Age of Assassins

In a kingdom teetering on the brink of civil war, a young apprentice named Girton Club-foot finds his skills put to an entirely new, and far more dangerous, test. Trained in the lethal art of assassination by his formidable master, Merela, Girton's latest mission is not to take a life, but to save one. The heir to the throne has been marked for death, and it falls to Girton, with his crippled leg and sharp wit, to uncover the treacherous plot threatening the monarchy. Navigating a court thick with lies, suspicion, and political intrigue, Girton must sift through a web of deceit to identify the assassin before the prince is murdered and the realm plunges into utter chaos. Along this perilous path, he discovers unexpected alliances, grapples with responsibilities he never desired, and unearths a conspiracy so vast it could shatter the entire kingdom. RJ Barker's debut offers a fresh, intriguing take on the fantasy assassin trope, blending mystery, political machinations, and a compelling coming-of-age story.