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Artisan Magic #1
The Assassin's Bride: A Fantasy Romance Tale
A meeting with the king was supposed to fix the trouble Thea's family left behind.
Instead, she witnessed his death.
As the one person granted entry to the throne room, she's now implicated in his murder. The assassin who killed him can help her escape the gallows... for a price.
After all, Thea's no simple seamstress. As a Threadmancer, she can sew power into garments—including forbidden illusory magic that could allow the king's alarmingly charming killer to escape forever.
In return for his aid, Gil asks for nothing but these illusions. But as they flee under the guise of being newlyweds, Thea realizes the motives behind his actions may be darker than anything she ever imagined, and two problems come to No matter how dangerous the truth is, she's not afraid of him… and she might be falling in love.
Instead, she witnessed his death.
As the one person granted entry to the throne room, she's now implicated in his murder. The assassin who killed him can help her escape the gallows... for a price.
After all, Thea's no simple seamstress. As a Threadmancer, she can sew power into garments—including forbidden illusory magic that could allow the king's alarmingly charming killer to escape forever.
In return for his aid, Gil asks for nothing but these illusions. But as they flee under the guise of being newlyweds, Thea realizes the motives behind his actions may be darker than anything she ever imagined, and two problems come to No matter how dangerous the truth is, she's not afraid of him… and she might be falling in love.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 9, 2022
59 people are currently reading
450 people want to read
About the author
Beth Alvarez
32 books35 followersAward-winning author Beth Alvarez lives in Memphis, Tennessee, along with her husband, daughter, and a very mean cat.
Once a visual arts major, she has worked as a freelance graphic designer. Against all advice, she makes her own book covers.
Reading The Hobbit at 8 led Beth to fall in love with fantasy at an early age. She later developed a love for vampires and the supernatural, which is unsurprising, given she never outgrew the goth phase.
In her free time, Beth enjoys drawing, hitting the road in her beloved Mustang, sipping tea, sewing for her Asian ball-jointed dolls, and making her prior-Marine husband spar in the kitchen for sake of writing more convincing combat scenes.
Once a visual arts major, she has worked as a freelance graphic designer. Against all advice, she makes her own book covers.
Reading The Hobbit at 8 led Beth to fall in love with fantasy at an early age. She later developed a love for vampires and the supernatural, which is unsurprising, given she never outgrew the goth phase.
In her free time, Beth enjoys drawing, hitting the road in her beloved Mustang, sipping tea, sewing for her Asian ball-jointed dolls, and making her prior-Marine husband spar in the kitchen for sake of writing more convincing combat scenes.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 4, 2023
I picked this up because of some random 30s clip on Instagram, and I was not disappointed. Not knowing it was a stand alone, I wasn’t left wanting, whether feeling it was too rushed or too basic. The only issue I had was I felt it dragged slightly in the middle! Other then that, a thoroughly enjoyable read
February 18, 2023
4 STARS ✨
So I really enjoyed this! The Assassin’s Bride is an easy to read, YA fantasy romance that is well paced with good world building and relatable main characters.
One of my favourite things about Thea, at the very beginning of the novel, is a comment about her reaction to stress: how, after going through a sequence of unanticipated, highly distressing situations that placed her in grave danger, she ‘shut’ down. In so many fantasy novels, the main characters, who are also new to these kind of situations, somehow adapt within seconds and react and know what to do, but Thea took her time to adapt and develop her strength through the novel, which was like a breath of fresh air. In stress, a lot of us freeze, a lot of us panic and struggle to get through and it’s a common way of survival, so I enjoyed that being reflected in Thea at the beginning. It made it a lot more relatable to her as a narrator.
Her ability was also incredibly fascinating — I’ve never read about a ‘threadmancer’ character before, who literally can create illusions and place power within the items they create. Alvarez’s creativity is awesome, and it was another nice touch which was, once again, a breath of fresh air to the genre.
Gil was great, I loved Gil — you were given just enough of pieces of him throughout the novel that kept you guessing, but still lead to a surprise towards the end of the novel when the plot twist hit.
