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The Soul Thief Trilogy #1
The Assassin Thief
BETRAYED BY HER QUEEN.
HAUNTED BY HER GIFTS.
FORGOTTEN BY HER PEOPLE.
Telium was once the most feared assassin in all Alkoria. Now she lives out her days in exile as she fights for dominance over her dark gifts.
But all that changes when an errant Fae warrior enters her domain. Drawn by rumours of a powerful being said to be borne from the shadow of the dark goddess Tenebris.
With their kingdoms on the brink of chaos, he calls for her aid in his mission to defeat the Mad Fae King and prevent an all-out war.
But the road to the Fae capital of Meannthe is a long one, and haunted by memories of her past, Telium must decide if she can risk losing dominance over the darkness in her soul.
In this gripping story, debut author Madeline Te Whiu creates an unforgettable world rife with grave secrets and suspenseful romance.
HAUNTED BY HER GIFTS.
FORGOTTEN BY HER PEOPLE.
Telium was once the most feared assassin in all Alkoria. Now she lives out her days in exile as she fights for dominance over her dark gifts.
But all that changes when an errant Fae warrior enters her domain. Drawn by rumours of a powerful being said to be borne from the shadow of the dark goddess Tenebris.
With their kingdoms on the brink of chaos, he calls for her aid in his mission to defeat the Mad Fae King and prevent an all-out war.
But the road to the Fae capital of Meannthe is a long one, and haunted by memories of her past, Telium must decide if she can risk losing dominance over the darkness in her soul.
In this gripping story, debut author Madeline Te Whiu creates an unforgettable world rife with grave secrets and suspenseful romance.
432 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews
March 2, 2023
I’ve been trying to decide if I wanted to write a review for over a month and finally decided to bite the bullet.
I did not enjoy this book. I finished it because I had such high hopes and still believe that it could’ve been great.
In saying that, it wasn’t.
I buddy read this with a friend and we both struggled and had very similar complaints.
Everything was very predictable and obvious I felt and some things seemed to be rip offs of other, popular series.
The spelling and grammatical errors were constant and very distracting.
Every time Telium was in danger, something would conveniently save the day (like growing gills when you’re being drowned on land), or the walls giving you the power to understand a language for a limited time only.
The amount of dream/flashback scenes were excessive, especially when it would share something (like Telium being half-fae) but then have her deny it until the very end of the book, despite it being screamed at her by the Queen in the early chapters.
I still think the bones of this book are good and there’s potential for it to be great, but it really missed the mark for me.
I did not enjoy this book. I finished it because I had such high hopes and still believe that it could’ve been great.
In saying that, it wasn’t.
I buddy read this with a friend and we both struggled and had very similar complaints.
Everything was very predictable and obvious I felt and some things seemed to be rip offs of other, popular series.
The spelling and grammatical errors were constant and very distracting.
Every time Telium was in danger, something would conveniently save the day (like growing gills when you’re being drowned on land), or the walls giving you the power to understand a language for a limited time only.
The amount of dream/flashback scenes were excessive, especially when it would share something (like Telium being half-fae) but then have her deny it until the very end of the book, despite it being screamed at her by the Queen in the early chapters.
I still think the bones of this book are good and there’s potential for it to be great, but it really missed the mark for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2023
‘The Assassin Thief’ by Madeline Te Whiu has a promising prologue that hooks you with a strong image and a grounded sense of the felt physicality of a moment.
I also, personally, have a real soft spot for Aussie fiction, and – as a librarian – I’d always lean towards supporting emerging publishing houses.
But the promising prologue is about where my enjoyment of this novel ended.
Overall, I'd describe Whiu's writing as effortful. The authorial voice strains itself in a way that no proofreading or editing is ever going to be able to iron out. And there is a lot to iron out. ‘The Assassin Thief’ is overlong, overearnest, and overwritten.
In Madeline Te Whiu’s style, every noun has an adjective or an epithet. This style of adjectival writing becomes wearisome so quickly for the reader.
Compounding this, the author makes some very bizarre word choices, such as the total avoidance of the word man (Whiu uses the word male every time?!).
And if I have to hear about Mallux’s amber and citrus fragrance one more time...
Slang and anachronisms are jarring; at one point, our protagonist 'falls hard on her arse’. The writing is full of cliché and absolutely dripping with adjectives and adverbs. In places, the text made me cringe so much that I'd consider giving up on listening to the rest. Take this, for instance:
Yet Schneider uses her voice with a kind of expressiveness that you don’t always get with audiobook performances: she is slow-paced in parts, quickening as she approaches action; she voices sections loudly when the narrative's intense, quietly when the story turns to descriptiveness. Her velvety Aussie tones are, for the most part, a delight.
The only time Schneider disappointed me was when she endeavoured to affect a peasant's country accent, and ended up chewing on a half-baked kind of cockney.
But all I can say, in conclusion, is that ‘The Assassin Thief' is an immature debut and I found myself wondering often how the audiobook narrator persevered with it.
Thanks to Bolinda audio for an advanced digital review copy through NetGalley. Citations might be subject to change.
I also, personally, have a real soft spot for Aussie fiction, and – as a librarian – I’d always lean towards supporting emerging publishing houses.
But the promising prologue is about where my enjoyment of this novel ended.
Overall, I'd describe Whiu's writing as effortful. The authorial voice strains itself in a way that no proofreading or editing is ever going to be able to iron out. And there is a lot to iron out. ‘The Assassin Thief’ is overlong, overearnest, and overwritten.
In Madeline Te Whiu’s style, every noun has an adjective or an epithet. This style of adjectival writing becomes wearisome so quickly for the reader.
Compounding this, the author makes some very bizarre word choices, such as the total avoidance of the word man (Whiu uses the word male every time?!).
And if I have to hear about Mallux’s amber and citrus fragrance one more time...
