Really enjoyed this. The world building was pretty vague but the storytelling was good enough that it didn't overly matter. Looking forward to book 2.

Warrior Princess Assassin is an adult romantasy debut by Brigid Kemmerer, following the story of Princess Jory, her childhood best friend Asher and Ky, the king she has been promised to. I think that it is very important to know going into this book that it is a poly romance, which is the main reason why I was so excited to read it!

The only Brigid Kemmerer fantasy book I had read prior to starting this one was A Curse So Dark and Lonely, which I DNFed, so I was somewhat sceptical going into Warrior Princess Assassin. I am so glad that I gave it a chance because I was hooked from the very first chapter! I cannot stop thinking about this book even days after finishing it and I am already so tempted to go back to the beginning and read it again. Warrior Princess Assassin is officially my favourite book ever!

I love literally everything about this book! The romance was full of angst and had me on the edge of my seat. The magic system was very intriguing and I am looking forward to it being expanded on in the sequel. The world building was not too intricate but kept me fully engaged and excited to find out more. The characters were beautifully written and I really enjoyed their growth throughout the events of the book.

There are not enough words in the English language for me to express how much I adore this book! I want to give it a thousand stars out of five!

I am beyond excited for the sequel but in the meantime, I fully intend on reading Warrior Princess Assassin again at least ten more times!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harper Voyager for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The characters are written so well I fully feel connected to Asher, Ky and Jory. I love all three separately and together and I absolutely cannot wait to read more about them in the next book.

Asher's story is heart breaking but seeing him heal is beautiful. Ky is going through so much its great to see him finally get help. Jory is sheltered but clearly has fight in her that I cannot wait to see come out.

This was a great first book in the series, I am invested in these characters and I cannot wait to see where the story takes them and how they each continue to work well together as a trio 😍

I usually don't enjoy a why choose, but usually it's because the characters have no depth. That is not the case here, all three of them clearly need and help each other. I want all three of them to be happy and I'm so glad I gave this a try 🥰

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

BRIGID! I am a melted puddle on the floor clutching my pearls.

When I say this was un-put-downable that is not just hyperbole, I devoured this book in hours of picking it up. The pacing was super fast, the tension was high and those inter character relationships were spicy even when they weren't being ✨spicy✨ (iykyk)

This book comes with a few TWs, I did feel they were explored well though, personally but at the same time with that exploration they were realistic, so just check those out if you need to and read safely.

I liked the princess, although not being my particular type of FMC I appreciated the journey she went on in the plot of this book. She genuinely seemed to grow...in some ways!

The two MMC's in my opinion are my stars. I'm a sucker for true enemies and these two really like to go at each other at times. Just adds great contrast to the other half of the enemies to lovers coin. 🤌

The time frame is short across the book, which if you like a slow burn, might not be your initial thing, but again, it's fantasy, they are at peril, you gotta crack on with your life! It didn't hinder my enjoyment of their journey and discoveries as they unpick the dangers they're all in together.

In conclusion, you get messy chaotic poly relationships, stabby feral but secretly soft cinnamon rolls and commanding HOT bossy royal alphas, what's not to love?!

Full reviews posted to GR, Amazon and Retails upon release.

Omg I had such a fun time reading this book! This book features one of my favourite things in romantasy, polyamory/throuple so I knew instantly that this is that kind of book I will absolutely love and enjoy. I mean so many times love triangles should just not exist and they should all be together, and this book is the perfect execution of that.

I loved everything about this and I devoured it in one sitting! The characters, the relationships, the tension and the chemistry: the romance side of this book was absolute perfection and I wouldn't change a thing. We had tender and loving moments and also so much heat, ah everything was just so good, and then when we started to get more spicy towards the end of the book, everything just felt right. (to be fully honest, they don't go pretty far in this book, but I have high hopes for next one!)

On the world building and plot side this book may not be as strong, but I did not mind that one bit. I was here for the romance. But we still got lots of fast paced action scenes, bit of politics, and magic systems that seems pretty cool, and I can't wait to find out more about in the next book.

