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The Assassin's Revenge

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Everything Prince Lucian thought he knew about his maid is a lie. Not only is her name Odessa—a foreign name from the enemy country—and not Rosalyn, she’s apparently a pirate who poisoned him and his family and opened the drawbridge to the enemy forces.

But as if she wants to confuse him, she was the one who dragged him to safety, and when she leaves him and he finds himself about to die at the hands of bandits from his own land, she saves him again and offers him a deal. She claims she was blackmailed with her fiancé’s life by the enemy general Baerick and that he has gone against his word and killed her love regardless. She wants revenge, the ultimate revenge, for she says that death is not enough for such a betrayal. She wants to destroy what Baerick loves most too—his legacy—and so she must help the fallen prince reclaim the country she just helped defeat. And in return? When it is over, she will let Lucian take her life.

They often say deals that are too good to be true can’t be trusted, but Lucian is quickly learning how unprepared he is to survive on his own, so what other choice does he have but to trust the very person who has already attempted to kill him?

Check out Assassin’s Revenge and find yourself on a whirlwind journey full of secrets, suspense, and maybe even love.

385 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2026

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Sara Bittner

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
Profile Image for Missfit.
105 reviews6 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 8, 2026
‎"Look here, boy, you’ve never seen real battle, but war is not honorable."
‎— Rohan.

‎💚 Assassin FMC
‎💚 A naive, cinnamon roll prince (oh, he’s also a virgin and celibate 😏)
‎💚 Third person POV
‎💚 Reverse damsel so hard she saved him multiple times!
‎💚 Hidden identity
‎💚 Secret arrangement
‎💚 No spice with HFN ending

‎You’ve heard of a sheltered princess, but what if the roles were reversed?

‎Meet Lucian: the MMC. The prince. My cutie patootie adorable puppy cinnamon rolly that we must proteccy <33

‎You’ll feel sorry for him. You’ll laugh at him. You’ll want to knock some sense into him and probably shake his shoulders and scream, STOP WHINING! 😡 But you also can’t help wanting to tuck him under a blanket with warm milk, biscuits, and forehead kisses, like *mwah* 😘

‎No, Lucian isn’t your typical shadow daddy with permanent brain damage who can’t communicate and is always growling you’re mine! 25/8 🤢 He’s actually a softie 🥺 He likes to yapping about honor like Zuko’s long lost cousin, and guaranteed not to last a day without our FMC, Odessa.

‎And yes, this lasts for more than half the book! His development isn’t as instant as Indomie (for those who haven’t tried it, it’s an Indonesian instant noodle woohoo 😏). It’s slow. It’s tender. It’s believable.
‎There are days when he can’t even get out of "bed" because he’s mourning what he lost. He *gasped* cried 😱 A man who spills tears. I know! Shocking, right??? 😩And in the end, he grows.

‎Some of you might think this is odd and assume it’s just another feminist agenda, but stay long enough and you’ll find the answers, reasonss and explanations. And hey, if most of us can look at a naive princess and think, "Aww, adorable 😍"
‎Why don’t we treat him the same?

‎Lucian’s character might be a double edged sword. But I appreciate the author experimenting instead of giving us the usual brooding, cold, 7 ft tall MMC. She wrote Lucian with all his flaws. I’d rather read about Lucian and his journey from nothing than another unbreakable guy with dark hair (he’s brunette!) and eyes like a void (he’s blue eyed! 👀💙).

‎Sure, I think it would’ve worked better if Lucian were younger, maybe around 17-20?? Instead of his actual age, which felt a 🤏 bit 🤏 too old for him. But honestly I didn’t mind that much.

‎Please give him a chance 💚

‎Odessa, on the other hand, is a much more mature character. She’s a pirate 🏴‍☠️ A professional liar. The Temptress of the Seas 🌊 From the first chapter, Odessa doesn’t make readers wait long to witness her skills: she lies, deceives people, scares a poor guard, and then betrays our MMC. Ouch 🙂 As the story progresses, we learn a lot about her: her motivations, her family, and how capable she is of playing many roles. Previously, she was a servant. Most days, she’s a pirate. Other days, a noble.

‎At first, I struggled with her. It felt like the author pushed Odessa a little too hard by making her naturally good at everything and outshined others. The pirate crew respected her. The people adored her. And she even gave orders to her captain, Rohan! Not advice but a full blown orders 🤨

‎Look, I love FMCs with ridiculous power and genius sexy brains but the least you could do is make it ... Ugh, subtle? 😬 While I'm aware that there’s background for her skills, it happens off page, so Odessa ends up feeling too perfect. Without everyone constantly praising her, I think readers would accept her greatness more easily if it doesn't shoved down our throats :)

‎Luckily, this is balanced by the romance. ‎What happens between Lucian and Odessa is definitely not instalove/lust because Lucian is basically a monk when it comes to intimacy I’m crying 😭 They don’t even recognize their attraction until around 65%. One polite kiss later, and it solidifies the YA feeling despite the characters’ ages. But I also wouldn’t call it enemies to lovers, simply because Lucian is too pure to hate anyone, even Odessa, after everything she did 🥺

‎I imagined this book like The King (2019) starring Timothee Chalamet but sadly it lacked tension. I guess I wanted the story to be bloodier. I wanted Lucian to have more spotlight during the battle. I’m also not a fan of the time jumps in the last 40%. It would’ve been great if this were split into a duology so we have more background on the side characters, stronger found family vibes among the pirates, and a deeper sense of their struggle for peace. The war would’ve felt more thrilling if the focus wasn’t so heavily on Odessa.

