Shattered Assassin

by Wendy Knight

When the royal family is brutally murdered, Princess Kazia alone is left to rule the kingdom. But how can she rule when her home has burned to the ground and at any moment the assassin may return to finish the job?

Under the protection of the Captain of the Royal Guard — her late brother's childhood best friend — the princess must flee to protect herself and what is left of the royal line until the assassin can be found and brought to justice. First to her uncle's estate and then to her betrothed's kingdom, but the assassin seems to be one step ahead of them all along the way.

And then there is the captain. With every mile they travel together, Princess Kazia must fight the feelings for him that she thought she had left behind long ago.

Surviving until her coronation seems like an impossible task. But survive she must…

With both her life and her heart at stake, the weak and seemingly helpless Princess Kazia still bears a secret. One that can either save her and her kingdom or take everything she has left.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Royalty, Romance

ebook

First published August 18, 2014

Reviews

[JustJams · Rating 4 out of 5]

---Advanced Reader Copy Review---

This was a fun, quick read. Once I hit about 50% I couldn't put the book down. It was very exciting, with a few surprises that I didn't see coming.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kazia is the last remaining royal heir to her family's throne after the brutal murder of her closest family members. The tragedy leaves her feeling lost and unsure of herself, doubting her ability to effectively lead her people. But what other choice does she have?

On top of all that, her closest protector is playing games with her emotions, constantly leaving her hot and cold. Who can Kazia trust to stand by her side when everyone closest to her seem determined to leave her all alone?

The assassin is on the prowl, and she has her sights set on eliminating what's left of the royal family. And she isn't the only one. No one will stand in the assassin's way. Their targets are in sight. Only thing left to do is finish what was started with the murder of Kazia's family.

There were some parts that set me on a whirlwind of emotions, and some parts that just confused me a little too much to understand. I really enjoyed reading "Shattered Assassin." Kazia is such a dynamic character; she's full of surprises. I don't know about Luke though...He annoyed the Hell out of me more often than not with his flip-floppy attitude. Ugh. Not sure what Kazia saw in that dude.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, though I think some elaboration on some of the key plot points would have increased my appreciation of the story even more. I would definitely recommend this to someone looking for a bit of an old-fashioned twist to their lords and ladies.

[Enika · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quote from the book: "May you find strength in your weakness"... This is one of the central themes of this book. Princess Kazia has an illness, one that isn't specifically named but I am guessing from the symptoms is lupus. Everyone sees her as delicate like a china doll. If she is out in the sun too long she can get blisters on her skin, run a fever, be in severe pain and be unconscious for hours from the toll on her body. Yes, this can be debilitating, but her weakness hides her strength and allows her to do things in secret that people would never suspect her of being capable of doing. I think that it is awesome that the author has written about a character that is handicapped and is able to rise above it. This reminds me of how much I enjoyed reading about Batgirl becoming Oracle, the all-seeing computer genius that Batman gets help from and who runs her own gang of superheroes, after the Joker paralyzed her.
Princess Kazia's family is assassinated and she is left the sole heir. There are those who want her dead for her crown, but they soon find out that Kazia is no easy target! There is blood shed, limbs torn, a giant pet Wolf and a handsome, stubborn Captain of the Guard who complicates Kazia's plans and her heart. The blood factor is not too bad, the language is pretty clean and the romance is clean with just some kissing. Another great read from author Wendy Knight.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read from Wendy Knight - I could't put it down was up most of the night reading it to find out what happens next.


Princess Kazia is the last remaining member of the royal family after the rest of the family is horribly slaughtered and the castle is damaged by fire.
So she, Nakomi her wolf and best friend plus Luke the trusted head royal guard and brother's best friend travel to her uncle's place. Is the princess safe there and will the Princess go through with her marriage to her betrothed when her heart still belongs to Luke.

Please add this book to your TBR and then read because you won't regret it with romance, murder and lots of twist and turns to keep you hooked from beginning to end.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy Wendy Knight's books, and this is no exception. I will admit, I was hoping for a tie-in to the band Shattered Assassin in Rocker Boy, but alas it was not to be. I'm certain there is a reason, but the link wasn't obvious to me.

