The Queen's Assassin

by Melissa de la Cruz

Book Overview

A New York Times and Indie Bestseller

Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Red Queen, this is the first novel in a sweeping YA fantasy-romance duet about a deadly assassin, his mysterious apprentice, and the country they are sworn to protect from #1 NYT bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz.

Caledon Holt is the kingdom's deadliest weapon. No one alive can best him in speed, strength,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0525515917
• ISBN13: 9780525515913
• Release Date: February 2020
• Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.7" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 14 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 9 to 12

Customer Reviews

I had to purchase this!

This book was a random find at my local library and I absolutely fell in love with the characters! I'm glad i found it here to purchase and preorder the next one.

Loved it and can't wait for the sequel!

The Queen’s Assassin is a YA fantasy novel set in the fictional country of Renovia. Caledon Holt is the queen’s assassin, bound to her through a blood vow, and used to fulfill an impossible task. When he murders a traitorous prince to protect a farm girl, the queen sends him to a notorious prison to await instruction. Shadow, the girl Caledon saved, witnesses his transportation to the prison and sets out to free him. From there the two set out on a dangerous journey to protect the kingdom, and unveil the traitors. As the two grow closer, they begin to unravel a deep web of lies that threaten to destroy everything. At first, I found the Queen’s Assassin difficult to follow. There is quite a bit of world-building and similar-sounding characters and families to keep track of. I think I read the prologue twice because it was so dense with content. Once I caught up, I found this to be a very quick and propulsive read. It alternates perspective between Caledon and Shadow, with only Shadow’s perspective being written in the first person. I loved both Cal and Shadow, as well as their relationship. I had never read anything by Melissa De La Cruz before this, but this certainly will not be my last! I’ve heard rumors that this is just the first in the series and I can’t wait for the next one if that’s true! Thanks to BookishFirst and Penguin Teen for the review copy!

I tried to read this twice. Not it

Melissa De La Cruz and I just aren’t good friends. Genuinely shook that I finished this because this was A LOT. I tried so many times to crack it open and read it. I finished it about a week ago, and it rolled my eyes throughout the entire time, and tried my best to reread it today before writing my review. But I made it halfway and dnfed the reread. Wins: -yes. Wins... okay. The world building. It was a good world. It wasn’t my favorite. I kind of get over the modern day/ magical/ historic esque novels. It was a good world. It wasn’t great. -the characters. Individually I liked Shadow and Cal. They were cute characters. -the plot. It wasn’t anything big or out there, I did like it. Opportunities -insta love. Insta love, we meet again, that’s 2 books in 2 weeks that I read ( I guess 3 if we’re counting the reread). I’m over it, enough is enough. Enough said. -the writing style. Man was that a CHOICE. Shadows pov was in first person, and Cals was in third person. I don’t even know how to explain where, I don’t understand it, but yeah, that was a choice. -the fact that shadow is somehow this bad a character who can cast spells, who can fight and wield a sword... okay. Yeah. Sure. -another hit on the writing style: it felt very juvenile. Shadow randomly talking to the squirrel. The characters thoughts. The fact that Cal was like “wouldn’t want to cut your cute face off and I guess yours is okay too” (that isn’t a direct quote, but it’s pretty close) and Shadow is happy about that. Alright. No, I would probably be mad at my boy for a good few hours after a comment like that. So yeah, me and Melissa De La Cruz are officially breaking up. I didn’t want to sit here and slam her book because I know how much work goes into it, but this was a struggle for me. I wanted so badly to like it, I had high hopes; but it genuinely felt like something a very young teenager had written. Young adult very rarely reads like that to me, and I almost never like it when it goes. Sorry to be so negative on this review, but this wasn’t anywhere near my expectations. Also: can we stop with the insta love and the out of nowhere insanely good at everything female characters

The Queen's Assassin is exciting!

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this book via Bookish First. I have read a few other books by this author and so I was pretty sure that I would enjoy this book as well. And I did! The story is told in two alternate viewpoints, that of Cal and Shadow. Cal is the Queen's Assassin and Shadow is a girl with a secret who wants to be an apprentice to Cal and join the Guild in protecting the kingdom of Renovia. Shadow was a strong character and I liked reading about her, except when she got envious during hers and Cal's mission to find the one that was trying to bring war to the kingdom. Their love seemed a little bit forced and fast too. Cal was deadly and cool and I think he got the short end of the stick a lot from the queen when he did what she wanted and then got punished for it. Seems silly to do that to your personal assassin. I want to know more about the kingdom and its history, especially with the magic. And since the book ended with the cliffhanger about the villain, I really want to read the next book and see if he gets what is deserved. It was a fun book to read and I look forward to the next one.