‎In the end, I still had a few questions :
‎- How did Baerick manage to assassinate the royal family so smoothly?
‎- How was the king of Sabalta this blind?
‎- How exactly did Odessa meet Rohan and Jesse?
‎- And how everyone forgave the traitor without consequences? Yeah that didn’t make sense to me.

‎Still, it was an enjoyable read. I forgave almost everything because of Lucian. Despite the book title that dedicated to Odessa, IMO he carried the whole story on his back through sheer characterization. Where else will you find a nervous, compassionate prince who knows nothing about the world, yet is willing to learn, even while something inside him keeps whispering that he’s a failure?

‎Sara Bittner wrote him excellently 👏

‎And that’s what made him memorable for me.
Profile Image for Venetia.
2 reviews
January 26, 2026
Thank you to Sara for the ARC copy.

This was quite the wild ride and while I struggled to get through the first half of the book it did pick up in the second half and I really enjoyed the character growth in the latter half, especially that of Lucian’s character.

However I really did not connect to any of the characters and I wish maybe we had started the story a little earlier to where Odessa was serving as Lucian’s maid and we could see how their initial relationship was and how jarring her true personality would’ve been to both reader and Lucian when she revealed her true self.

Overall I’d say if you enjoy a (very) slow burn romance with enemies to lovers you’d probably enjoy it.
2 reviews
January 23, 2026
Fun adventure story!

If you like tales of adventure with battles, survival, and a more than capable leading lady, then I highly recommend giving this book a read!

I love the subtle clues left throughout the story. Several secrets slowly reveal motives and unexpected pasts. The witty banter from our sweet but naive prince and his reluctant assassin made me cackle a number of times! Their reliance on each other and gradual character growth leads into a growing respect and affection between them.

I received this book as an ARC reader, and I had a hard time putting it down! I'm excited to read the sequels!
Profile Image for Erin.
64 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 4, 2026
Are you tired of assassins who have trained their whole life, but have never actually killed then when they go out on their first mission can't because they are too naive and have a heart of gold that won't allow them to take a life? Yeah, me too. Odessa kills six people in the first chapter. And I rooted for her to get her revenge the entire book! If you're a fan of murder, mayhem, and political intrigue all set against the backdrop of a war, this one's for you. If the last line of the description got you with ‘and maybe even love,’ then this one is not for you.

There was a bit of a slow start (discounting the murdering). As for the writing there were a few spots where words were repeated too close together in the same paragraph and a few sentences needed to be reread to get the full effect. And there is a great deal of swearing. All that being said, I'd still recommend reading this book. It's amazing. Though it is the first in a trilogy, it has a satisfying conclusion that works as a standalone.

Now I have to go on a little rant about the two things that I wish were different. They served their purpose beautifully, but were SO sad. The first is a minor spoiler.

Baerick captured Odessa's fiance Jesse at some point when there was fog. In the author's note she talks about almost starting with this scene, I'm glad she didn't because where the book started was absolutely perfect. But did this scene get cut altogether or did I just miss it? After reading the book I'm really not sure how Jesse was captured beyond that he was providing a distraction. If this is a deleted scene I'd love to see it included as bonus material in a future book, since my heart has already been ripped out, might as well stomp on it as well.

All that to say, I wish Baerick had been lying when he told Odessa that he already killed Jesse. I was waiting for that to be the twist until about 70% of the way through. The ‘somehow he's alive’ didn't sit well in Rise of Palpatine, but I would have accepted it here. How absolutely in love Odessa still is with Jesse is one of the two reasons there really was no romance with Lucian. (The other being that she killed his parents… so I wasn't rooting for that relationship until a single point for about two pages before all hope was ripped away.)

That was the twist I wished for, this next one is the actual twist, so MAJOR spoiler. If anything above made you want to read the book go and do that first and maybe come back to see if you agree with the other thing I wish had gone differently.

Not too long before the final battle Lucian asks Odessa what she'll do after the war (making it clear to the reader but somehow not her that he isn't going to kill her). She started talking about her cousin, Alexander. She clearly cares about and loves him. And I'm going: yay! she has a reason to want to live after this is all over. she does still have family that cares about her.

In the battle, right at the climax, when Odessa is about to kill Baerick, he drops the bombshell that Alexander is there and for reasons that HE MAKES A JOKE ABOUT is probably already dead. I was terrified that this would throw her enough that she wouldn't get her revenge, but in keeping with the theme of beheadings being super easy, he loses his head. But what about Alexander? He dies in her arms! I know letting him live would drastically alter the ending, but why couldn't she get one thing? One happy moment? Severely injured? Sure, this is a war. But why couldn't he live?

I guess if you want books that don't induce tears, this one might not be good. But it was done so well that I didn't mind that much. I'm still rooting for the twist in book two to be that Jesse is alive. I know he's not, but a girl can dream.
Profile Image for Tierra Rae.
7 reviews
January 25, 2026
I didn’t know what to expect when I started this book but it absolutely blew me away. I’ve been in a reading slump for a couple of months now so this being my first book of 2026?? What a great way to start. The action sucks you in from the beginning and doesn’t stop- it’s jam-packed all the way through.