Slang and anachronisms are jarring; at one point, our protagonist 'falls hard on her arse’. The writing is full of cliché and absolutely dripping with adjectives and adverbs. In places, the text made me cringe so much that I'd consider giving up on listening to the rest. Take this, for instance:
He had been shy, yet he made up for it with plenty of passion, pleasantly shocked by her forwardness. She let him have his way with her for a while, before she flipped him on his back and rode him until she found her completion.The novel brandishes an inundation of fight scenes. In the audiobook, Tanya Schneider, the narrator, does well to try and inject emotion and pitch into each formulaic, indistinguishable fight scene. But there comes a point where the repetitiveness of the writing just blurs one scene into all the others.
Yet Schneider uses her voice with a kind of expressiveness that you don’t always get with audiobook performances: she is slow-paced in parts, quickening as she approaches action; she voices sections loudly when the narrative's intense, quietly when the story turns to descriptiveness. Her velvety Aussie tones are, for the most part, a delight.
The only time Schneider disappointed me was when she endeavoured to affect a peasant's country accent, and ended up chewing on a half-baked kind of cockney.
But all I can say, in conclusion, is that ‘The Assassin Thief' is an immature debut and I found myself wondering often how the audiobook narrator persevered with it.
Thanks to Bolinda audio for an advanced digital review copy through NetGalley. Citations might be subject to change.
February 18, 2023
I think some variant of the word 'snarl' and the phrase "hummed in contemplation" happened every other damned page in this book.
With a whole boatload of editing (grammar included) this could be really great. Take the page count down by a couple hundred, give us some of the laws that surround the magic/Thief/fae systems instead of vague "because that's just the way it is" and give Telium a REAL backbone and some intelligence and you'd have a best seller.
With a whole boatload of editing (grammar included) this could be really great. Take the page count down by a couple hundred, give us some of the laws that surround the magic/Thief/fae systems instead of vague "because that's just the way it is" and give Telium a REAL backbone and some intelligence and you'd have a best seller.
April 17, 2026
This was an okay fantasy. I found it a bit predictable, and it felt like a lot of things were skipped over, but it was still an interesting magic system and a fun idea.
The story follows our titular Assassin Thief, Telium, who has been hiding away for 50-odd years in the forest after the death of the Queen she served. When fae warrior Mallux comes seeking aid, she accompanies him on a quest to save the world.
Firstly, 'thief' seems to just apply to magical humans, not people who steal things. That was a little confusing at first but easy enough to figure out when they start naming other kinds of thieves.
Second, I didn't really like either of our main protagonists. Telium seems a little slow on the uptake, frustratingly not even considering why she's lived 50-odd years without visibly aging. Mallux seems domineering from the get-go, and constantly calls her pet?! and she's okay with it??! He really bothered me, I did not like him at all.
As the story progressed, it all seemed rather obvious to me where things were headed, which made me more frustrated at Telium not questioning things. I found there was a lot of attention paid to the relationship between the two, meaning the world-building suffered as a consequence. This is my number one gripe with this insane wave of 'romantasy' books - the story and setting is more often than not sacrificed in lieu of flirtatious glances and marveling over muscles under tight-fitting clothing.
That said, the writing is fine and I think people who have read less fantasy may be more surprised at things that happen.
I still mostly enjoyed the journey, but it would have been more satisfying if it went in a fresh direction. As it was, I found the predictability made it a little tedious for me, but I think other readers might handle it a little better. The romance was also painful to me but I think I've been pretty upfront about my dislike of mooning and explicit scenes in fantasy books.
An enjoyable enough read for the most part, though not enough for me to continue with the series. This is one for fantasy fans looking for familiar tropes and charged, slow-burn romance.
The story follows our titular Assassin Thief, Telium, who has been hiding away for 50-odd years in the forest after the death of the Queen she served. When fae warrior Mallux comes seeking aid, she accompanies him on a quest to save the world.
Firstly, 'thief' seems to just apply to magical humans, not people who steal things. That was a little confusing at first but easy enough to figure out when they start naming other kinds of thieves.
Second, I didn't really like either of our main protagonists. Telium seems a little slow on the uptake, frustratingly not even considering why she's lived 50-odd years without visibly aging. Mallux seems domineering from the get-go, and constantly calls her pet?! and she's okay with it??! He really bothered me, I did not like him at all.
As the story progressed, it all seemed rather obvious to me where things were headed, which made me more frustrated at Telium not questioning things. I found there was a lot of attention paid to the relationship between the two, meaning the world-building suffered as a consequence. This is my number one gripe with this insane wave of 'romantasy' books - the story and setting is more often than not sacrificed in lieu of flirtatious glances and marveling over muscles under tight-fitting clothing.
That said, the writing is fine and I think people who have read less fantasy may be more surprised at things that happen.
I still mostly enjoyed the journey, but it would have been more satisfying if it went in a fresh direction. As it was, I found the predictability made it a little tedious for me, but I think other readers might handle it a little better. The romance was also painful to me but I think I've been pretty upfront about my dislike of mooning and explicit scenes in fantasy books.
An enjoyable enough read for the most part, though not enough for me to continue with the series. This is one for fantasy fans looking for familiar tropes and charged, slow-burn romance.
July 1, 2023
look could she sense HIS CONSCIOUSNESS or not?? did she know she was half-fae or not?? WHY was she talking to A WALL??????? how did she meet that man at least 3 times and the only time he knew she was his mate was when she killed a man?? i have so many questions and i don’t actually want any of them answered because i didn’t have a good time here so i don’t want to know. this author needs a better editor
July 31, 2022
The blurb I found on the New Dawn publishing website.
(You know because this books goodreads page has none)
synopsis
“ BETRAYED BY HER QUEEN.
HAUNTED BY HER GIFTS.
FORGOTTEN BY HER PEOPLE.
Telium was once the most feared assassin in all Alkoria. Now she lives out her days in exile as she fights for dominance over her dark gifts.
But all that changes when an errant Fae warrior enters her domain. Drawn by rumours of a powerful being said to be borne from the shadow of the dark goddess Tenebris.
With their kingdoms on the brink of chaos, he calls for her aid in his mission to defeat the Mad Fae King and prevent an all-out war.
