enjoyed reading Knight Assassin, I noticed a few things that felt a bit iffy. (WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD) Let me voice out a few: (1) why did Zayn’s mother hide her father’s identity? Her father didn’t seem to be the dangerous kind, and if she’s trying to keep Zayn’s gift a secret, I don’t think knowing her father would have changed that (2) what is the history behind Zayn’s powers? Other than the story about Zayn’s mother, the jinn and magic elements in the story didn’t seem as essential as the summary let it out to be. The story could still be just as good even without the magic stuff. (3) The events that followed with Saladin seemed a little off. He was told to be a powerful man and yet it didn’t take Zayn that much to waltz into his territory and earn his trust, I’d be more suspicious and cautious if I were in his place. Just saying; (4) What happened to the threat on Earic’s life? He went back to the Templar’s, right? Where were the other assassins? If their reputation was as wicked as they ought to be, shouldn’t they have caused a bit more trouble for him?

Still, even with the questions I’m left with, I can’t deny that this has been a remarkable read. Offering diversity, a clear writing style and braving to show something new to the table – I greatly commend that, not to mention the attitude that Rima Jean has shown towards negative reviews about this book. This year, I have taken the habit of checking out author’s blogs before or during reading their books. I don’t know how that started or why I do it but I guess with all the drama of author-reviewer conflicts circulating from time to time on the blogosphere, I wanted to get to know the authors a lot more. I’m glad to see Rima being optimistic over the reviews and ratings being given to Knight Assassin. With that kind of outlook and the fact that my experience with Knight Assassin has been pleasurable, I would really like to see what else she could offer to the YA world.

*Thank you, Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to view Knight Assassin.

For more of my reviews, please visit my blog:
The Blair Book Project @ www.theblairbookproject.blogspot.com

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I appreciate the rape being off-page, but it was so unnecessary. Her mother having been killed was enough to set up the revenge plot. Let's stop using women going through violence as a necessity for them to grow into strong characters.

[✨Selena Yukino✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.8 stars

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I had such a great time reading this book, loved the story and these characters and it was such a good read!

[Lexie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly I just want to point out that anytime I heard "Assassin" and "Templar" I wanted to go and play Assassin's Creed (in truth I kept waiting for an Assassin named Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad to appear...). Those games, much like KNIGHT ASSASSIN, are largely about the conflict between the Templars and assassins (with at least Altair's adventures running pretty close in time to when this book is set). In all truth my enjoyment of those games certainly helped me understand the more historical issues between the two groups, as Jean doesn't exactly gloss over their history, but gives only a brief accounting as it relates to what Zayn needs to know.

Secondly, I don't think I disliked a single female character in here. At least none of those who had any actual part (Elisha, Zayn's "cousin" while under the guise of Lady Sara, barely appeared for instance). That's possibly my one real complaint--while I certainly enjoyed Zayn's story and I didn't want it to drag on, characters were introduced who were dropped for the story suddenly. The book eventually settles on 5 characters to follow in earnest--Zayn, Earic, Guy, Marguerite and Bashar. Its a thorny web that is weaved as well. The others are largely ignored--Marguerite may as well have no other ladies-in-waiting aside from "Lady Sara" as she's the only one who waits on her for the majority of the book.

There was a lot going on in the book, which is comparatively shorter then most other YA novels. Jean at times will insert a flashback as a way to give us an idea about some of the backstory of the characters and motivations at times, but they tend to draw one out and feel jarring. Jean treats them more like memories being told then as flashbacks being remembered which cuts up the flow of the book. To sum up the storylines: we have Zayn wanting to avenge her mother's murder, Zayn wanting to avenge what Guy did to her, Zayn training to be an assassin, then training to be a Court Lady for her first assignment, the various tests her assassin mentor Junaid puts her through, going to Court as Lady Marguerite's lady-in-waiting, Zayn/Earic, plotting to kill Guy, plotting to outwit Bashar, saving both Marguerite and Earic at various moments, coming to an epiphany about what she holds dear in life, exacting that revenge on Guy, and then the fall out from her decisions.

All of that in a book roughly 250 pages long (according to my Kindle). I can name trilogies that involve less intricate plotting.