✨ Stop reading here if you want to be totally surprised ✨

I LOVE that this book was such a breath of fresh air in that the FMC is the strong one and the MMC is the “sensitive” one. Lucian is somewhat sheltered and naive to the world around him but Odessa? She’s a badass queen. I loved getting to see her be the villain and the hero, the one who brings everyone together and a leader in every sense of the word. This book had me on edge the whole way through, wondering what would happen next. And then that ending?? I’m going to scoop my heart off the floor and go eat an insane amount of ice cream while I wait for the next book.

Profile Image for MsRHReviewer.
795 reviews14 followers
January 29, 2026
Action packed, mysterious, emotional... this book has a lot going for it! Great for teenagers, YA, or any age adults.

Now that my eyes are dried up some and I'm not sniffling into a tissue, I can write my review, though I don't think it will do the book justice.


MAIN CHARACTERS:

Odessa (FMC)
- Thief / Pirate / New assassin
- Brave, smart, clever, talented, excellent strategist
- Fantastic fighter
- Worldly
- A closed book
- Respected by many (particularly the pirates!)

Prince Lucian (MMC)
- Naive
- Somewhat spoiled
- Essentially grew up in a bubble
- Virgin / celibate
- Believes firmly in honor (even in battle)
- Bit of a cinnamon roll, especially compared to Odessa


PLOT:
Odessa is essentially blackmailed into taking out the Taran royal family, but when she later comes across the unconscious prince who somehow escaped, she decides to save him. She tries to leave him on his own multiple times after he comes to, but fate keeps finding a way to bring them together. Finally, they made a deal to partner up and help regain control of his country. He gets back the throne, and she gets revenge on the person who blackmailed her and took so much from her.

When Lucian lived in the castle, he was never brought in on any kind of important matters by his father, was only taught very basic weapon skills, and was tutored in simple things like small political talk. It's no wonder that when he's outside the castle walls, he's floundering like a fish out of water. The journey teaches him humility as it opens his eyes to the real world and how little he truly knew about his own country or his people, and beyond.

Together, they gather pirates and peasants both to create an army. As he and Odessa spend time together, he's able to pick up some clues about her past, but never fully discovers who she is as she refuses to disclose much. We learn things at about the same pace as him, for the most part.

I found this book kept my attention pretty consistently and never became dull. Between the action parts, it focuses a lot on Lucian's growth. He had assumed his country was in great shape, but never realized the hardships the commoners suffered or what kind of state they truly lived in. His journey, despite him being broken hearted early on at all that went down, actually helps him prepare to be a much better, more fit ruler. It's a journey that he comes to appreciate.

(Note: I've seen some reviews say that he was whiny in the beginning. This is true, but he also rarely left the palace and had no sense of the real world, so this is all totally understandable. I didn't find it annoying at all, as I expect anyone in his position would have acted the same. He went from indoor plumbing, catered meals and comfortable bedding to dirty rivers, raw clams and squirrel, and sleeping on the dirt. I'd be a bit whiny, too!)

I could keep going on and on about the book and the characters, but let me summarize this here:


TLDR; SUMMARY:
I really enjoyed this book and had trouble putting it down when I needed to go and adult properly (or, you know, do other basic things like sleep.) The primary and even some of the secondary characters have their own histories, stories, and personalities. The plot is excellent, and I find the writing overall is pretty good. We jump ahead in time a few times closer to the battle so that we aren't stuck reading filler, which I appreciate.

I like the ending, despite me crying for the last however many chapters. (Thanks for that, author. I'm glad I had tissues beside me!)

I'm really looking forward to book two so I can see where things go next for Lucian and Odessa!

(NOTE #2: There is zero spice in this book, for those who follow my reviews / books read. This is strictly plot, with a tiny, tiny bit of romantic interest.)
Profile Image for Anastasia.
2 reviews6 followers
February 15, 2026
The Assassin’s Revenge was an amazing book to read to start off the year. There were so many things I loved about it, and it kept me interested the whole time.

My favorite part of this book was the characters: Odessa and Lucian. Odessa is a pirate who knows who she is and what she wants, while Lucian is a prince who needs to learn how to rule a kingdom that he’s never actually explored. The amount of time that the readers spend with the characters let us see their development and feel how they were changing. It really brought the readers into the story.

The plot itself was really interesting, even if it could get a bit slow at parts. However, the beginning immediately hooked me and had me turning the pages as quick as I could.

The amazing ending left me wanting so much more and texting my friends about how they had to read this book. Now, I can’t wait for the second book!

Finally, a huge thank you to Sara Bittner for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I loved getting to be a part of the process and also talking with you about Odessa and Lucian. Excited to see where they go next!
1 review
January 21, 2026
Normally I don't read romance, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. One of my favourite things about the book, is that Odessa isn't a hearltess killer - she's a pirate and pretty much only kills those she needs to, she doesn't like killing people who aren't involved, or civillians. She is also a strong FMC and doesn't need someone to save her and isn't a blushing mess when around Jesse - too many people make the FMC a bumbling idiot when around the love interest, which I find rather annoying, and I'm so glad that this is not the case in The Assassin's Revenge. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Odessa's character and the story itself.
Profile Image for Kaylee Goral.
27 reviews
January 24, 2026
ARC review:
"'Never threaten someone you dont stand a chance of beating.'"

