The Assassins of Tamurin

Rating:
Summary: Not bad for a first effort.
Review: "The Assassins of Tamurin" is not too bad, for an author that is new to fantasy. S.D. Tower has nicely avoided all the usual fantasy cliches--there are no immortal Elves (thank goodness!), no fantastic animals, and no evil deathless rulers. There is a very small bit involving some "magic" and ancestral spirits, and the tale does not take place in "our world", but that's it when it comes to the fantasy elements.

The novel is about Lale, a young orphan who is exiled from her village when she accidently loses an item of value. Lale is later adopted by a kind-seeming ruler, who takes her home and places her in a school with other orphaned girls, all of whom adore the ruler they now call "Mother". After her schooling is finished, Lale is sent for further education--this time to become a spy and assassin.

"The Assassins of Tamurin" was somewhat predictable. I was never really surprised by any turn of events, and the novel seemed to lack tension. I never felt that Lale was in any real danger--while I did enjoy the character, she was so skillful that failure, or even a minor goof, never seemed like a possibility. While Lale herself is somewhat interesting, most of the other characters in the story were not fleshed out enough.

This book was a quick week-end read, and fine if you're not looking for anything too engaging.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book!
Review: A great book! This is a spy novel with a fantasy setting. Not surprising, since the author writes spy stories under another name. It is filled with treachery, betrayal and intrigue; with a touch of romance. I was hoping the author would write more books with this main character, but that seems unlikely with the epilogue in the book. The one thing I hate is when the cover art clearly shows that the artist never bothered to open the book. The cover shows a scene that did happen in the book, the main character sneaking into a tent to kill. It shows the character as a dark haired girl with dark almond shaped eyes. The main character is described a number of times in the book, the first of which is on page two. She has long auburn hair, green eyes and a pale creamy complexion. Not even close, as if the artist was told "female assassin dressed in black sneaking into a tent" and thought must be Asian. I think that when the cover art doesn't match the description in the book it throws off the visualization of the character, especially when it is so far of the mark. To the reviewer tha said there was not much detail on her school friends, how much do you remember of nonbest friends years after the fact. She was telling this story looking back. She did tell the weapons they trained her in; Dagger, throwing weapons, staff, hand tridents(sounds like sai to me), spears, bows. You must have missed that, huh? The school seemed ninja like.

Rating:
Summary: bloody brilliant
Review: i am 15 and i read s.d towers book... i loved the sun lord's character and the heroine , Lale. all my friends are reading it because it's so good!

Rating:
Summary: An interesting tale in an ancient kingdom....
Review: I have to say that the first sentence had me hooked. The sentence read: "I was casted out of my village at age 11." I was like "WHAT!!!" What the heck did she do that was so horrible?? The book read as if it was an autobiography of a fictional character. To be honest, just by reading the title of the book. I was expecting crazy violence and how she would learned special techniques of ancient fighting ninja ways. This book turned out to be something unexpected. Lale the main character was an unwanted child taken in by villagers that cared less about her. As the story progress she becomes fortunate in certain turn of events. I found it strange that I was learning every aspect of her life as if she was truly a real person. This novel isn't a true fantasy novel, there were fantasy elements due to there was a sorceress using magical wraiths as a form of control. Other than that it was like a drama unfolding a decietful well thought out plan for unfortunate Lale. When Lale finds out the truth about of her life she had an unexpected ally and an unexpected villian. This story is truely well written. I don't sense a sequel for Lale since the ending was truely a happy one & why ruin a perfectly good story with a sequel anyway!!

