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.