This book was absolutely amazing. I was sucked in by the end of the first chapter. We have a badass female assassin who must murder the king, queen, and prince to get her love back. However she was double crossed and now must get her revenge with the help of the prince who lived. The prince was sheltered and is very proper. He knows little of fighting and what the real world is. Can the assassin teach him in time to take back his throne?
Profile Image for Olivia  R.
8 reviews
January 17, 2026
I am so so so impressed!!

I was a little hesitant at first because I feel like I just haven’t seen many good books where the MMC is more of the “cinnamon roll” one, and the FMC is the morally grey one, but this book does it SO WELL!!! Like I am genuinely so so so impressed. It probably helped that the morally grey FMC is one of my favorite things ever… A PIRATE 🏴‍☠️ this was such a cool touch to the book, the pirate girl and the prince. They’re also enemies to lovers, which naturally is one of my favorite tropes of all time. This book is extremely engaging, paced very well, and the romance will have you swooning. I would highly recommend it!!

A huge thank you to the author for the incredible opportunity to be on the ARC team and be one of the first few people to get to enjoy this wonderful story!
Profile Image for Katherine.
47 reviews
January 17, 2026
I love when roles are reversed when she’s the deadly assassin, and he needs to be saved….and this book delivered!

Odessa is a badass, pirate who has the physical and mental skills to be the greatest general of all time.
Lucian is the crown prince, and he knows only the hardship of meeting his parent’s expectations of him.
When Lucian’s kingdom falls and Odessa’s plans failed, they work together to get revenge on the man who took everything from them.

I was slightly disappointed with the ending, but it definitely leaves it open for the second book. Which I will be reading!

I want to say thank you to Sara Bittner for the opportunity to read her work before it was released with an ARC copy of the book!
Profile Image for Sofia Hartell.
56 reviews
February 6, 2026
ARC read. 4 ⭐️

“Nothing is so privileged as to believing history belongs in the past”

⚔️Badass assassin FMC x Virgin prince MMC
⚔️ She saves him
⚔️ Found family
⚔️ Hidden identity
⚔️ SLOW burn (no spice)
⚔️ 3rd person perspective

I read this as an ARC and I ate it up! The FMC is a total badass and then you have the MMC who is the biggest cinnamon roll/privileged prince who has been shielded from the real world - and tbh very annoying from time to time, but he grows on you during the story. The FMC makes a deal which includes killing the king & queen and then it backfires and she saves the prince. I would recommend going into the story blind other than that.

My only concern was that there was no map to follow the story along - which I’ve asked the writer about so hopefully one will be added in the future.
Profile Image for Rachael.
15 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 12, 2026
I devoured this book. My only complaint was that I wanted more!!

I found this book very engaging, fast paced and character driven. Getting to know Odessa and Lucian was a journey and a privilege as they grew as characters and slowly shared their true selves with each other (and the reader). Lucian was a refreshing MMC who stayed true to his morals. Odessa is a badass pirate assassin and well you'll see.

There were parts of the book that I was left wanting more (but perhaps I'm just greedy for a good thing) and that ending..🙊.. I'll be holding out for future books with baited breath.

Thanks for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Profile Image for Echica Bruijn.
4 reviews
January 22, 2026
In the end I really enjoyed this book. At first it was a little hard for me to get into. Normally I’m not really a fan of long chapters, but before I knew it I was sucked into the story.

At about halfway through I really started to get invested in the characters. Odessa is a strongminded badass that I wish I could be sometimes. And Lucien is the cutest prince with some nice skills in the end. The chemistry between them was really nice and for me that meand that I am now well invested in their outcome

I didn’t see the ending coming which is a big plus for me but the sad thing is that I now have to wait unt the next book is going to be published. But I will say that this is a book that I can easily read again and again.

For me the only reason that it isn’t a four star read is the length of some of the chapters. But besides that I recommend it to al the slow burn romantasy
P.s. I was send an ARC
Profile Image for Angela.
8 reviews1 follower
January 8, 2026
Up until about 50%, Lucian drove me crazy! Almost to the point I wanted to put the book down but I’m thankful I pushed thru. There were some twists I saw pretty early and others that took me by surprise at the end. I also appreciated the ending wasn’t a huge cliff hanger and could easily be a standalone but if you want more of the story can continue on with the next book when it’s released.
Profile Image for Anna Makowska.
222 reviews32 followers
January 29, 2026
Gender role reversal done brilliantly! So often a "stabby" fmc reads like a tantrum-throwing child instead of a scary warrior - not here. Odessa is deadly, determined, stoic, represses her emotions and simultaneously would jump into the fire for her loved ones. That's how the story starts: she's blackmailed into something very evil by using her love towards her fiance as a bargaining chip. And then things get serious from there...

Male characters often embody the archetypes of a "jaded veteran" or "emotional rock", but female characters rarely do - and if they do, they're usually lone wolves who have no friends or lovers. Odessa lost a lot of people, from her family and her pirate crew, but there are still people she has close connections with, people she cares about like Rohan who plays a father figure role.