Rating:
Summary: An interesting tale in an ancient kingdom....
Review: I have to say that the first sentence had me hooked. The sentence read: "I was casted out of my village at age 11." I was like "WHAT!!!" What the heck did she do that was so horrible?? The book read as if it was an autobiography of a fictional character. To be honest, just by reading the title of the book. I was expecting crazy violence and how she would learned special techniques of ancient fighting ninja ways. This book turned out to be something unexpected. Lale the main character was an unwanted child taken in by villagers that cared less about her. As the story progress she becomes fortunate in certain turn of events. I found it strange that I was learning every aspect of her life as if she was truly a real person. This novel isn't a true fantasy novel, there were fantasy elements due to there was a sorceress using magical wraiths as a form of control. Other than that it was like a drama unfolding a decietful well thought out plan for unfortunate Lale. When Lale finds out the truth about of her life she had an unexpected ally and an unexpected villian. This story is truely well written. I don't sense a sequel for Lale since the ending was truely a happy one & why ruin a perfectly good story with a sequel anyway!!

Rating:
Summary: Good Book, Good Read, But Low In Detail
Review: I thought this was a great book...except for one little fact. That was the lack of detail S.D. Tower did not put into the book. Tower described the cities well, if at times a little lengthy but failed to describe the people themselves. The character descriptions would usually be one to two sentences, leaving you feel a little empty I guess you could say. Same thing with the fight scenes or just about anything else. Everything passed by very quickly. Other than that I enjoyed the book. Could have been a little better, but still a good book.

Rating:
Summary: Could Have Been Better
Review: I would agree with the other reviewers. This book is worth a read. It had really great potential and could have been superb. Instead it is merely OK. Unlike many of my books, like the Hawk and Fisher series by Simon R. Green, this book probably won't stand up to repeated reading. There just aren't the subtle little details that can be discovered through multiple reads. Plus, I would have liked more depth to the character's lives, including that of Lale. Tell me more about Dilara's past. Tell me a little more about Tossi, who is a cardboard cutout hardline believer. What was her past like? How did she come to be the first assasin? What kinds of poisons did they learn to make? Vegetable, animal or mineral? How could Lale not have thought to look into her parentage at all? The explanation is lacking.
This book is OK, but it could have been so much more.

Rating:
Summary: Can't wait to see the movie....
Review: If there were ever a book that had "movie adaptation" written all over it, this would be the one. It positivley smacks of hollywood and film rights...but that is a good thing. This book is very visual and you find yourself picturing the places and people represented within its pages with great detail. Not that the book gets overly descriptive, but the author has found a subtle balance between too much information and too little. Much is left to the imagination, and that is a good thing as well; it allows for a very personal feel to the novel. For me, I pictured the book taking place in a setting very much like the one represented in "Croutching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."
S.D. Tower has given us a remarkable, if predictable, debut novel. That would be the only place where the book falters...the plot twist will be seen in the early stages of the story, but I suppose that knowing what will happen is only half the fun...the other half is the journey to the end. And what a journey it is! We are treated to a lush and vivid world that mimicks the very history of our own. Places seem to carry a somewhat familiar feel and the feeling of history is so real that at times I was tempted to look things up in an encyclopedia...only to remember that I was reading a work of fiction.
This novel is so visual and powerful that I really cannot praise it enough. When you immerse yourself in this book, you will be transported to a land of love, mystery, magic and political machinations. I am deeply impressed by the political jousting that goes on behind the scenes and the tantalizing bits of back-story that are thrown your way.
The novel meanders at a lesiurley pace, seldom breaking into a run until the very end...and then BOOM! it takes off and you are left breathless with revelations and an awesomely, if predictable, handling of the end. The book opens with a quiet and unassuming beginning, and the close of the novel is handled just as wonderfully. One I put this book back onto my bookshelf, I felt satisfied and entertained...a feeling that seems to have escaped many books as of late. Although this book is somewhat predictable and a little transparent, it is still a great effort and a worthy addition to any library...be it personal or professional.

