Saturday Tag- Top 5 Books About Assassins I want To Read Or Have Read
From Devouring Books (Linked In Title Above):
This Top 5 series started back in October and I kind of lost motivation for making it every week. But it’s back! This is a series of books that I want to read that all have a common theme. Previously on the blog I have focused on witches, werewolves, thrillers, faeries, fairy tale retellings and high fantasy. I am going to try and bring this series back for every Saturday.
The upcoming schedule is:
7/27/19 — Psychological Thrillers
8/3/19 –Books with Asian Settings
8/10/19–Books about Assassins
8/17/19 –Books with Found Families
8/24/19 — Books about Dragons
Rules!
- Share your top 5 books of the current topic– these can be books that you want to read, have read and loved, have read and hated, you can do it any way you want.
- Tag the original post (This one!)
- Tag 5 people- I have been linking people but I’ve been asked yes, of course, anyone is welcome to join! I will start leaving this open!
- Go ahead… Come At me… A graphic novel counts. Deadly Class is an incredible series. I was dead excited to it come to life on TV. And now dead gutted to hear it might not be renewed. But I believe (although without cable I’m not sure ) there is still hope for its return. Any how…
This isn’t a graphic novel with one assassin. Oh hell no. Kings Dominion High School for the Dark Arts is a whole school of students being trained to take up torch as assassins.
Synopsis:
“Deadly Class is a solid read for those who want a combination of Mark Millar’s Wanted and Harry Potter with Garth Ennis’s (Preacher) style.” – Library Journal (Starred)
“A good start to a wicked series.” — Booklist
It’s 1987. Marcus Lopez hates school. His grades suck. The jocks are hassling his friends. He can’t focus in class. But the jocks are the children of Joseph Stalin’s top assassin, the teachers are members of an ancient league of assassins, the class he’s failing is “Dismemberment 101,” and his crush has a double-digit body count. Welcome to the most brutal high school on earth, where the world’s top crime families send the next generation of assassins to be trained. Murder is an art. Killing is a craft. At Kings Dominion School for the Deadly Arts, the dagger in your back isn’t always metaphorical.
Collecting the first arc of the most critically acclaimed new series of 2014, by writer Rick Remender (Black Science, Fear Agent) and rising star artist Wesley Craig (Batman).
2. Speaking of graphic novels… Hello Cha-Cha and Hazel! Two of the most loveable, bungling assassins like, well ever! Sent by the ever evil, Commission that must keep the timeline and apocalypse in check at all cost, they can’t get anything right. Yes there were changes from the graphic novel (#5 having his head turn into a goldfish was just not going to work on the tv screen) but come on– it went damn well, and I for one am psyched for season two… for your consideration… I give you the 2008 Eisner Award Winning Umbrella Academy from Gerard Way (while I read started reading this way before the TV show, I will admit to seeking it out because My Chemical Romance broke up in 2013 and that broke me).
[wpvideo yEURbIr8]
Released: 2008
Synopsis:
In an inexplicable worldwide event, forty-three extraordinary children were spontaneously born to women who’d previously shown no signs of pregnancy. Millionaire inventor Reginald Hargreeves adopted seven of the children; when asked why, his only explanation was, “To save the world.”
These seven children form the Umbrella Academy, a dysfunctional family of superheroes with bizarre powers. Their first adventure at the age of ten pits them against an erratic and deadly Eiffel Tower, piloted by the fearsome zombie-robot Gustave Eiffel. Nearly a decade later, the team disbands, but when Hargreeves unexpectedly dies, these disgruntled siblings reunite just in time to save the world once again.
• This volume collects the first six-issue series, as well as out-of-print short stories and an expanded sketchbook section featuring work by Gabriel Bá, James Jean, and Gerard Way.
3. Oh well yeah duh. HI! Unlike the two loveable, bumbling assassins listed above, Dunyaha Lazareva the White Blade comes for Inej. She trained in Ahmrat Jen and is hired by Peka Rollins to come after Inej. She also has some delusional stake on the Ravkan throne. B… I mean witch. But of course… Inej can handle herself…
Released: 2016
Synopsis:
Crooked Kingdom: the highly anticipated sequel to Leigh Bardugo’s thrilling #1 New York Times-bestselling Six of Crows.
Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn’t think they’d survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they’re right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz’s cunning and test the team’s fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city’s dark and twisting streets—a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.
Anyhow, someone has to do it. Bring on Scythe.