But the road to the Fae capital of Meannthe is a long one, and haunted by memories of her past, Telium must decide if she can risk losing dominance over the darkness in her soul.
In this gripping story, debut author Madeline Te Whiu creates an unforgettable world rife with grave secrets and suspenseful romance. ”
(You know because this books goodreads page has none)
synopsis
“ BETRAYED BY HER QUEEN.
HAUNTED BY HER GIFTS.
FORGOTTEN BY HER PEOPLE.
Telium was once the most feared assassin in all Alkoria. Now she lives out her days in exile as she fights for dominance over her dark gifts.
But all that changes when an errant Fae warrior enters her domain. Drawn by rumours of a powerful being said to be borne from the shadow of the dark goddess Tenebris.
With their kingdoms on the brink of chaos, he calls for her aid in his mission to defeat the Mad Fae King and prevent an all-out war.
But the road to the Fae capital of Meannthe is a long one, and haunted by memories of her past, Telium must decide if she can risk losing dominance over the darkness in her soul.
In this gripping story, debut author Madeline Te Whiu creates an unforgettable world rife with grave secrets and suspenseful romance. ”
September 29, 2022
It’s Like Coming Home - Warning ⛔️ Throne of Glass Vibes Ahead!!!
It has been a minute since I picked up a book and felt that rush of coming home. I haven’t felt that way since Throne of Glass. The story line of this book is truely spectacular. It will make you laugh and cry and gasp and leave you feeling wrung out in the best way. It has amazing plot twists and well written characters. It does end on an amazing cliff hanger that will leave you begging for more. I wish I could give it 6 stars but 5 will have to do.
It has been a minute since I picked up a book and felt that rush of coming home. I haven’t felt that way since Throne of Glass. The story line of this book is truely spectacular. It will make you laugh and cry and gasp and leave you feeling wrung out in the best way. It has amazing plot twists and well written characters. It does end on an amazing cliff hanger that will leave you begging for more. I wish I could give it 6 stars but 5 will have to do.
September 15, 2022
I am NOT READY to leave this world! I can already see this will be a series that will get its claws in me and not ever let go.
Full of morally grey characters, magic of different kinds, conspiracies and betrayal, The Assassin Thief is a fantasy story following the female main character Telium, who is the Siren Queens most feared and loyal Assassin. In this world there are humans - some of which have gifts (powers) but there are also Fae in another city who are strong and long lived, however only some female Fae are gifted with magic. Telium, our feared Assassin, does not really fit nicely into any category. She is simply, Other.
Fiercely loyal, she embarks on a quest with a Fae warrior who needs her help. Only she isn't doing it for him, not really. They have an instant bond but she just wants revenge on behalf of her Queen.
My mind is still reeling after finishing this, I already want to reread it to pick up little things that I may have missed on my first read through. So many times my eyes near popped out of my head at some of the revelations and my mind was constantly trying to make connections.
Huge thank you to Madeline and New Dawn Pub for sending me an ARC copy of this absolute gem!
Full of morally grey characters, magic of different kinds, conspiracies and betrayal, The Assassin Thief is a fantasy story following the female main character Telium, who is the Siren Queens most feared and loyal Assassin. In this world there are humans - some of which have gifts (powers) but there are also Fae in another city who are strong and long lived, however only some female Fae are gifted with magic. Telium, our feared Assassin, does not really fit nicely into any category. She is simply, Other.
Fiercely loyal, she embarks on a quest with a Fae warrior who needs her help. Only she isn't doing it for him, not really. They have an instant bond but she just wants revenge on behalf of her Queen.
My mind is still reeling after finishing this, I already want to reread it to pick up little things that I may have missed on my first read through. So many times my eyes near popped out of my head at some of the revelations and my mind was constantly trying to make connections.
Huge thank you to Madeline and New Dawn Pub for sending me an ARC copy of this absolute gem!
October 6, 2024
This book was a great debut, and a fantastic introduction to the soul thief trilogy. It was definitely a foundation book and it has got me intrigued to what will happen next. The ENDING ?! Oh. My. God. I actually wasn’t expecting that - I am HURT but also need to know what’s gonna happen now???
I absolutely adore Telium’s character even if she can seem a bit flawed in areas. However, I feel as though that adds to her character because she has been exiled from the life around her for a long time. Telium is learning how to be herself around others, manage her gifts and work with others to make her world a better place.
Whilst it was lacking something it didn’t take away from the plot. I always seem to struggle with the first book in any series - be it fantasy or romance. I feel like the first book is always that toe in the water to the land / universe it’s introducing to you. I think I just find it hard to follow and keep everything together - but that’s just me and my adhd 😂
I love that there is a glossary to explain the words used in the story. Learning the way the magic system works is also another different experience. There’s humans and fae, but the humans have gifts and in the fae, I believe only the women have powers… which I found kind of cool!!
Whilst I felt like not a whole lot happened in this book - a lot also happened?! If that makes sense. lol. I think it created a deep foundation for what is next to come and I cannot wait to continue this series and also, and then to finalise it this month when the queen thief is released!
Overall this was an enjoyable read and I will definitely be continuing the series because I need to know what is happening especially after that ending.
I absolutely adore Telium’s character even if she can seem a bit flawed in areas. However, I feel as though that adds to her character because she has been exiled from the life around her for a long time. Telium is learning how to be herself around others, manage her gifts and work with others to make her world a better place.
Whilst it was lacking something it didn’t take away from the plot. I always seem to struggle with the first book in any series - be it fantasy or romance. I feel like the first book is always that toe in the water to the land / universe it’s introducing to you. I think I just find it hard to follow and keep everything together - but that’s just me and my adhd 😂
I love that there is a glossary to explain the words used in the story. Learning the way the magic system works is also another different experience. There’s humans and fae, but the humans have gifts and in the fae, I believe only the women have powers… which I found kind of cool!!
Whilst I felt like not a whole lot happened in this book - a lot also happened?! If that makes sense. lol. I think it created a deep foundation for what is next to come and I cannot wait to continue this series and also, and then to finalise it this month when the queen thief is released!