Rating:
Summary: Can't wait to see the movie....
Review: If there were ever a book that had "movie adaptation" written all over it, this would be the one. It positivley smacks of hollywood and film rights...but that is a good thing. This book is very visual and you find yourself picturing the places and people represented within its pages with great detail. Not that the book gets overly descriptive, but the author has found a subtle balance between too much information and too little. Much is left to the imagination, and that is a good thing as well; it allows for a very personal feel to the novel. For me, I pictured the book taking place in a setting very much like the one represented in "Croutching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."
S.D. Tower has given us a remarkable, if predictable, debut novel. That would be the only place where the book falters...the plot twist will be seen in the early stages of the story, but I suppose that knowing what will happen is only half the fun...the other half is the journey to the end. And what a journey it is! We are treated to a lush and vivid world that mimicks the very history of our own. Places seem to carry a somewhat familiar feel and the feeling of history is so real that at times I was tempted to look things up in an encyclopedia...only to remember that I was reading a work of fiction.
This novel is so visual and powerful that I really cannot praise it enough. When you immerse yourself in this book, you will be transported to a land of love, mystery, magic and political machinations. I am deeply impressed by the political jousting that goes on behind the scenes and the tantalizing bits of back-story that are thrown your way.
The novel meanders at a lesiurley pace, seldom breaking into a run until the very end...and then BOOM! it takes off and you are left breathless with revelations and an awesomely, if predictable, handling of the end. The book opens with a quiet and unassuming beginning, and the close of the novel is handled just as wonderfully. One I put this book back onto my bookshelf, I felt satisfied and entertained...a feeling that seems to have escaped many books as of late. Although this book is somewhat predictable and a little transparent, it is still a great effort and a worthy addition to any library...be it personal or professional.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Read
Review: Instead of waiting its turn patiently on my "to be read" pile of books, this novel set up a hue and cry that was not to be ignored. However, after recently finishing the new Thieves' World novel, I was uncertain as to whether or not my view would be colored where further fantasy novels were concerned. Thankfully, I was not disappointed with S.D.'s efforts. This is a tale that will launch a strong career for this author.
When I was reading this I thought it was too good to be a first effort, the story flows along effortlessly, drawing you further and further in. Much like a good espionage thriller, although the elements are somewhat different as it is a fantasy setting. A very believable world was created, and is the perfect setting for this epic masterpiece. From beginning to end it flows like the very river that carried a babe to safety, starting her on a new path in life.

Lale, whose name means "lucky" grew up anything but. Found in the company of a corpse in a boat that floundered ashore, the tiny foundling was given a home by the superstitious river folk. They believed that since the river god saved her, it would be blasphemy not to offer her shelter. Sadly, that is all that they gave her. Lale grew up as the epitome of an abused child. Her life was loveless, emotionless, and filled with impatience and beatings, an existence that really might have been better not to have.

That all changed one dark and fateful day. Lale lost the valued possession of the women, she lost the silver needles needed for sewing. This caused her to be cast forth from the hearts and eyes of the village. She didn't exist in their eyes, no shelter was given, no food, and no contact at all. Lale dealt well with this at first, after all, it wasn't so bad, nobody was beating on her anymore. In short time, she turned her sight to far places and a chance for happiness, a one-time grab at the gold ring.

This could have had disaster written all over it, but fortune indeed smiled kindly upon this young woman, and guided her footsteps to safety. It didn't hurt that she had one of the most powerful women in all of Durdane searching for her, the Despotana Makina Seval, also known as Mother Midnight to her students. Makina has one thing on her mind, vengeance against those who slew her infant son, the son who was to be the next ruler. A long time has she woven her web, patience is one of her many gifts, and it is about to pay off.

Lale is the unwitting tool of Mother Midnight, an assassin who will be put to the utmost test of her loyalty and her skills. Will the arts of assassination that she learned at Three Springs school be called upon to kill the man who has given her life a new meaning and focus? Must she sacrifice current happiness to repay the women who offered her love and a home? Lale is deeply embedded within a web of lies, and time is running out as she fights to discover the truth.

This is a great read, and I'm looking forward to seeing more from Canada's mysterious S.D. Tower!

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