King of Assassins

Well, well, well. Just as Book 2 was an improvement on Book 1, so too is Book 3 an improvement of Book 2, at least in my humble opinion. We re-join our club-footed protagonist, Girton, now 15 years after the events of Book 2, and things have changed a great deal. It isn’t giving anything away to talk about how the friendship that so defined Book 2 has now become strained and bitter, though we are never really told why. That is one issue I have with the otherwise sterling plot developments, and I feel like if there was actually a mention of a succession of incidents that occurred over the past 15 years which led to the rifted, then I might feel a little more from this loss of such a close friendship. That said, it is more than made up by the new and entirely unforeseen friendship that Girton has developed with one of the other characters. And I mean, really made up. Rarely have I believed in a friendship more than that between Girton and Ador, especially after the delicious venom that I had come to bear for the Fat Bear in Book 1. It’s a testament to Barker’s skill that a character can go from embodying just about everything I hate in humanity to a character whose continued safety becomes more important than the actual success of our hero’s mission. It was a brilliant transformation and is the nudge that pushes Book 3 past Book 2 in my personal opinion.

Now for the actual story. Again, we are effectively confined to a single area of the Wounded Kingdom universe for the entirety of the book. And once again, this irks me something awful. I know it’s Barkers style and I should be used to it by now, but dead gods take you, man, can’t you just let me see a bit more of this wonderfully dark and bleak world that you’ve crafted? Well, at least by this book I can say I’ve known 3 locations in this world backwards and forwards. The story itself doesn’t disappoint, with the overarching feeling of despair of this world that nearly felt banished in Book 2 reaffirming its slimy grip on every soul present. As before, it is done very well, and Barker still shocks with some of the vile actions that take place despite everything we now know about the cruelties of the world within which these poor folks live.

There was one plot-device/story-point that I saw coming a mile off, which ground my gears a little. If you’re having a book from a single character’s perspective and all the clues are laid out for us to put together, then surely the character himself should be able to as well. That said, it was a minor dislike on my part, and the usual Barker betrayals, backstabs, and surprises that left me very satisfied. The ending of the series was very much in keeping with the entire feel of each book, and although some might find fault with it, I certainly can’t. I do love consistency. The one problem I had with the book is the same I’ve had all the way through. I kept thinking that Girton was going to be a ‘Chosen One’. That some great evil would arise and we would be suddenly beamed into the classic Epic Fantasy that I love so much. But that just isn’t what these books are, no matter how much I want them to be. Girton is just a normal person, or as normal a person as a club-footed assassin with forbidden magical powers could be, and that makes the story all that more believable.

 It was a good ending to a good series, but I just hope Barker writes some more tales from the Wounded Kingdom. Preferably based around a world-trotting Chosen One and his or her companions so I can get the fix of this wonderful and terrible land he has created that I have been craving for 3 books.

The narration was, as ever, spot on. Same as with the last 2 books. Wonderfully distinctive, wonderfully spoken, and wonderfully emotive. Bravo.

Personal rating: 4 stars

Professional rating: 4 stars