Princess Kazia isn't what she seems. She appears to be a sickly and weak wisp of a girl fearing for her life. In actuality that couldn't be further from the truth. Kazia is strong, determined, and confident. While she may be sickly, she doesn't let that stop her. She doesn't make decisions based on emotion - and definitely not fear. She has a strong sense of duty and sacrifices her wants for the betterment of her kingdom.

That doesn't mean she's a robot and doesn't have feelings. Luke, the captain of the royal guard, is one person who definitely stirs her emotions. She's very conflicted, as she is engaged to the prince of a neighboring kingdom. But she can't ignore the feelings she has for Luke, can she? Well, she tries.

Naomi, Princess Kazia's huge wolf, is an unexpected supporting character. I love the relationship between the princess and her wolf.

The suspense and twists this book takes kept me engaged and "on my toes" throughout the entire book. Of course, I had some suspicions but I wasn't really certain how some of the storylines would plan out and what the twists actually were until the reveal.

Ms Knight is a masterful storyteller and I can't wait to dig into her next book.

[Shayay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the action and adventure! Very interesting story that has some unexpected scenarios going on. I love stories that have the characters traveling, and I really enjoyed the suspense. Princess Kazia's family has been murdered, so she's the last heir left and needs to be protected since she is now to be queen. With the murderer on the loose, Kazia and her guards make their way to her Uncle's place for safety. Luke is the Captain of the Guard, and he also happens to have broke Kazia's heart when they were younger, so these 2 have a love/hate relationship. The romance is really sweet and I actually would've loved more romance, but what was there was wonderful. I enjoy the I want you, but I shouldn't scenario. Kazia is an interesting character, and it's great to see her growth throughout the story. Kazia has some type of medical condition that I wish could've been explored more. I think there was a chance to make it another interesting scenario. Overall, the story is terrific, a real page turner, and I love Wendy Knight's writing!

[Shellie Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I was pulled in from the beginning.

This book gave me so many different feels. I loved the love story and the respect her guards gave her and the protection and love from her wolf. A story for everyone to like or love as I do. I so enjoyed the writing and how easy the story just flowed. My only regret is that it is over. Very happy to have a new author to love.

[S B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good

It was a bit confusing and far fetched, but it's not reality and it makes for good reading.

The back and forth with Luke was just odd though.

Either way, very exciting book!

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confused. I was so confused through most of this book.

[Michelle N · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read! I loved all of the characters, Kazia, Luke, Nakomi and of course the Guard. They were all so amazing in their own way. Their chemistry and relationships felt genuine and believable. There were some twists thrown in there that really caught you by surprise. It was a really good story and kept you wanting more!!

[Kellyann · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book. I loved it. It was a quick easy read but had all the right feels. It takes off with a bang and continues though out the book. I couldn't put it it down. Wendy never seems to ever disappoint me.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

a quick read

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book*

I am having a hard time reviewing this book. It wasn't bad and the story line was interesting. I couldn't connect with the MC, Kazia. One minute she is fragile and ready to break and the next she is kickass. It just didn't quite mesh right. I did enjoy the fact that she kept a pet wolf. Overall, this is an ok book and a quick read.

[Penny]

Tearfully wonderful!

Wendy knight's books are such a delight to read. This one is no exception. She grabs the reader from the very start and doesn't ease up on the emotional roller coaster, not even at the end. Such a strong heroin, with a love for and from all those that she is around. This tear jerking wonderful read is a must have for any library.

