Review: Assassin’s Heart by Monica Burns

Assassin’s Heart
by Monica Burns
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Available: September 7th 2010
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Lysander Condellarie never understood why he had telepathic and telekinetic powers until the night his Praetorian father tortured him and left him for dead. Now, the half-angelic, half-demonic face he sees in the mirror is a reminder of the monster he must keep hidden or face expulsion from the order of assassins know as the Sicari. But his dreams of Ancient Rome hint at a destiny he finds hard to accept, especially when it involves the woman he loves, but can never have.

The consequences of desire.

A gifted healer in the Order, Phaedra DeLuca witnessed her mother’s murder when she was just a little girl. The haunting memory makes her loathe everything Praetorian. When she travels to Rome in search of an ancient artifact, she must work alongside a man who once cruelly rejected her love and healing touch. But her dreams of Ancient Rome tell of an irreversible and possibly dangerous future. For the distant past and present are about to collide–with the one man she is destined to love.

Reviewed by: Sophia (FV)

Assassin’s Heart opens with a heart breaking and gruesome first chapter that tells of Lysander’s violent encounter a year ago with the Praetorian—the sworn enemy of the Sicari—where he is tortured and disfigured. He also learns the shocking truth of his true heritage, which will forever change him and affect his relationships within the Order of the Sicari.  Most of all, it will affect his future with the woman he loves whom he feels he can never have because of who he is.

Phaedra, a healer in the Order was devastated when Lynsander rejected her a year ago.  Not understanding his sudden rejection after his horrific encounter with the Praetorians, she turned her hurt into anger toward him.  Now, a year later they have both been assigned to an important mission in the continued hunt for the Tyet of Isis.  Now that they are working together on the same team, they are forced to face their feelings for each other as Lysander struggles to keep his heritage a secret or risk losing her forever.

Assassin’s Heart is another wonderful adventure into the Sicari world packed with action and intrigue.  But it’s the romance that really spoke to me as Lysander a dark, tortured hero deals with his past and hopes to save Phaedra, the woman who truly holds his heart, from the evil he is convinced lives within him.  His refusal to tell her the truth about himself in an effort to spare her the pain of her past is noble but at times quite frustrating.  The romantic tension between these two runs high throughout the story and  at times had my heart wanting to burst.  Phaedra is determined to fight for Lysander, not realizing he is protecting her from the evil that haunts her past. Lysander and Phaedra’s journey is a difficult one, yet so romantic and moving.

There is a touching secondary romance told within Phaedra and Lysander’s story that really captured my attention.  I always love a good secondary romance and we get a glimpse into the history of  Atia the Prima Consul and Marcus the Sicari Lord.  Although they are now apart romantically, they have a long history together and they have come together again under very tragic circumstances adding even more angst and tension to this story.

Assassin’s Heart is the second book in the Order of the Sicari series and I think this is one of those series that will just continue to get better and better.  The first book, Assassin’s Honor was a hit with me and Monica Burns has managed to keep up her momentum even outdoing herself with Assassin’s Heart. I eagerly look forward to more in this exciting series.

Favorite Quote:

“I don’t know how.”  It was a soft cry of desperation and he could feel her slipping away.

“Yes, you do..  You can do this.  Trust me, like I’m trusting you.  I promise I won’t let go.”

Purchase Links: Amazon | Book Depository

Other books in the series:

• Assassin’s Honor

Other reviews on GoodReads

Author’s Website

Monica Burns will be here later today with thoughtful guest post and she will be giving away a copy of Assassin’s Honor and a copy of Assassin’s Heart.