It was sooooo good. I love just about anything Brigid Kemmerer writes, so it's really no shock that I devoured this book in one (long) sitting. Baby goes to bed, mom gets to reading!!
Going into the book, I was not expecting the romance to go the way that it did. I was expecting a very different story than the one we got, but I wasn't mad about it either.
Can't wait to see where book 2 takes us!

Warrior Princess Assassin is a thrilling start to Brigid Kemmerer's Braided Fate series, marking her adult fantasy debut. The story follows a sheltered princess, her childhood best friend turned skilled assassin, and a warrior king, weaving their paths together in a tale of fate and passion .

The romantic tension is intense, and the fantasy elements are fantastic, keeping me hooked. The characters are well thought out, each with their own complexities and growth throughout the narrative.

While the pacing felt a bit slow in the middle, the engaging plot and character dynamics more than made up for it. Kemmerer's transition into adult fantasy is impressive, and I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series.

Ok so let me start off saying I love Brigid Kemmerer and her writing.

I loved the romances that were being built. Jory and Asher were childhood friends and almost lovers before a horrible thing happened and everything changed. I loved watching them start to get their chance now. Jory and Ky are trying to form an alliance for their kingdoms and I liked how he helped make Jory feel stronger. Ky and Asher had a sweet and sort of interesting dynamic as Ky really helped calm Asher after all the abuse he had to live through. The tension between everyone and the yearning was really fantastic.

That being said, this book was NOT marketed as Why Choose up until recently (after I had begged to the publisher for a physical ARC and received it). The blurb makes you kind of wonder where it will lead if you're already thinking why choose, but I was mostly thinking love triangle. I don't read why choose. At all. If I didn't like Brigid's writing and the way she weaves her stories together, I would have instantly DNF'd once I realized. When I noticed the way things were headed and then frantically googled it, I was DEVASTATED. I pushed through and finished and enjoyed the story overall, but did skip two spicier scenes toward the end. I liked all the relationships separate, but once it was a throuple situation, I wasn't interested. So if you like why choose, you'll love the character and romance development here.

The plot itself didn't have too much expansion, but it set up the world beautifully and since I know Brigid's writing, will go into a lot more details and twists in the next book. It gave just enough to get an idea of the world and some of the problems going on to get you intrigued.

If I liked why choose, I would be reading the next book. Sadly, my journey with this series ends here. I hope Brigid writes other Adult fantasy in the future.

Read if you love:
-Why Choose Romance
-Magic
-Political deals
-Trauma healing

Thank you to Avon Books/Harper Collins for this ARC. My thoughts are entirely my own.
Finish date: 5/18/25, Release date: 8/12/25

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC of Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer!

I found this book to be very fun and enjoyable! It was predominantly charachter driven, really focussing on the development of the three main characters throughout the story. We follow Ky, Jory and Asher as they navigate their pasts, and treacherous alliances, in order to create a future together.

I love the differing background of each character and thought this really brought a lot to the overall story. The connection that they form with one another is delicious, and I couldn't get enough!

It really felt like the plot didn't pick up much until the last quarter of the book, though I never found myself bored. I think the story is headed in a really exciting direction, which I'm sure will be explored more in the second book.

Overall, I would highly recommend!

I could not put this book down. Which was hard for a couple reasons. One, I was supposed to be working. Two, I wanted to stay in the world longer. (Good news for me, there are more books coming.) I absolutely loved all three of the main characters. Getting to see them from each others' points of view as well as from their own internal monologues with the multiple points of view made reading the book a much richer experience. Their flaws only served to make them more lovable. The world building was fabulous as was the pacing and reveals. Plenty of spice makes this definitely an adult book. I'll be counting down the days until Book 2!

"𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲."

The moment that I heard Brigid Kemmerer would be making her adult fantasy debut with Warrior Princess Assassin, I knew I would be sold right away. Brigid is one of my favorite storytellers, and I knew that I would easily fall in love with another series of hers and it turns out that I was right to trust my gut.

The book follows the POVs of our three main characters, our Warrior (Ky), our Princess (Jory), and our Assassin (Asher). Ky and Jory's older brother, the acting regent have been negotiating a marriage of alliance between Ky and Jory. Both kingdoms needing something from the other. While this is happening, Asher receives his next job - to kill both Ky and Jory. The story follows an adventure between the three, trying to survive multiple assassination attempts while also trying to figure out how to help both kingdoms.