More thoughts about the characters:
- I don't usually like that the woman is the naive one who has never had sex, but in this setting it definitely worked!
- I loved the complexity of both mmc:s and how they could offer each other something the fmc couldn't, it made me really think that there is something between them
- I loved how different all three main characters were, they clearly all had their weaknesses but also strengths!

more about hot moments:
- bath and kissing <333
- riding together on a horse, ahh
- sharing warmth when sleeping <3
- fake fighting turning into almost kissing <3
- "we are not competing"

5 stars <3

I do love me a bit of Brigid Kemmerer’s storytelling. The worlds she creates are fleshed out and never quite what they initially seem. She treads the ‘three sides to every story’ masterfully, somehow making you root for the character introduced as the ‘villain’, and making you question what is good and what is evil. All her characters are well-developed, they have positive and negative traits, come with (often a huge amount of) baggage. But never seen like caricatures. I find myself struggling in the murky middle ground, especially when a character I love does something terribly awful.

Warrior Princess Assassin definitely met my expectations. This is definitely an adult book (many of Kemmerer’s books are YA with any romance hidden behind a closed door). I really enjoyed the characters being more adult in their relationships, although I feel the love ‘triangle’ might have benefited from a bit less time all together, and a bit more one to one time between the pairings. That’s just a person preference though and it didn’t detract anything from the story or the writing.

A fantastic story and I really don’t want to have to wait so long to find out what’s next 💕

3.5⭐️

This book follows three POV’s of the warrior, the princess, and the assassin. It is packed with complex emotions and the dynamic between these characters are ever-changing.

Whilst this is a why-choose, there is so much depth and history behind each of the characters that it is done so tastefully and unlike anything I’ve read before.

I loved how this was an introduction into fantasy without being overbearing, it set up the characters, the plot and the magic without dedicating the whole first book to complex world building. It alleviates the pressure of needing to memorise multiple key aspects of the magic systems and intricate politics, it instead focused on the characters and their relationships.

There is a lot of common microtropes woven into the plot but they weren’t overbearing: knife to throat, one horse, forced proximity… all the beloved tropes.

A few things I didn’t like was that it felt like not much was happening after 60%. The sense of urgency was lost and the plot lacked a linear focus. The chapters ended up feeling repetitive and focusing on introspection and internal monologues, repeatedly referring the other MC’s complex push and pull. Whilst I loved having a deeper insight into their emotions, I wish there was more plot and context to back them up. It got a bit tiring reading the same thoughts repeated from a different POV.

At times I did find the writing a bit clunky, especially at the beginning. It was clear the author was trying to add context seamlessly to set up the story but I found that it really brought me out of the story with the constant flashbacks.

I also found the plot twist at the end quite underwhelming and predictable, the villain was obvious from the start.

Overall, this was a fun and fast paced romantasy with political tension, magic, betrayal and a complicated romance. I will be picking up the next one to see how the plot develops and to see more of their relationship grow and adapt.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC 🫶🏻

This one surprised me in the best of ways. A fairytale story with a really sweet queer romance.

Let's address the title first: as much as it has a weird 90s Xena vibe, once I started reading, I couldn't imagine any other title. It's exactly what it is: Warrior, Princess, Assassin. The second has to marry the first for an alliance, the third is sent to kill the first, they get bound together, and suddenly at the halfway mark, things get really sweet and sexy because they're all hot for each another, but in a heartwarming way.

There's realms and wars and threats, but Brigid Kemmerer really takes her time in this first book to explore the world and bury the characters deep in our hearts. All while maintaining a perfect pace and not a second of boredom.

I seriously can't wait for book two and being back in the company of our sweet and sexy throuple.

5/5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @harpercollina for the eARC!

