Master Assassins

Fire Sacraments Series, Book 1

By: Robert V.S. Redick

Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer

Length: 17 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Kandri Hinjuman was never meant to be a soldier. His brother Mektu was never meant for this world. Rivals since childhood, they are drafted into a horrific war led by a madwoman-Prophet, and survive each day only by hiding their disbelief. Kandri is good at blending in, but Mektu is hopeless: impulsive, erratic - and certain that a demon is stalking him. Is this madness or a second sense? Either way, Kandri knows that Mektu's antics will land them both in early graves.

But all bets are off when the brothers' simmering feud explodes into violence, and holy blood is spilled. Kandri and Mektu are taken for contract killers and must flee for their lives - to the one place where they can hope to disappear: the sprawling desert known as the Land that Eats Men.

In this eerie wilderness, the terrain is as deadly as the monsters, ghouls, and traffickers in human flesh. Here the brothers find strange allies: an aging warlord, a desert nomad searching for her family, a lethal child-soldier still in her teens. They also find themselves in possession of a secret that could bring peace to the continent of Urrath. Or unthinkable carnage.

Contains mature themes.

©2018 Robert V.S. Redick (P)2018 Tantor

Critic reviews

"This book has everything I love: Clean, crisp worldbuilding. Characters that live and breathe. A story that teases and surprises me. I like Master Assassins so much I wish I'd written it, but deep down, I know I couldn't have written it this well." (Patrick Rothfuss, number-one New York Times best-selling author)

Turns into a real slog

I got to about 4 hours from the end and gave up. By this time I was ready for the characters to get what was coming for them. I get it the prophet is evil.... The memories of the character was cool at first but just got more annoying as time went on. I need something to happen not just a continuous talk about two brothers love triangle.

The ending

This is a five star book, if the ending was more definitive. I would have taken a few extra hours for more closure, instead I get to wait for hobbit book 2.

A Labor of Love

If you are looking for a twelve hour bottle rocket of a book with precision placed plot markers, set in stone character arcs, and an over the top climax - look elsewhere.

Here lies master craft writing, beautiful world building, and characters who feel real to the touch.

While I have nothing against fast paced writing - often I prefer it - there is something to be said about the sacrifices made to do so. Redick throws all those restraints in the garbage, leaving none of his tools spared. This book has been well nurtured to create a beautiful garden you can't help but take a stroll through. You may find yourself in a lull at points, but push through, this story is more than worth it.

The characters in this book are the most engrossing I've encountered in a long time, their decision making complicated, raw, real. My suspension of disbelief was held iron-clad. The world is vast, it's environments and cultures rich, loaded with untold secrets barely scratched in this novel.

Eric Michael Summerer is a great narrator with a good wheelhouse of voices.

There is a reason two of my favorite authors (Patrick Rothfuss & Mark Lawrence) gave glowing recommendations for this novel, because it rocks.

What A Book!

I think Mr. Redick is one of the finest writers of our generation in any genre. He’s happened to have chosen to write speculative fiction and this book is as good as any - in or outside the genre - I’ve read in the last five years. If you haven’t read or listened to it (I’ve done both), I highly recommend it.

Great listen!

I thought I'd give a listen after seeing praise for it from Mark Lawrence, author of "Prince of Thorns", "Red Sister" etc. on goodreads.com. I'm really glad I took that advise, because this is an excellent story, and I'm looking forward to the second book in the series "Sidewinders".

The ending made me want to continue, but

it was hard to get there. I almost quit this book several times. I didn't enjoy the language or the conversation of the character. I felt annoyed by the characters most of the time. By the end of the book, though, I was finally invested in the story.

Tedious; unlikeable characters

Ugh! I LOVED the Chathrand series but this book just rambles on. It's long and tedious and full of unlikeable characters who do unlikeable things.

I like to have someone to root for. I couldn't finish it.

Bad narrator choice

Couldn't get very far into this one for the narrator. Seemed like it was going to be good though.