On the other hand, we have the deposed prince Lucian, whom Odessa convinces to help her get revenge on a mutual enemy. Lucian is naive, clueless, a total damsel, doesn't know what he doesn't know, honorable to a fault - but he was actually funny and endearing, and turned out to be the heart and emotional support to Odessa's brain and muscle. I always worry when authors include a spoiled nobility/royalty character that they'll end up annoying, whiny and entitled, but Lucian was surprisingly toned down in these areas, he quickly realized he's out of his element and blamed himself equally or more as others. He had moments where his prejudice and superstitions reared its ugly head, but that's only natural for someone who was brainwashed to believe certain things and never had a chance to question them before. He was willing to change and make amends though, which made him more sympathetic and much less snooty in the long run.

I enjoyed the dynamic between these two, especially with grief and not living up to expectations being a big theme for both of them. There was a very slow burn romance (I think they kissed once?) where for most part of the story they thought too much divides them to even consider it. I would hope it develops further in the sequel, even though the blurb for it makes me think it'll take at least a trilogy to complete the arc.

My biggest complaint is that it didn't feel like I've read 375 pages worth of story. There could have been much bigger and impactful plot twists, especially one that comes at around 60% feels too easily hand-waved away, similarly with the climactic battle I expected much more struggle, or/and the romance could have developed faster, especially with all the arbitrary time skips stretching the timeline of the book to nearly a year.

The writing was surprisingly clean, very few mistakes and most noticeable issue were repetitions of the same word in the same paragraph, but for an indie release that's admirable - I've recently seen a review of The Strength of the Few complaining about too much repetition, and that's such a bigger release when compared to how many people worked on editing and preparing it.

At places the language also read overly modern, veering into "therapy speak" (I doubt feudal fantasy people talk about "processing" and "unpacking" their feelings) or not matching the setting (why would you ask someone whether they "used the bathroom" when you mean taking a dump in the woods because you're outdoor camping? there's no "bathroom" there!).

I definitely expected worse based on the plain, simple cover. But again I was proven: don't judge the book by its cover, especially in indie, where often cheesy covers hide true gems (looking at you, Deadlier than the Males and Earth Earls Are Easy), and this was a gem indeed.

I was simultaneously reading Enchanting the Fae Queen, which I gave a 4, and I liked this book more, so it deserves at least 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5). Thanks to my bestie Missfit for bringing this book to my radar. I had a good time.

I've signed up for the ARC through Sara Bittner's instagram open call. I'm leaving my honest opinion as a voluntary review.
Profile Image for Lacey.
150 reviews1 follower
January 24, 2026
Thank you to the author for an ARC of this book. (If you happen to be Sara Bittner reading this, please see the end of my review for my one most critical bit of feedback.)

This book did not surprise me much, I could see the direction things were going from early on, including most of the "plot twists". Even though it wasn't full of surprise, I still enjoyed this book and will be waiting for the second book to come out to see how Odessa's journey continues.

The first several chapters were essentially nearly ALL internal dialogue. I found that tedious and had to make myself push through. As soon as the characters were actually interacting with each other and it was conversation/action instead of internal thoughts, I enjoyed the read much more. There was still a lot of internal dialogue throughout the book, but it was more evenly split after the first several chapters.

I got a bit of TOG vibes from this book, in that Odessa was fighting for her country and that required building an army. She was also seeking revenge, which also gives an Aelin vibe. I can say with 100% accuracy that Lucien is definitely NOT a Dorian. Though he has a big heart and believes the best in people and wants to live his life with honor... my god, he is a complainer. And don't torch me for having a double standard. Because even if the roles were reversed and the FMC was the one who was so delicate and helpless, I still would have found it painful. To be fair, he did grow as a character and in the end I think he finally became a man more aware of life's realities. He has the potential to grow into a much better king than it seems his father ever was.

Something I feel the author did very well:


There is one big thing that I just cannot let go, even a week after finishing this. This one scene takes away from my enjoyment of this book, even more than Lucien's whining. It left me feeling angry and disappointed in the writing. I think it will be one of the specifics that sticks with me for a long time, which is a shame because it's not how I want to remember the book. Others may not care, and may appreciate the use of a "softer" word, but I cannot.

Profile Image for Tiffany Motton.
116 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 18, 2026
*Small & Silly Description*

Odessa makes a deal with an untrustworthy figure from her past, only to be surprised when he betrays her. She then proceeds to make a deal with a very trustworthy figure, only to be surprised again when he also comes back on that deal.
Odessa, you really need to start making better deals.

*Plot & Pacing*

The plot, even though there are some holes, is great. I lost a considerable amount of sleep thinking "just one more chapter". I really liked the plans, the strategy, the way things kept happening, it kept me interested and motivated to keep reading on.