Overall this was an enjoyable read and I will definitely be continuing the series because I need to know what is happening especially after that ending.
October 12, 2022
This was a fabulous debut by author Madeline Te Whiu.
A unique & well developed magic system that I haven’t seen before, with a TRUELY morally Grey FMC who struggles with her power & owns her faults.
I found the world building easy to understand with some beautiful prose but not overly complicated.
The beginning & ending where fantastic, action packed with lots of twists & turns that made it a really enjoyable read.
The middle lacked a bit of push forward - the relationship between the 2 mc’s felt a bit lack lustre - but by the end & with the twists, I can look back & see why things played out the way they did.
It is steamy not spicy but I’m hoping that picks up in the next books - along with more banter between the love interests.
There are some very dark themes throughout so please look up CW’s before reading.
There is one aspect that I’m still unsure how I feel about how it was handled. It’s a major plot point & the way the FMC reacts to the situation & the way that character is represented felt a bit ….judgy(?) to me… but that could be coming from my own lens / trauma with this subject?
I’m still unsure.
There was good rep with POC - although the 2 characters who are LGBTQI were both in the story for 2 pages each, which felt a bit tokenism - I’m hoping their characters are included more in the future & that was merely their introduction.
Overall it’s a very strong story, intriguing plot & I loved the FMC. A lot of her attributes are what we see given to mmc’s so it was very refreshing to see them given to a FMC.
I will be continuing the series to see how it expands.
Thank you New Dawn Publishing for my advanced reviewer copy
A unique & well developed magic system that I haven’t seen before, with a TRUELY morally Grey FMC who struggles with her power & owns her faults.
I found the world building easy to understand with some beautiful prose but not overly complicated.
The beginning & ending where fantastic, action packed with lots of twists & turns that made it a really enjoyable read.
The middle lacked a bit of push forward - the relationship between the 2 mc’s felt a bit lack lustre - but by the end & with the twists, I can look back & see why things played out the way they did.
It is steamy not spicy but I’m hoping that picks up in the next books - along with more banter between the love interests.
There are some very dark themes throughout so please look up CW’s before reading.
There is one aspect that I’m still unsure how I feel about how it was handled. It’s a major plot point & the way the FMC reacts to the situation & the way that character is represented felt a bit ….judgy(?) to me… but that could be coming from my own lens / trauma with this subject?
I’m still unsure.
There was good rep with POC - although the 2 characters who are LGBTQI were both in the story for 2 pages each, which felt a bit tokenism - I’m hoping their characters are included more in the future & that was merely their introduction.
Overall it’s a very strong story, intriguing plot & I loved the FMC. A lot of her attributes are what we see given to mmc’s so it was very refreshing to see them given to a FMC.
I will be continuing the series to see how it expands.
Thank you New Dawn Publishing for my advanced reviewer copy
September 28, 2024
As I was reading this I was thinking to myself it’s a well written and strong debut novel by Aussie author Madeline Te Whiu. But then I got towards the end and bam 😳 Those last few chapters were *insert chefs kiss* brilliant and I’m still thinking about it!
The story centres around Telium who was once the most feared assassin in all Alkoria and we are introduced to her when she is betrayed and imprisoned by her Queen. She is now living her days in exile, killing those sent to hunt her and fighting for dominance over her dark gifts.
Her world changes though when the enigmatic Fae warrior Mallux enters her domain. With the human and fae kingdoms on the brink of an all out war Mallux requests her aid in his mission to defeat the Mad Fae King. This provides Telium with purpose again and the means to enact the revenge she desperately desires.
The story contains a complex gift and power system that takes a little bit to wrap your head around and does affect the overall pace in a few places. But you can forgive that with how morally grey Telium is and the internal battle she has between her heart the dark gifts she posses.
If you love a good fantasy series, with slow burn (no spice) and great side characters I’d highly recommend The Assassin Thief. I’m really looking forward to reading the next book The Soul Thief.
The story centres around Telium who was once the most feared assassin in all Alkoria and we are introduced to her when she is betrayed and imprisoned by her Queen. She is now living her days in exile, killing those sent to hunt her and fighting for dominance over her dark gifts.
Her world changes though when the enigmatic Fae warrior Mallux enters her domain. With the human and fae kingdoms on the brink of an all out war Mallux requests her aid in his mission to defeat the Mad Fae King. This provides Telium with purpose again and the means to enact the revenge she desperately desires.
The story contains a complex gift and power system that takes a little bit to wrap your head around and does affect the overall pace in a few places. But you can forgive that with how morally grey Telium is and the internal battle she has between her heart the dark gifts she posses.
If you love a good fantasy series, with slow burn (no spice) and great side characters I’d highly recommend The Assassin Thief. I’m really looking forward to reading the next book The Soul Thief.
April 25, 2023
The first book in The Soul Thief Trilogy introduces you to a new world of Fantasy Kingdom.
An amalgamation of diverse characters like faes, queens, humans and the ones possessed by Godly powers made it fascinating. As this was an audiobook I read, it is necessary to give a share of applause to the narrator cast as well. Each character was distinct and not once did I stop to ponder who is speaking which lines.
The plot(Alkorians) was good too but I can't say the same about the pacing of the book. It had a bit of sine wave progression, which made me fast-track a few portions, I don't know what would I do had this been a paperback 😂
Overall a good new series that's added to my Fantasy collection that has both straight and non-straight characters.
Thank you @netgalley @newdawnpub @bolindaaudio for the Audiobook ARC
Genre: #fantasy #lgbt
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
An amalgamation of diverse characters like faes, queens, humans and the ones possessed by Godly powers made it fascinating. As this was an audiobook I read, it is necessary to give a share of applause to the narrator cast as well. Each character was distinct and not once did I stop to ponder who is speaking which lines.
The plot(Alkorians) was good too but I can't say the same about the pacing of the book. It had a bit of sine wave progression, which made me fast-track a few portions, I don't know what would I do had this been a paperback 😂
Overall a good new series that's added to my Fantasy collection that has both straight and non-straight characters.
