I’ve read quite a few of this author’s YA books and enjoyed them (especially the Defy the Night trilogy) so I was super excited to read her adult debut. (Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for the review copy!)

Right off the bat, I was drawn into the world. Brigid Kemmerer has such an easy writing style. The book follows three perspectives:

The warrior: king of a neighboring kingdom who has come to make an alliance
The Princess: is set to be married off to the king
The assassin: sent to kill them, and he also happens to be the Princess’s childhood friend.

I really enjoyed the first half which introduced the political scene of the world. Between assassination attempts, the banter between the king and the princess, and tenuous alliances, I was hooked.

However, I guess I’m not a big fan of romantasy because I was less interested in the second half which was much more romance focused. There was a lot of introspection from the characters which made the sense of urgency that was found in the first half disappear. Also, I was expecting the standard kind of love triangle situation, but that is not what this is. This is a throuple/polyamory story which I was not expecting at all, and I didn’t really care for it to be honest. All three characters were lusting after each other instead of trying to save the two kingdoms. It got a bit tiring when each character would think about the other two characters every time that character had a chapter. I also found the three narrative voices to sound somewhat similar which made it a bit confusing at times.

The story was well written and romantasy lovers will really enjoy it, especially if you are a fan of this author’s ya books.

DNF at 25%

I wasn’t really vibing with the book, so I looked up reviews. It felt a little too insta lust to me, but whatever. It’s just not my thing.

I did think it would be a love triangle. NO.

I had NO idea this was a why choose romance. I can confirm. The girl does it with both dudes at the same time. The dudes do it with each other. Everyone is doing it with everyone.

I’m embarrassed to say the least. 🙈

I feel incredibly disappointed that this was not explicitly mentioned in a warning or on the description. I very much feel like it was hidden intentionally. I am not sure if it was because it was seen as a spoiler, but I strongly believe this warning could have prevented readers like me from even trying this book and giving it a negative review. I am very disappointed in this experience and will think twice before picking up this author again. This makes me sad because I absolutely love her previous work. I love that a note was included at the beginning, but I truly think it should have included that there would be sex with multiple people at once (or something to that effect).

I never leave reviews for DNFs, but I felt it was important in this case.

From the very first page. This book sweeps readers into a vividly imagined world where magic pulses beneath every shadow and destiny hangs in the balance. With a rich tapestry of lore and an unforgettable cast of characters, this fantasy tale offers everything fans of the genre crave: adventure, heart, and high stakes.

At the center of the story is a compelling hero grappling with inner demons and outer threats alike. Their journey from humble beginnings to a confrontation with fate is as thrilling as it is emotionally resonant. Along the way, a diverse ensemble of allies and enemies deepens the narrative, each one distinct and integral to the story’s unfolding.

Okay so I love Brigid’s YA fantasy books. So I was so excited to see she was writing an Adult fantasy. I’ve been eagerly awaiting this since last December when it was announced. And this book does not disappoint. I love that we get all 3 POVs. Each character is so different and so well developed. I love getting in all their heads and knowing why they are the way they are. And the way I went in thinking this was a love triangle only to realize it’s a why choose? I SCREAMED. The angst and the longing are absolute perfection. Add in the actual plot of trying to find out who is sending assassins after Ky and Jory? This book was perfect and I don’t know how I’ll handle waiting for book 2.

Brigid Kemmerer’s impressive adult romantasy debut, Warrior Princess Assassin is pure gold. A warrior, a princess, and an assassin are in an epic slow burn polycule while on the run from unknown political assassins. King Maddox Kyronan has negotiated a marriage contract with Princess Jory as part of a peace agreement to ensure his people are fed by the princess’s abundant resources. Jory’s people are in equal need of Ky’s army’s protection. On the day of their marriage, Jory’s childhood best friend, Asher, receives two high-level assassination contracts he is expected to carry out…for Ky and Jory. Asher would like to take Jory and leave behind Ky’s dead body, but she convinces him to take the king with them. Now all three are on the run from political assassins who would do anything to stop Jory and Ky’s marriage from moving forward at any cost.

Kemmerer’s always been particularly adept at handling the balance between romance and fantasy worldbuilding, but her abilities are on full display here. There is enough world-building where I was fully invested in the political and magical turmoil that got them into their situation in the first place. But what really makes this book sing is Ky, Jordy, and Asher’s relationship. Their almost immediate connection is built on a fundamental level of Grade A yearning. The power of a careful glance or hand on the cheek is fully honed here.