#WarriorPrincessAssassin #Netgalley #ArcReading #Bookstagram

ARC Review: Warrior Princess Assassin by Brigid Kemmerer

Brigid Kemmerer has been one of my auto-buy authors ever since A Curse So Dark and Lonely and Defy the Night, so I was incredibly excited to dive into Warrior Princess Assassin. Unfortunately, despite a promising premise and a few shining moments, this one didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

What’s it about?
Told through three interwoven points of view — the Warrior, the Princess, and the Assassin — this book follows Warrior King Maddox Kyronan, whose fire magic is as dangerous as it is uncontrollable. In an effort to save his burning kingdom, he agrees to a marriage alliance with the royal family of Astranza, known for their weather magic.
Princess Jory, shy and sheltered, carries the heavy burden of knowing her family’s magic is fading. When she meets her intended, sparks fly — but she’s hiding a truth that could ruin everything.
Meanwhile, Asher, once Jory’s childhood friend and now a trained assassin, accepts a high-paying mission… only to discover his targets are Jory and Maddox. Torn between duty and love, he must make an impossible choice.

My thoughts:
I went into this book completely blind, simply trusting the author's name. At first, I was intrigued — the setup had so much potential! But around the halfway mark, I realized the story wasn’t working for me. The pacing dragged, with very little actual plot progression. There were extensive internal monologues, pages of introspection, but not much happened. I usually prefer fast-paced books with a strong storyline, and this felt more like a slow character study than a fantasy adventure.

The worldbuilding was very minimal — I still don’t know much about the kingdoms, their history, or even the stakes of the looming war. The magical elements, while interesting (especially the fire vs. weather contrast), were underused and left me wanting more. As a romantasy reader, I expected a better balance between romance and fantasy, but here the romance completely dominated the narrative.

That said, the romance was intense. This is a highly character-driven love story, filled with tension, yearning, longing stares, accidental touches… all the classic tropes. What initially seemed like a love triangle quickly turned into a "why choose" situation — and let me tell you, I was giggling and kicking my feet at times! The spice level is way higher than in Brigid’s previous books, and I was speechless — in a good way. It was very well written and undeniably entertaining.

As for the characters:
• Ky was a standout. Complex, confident, yet deeply compassionate — he was definitely swoonworthy.
• Asher had real depth as a traumatized assassin shaped by loss and grief. His internal struggle felt raw and believable.
• Jory, however, didn’t work for me as much. I usually enjoy fierce, bold heroines, and Jory was more soft-spoken and sheltered. While she had brave moments, I couldn’t fully connect with her.

In the end, I’m conflicted. On one hand, the romance was fire — full of angst and chemistry — but on the other, I was honestly bored at times. A stronger plot, more worldbuilding, and a compelling villain could have made a huge difference.

You’ll love this book if you enjoy:
• Slow burn and romantic tension
• Love triangles (or why-choose!)
• Elemental magic
• Assassin tropes
• Arranged marriage dynamics

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
While it didn’t fully work for me, I’m sure many readers will fall for this steamy and emotionally intense romantasy.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for this eArc in exchange for an honest review <3

Yeah okay, the title is giving Wattpad-core, but don’t let that stop you — this book? Absolutely slapped.

I braced for a classic love triangle (aka the love V where one guy is just cannon fodder for angst). But Brigid said NOPE and gave us a real triangle. Emotional tension. Actual bonds between all three characters. Zero second-lead disrespect. I was thriving.

👑 The FMC? A little tropey — pampered princess one moment, “formidable opponent” the next. But somehow it still worked. She grew on me, and the relationships carried the story.

🗡 The two love interests? Ohhh the pain. Tragic backstories, complicated layers, and yes — undeniable chemistry with each other too 👀💔

💫 Instead of picking one and crushing the other, the story goes full healing-journey mode. And honestly? That ending left me feral for the sequel. Brigid, ma’am, I need more immediately.

✨ If you’re into fantasy with emotional stakes, actual triangle dynamics, and characters trying to heal not just hook up — this one’s for you.

Thank you so much Netgalley, Harper Voyager and the author for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.

Warrior, Princess, Assassin was an okay book.

The premise was intriguing but not very creative, I’ve already read something similar a couple of times, for instance in Fire in the Sky by Sophie Jordan. And that’s one of the reasons this didn’t get a higher rating: it just didn’t stand out. It wasn’t very original, it didn’t distinguish itself from other books, and honestly, it’s not very memorable.

Another thing I didn’t like: the romance. I was expecting (and craving!) a love triangle, but this turned out to be a why-choose romance, which I wasn’t prepared for. It’s not something I look for in books, and not something I enjoy reading.
And this year alone, I’ve already come across two books that were grievously mismarketed! Please market books correctly so they actually reach the right audience, and to avoid low ratings from readers who were expecting something entirely different!!! If Iwere only taking into consideration this aspect, I would've given the book one star.

Some meh things: little to no plot, and sparse worldbuilding, although knowing how Brigid writes, this will be fixed in the next installment.

Some pros: I loved how intricate and complex the characters were, and how different their motivations felt. I also really appreciated how Brigid Kemmerer handles heavier topics like grief and healing, she does it with care and nuance. The yearning was great, and the various POVs were well balanced and all fairly interesting.

I've loved Brigid Kemmerer's other books. I've found them so quick and easy to read, and written like true fairytales. I couldn't wait to read this new story from her. And I lived it jsut as much as her other books, possibly more! An autobuy author for me!

4.5⭐ rounded to 5⭐

Brigid Kemmerer has restored my faith in romantasy!

In a market saturated with mediocre romantasy books, Warrior Princess Assassin shows that you can take the overdone tropes and micro tropes, write them in a fresh, non-cliche way and produce a banger of a book.

This is very much a character driven story and I adored our MCs. Individually they have flaws and can be frustrating but together they create balance and round each other out well. And Asher, poor broken Asher. He must be protected at all costs! The tension and the push and pull leading up to the spicy scene was oh so delicious.

The plot takes a back seat to the relationship between the MCs but that doesn't mean it was lacking. We get a slower introduction to the world and magic system. However, there was plenty of political intrigue and action to keep me hooked. I appreciated that Kemmerer did fall into the trap of overwhelming readers with a massive info-dump about the world and magic system.

WPA is a great first book in what promises to be an epic romantasy trilogy. The MCs have been in depth and for book 2 I would love a deeper insight into the world, especially the magic system. I'm predicting we'll see more from Jory for sure in that regard.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for the eArc. Warrior Princess Assassin emotionally destroyed me and I'm already desperate for the second book!

Rated 4.5/5 stars!

Warrior, Princess, Assassin is a gem of a romantasy story that I just couldn’t put down. Following three POVs and their increasingly complicated situations when a betrothal-gone-wrong leads all three astray, this is a journey where I didn’t know the ideal outcome- and loved the story all the more for it.

The dynamic between our trio is one of irritation-meets-infatuation, and I ate. it. UP. I adored the push and pull between our main characters, no matter what direction that was felt at any given point, and if anything it just kept reeling me back in, hooked on the outcome for each character. It was tense, heated, and alluring all in one. Add in the political fantasy plot, and I was sold.

Warrior, Princess, Assassin is an incredible foray into adult romantasy from Brigid Kemmerer, one that is bound to have readers begging for more - and is now leaving me longing for book 2 😂

The premise of Who Should You Trust? immediately caught my attention – a fire-wielding warrior king, a weather-magic princess, and a dangerous assassin with ties to both. The setup promised political intrigue, forbidden romance, and high-stakes magic. And at first, it delivered.

The beginning was compelling, with a strong hook and an intriguing magical world. However, as the story progressed, I found myself losing interest. The pacing started to drag, and the characters , while initially interesting , didn’t develop in a way that kept me invested.

One major issue for me was the romantic angle. This is a “why choose” romance, meaning the main character doesn’t have to pick between love interests. That’s totally fine for readers who enjoy that trope, but it wasn’t made clear up front. I went in expecting a more traditional love triangle or a clear romantic path, so the direction the story took felt misleading. I think it would be much better if the book was upfront about being a why-choose romance – it would help manage reader expectations and reach the right audience.

