Arcane Assassin: Path of Annihilation

by R.A. Fischer

Raven Naelo, a half-elf rogue, dreams of following in her father’s footsteps and becoming a realm guardian. Her dreams move closer to reality when she proves herself against half-orcs in a local tavern. Impressed by her skills yet wary, her father, the King of Omlett, agrees to send her to the Mortal Realm Guardian’s camp, where she’ll join four other Avalann, a short-tempered elf archer; Jarz, an attractive human sword mage; Izarra, a flirtatious water half-nymph discovering her inner strengths; and Shorte, a loveable dwarf cleric. Together, they will be cast into a world of advanced magic by Gideon and learn the importance of teamwork as they face off against bugbears, kobolds, and other dangerous foes.

But a confrontation with a corrupt wizard unleashes Raven’s unique abilities as she struggles to overcome the trauma. While focusing on herself, she takes a surprise visit to the forbidden Fey Realm with Gideon. Admiring the beauty of the perfect realm, Celeste, the Fey Guardian, interrupts them with unwelcome news. When Gideon fails to return from the High Council after being summoned there, Raven discovers a war has begun and leaves immediately for Omlett.

Little does she know that a succubus from the Abyss is collaborating with a human necromancer to destroy the cities of Western Euphrasia. Using an ancient artifact, they collected the souls of the dead. Will Raven find the others in time to fight as one to repel the attacks, or will the living and the dead never find peace?

422 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 20, 2024

About the author

Ann Marie Knorr-Fischer (right), an author from Harrisburg, PA. Her love of the arts began at a very young age. The first memories of writing that she can recall are from elementary school, where she wrote short poems and stories. Ann's love for the written word progressed over the years as she wrote for school literary publications and a full-length movie script her senior year in college. Working with Rachel, she directed and produced two plays. Currently, she works as an Entertainment Consultant in Hershey, PA.

Rachel Ann Fischer (center), an author from Harrisburg, PA. After serving time in the Army, she attended school for Auto-Cad and Interior Design. Her creativity began at an early age when she discovered the world of fantasy role-playing games. This sparked Rachel's imagination and passion for creating worlds and characters. She wrote two play scripts that a local drama department produced. The process made her fall in love with writing dialogue and confidence to write this novel. The story is based on a role-playing campaign that began many years ago in her cousin's, Kevin's, kitchen.

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's what I love about this book: RA Fischer tells us straight up that the novel is based on a RPG. This isn't D&D trying to sell a module. I really felt like the characters were being run by a group of friends having fun. There's goofy names - the Dwarf is named Shorte and I'm sure that Eugor is pronounced "eye-gore." There's the type of potty humor that only and RPG group can truly appreciate. Characters use spells like common tools instead of some mystical power. And you know what? It works well. I'm looking forward to reading book 2.

[Abbie Riddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not connect at all with the main character, unfortunately. But that did not deter me from the rest of the book. The world building is on point for fantasy - the type of world building that seems to just happen around you as you fall into the story experiencing first hand all the emotions. The characters were great. Story line was great. This is the start to a promising series that I can't wait to see unfold.

[Scott D · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the spell!

This is a very refreshing title. If your a fan of a coming of age or fantasy this is a must. The story flows naturally and it was a comfortable read. Very lovable character's, great action scenes, and great setup for a bigger story. Can't wait for the second title.

[Courtney Cattell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great start! Fantastic world building that really captures the imagination and makes for an enjoyable read for every fantasy fan. The story flows easily with loveable characters; although the only one I struggled to really connect with was the main character. A really good start to the series and a fantastic setup for more to come!

[Dark Muse Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

“No matter how much training or studying you do to prepare, friends and family will always be your biggest strength!”

"Arcane Assassin: Path of Annihilation" follows Raven Naelo, a determined half-elf rogue aspiring to become a realm guardian like her father, the King of Omlett. After showcasing her combat prowess in a local tavern brawl against half-orcs, Raven earns her place at the Mortal Realm Guardian’s camp alongside an eclectic group of trainees: Avalann, Jarz, Izarra, and Shorte. Together, they face formidable foes within a world steeped in advanced magic, all while learning the significance of teamwork under the guidance of their mentor, Gideon.

⭐️⭐️1/2 - overall
📖📖 /5 - ease of read
🫑- spice

In "Arcane Assassin: Path of Annihilation," the vivid world-building truly captures the imagination, painting a landscape that's both enchanting and dangerous. However, I found it hard to connect with the characters; Raven's tough moments often made me want to put the book down instead of feeling sympathy for her. While there are some funny parts and hints of romance, these intimate moments fade to black, leaving me wanting more. My favorite character was Gideon, Raven’s father's best friend, whose relationship with her added an intriguing layer of forbidden love. In many ways, their connection was the most interesting part of the story, shining a light on loyalty and desire amid the chaos of war.