Ky is such a strong, kind king who is feels the need to be in control of every situation he walks into. In most cases, this is a skill that serves him because he is supposed to take command, especially as a soldier on the battlefield. His struggle is being able to turn those instincts off.

Jordy is protected to her determent. She is strong, chaotic, and brave but has been limited and stifled by her family. She is also deeply lonely. After the death of her mother and subsequent exile of her best and only friend Asher, she had no one who wasn’t too afraid of her older brother to develop a loyalty to her. Of course, Asher did his best to visit as often as he could but that was only once every few months. Between the three of them, she struggles the most with coming to terms with the reality of the way her people live outside the palace, including how those policies have affected the life of Asher, her closest friend.

Asher is deliberate, defiant, wonderful, and protective. Although we are introduced to him as an Assassin from the Hunter’s Guild, he only joined after escaping years of brutal indentured labor. When Jordy’s mother was assassinated, Asher’s mother was executed for supposedly taking part in the attempt. He was then punished for his bloodline association and exiled from the palace. For years, he kept the extent of his enslavement and pain hidden from Jordy. He needs to learn to trust both her and Ky if they all want to survive, but more importantly, he deserves the time to learn to accept their affection and protection.

All in all, a truly deadly trio who are way too cute together. Although this is a slow burn, it is a book with some deeply queer, thoughtful open-door scenes. Book one is clearly the start of their relationship that I am sure will evolve brilliantly over the course of the series.

If you are looking for an adult romantasy with a power throuple that will make you yearn for book 2, you should really pre-order Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer set to release August 12, 2025.

CW: past sexual assault, familial abuse, past trauma, past enslavement, death of loved ones, branding

This slow burn had me up until 4am in an absolute chokehold. I went in blind and was thoroughly surprised. Warrior Princess Assassin is told in 3 POV’s—the warrior, the princess, and the assassin, and I ate it up.

As a longtime fan, I can absolutely support this jump from YA to Adult romantasy. 👏🏼

Were there some repetitive moments? Yes. But I was here for the vibes and it was vibingggggg.

Screaming, crying, kicking my feet because Brigid Kemmerer’s first ever ADULT romantasy was PHENOMENAL. I was ecstatic to receive this ARC and that enthusiasm did not go away until the book ended.
The Writing:
All three main characters were fantastic and I loved that we got to read all 3 of their POVs. Let’s be real. Usually when reading a multi POV there is always that one character who you wish you could skip over or whose POV you could do without. I am thrilled to report that was not the case with story and I loved all 3 POVs written. I inhaled this story. No, really, once I began reading, i couldn’t put it down until I had finished,
The Romance:
You are simply not ready for how good it is. Was I ready? Absolutely not. Was it everything you could want and more? Absolutely yes. Being that this is BKs debut ADULT novel, I truly wasn’t sure what to expect or how her writing would differ from her young adult writing. All I can say without spoiling anything is that she she hit it out of the park and if you are weary of a love triangle… please for the love of god read the book anyway.

Thank you to the author and publisher for this ARC opportunity.

Love this book so much it was perfect I loved the characters and the plot. I will definitely be buying this book. Thank you for letting me read it.

Do you want some hot MMF action? Let's go! 💞

Warrior Princess Assassin is a triple 1st person pov romantasy where a political intrigue and stabby action serve as a backdrop to the three-way relationship developing between the leads. The Princess (Jory) is arranged to marry the Warrior (the king of a neighboring kingdom, Ky) and her childhood friend who became the Assassin (Asher) is hired to kill them both.

That sets up a conflict where mostly Ky and Asher want to kill one another, but can't, because "it would upset the princess". As the story progresses, there are more and more suspicions that the real culprit is out there who set them up on this collision course. But who and why wants them dead? So we proceed to one of my favorite tropes: enemies who have to put aside their animosities because someone out there wants them dead.

I've seen some reviews complain that this would be better as a MM story without the princess, but to me, this is the best of both worlds. The two damaged souls flicking between fighting / trying to kill one another and hurt / comfort scenes, which is a common dynamic in MM, and we don't need to cut the woman from the picture. Here the princess is a bit of a "stock naive blank slate romantasy heroine" but she enhances the relationship and the plot, and isn't treated as a hindrance.