This isn't to say the plot lines don't all work--the ones dealing with her training, with the Assassins vs Templars, and Lady Marguerite are engrossing reads. Things fall flatter when Earic is thrown into the mix as he's painted with a much broader "White Knight" stroke then the other characters. Even Guy shows a couple different facets (though really he's 95% the creep). Earic is uniformly presented as the White Knight--he doesn't want to go into battle and kill men, he feels crushing guilt over a childhood accident, he wishes for only one thing (that he can't have presumably), is willing to keep Zayn's secret and help her survive. We learn about his childhood briefly--he's from England and was the son of a lord til he was "ransomed" out to Guy's father Gerard, he hear a little bit about his time since he and Zayn had seen each other from Marguerite, but that's about it. We know more about Bashar and his motivations then we do about what makes Earic tick.

Earic's mention of another much like Zayn, who lives back in England, certainly peaked my interest. I'd love to see the two of them riding around Middle Ages Europe finding others with special abilities and forming a band of do-gooder vigilantes. Jean ends this book with most of the threads tied up. The ones remaining are also resolved, but open-ended enough in their resolution that more adventures wouldn't be amiss.

Definitely recommend this for readers looking for a quasi-fantasy (in tone at least) novel set during a time period not often explored in today's YA landscape.

(I would like to thank the author who offered me a free review copy in return for an honest review--thank you so much!)

[Krystle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/3.75 stars.

I know everyone's probably sick of these comparisons as you've all read them before but it's totally true! For those of you who've read Grave Mercy and Throne of Glass, this will most definitely appeal to you. Why? There's your fun, strong female main character, a romance that doesn't make you want to rip yourself to pieces, and that fun tease of danger, suspense, thrill, and guilty satisfaction.

Knight Assassin had some fabulous things. You may cry all you want about books released these days, but this is definitely a diverse book. When have you seen a fantasy (or is this an urban fantasy?) set in medieval times that, shockingly, does not take place in Europe? WHEN? This book takes place in Syria! So awesome! We get some delicious new settings of desserts, camps, moving tribes to lush towns, palaces. Yum! I for one gobbled it all up. I get sick of reading of all the glamour and vanity of the medieval knights and lords and courts through a rosy romantic lens. Yay for a change!

Also, the main character is a PoC! Not only that but she is a Muslim - or a Saracen as it's referred to in the book. I mean, where have you seen this and so positively portrayed? Not only her but the entire assassin colony, her people, and other people of various backgrounds are brought into splendid light. Sure there is mention of religion here and there but it's so brief and few that for those of you religion-shy people don't have to worry at all.

Zayn is a commendable main character. Although she experiences horrible moments in her life, this book does not use it as an excuse to dwell in the gloomy. No, Zayn takes it as fire to burn her into picking herself up and setting some goals. Yet, this isn't swept under wrong as if this is merely a slap on the wrist. Her feelings of worthlessness, inferiority, and outrage are aspects of her personality that made her bloom. She was cautious, hurt, and forced her feelings behind a wall of steel. It's so realistic and her development over the course of the novel was a great one to read.

But don't think she is gonna be one of those cowering, sissy assassins that talk big but don't put up. Oh, no. She'll gut you faster than you can blink. When Zayn says she's gonna get someone, you better watch out. She actually kills people and does some fun assassin tricks. While she may have her special powers, this does not overshadow or take over the narrative and it only gives her a slight advantage in places. It's uncontrollable and can't truly be exploited to the utmost that other novels have done.

I really enjoyed the positive female to female interactions here. It's so refreshing not to see woman on woman hate. Zayn actually develops a true friendship and confides her fears, secrets, and joy like a real person does and doesn't use this friend when she finds it convenient.

The story is pretty linear so don't expect too many plot twists you'd be surprised by and the writing is competent but it might not be as flashy as others. It doesn't have those long descriptive and showy passages but that's all right. Her style fit perfectly with this story. Also, while I'm quite pleased the romance doesn't overtake the plot, I thought the ending was a bit too simple and easy a solution for the current dilemmas facing them. But, then again, it's a happy one and for Zayn, she deserved one so I don't know what to say about that either.

Definitely recommended if you want to try something a bit different.

[Richa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at City of Books

Knight Assassin is a YA historical fantasy reminiscent of Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers. It's graced with a kick-ass heroine, an action-packed plot and some really cool magic. This was quite a fast read for me, but there's so much in it. I really enjoyed this book throughout, and I'm already eager for more.

