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The Assassin's Revenge
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.
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.
- GenresFantasy
385 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 20, 2026
22 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
"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.
— 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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
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.
✨ 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.
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.
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?
"'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?
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!
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!
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!
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!
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
January 23, 2026
No Spoilers.
War. A kingdom falls. An enemy of great standing with forces to back them up in their tyranny. Pirates and Princes. A cunning plot to reclaim a nation. Take a trip to Tara and exact revenge.
In a fantastic twist of traditional gender roles, we meet Lucien, a morally white (translucent at times), sheltered and privileged, naive and somewhat ignorant (of the ways of the world and his country) Prince, who thinks he can swing a sword, successfully. His princely training has done nothing for setting him up in the real world - and it shows.
Odessa, on the other hand, is a morally grey pirate from an opposing kingdom, highly skilled with words and weapons and a citizen of the world, she adapts to her surroundings and is more than capable of getting things done - she’s a badass and takes names. She also repeatedly saves Lucien’s life.
In this enemies-to-lovers slow burn, you learn what motivates two completely opposing forces, as they learn how to work together against the odds of class, education, traditions, value systems and more.
As our characters evolve, we see raw emotion, especially from our MMC - not something usually found in books of the same or similar genres. The trope switch up isn’t something I’ve come across in a while.
We see both MMC and FMC POV which gives insight to both of their motivations and inner monologues, as far as the messy human experience goes.
Personal views
I enjoyed the fast pace of Assassins Revenge, I was hooked from the first few pages.
I wanted to both throttle Lucian and give him a big hug at varies point throughout. He’s a sweetheart gentleman with morals of steel.
I admire Odessa’s strength and her sass. She’s a wonderfully written FMC who takes the traditional gender norm of ‘he’s the leader who’ll save the world and get the girl’ and flips it on its head.
“Uhg, you’re like a toddler.” Lucian’s character development however, is what makes him so charming as he identifies his shortcomings and puts in the work to adapt to his new life.
Looking forward to more Sara Bittner!
War. A kingdom falls. An enemy of great standing with forces to back them up in their tyranny. Pirates and Princes. A cunning plot to reclaim a nation. Take a trip to Tara and exact revenge.
In a fantastic twist of traditional gender roles, we meet Lucien, a morally white (translucent at times), sheltered and privileged, naive and somewhat ignorant (of the ways of the world and his country) Prince, who thinks he can swing a sword, successfully. His princely training has done nothing for setting him up in the real world - and it shows.
Odessa, on the other hand, is a morally grey pirate from an opposing kingdom, highly skilled with words and weapons and a citizen of the world, she adapts to her surroundings and is more than capable of getting things done - she’s a badass and takes names. She also repeatedly saves Lucien’s life.
In this enemies-to-lovers slow burn, you learn what motivates two completely opposing forces, as they learn how to work together against the odds of class, education, traditions, value systems and more.
As our characters evolve, we see raw emotion, especially from our MMC - not something usually found in books of the same or similar genres. The trope switch up isn’t something I’ve come across in a while.
We see both MMC and FMC POV which gives insight to both of their motivations and inner monologues, as far as the messy human experience goes.
Personal views
I enjoyed the fast pace of Assassins Revenge, I was hooked from the first few pages.
I wanted to both throttle Lucian and give him a big hug at varies point throughout. He’s a sweetheart gentleman with morals of steel.
I admire Odessa’s strength and her sass. She’s a wonderfully written FMC who takes the traditional gender norm of ‘he’s the leader who’ll save the world and get the girl’ and flips it on its head.
“Uhg, you’re like a toddler.” Lucian’s character development however, is what makes him so charming as he identifies his shortcomings and puts in the work to adapt to his new life.
Looking forward to more Sara Bittner!
Review of advance copy received from Author
*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!
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!
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 ⚔️
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 ⚔️
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
📚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.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✍🏻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.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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!
“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!
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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?
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?
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
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
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.
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.
January 17, 2026
This was an enjoyable read and I thank the author for the ARC copy.
Odessa is a mysterious pirate turned reluctant assassin manipulated into killing the royal family of the country her nation has been at war with for a hundred years. Lucian is the sheltered, earnest, honorable, and oh so naive Prince who managed to survive the assassination of the rest of his family. He is the honorable cinnamon roll MMC. Against her better judgement Odessa decides to bring the Prince to safety and then washes her hand of him but fate throws them back together, but more than that makes them reluctant allies against the man who both used Odessa, betrayed her and took Lucian’s country. Their path has them fighting against Odessa’s people with the ultimate goal of peace between both countries.
Lucian has a lot of growth and maturation to do while maintaining his honor and Odessa may have to give up a few of her secrets along the way.