The tone of the book is very much conversational / gossipy and character-focused rather than plot-focused. I feel the 1st person pov works well for this kind of story, where characters lovingly ramble about their lives. I thought it would be boring, but instead I was immediately engrossed in the emotional turmoils of all the leads. They're also compulsively likeable, even if a bit predictable in the archetypes they fulfill.

Also, just because it has an interpersonal drama focus and conversational prose, it doesn't mean it's YA, and I wish people would stop marking it as such. All leads are 25+ and there's an extended explicit spicy sequence (which is pretty hot ngl). Adult books don't need to always be "deep, intricate and realistic", sometimes you want some easy escapism fun amirite?

Oh yeah, and I liked that the spicy scene wasn't a typical trope checklist and was pretty creative and adapted to the characters' roles in the story.

There are a lot of other common romantasy microtropes here like knife to the throat, huddling for warmth, sharing a bed / horse / campfire, hurt / comfort, a short moment of masquerade / hidden identity, nicknames, sexy sparring, sexy bath, you get it, all the cheese this cheeseburger asks for.

Recommended for: romantasy readers who want a breezy, pages-fly popcorn read where worldbuilding and plot takes a backseat to the development of the main relationship. Readers who want a MMF relationship where all sides of the triangle receive an ample focus and feel like they're truly better all together than if one of them was removed.

TW: PTSD, torture, slavery (including sexual), parental death.

Representation: bi/pan characters, side character with mental disability.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager & Netgalley for the ARC!

Oh my goodness! I am a huge Brigid Kemmerer fan and her debut adult fantasy did NOT disappoint! All I can say is "WOW!" I can't wait to read more. This novel just sucked you in and refused to let go until the very last page! Thank you Netgalley for providing this e-arc.

I absolutely loved this book. I can't wait until I can read the next book by Brigid Kemmerer. Five out of five stars from me and would be more if I could.

Thank you to NetGalley for this review copy.

This book is amazing. It is her first adult book and Brigid was not lying when she said ADULT. The story is from the POV of each character which is always nice to move the story along. The story itself was twisty and turny. Some of the twists, I had hoped would happen and some shocked me. I need the next book ASAP.

4.75 stars

*A huge thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books, and Harper Voyager for the chance to read this ARC!*

I knew from the start of this book that I was going to adore the 3 main characters even if I wasn’t sure of how this story was going to turn out. As per usual, Brigid Kemmerer is a genius and pulled me so deeply into this world that it was easy to fly through and yet, I am so sad it’s already over. If I could give this a million stars, I would.

The warrior Ky, the ruthless king of Incendar.
The princess Jory, second in line to the throne of Astranza.
The assassin Asher, and Jory’s childhood friend.

We meet these 3 at the height of negotiations between Incendar and Astranza, where an alliance is being brokered between the two countries. Ky is in desperate need of the magic that flows through Astranza’s king’s veins to help feed his people. While Astranza is in need of the battle hardened Incendarian king’s military to protect them from invasion. All seems to be going in the right direction until the guild gives Asher two well paying jobs. The targets: Ky and Jory.

I don’t want to give too many spoilers away as this journey is incredible to experience. It honestly threw some curveballs I didn’t see coming, but I loved all the same. This story explores trauma on multiple levels, understanding, love, friendship, and betrayal. The cliffhanger was immaculate and I’m absolutely dying for a second book now.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I have been dying to read this since Brigid announced her debut adult book!

To be honest, I wasn’t thrilled about the title of the book but I was pleasantly surprised that the warrior, the princess, and the assassin weren’t the same person. The POV’s switched effortlessly and at the perfect times.


⚠️SPOILER⚠️

I wasn’t sure about the throuple aspect at first because a lot of books really make it forced but OF COURSE Brigid killed it. It was NEEDED and so so perfect. They balance each other so much. Asher has had a ROUGH life. He is an assassin but he has shielded his best friend Jory for YEARS to keep her safe from the horrors of the world. Jory has been sheltered of the ways of her kingdom by her brother and father and has been raised to be less than. Ky is the perfect balance of a fierce warrior and sweet and gentle. He helps Jory to be the woman she wants to be by encouraging her fierceness while being so gentle with Asher and helping him feel so comfortable with being touched and being comfortable in himself. The perfect triangle of strength and gentility amongst each other. If that isn’t enough, the TENSION is 🥵🥵🥵. I can’t wait to see what they do in the next book against their enemies and WITH each other.😅

I adored this book from start to finish!! The breathless pace kept me up reading all night desperate to see where things went chapters by chapter and I know other readers will be the same. My only regret is that I’ll have to wait so long to get more of these characters!

