The Assassin’s Edge

The Assassin’s Edge (2002) Juliet E. McKenna

The fifth and final book of the Einarinn series, The Assassin’s Edge tells of how Ryshad, Livak, Temar, and others seek to finally make Kellarin secure against invaders from the Ice Islands.

This is, far and away, the best book of the series. Juliet McKenna does a wonderful job wrapping up the story, and her pacing for this story is absolutely fantastic.

The point of view is again Livak’s but there are so many loose ends to tie up that we don’t spend the majority of the book with Livak, but jumping back and forth from place to place as events occur. And I’m glad that she brought back Sorgrad and Sorgren. Although they started out as only minor characters, they’re a lot of fun to read about.

The only fault I can pick with this book is one that occurred throughout the series, but was more pronounced here, and that is that it is very difficult to judge how much time has passed when we move about in space and time. Sometimes it’s a couple of hours, sometimes it’s a couple of days, which can be a it disconcerting.

However, besides that, she got everything else just about perfect in this book. By this time we’re familiar with almost all the characters, besides the handful she introduces, and we know what has to happen for the story to conclude, however we don’t know how things are going to happen, and who–if anyone–is going to survive.

This series got so many things right I think. Each book concluded the story that was told within, while adding to the overall tale that weaves through the entire series. I cannot say enough how much I like and appreciate that. The characters are strong and I enjoyed spending time with them. And the story was interesting, fun, and well told.

I also appreciate Livak’s growth through the series. At the start of the series she seems most focused upon her own self-interest, and the interests of her close friends, however by the start of The Assassin’s Edge you can see how she has started to become part of the community at Killarin, and that Ryshad has smoothed some of her roughest edges down, just a little bit. I also enjoyed seeing the changes in Temar and Allin. Especially Allin, as Allin, as she changed from the meek creature brow-beaten by Casuel to a woman capable of standing up for herself, and who is valued in her own right.

This is definitely a series that I will reread in the future, and is also one that I will recommend to Michael, and I bet I already know who are going to be his favorite characters.
Rating: 8/10

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