Lucian annoyed me a lot in the first half of the book but it was obviously designed to be that way. I do wish someone, either Odessa or Rohan had took him to the side and gives him a comprehensive breakdown of ‘real life’ instead of just bits and pieces. Odessa was clearly hiding something big in her past that she was running from and it was no great surprise at the end. I will definitely read the next book to see where the story goes.
Odessa is a mysterious pirate turned reluctant assassin manipulated into killing the royal family of the country her nation has been at war with for a hundred years. Lucian is the sheltered, earnest, honorable, and oh so naive Prince who managed to survive the assassination of the rest of his family. He is the honorable cinnamon roll MMC. Against her better judgement Odessa decides to bring the Prince to safety and then washes her hand of him but fate throws them back together, but more than that makes them reluctant allies against the man who both used Odessa, betrayed her and took Lucian’s country. Their path has them fighting against Odessa’s people with the ultimate goal of peace between both countries.
Lucian has a lot of growth and maturation to do while maintaining his honor and Odessa may have to give up a few of her secrets along the way.
Lucian annoyed me a lot in the first half of the book but it was obviously designed to be that way. I do wish someone, either Odessa or Rohan had took him to the side and gives him a comprehensive breakdown of ‘real life’ instead of just bits and pieces. Odessa was clearly hiding something big in her past that she was running from and it was no great surprise at the end. I will definitely read the next book to see where the story goes.
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January 18, 2026Lately, I’ve been exploring books by lesser-known authors, especially when they offer something fresh. The Assassin’s Revenge, the first book in a romance-fantasy trilogy, pleasantly surprised me with its strong characters, emotional depth, and unique twist on classic hero roles.
Odessa isn’t your typical fantasy heroine – she’s a pirate, an assassin, brilliant and willing to go to great lengths for the people she loves. At first, I struggled a bit with her, but her intelligence and strength quickly won me over. On the other hand, Lucian, the prince, is gentle, emotional, and naive – far from the typical fantasy hero. His development is slow but realistic, making him incredibly relatable and human.
The story unfolds as a slow-burn romance full of drama, moral dilemmas, and inner struggles. It’s not just an action-packed fantasy; it’s a story that makes you think about choices and consequences. While I wish some side characters had a bit more space, as the first book in a trilogy, it’s very promising.
If you love fantasy with emotional depth, strong characters, and a slow-developing romance, The Assassin’s Revenge is definitely worth reading.
Follow me on my IG for more: https://www.instagram.com/my.romance....
Odessa isn’t your typical fantasy heroine – she’s a pirate, an assassin, brilliant and willing to go to great lengths for the people she loves. At first, I struggled a bit with her, but her intelligence and strength quickly won me over. On the other hand, Lucian, the prince, is gentle, emotional, and naive – far from the typical fantasy hero. His development is slow but realistic, making him incredibly relatable and human.
The story unfolds as a slow-burn romance full of drama, moral dilemmas, and inner struggles. It’s not just an action-packed fantasy; it’s a story that makes you think about choices and consequences. While I wish some side characters had a bit more space, as the first book in a trilogy, it’s very promising.
If you love fantasy with emotional depth, strong characters, and a slow-developing romance, The Assassin’s Revenge is definitely worth reading.
Follow me on my IG for more: https://www.instagram.com/my.romance....
January 9, 2026
⚔️ Revenge binds them together… even when trust is the most dangerous weapon of all.
📖 The Assassin’s Revenge by Sara Bittner
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🫑
Action & Adventure Fantasy
Tropes:
🗡️ Badass FMC
🎭 Hidden identity
⚔️ Enemies to lovers
🖤 Morally grey FMC
💘 He falls first (and harder)
🐢 Slow burn
🩹 Hurt / comfort
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. When General Baerick betrays her after using her as a pawn, Odessa chooses revenge. Along the way, she stumbles upon the poisoned prince. Saving his life might not have been the smartest decision, but when they realize they share the same enemy, an uneasy alliance is formed.
This book is such an adventure. I loved it. Odessa is a deeply layered FMC—quiet, mysterious, and incredibly intelligent. She’s very closed off, but for good reason, and her morally grey choices made her all the more compelling. I loved how much depth she had and how her past shaped the way she navigates the world.
The prince annoyed me at first because of his sheltered upbringing. You can really tell he’s lived a very protected, privileged life, and that shows in the way he reacts to hardship and the realities outside the palace walls. But his character growth ended up being one of the strongest parts of the book. Watching him slowly learn, unlearn, and grow into someone more grounded made me appreciate him a lot by the end.
