The Assassin’s Curse | Cassandra Rose Clarke

Published by Strange Chemistry
US Release: October 2, 2012 | UK Release: October 4, 2012
ISBN: 978-1-908844-01-9

Named one of the Best Teen Books of 2012 by Kirkus Reviews

Ananna of the Tanarau abandons ship when her parents try to marry her off to an allying pirate clan: she wants to captain her own boat, not serve as second-in-command to her handsome yet clueless fiance. But her escape has dire consequences when she learns the scorned clan has sent an assassin after her.

And when the assassin, Naji, finally catches up with her, things get even worse. Ananna inadvertently triggers a nasty curse — with a life-altering result. Now Ananna and Naji are forced to become uneasy allies as they work together to break the curse and return their lives back to normal. Or at least as normal as the lives of a pirate and an assassin can be. Read an excerpt.

The sequel, The Pirate’s Wish, will be released in June 2013.

“Clarke’s debut harkens back to the best in fantasy/adventure, offering rock-solid worldbuilding, satisfyingly perilous obstacles and a protagonist whose charismatic ’tude goes way beyond spunk.” – Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Unique, heart-wrenching, full of mysteries and twists!” – Tamora Pierce, author of the Circle of Magic books

“Its fluid prose, naturalistic dialogue and pace make The Assassin’s Curse supremely readable. And in Ananna, the young offspring of pirate stock, we have a heroine both spirited and memorable.” – Stan Nicholls, author of the Orcs: First Blood trilogy

“An inventive debut with a strong narrative voice, a glimpse of an intriguing new world.” – Adrian Tchaikovsky, author of the Shadows of the Apt series

“Ananna of Tanarau is a delightfully irascible heroine, inhabiting a fascinating and fresh new world that I would love to spend more time in. Pirate ships? Camels? Shadow dwelling assassins? Yes please! Can I have some more?” – Celine Kiernan, author of the Moorhawke trilogy

“Inventive and individual storytelling about engaging and intriguing characters.” – Juliet E McKenna, author of The Tales of Einarinn series