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The Assassin's Remorse
“What had she tried to say to him at the end?”
Cerena's face transformed in the last moment's of her life, the fear fleeing, and a strange, calm serenity overtook her. Her lips moved, whispering three words.
The Assassin was forever changed.
A decade of blood stained his hands. None of his victims had ever weighed down his conscience. He was merely the tool, the living weapon wielded by his employers. His victims had begged for their lives, had cursed him with their dying breath, and stared in uncomprehending disbelief.
But none had ever been calm in their final moments. None had ever stared up at him with such serenity.
Cerena's blue eyes and her final words haunted the Assassin. Three simple words plunged his soul into torment.
Could a heart that had long been dead and desiccated beat with remorse? Can the Assassin survive against the crushing weight of his crimes?
Cerena's face transformed in the last moment's of her life, the fear fleeing, and a strange, calm serenity overtook her. Her lips moved, whispering three words.
The Assassin was forever changed.
A decade of blood stained his hands. None of his victims had ever weighed down his conscience. He was merely the tool, the living weapon wielded by his employers. His victims had begged for their lives, had cursed him with their dying breath, and stared in uncomprehending disbelief.
But none had ever been calm in their final moments. None had ever stared up at him with such serenity.
Cerena's blue eyes and her final words haunted the Assassin. Three simple words plunged his soul into torment.
Could a heart that had long been dead and desiccated beat with remorse? Can the Assassin survive against the crushing weight of his crimes?
- GenresFantasy
45 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 21, 2015
A Powerful Message; A Masterful piece
Got what extent can three words affect another's life? In fact, words can change the course of history. In this fast-paced, sharply plotted and elegantly written fantasy allegory, J. M. D. Reid draws a mystical, magical realm where colors define spiritual awareness and evil can be as innocuous as a simple shop keeper. The characters are real, the plot is tense and the world is rich. This tightly written story shows exactly how powerful words spoken with clear intent truly are. It is an art form to create a tale that so seamlessly weaves a powerful message into a gripping story without proselytizing and Reid does a masterful job.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this tale to all readers, especially fantasy, young and old alike.
Got what extent can three words affect another's life? In fact, words can change the course of history. In this fast-paced, sharply plotted and elegantly written fantasy allegory, J. M. D. Reid draws a mystical, magical realm where colors define spiritual awareness and evil can be as innocuous as a simple shop keeper. The characters are real, the plot is tense and the world is rich. This tightly written story shows exactly how powerful words spoken with clear intent truly are. It is an art form to create a tale that so seamlessly weaves a powerful message into a gripping story without proselytizing and Reid does a masterful job.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this tale to all readers, especially fantasy, young and old alike.
November 6, 2014
He is an unassuming man, a man of business. He lives and labours amongst the people, but unbeknownst to them, his business is death. He believes himself to be beyond the emotion of remorse. Until, one dark and foggy night...
The Assassin's Remorse a surprisingly uplifting story. It is centered on the theme of redemption and no matter the dark deed, mercy extends its hand to us all.
Reid created an exceptionally well written story. I was enthralled from the very beginning. Writing short fiction would seem simple due to the small quantity of pages. However, the author must create a world and make the reader believe it almost instantly. Reid achieved this with masterful skill.
His characters burst into life from the first page. His verbal and internal dialogue made me feel as though I knew them and I felt every emotion they did. I experienced the setting with almost all of my senses. The picture he painted was vivid and almost tangible. Reid's plot thicken right from the beginning and continues to do so until the surprising end. I honestly loved it!
The problem with a really good short story? By the time you're done reading it, you wished it weren't a short story.
The Assassin's Remorse a surprisingly uplifting story. It is centered on the theme of redemption and no matter the dark deed, mercy extends its hand to us all.
Reid created an exceptionally well written story. I was enthralled from the very beginning. Writing short fiction would seem simple due to the small quantity of pages. However, the author must create a world and make the reader believe it almost instantly. Reid achieved this with masterful skill.
His characters burst into life from the first page. His verbal and internal dialogue made me feel as though I knew them and I felt every emotion they did. I experienced the setting with almost all of my senses. The picture he painted was vivid and almost tangible. Reid's plot thicken right from the beginning and continues to do so until the surprising end. I honestly loved it!
The problem with a really good short story? By the time you're done reading it, you wished it weren't a short story.
January 1, 2015
An assassin is hired to kill a beautiful young woman. After all that is what he does and something he had done a hundred times. However, this time is much different for the last words she speaks are seared to his soul. What will an assassin do when he is haunted by the last words of his last victim?
This was a well written engaging store that touches a place in the reader that revels in mysteries of what lies beyond a merciless death. JMD Reid makes you feel for the victim but then you will pity the assassin as well. This was a marvelous short story that everyone should enjoy.
This was a well written engaging store that touches a place in the reader that revels in mysteries of what lies beyond a merciless death. JMD Reid makes you feel for the victim but then you will pity the assassin as well. This was a marvelous short story that everyone should enjoy.
December 21, 2016
Reid’s excellent imagery and insight into the remorseful assassin bring this book to life; you are there. I love the clever sci-fi use of gemstones wrapped with wires of different metals to create everything from light to sound-absorbers to water collectors. The color-based religious beliefs also add character to this unique world.
The Assassin’s Remorse has a potent duality with life versus death, love versus hate, and the power of forgiveness. The evolution of the main character is believable and, in a way, beautiful. Excellent story!
The Assassin’s Remorse has a potent duality with life versus death, love versus hate, and the power of forgiveness. The evolution of the main character is believable and, in a way, beautiful. Excellent story!
July 10, 2015
It starts with three words said to an assassin by one of his victims. Those words make an assassin evaluate his life. He has nightmares and hallucinations. His carefully coordinated life starts to come apart. What could those words be ? I thought it was a good short story.
July 20, 2024
This author is simply astounding! Each time I read a book by him, I run out of adjectives to describe the brilliance of his prose, the command he has on his storytelling, and the plot he shapes and moulds with a flair I'm gobsmacked by! Those scenes with Cerena making her way through the fog, set my heart apounding! I felt her fear, I experienced it first hand as though I was there in the flesh!
Set in the beautiful world of the Jewels series, Cerena is a devour servant of an order who are all about caring, compassion and aiding those less fortunate. All the jewels have power, all the jewels have a different purpose, yet Obsidian is frowned upon, seen as a tool for evil. When Cerena is confronted by an assassin, her initial fear and hatred metamorphosis onto forgiveness, as her order dictates. Said assassin is plagued by her words, as he recalls what she muttered, these words take over his rationality, as he spirals out of control. But it's far more than the assassin's remorse at stake, it's the story of betrayal of the worst kind, for the most vile of reasons, that elicits a story that's emotional, touching, haunting, powerful. It's a short quick read, packed to the brim with the worst of humanity and the best of humanity. A poignant story of forgiveness and redemption. Of the unexpected. Of sheer beauty. Yet again, a JMD Reid that blows my mind!
Set in the beautiful world of the Jewels series, Cerena is a devour servant of an order who are all about caring, compassion and aiding those less fortunate. All the jewels have power, all the jewels have a different purpose, yet Obsidian is frowned upon, seen as a tool for evil. When Cerena is confronted by an assassin, her initial fear and hatred metamorphosis onto forgiveness, as her order dictates. Said assassin is plagued by her words, as he recalls what she muttered, these words take over his rationality, as he spirals out of control. But it's far more than the assassin's remorse at stake, it's the story of betrayal of the worst kind, for the most vile of reasons, that elicits a story that's emotional, touching, haunting, powerful. It's a short quick read, packed to the brim with the worst of humanity and the best of humanity. A poignant story of forgiveness and redemption. Of the unexpected. Of sheer beauty. Yet again, a JMD Reid that blows my mind!
June 11, 2020
Just three words that can haunt your soul. This story is written well. It is a short story yet it doesn't miss a beat. Felt a connection right from the start with the characters. It's a smooth read that kept me interested.
April 12, 2021
This was the first book by JMD Reid I ever read. It’s written with flair, the unique universe of jewelchines and Elohm’s Colours, a religion which matches colours and jewels with various virtues such as compassion and patience.
When an assassin kills an innocent woman, he’s plagued by her last words and driven half-mad with guilt. This short story is an absolute delight. If you haven’t read anything by this author yet, I recommend starting here!
When an assassin kills an innocent woman, he’s plagued by her last words and driven half-mad with guilt. This short story is an absolute delight. If you haven’t read anything by this author yet, I recommend starting here!
April 11, 2016
Beautiful characters. The world sucked me in. His writing moves fluidly and before I knew it I was at the end. This is a great book!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews