Warrior Princess Assassin: A Fiery Tale of Love, Betrayal, and Survival: A Princess, a Warrior King, and an Assassin Caught in a Web of Magic and Deception (Braided Fate Book 1)

Maggie

I LOVED IT SO MUCH

"4.75⭐️ 1🌶️ I think this is officially my favorite why choose book?! This is the second series by Brigid Kemmerer I have read and it did NOT disappoint! I immediately preordered the book after finishing the ARC, and I’ll be preordering the rest of the series as well. The plot was nonstop from the first page and had a lot of action and suspense. The characters were rich and really well written. I’m not one to read for the romance but always enjoy a romance element, and this did exactly that! It was sweet and the build up was great, but it didn’t detract from the plot or character development. TROPES Arranged Marriage of convenience Warrior x Princess x Assassin Why Choose MFM Political Turmoil THEMES The author has done a wonderful job of getting the reader to think about the real world in a way that doesn’t feel intimidating. The topics are lightly discussed and repeated to plant a seed in the readers mind without feeling overwhelming or like we are helpless in solving these issues. Most notably, we see Asher’s character as a tool to discuss recidivism rates, indentured servitude, and the mistreatment of incarcerated individuals. Despite having a meaningless sentence, his entire future was put at risk, as only certain jobs will accept someone with a criminal background. As such, Asher became an assassin because it was his only choice besides indentured servitude. This helps the reader think about individuals who have been incarcerated for charges that seem unnecessary or excessive, and the mark on their record has officially ruined all chances of success or climbing socioeconomic statuses. The note on individuals falling back into crime after paying off their servitude reminds the reader of how prevalent recidivism rates are for this very reason. We also saw discussions of climate change impacting food security through Incendar’s climate and the wildfires. As the fires got more prevalent, farmland was destroyed, and as a society that is a big issue we will likely have to face. THE WORLD My only note on the book is that I wanted more detail on the magic system! It was left pretty bland and I didn’t think that it made much sense. I wondered how magic types passed down from families, the likelihood of offspring possessing magic, and what types of magic there were. The reader was only exposed to weather and fire magic, so I’d like to know what else is in this world and how prevalent magic types are among those in political power versus commoners (and if that is a trait royals look at when picking a spouse for arranged marriages). The details of the world were vivid and well written though, so as far as the setting itself, it was excellent! THE CHARACTERS The MCs had really strong development, especially considering it was the first book in the series. I loved the ongoing metaphors of the MCs as a lion (Ky), falcon (Jory), and wolf (Asher) that were referenced throughout the book and really suited the characters personalities and actions. Both Ky and Asher were arguably better developed than Jory, but I hope to see more of her in the next book. The men had more development because of their backgrounds and the way that the author described them both as being “broken”. I loved how they were both broken in different ways from their pasts, but had empathy for eachother and helped eachother process their struggles. THE ROMANCE One of my favorite things about the romance was that it didn’t feel like a competition for Jory’s love - Ky and Asher also had attraction, tension, and romance between the two of them. This was truly a why choose for all three of the MCs and it worked really well. This was a slow burn also which I LOVED! The romance was rooted in connection rather than physical attraction so it felt more genuine to me. QUOTES: THE CHARACTERS *please note that quotes are from an Advanced Readers Copy. Please refer to the final publication for official quotes* JORY "I said that if this alliance is to proceed through marriage, he will not lay a hand on you again. If he does, I will consider it an act of war." "You think I can't defend myself?" "You're prepared to stab me in the eyes. I absolutely think you can." The king's gaze holds mine. "I wanted to make it clear to Prince Dane that I will not just protect Astranza. As you are their princess, I will defend you as well." “I look at his hand on mine, and my heart thrums. Some of it is fear—but some of it isn't. "The rumors here say that your touch burns," I say. He looks right back at me. "It can." That's sobering. I almost pull away. But he turns my wrist, using his other hand to push back my sleeve a few inches. There, on the pale skin of my forearm, a few dusty blue marks reveal where Dane grabbed me last night. Maddox Kyronan's eyes flick back up to mine. "A man doesn't need magic to cause harm, Princess." “She doesn't look half as outraged as she sounds. Instead, she looks like she wants to do more than tussle. Her cheeks are pink, and I'm thinking of the way she dressed as a maid in defiance of her brother-or the way she helped Asher force me out of the palace. I wonder how often she has to swallow her emotions to play a role. I wonder if she's doing it now.” KY “Every duty is essential, he wrote back. Nothing you do for your fellow soldiers is lowly. These are your people, and they risk their lives for you. Remember that when you are scrubbing latrines.” “It wasn't until he gave the order to attack that I realized Ky is just as broken as I am. Not broken by slavers or brothels. Not broken by cruelty or pain. Broken by war. Do his people not see that?” ASHER “His eyes flick back to me. "We were stationed at the door. Why didn't you call for help?" Oh. That question is a little piercing. The sad truth is that it would never occur to me. I can't remember the last time I was ever in a position where I could cry out for help and expect someone to answer.” “But to my surprise, she doesn't seem to judge me for it-and it's clear that the king doesn't. Somehow, they each have the talent to wake something inside of me, a flame I thought I smothered years ago. When I was with Jory, I knew how to keep my distance. I knew how to lock everything away. Out here, with the two of them, that somehow feels impossible. I'm still raw. Bare. But maybe it's like the brand. Maybe it needs to breathe so it can begin to heal.” QUOTES: THE ROMANCE “Somehow, Ky has lit a flame inside me that I've never felt, something very different from the sparks that fly when I'm with Asher. I've loved Asher for as long as I can remember, but he's always made me feel safe. Protected. Treasured. The king makes me feel like a weapon. Powerful. Capable. Worthy.” ["

Show more

October 25, 2025 Verified Purchase

T. White

Unexpectedly Good

"THE WARRIOR: (the Lion) Strong. Safe. Capable. Observant. Understanding. Protector. If I had to lend just one word to him, it would be Fortified…To me, he seemed like the glue that holds others together. Like he was forged through the fires of his journeys and experiences and came out stronger and altogether beautiful. He learned how to take pain and build a foundation. Became a rock for others to lean on. Then this man used his strength to try to fortify and build them up too. THE PRINCESS: (the Falcon) The princess is a bit harder to pinpoint. Her character was not as fleshed out as the men so I am curious to see how her character will grow as she moves forward with her plans. I did like the moments I caught glimpses of her fiery spirit and her sense of justice for all, especially the commoners. Since she is described as “ the falcon”, I’ll be looking to see if she embodies qualities like clarity, independence, and ambition, while being a blunt, visionary, risk-taking person with sharp focus, powerful problem solving skills, and a big imagination. THE ASSASSIN: (the Wolf) He was mysterious, cunning, beautiful, rebellious, strong, agile, resourceful, empathetic, stubborn, scrappy, resilient. And tragically broken. And oh, how I loved every part of him. EVERY. SINGLE. PART. The romance: The Princess and the Assassin already had a connection developed, but through conversations and understandings I could see the spark blossoming between the Warrior and the Princess. The 🧨 SPARK🎇 between the WARRIOR and the ASSASSIN though?! Electrifying! The angst filled, tension wrought, sexual fuse was delicately balanced with a deep calmness, a steady hand, and tender touches. It felt fragile like a bomb. And I both giggled like a school girl kicking my feet, and sat on the edge of my seat filled with nervous excitement, anxiously awaiting to see what was going to happen with a pairing I never knew I wanted. For me, it felt: New. Daring. Exhilarating. Like uncharted territory. Does the story need more plot? Yes. Do I need more world-building, specifically in regards to the magic system and how it works in their kingdoms (who inherits it, how/why)? Yes. But I can overlook that for now, for the delightful surprise I got with the romance, because it was phenomenal. I hope book two, which comes out November 5, 2026, is just as tantalizing in the romance department, and that it ALSO amps up in terms of plot and world building. 😁🥰 ["

Show more

January 31, 2026 Verified Purchase

Allie

Had the potential to be amazing

"- I’ll admit: I bought the book for the cover. I’d never read any of the author’s work before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. While I enjoyed the overall story enough to finish it, I didn’t enjoy the actual reading of the story. The writing style is a bit jarring since it’s rather simplistic and “telling” at times. I felt like I was observing the story from a distance. (Possible Spoilers) - I enjoyed the dynamic between Asher and Ky, and how they could relate to one another with their past traumas. Honestly, it probably would’ve made for a better story if there was no love triangle and the two MMCs were the only love interests. Jory didn’t really seem to add much depth to the throuple and only seemed to be a plot device to give the MMCs a reason to engage. The foreshadowing of the impending threesome was rather heavy-handed thanks to all the internal dialogue the POVs were having throughout the book. It was like the author wanted to make sure the reader didn’t miss the fact that each character was attracted to the other two characters. - All the POVs had the same voice/same personality, so it was difficult to immerse myself in the characters without being fully aware of the author’s “presence.” - Jory was 25, but often behaved like she was 15. Her being “sheltered” was overplayed and often came across as her being naive and lacking any sort of awareness of what happens outside of the palace walls. All in all, it was an interesting story, but I’m not holding my breath for the next one. ["