Released: 2016
Synopsis:
Two teens must learn the “art of killing” in this Printz Honor–winning book, the first in a chilling new series from Neal Shusterman, author of the New York Times bestselling Unwind dystology.
A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery: humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now Scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.
Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.
Scythe is the first novel of a thrilling new series by National Book Award–winning author Neal Shusterman in which Citra and Rowan learn that a perfect world comes only with a heavy price.
5. No. I haven’t read it. I haven’t read Court of Thorn and Roses, either. Here is an author I really need to get a book and just jump in. It is hard to know where to start. Court of Thorn and Roses? Throne of Glass? I have decision fatigue! Someone help me!!! Throne of Glass is here because… assassins! But someone save me from the choices!!!
Released: 2018
After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.
Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king’s council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.
Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilarating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her… but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.
Then one of the other contestants turns up dead… quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.
Let’s Chat!
What did you think? What are your favorite books with assassins in them that you have read or are looking forward to reading? What books about would you recommend? Don’t forget to comment below so we can chat!
If I could go back I would pick reading A Court Of Thorns And Roses first. Life is short and I think a lot of people seem to agree it’s her better work. Throne of Glass is fun though!
Thank you for the advice because I really have no clue where to start!
I haven’t read graphic novels before, but have been recently talking about getting into the genre so I picked up a copy of Mooncakes. Deadly Class sounds like something I would love, so of course I’m adding it to the TBR. I’m probably going to watch The Umbrella Academy rather than read it, but had no idea that it was about assassins. Scythe and Throne of Glass are on my TBR still, but I don’t know if I will actually read Throne of Glass because I didn’t like ACOTAR, but I feel like I was heavily influenced by negative reviews and also I feel like TOG is way more up my alley.
Graphic Novels are fun! Deadly Class is awesome plus it is set against the 80s with a real punk vibe which I love. The show is fantastic… it isn’t about assassins but there are two assassins in it. The Umbrella Academy itself is more like a fd up version of the Xmen lol. Saga is also a great graphic novel to get into and the DC Young Animals stuff that came out in the past couple years (comic or graphic novel versions– Mother Panic especially).
Deadly Class has a show too? Or am I confused?
I have heard amazing things about The Umbrella Academy show, and someone who knows me really well told me I HAVE to watch it.
So for graphic novels what are the titles I should look up? Deadly Class, Umbrella Academy, Saga, Young Animals and Mother Panic? Is that right?
Deadly Class was on Syfy. I don’t know if it got renewed or not or maybe they still havent decided. I lost track when I had.to kill cable. Mother Panic is under DC Young Animals (there are four comic titles under that umbrella no pun intended- Doom Patrol reboot, shade the changing girl, cave carlson has a cybercenteic eye and mother panic) Saga and UA. I also love Batman but I always love batman so take that for what it is worth lol.
Okay wow. If I get into comics or graphic novels obviously I have a lot to read.
That’s the fun about them. Whenever I need something fast between books because you just arent quite ready after an epic read? Throw a graphic novel in there.
Why don’t I do that? I am always looking for a fast read after something super long and intricate. Fantasies can really leave you with a hangover and you need something quick and light after. I should try audiobooks too. I keep saying that, but never do it.
Audio books have become tricky for me. One because ARCs. Dont have them lol. Two because narrators are so hit and miss. And yes agree with you. I’m having this issue with TWCAD. BUT bouncing between Wonderland and His Hideous Heart is helping. Thank God I finished The Long Call before TWCAD to post tomorrow with your tag, which reminds me I have to text you.
TWCAD? What book is that? You always kill me with the abbreviations! lol
I also never do audiobooks because I mostly read ARCs! I want to listen to a few full cast audiobooks though for backlist books. I have heard that the audio for Illuminae is full cast and done really well. There are a few audiobooks I have gotten good recs on. Right now I am finally finishing There Will Come a Darkness – I would have finished if faster if it weren’t one emergency after another this week! Up next is probably whatever else comes out on the 3rd. I know that both The Girl the Sea Gave Back and Only Ashes Remain come out on the third, but I feel like there is something else that I’m missing.
There will come a darkness. This stuff is too long to type out lol.
What kills me is you cant figure out the abbreviation but typed out the title like a sentence later lol. Did you finish KOS? I cant remember?