This book is unique in the sense that it's set in a Muslim place, with Islam traditions playing a key role. When Zayn's mother is burned at the stake for witchcraft, Zayn knows she's in danger too, and is invited to join the Assassins, a secretive group who fight on behalf of the people who cannot. Zayn puts everything she can into her training, both physical and magical, since all she wants is to take revenge on the man who killed her mother - Guy de Molay, one of the Templar Knights. But her undercover assignment has the potential to be botched when she realizes her childhood friend, Earic, is a Templar too. And he has a good chance of recognizing her. Zayn still has her mission in her head, but Earic is taking over her heart. She is mentally battling with both, not knowing which one will win out over the other.

In some ways you could say Zayn's your typical badass fighter protagonist, but her upbringing is very different. The fact that she's Muslim means she has to cover her head at all times, and women are considered to be far below men. But Zayn has a fire in her, and she wants to fight back. Even though she's put through so many tests and she's been through hell, she comes back from it, stronger than before. I think that aspect of her is amazing - she never gives up.

I really liked some of the other characters, too. Earic was great - he's a perfect blend of charming, funny, protective and kind. We get to see flashbacks of Zayn's childhood - the times spent with Earic, and he was adorable even back then. I loved seeing how their friendship developed early on, and then blossomed into something more after they meet again several years later.

Zayn's undercover role is to be a lady-in-waiting to Lady Marguerite, a.k.a. the third character we get to know quite a bit about in this book. Marguerite is very similar to Zayn - she has a great sense of adventure, and she'd rather go out and shoot arrows than sit inside and sew like most ladies do. I loved Marguerite's wild spirit and her recklessness. In fact, she and Zayn make an awesome pair!

Like most historical fiction, Knight Assassin has its fair share of politics. Though it's definitely not as much as I've seen in other books, so I was really glad about that. The book is more focused on Zayn's revenge mission and her developing strength and powers. Of course, that means that there wasn't much romance in this either, but I liked that it wasn't in the foreground. There's enough to keep those romance-lovers satisfied, though, especially with Earic being all endearing and totally swoon-worthy.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this one, since I had heard nothing about it before receiving it. Knight Assassin is great for fans of His Fair Assassin, Maids of Honor, Grisha, and Throne of Glass. I'm definitely hoping to read more from Rima Jean soon!

*Thank you to Jaime at Entangled Publishing for providing me with an eARC for review*

[Leeanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review originally appeared on my blog, Leeanna.me.

==

Featuring a female assassin with magical powers, KNIGHT ASSASSIN has a lot of elements that I normally like. But for some reason, I wasn’t able to get into the book. It just didn’t click for me.

Zayn has mysterious powers she can’t control, powers that make her faster and stronger than others. She and her mother are not welcome in their village, and keep to themselves. When she rejects the marriage proposal of an important man in the village, her mother is burned at the stake, accused of being a witch. Zayn herself is raped by Guy de Molay, son of the lord of the land.

Emotionally and physically abused, and without her beloved mother, Zayn doesn’t know what to do. She just wants to die. But before she can do anything, she’s rescued by Junaid, an Assassin of a heretical Islamic sect. Because of her rumored abilities, Zayn is given the opportunity to train as an Assassin. Thirsting for revenge against Guy, she goes for it, becoming the first female Assassin.

Although both Christianity and Islam play a role in the book, the author doesn’t shove religion down anyone’s throats. In fact, Zayn is not religious at all. Take the Dome of the Rock — both religions find it important, and fought over it. Zayn can’t understand why anyone would kill over a rubble-filled spot. In a time (~1180) where people were extremely religious, it was refreshing to see a main character who wasn’t. Zayn really only joins the Nizari Isma’ili so she can gain the skills she’ll need to kill Guy.

The romance wasn’t a big portion of the book, which I liked. Zayn has no use for men after her rape, and she didn’t really care for them before, either. She wanted to be independent, not shackled to any man in marriage. But she runs into Earic Goodwin, a Saxon Knight Templar, while trying to accomplish her assassination of Guy. She vaguely knew Earic when they were children, and almost the minute she sees him again, she starts thinking she loves him. I just didn’t feel any chemistry between them. I wish they had stayed friends, and let the romance come along in the next book.

At 242 pages, KNIGHT ASSASSIN isn’t too long, but it read like a longer book for me. I think this was because of flashbacks, which the author would use whenever an important event from the past came up, such as Zayn and Earic’s first meeting.