Show more

September 7, 2025 Verified Purchase

Queenvreads

Must Read Romantasy

"⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 This author is an autobuy for me, so I dove in blind—and I had to laugh at myself. With a title like Warrior Princess Assassin, I was expecting one fierce, badass heroine who’s all three things. Nope! 🤣 Instead, the story is told through three distinct POVs: • The Warrior • The Princess • The Assassin And honestly? It works so well. To make things even better, this is a Why Choose romance (reverse harem), and it’s beautifully done. I haven’t read many in this trope, but this one sets the bar high. The Story: • King Maddox (the Warrior): feared for his fire magic, he rules a land that’s slowly burning and starving. Desperate, he seeks an alliance with Astranza, whose king wields weather magic. • Princess Jory (the Princess): the bargaining chip in this alliance. She’s meant to marry Maddox, but she knows her family’s magic is failing. Plus, her heart is tangled with her childhood best friend, Asher. • Asher (the Assassin): bound by brutal oaths to the Hunters Guild. When his next mission orders him to kill Maddox and Jory, he faces an impossible choice—duty or love. The result? Twists, betrayals, action, and a romance that burns slow but steady until you’re absolutely hooked. By the time the spice arrives, you’re so invested it feels perfectly timed. My Thoughts: This book was fantastic. The character dynamics, the constant tension, and the blend of magic, danger, and longing kept me glued to the pages. I loved every POV and how the relationships developed—it never felt forced. I did a mixed read with the physical copy + audiobook, and the narration was phenomenal. Highly recommend the audio if you like immersive reading experiences! Now I’m just impatiently waiting for the next installment. 🙌🏼 “Somehow, Ky has lit a flame inside me that I've never felt, something very different from the sparks that fly when I'm with Asher. I've loved Asher for as long as I can remember, but he's always made me feel safe. Protected. Treasured. The king makes me feel like a weapon. Powerful. Capable. Worthy.” ["

Show more

September 3, 2025 Verified Purchase

JKCKirk

Romantasy Excellence

"What an adult romantasy debut! Y’all I love the worlds that Brigid builds and this one is lush and layered. An island faced with war and strife, kings with magic, unknown lands beyond the mountains. The setting and political intrigue is stunning on its own, but the romance between and personal journeys of our three main characters steals my breath. This one has earned a place on the top the Jayné Journeys list for 2025. Intense personal growth? Delivered again and again. And the best part of all? I can tell we’re just getting started. Pick this one up if you want more than a love triangle (it’s poly, y’all-y) and lots and lots yearning and slow burn. A warrior king with brutal fire magic and a more brutal reputation seeks a marriage alliance to save his country from famine. A princess forced to marry the king to secure her country’s borders from destruction, leaves her only friend and first love behind. An assassin, forced into a life of debt and cruelty, and uncovers the first strings of a plot to stop the alliance with order to kill the king and the princess he loves. What’s more, this trio finds themselves inexplicably drawn to each other, to understand, to care, and something that feels dangerous and true. Friends. This book is amazing. Let me count the ways. One: The worldbuilding is seamless and rich. Two: The political intrigue is deeply steeped in war and rumor. Three: The character backgrounds are unique and layered. Four: The internal dialogue is real, raw, and genuine. Five: CHILDHOOD FRIENDS TO LOVERS! I could have just said that but ohhh, baby… Six: Enemies to lovers, 2x. Seven: Lust at first sight. Eight, nine, and ten: the relationship dynamics. I have chills just thinking about them. The push and pull between the three characters is delicious. Visceral. I don’t want to say a lot about the story because everything is so intertwined with the character’s discoveries for themselves and with each other. It is a slow, slow burn. Like, brisket level? Does this make sense? Cooking for hours to get all the tough bits nice and tender, and y’all the flavor is worth it. I can not wait to get more of this story in my hands. ["

Show more

August 12, 2025 Verified Purchase