This book was an interesting read. The interwoven layers of plot keep the reader drawn in and along for the ride, while the strongly voiced characters help to hold on to the reader and keep you along for that ride. The Intrigue, politics and convoluted plot of this sort of story is certainly not for everyone. It can all seem rather depressing. ( )

Iliana, daughter of King Leon of Alexander, was kidnapped, had her name changed to Adelei and raised as an Amaskan assassin. When she is hired to protect King Leon's daughter, her biological twin, for attempted assassination attempts before the sister's wedding day, things get even more complicated. Will she remember things from her past? Can she keep her sister safe? Can she solve who is attempting the assassination attempts? Will those in her father's castle accept or trust an Amaskan?

This book was much better than I anticipated. With a convoluted plot, it moved rather quickly and was an easy read. I loved it and eagerly await the second book in the series. I would recommend this book to others. ( )

I enjoyed this book intensely. The plot is simple but well-developed, the characters are believable (the main ones as well as the secondary), and overall it makes for a nice reading, a novel that compelled me to read one more page before going to sleep.

I look forward for the following books of the series, sure that they won't dissappoint me. ( )

The voice of Adelei the lead character is strong, making transition into the world easy and fluid. Adelei’s morals are that of an assassin with a code of honor. This combined with the interplay of her family, both blood and adopted, is the core of the story.

This results in a story that is like the love child of Bujold’s Paladin of Souls and Patricia Brigg’s Masques. It takes the interesting religions and intrigue from the former and dark family ties with new author pacing from the later. If you enjoy intrigue, religions and politics this would be a good match for you.

Beware, it has a very Tale of Two Cities style ending if those aren’t your cup of tea.

Amaskan’s Blood left some threads open, that I would like answers to. So, I will be on the look out for the next book in the Boahim series.

Thank you to Grey Sun press and Librarything Early Reviewers for this book. ( )

Adelei was the best trainee the Amazkans had ever had, trained to protect and kill in the name of justice. Amaskans are however, assassins and she has been trained and adopted by a high ranking member of the order who has raised her as a father would. He sends Adelei on a mission the Kingdom of Alexander to play body double to Princess Margeret, and protect her until her wedding day. She is also cast out of the Order as she is sent into a country where being an Amaskan is a death sentence. But Margaret's marriage to Prince Gamun of the kingdom of Shad seals the peace between two Kingdoms. The Prince though is known as "the Monster" with unsavory rumours of unspeakable crimes and tastes that don't bear scrutiny. Adeliei's escort to Alexander reveals Adelei's true birth identity as Iliana, the other princess of Alexander, unsettling her professional outlook and forcing her to confront her memories and reassess her past. Her skills are needed to protect a vulnerable princess but emotion also gets involved. Her father, King Leon is slowly dying of poison inflicted over decades by a villainous trusted advisor and his world has been shattered by the discovery that his tiny twin daughter was not dead but has become a professional murderer.

The epic fantasy unwinds with sorcery, secrets and convoluted layers of plot. The story is set in the Little Dozen Kingdoms and perhaps future episodes will give us more detail about its past, values and geography. The story has a few grammatical glitches and incongruities but the characters are compelling and I look forward to the next book of the saga. I received a free copy of this book as an Early Reviewer in return for an honest review. ( )