I did like that the book was set in Syria and Jerusalem. It’s good to have a fantasy/historical romance that isn’t set in medieval England. However, I didn’t get a good sense of the world, other than the types of food they ate. I also wanted to know more about Zayn’s powers. I’m still confused on what they actually are. I’m guessing that will be explained more in the next book.

Overall, KNIGHT ASSASSIN was missing something for me. It was okay, but flawed.

==

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

See more of my reviews:

[Jennifer]

Historical fiction, Assassin's, some paranormal elements and a dash of romance. That’s how I would describe Knight Assassin by Rima Jean. Despite some pacing issues I really enjoyed the book.

Zayn is an amazing character to me. She goes through so much in the beginning of the book from being hated by the townsfolk, to what happens to her mother and to her. I have to say at one point my mouth fell open. After that she becomes awakened and fueled by the need for vengeance which is what leads her into the den of assassins and training to become one. I liked that she does a little self-discovery and her task and motivations change as the story progresses. We definitely see growth in Zayn as the book continues. As a woman she is oppressed in so many ways and yet she manages to rise above it.

I really enjoyed some the side characters. Especially Junaid, Earic and Marguerite. I think they definitely added to the story. I like a book that has good support like this. You are not solely invested in the MC and you want the other characters to end up fortunate in the end as well.

I admit I don’t know much about this part of the hemisphere during this era or the culture. Taking place in Syria under French rule. Zayn describes it as they are all serfs to the Franks. So it was very interesting to me in that respect. I don’t know what proper Islamic rituals are and things because religion does come to play a lot in this book. Especially concerning Zayn’s talents plus I think a lot of cultures are rooted in religion. So I enjoyed experiencing something that I don’t know well. I was trying to keep the terms straight in my head sometimes though. Okay so he is Saxon and she is Muslim/Saracen and that guy is...wait what was he. I liked when I’m in uncharted territory in a book. Where it peaks my interest enough that I start to look things up. Which is what this book did. There is also a handy map at the end. I’m like oh the Crusades makes sense even though I still didn’t know much.

The pacing of the story was not quite right for me. I enjoyed the plot and what it entailed but I felt that once Zayn was at the palace everything felt rushed. We spent so much time with her training but then the actual mission just seemed to happen too fast. It was like getting to a museum and finally making it the exhibit you really want to see and then you find out the museum is closing in ten minutes. I didn’t want less of this part of the book I wanted more or maybe have the passage of time in Marguerites court be longer. Towards the end of the book the pacing evened out again.

The story also mixes some of the present day with flashbacks of the past. In order for you to build a clearer picture of Zayn’s relationships with both her mother and Earic. As well as where she comes from. I really liked the reveals of the origin of Zayn’s power. I don’t want to give it away but I was happy with how it played out.

If you are fan of Grave Mercy (which I was) this a good book for you as well. It has somewhat similar theme of a woman assassin in an era where women are looked down. Although at times the pacing didn’t feel right for me. I really enjoyed the plot and the characters.

[Ruthsic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seventeen-year-old Zayn has special powers she cannot control—powers that others fear and covet. Powers that cause the Templar Knights to burn Zayn’s mother at the stake for witchcraft. When a mysterious stranger tempts Zayn to become the first female member of the heretical Assassins, the chance to seek her revenge lures her in. She trains to harness her supernatural strength and agility, and then enters the King of Jerusalem's court in disguise with the assignment to assassinate Guy de Molay, her mother’s condemner. But once there, she discovers Earic Goodwin, the childhood friend who still holds her heart, among the knights—and his ocean-blue eyes don’t miss a thing. Will vengeance be worth the life of the one love she has left?

Knight Assassin is set in the Mid-East, around the time of the Crusades (a guess), a time where religion was a major issue for war (it still is, but that's a topic for another day). The protagonist, Zayn is a muslim girl living in a Syrian village that is under the control of a Christian lord. As expected, people are classified according to their religion, but what is worse for Zayn is that her own villagefolk despise her, because she was born out of wedlock and because they suspect her to be demon spawn (no, seriously, they accuse her mother of being a witch). When tragedy strikes and she has nothing left, a Faithful One (one of the Assassin's top dudes) comes to recruit her. With revenge on the agenda, she agrees, hoping to kill off the man who broke her down. Her first assignment takes her into the heart of the court, where she makes a meaningful friendship in Marguerite, and learns that sometimes your loyalty has to be to your heart and not to a sect.