Watching our three main characters develop, seeing how they earn each other's trusts (and lose it) and how they heal from their past is such a compelling story. You are focused on the plot (why was a hit put out on them / who wants them dead), but you're fully invested in each character that shows up on the page. I was only chapters in when we met a side character who I said "if they either betray the main character or die, I will riot" and that still stands after finishing the book.

My favorite thing about Brigid's writing is that she doesn't tend to end her books in a cliffhangers, even if it is a part of the series. She does an amazing job at wrapping the story up in a way that leaves you satisfied but also anticipating the next novel. You know where the story is heading and it's a lovely feeling.

I would highly recommend this to anyone willing to listen to me. I am so excited to see where this story and these characters go.

Brigid Kemmerer’s adult fantasy debut, Warrior Princess Assassin, weaves a sizzling tale of love, loyalty, and treachery set in a richly imagined world. At the heart of the story are three dynamic characters: Princess Jory, torn between her duty to her fading magic and her growing feelings for King Kyronan; King Maddox Kyronan, a fierce fire mage desperate to save his crumbling land; and Asher, the skilled assassin caught between risking everything to protect the woman he loves and his loyalty to the dark world he’s become part of.
Kemmerer masterfully explores the tensions between duty and desire, with intense political stakes and steamy emotional conflicts that keep the pages turning. Jory’s secret threatens to unravel her hopes for a future with Ky and ignite dangerous consequences, while Asher’s dangerous mission forces him to confront what he’s willing to sacrifice for love. Their intertwined fates spark a fiery story filled with betrayal, passion, and the struggle to trust in a perilous world.
Warrior Princess Assassin is a compelling blend of fantasy, romance, and intrigue that will enthrall fans of intense relationships and high-stakes action. Kemmerer crafts a captivating tale where love is a battlefield—and every choice can mean life or death.

Guys. Do NOT sleep on this book. I pre-ordered my signed copy online when I was only 25% into this novel as an eARC, I love it so much.

'Warrior Princess Assassin' is aptly named after the three main characters of the book. Our warrior is King Maddox Kyronan, of the kingdom Incendar. The king, known to his family and close cadre as 'Ky', has struck a deal to wed the princess of the neighboring kingdom Astranza. In exchange for his bride and favorable weather for his own kingdom from the King of Astranza, King Ky will use his troops to help protect Astranza from the warring Draegonis country. When Ky arrives in Astranza to formally propose to his bride, Princess Majoriana 'Jory', his carefully laid plans are destroyed when he is kidnapped from his room at the palace by his future bride and her best friend, Asher. Enter the Assassin. Blond haired, piercing blue-eyed Asher was raised with Princess Jory for the majority of their childhood, until an accident took both of their mothers from them. Now Asher is a Hunter, a paid assassin, and he sneaks visits to his childhood friend when he can. On the morning of King Ky's arrival, Asher is presented with new orders: one to King Maddox Kyronan, and another, separate, one to kill his only friend, Princess Majoriana. What follows is a book filled with magic, political intrigue, various attempted murder plots against our trio of unlikely allies, and more sexual tension than my heart could handle. Our Warrior, Princess, and Assassin find themselves learning how to trust and possibly how to heal, all while trying to keep themselves alive as they flee from the country of Astranza. With a character-driven plot that provides thrills, scares, and slow-burn romance, Brigid Kemmer has written what I'm thinking is my favorite Romantasy novel of the year thus far.

Spice level 3/5 but the sexual tension is rated at a 10

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon/Harper Voyager, and Brigid Kemmer for allowing me to read an eARC of this novel.

SERIOUSLY Y'ALL - DO.NOT.SLEEP.ON.THIS.NOVEL!!!

Warrior Princess Assassin was absolutely amazing! This is my first book from this author, and it definitely won't be my last. Not only am I now looking forward to reading the next book in this series but I'm looking forward to reading other series from this author after reading this book. This story was intriguing, compelling and captivating. It was full of mystery and suspense, secrets, betrayals, deaths, threats, fear, abuse, political scheming, it was messy, tragic, sweet, steamy, heartfelt, touching and so much more. I love the main characters Marjoriana (Jory), Asher and Kyronan (Ky). They were different in many ways, yet so alike in others and it made me love them more. I even enjoy the side characters. their friendships and their back-and-forth banters. Everyone seems to have something their fighting for and although some were following the rules, not everyone seems to have those same morals. Now in order to survive it comes down to doing what must be done and when others are breaking the rules all's fair play in love and war. The story ends with an answer to one of the huge mysteries in the story and I cannot wait to read the next book to find out what happens next. I think all paranormal romance readers that enjoy a good edge of your seat reading will enjoy this story. It's one I will be recommending to all of my romance book loving friends.

As a fan of Brigid Kemmerer’s Defy the Night series, I was thrilled to see her venture into adult fantasy with Warrior Princess Assassin. Kemmerer always writes engaging, emotionally layered characters, and that continues in this book. The trio of characters kept me equally invested, which is rare for me since I usually end up favoring one perspective over others.

While the character work was strong, I did find myself wishing for more plot development or a longer timeline to fully explore the stakes and worldbuilding.

Warrior Princess Assassin is a promising start and I’m curious to see how the story continues.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC!

I was so looking forward to this! I've read nearly everything Brigid Kemmerer had her hands on but this was her first adult book and I knew I had to have it. I enjoyed the story, but was a little put off as it still read so juvenile. I think without even knowing of Brigid's previous works, you could guess that this author was more comfortable writing young adult.

*ੈ✩‧₊˚Rating*ੈ✩‧₊˚
4.25/5 Stars

˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗Tropes˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗
🔥 Why Choose (MFM)
👑 Slow Burn
🗡 Knife To The Throat
🔥 Enemies To Lovers
👑 Arranged Marriage
🗡 Assassins Are Sent To Kill Them


𓂃🖊Notes and Highlights-

ˋ°•*⁀➷” For anyone who’s ever felt lost and alone and found sanctuary in the pages of a book… This story is for you.”

ˋ°•*⁀➷”’It’s not that I hate it,”’ he says, his voice so quiet. ‘I’m just…broken, Jory’”

💭 Thoughts-
This was a wonderful book that I really enjoyed reading, and may be my favorite one yet of the books I’ve read by Brigid Kemmer! I loved the three Povs we got with the different people and perspectives. I will say though that sometimes it did get a bit repetitive, but only a couple of times, so it didn’t really bother me at all like it does for other books a lot of times. Besides that, though, I also thought that there could have been more of a plot going on besides just them on the rode traveling to Ky’s kingdom. I felt they could have just added more to it so that there was just more going besides the slow burn going on and them being hunted and all. Other than those two things, though, it was a great book that I would totally recommend people read!

Now Playing:

⊹ ࣪ ˖In The Name Of Love By Martin Garrix & Bebe Rexha˖࣪ ⊹
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4.5/5

It's so great to see Brigid Kemmerer write an adult novel. Her YA books are so terrific with complex storytelling and no easy answers. Warrior Princess Assassin is gooood!

Warrior Princess Assassin (Deluxe Limited Edition) by Brigid Kemmerer
A fierce and fast-paced fantasy with a powerful heroine who’s equal parts warrior and survivor. Kemmerer weaves political intrigue, betrayal, and empowerment into a gripping tale. The deluxe edition adds a beautiful collectible touch to this thrilling read.

The title of this book initially caught me off guard, as I expected it to focus on a single character rather than three individuals who are involved in a romantic entanglement. As I delved into the story, I realized that it centered around a polyamorous relationship, which was not what I anticipated. I managed to get through more than half of the book, but ultimately I found it difficult to continue. The themes and relationship dynamics just didn’t resonate with me; it really wasn’t my cup of tea.

⭐ Rating: Infinity stars (but if I have to choose—5/5)
🔥 Spice: 3/5 – A couple of open-door scenes near the end that felt earned, emotional, and beautifully done.

This might be my favorite read of the year. I’m not even exaggerating—I was hooked from the very first page and completely obsessed by the end. The tension, the character dynamics, the twists… I devoured it and immediately wished book two already existed.

Told from three POVs, this story has everything! Betrayal, political tension, slow-burn romance, and so much emotional weight. Each character has their own past, their own pain, and their own secrets.

Things That Stood Out:
- Asher completely broke me. His story is gut-wrenching and honest. He’s guarded, vulnerable, traumatized, but still full of so much strength.
- Ky is nothing like I expected. Yes, he’s a fearsome warrior-king, but also layered and surprisingly kind. The more we learned about him, the more I loved him.
- Jory is fierce but sheltered. She’s grown up surrounded by lies, and watching her start to question everything and step into her own was really rewarding.
- The tension between the three of them? Off the charts. The attraction, the conflict, the trust issues, every interaction had me holding my breath. This is definitely shaping up to be a why-choose romance, and I’m fully on board.
- The plot is full of betrayal, secrets, and high stakes. There are several scenes that had me gasping—and that final moment? With the three of them joining hands? I had goosebumps.
- The intimacy is slow burn and well-earned. It doesn’t hit until near the end, but when it does, it’s meaningful and emotional. It just works for where these characters are.

