Assassin's Heart

With shades of Game of Thrones and Romeo and Juliet, this richly imagined fantasy from author Sarah Ahiers is a tale of love, lies, and vengeance. Laura Ruby says it “will keep you turning the pages all night long,” and a starred Booklist review raves “fans of Robin LaFevers’ His Fair Assassins series will snatch this one up in a heartbeat.”

Seventeen-year-old Lea Saldana is a trained assassin. She was born into one of the nine clipper families in the kingdom of Lovero who can lawfully take lives for a price. As a member of the highest-ranking clan, loyalty to family is valued above all, but that doesn’t stop Lea from getting into a secret relationship with Val Da Via, a boy from a rival clan. Despite her better judgment, Lea’s fallen in love with him.

Then she awakes one night to a house full of smoke—although she narrowly escapes, she isn’t able to save her family as their home is consumed in flames. Val and his family are the only ones who could be responsible. Devastated over his betrayal and the loss of her clan, there’s just one thing on her mind: making the Da Vias pay. And the heart of this assassin craves revenge.  

Be sure to read Thief’s Cunning, the riveting follow-up to Assassin’s Heart.

In a kingdom where murder is law, what happens when an assassin’s secret love becomes her sworn enemy?

• Rival Assassin Clans: Lea was born a Saldana, the highest-ranking clipper family. But when she falls for Val Da Via, her loyalty is tested in the most brutal way imaginable.
• Lovers to Enemies: Her secret romance with Val was forbidden and thrilling. Now, believing he orchestrated her family’s murder, her love has curdled into a burning need for revenge.
• A Vow of Vengeance: As the sole survivor of the fire that destroyed her home and family, Lea has only one mission: make the Da Vias pay for their betrayal, one life at a time.
• A Rich Fantasy World: Enter the kingdom of Lovero, where nine families of legal assassins navigate a deadly web of politics, power, and ancient allegiances to a goddess of death.

“An electrifying debut that captivated me from the first nail-biting chapter. Spellbinding!” - Gennifer Albin, New York Times bestselling author

“Love, death, family—and vengeance. This gripping fantasy thriller will keep you turning the pages all night long.” - Laura Ruby, author of the Printz Award-winning Bone Gap

“A lavishly constructed fantasy world with an intricate society.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Equal parts adventure, romance, and politics, Ahiers’ first novel is astonishingly good. This is a unique twist on a love story, and the exciting Godfather-esque plotline adds layers of intrigue. Fans of Robin LaFevers’ His Fair Assassins series will snatch this one up in a heartbeat, and they won’t be disappointed.” - Booklist (starred review)

“Equal parts adventure, romance, and politics, Ahiers’ first novel is astonishingly good. This is a unique twist on a love story, and the exciting Godfather-esque plotline adds layers of intrigue. Fans of Robin LaFevers’ His Fair Assassins series will snatch this one up in a heartbeat. - Booklist (starred review)

Ahiers’s Romeo and Juliet-inspired world of gods, angry ghosts, and assassins is darkly lush, and Lea’s voice is strong and pragmatic, making for a stylish and rich read. - Publishers Weekly