Title: The Kings’ Assassin
Author: Ed Cannon
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1984511683
Pages: 454
Genre: Fiction/Fantasy
Reviewed by: Susan Milam
Pacific Book Review Star
Awarded to Books of Excellent Merit
With his debut effort, The Kings’ Assassin, author Ed Cannon makes a strong move into the crowded realm of fantasy sagas. Begun during the author’s college years and taken up again much later, the book appears to have benefitted from its long germination in Mr. Cannon’s mind. The world of The Kings’ Assassin is richly imagined and the characters multifaceted. Despite a storyline which leaves itself open to further volumes, the hero’s journey is satisfying, and the book’s conclusion leaves the reader’s expectations fulfilled.
Sillik stands atop Soul Crusher, one of the nine mountains that surround Illicia. After seven years, Sillik is returning home in response to an urgent thought communication he received almost two months earlier from his father, who is the king of Illicia. Sillik is hoping that this night at the Celebration of the Kings, he will toast his father and his three half-brothers. However, Sillik harbors grave doubts about the situation he will find when he enters Illicia. In the days since receiving his father’s “frantic telepathic summons,” Sillik has heard nothing further from him. Gifted by the Seven Gods of Law with the Seven Laws of Magic, Sillik can perform feats outside the reach of ordinary men and women. After surviving an attack on the trail down the mountain, Sillik enters Illicia through the King’s Gate and wonders what awaits him within the city’s walls.
Mr. Cannon fills The Kings’ Assassin with detailed information about Illicia and the battle between the Seven Gods of Law and the Nine Gods of Darkness for the soul of the city. The author packs the text with Illician lore and history, as well as the personal history of hero Sillik. Still, the book flows from peak to peak without being dragged down by the necessary world building. Indeed, the storyline pulls in readers based on Mr. Cannon’s ability to bring Illicia, its inhabitants and its gods to life. Obviously, he has spent a good deal of time developing the complicated traditions and laws that undergird the story. However, the book’s gods and other fantastical elements never overwhelm the storytelling that makes Sillik’s journey so powerful. In addition to Sillick, a male protagonist in the tradition of the best fantasy heroes, Mr. Cannon creates several strong female characters: Briana, a gifted sword handler and a member of Illicia’s inner circle; Renee, who proves to be a brave ally and perhaps more; and Lady Silvia, one of the Seven Gods of Law.
Folks looking for a worthy addition to the catalogue of fantasy sagas will be pleased with The Kings’ Assassin. The book meets all the criteria laid down by the genre but never falls into the trap of merely filling in the blanks. Mr. Cannon created a fully realized world filled with multidimensional characters. When The Kings’ Assassin comes to a close, readers will be satisfied with its outcome and yet eager to see where Sillick, his allies and his enemies head next. I found The Kings’ Assassin by Ed Cannon to be a great fantasy novel, sure to be loved by readers.