Warrior Princess Assassin comes out August 12, and I already know it’s the start of what is going to be one of my favorite series of all time.

let me start by saying the defy the night series was one of my top three series I read last year so I went into this with the same expectation. I really did like the characters, she always writes very good characters that you can’t help but like. even with three povs, this didn’t feel all over the place or hard to follow at all because there was literally no plot, IMO. a bunch of stuff happened, lots of explaining of the stuff that was happening and then boom, the end. the literal last page gave the premise that this will be part of a series but I’m not sure if it was a good first book to reel people in to continue reading the rest.

thank you HarperCollins & netgalley for the earc!

Big thanks to NetGalley, Brigid Kemmerer, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy!

Five Stars on Fire!

Every book I’ve read by Brigid Kemmerer has somehow left me both speechless and unable to stop talking about it for weeks, and Warrior Princess Assassin is no exception!

Princess Marjoriana (Jory) of Astranza is preparing to meet her betrothed, King Maddox Kyronan (Ky) of Incendar, when Asher, her childhood best friend turned assassin, appears with orders from the Hunter’s Guild to kill them both. Knowing someone will be sent in his stead, Asher attempts to get Jory to safety, but a tangle of mistrust and uncoordinated efforts lands all three of them back at the palace where tensions flare between the kingdoms. With trust shattered, Ky proposes a one-month stay in Incendar to determine if the alliance is still viable.

Joined by Asher and a contingent of Ky’s soldiers, the trio journey across Astranza and Incendar, where the threat of the Guild and a rivaling nation loom large. Jory, Ky, and Asher begin to form an uneasy bond. Trust deepens. Loyalties shift. And an unexpected romance sparks between them. Just as they settle into peace, betrayal strikes, and they find the greatest threat may be closer than they ever imagined.

Be still my angsty heart! I love a tortured soul, and Ky and Asher deliver this in spades. Their personalities clash and complement each other in all the right ways. Protective characters make my heart melt, and there’s a moment where Ky is relieved to know Jory and Asher are safe in their carriages, and ugh, all the feels! Ky draws a wolf metaphor for Asher in his POV, and while I often find wolf tropes tired, this one was executed beautifully. Asher is a deep character with a painful past, and I thoroughly enjoyed his stubbornness and clunky ways of navigating a world that’s been so cruel to him.

Jory is a sheltered princess with little real-world experience. I kept waiting for this to make me cringe, but her innocence was handled with nuance. Ky and Asher treated her with a care that felt natural and respectful rather than patronizing.

This novel gives a rich array of side characters! The antics of Ky’s soldiers made the journey, and I appreciated their evolving attitude toward Asher and even Jory. The lead-up and pay-off to meeting Ky’s sister was so heart-warming and satisfying.

The disability representation found in Brigid Kemmerer’s books is always a welcome treat as they are written with such care and complexity. Their disability is never their entire identity, but a facet of who they are. That kind of representation is rare and deeply appreciated.

The worldbuilding is immaculate! I find myself so immersed in Brigid Kemmerer’s worlds, and Ky’s palace has officially made the top ten list of fictional places I’d love to visit! The betrayal hit hard, and now I cannot wait for the next book to see how it all plays out.

The part of me that indulges in the occasional ot3 fanfiction absolutely adored the romance in this. There was a moment early on where Asher and Jory teetered on the edge of insta-love, but their shared history quickly added the depth I needed. Asher’s efforts to preserve her childhood image of him were so precious, and he completely won me over!

I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to romantasy readers. It hits all the marks: lush worldbuilding, sharp emotional beats, and a satisfying slow-burn. I think fans of Forging Silver into Stars will love this! Think Tycho, Jax, and Callyn, iykyk.

Big thanks to NetGalley, Brigid Kemmerer, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy!

Five Stars on Fire!

Every book I’ve read by Brigid Kemmerer leaves me both speechless and unable to stop talking about it for weeks, and Warrior Princess Assassin is no exception!

Princess Majoriana (Jory) of Astranza is preparing to meet her betrothed, King Maddox Kyronan (Ky) of Incendar, when Asher, her childhood best friend turned assassin, appears with orders from the Hunter’s Guild to kill them both. Knowing someone will be sent in his stead, Asher attempts to get Jory to safety, but a tangle of mistrust and uncoordinated efforts lands all three of them back at the palace where tensions flare between the kingdoms. With trust shattered, Ky proposes a one-month stay in Incendar to determine if the alliance is still viable.

