Take a photo of a barcode or cover
.png)
lambsbooks 's review for:
A Broken Blade
by Melissa Blair
“I’m not as free as you think,” I said, too tired to add any fight behind the words. “And the freedoms I do have come at the cost most never pay.”
This book blew past all expectations and it (and book 2) are now part of my all-time favourite books. I got ACOTAR vibes from this book - not really plot-related, but how I felt reading ACOTAR - which is the highest compliment I can give! I also thought it was YA but I'd classify it as NA to Adult (especially book 2 👀) which was a great surprise!
The book starts off with Keera "The Blade", our main character, on a mission for the King. Keera is an assassin, and she is one of those amazing morally grey assassins. She kills who she needs to, to ensure the job is done. She doesn't do it willingly though. She is owned by the King, as are all Halflings.
If a Halfling isn't in the King's possession, they are hunted down and either killed or trained to become Shades - a group of assassins Keera is responsible for. Whoever holds the title of Blade is in charge of the King's Arsenal, his slave group of Halflings that do his bidding.
Anyway, this book is about rebellion and destroying the crown. It's about enemies to lovers and finding a family in an unlikely place. It’s about unending guilt and pain for the things Keera has done, guilt she carries with her every second of the day. Keera meets Riven, Srrya, and Nikolai when during her search for The Shadow, a thief who is hell-bent on taking down the crown.
The dynamic of these characters, their banter, and loyalty are shown in all of their interactions. The plot, character development, emotion...everything spoke to me, everything was so beautifully done. The side character development and depth were great! Each character had a personality and a tone.
“I was desperate,” she said with a heavy breath. She gazed at me with glossy eyes. “If I was going to die at least it would be on my terms. At least I’d be…”
“Free,” I finished for her.
Things I loved:
1. Keera wasn't perfect. She was an alcoholic, trying to numb the pain of being The Blade for 30 years. She works to get sober and put her demons to rest throughout the book, but it is a struggle and it was so real.
“I do not pretend to know the details of your pain, but I know the weight of it. I will not judge you for how you lighten the load.”
“What if the pain is too much? What if it crushes me?” I whispered. They were questions I’d only ever asked myself.
“It won’t,” she said simply. "If the pain was too much, you would have ended it by now.”
Her words pricked me eyes until they stung. I blinked back the truth. “I don’t deserve that kind of relief.”
2. That this book is actually NA, not YA. Now, I still do like YA, but assassins working for the king? I would prefer them to be older, not random 16-year-olds. Keera is 60ish years old, an immortal like some of the other Halflings and the Fae and Elves. She actually has experience, decades of experience, of pain, loss, and hardship, and all of that shines through beautifully. The emotion…I’ll talk about that below.
“I’ve never taken a life I didn’t need to take. If the Crown falls and you want to put me on trial for the lives I did end, I won’t stop you. Every life I couldn’t spare, I carry with me. You don’t need to tell me I’ll asnwer for them one day. I already know.”
3. One of the things that stuck out for me was that Keera was more ruthless than Riven. It was a great change from "MMC must push the FMC to be harder". She forced Riven to confront his mistakes - and she forced him to do so by killing.
4. Okay, the emotion. I teared up at multiple parts during this book, which is not a thing I do easily. Keera’s inner struggles, Riven, Nickolas, and Syrra’s struggles. This book didn't tell you how to feel, it showed you through the character's actions and thoughts, and that is something I love - when you feel what the characters are feeling.
“Riven. I’m tired.” I was pleading with him. Begging him to let me fall asleep. Leave me on the side of the road in peace.
“No!” Riven shouted, shaking me until my eyes opened again. “You can’t sleep, Keera. Stay awake. I’m taking us to someone who can help you.”
“I don’t need help,” I argued.
“Now is not the time for your pigheaded independence.”
“That’s not what I mean,” I slurred. “Just let me die. Please.” I was tired of fighting. Tired of killing. My body was searing from my wounds, but it was nothing like the decades I’d spent trying to forget the faces of people, of children. The innocents whose names I took, as if that was true penance. I didn’t want to do it anymore.
“I’m tired,” I said again, hot tears rolled down my face.
5. Her scars. The fact that she hides them from everyone, even though it would prove she has a heart when so many think that she doesn’t.
“I think you overestimate the amount of kindness I do.” There was no amount of good that could wash away the sea of blood I had filled.
6. ONE ROOM. ONE BED. Enough said.
There was a cliffhanger, so you need to grab book 2 right away!! Some spoiler thoughts on the cliffhanger:
I did not see that twist coming!! I knew Killian was hiding something, but I didn’t think that he was leading the rebellion! I also think he has a thing for Keera, but I am 100% team Riven. I can’t believe they all hid that from her. I know that they couldn’t fully trust her at the beginning but after she almost died blowing up the dam, DAMN, they should have told her then.
TLDR: Read this book. It’s amazing.
“Keera,” Riven whispered against my jaw, lifting my head to face him. “You are as beautiful as you are strong.” He pressed a kiss against my ear. “And you are the strongest person I know.”
____________
Initial thoughts: This was absolutely amazing. I need a minute to write a review but wow, so good!! It ended on a slight cliffhanger so I’m glad I have the ARC of book 2 😅