The plot is very much political, with a dash of magic thrown in. Zayn is this fierce girl who is held down by a religion she doesn't even believe in. Her longing for freedom and independence makes her the first female Assassin. It isn't an easy journey for her, with her despising her femininity and seeing enmity all around her. Her story is beautiful in the way she grows out of her negative emotions, despite her tragic life. Earic was quite an interesting character, and I really hoped more was said about his past. I know the focus was on Zayn but a little more of his backstory would have enriched the story.

The writing is so eloquent, and echoes the feel of that era well, flowing smoothly as the story progresses. However, the ending kind of dampened the book a little - it was not so much as how the story ended but more about how it was written. There is a distinct shift in the writing style which makes it seem rushed - it seemed a bit out of place. The reveals at the end also didn't make sense fully, but was sort of okay. I would point out that fans of Throne of Glass series would love to enjoy this novel.

Received an ARC from Entangled Publishing in exchange for an honest review

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got "Knight Assassin" from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Zayn has never fit in with the rest of her town. Her mother and Zayn have always been isolated and she is often called a demon and a half blood. However, everything changes when Zayn's mother is murdered and she is raped by Guy de Molay. After Zayn is taken by Junaid to train to be an assassin. Zayn wants to do it because she hopes that she will get the chance to kill Guy de Molay. However, first she must complete her training.

One thing I liked about this book was the romance. It's not a huge part of the novel, which is good because it's never good when a book has a romantic tumor, but it is still very sweet. Zayn and her love interest have a real connection. It's not one of those fake love at first sight romances that dominate YA. I thought her love interest was a good guy and I found myself hoping that the two of them would be together.

I also loved the connection that Zayn had to Lady Marguerite. It was nice to read a book where the female main character had an actual friend and not just one that was mentioned and only showed up a few times. They also talk about much more than just guys which is good.

Zayn's pain and problems are also very real. She has realistic reactions, and she doesn't forget about her mother's death and what happened to her throughout the novel. I know that seems obvious but I have read many novels where the author seems to forget to have their characters react to what happened to them, which causes them to move on much faster than what is realistic.

However, there are also some things about this novel that I did not like. It can be a bit slow at time, especially when she is training. I often found myself daydreaming during the novel which I felt bad about. It just didn't pull me in a lot of the time. I'm not sure I really like revenge plots all that much either, which is kind of weird since a couple of my novels are about revenge, too. I do feel like this novel could have been shorter, which is weird since the novel isn't very long. Maybe Rima Jean could have added more side plots into it. That could have added more depth to the novel.

Overall I give this book three stars.

[Felicitia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book was like a fresh new air for me. I had never read about Arabian assassins or something like that, and I am really glad that I gave this book a chance.

It had always been Zayn and her mother Miriam against the world. The villagers feared them, especially Zayn with the strange and inhuman power she possess. Then her mother was killed because she was accused of witchcraft. When she was about to end her life, Zayn was offered a new life purpose, join the Assassins and life for the sole purpose of revenge.

Zayn was just a teenager, and she probably had already experienced more pain than guy at war. She saw her own mother burn alive in front of her eyes, and she was raped just after witnessing her mother's death. There is definitely sympathy from me for this heroine, but there is more. I really admired this teenage and bad-ass girl. She overcome everything, even the toughest conflicts. There are several points where I just couldn't understand her way of thinking, but I still admire her nevertheless. And there's Earic Goodwin, the fair boy. He's a warrior, with a good heart. Like Zayn, Earic doesn't have a good start. Even worse, it was his family who feared him. I love him (enough said). Oh! and the romance between Earic and Zayn could be considered slow, but the way Zayn had always loved the fair boy from the start made it really pure, and cute? I'm really glad they end up together.

The writing style was excellent! at least it was for me. The set was described really well that I could actually feel as if I was in Arab. And to be able to peek a little bit inside the Arabian culture and things about knights and assassins was really awesome. Love this book so much!

[Gabic Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original review at Gabic Reads. ARC received via Netgalley - Thank you.

I fell in love with Rima Jean fantastical historical fiction novel. Set in ancient Israel/Syria, Rima puts a magical twist on a man-dominated society. The characters jumped off the page and the scenery was well described. I really hope to more of Zayn and Earic to see more of their adventures after the story ends.