Thank you @netgalley @newdawnpub @bolindaaudio for the Audiobook ARC
Genre: #fantasy #lgbt
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
October 10, 2024
I really enjoyed this one! And the audiobook was well done too. Looking forward to book 2!
September 23, 2022
4.5*
Thank you to New Dawn Publishing for sending me an ARC!
This book continued to grow on me after I read the final page. The author has created a unique world and magic system, and I wasn’t quite ready to leave it.
Telium, our morally grey main character, does an excellent job staying just on this side of unlikable at times - in a good way! So often assassin characters are *described* as badass and successful killers, but with Telium, we actually saw it in practise - and it didn’t always warm the reader to her! I actually really liked that aspect, it made her ‘badass, powerful assassin’ title much more believable.
From the flashbacks, I feel confident in saying I love Trigg, and I certainly love Lotte (though, where was she in the final conflict!? Hoping this will come up in the next one).
I love books with Fae and I enjoyed what the author has done with the concept of mates/soulmates/bonded mates.
There were some juicy twists at the end, but they were not SO far out of the blue that the reader is left with questions of how we even got there. I hate books that have a big shock ending just for the sake of it, and The Assassin Thief had a satisfying and believable ending (while leaving plenty open for the sequel!)
I very much look forward to reading book 2!
Thank you to New Dawn Publishing for sending me an ARC!
This book continued to grow on me after I read the final page. The author has created a unique world and magic system, and I wasn’t quite ready to leave it.
Telium, our morally grey main character, does an excellent job staying just on this side of unlikable at times - in a good way! So often assassin characters are *described* as badass and successful killers, but with Telium, we actually saw it in practise - and it didn’t always warm the reader to her! I actually really liked that aspect, it made her ‘badass, powerful assassin’ title much more believable.
From the flashbacks, I feel confident in saying I love Trigg, and I certainly love Lotte (though, where was she in the final conflict!? Hoping this will come up in the next one).
I love books with Fae and I enjoyed what the author has done with the concept of mates/soulmates/bonded mates.
There were some juicy twists at the end, but they were not SO far out of the blue that the reader is left with questions of how we even got there. I hate books that have a big shock ending just for the sake of it, and The Assassin Thief had a satisfying and believable ending (while leaving plenty open for the sequel!)
I very much look forward to reading book 2!
October 2, 2022
Brilliant Debut!
Honestly, I do not have the words that can give this book the review it deserves but imma try.
I will admit in the beginning it did take me a little bit to get into because it’s a little different from what I normally read, but once I was got passed that. I became enthralled.
This book follows the most feared assassin thief from the Siren Queen’s kingdom. She is skilled, deadly and possesses the kind of magic that makes her a little different. She’s not like the rest of beings in this world, she’s different. She’s other.
This book takes you on a journey filled with betrayal, mystery, love, loyalty and revenge.
I absolutely adore the world this author has created and how beautifully she has written this book. And that fight scene, just wow. I could imagine it in my head like It was a scene from a movie.
I freaking love Telium, I’d want her as my bad ass assassin bestie.
I can’t wait for the next book, I already know I’m going to be obsessed with this series.
5 stars. Highly recommend.
Thank you to New Dawn Publishing and Madeline Te Whiu for sending me this ARC.
‘They are two sides of the same coin, but where Mallux is all light and valour, Telium is shadows and intrigue.’ - The Assassin Thief, Madeline Te Whiu.
Honestly, I do not have the words that can give this book the review it deserves but imma try.
I will admit in the beginning it did take me a little bit to get into because it’s a little different from what I normally read, but once I was got passed that. I became enthralled.
This book follows the most feared assassin thief from the Siren Queen’s kingdom. She is skilled, deadly and possesses the kind of magic that makes her a little different. She’s not like the rest of beings in this world, she’s different. She’s other.
This book takes you on a journey filled with betrayal, mystery, love, loyalty and revenge.
I absolutely adore the world this author has created and how beautifully she has written this book. And that fight scene, just wow. I could imagine it in my head like It was a scene from a movie.
I freaking love Telium, I’d want her as my bad ass assassin bestie.
I can’t wait for the next book, I already know I’m going to be obsessed with this series.
5 stars. Highly recommend.
Thank you to New Dawn Publishing and Madeline Te Whiu for sending me this ARC.
‘They are two sides of the same coin, but where Mallux is all light and valour, Telium is shadows and intrigue.’ - The Assassin Thief, Madeline Te Whiu.
September 1, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
This book started off was a bit hard to get into as the story flips back and forth a bit between present day and past to deepen the Heriones Teluim’s backstory, but I couldn’t help fall in love with Teluim and her struggle with her powers and her own internal struggle with her past. The story is a bit predicable especially if you are a SJM fan as very similar feel to ACOTAR but if Aelin was the heroine but honestly I don’t mind that. This books is definitely for any Sarah J Mass fan and felt the story was a cross between TOG and ACOTAR but in a good way. This is Madeline debut book and I can’t wait to read more by this author.
This book started off was a bit hard to get into as the story flips back and forth a bit between present day and past to deepen the Heriones Teluim’s backstory, but I couldn’t help fall in love with Teluim and her struggle with her powers and her own internal struggle with her past. The story is a bit predicable especially if you are a SJM fan as very similar feel to ACOTAR but if Aelin was the heroine but honestly I don’t mind that. This books is definitely for any Sarah J Mass fan and felt the story was a cross between TOG and ACOTAR but in a good way. This is Madeline debut book and I can’t wait to read more by this author.
June 2, 2023
More on Chill and read
A kingdom with people gifted with magic resides next to a kingdom of Fae. How well can this go? Can the two kingdoms leave peacefully next to each other, or is war to be expected? Let’s find out!