Overall, while the world-building had potential and the concept was creative, the execution didn’t work for me personally. If you’re a fan of polyamorous romance and enjoy a slow-burning fantasy with love-triangle dynamics, you might still enjoy this, but it wasn’t my cup of tea.

This book has everything that romantasy fans (like me) look for in books : high-stakes politics, slow-burn romance, elemental magic, and a storyline that makes you want to keep reading even when you should really sleep!

It was the second book (serie) from Brigid Kemmerer that I read (Defy the Night being the other one) and she has definitely become one of these authors that I will read any book from.

The story being told from three POVs made is so interesting to me, as it doesn’t happen that often in books. Each characters are unique : Maddox, the fire-wielding king; Jory, the princess with a magical legacy; and Asher, the would-be assassin. The triangle between these three never feels forced (which is a real plus as I personally find triangles usually awkwardly written). The world building, the political intrigue and threat of war, the emotional depth and the tension made it such a gripping book. I cannot wait for the next one!

4.5 stars

The way I devoured this book! This was a sensational read, brimming with heart, humour, political intrigue, and a delicious undercurrent of sexual tension that kept me utterly hooked. While I adored all three leads, it was the chemistry between Ky and Asher that I truly couldn’t get enough of.

The story doesn’t shy away from darkness—there are gritty, raw moments that lend the fantasy world real depth and stakes. The battles are brutal and unflinching, with Brigid refusing to gloss over the realities of war and power. Yet, for all its darkness, the novel is also full of tenderness. Jor, a sheltered princess, faces a devastating awakening to the harsh truths of her kingdom in a scene that broke my heart. I’ll admit, her naivety did get on my nerves at times—she’s so protected and innocent that I found myself frustrated by her lack of awareness. But Brigid does a fantastic job of bringing this back around, using Jor’s journey to show real growth and resilience. By the end, her character arc feels earned and genuinely moving. Her brother Dane is a master manipulator, using her as a pawn to forge an alliance with Ky, the formidable King of Incendar. Dane’s cruelty and political gamesmanship add another layer of tension, making Jor’s journey towards agency all the more compelling.

Ky is a standout—our brooding warrior king, forced into brutality at a young age and now burdened by the horrors of war. I absolutely loved him—not just for his ruthlessness, but for the big heart he tries to keep hidden. His ability to see through Asher’s tough exterior and bring a sense of calm to their dynamic was beautiful to witness.

Asher, our assassin and Jor’s steadfast best friend, is a character who wears his scars openly. He’s sweet, stubborn, and haunted by a tragic past, constantly wrestling with his own demons. While his friendship with Jor is moving, it’s the comfort and softness he finds with Ky that truly kept me turning the pages. Their connection is magnetic and deeply satisfying.

This is a “why choose” romance, and the spice towards the end is everything I hoped for—emotional, and perfectly earned. Brigid’s foray into adult fantasy is a triumph: the world-building is immersive, the stakes are high, and the relationships are unforgettable.

I can’t wait to see where this series goes next. If you love your fantasy dark, gritty, and full of heart, this is an absolute must-read.

Oh my freaking god. She has done it again! This book is now my absolute favourite of Brigid (And I LOVE all her books). This is an absolute masterpiece, the plots, the twists, the emotions and the M/M/F (That was just to kill me). I absolutely adored this book, I loved the characters and how their past was revelled slowly. The slow burn between all three characters was almost painful at times but OMG that chapter near the end just did it for me.
Once again the whole world building is great (stunning, seriously where do you get this imagination from), the writing was lovely.
I have nothing negative to say about this book and I can’t wait to receive my deluxe signed edition in August now.
Thank you again Brigid for keeping me hooked on your books.

ARC Review ~ 4.5☆

Okay, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did—but wow, Warrior Princess Assassin pulled me in fast and kept me emotionally tangled in the absolute best way.
I’ve read a few F/M/M books before and I’ll be honest, I’m picky about them. The balance between characters and the plot has to be just right, or it ends up feeling messy or uneven. But Brigid Kemmerer completely nailed it here.

The story centers on Princess Jory, who’s supposed to be married off to King Ky for the sake of a fragile alliance their kingdoms desperately need. He’s feared across her land—rumored to be cruel and dangerous, with terrifying magical abilities. But when she meets him, he’s... not at all what she expected.
At the same time, her best friend and lifelong protector Asher—who also happens to be an assassin—has just been given a contract to kill Jory and King Ky. Instead of following through, Asher risks everything to warn Jory, and from that moment, the three of them are swept into a web of secrets, loyalty, betrayal, and a very complicated relationship dynamic that slowly unfolds into something much deeper.

Once the three of them set off together, the story takes a noticeable shift into character-driven territory. There's less external action for a stretch, but honestly? I didn’t mind at all.
Watching Jory, Ky, and Asher slowly learn to trust one another, question their own beliefs, and face their personal traumas was incredibly satisfying.
Each of their relationships—Jory and Ky, Ky and Asher, Jory and Asher—had its own dynamic, its own pace, and its own emotional resonance. Nothing felt rushed. Nothing felt like a shortcut. These were characters growing alongside each other, not just falling into attraction because the plot demanded it.

What really stood out to me was how thoughtfully each of their arcs was handled. This wasn’t a case of “insert love triangle, add drama.” There’s no “cheating” here either, because all three are aware of each other’s feelings from early on, and there’s a mutual understanding that unfolds with time. It’s rare to read a poly relationship done with this level of care and emotional realism—and I loved that no one ever felt like the “third wheel” or just thrown in for tension. All three—Jory, Ky, and Asher—were full characters in their own right, and their emotional journeys mattered just as much as the romance.

And don’t even get me started on the side characters and the found family vibes we pick up along the way—they were delightful. From the gruff allies to the unexpected moments of tenderness, it was such a pleasure to be in this world.

This is very much an adult fantasy, and it doesn’t shy away from its darker elements. Asher, especially, has a painful and traumatic past that’s shaped him into someone guarded and often cold. But Jory’s journey—learning to see all of Asher, not just the childhood friend she knew—was beautiful. And Ky? Totally misunderstood. He’s got his own secrets and scars, and watching the layers peel back on his character was so rewarding. Their bonds aren’t built on lust or idealized romance—they’re built on long talks, hard truths, shared danger, and growing respect.

Now let’s talk about the spice. I usually don’t love explicit scenes in fantasy—too many books shove them in too early and too fast just for shock or appeal, sacrificing emotional depth. But this? This was the exception.
The intimacy in Warrior Princess Assassin only happens at the very very end and is slow, careful, respectful, and deeply character-focused. Each of the three main characters has a different relationship with intimacy, and the way their boundaries and vulnerabilities are handled made those scenes mean something.
That said, the scene does unfold over several chapters, and I’ll admit it felt a bit long to me at times—but I’ll gladly take a slow, character-driven scene like that over a rushed one with no emotional weight.

This book might not be action-heavy for a stretch, but if you’re into rich character development, emotional depth, and unconventional relationships that are actually earned, then this is absolutely worth reading. I’m deeply invested in these characters now, and I’ll 100% be picking up the next book in the trilogy. The dynamics are just so unique and well-executed—I can’t wait to see where Kemmerer takes them.

Final thoughts:
If you love slow-burn romances, complicated relationship dynamics (including polyamory), found family, characters with trauma and healing arcs, and respectful, earned intimacy, then Warrior Princess Assassin is definitely for you.
Just make sure you check the content warnings ahead of time—this is an adult fantasy with explicit scenes and mature themes.

This book surprised me in the best way, and I’m so glad I had the privilege to read this ARC! Thank you, NetGalley.

The first quarter of this book started off promising and the last quarter was confusing.

I did enjoy the main aspect of the plot, but I wasn't sure how the storyline would develop.
I think that the last few chapters with the relationship between the main characters all happened too fast and then it was over and I'm not sure I can see where else it will go in the next book.


Thank you to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the ARC.