Zayn's mother is burned before her eyes and she seeks revenge against the man who ordered her death. Junaid comes offering to train her in the ways of the Assassins and promising vengeance if she comes with him. Zayn must learn to overcome the depression that hits her often and learn to trust people again. Zayn is impulsive and strong-willed. Her spirit and bravery were enjoyable to read about. Her determination is admirable.

Earic is a kind-hearted Christian who befriended Zayn when they were young. He does not want to become a Templar Knight but does so out of necessity. He is gracious and kind and mysteriously strong. I liked seeing Earic and Zayn rekindle their friendship from their younger years.

It was interesting seeing the dynamics between Muslims and Christians, Franks and Syrians in the novel. Both groups hate each other, yet they find themselves with the same enemy. The relationship between men and women was another interesting dynamic. Ancient Middle-East was definately a male-dominated society. Zayn's mother, Miriam, was a single-mother and was scorned for that and called a whore among other things. I hope that you guys like reading about these relationships, too.

If you like historical fiction and don't mind it having a fantasy element, Knight Assassin is definitely for you.

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Thoughts - 3.5 out of 5 Unicorns - I more than liked it!!
***Received the ebook from Entangled Publishing for an honest review

The cover is intriguing and attracts attention :)

My son saw the author’s website and immediately mentioned Assassin’s Creed which is a video game he knows, but I have no idea about it. Not sure if this book is somehow related to that game, but I thought I should mention it just in case.

I should also mention that rape is a topic in this book.

This story is interesting and has some interesting dynamics. I’m hoping that this is going to be a series because there are some references made at the end that have awesome possibilities.

Zayn is special though she doesn’t know why. Zayn has a lot to overcome after her mother’s death. I loved going on the journey with her and watching her figured out who she is because she kind of reminds me of my students. They go along with anything their friends say until they figure out who they are and what they need. Her connection with Earic who is supposed to be her enemy is just as mysterious as her powers. He is someone who leaves an impression because of his kind heart, and he doesn’t share the same prejudices as his fellow knights. I do not want to say anything more specific, but there is action galore, hunting, fighting, battles, and much more. There are a lot of learning opportunities with regard to culture and religious differences from England to Syria.

I recommend this story to YA book lovers who enjoy assassin type intrigues with a little magic thrown in. I hope this is a series because I think it will only get better as it goes.

[Kirsty (Amethyst Bookwyrm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This and my other reviews can be found at http://amethystbookwyrm.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for giving me this book to review.

17 year old Zayn and her mother have never fitted in their town, especially as Zayn has supernatural powers which are unpredictable. After some Templar knights burn her mother at the stake for witch craft and Zayn is raped by local knight Guy de Molay, she is about to kill herself until a mysterious figure offers her another option, to become the first female assassin and be able to seek her revenge. After she completes her training, she is sent to Jerusalem to assassinate Guy, but there she meets childhood friend Earic Goodwin, who is also a knight. Will she be able to get her vengeance at the cost of the person who holds her heart?

Knight Assassin is a good YA historical fantasy book, full of political intrigue vengeance and romance. It is a unique setting as most historical fantasy books I have read are set in Europe not the Middle East. I found it hard to get into this book but when I got about halfway though I was really interested to see what happened next.

I just could not connect with Zayn as, although I felt very sorry for her and she was described as being a very strong person, at some points she can across as really weak, even in situations that she should have been strong. I also found it hard to connect to Earic, even though he seemed nice, he was not in this book much and they seemed to close to each other, considering they had not seen each other in years.

I would recommend Knight Assassin to fans of Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started reading this, I immediately thought of all the other assassin books that seem to be flooding the market lately. Even though this book features an assassin girl bent on revenge, this was a delightful and unique book. I really loved Zayn and found she was a strong character, but able to think for herself. She does not just blindly follow what people tell her, but reason for herself how a situation should be. I loved that she allowed herself to be vulnerable with several characters even though she had been horribly used.

The backdrop of Syria and the Holy Land was expertly woven into the story. I felt that the plot was really enhanced by the setting. I love historical pieces, but add in supernatural powers and assassins, and I think it's twenty times the fun. I cannot wait for the next book as the setting is a particular favorite of mine, and I would love to see Zayn in that setting.

This was a great read that was engaging and exciting. If you aren't familiar with the Crusades, Saladin or the Knights Templar, a quick trip to an encyclopedia would be a good start. This book assumes that you know a little bit about that time period.