Tangled Web(Deizian Empire#1) By Crista McHugh
Title: Tangled Web(Deizian Empire#1)
Author: Crista McHugh
Publisher: Entangled Select
Publication Date: October 9th 2012
Summary:The deadliest assassin in the empire just got too close to her target…
Azurha, a former slave turned deadliest assassin in the empire, has just been offered the ultimate challenge—seduce, then murder the new Emperor. But Titus is not the tyrant his forefathers were, and his radical ideas might be the glimmer of hope the empire needs.
Titus Sergius Flavus has yet to master the powerful magic of his ancestors—magic he must wield if he’s to protect his people—but his father’s death has left him no choice. Rule the Deizian Empire and attempt to right his ancestors’ wrongs, or watch her fall to his greedy kin.
More than just Titus’ ideas hold Azurha captive. Night after night, he awakens desires she thought lost, and uncovers the magic of her hidden lineage. As her deadline approaches, Azurha is forced to make an impossible decision—complete her job and kill the man she loves, or fail and forfeit both their lives.
Azurha, a former slave turned deadliest assassin in the empire, has just been offered the ultimate challenge—seduce, then murder the new Emperor. But Titus is not the tyrant his forefathers were, and his radical ideas might be the glimmer of hope the empire needs.
Titus Sergius Flavus has yet to master the powerful magic of his ancestors—magic he must wield if he’s to protect his people—but his father’s death has left him no choice. Rule the Deizian Empire and attempt to right his ancestors’ wrongs, or watch her fall to his greedy kin.
More than just Titus’ ideas hold Azurha captive. Night after night, he awakens desires she thought lost, and uncovers the magic of her hidden lineage. As her deadline approaches, Azurha is forced to make an impossible decision—complete her job and kill the man she loves, or fail and forfeit both their lives.
Buy Links: Amazon
Rating: 4 stars
Review: I love all kinds of fantasy books so the blurb of the book caught my eye.I went in not expecting much and much to my delight I was pleasantly surprised.It does kind of use the old formula of assassin-falls-in-love with-target but the descriptions,world building and characterizations in the book made up for it.
Titus is the new emperor of the Deizian Empire after his father's death and he is under a lot of pressure.It also doesn't help that he is kind of an idealist who wants to bring about changes in an empire which was expanded by war and slavery.There are many parallels between the world building and the Roman Empire.Azurha is the assassin who has been hired by one of his relatives to kill him.Since she used to be one of the slaves and was horribly abused she doesn't have much love for the nobles.
She is gifted as a concubine to him and she is surprised by his kindness and progressive ideas.He in turn is enamored by her intelligence,strength and sensuality.So as they spend more and more time together the greater she falls for him and finally decides not to kill him.But they still have politics,treachery and a failing magical barrier to deal with.
The world building with the combination of magic was wonderful to read.The architecture student in me loved all the scenes with the calidarium,tepidarium and other Roman elements.I loved how Titus and Azurha supported each other.He gave her the kindness and sense of belonging that she was always denied while she had the confidence in his abilities when he doubted himself.The division of society by the races and the fact that she was an Alpirion created much needed tension.It was nice to see them overcome it.
I was thankful that we didnt have that long drawn out you-kept-a-secret-from-me fight.Though Titus loved her he wasn't dumb enough to not suspect her.The only shortcoming is that we didn't get to see Azurha in action till the end.I would have loved to see more of her skills.I am happy that this is just the starting of the series and not all issues are immediately resolved.I am excited to read more of these books and would love to know whether the Alpirions too have magic!
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