Joined by Asher and a contingent of Ky’s soldiers, the trio journey across Astranza and Incendar, where the threat of the Guild and a rivaling nation looms large. Jory, Ky, and Asher begin to form an uneasy bond. Trust deepens. Loyalties shift. And an unexpected romance sparks between them. Just as they settle into peace, betrayal strikes, and they find the greatest threat may be closer than they ever imagined.

Be still my angsty heart! I love a tortured soul, and Ky and Asher deliver this in spades. Their personalities clash and complement each other in all the right ways. Protective characters make my heart melt, and there’s a moment where Ky is relieved to know Jory and Asher are safe in their carriages, and ugh, all the feels! Ky draws a wolf metaphor for Asher in his POV, and while I often find wolf tropes tired, this one was executed beautifully. Asher is a deep character with a painful past, and I thoroughly enjoyed his stubbornness and clunky ways of navigating a world that’s been so cruel to him. Jory is a sheltered princess with little real-world experience. I kept waiting for this to make me cringe, but her innocence was handled with nuance. Ky and Asher treated her with a care that felt natural and respectful rather than patronizing.

This novel gives a rich array of side characters! The antics of Ky’s soldiers made the journey and I appreciated their evolving attitude toward Asher and even Jory. The lead up and pay off to meeting Ky’s sister was so heart-warming and satisfying.

The disability representation found in Brigid Kemmerer’s books is always a welcome treat as they are written with such care and complexity. Their disability is never their entire identity, but a facet of who they are. That kind of representation is rare and deeply appreciated.

The worldbuilding is immaculate! I find myself so immersed in Brigid Kemmerer’s worlds, and Ky’s palace has officially made the top ten list of fictional places I’d love to visit! The betrayal hit hard, and now I cannot wait for the next book to see how it all plays out.

The part of me that indulges in the occasional ot3 fanfiction absolutely adored the romance in this. There was a moment early on where Asher and Jory teetered on the edge of insta-love, but their shared history quickly added the depth I needed. Asher’s efforts to preserve her childhood image of him were so precious, and it completely won me over!

I would absolutely recommend this book to romantasy readers. It hits aIl the marks: lush worldbuilding, sharp emotional beats, and a satisfying slow-burn. I think fans of Forging Silver into Stars will love this! Think Tycho, Jax, and Callyn, iykyk.

Brigid Kemmerer, in her adult debut gives us the Princess, arranged to marry the Warrior King of a neighboring country and the Assassin, her childhood best friend who is hired to kill them both.
Now if you are going into this expecting a plot driven story I would ask you to adjust your expectations. This is more of a focus on the growing relationship between the 3 main characters and how each of their pasts impacts their roles and their ability to fulfill them. (Which makes it a more meaningful story in the long run.)
While I do feel that the Princess is used a bit as the innocent and naive stereotype, the male characters are given fully fleshed out development. Asher especially is given such thoughtful care in how he deals with his past experiences. The quiet shame he carries never feels used for theatrics which is a testament to how great of a writer Kemmerer is.

Brigid Kemmerer's books are always a hit for me and this was no exception. I usually only read books with one POV and one love interest, but this book with three POVS and an MMF romance had me absolutley hooked! But I shouldn't be surprised because Kemmerer's writing is just that good!!

The story follows a warrior king and a princess from a neighboring kingdom who attempt to strike a marriage alliance for the betterment of their kingdoms. But things get complicated with the princess's best friend, an assassin, is tasked with killing them both.
I really enjoyed each POV and I never felt bored with any of them. I loved seeing them peel back each other's layers. They are all quite different with complex backgrounds, but they work together so well.
I loved the tension! Though the initial physical attraction is apparent pretty early on, there was a gradual buildup to their relationship as they tear down their walls and let the other in. The book laid a great foundation to their dynamic that I'm super excited to explore in future installments of the series! I really liked the exploration of deeper topics as it was done tastefully while still conveying the hardship and complexities of the characters' situations. It was a great balance of fun, lighthearted moments and serious ones.

This is a true romantasy!! I don't want to give away too much, but this has everything to love about the genre!
✓ lots of tension
✓ well-paced
✓ great character development
✓ and some spicyyy scenes

The book deals with some very mature themes so check content warnings before diving in if you may be concerned! HIGHLY recommend if you're a romantasy lover looking for a new story with unique characters and steamy romance!