*ੈ✩‧₊˚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!

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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!

Warrior Princess Assassin was an electrifying start to a fantasy trilogy that absolutely delivered on the promise of magic, betrayal, romance, and gut-punch emotion.
The author’s adult fantasy debut pulled me in from the first chapter and never let go. I was completely hooked by the triangle at the heart of the story—Jory, Ky, and Asher—each with their own secrets, motivations, and emotional baggage. The stakes were high from every angle: political, magical, and personal.
Princess Jory was the standout for me—a sharp, complex heroine who carried the weight of her dying magic and her kingdom’s fate while trying to protect those she loved. Her chemistry with both Ky and Asher was intense but distinct, and the author masterfully built a tangled web of longing, duty, and impossible choices.
Ky was more than just the typical brooding warrior king—he had layers, vulnerability, and a strong sense of honor that made his growing bond with Jory incredibly compelling. And Asher? His arc was a perfect blend of heartache and tension. Watching him wrestle with the mission to kill the woman he’s always loved was painful in the best way.
The worldbuilding was lush, the pacing flew by, and the tension—both romantic and plot-driven—never let up. And yes, the steam level was just right for this kind of emotionally charged story.
By the time I turned the last page, I was already desperate for book two. Warrior Princess Assassin balanced high fantasy with raw emotion so well, and I can’t wait to see what the author does next in this world.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you the NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

I feel like every major YA author is writing an adult novel right now, which I can't be too mad about.

This book follows three POVs: the Warrior (King Maddox 'Ky' Kyronan, who has a bad reputation for not taking care of his people), the Princess (Jory, who is super innocent, has no experience in the real world, but somehow presents herself as a leader, and is suppose to marry Ky), and the Assassin (Asher, who has a tragic past and is best friends/in love with Jory and is hired to kill Jory and Ky).

Generally speaking, this was a fun book to read. But I would say that this book doesn't scream "ADULT NOVEL" except for that one sex scene. I feel like it lacks the political, social, cultural, world development that an adult novel would typically explore. Instead, if you take away that one sex scene, it feels pretty much like a YA novel. That doesn't mean it wasn't written well, but it's not up to par to what I've been reading with other adult books (in terms of complexity). Additionally, the plot itself is fairly simple and a bit slow IMO.

I found the romance to be pretty decent. I don't have anything to complain about it.

I will admit that I didn't like Jory. Yes, she's naive because she hasn't been able to explore the world outside of her princess POV. But it's hard to believe that she's so charismatic and is a leader because she doesn't have worldly experience. I can't fault her for being naive, but I can judge her a bit for trying to take a lead without understanding the political and social context of a situation.

Overall, I'm kind of interested in picking up the next book. I'll add it to my TBR list, but we'll see what happens.

This started off very promising! We have 3 main characters who are—you guessed it—a princess, a warrior, and an assassin. I liked the complexity of the characters, and I always appreciate how Kemmerer's FMCs are both kind yet strong.

The tension was great, and Kemmerer always writes compelling characters, and Jory, Ky, and Asher are no exception.

That being said, this book was a lot of all vibes, no plot. The vast majority of the book was spent on the road, where the three main characters had the same, repeated interactions, aka yearning. As a fair warning, I also thought this was going to be a love triangle, but it does end up being a throuple.

I do think what plot we got is ripe for potential, so maybe the sequel will move along a little faster. Overall, I just found myself wanting a little more. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for a review!

Defy the night is my all time favorite trilogy so I was nervous to read this. For a first book, this was really good and built up the world, plot, and characters really well. I love Asher because he 100% gives morally grey vibes with his attitude. Maddox still feels like there is more to be uncovered. JORY IS MY GIRL! I loved her fierce spirit and inner monologue. The best part of this book was the tension and character building but I am very excited to see where Brigid takes us next 😀

I normally love Kemmerer's writing. But this book was not for me. I didn't love the story. I felt like it dragged and then the same things just kept happening over and over again. The threesome at the end was just bizarre and not my thing at all. This is a no for me. I will stick with her YA books.

Brigid Kemmerer said “I am doing ADULT romantasy now!!”… and she did not hold back with this bisexual, slow burn of a love triangle.

Warrior Princess Assassin sounds like a very plot-heavy title but don’t be fooled: this book is deeply interior, probing into the minds of three characters who all want to bang.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

My new favorite series! I have always loved anything Brigid Kemmerer writes, but this adult fantasy gets to dive even deeper into a beautiful love story.

The book itself was well written and I enjoyed the characters and their relationship to one another. However I felt like plot wise we didn’t really get very far? The whole thing takes place over…I don’t know, a week? And we are essentially traveling from one country to another for the majority of the story. I wish we had gotten more plot overall rather than just scheme plotting.

CAN YOU HEAR ME SCREAMINGGGGGG, oh my god the way this book was so much fun?!

hear me out, im going to be upfront and honest right away that there is not much that happens in this book until towards the end !!!BUT!!! i think this was SUCH a good and fun way to set up this trilogy. its an introduction to the world, magic, characters and plot without it being extremely overwhelming the way 99% of fantasy’s are these days. it allows you to get comfortable and familiar without too much pressure to keep up with 10 billion things.

every single character in this book was extremely pleasant and intriguing, im very obsessed with the three main characters and the dynamic that they’re attempting to figure out. i really liked all of Kys men that surround him. im very much looking forward to learning more about Kys sister. The traitor is a tad predictable BUT ill give it a pass bc i just really had the best time reading this lol.

i am PUMPED that it seems to be setting up for MMF, i am on my knees praying this is the direction the books will continue in because all three of these characters have the most ridiculous tension and chemistry 🤭

this is my first of brigids and im so deeply impressed by this book as i know her previous works are YA, her writing had me in an absolute chokehold. i really enjoyed how she uses everyones favorite fantasy tropes but in a way that isnt overdone or cliche. the explicit scenes were HOT, i absolutely loved how exploratory they were. im verryyyyy excited to see how the dynamics shift in this aspect through out the next two books, im excited to see jory get more confident with her two men and how ky and asher will eventually find their groove with one another!! the tension and yearning through out the entire book builds up SOOOO stunningly. like when i can get my hands on book two prepare to hate my ass because im gonna be FERAL by the time it happens after all the waiting 😂

im just overall very excited to see where this story goes, there is nothing i love more than an engaging fantasy where i love all the characters and it doesn’t require me to be constantly using my brain to keep up with everything. just *chefs kiss*.

I had high hopes for Warrior Princess Assassin, because although Brigid Kemmerer can be a hit or miss author for me, she's usually a hit with the first book in a series. Not this time. It's not the kind of romance I enjoy, just not a why choose/throuple fan, nor do I like the insta-lust of the trio. But beyond just not personally enjoying the romance, the plot itself was a slog and it took me so long to finish. I should have DNFed, looking back. Almost nothing happens, in 400 pages. They meet, they travel, they are betrayed in the most predictable way(s) possible. That's it. Although we get 3 POVs, all the characters read the same. Perhaps the princess slightly less so because she's more sheltered and immature, but the two male MCs... I had to very much pay attention to the chapter headings because they're exactly the same character. Unfortunately, this one was not worth my time.

ARC: I have to say, I have not been this into a book in a long time. I never wanted to put this down. I would be walking to work while reading it and be upset I had to put it down. I cannot recommend this enough. I’m only sad I have to wait to find out what happens.