Assassin Royale

King's Dark Blade

Fiction - Fantasy - Epic
298 Pages
Reviewed on 10/03/2025
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Isabella Harris for Readers' Favorite

Assassin Royale by Richard Davis is a compelling fantasy that follows the journey of Killian Lord, a deadly assassin, on a mission for his king. It begins when the mysterious and ruthless Maximilian Durandal violently seizes an independent estate, killing off its master and mistress. The king, Ember, ordered his most trusted assassin, Killian Lord, on a mission to investigate the true intentions of Durandal. Lord goes undercover and infiltrates Durandal's convoy. After a series of plots and investigations, Lord discovers that Durandal is mining for a special shard. He infuses it with the souls of people to forge a devastating magical weapon, with the intention of using it to help King Globe lead a great invasion. Lord partners with Naiomi, Durandal's supposed relative, to defeat Durandal. However, what might seem like a simple mission will soon spiral out of control.

I was completely captivated by Lord's character, which was defined by his empathy and unwavering loyalty to his king. I found how Lord was able to communicate with animals to be unique. I appreciate Richard Davis's thoughtful and unique writing style, which kept me in suspense, and now I can't wait to get my hands on book 2 of this series. The action is detailed and sharply written, especially the duels between Lord and Durandal. The characters' development was really fantastic, and the author did a great job of maintaining multiple characters, which kept the book engaging. Assassin Royale maintained a really fast pace. The plot is centered on a sense of duty and responsibility. The book masterfully covers themes of loyalty, cruelty, betrayal, and many more. I recommend it to readers who enjoy high-stakes fantasy mixed with clever and intense action.