Their relationship gave me Celaena and Dorian vibes (and please, I hope not in the tragic sense because I’m rooting for them to be endgame). I loved how their bond started with friendship and trust rather than instant romance. Odessa’s patience with him, paired with how he never gave up on her and consistently offered comfort, made their dynamic feel genuine and earned.
I teared up a bit during their backstories—it really hit me in the feels. That said, the pacing felt slightly unbalanced for me. Some parts felt a little slow, while others could have used more room to breathe.
Overall, this was an engaging, character-driven fantasy with a strong FMC, meaningful growth, and a slow-burn dynamic that kept me invested.
Thank you Sara Bittner for this ARC 🤍
📖 The Assassin’s Revenge by Sara Bittner
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🫑
Action & Adventure Fantasy
Tropes:
🗡️ Badass FMC
🎭 Hidden identity
⚔️ Enemies to lovers
🖤 Morally grey FMC
💘 He falls first (and harder)
🐢 Slow burn
🩹 Hurt / comfort
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. When General Baerick betrays her after using her as a pawn, Odessa chooses revenge. Along the way, she stumbles upon the poisoned prince. Saving his life might not have been the smartest decision, but when they realize they share the same enemy, an uneasy alliance is formed.
This book is such an adventure. I loved it. Odessa is a deeply layered FMC—quiet, mysterious, and incredibly intelligent. She’s very closed off, but for good reason, and her morally grey choices made her all the more compelling. I loved how much depth she had and how her past shaped the way she navigates the world.
The prince annoyed me at first because of his sheltered upbringing. You can really tell he’s lived a very protected, privileged life, and that shows in the way he reacts to hardship and the realities outside the palace walls. But his character growth ended up being one of the strongest parts of the book. Watching him slowly learn, unlearn, and grow into someone more grounded made me appreciate him a lot by the end.
Their relationship gave me Celaena and Dorian vibes (and please, I hope not in the tragic sense because I’m rooting for them to be endgame). I loved how their bond started with friendship and trust rather than instant romance. Odessa’s patience with him, paired with how he never gave up on her and consistently offered comfort, made their dynamic feel genuine and earned.
I teared up a bit during their backstories—it really hit me in the feels. That said, the pacing felt slightly unbalanced for me. Some parts felt a little slow, while others could have used more room to breathe.
Overall, this was an engaging, character-driven fantasy with a strong FMC, meaningful growth, and a slow-burn dynamic that kept me invested.
Thank you Sara Bittner for this ARC 🤍
January 15, 2026
3.5 stars
A slow-burn fantasy that delivers tension, heart, and sharp blades
The Assassin’s Revenge by Sara Bittner was everything I want from a fantasy romance: atmospheric, emotionally charged, and unapologetically slow-burn.
From the very beginning, the story pulls you into a dangerous world of secrets, shadowy politics, and impossible choices. The heroine is refreshingly morally grey—skilled, guarded, and shaped by betrayal in a way that feels raw and believable. I loved that her strength isn’t just physical; her inner conflict and resilience are what truly define her.
The enemies-to-lovers arc is handled with patience and care. The tension builds gradually through mistrust, reluctant cooperation, and sharp banter, making every small shift in their relationship feel earned. When moments of vulnerability finally surface, they hit hard. This is very much a slow burn done right.
The world-building is immersive without being overwhelming, and the found-family elements add warmth and depth to an otherwise dark, high-stakes narrative. Action scenes are well paced, emotional beats land effectively, and the ending left me desperate for the next book.
If you enjoy fantasy romance with assassins, betrayal, morally complex characters, and a romance that simmers instead of rushing to the finish line, this one is absolutely worth picking up. I’ll be continuing this trilogy without hesitation.
A slow-burn fantasy that delivers tension, heart, and sharp blades
The Assassin’s Revenge by Sara Bittner was everything I want from a fantasy romance: atmospheric, emotionally charged, and unapologetically slow-burn.
From the very beginning, the story pulls you into a dangerous world of secrets, shadowy politics, and impossible choices. The heroine is refreshingly morally grey—skilled, guarded, and shaped by betrayal in a way that feels raw and believable. I loved that her strength isn’t just physical; her inner conflict and resilience are what truly define her.
The enemies-to-lovers arc is handled with patience and care. The tension builds gradually through mistrust, reluctant cooperation, and sharp banter, making every small shift in their relationship feel earned. When moments of vulnerability finally surface, they hit hard. This is very much a slow burn done right.
The world-building is immersive without being overwhelming, and the found-family elements add warmth and depth to an otherwise dark, high-stakes narrative. Action scenes are well paced, emotional beats land effectively, and the ending left me desperate for the next book.
If you enjoy fantasy romance with assassins, betrayal, morally complex characters, and a romance that simmers instead of rushing to the finish line, this one is absolutely worth picking up. I’ll be continuing this trilogy without hesitation.