Oh duh! Hahah! I finished There Will Come a Darkness. With all the chaos this week I didn’t get a ton of reading done. I just started The Girl the Sea Gave Back (my physical ARC hasn’t gotten here yet, but I am starting my eARC.) I also checked, KOS doesn’t come out until September 10th. I have to check my blog tour date, but I will probably wait to read it bc the blog tour isn’t until September. Trying to get reviews for the blog for now. So I always try to be about 2 weeks from the sale date, so September 3rd titles first. Now I’m on the blog tour for Only Ashes Remain on the 3rd, so I won’t read that one until the end of the month. So my review for There Will Come a Darkness will probably be next Tuesday and The Girl the Sea Gave Back for next Thursday.
File Size: 1407 KB
Print Length: 487 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0062870955
Publisher: HarperTeen (September 3, 2019)
Publication Date: September 3, 2019
Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers
Language: English
ASIN: B07H4YXGQ3
Text-to-Speech: Enabled 
X-Ray:
Not Enabled 
Word Wise: Not Enabled
Lending: Not Enabled
Screen Reader: Supported 
Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled 
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #363,722 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
#102 in Teen & Young Adult Country & Ethnic Fairy Tales & Folklore
#69 in Teen & Young Adult Diversity & Multicultural Fiction eBooks
#32 in Teen &
Kingdom of souls is Sept 3. I only remember this because Harper was awesome enough to send me a hardopy a while ago and I cant post a review till the 7th so I emailed them and let them know because I didnt want them to think I blew it off
What did you think of TWCAD?
For some reason Goodreads has it listed as the 10th. That’s weird!
TWCAD was great! I loved all the characters and I really enjoyed the plotting. The world was interesting, but I would have liked to see the Grace that could make objects with esha. Is it a series? The ending made me feel like it had to be! And even at the end with what happened with Hector I still love Ephyra.
It a series… a trilogy. I absolutely loved it. That review took me forever to write because I just wanted to get it right. I mean MC and WG took me a while too but this one took longer. The review is longer because I was a mess at the end MC and WG the review had a specific focus. TWCAD I wanted to talk about all the things so I didnt know what to do with myself. Lol
I have yet to write my review…. I should do it this weekend before I forget everything I want to say. I wish I took some notes for this one!!
I’m starting to feel that way about KOS
Kingdom of Souls? I really need to do it this weekend for TWCAD and I keep putting it off.
Scythe is my close second to Six of Crows/Crooked Kingdom series wise so that should tell you how highly I hold it… It is brilliant!
Oh wow. You and David both recommend it so highly, I really need to get on that! I have a lot of backlist titles on my TBR and I really need to organize them by which ones are my highest priority!
Yeah I know that feeling lol.
Graphic Novels totally count! Whoever says they don’t is a salty bitch lol.
Also I don’t know how I spaced on Scythe! I loved that book so much! Great list 🙂
What she said. Everything she said. Thank you!
mmh- although I used to read lot of thrillers, I can only think of one book having an assasin that I read as a review request ; the unexpected inlander, from Kellyn Thompson. It was my first Sci-Fi and man, i’m still thinking about that one xd
Ooooh… Did you review it? Have a link?
I’m sitting here like ‘when did I even last read about an assassin?’ I think it may have been We Hunt the Flame, and really, Nasir is a cinnamon roll of assassins so I think I need to step up my game lol
Yep! I thought about WHTF but I didn’t like it much and I didn’t want to kick it so I tried very hard to not have to use it lol. As for stepping up your game I had to stretch one of them to make it lol!
Some great choices! I really want to check out Deadly Class and the Umbrella Academy, I do love a good assassin. I’m reading the Nevernight books at the moment and I think Mia may be my all-time favourite assassin.
Jay Kristoff is half.my damn TBR list at this point. I thought Maas was gonna win that title and the Kristoff said hold my Keg.
Some awesome books on this list! I think the only one I would add is Nevernight because Mia is kick-ass 😀
My TBR is now dominated by Kristoff lol.
Hah thats not a bad thing!
I suppose not but I was pretty convinced Maas was gonna hold that title.
Kristoff has just eged Maas out on my TBR list as the author with the most books on it. -_- lol I will get to it now that the summer fling is just about over. I have more time to get to my back lol. Those authors will consume most of it lol! You and I have similar taste (you, I and Amanda- Devouring Books). So that is a good sign.
Lol I have it from the library. I’ve also basically stole Illuninae from the library. I mean its checked
out. Legally and without fines…. for like a year :/