* Characters & Dialogue *

The banter between Odessa and Lucian is great. The slow burn in this book is even slower than Smoke & Scar, and that's really saying something.
Odessa is an Aelin-coded heroine who's hard-working, extremely responsible and very smart.
[SPOILER ALERT!!!]
The only thing I found a bit difficult to believe was how she just seemed to shrug off her extreme emotional baggage by one conversation with Rohan at the end.[//END SPOILER]

Lucian was a prince thrown into the wild and well, we saw. He kept on complaining about EVERYTHING and even though he got really annoying there for a minute, I loved seeing a royal on a true Expedition Robinson. I found it really believable how a person like that would have difficulty cutting out meals, sacrificing hygiene, ... You don't see that a lot in other fantasy books and that was really fun.

*World Building *
You get to know two very different cultures step by step and I really appreciated this world building. It doesn't completely overwhelm you with details, but allows you to get to know these worlds right as your characters are interacting with it. For me, that was great.

[ SPOILER ALERT !! ]
The only thing that bothers me - and that's why I didn't give this book a 4.25 - I really don't understand, is Baerak grew up together with Odessa, of course he recognized her when she was making a deal with him about Jesse? That just seems like a large plot hole, and I don't totally understand how that works. [END SPOILER ]

But I'm willing to overlook it for the great story, banter and that CLIFFHANGER OMFG

I loved reading this as an ARC, thank you so much!
Profile Image for Anna.
Author 2 books1 follower
May 15, 2026
A slow burn, no spice, romantic fantasy! If you love green flag MMC, and badass FMC, you'll love this!

Another hit from Sara Bittner! I've read all her books thus far, and I love that she turns what is the expected on its head. Where an abundance of strong, broody male characters, she slips in MMC who are the opposite, but never weak. FMC who are strong, but also have their flaws. Sara does a great job at establishing these character types, and how they can find each other and heal through a high stakes war.

Not your usual fantasy story, this character driven narrative exemplified the emotional struggles war has over someone. How the worst set of circumstances affect our perception of reality, undoing systematic ways of thinking, and learning what it means to be human, to be strong, and to show emotion.

I enjoyed the characters, and our MMC, Lucian, once again, not our typical fantasy male lead, is a realistic depiction of a royalty who lost his ivory tower and forced to interact with, *shudders* the peasants, to regain his kingdom (This is a joke! I promise 🤣) There were moments Lucian had me rolling my eyes, but you know what, its so very realistic on how someone raised the way he was would react in the situation he now finds himself in. Thank the gods for Odessa and her band of pirates and their patience!

Great as a stand alone, but the last line has me chomping at the bit for the next one! Cause what do you mean!? What a tease! A slow burn for the ages! A non-spiced romantic fantasy has me curious of their future relationship.

I read this for my Indie Book Club, where I try and share the work of the Indie Authors I work with. I'll be working on an illustration and video to go along with this book! Stay tuned, and Happy Reading!
Profile Image for Alice.
78 reviews
January 23, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
7.5 out of 10

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘒𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘏𝘪𝘮 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘏𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘈𝘯𝘺𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴

💁🏼‍♀️ Badass Assassin FMC
🐶 Golden Retriever MMC
👑🏴‍☠️ Crown Prince x Pirate
⚔️ War
💥 Violence
❤️‍🔥 Slow Burn
😠☀️ She’s Grumpy He’s Sunshine
🏰 Political Intrigue
🤫 Secret Identity
✨ Star-crossed Lovers
🏹 Action & Adventure
🐴 One Horse
🤍 No Spice
❌ TW: Rape (not FMC)

OH MY GOSH where do I begin for this one? I don’t think I had any expectations going into this really but something about the tropes and synopsis led me to apply for this ARC and I’m so glad that I did. It starts off with a bang out of the gate, there’s action and adventure every step of the way so it never dragged.

The romance is a slow burn so if that’s not your thing be prepared (no spice!) but the two MCs have such great chemistry and I love their enemies turned friends turned something more. It’s a beautiful and real relationship and you can feel how much they care for each other. Honestly gives me Katniss and Peeta vibes with her being the grumpy badass deadly one and him being the pure golden retriever that she whips into shape 😂 I can’t wait to see where books two and three lead us and I’m rooting for Odessa & Lucian the whole way - that endinggggg! So real yet so good.

"She was blackmailed to assassinate a prince and the royal family, but when she is betrayed, she decides to save him and she offers him a deal that might be too good to be true: she’ll use her skills to wage war to help him reclaim his country.”

“The Assassin’s Revenge” is Book One out of a trilogy series and is out January 23rd!

Thank you to Sara Bittner for the ARC opportunity! 🫶✨

Rated M for Violence ⚔️
28 reviews
January 20, 2026
I got an arc copy of this book.
I was so excited about this book, and I loved the idea of a super strong FMC. It would have been 5 stars, but it wasn't as high action/fast speed as I wanted. But still a lot of action!!!

Love can conquer all or can it. Odessa formally known to the royal family as Rosalyn is a pirate that poisoned the royal family and opened the gates for the enemy to come it all for the sake of love. Only when she finds out that she has been betrayed she will stop at nothing to destroy the cowardice general Baerick who took everything from her. Luckily for her, the one time she failed to see her mission through is the one time she can use it to her advantage. After finding the crowned prince near deaths door at the edge of the woods she takes him to safety in order to reclaim the country she just handed to the enemy.

