Ileni was once the most powerful sorceress in the Renegai,
but now her powers are fading. The Elders decide to send her
to teach a group of assassins magic since the previous two
instructors mysteriously died. As Ileni tries to uncover
what happened and instruct the dangerous group of killers,
she must also try not to fall for one of them named Sorin.
As allegiances are tested and loyalties vowed to the death,
Ileni must decide what path she will take when either could
be her death.
DEATH SWORN is a YA fantasy full of so many great things:
assassins, sorcery, love, and heartbreaking choices. Leah
Cypess tells an intense story that makes you wonder where
the lines exactly lie between life and death and the length
you will go to get what you want. Topped off with a romance
where two characters can't help but fall for each other but
can never trust, DEATH SWORN is one not to miss.
What I love most about this book is the main character,
Ileni. She is strong, but certainly has her own limitations.
She refuses to blindly follow, but she does feel loyalties
that she can't ignore. As more and more shades of gray are
thrown at her, she handles it with grace while still being
very torn about what is right and wrong. I love her
other. They understand each other in a way that shows they
interactions with Sorin and how they dance around each
can never really trust the other, but they would do almost
anything to keep the other from dying. I'm really looking
forward to seeing how things continue in the next book.
In the end, DEATH SWORN is a novel I can't help but love. I
think it would fit very well with fans of Grave Mercy and
Throne of Glass.
When a young sorceress is exiled to teach magic to a clan of
assassins, she will find that secrets can be even deadlier
than swords. From the critically acclaimed Leah Cypess comes
a dangerous and eerie fantasy about murder, shocking
discoveries, and fiery star-crossed romance that readers of
Cinda Williams Chima and Robin LaFevers won't be able to put
down.
Ileni is losing her magic. And that means she's losing
everything: her position as the rising star of her people,
her purpose in life, and even the young man she loves. Sent
to the assassins' cave, hidden deep within the mountains,
she expects no one will ever hear from her again. The last
two sorcerers sent died within weeks of each other.
Accidents? Or something more sinister? As Ileni navigates
the dangers—both natural and human—of the caves, she'll
discover secrets that have been kept for decades. And she'll
find an ally in Sorin, the deadly young man who could be the
assassins' next leader. With Sorin determined to protect
her, sparks—magical and romantic—will fly. But will even he
understand the choice she must make in the end?