I’d say that the relationship was a slow burn for the length of the novel, and I am a little bit disappointed that the story ended where it did! I was expecting it to be a series, so when, although the ending is enough to leave you content, there is a shame that there’s no epilogue! I am hoping that the world will be revisited because there feels as if there is so much more to explore, perhaps centred on Rilion so that Thea and Gil can make a brief reappearance.
10/10 would recommend this one – it’s definitely a hidden gem.
So I really enjoyed this! The Assassin’s Bride is an easy to read, YA fantasy romance that is well paced with good world building and relatable main characters.
One of my favourite things about Thea, at the very beginning of the novel, is a comment about her reaction to stress: how, after going through a sequence of unanticipated, highly distressing situations that placed her in grave danger, she ‘shut’ down. In so many fantasy novels, the main characters, who are also new to these kind of situations, somehow adapt within seconds and react and know what to do, but Thea took her time to adapt and develop her strength through the novel, which was like a breath of fresh air. In stress, a lot of us freeze, a lot of us panic and struggle to get through and it’s a common way of survival, so I enjoyed that being reflected in Thea at the beginning. It made it a lot more relatable to her as a narrator.
Her ability was also incredibly fascinating — I’ve never read about a ‘threadmancer’ character before, who literally can create illusions and place power within the items they create. Alvarez’s creativity is awesome, and it was another nice touch which was, once again, a breath of fresh air to the genre.
Gil was great, I loved Gil — you were given just enough of pieces of him throughout the novel that kept you guessing, but still lead to a surprise towards the end of the novel when the plot twist hit.
I’d say that the relationship was a slow burn for the length of the novel, and I am a little bit disappointed that the story ended where it did! I was expecting it to be a series, so when, although the ending is enough to leave you content, there is a shame that there’s no epilogue! I am hoping that the world will be revisited because there feels as if there is so much more to explore, perhaps centred on Rilion so that Thea and Gil can make a brief reappearance.
10/10 would recommend this one – it’s definitely a hidden gem.
January 9, 2024
This book was really a surprise.
Well constructed story and characters and slow burn romance, why so little reviews?
It was only a little slow towards the middle and there isn’t much spice in the romance which actually I didn’t mind too much, just at times I didn’t understand if they were really in love with each other.
I really liked the magic ideas and the assassin character is always my favourite.
Up to 50% of the book I liked to think the male character could have been Fitz Chivalry from Robin Hobb finally having a cool love story (I never liked Molly and their love). Royal assassin, related to the crown, can not mention anything, lone wolf and isolation, plotting schemes. Maybe that’s why I liked the book. After 50% there is a slight change in the character and the story got me dozing a little but still happy to read to the end and I have already the other books in the series.
Well constructed story and characters and slow burn romance, why so little reviews?
It was only a little slow towards the middle and there isn’t much spice in the romance which actually I didn’t mind too much, just at times I didn’t understand if they were really in love with each other.
I really liked the magic ideas and the assassin character is always my favourite.
Up to 50% of the book I liked to think the male character could have been Fitz Chivalry from Robin Hobb finally having a cool love story (I never liked Molly and their love). Royal assassin, related to the crown, can not mention anything, lone wolf and isolation, plotting schemes. Maybe that’s why I liked the book. After 50% there is a slight change in the character and the story got me dozing a little but still happy to read to the end and I have already the other books in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2025
An enjoyable floofy fantasy romance. Think 80s fantasy movies for the atmosphere; not too bothered with realism in the action/adventure, just a good old forced proximity/fake marriage romance with the plot behind it to make it more than just two characters falling in love in slightly outrageous circumstances. I found it very quick to start, then rather slow in the middle which made me feel the need to skim here and there. Anyone looking for a light read that's got adventure, fantasy, idealistic romance and many musings on thread craft would be right at home with this one.
November 2, 2023
Started out with a promising premise and then just gradually went downhill. It's all very Ye Olde Fantasy; the name for magical textile workers is "threadmancers" and our heroine randomly sews a pair of pants in like an evening instead of throwing some in a bag to take with her when she goes on the run. That kind of thing. There was nothing particularly wrong with it, but there was also nothing that I will remember about it twenty minutes from now.