[Fjlam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable Read

This book was very easy to read, and I definitely enjoyed it. The characters had depth and that is really important to me in a book. Were there parts that were predictable? Yes, but that didn't detract from the overall story for me. I only gave it 4 stars because I do wish there was a little more explanation in some parts of the story. I would love a little more information on some of the characters. Even saying that, though, I am glad that I picked up this book, and I read it in one sitting. Wendy is definitely in the realm of my favorite writers. I can usually be sure that when I pick up her books, I will enjoy what I am going to be reading.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Princess Kazia, the last remaining heir after her whole family was brutally murdered, ending up that she had to leave her home and head to her betrothed family. With her she has her Captain of the Guard Luke, who has been a really good friend since childhood and her wolf Nakomi, they are her best protection of keeping her alive as it is thought the assassin killed her family and that she was next.
Princess Kazia also has an illness where she is unable to go out in the daylight and stress causes her to tire really easy, she has one secret weapon though those know one knows not even her trusted guard Luke.
Luke and Kazia wanted to have more as they were both attracted to each other but as Kazia was the royal heir to throne and Luke was just a royal guard it wasn’t possible. So when Luke escorts her to her fiancé he is not too happy about the situation but knows Kazia better than anyone.
Wendy Knight tells a great story here and with the journey across the land between them both and discovering more about each other but not being able to do anything this was such a great book and I can’t wait for the next instalment.

[Kelley Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I have read by Wendy Knight and it definitely won't be the last. It was a good YA fantasy read although I felt confused at the beginning, I think the characters and world needed a little more description and possibly some separation between the personalities displayed. Other than the slight hiccup at the beginning this book really offers everything from clean "forbidden" love, mystery, humor, vengeance and hope. Kazia's story definitely shows us how we shouldn't let our weaknesses define us and that we should find strength within them instead.

[Donna Weaver]

WHAT IT'S ABOUT
When the royal family is brutally murdered, Princess Kazia alone is left to rule the kingdom. But how can she rule when her home has burned to the ground and at any moment the assassin may return to finish the job?

Under the protection of the Captain of the Royal Guard — her late brother's childhood best friend — the princess must flee to protect herself and what is left of the royal line until the assassin can be found and brought to justice. First to her uncle's estate and then to her betrothed's kingdom, but the assassin seems to be one step ahead of them all along the way.

And then there is the captain. With every mile they travel together, Princess Kazia must fight the feelings for him that she thought she had left behind long ago.

Surviving until her coronation seems like an impossible task. But survive she must…

With both her life and her heart at stake, the weak and seemingly helpless Princess Kazia still bears a secret. One that can either save her and her kingdom or take everything she has left.

MY TAKE
I've loved everything Knight has written. This interesting story was a bit of a different tale than her others. There's always angst among the characters of her books, and this one was no exception. My heart broke for Kazia at the loss of her family. Around her were people who were wonderful and others who were vile. I loved her guards--and not just Luke.

Some interesting twists on top of everything.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. Some parts of it were very good, while others were not. I liked the basic story line. It was a great idea for a story. There was action, excitement, romance, intrigue, tragedy. Everything you need for a great story. On the down side, I thought Kazia's desire for revenge (while somewhat understandable under the circumstances) went too far. It was disturbing. It also sends the wrong message. Allowing yourself to be consumed by revenge is never a good idea. The other part that was lacking was the interaction between the two main characters. Their romance seemed too juvenile. I wanted to tell them to just grow up! Although their characters were young, the setting of the story was such that people their age were tackling adult responsibilities, and therefore were much more mature. But their romance didn't live up to that maturity. On the plus side, the romance was clean.

[Janice Leung · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first read of Wendy Knight and sadly, I am slightly disappointed by the book.
Shattered Assassin revolves around the story of a Princess Kazia who lost her family in an assassination. Kazia, along with her secret love, Luke and her pet wolf Nakomi races to her betrothed's castle to avoid the assassin.
I really like Luke, he is sweet and stubborn but protective, and I have the hots for knights in shining armour.

However, for Kazia, she's like a girl with Schizophrenia or multiple personality, I was a little bit confused by the sudden change of Kazia within some of the chapters. There are times when she is a damsel in distress and then times when she is a kickass heroine. However, I admire her strength of not letting her weakness get into her way.
What I really don't like is the ending. It felt incomplete in my eyes, it was not a satisfying ending. Kazia went through a lot and in the end, when she went to kill the assassin who turns out to be her uncle's son, he is already dead. So I feel like Kazia didn't get what she deserve which is revenge.
Overall, it is a quick read, not the best but an alright book.

[Kimberlyisreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Kazia is a unique character- one who lives in the night and sleeps during the day, fights being weak and has a debilitating allergy to the sun. Yet she's not what you think and it'll take a little bit to put the pieces together to understand the character she truly is.
She's had her heart broken, she's betrothed to a man she's never met, and then her family is murdered, almost before her very eyes. From there the story becomes somewhat of a race- staying ahead of an assassin that wants to see the royal line ended. And just because she's a sickly girl doesn't mean she's an easy target. With incredibly loyal guards, a massive wolf for a pet and her own inner strength- defeating her is not what anyone thinks.
Along the way allies are made, enemies found, betrayals, loss, and love rediscovered. Amongst it all she tries not to let the grief destroy her and do what's best for her kingdom. Pass the 1/2 way mark the book becomes difficult to put down and has a great ending.

[Katt Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely amazing! From the very first page, I was immersed in the story, and I couldn't put it down. There were many plot twists, and I could never seem to figure out what would happen next. My only complaint is that it ended too abruptly. I wanted more!

[Brittany Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story worth reading

Wendy Knight is a master story teller. She builds worlds that come alive with her characters. She writes just enough suspense to keep the pages turning (and make it incredibly hard to put down), romance without smut and characters that come alive. You share their experiences, ache when they do, smile when they smile and celebrate when it's time to celebrate. She is truly a fantastic weaver of stories and this one is no exception.

[Bonnie Gwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

With mystery and intrigue and the perfect amount of insanity, Shattered Assassin is a delight! Wendy is a fantastic writer, and she knows how to give you just enough darkness to make the light shine. I laughed, I cried, and I never wanted it to end. I related to the characters and I fell in love with them. If you're looking for a protagonist with inspiring inner strength, Kazia is your girl. And the dear Captain captured my heart the minute he walked into the room. This story is one of duty, love, friendship, and secrets. It boldly proclaims that we choose what defines us. We choose who we are. This world needs to hear that more often. So well done, Wendy Knight!

[Yasmeen · Rating 3 out of 5]

i really hate when i come across this kind of book.
it was such a great story and i really loved the idea of it all.
BUUUUT!!! the author did such a bad job with the actual writing. im not saying the grammar was wrong or there was a bunch of spelling errors (which i hate when that happens) but the story was very jumbled and i got so lost at key points in the story. and it made no sense how kazia would suddenly know something. there were just a lot of aspects missing and there was definitely room for improvement

[Contance Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wendy Knight's book Shattered Assassin is one of the best books that I have ever read. Kazia's family has all been murdered by a mystery assassin and she must flee to be protected and not suffer the same fate. She is lead by her Captain of the guard, Luke, her late brother's friend to her uncle's estate and then her fiancé's home. They are continually in danger and don't know who they can trust. You can't put it down. You will fall in love with the characters especially Kazia and her wolf pet Nakomi. I can't wait to reread it.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like all of wendy knights books I was addicted to this and read it all in one day. I loved the slightly dual personalities of so many characters. The mystery and drama. I cried multiple times while reading. This book was all about making you feel. Anger, sorrow, resentment, resolve and so much more. The characters leap off the page and into your imagination running like a movie. The only complaint I have is I am so upset there isnt more! I want to know everything that happens for the rest of the characters lives! A wonderful book for anyone looking to read something that will overwhelm you.

[Jen Wylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brand spanking new release from Wendy Knight. I have to say, I’m a huge fan of hers. After getting sucked into her Feudling books, and then her Riders of Paradesos, I jumped at the chance to read this one. She doesn’t disappoint! With an interesting world, and great characters (loved the wolf too!) you’ll get pulled right in. If you love fantasy romance spiced up with action don’t miss Wendy Knight’s Shattered Assassin!

[Shantal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a sucker for princess novels, so this was a must-read for me. I think Wendy Knight is one of the best YA authors out there nowadays. She keeps things nice and clean for her audience. As a writer, she is especially good at story turns, fight scenes and those sweet, tender moments between her lovers. Highly recommend.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

WTH??? This book was aweful. It was just weird. I don't understand the good reviews. I don't think the author is a child, but it read like a teen book without rational thinking. I'm kind of mad I paid money and wasted my time reading it.

[Stephanie Runion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting characters woven into a story with many twists and turns. Definitely one you don't want to put down as you lose yourself in this story.