This was an epic fantasy in a shortish (206 pages) form. I liked the story and the partnership of the main characters, and it really did feel like an epic fantasy. Rett and Ridge grew up together as orphans and are now partenered assassins working for the king. There is a lot of action and a little bit of supporting magic, which was a good mix.
I felt like the first few chapter transitions were a tiny bit rough as we were getting to know the characters, but the book worked for me and I'll be reading the series!

You know you occasionally open a book and within the first few pages, you know it’s going to be a fantastic read? Assassin’s Honor did that for me: forbidden magic, assassins, a bond that within three lines makes you want to punch anyone who comes between them… It really had it all.

Rett and Ridge are assassins. They are also brothers: a brotherhood forged in an orphanage when they were children, learning to watch each other’s backs and never letting those lessons go to waste. They both have a touch of magic – a forbidden power they have to keep secret, even if it does help them in their job.

The bond between these two men left me grinning like a fool. They would die for each other without a second though, but are also more than prepared to tease and torment each other with an easy comradeship that is hard to get into words but Martin manages it perfectly.

Magic is an undercurrent throughout the entire story. It’s not explained in depth though – I couldn’t explain the rules of this magic. But it works – the characters themselves have never been able to explore it due to it being frowned upon and are only just starting to understand what they might be capable of. There were a couple of moments where the magic was just a little too convenient but not enough it was irritating.

The narration switches between Rett and Ridge. There aren’t any dividing points between the two men though; it flows from one to the other. It works in a way: you know they’d think the same way due to their job, growing up together and being a team. But there were a few places where I had to backtrack just to figure out exactly whose view point it was from.

The secondary characters were entertaining as well. Henri – their “butler” whose talents seem to know no bounds and both men would be lost – if not worse – without him. Henri made me laugh; he’s always got a plan in place. Lorella is a medium, whose connection to the ghosts comes in handy when our favourite assassins end up in over their heads.

The book is described as an epic fantasy without the epic length and that is such an accurate description. There’s a mysterious bad guy, impending danger, a fast-pace that draws into a neat climax. I read this in just over a day, and while that was partly due to not being able to put it down, it was mainly because it’s a short, sharp story about loyalty.

This book doesn’t necessarily have the strongest writing or in-depth plot. But it has charm, fantastic characters and relationships that you want to root for from the very beginning. It’s the type of read that sweeps you up and leaves you smiling. You don’t need anything more than that.

If you’re looking for a light-hearted read where loyalty and friendship over comes everything, this is the book for you!

This novel explores the camaraderie and derring-do of two slightly rough-around-the-edges heroes. It starts off with a Bang and doesn't let up. Explosive scenes, magic, betrayal, intrigue and, of course, a Kingdom to save are the ingredients for this tasty recipe. Talking about "magic"...MAGIC?! Unique explanation of magic in this world. The momentum follows throughout. Each revelation brings the reader closer and closer to the characters. Deliciously anticipating the next course!!!

I love Ms. Martin's works, both the high fantasy and the paranormal. I have to say, though, that this book gets back to the type and style of writing that I think she does best which is the high, epic fantasy. You know the type of fantasy full of castles, Kings, horses and leather (both work and ridden), ladies in dresses and men in armor, magic and mages. That is what you get with this book plus intrigue, murder, assassins, plot twists, and the thrill of the chase. It has great world-building. The characters have a camaraderie that is reminiscent of the Necromancer Series. I hope there are more books to come

**I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.**

Man, you can just climb in these stories and live for a while. There’s a shine to the images, a velvet to the word flow. Excellent all around.

This novel introduces us to the world of Landria, and more specifically to Joel “Ridge” Breckinridge and Garrett “Rett” Kennard, a wonderful duo of official assassins for the king. Assassins with honor, of course! Ridge and Rett are partners and best friends with secret abilities which help them to be the best of their kind. In a profession that has a short life span, Ridge and Rett stretch the limits of their power to save the life of their king.

Ridge and Ret are lovable characters with good reparte, but for me, my favorite is definitely their valet Henri, who has his own set of skills and abilities that the duo would never be able to do without. Overall, the characters are intriguing, learning about their past gives a good understanding of their motivation and bond.

Landria has many wonderful minor characters that Martin draws together to create a fast-paced plot. I really look forward to reading more about the adventures of the two assassins and hope that many of the minor characters make a reappearance.