Alkoria is ruled by a gifted Queen. Like some of her subjects, she has magic in her veins, she is a Thief Queen. She has a power not many people share. But along her side she has her very own Assassin Thief. A trained assassin and a gifted Thief, a girl that was raised in the palace, Telium. They were meant to have a bond like the one shared between mother and daughter but, when the book begins, we find Telium at the dungeon, imprisoned by her Queen. She is treated like a traitor. Thankfully, Telium escapes and resorts to the forest were she lives quietly among the trees and the creatures that have been living there for ages now. She doesn’t meet people often. Nobody comes to her forest. For them, the place is haunted and they better stay away. But all this changes one day, when Telium finds a Fae warrior in the forest. Fae people are not usually seen in Alkoria after the war, so this is unexpected.
The Fae has come to request her help. He has started a rebellion against his King and he has heard of how gifted Telium is. He wants her on his side. He needs her to assassinate the King and Telium is not opposed to the idea. Fae live for hundreds of years, so she knows this is the Mad Fae King, the one that has caused so much pain on her Queen. She is determined to revenge for all the pain, all the misery and all the damage done. As the times passes by, Telium learns how the Mad Fae King kidnaps human children, Thief children and he experiments on them. This feeds her anger and makes her more determined. She follows this rebel Fae to Meannthe, where she will have to fulfill her mission. But until she reaches her destination, she will be confronted with the darkness that is hidden inside her, a raw power that threatens to consume her on any given chance.
I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of “The Assassin Thief”. The narrator did a wonderful job of portraying all of Telium’s feelings as well as the inner dialog with the power inside her. It was easy to understand the different characters in the dialogs and there was never a question as to who was speaking at the time.
I also enjoyed the story very much. It gave me ACOTAR vibes, like with that bonding between the Fae, and that plot twist at the end for example. The magic system is a very interesting one. The Thieves are people with magical abilities, but they don’t all have the same abilities. There are stones involved and magic being transferred to other thieves, even though I didn’t really understand how this transfer happened. The Fae have different abilities as well. All of which, Fae and Thief abilities are very interesting. I would like to read more on this universe and see how Telium reacts to what comes next.
Thank you to NetGalley & Bolinda Audio for an advance copy of this book. The views expressed are my personal and honest opinion.
A kingdom with people gifted with magic resides next to a kingdom of Fae. How well can this go? Can the two kingdoms leave peacefully next to each other, or is war to be expected? Let’s find out!
Alkoria is ruled by a gifted Queen. Like some of her subjects, she has magic in her veins, she is a Thief Queen. She has a power not many people share. But along her side she has her very own Assassin Thief. A trained assassin and a gifted Thief, a girl that was raised in the palace, Telium. They were meant to have a bond like the one shared between mother and daughter but, when the book begins, we find Telium at the dungeon, imprisoned by her Queen. She is treated like a traitor. Thankfully, Telium escapes and resorts to the forest were she lives quietly among the trees and the creatures that have been living there for ages now. She doesn’t meet people often. Nobody comes to her forest. For them, the place is haunted and they better stay away. But all this changes one day, when Telium finds a Fae warrior in the forest. Fae people are not usually seen in Alkoria after the war, so this is unexpected.
The Fae has come to request her help. He has started a rebellion against his King and he has heard of how gifted Telium is. He wants her on his side. He needs her to assassinate the King and Telium is not opposed to the idea. Fae live for hundreds of years, so she knows this is the Mad Fae King, the one that has caused so much pain on her Queen. She is determined to revenge for all the pain, all the misery and all the damage done. As the times passes by, Telium learns how the Mad Fae King kidnaps human children, Thief children and he experiments on them. This feeds her anger and makes her more determined. She follows this rebel Fae to Meannthe, where she will have to fulfill her mission. But until she reaches her destination, she will be confronted with the darkness that is hidden inside her, a raw power that threatens to consume her on any given chance.
I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of “The Assassin Thief”. The narrator did a wonderful job of portraying all of Telium’s feelings as well as the inner dialog with the power inside her. It was easy to understand the different characters in the dialogs and there was never a question as to who was speaking at the time.
I also enjoyed the story very much. It gave me ACOTAR vibes, like with that bonding between the Fae, and that plot twist at the end for example. The magic system is a very interesting one. The Thieves are people with magical abilities, but they don’t all have the same abilities. There are stones involved and magic being transferred to other thieves, even though I didn’t really understand how this transfer happened. The Fae have different abilities as well. All of which, Fae and Thief abilities are very interesting. I would like to read more on this universe and see how Telium reacts to what comes next.
Thank you to NetGalley & Bolinda Audio for an advance copy of this book. The views expressed are my personal and honest opinion.
February 7, 2025
5 ⭐️
HOLY SHIT…
“Sometimes, surviving something that was supposed to kill you is even more traumatising than death itself.”
Okay, full disclosure.. this did not take me four months to read. Realistically it took me three weeks. I just put it down in the midst of a really bad slump.
In no way does that take away from how incredible this book has left me feeling! This is going to sound insane but this series based off the first book alone has skyrocketed to 2nd place in ranking of all fantasy series I’ve read.. it just goes to show that sometimes you really don’t need eight books if you have a writer who is talented enough to capture her story in three books.
This book follows along our leading lady, Telium, who is a morally grey assassin who has been forgotten by her people for over 50 turns (years). Until one day she has offered the opportunity of a lifetime to get revenge on the fae responsible for harming her queen.
This story is so much more than just a fantasy. It a tale of a girl trying to write her wrong, a girl full of darkness just trying to find a place in a world that only recognises the light. Madeline has done an incredible job of creating a truly well rounded morally grey character. She had me truly struggling to decide whether I love Tellium or hated her.
Maddelein was able to create a world perfectly balanced in world building and beautiful prose to really drag the reader into the scenes. AND OH MY DAYS! The fight scenes in this book, and there are many, were beautifully thought out and beautifully described it felt like I was in the scene with the characters every time. It was incredibly immersive.
Now for the most mine altering part of this book… before you go and get cocky, like I did, and think you’ve got this story all mapped out… humble yourself, sit your ass down and just go along for the ride. I’m not saying it will be completely unpredictable for everyone. Madeline has left from master full breadcrumbs throughout the story if you are able to spot them.