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!
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!
January 24, 2026
The Assassin’s Revenge delivers a fast-paced blend of action, tension, and emotional stakes. The story follows a protagonist driven by loss and betrayal, and that motivation fuels every decision, making the journey feel intense and personal rather than just plot-driven.
Sara Bittner balances fight scenes with emotional depth, showing the cost of revenge and the weight of the past. The world feels dangerous, trust is fragile, and alliances shift in ways that keep the story engaging. While the focus leans heavily on action and survival, the character’s inner conflict adds heart to the story.
A gripping read for fans of assassin-led fantasies, revenge plots, and morally gray journeys.
Sara Bittner balances fight scenes with emotional depth, showing the cost of revenge and the weight of the past. The world feels dangerous, trust is fragile, and alliances shift in ways that keep the story engaging. While the focus leans heavily on action and survival, the character’s inner conflict adds heart to the story.
A gripping read for fans of assassin-led fantasies, revenge plots, and morally gray journeys.
January 24, 2026
I received this ARC I was super excited based on the overview from the author.
I definitely loved the FMC and all of the depth that she was given as a character.
I felt like too many characters were introduced, and almost seemed unnecessary, so at times I was unsure who to connect with. I also feel like chapters could’ve been broken up a little bit more for ease of reading.
The ending was a little predictable, but also caught me by surprise with some elements, which was a fun way to close things out. I think this book could stand alone but also I’m eager to see how things continue in book 2.
I definitely loved the FMC and all of the depth that she was given as a character.
I felt like too many characters were introduced, and almost seemed unnecessary, so at times I was unsure who to connect with. I also feel like chapters could’ve been broken up a little bit more for ease of reading.
The ending was a little predictable, but also caught me by surprise with some elements, which was a fun way to close things out. I think this book could stand alone but also I’m eager to see how things continue in book 2.
January 20, 2026
I really enjoyed the opportunity to read this book! One of my favorite parts was the female main character. She was tough, confident, and an incredible fighter, which made her so fun to read and really refreshing. I also really enjoyed the twists throughout the story and learning about the two different kingdoms along with pirates, which added a lot of intrigue and adventure.
While the writing style wasn’t quite my personal favorite, and the male main character was a bit more naïve and soft-hearted than I usually prefer, that’s very much a matter of personal taste and I know many readers will absolutely adore his cinnamon-roll personality!
Overall, this was an enjoyable and entertaining read with engaging characters and an adventurous plot. I appreciate the creativity behind the story and I think a lot of readers will enjoy this book.
While the writing style wasn’t quite my personal favorite, and the male main character was a bit more naïve and soft-hearted than I usually prefer, that’s very much a matter of personal taste and I know many readers will absolutely adore his cinnamon-roll personality!
Overall, this was an enjoyable and entertaining read with engaging characters and an adventurous plot. I appreciate the creativity behind the story and I think a lot of readers will enjoy this book.
January 23, 2026
Lots of plot twists, big emotions, hidden identities, sword fights and lots of pirates!!
Starting with an assassination and developing into preparing for a war, healing and loss is a big part of this book and it’s written so well into the plot. You will go on a journey with Lucien finding himself the next in line to a kingdom at war and no idea how to govern. He forges an unlikely alliance with Odessa, pirate turned assassin to enact her own revenge and reclaim the kingdom from the tyrant invader.
Starting with an assassination and developing into preparing for a war, healing and loss is a big part of this book and it’s written so well into the plot. You will go on a journey with Lucien finding himself the next in line to a kingdom at war and no idea how to govern. He forges an unlikely alliance with Odessa, pirate turned assassin to enact her own revenge and reclaim the kingdom from the tyrant invader.
January 25, 2026
I was lucky to get this as an arc and it’s more like. 3.5 stars.
The idea is really interesting. The author takes throne of glass with hints of lord of the rings and give us a story that talks about grief and learning to love ourselves revolving around a war.
Visually; I had issues with how we go from what the FMC is seeing and feeling to how the MMC is. There is no brake visually and that made it hard for me. Now if this arc had been a audiobook I probably wouldn’t have had so many issues.
As for the rest; dude, this could end in this book if they had just married for political reasons.
The idea is really interesting. The author takes throne of glass with hints of lord of the rings and give us a story that talks about grief and learning to love ourselves revolving around a war.
Visually; I had issues with how we go from what the FMC is seeing and feeling to how the MMC is. There is no brake visually and that made it hard for me. Now if this arc had been a audiobook I probably wouldn’t have had so many issues.
As for the rest; dude, this could end in this book if they had just married for political reasons.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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