Kings and Assassins
Lane Roberts
Del Rey, Apr 21 2009, $15.00
ISBN: 9780345495747
Janus Ixion knows he has come a long way from an impoverished commoner wondering when his next meal would occur to being the Earl of Last. Though he no longer worries about eating, he knows his countrymen in Antyre remain indigent and starving. He dreams of bringing the industrial revolution to Antyre so no one would go to bed hungry.
Prince Ivor of Itarus plans to replace King Aris on the throne of Antyre and arranges for the monarch to be assassinated as he knows the young heir Prince Adiran is a moron. However, although Ivor achieves his royal killing, the late king’s nephew from the wrong side of the sheets Janus is irate; not because his uncle died, but because the murder occurred to soon for him to make a bid for the throne. Meanwhile his wife Psyke, who believes he arranged his uncle’s murder, acts mad as the demonic god of death and victory Haith possesses her. Even more enigmatic than Psyke’s behavior, is King Adiran shows intelligence that makes everyone believe he must be possessed by an ancient god at a time when Itarus invades.
A few years have past since the events in MALEDICTE that focused on Janus’ rise and other political backstabbing in a realm where gods intrude. Fascinatingly, no one is a pure hero with Janus the closest as he condones his lethal methods to seize power by claiming he is the best person to enable Antyre to prosper and to prevent its annexation by Itarus. Fans will enjoy the battle for power as anything goes, but with neighbors invading and traitors inside the court with personal agendas and sparking unrest while the gods possesses people for reasons known to them. KINGS AND ASSASSINS is an excellent political fantasy.
Harriet Klausner
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