Review: Assassin's Lament

Title: Assassin's Lament
Author: Michael Carins
Format: Ebook
Pages: 329
Date(s) Read: March 2-3,2016
Rating: 3.5

Summary: 

Aryan was born to a whore. He always wished something would change, something would happen.  Well, Night of Blood came, and well...Aryan got his wish.  Now, Aryan searches for a myth that no one believes in any longer.  Wildlands controlled by walkers, and only fools leave the wall's safety. It takes a fool to see what others are too afraid of.  It takes an assassin to do what others can't...or won't. 

Review: 

I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you for the opportunity to review your work Mr. Carins. 

This is a coming of age story, mingled with romance, tragedy and quite a bit of action. We've got a healthy chunk of swords, zombies, kingdoms, assassins, blood, war....and perhaps an unhealthy dose of guilt.  However, it is, in my opinion worth the read. 

The plot is an interesting one, and I enjoyed following Aryan and his friends throughout their journey and discovery.  It is engaging and I am looking forward to reading more of this trilogy to be honest, because I want to know what happens!  Seriously...like, I am attached to these characters and desperately want to know what happens.  This is what my book OCD and series commitments do to me. 

There are a few negatives, and the book perhaps could benefit from a bit more rigorous editing.  However, this does not ultimately detract from the story that is presented to the reader.  The use of 'walkers' did kind of throw me for a bit, and that is probably because I am a fan of The Walking Dead.  However, it was that tie, that I was able to kind of figure out that the walkers outside the wall were indeed undead.  I am not as proprietary of that word as some people might be, because it is a fitting word for what zombies are...walkers.  

There are moments that almost can make you feel that you are in a high fantasy version of an episode of The Walking Dead, however I have a feeling this only enhances the story and to be honest I doubt I will look at another episode of The Walking Dead without turning it into some sort of high fantasy adventure.  This cross-over imagery makes me happy and does fun things to my imagination.  So, this was definitely a plus for this particular story.  

Overly British.  This does not displease me, as I know it might displease some.  I absolutely adore all things British for the most part.  Downton Abbey is by far one of my favorite series, and you honestly can't get more British than that...well you probably can, but you get my point.  I like that this particular high fantasy story tends to shy away from the more neutralized English used in most, it adds a more unique aspect to the story and makes it, at least for me more enjoyable.  

The scenes involving the guild are some of my favorites, and the healthy doses of humor mixed in are definitely awesome.  The action scenes are well written.  However, consider yourself warned....CLIFFHANGER.  So, you can wait for the rest of the series, or you could join my suffering in waiting for the next book.