Fantasy Thursday: The Emperor's Blades by Brian Staveley

Title: The Emperor's Blades
Author: Brian Staveley
Page Count: 593
Rating: A+
Format Read: Kindle
Genre: Fantasy
Keywords: Siblings, Assassins, Royalty
Kid Appropriate: Teen and older

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The circle is closing. The stakes are high. And old truths will live again...

The Emperor has been murdered, leaving the Annurian Empire in turmoil. Now his progeny must bury their grief and prepare to unmask a conspiracy.

His son Valyn, training for the empire’s deadliest fighting force, hears the news an ocean away. He expected a challenge, but after several ‘accidents’ and a dying soldier’s warning, he realizes his life is also in danger. Yet before Valyn can take action, he must survive the mercenaries’ brutal final initiation.

Meanwhile, the Emperor’s daughter, Minister Adare, hunts her father’s murderer in the capital itself. Court politics can be fatal, but she needs justice. And Kaden, heir to an empire, studies in a remote monastery. Here, the Blank God’s disciples teach their harsh ways – which Kaden must master to unlock their ancient powers. When an imperial delegation arrives, he’s learnt enough to perceive evil intent. But will this keep him alive, as long-hidden powers make their move?

My Review:

So this was one of the books I snagged on a Kindle Daily Deal. I think I may have gotten it for $1.99. The prologue didn't really draw me in and I wasn't the biggest fan of the cover. It probably sat unfinished for a month before I picked it up again. Never have I been happier to give a book a second chance.

I LOVED this book. If any book I read this month can reduce me to a squealing fangirl, this is the one. To illustrate how much I love this book, I had a bolt in my tire and had to wait almost all day to get the tire replaced. Sitting in crowded waiting rooms and spending money unexpectedly are two things that should have had me freaking out. Instead, I was sitting there with a ridiculous smile on my face clicking away on my Kindle, NEEDING to know what happened next.

Throughout this book we follow the three children of the emperor: Valyn, Kaden, and Adare. Valyn and Kaden are the primary perspectives that we read from though with Adare appearing less often. Initially, Valyn was my favorite (absolutely my newest book crush) with his chapters containing the most action and mystery that had me flipping through the pages.

However, the development we see with Kaden and Adare's stories is a much slower burn. After dreading coming to their chapters in the beginning I found myself devouring their stories by the halfway point. And (not a spoiler) but that ending had me freaking out. Completely did not see everything wrapping up the way it did.

This book has everything. Totally unexpected mystery, supernatural elements, power struggles, politics, religion, a touch of romance that isn't overwhelming, even some adventure. Power through the slower beginning and you will not regret picking this one up.