Crowned Prince Lucian pampered from birth and as out of touch from the real world is reeling from watching his parents die in front of him and the person in front of him just saved his life. Not sure who to be trusted but knowing he can't make it on his own he has no choice but to align himself with pirates and fight for the life and country he wants. In the end he will be restored as King and be allowed to take the life of Odessa the person responsible for the collapse of his country and the death of his parents! That is if he can avoid just think of her as the enemy and not a lover and friend.
Profile Image for Tammy.
896 reviews17 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 13, 2026
📚The Assassin's Revenge
✍🏻Sara Bittner
Blurb:
Everything Prince Lucian thought he knew about his maid is a lie. Not only is her name Odessa—a foreign name from the enemy country—and not Rosalyn, she’s apparently a pirate who poisoned him and his family and opened the drawbridge to the enemy forces.

But as if she wants to confuse him, she was the one who dragged him to safety, and when she leaves him and he finds himself about to die at the hands of bandits from his own land, she saves him again and offers him a deal. She claims she was blackmailed with her fiancé’s life by the enemy general Baerick and that he has gone against his word and killed her love regardless. She wants revenge, the ultimate revenge, for she says that death is not enough for such a betrayal. She wants to destroy what Baerick loves most too—his legacy—and so she must help the fallen prince reclaim the country she just helped defeat. And in return? When it is over, she will let Lucian take her life.

They often say deals that are too good to be true can’t be trusted, but Lucian is quickly learning how unprepared he is to survive on his own, so what other choice does he have but to trust the very person who has already attempted to kill him?

Check out Assassin’s Revenge and find yourself on a whirlwind journey full of secrets, suspense, and maybe even love.
My Thoughts
An assassin that has trained his whole life but when he goes on a mission he doesn't have the heart to kill. Odessa kills six people in the first chapter.Odessa is blackmailed into doing the one thing she swore she never would—assassinating the king and queen and opening the castle gates to their enemy.Prince Lucian begins as a stilted, soft, stubborn, and naieve young man.by spending time with Odessa he becomes more likable If you enjoy murder, mayhem, emotional, adventures stories. and political intrigue all set against the backdrop of a war, this book is for you.
Thanks to the Author Sara Bittner for allowing me to read and review this book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Elfbooknook .
8 reviews1 follower
January 24, 2026
ARC reader review

“Do not announce all your titles in this tavern, you idiot.” 
-Odessa

I have found one of my new favorite books! This seriously has everything I could have hoped for, a badass female lead who doesn’t swoon over the prince. It has a crew of pirates, revenge, a prince who isn’t full of himself but instead learning and growing into the circumstances he has been thrown into.

When I started reading I thought it was going to be a girl meta boy they fall in love and ride off into the sunset kinda thing but this awesome author gave me twists and turns and secrets to uncover. I loved the slow burn and the fact that our hero and heroine didn’t just start trusting each other after what happens in the beginning of the book.

And the ending… well I’m not going to give it away but I figured things would go one of two ways but it went down a path I hadn’t expected.

The plot was very well written and the characters as well, not once did I feel that Abby of them did something that just didn’t feel like the characters I was reading about. Also all questions I had as I was reading were answered and I can’t wait for more!
Profile Image for Michelle.
297 reviews43 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 21, 2026
I applied for the ARC because I liked the idea of gender-reversed roles of the main characters. The FMC was a pirate and assassin, while the MMC was a pampered prince who needed her protection. The book did not disappoint at all! It was well written with good pacing and world-building.

The characters were complex with a lot of depth. When I started reading the book, I found it difficult to like them. Lucian was ignorant and at times whiny, whereas Odessa was cold, and I couldn't forgive her for what she had done. But as the story progressed and their backgrounds and past experiences unveiled, I understood where they were coming from. Their traumas, struggles and suppressed emotions began making sense, and I could connect with some of the things they had gone through. I also ugly cried towards the end.

Usually character development takes time, and it happens over the course of multiple books, but in this case, the author did a brilliant job of it. Lucian's increasing confidence and Odessa's redemption were explored well.

I also liked the supporting characters, especially Rohan. He was the perfect father figure to both of them. I enjoyed their interactions with each other.

The conflict, fight sequences, acts of revenge, rescue operations were all described in detail. The final outcome of the story was also great. It gave the perfect conclusion to the current problem, while also giving an opening to the sequel.

The romance was slow-burn and immensely satisfying. I was relieved that it wasn't over-the-top or rushed, because it wouldn't have gone well with the plot. The feelings were there, but the characters were also practical about their situation.

I recommend this book to all fantasy lovers who like strong vengeful heroines, cinnamon-roll MCs, pirates, secrets and shocking revelations.
Profile Image for Tinashe.
28 reviews
January 31, 2026
Thankful to be an ARC reader!!

Honestly, I can't say I didn't stall on this one a bit because the MMC was pissing me off a bit.
This book is about a prince who loses his entire kingdom because of a pirate assassin disguised as a servant in his palace who has been blackmailed. The prince is the most naive and simple-minded person at the beginning, but I think I appreciate the fact he was very in touch with his emotions. His character development is really one of the best transformations in the book.

We have Odessa too, who is literally carrying the weight of the world on her shoulder. Having lost the ones she lost, it feels like every time she is losing someone and now she has sworn to get revenge on the one person who has causeditt all. These two band together for revenge and to help the MMC reclaim his kingdom.

I really enjoyed the Dual POV and that the story flowed from focusing on the MMC's life into the FMC's.