Jory is clever, bold, and fiercely protective. She is dedicated to doing what she thinks is right, even if it isn’t easy. I admire her courage and her willingness to ask for help or admit when she doesn’t know something.

Ky is the perfect tortured soldier/king. He is kind and determined to do right by his people even when they’ve lost faith in him. His patience is one of his best traits, and his ability to read people and give them exactly what they need was incredible to see throughout the book. Watching him interact with his soldiers was so emotional, just seeing how deep theur bonds are.


Asher is more than just a highly skilled assassin, he is full of love and ready to help others even when he has every right to be distrustful. It broke my heart and filled me with so much joy to see the start of his emotional recovery as he opened up to Ky and Jory.

The three of them have such a unique and compelling bond, I was laughing out lough at their banter, gasping at their declarations of love, and rendered speechless at the depth of emotional they develop for each other in such a short period of time.

I cannot wait for this book to come out so I can start recommending it to people, and I will be eagerly awaiting the sequel!

3.5 stars for me! This started so strong and I couldn’t put it down but I felt the middle of the book became quite repetitive and not very plot driven. I absolutely loved the “why choose” trope and felt like either that could have been further developed or the plot, but I was left just wanting more all around. I’m excited to see where the story goes in the future! The first book in any series is tougher with the world building and character development, so I hope the next has a little more to the plot.

Warrior Princess Assassin is the first book in the Braided Fate series by Brigid Kemmerer.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5

Let me first start by saying I adored Defy the Night. That trilogy will always be one of my absolute favorites. So when I saw that Bridge Kemmerer was jumping into Adult Romantasy, I immediately signed up for the ARC. Also, I haven't seen the design in person, but I'm into the color scheme and sprayed edges on the special edition.

There were a lot in this book that I was not expecting. First off, a note: if you prefer an MF romance, this book is not for you. I usually don't read Why Choose unless it's a big cuddle party with everyone involved, so this was a surprise as it unfolded with each POV. Braided fates, if you will. This one worked for me, mostly because the attractions were apparent and well-developed. I do think, however, that this story suffered from the development of the relationships. One coupling is much stronger and more natural, and the other two in the trio felt rather forced. The POVs also felt very similar to one another; one voice was more distinct than the other two.

While Defy the Night was both plot/action and character-driven throughout the series in multiple POVs, this story felt driven solely for the resulting spice toward the end between the trio. There was a lot of traveling and a lot of forced proximity that was building tension to the penultimate spicy scene. A positive note: the spice itself was fun. I think the author did a great job here. However, I do think the overall plot still suffered because of it.

The end of the book does open a plotline for book 2, which does seem interesting enough to continue with the series, but I would like a more compelling storyline in the next one. Brigid is always so good with schemes and plots, so here's hoping.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for a copy of this eARC.

I have never met a Brigid Kemmerer book that wasn’t WILDLY entertaining, and this adult debut was no exception! She always makes it sooo easy to fly through the pages; I finished the first 60% in one sitting until I forced myself to stop because it was 1:30 AM. I LOVEEE fantasy books with royalty and Brigid is a top tier expert in that category. Plus, she always introduces political and societal structures that are so interesting and unique.

Warrior Princess Assassin is told from 3 POVs; I’ll admit that I preferred Ky and Jory’s chapters over Asher’s. Jory was my favorite! Headstrong and kind and brave, I looked forward to her chapters. I’ll admit that I’m not usually the biggest fan of poly romances. I did like how this first book really dealt with any competition between the men and it seems like the three of them are all aware of where they stand in the relationship, so hopefully there’s not a lot of romantic drama in further books.

The second half dragged a teeny bit and the ending seemed a little rushed. I’m glad the trio were not separated and plan to work together; definitely interested to see how the rest of the series pans out! Especially intrigued to learn more about the magic. I had a lot of fun with this. Though I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite Kemmerer world or series opener, I’ll definitely let her try to convince me with the next book!

I love the way Brigid Kemmerer writes her fantasy novels but this one wasn't for me. Not a fan of the throuple.

Brigid Kemmerer is a must-read for me and this was no exception. While some parts of it did still read like YA, I loved the connections between the characters. The love triangle is actually engaging and an ACTUAL triangle which I adored very much. It’s even got spice! Highly recommended.