I have to take my hat off to Madeline, as she has been able to pull me back to feeling what are used to feel when I started reading fantasy. Like I stepped into Narnia’s wardrobe and landed in Alkoria. In my opinion, and it is just my opinion remember I would honestly rate this higher than ACOTAR and Fourth Wing…
This book is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but it definitely has me racing for the next book 🏃💨💨
HOLY SHIT…
“Sometimes, surviving something that was supposed to kill you is even more traumatising than death itself.”
Okay, full disclosure.. this did not take me four months to read. Realistically it took me three weeks. I just put it down in the midst of a really bad slump.
In no way does that take away from how incredible this book has left me feeling! This is going to sound insane but this series based off the first book alone has skyrocketed to 2nd place in ranking of all fantasy series I’ve read.. it just goes to show that sometimes you really don’t need eight books if you have a writer who is talented enough to capture her story in three books.
This book follows along our leading lady, Telium, who is a morally grey assassin who has been forgotten by her people for over 50 turns (years). Until one day she has offered the opportunity of a lifetime to get revenge on the fae responsible for harming her queen.
This story is so much more than just a fantasy. It a tale of a girl trying to write her wrong, a girl full of darkness just trying to find a place in a world that only recognises the light. Madeline has done an incredible job of creating a truly well rounded morally grey character. She had me truly struggling to decide whether I love Tellium or hated her.
Maddelein was able to create a world perfectly balanced in world building and beautiful prose to really drag the reader into the scenes. AND OH MY DAYS! The fight scenes in this book, and there are many, were beautifully thought out and beautifully described it felt like I was in the scene with the characters every time. It was incredibly immersive.
Now for the most mine altering part of this book… before you go and get cocky, like I did, and think you’ve got this story all mapped out… humble yourself, sit your ass down and just go along for the ride. I’m not saying it will be completely unpredictable for everyone. Madeline has left from master full breadcrumbs throughout the story if you are able to spot them.
I have to take my hat off to Madeline, as she has been able to pull me back to feeling what are used to feel when I started reading fantasy. Like I stepped into Narnia’s wardrobe and landed in Alkoria. In my opinion, and it is just my opinion remember I would honestly rate this higher than ACOTAR and Fourth Wing…
This book is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but it definitely has me racing for the next book 🏃💨💨
April 4, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
This book… what an EXPERIENCE?!!?!
So I thought I knew where it was going, and I did except it still ROCKED ME.
Madeline’s writing is fantastic! The perfect mix of whimsical description, and straight-to-the point plot. The romantic sun-plot was enticing without overruling the story.
The beginning was a lot - you are thrown into the story and just need to pick it up as you go but it makes for a fast paced start which is refreshing.
The magic system was totally unique, and the blend of mortal/Fae realms was executed seamlessly.
I have quite literally never read another FMC like Telium. She is the most bad ass, morally grey FMC with perfect amount of feminine rage I have ever read.
Cannot wait for book 2 this year!!!!!
This book… what an EXPERIENCE?!!?!
So I thought I knew where it was going, and I did except it still ROCKED ME.
Madeline’s writing is fantastic! The perfect mix of whimsical description, and straight-to-the point plot. The romantic sun-plot was enticing without overruling the story.
The beginning was a lot - you are thrown into the story and just need to pick it up as you go but it makes for a fast paced start which is refreshing.
The magic system was totally unique, and the blend of mortal/Fae realms was executed seamlessly.
I have quite literally never read another FMC like Telium. She is the most bad ass, morally grey FMC with perfect amount of feminine rage I have ever read.
Cannot wait for book 2 this year!!!!!
March 2, 2024
This was amazing! I absolutely loved this book and the world Madeline has created. This is a fabulous debut and what a huge start as an author. The writing style and imagery is gorgeous. It was an absolute pleasure to read. Also that ending wow, this whole book had me in a chokehold from start to finish. The storyline’s was fab!
Amazing amazing amazing!
I can’t wait to read book two and for further work from the author!
The ending is absolute fire 🔥
This was a 5 from the start!
Amazing amazing amazing!
I can’t wait to read book two and for further work from the author!
The ending is absolute fire 🔥
This was a 5 from the start!
January 6, 2026
At the start I was very confused what was happening but the initial confusion of the reader reflects how Telium had lost her understanding of what happened during her isolation in the forest and her forgotten time. I liked how the world building was incorporated with Telium gathering new information about how the world changed since she retreated to her forest so it felt like as the reader, I was gaining an understanding as Telium did.
Loved this book, helped me get out of my reading slump
Loved this book, helped me get out of my reading slump
December 26, 2024
The last half definitely saved this book… I was very much like eww blond, instant love and thankfully there are reasons and I got proven wrong… THANK FUCK!
The romance was a weird vibe (again, I think for a reason) but the battles and violence was great and made up for the weird vibes.
Definitely continuing the series but oh boy I was close to giving up
The romance was a weird vibe (again, I think for a reason) but the battles and violence was great and made up for the weird vibes.
Definitely continuing the series but oh boy I was close to giving up
April 9, 2025
I had no idea what was happening for 90% of this book. But that twist at the end holy hell
January 23, 2026
I really enjoyed this series.
May 12, 2025
I just couldn’t care less about what happened to any of the characters
August 22, 2022
We meet Telium in the midst of trying to violently escape prison and certain death, after being betrayed by her queen, for whom she served loyally as an assassin. Years later, she lives alone in a deep forest, battling to understand her dark and unusual powers and dispatching anyone that dares enter. But when enigmatic (and sexy) fae Mallux arrives to recruit her for a rebellion to topple the Mad Fae King and save both human and fae from his tyranny, Telium feels purpose and a desire for revenge stir within her, and agrees to the mission.
Have you ever had a book continue to grow on you, even after you've finished it?? That's how I felt with this one. I was enjoying it well enough, but that ending really made it take a step up in my mind, and then I found myself looking back on the whole thing and revising my impressions further. I would actually really like to read this one again. I felt the narrative really hit its stride after the first few chapters, and I'd love to go back and reread the story with the knowledge I now have from having read the whole thing.