I experienced different emotions until the very end. I can't wait for book 2.
Profile Image for Lilith's_Library_.
733 reviews36 followers
February 11, 2026
The Assassin's Revenge by Sara Bittner is an action-packed, gripping tale that combines suspense, revenge, and unexpected twists. The protagonist’s journey is one of self-discovery and relentless pursuit, with a strong undercurrent of vengeance that drives the plot forward.

Bittner’s world-building is excellent, immersing the reader in a dark and dangerous world where every decision counts. The action scenes are intense and well-paced, keeping you hooked from start to finish. I particularly enjoyed the way the story delves into the complexities of revenge and justice, with plenty of moral dilemmas that add depth to the narrative.

The characters are well-developed, each with their own motivations and flaws, making them feel authentic and relatable. While the story can be a bit predictable at times, the unexpected twists and emotional depth make up for it, ensuring the journey is still thrilling.

Overall, The Assassin's Revenge is a compelling read for fans of high-stakes action and complex characters, with just the right balance of tension and heart.
2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
January 22, 2026
This is the perfect flip to the sweet, naive, moral FMC versus the swashbuckling MMC trope. In Sara Bittner’s first part of what promises to be a delicious trilogy, our swashbuckler is a fierce FMC who makes no apologies for who she is or what she’s had to do. Including orchestrating the recent assassination of our MMC’s parents. He is the Crown Prince to a nation at war, now only alive because, quite frankly, she can’t believe how helpless he is in the real world. It’s kind of adorable in a sweet, sad way.

But then shit gets real and they find themselves in actual danger. He thinks defending a local village against the worst kind of men only means something if you fight with honor; she has to show him fighting “honorably” means nothing when you’re outnumbered ten to one. And from there on out it’s a struggle to reconcile what “honor” means when you’re trying to reclaim your country from usurpers and betrayers. All the while learning that what someone does doesn’t always define who they are.

And the tension. It’s subtle. But then suddenly not. Especially for a prince who’s celibate and a pirate/assassin with completely unknown experience and a TOTAL lack of awareness when it comes to other people’s feelings for her.

This one snuck up on me. I was absolutely enjoying it. And then suddenly it ended and I was, like, wait, what? That’s it? I’m not done! I need more! And I do. I totally need more. When will there be more?
Profile Image for Khoobi.
32 reviews
January 29, 2026
#3 Assassin’s Revenge ARC Sara Bittner 

When I signed up for the ARC for this book, the one thing that caught my eye was a female assassin as the main character. I was SOLD! This fantastic story of a prince and an assassin coming together for a common enemy is just what you need if action, romance, fantasy and strong main characters are your jam. 

Odessa is my dream FMC. She’s fearless, strong-willed, brave and never hesitates to dive head-first into a fight. That she’s also a pirate is a plus. After suffering devastating loss multiple times in her life, Odessa is still committed to doing good, and that’s saying something. Such experiences often leave people jaded and unwilling to look at the positive side of life. Not Odessa, though, because she’s different. She channels her hurt and pain in a way that helps those around her. 

Lucian’s character arc is absolutely flawless. Throughout the book, it is easy to see his progression from a clueless prince to well, I can’t spoil it for you. You have to read the book to know where he ends up at last. Odessa and Lucian make an unlikely pair, but one that gets things done. 

Set between two fictional countries constantly at war, death and destruction are always at the door. But when love and friendship enter this constant conflict, sprinkled with a bit of politics, where does it take our annoying and endearing Prince Lucian and our outspoken and fearless Odessa? 

I was excited to dive into this reading year with such an engrossing ARC! Here’s to many more adventures with Odessa and Lucian. 
33 reviews
January 23, 2026
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Overall this was a very good fantasy story. I really enjoyed the inner monologues of both MCs and the enemies to reluctant allies trope is nicely done. I loved how this naive Prince kept getting blind sided by the most obvious things.

At the 25% point the plot does seem to be advancing a bit slowly but I’m into the story and willing to go along for the ride so far…

I did feel that about half way through the plot started to drag - I really think that it’s the long chapters that do this to me. Looking down at my kindle and seeing 30+ minutes left in chapter is just really discouraging me from finishing.

The character development was really good but the plot was just not going anywhere fast enough to hold my interest in the middle of the story. I did finish and the ending did pick up a bit.

Overall a good read and I would recommend it. But I wasn't hooked on the story.
297 reviews9 followers
January 27, 2026
Firstly, this is a great YA/NA read that is completely spice-free, making it a solid option for those wanting to avoid spice. That said, it still explores more mature themes, so it’s not automatically suitable for younger readers—definitely check the content warnings.

I really enjoyed this book, even though it wasn’t perfect. At times there was a bit too much internal dialogue (yes, I’m looking at you, MMC). Where this story truly shines is its strong female lead. She’s mature, capable, and genuinely enjoyable to read about, which made a huge difference for me.

The MMC is an absolute sweetheart and a refreshing change from the usual “shadow daddy who growls mine” trope (no shade… okay, maybe a little). He did get on my nerves a few times, but I’ll forgive him because he’s a man who cries—and that’s a strong MMC in my book.

Overall, this was an enjoyable, fast-paced read with meaningful moments.
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