July 22, 2025
Clean! I would recommend to a high school student. I thought this book was going to be something way sexier, but it turned out to be more anxty and sweet.
Discussion of los virtue and promiscuity and it was even more discreet than my review.
I don’t recall any swearing ( aside from the made up ones in the fantasy world)
Slow burn romance.
Single perspective.
Discussion of los virtue and promiscuity and it was even more discreet than my review.
I don’t recall any swearing ( aside from the made up ones in the fantasy world)
Slow burn romance.
Single perspective.
August 25, 2025
The start of the book really gets things rolling, but kind of goes downhill from there. I expected a lot more magic than was in the story. One thing magical was the FMC's ability to sew garments very quickly - and not realistically. It was a quick read but there were many plot holes and didn't entice me to want to read any of the follow-on stories.
September 10, 2022
I love it!
I love the entire story! It was amazing and had me constantly wanting more.
I recommend this book for everyone who like fantasy/slow build romance that includes action and adventure.
I love the entire story! It was amazing and had me constantly wanting more.
I recommend this book for everyone who like fantasy/slow build romance that includes action and adventure.
September 29, 2022
I loved this story! Some of the tension resolved a little quickly, but other than that it was the perfect whimsical, stand-alone fantasy romance.
Favorite moments included scissors used in creative ways and Gil correcting bandit grammar!
Favorite moments included scissors used in creative ways and Gil correcting bandit grammar!
June 18, 2023
Love for an assassin?
Yes…I loved The Assassin’s Bride. I loved the twists and intrigue. I loved the swoony romance. I loved everything about this book, especially the dark humor. I’m adding Beth Alvarez to my must-read list of authors.
Yes…I loved The Assassin’s Bride. I loved the twists and intrigue. I loved the swoony romance. I loved everything about this book, especially the dark humor. I’m adding Beth Alvarez to my must-read list of authors.
September 10, 2022
Very well written, sweet fantasy romance.
December 26, 2023
Wonderful!
A great adventure with romance, mischief, action, and general mayhem.
Skilled prose with the dimensional characters and a wonderfully fleshed out and original setting.
A great adventure with romance, mischief, action, and general mayhem.
Skilled prose with the dimensional characters and a wonderfully fleshed out and original setting.
January 12, 2024
Very flat storyline with no connection between characters *sighs in disappointment
February 7, 2024
A great read
I hadn't tried reading Birth Alvarez before and found this book did not disappoint. Action, love and a good rhythm.
I hadn't tried reading Birth Alvarez before and found this book did not disappoint. Action, love and a good rhythm.
December 31, 2024
It was fun to read. Not anything too long and it was cute
January 11, 2025
The romance and character’s relationship was really cute, need to find me a gentleman like Gil. Honestly only gave 4 stars cause I wanted it to be stretched into another book.
February 2, 2025
Cute Story
The Story overall was great. It could have been a little bit more fast paced in the beginning but other than that I enjoyed it.
The Story overall was great. It could have been a little bit more fast paced in the beginning but other than that I enjoyed it.
September 15, 2025
* This is book 1 in the Artisan Magic Series & can be read as a standalone.
* First person pov
* Spice: clean romance (kisses that don't get too heated)
This was the first book of the author's that I've read & I will be reading more from her! Right from the start of the story, I was hooked & drawn into Thea & Gil's story. Their back & forth was fun & I liked how their forced proximity allowed them to get to know each other quickly. The romance was a slow burn & I enjoyed every second. Aside from the romance, the action & high stakes kept me guessing & invested to keep reading. Overall, I had a great time reading this & can't wait to read more books from this series.
* First person pov
* Spice: clean romance (kisses that don't get too heated)
This was the first book of the author's that I've read & I will be reading more from her! Right from the start of the story, I was hooked & drawn into Thea & Gil's story. Their back & forth was fun & I liked how their forced proximity allowed them to get to know each other quickly. The romance was a slow burn & I enjoyed every second. Aside from the romance, the action & high stakes kept me guessing & invested to keep reading. Overall, I had a great time reading this & can't wait to read more books from this series.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews