The Assassin's Curse Re-Read discussion

We're moving onto Chapters 4 - 7 on 6 April!

All right, fellow pirates and assassins! It’s time to discuss the next four chapters of The Assassin’s Curse—Chapters 4-7.

Your quick recap:

Chapter 4: Naji and Ananna check into an inn in the shady part of town to rest up for the next step in their adventures.

Chapter 5: Ananna visits the night market to pick up some items for Naji. While there, she runs into a mysterious man with gray eyes—and gets a really bad feeling about him.

Chapter 6: Ananna tells Naji about the gray-eyed man and watches him perform a couple of spells: in one, he makes a protection charm for her, and in another, he goes into a trance to enter Kajjil. Ananna also learns that Naji isn’t protecting her because of an oath, but because of a curse.

Chapter 7: Naji and Ananna set off on a trip through the desert, although Naji of course only gives Ananna a few hints as to where they’re headed. When they’ve almost arrived at their destination near the canyon, they’re intercepted by Tarrin and the rest of the Hariris, where Ananna refuses to abandon Naji. She’s also forced to kill Tarrin before he can kill her.

As with last time, this thread is for discussing your thoughts on Chapters 4-7. Favorite parts? Least favorite parts? What do you think the Mists are up to? Have your initial impressions of Naji and Ananna changed at all?

Feel free to discuss these chapters to your heart’s content, but do remember our no-spoiler policy: only Chapters 4-7 may be spoiled in this thread! If you’d like to a more in-depth discussion about how these chapters relate to the rest of the book, head on over to the TAC spoilers thread

As the book progresses and we spend more time with Ananna, I am liking her more. I have to admit, though, that I am surprised that she is 17 years old. I had imagined her as younger, perhaps due to her rashness/immaturity. I was thinking more 15 years old. For those of you who think that there is not much difference between 15 and 17 years old, I would say you haven't spent much time with 15 and 17 year old people.

I continue to find Naji very interesting, perhaps because we don't know much about him and he is not prone to telling Ananna much.

Killing Tarrin at the end of Chapter 7 is quite the cliffhanger! And where is Naji?!

Craig wrote: "As the book progresses and we spend more time with Ananna, I am liking her more. I have to admit, though, that I am surprised that she is 17 years old. I had imagined her as younger, perhaps due ..."

Well Naji knows that there is an assassin with Tarrin, so I figured he would have been looking for him.

Monicha wrote: "Well Naji knows that there is an assassin with Tarrin, so I figured he would have been looking for him.
"

Makes sense to me, Monicha. Ananna, at this point, is looking mighty exposed.

Ok, so I find that these next couple of chapters a little boring in one way, but interesting in another. You get to see more of Ananna and Naji, getting more of a character build.

I like when Ananna is always finding a way to prove she doesn't need Naji's help and protection. Then the pirate held her with the knife at her throat and acted as if she was a damsel in distress, then jabs her knife into his guts, runs to Naji and tells he " Told you I don't need your help". What a sassy girl she is.

Then Naji, you see he really doesn't care for people die on his account, unless told by the Order to do so. Though, I don't think he really likes being around people. Just like he never wants Ananna to know anything about him. He tries to keep it all hidden and never gives a true answer, but Ananna is also very persistent to know. Though, I think at some point he is really shocked that Ananna with try and convince people that he isn't as bad as you'd think. Like checking into the Inn, and Ananna tries to tell the Clark that she will be fine and how he won't hurt her. Little things like that.

When it comes to Naji doing his spell casting and going to Kajjil. I find it really interesting that his tattoos and eyes glow. I love how Ananna isn't really scared and more intrigued and studies every detail of him.

When going out to the desert, I find it very frustrating for Ananna. Just for how Naji won't give her a true answer as to where they are going. Or what is to come when they get across the desert, other then a canyon. For me that drives me nuts!! But it was very good too. It kept it mysterious, just like how Naji is. Then then journey carries on, you start to really see Naji's caring side. Taking care of Ananna with her sun sickness and when the Hariri crew show up. How he was just hounding her NOT to fight unless really needed.

Then it was super shocking to see Naji leave her side!! Then Tarrin showed up. Ananna kept herself together and she did try not to fight. Was a little pissed off at how Tarrin acted about the assassin, as if he was a wild animal that can't be controlled. And at the end was really happy that Ananna killed him before he had the chance to kill her.

So there was some really key moments in each chapter for sure. Chapters 4-6 where my least favorite, but still really enjoyed and were vital with little details of the 2 of them.

Craig wrote: "As the book progresses and we spend more time with Ananna, I am liking her more. I have to admit, though, that I am surprised that she is 17 years old. I had imagined her as younger, perhaps due ..."

Haha yes, I love that I was able to cut it off at a cliffhanger for the reread (that was unintentional). Thanks for the comments!

Monicha wrote: "Ok, so I find that these next couple of chapters a little boring in one way, but interesting in another. You get to see more of Ananna and Naji, getting more of a character build.

I like when Ana..."

You know, I noticed when I was writing up the summaries that not a lot of action happens in these chapters, too (since they're so short). But I did want a chance to expand on the characters a bit, so I'm glad it worked for you! Thanks for your thoughts! And for going into so much depth, too :)

You love cliff-hangers, Cassie - what a place to leave us!! Can't wait for the next section!

So, picking up on what's already been said in the first 1-3 chapter re-reads, I don't remember noticing before that she'd be sad that her parents were gone - she felt more independent - but this makes her more real. Her confidence is seen again as they move towards the pleasure district, although this time I wonder if it's more if a shield - she's lost but telling him what to do (carry her dress) allows her to gain some control.

I really enjoy the tension building of these chapters: in not just their relationship but also Ananna as she tries to figure out what's happening especially when dealing with the gray-eyed vendor that quote "it was the way looking at 'em made me feel like a mouse surrounded by snakes." This magic - different from her mother's - is new and strange to her and I like seeing her scared, only because it makes her more believable.

One of the highlights of this section is watching Naji act more human - paradoxically through his magic - at the end of chapter 6 when he's in pain and struggling. As much as Ananna's struggling with everything, she's not aware of the danger they're in but Naji is, and this anxiety is oh-so-human!

I must say I still feel thirsty after reading through their desert trip! The heat; the thirst; the hunger - and how this is all utterly the opposite of Ananna's usual water-based existence further removes her from her own life and brings the world to life for the reader.

I am noticing more, this time around, the beginnings of Naji & Ananna's relationship: she's noticed his hair and the way it lies, how his chest feels against hers.

I do want to slap Naji sometimes though - why does he bother telling Ananna it's a sandstorm when it's blatantly not? It's not exactly like she's not going to see whomever comes out of the kicked-up sand. He's very frustrating in his protectiveness, especially when you'd think he'd realise she's capable of taking care of herself: she knifed that drunk, she spotted the gray-eyed vendor, she can even read and tell the directions from the sky and he expected none of that from her.

Obviously the key moment in this section is Ananna killing Tarrin; there was no other way and even though she reacted by her gut instinct, it instantly affects her and now I'm looking forward to the rest of this land-ship fight!

I think these chapters are full of action... perhaps not as much as in the rest of the book, but there's still a lot going on in here. It's not like they're having tea and biscuits in a parlor, whiling time away in awaiting the right moment to buy a camel!

Like Caroline and Monicha, I really love Ananna and Naji's interactions, and I enjoyed how the tension escalates leading to the battle in the seventh chapter.

Just a quick mention on chapter 5: I looooove Ananna's trip to the Night Market, how she has that little moment to herself in dangling her legs out above the ocean thinking of her mother and father and their relations with the ocean.
Also of how at one point when she gets lost she ends up in a temple having to pray to Kaol, the goddess who watches over Pirates, to find her way back to the docks. I get what Carolines means when she mentions that noticing and feeling Ananna's fears make her more human, thus more believable.

I was surprised at my reaction to the seventh chapter in reading it for the second time. The first time, I believe I felt appalled when Tarrin is killed- And to top it off, I think I even felt sorry for him. Reading it now though, I realize there was no other way. -Thinking back on my first time, I think I was shocked for Ananna, it is the moment where she suddenly 'grows up'. Even though she has been through several sea-battles before, this time it's different, it's personal, she has killed someone she knew.
"I had to," she tells him, but 'it was too late.' I know this sounds strange, but to me it feels like she loses her innocence here and actually becomes a real pirate. This chapter is decisive, this is it, no turning back for her. Her old life is now over. She can finally become the pirate woman she wants to be.No more ties. Yes, I definitely believe I started admiring Ananna at this point.

Mathilda wrote: "I think these chapters are full of action... perhaps not as much as in the rest of the book, but there's still a lot going on in here. It's not like they're having tea and biscuits in a parlor, whi..."

Awesome way of explaining the part when Ananna kills Tarrin.

:) Thanks Monicha!

Mathilda wrote: "I think these chapters are full of action... perhaps not as much as in the rest of the book, but there's still a lot going on in here. It's not like they're having tea and biscuits in a parlor, whi..."

I LOVE the way you describe Ananna killing Tarrin. So insightful!

I didn't expect her betrothed to find her at all in the desert, but she knew the trick that he pulled, and killed him in self defence. She was really on her own after that.