I really enjoyed how morally grey the character of Telium is, and seeing her goodness battle with not only her dark powers but also the anger and betrayal she carries. I admit I never warmed to Mallux but he was certainly an intriguing character. There were also aspects of mystery, such as around Paxium and around Telium's history and heritage, that kept me engaged and wanting to know more.
The epilogue felt a little out of place to me, it left me feeling a bit confused about what it was there for. Knowing now that this is a series with more planned does put that in perspective a bit (I wasn't sure whether or not it was a standalone when I read it). Because I'm very picky about this kind of thing, I also found the amount of sentence fragments that should have been subordinate clauses or complete sentences distracting, but this lessened as the story progressed. I did read an ARC so perhaps this will be further revised.
I *loved* the bold choice made with the ending and as mentioned, it really elevated the whole thing for me! I think this author has huge potential and I'm very keen to continue this story and see where it goes.
Have you ever had a book continue to grow on you, even after you've finished it?? That's how I felt with this one. I was enjoying it well enough, but that ending really made it take a step up in my mind, and then I found myself looking back on the whole thing and revising my impressions further. I would actually really like to read this one again. I felt the narrative really hit its stride after the first few chapters, and I'd love to go back and reread the story with the knowledge I now have from having read the whole thing.
I really enjoyed how morally grey the character of Telium is, and seeing her goodness battle with not only her dark powers but also the anger and betrayal she carries. I admit I never warmed to Mallux but he was certainly an intriguing character. There were also aspects of mystery, such as around Paxium and around Telium's history and heritage, that kept me engaged and wanting to know more.
The epilogue felt a little out of place to me, it left me feeling a bit confused about what it was there for. Knowing now that this is a series with more planned does put that in perspective a bit (I wasn't sure whether or not it was a standalone when I read it). Because I'm very picky about this kind of thing, I also found the amount of sentence fragments that should have been subordinate clauses or complete sentences distracting, but this lessened as the story progressed. I did read an ARC so perhaps this will be further revised.
I *loved* the bold choice made with the ending and as mentioned, it really elevated the whole thing for me! I think this author has huge potential and I'm very keen to continue this story and see where it goes.
April 12, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and the associated publisher and audio publisher for the advanced audio copy.
This book is a bit of a mix bag. It has some brilliant moments, some meandering in the middle and some lowlights.
The opening prologue had me engaged right away. We meet Telium , a once in a generation assassin. Who is quickly exhiled and escapes into the wilderness .
The opening few chapters, really made me feel like I would connect with the MC.
Unfortunately one of the lowlights of the book ended up being the MC. She just ended up being a bit ridiculous at points. Unintelligent, beyond naieve and just somewhat dry.
The character work in general was a bit of a struggle for me personally. I personally read books to connect emotionally with the characters (Robin Hobb is my favourite author) , however I just never connected to anyone in the story.
That said, the story itself was good. The twists and turns were well delivered and despite seeing people not liking the ending. I disagree. I think the author swung for the fences and it paid off
I particularly enjoyed the narrator. She really went for the sell and will look to see if the narrator does more books within the fantasy genre.
I think this book is worth a shot. Its closer to YA than adult fantasy and if you're more into action, than characters, it should be a good read for you
This book is a bit of a mix bag. It has some brilliant moments, some meandering in the middle and some lowlights.
The opening prologue had me engaged right away. We meet Telium , a once in a generation assassin. Who is quickly exhiled and escapes into the wilderness .
The opening few chapters, really made me feel like I would connect with the MC.
Unfortunately one of the lowlights of the book ended up being the MC. She just ended up being a bit ridiculous at points. Unintelligent, beyond naieve and just somewhat dry.
The character work in general was a bit of a struggle for me personally. I personally read books to connect emotionally with the characters (Robin Hobb is my favourite author) , however I just never connected to anyone in the story.
That said, the story itself was good. The twists and turns were well delivered and despite seeing people not liking the ending. I disagree. I think the author swung for the fences and it paid off
I particularly enjoyed the narrator. She really went for the sell and will look to see if the narrator does more books within the fantasy genre.
I think this book is worth a shot. Its closer to YA than adult fantasy and if you're more into action, than characters, it should be a good read for you
October 4, 2022
Thank you New Dawn Publishing for sending me an advances readers copy so I could read it before the release date!
⭐️4/5
🌶0.5/5
💟 If you like descriptive and beautiful writing this book is definitely for you.
💟 This is a NA fantasy romance.
💟 Fae vs human world
💟 Romance
💟 Slow burn with a fantastic ending
💟 Morally grey female main character
💟 For the lovers of A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair
🖤 For me personally it was a bit slow, I struggled a lot with the descriptive writing (which is very sad because it was beautiful). I needed more action in the middle part of the book as the start was very cool and captivating.
🖤 Oh boy the ending was so good, it kind of makes up for the slow paced middle part of the book anyways.
🖤 Definitely need book 2 right NOW!
In the end, big congratulations to Madeline Te Whiu for an amazing debut start and I can't wait to see and read more from her in the future!
⭐️4/5
🌶0.5/5
💟 If you like descriptive and beautiful writing this book is definitely for you.
💟 This is a NA fantasy romance.
💟 Fae vs human world
💟 Romance
💟 Slow burn with a fantastic ending
💟 Morally grey female main character
💟 For the lovers of A Broken Blade by Melissa Blair
🖤 For me personally it was a bit slow, I struggled a lot with the descriptive writing (which is very sad because it was beautiful). I needed more action in the middle part of the book as the start was very cool and captivating.
🖤 Oh boy the ending was so good, it kind of makes up for the slow paced middle part of the book anyways.
🖤 Definitely need book 2 right NOW!
In the end, big congratulations to Madeline Te Whiu for an amazing debut start and I can't wait to see and read more from her in the future!
May 21, 2024
reread 5 🌟
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4/5 ⭐️
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4/5 ⭐️
July 11, 2024
Great potential, writing and editing just stole so much from this book
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