This is my first book by this author and now I fear I’m going to have to read her entire back catalogue because I loved this book! The way the storytelling unfolded was perfection! I loved Ky, Jory and Asher, and there never felt like an imbalance between the three. I went into this not knowing anything and I’m glad I did so it didn’t get spoiled as I didn’t expect their relationship to progress in the way it did. The MCs drove the plot through their own three povs which I also loved. There was the perfect amount of tension and slow burn for this romantasy. There are some heavy topics covered so check the trigger warnings. Overall loved, and yet again I’m super annoyed this is an arc read because I need book 2 now!!!!

Well played, Brigid Kemmerer... well played.

When I say I dropped everything I was reading the moment I got this book on my Kindle, I am not joking. This is one of my most anticipated romantasy reads of the year and I got to read it early? I am still pinching myself ✨

Let’s start by saying this is the type of book you will either love or hate, because there are three main characters. I have seen reviews from people hoping this will not turn into a love triangle, because let’s face it, Brigid is the queen of love triangles. But let me tell you, this book kept me up until 1 AM when I needed to wake up early the next day, because once it grabs you there is no turning back.

A tale of three complex characters torn between chasing, betraying, and falling in love with each other, Warrior Princess Assassin marks the beginning of a thrilling new fantasy trilogy filled with enchantment, adventure, and passionate romance.

WARRIOR. King Maddox Kyronan’s fire magic has earned him a ruthless reputation on the battlefield, but now his kingdom is slowly burning. Ky’s only chance to save his people is to enter a marriage alliance with the neighboring nation of Astranza, and hope that the royal family’s power to manipulate the weather will help his land flourish once more. He just needs to ensure no one finds out how the blaze began.

PRINCESS. With war looming on the horizon, Princess Jory’s home needs the protection of the fearsome warrior king, but she is hiding a dangerous truth. Her family’s magic is fading. Tempting as it is to reject her duties and run away with her childhood friend Asher, Jory knows she is the kingdom’s last hope. When she meets her intended, Jory is surprised to discover that beneath Ky’s daunting exterior is a compassionate and sharp-witted man who sets her heart aflame. But what will he do when he realizes she is deceiving him?

ASSASSIN. Asher has done what he must to survive, even if that means getting his hands dirty. Once a young nobleman in Astranza’s palace, where he and Jory caused mischief together, now he is part of the Hunter’s Guild, employing much darker skills. When a lucrative job comes his way, Asher cannot say no—until he discovers the targets. Someone wants Ky and Jory dead. With the Guild watching, Asher must decide what he is willing to do to protect the woman he loves.

I should have read the synopsis before starting this book, but Brigid is an auto-buy author for me. Of course, when I read Warrior Princess Assassin, I thought this was about a princess who is both a warrior and an assassin (hey, I never said I was smart 😅). Once I got the hang of it and these three stories began to unfold, I could not put the book down.

I love stories with strong character development, where we really get to know them. For some readers (I saw those reviews), it felt like too much, but for me it built a connection. It gave me a reason to root for these love stories and I really liked it.

This story addresses sexual abuse. Although it does not happen on page, one of the characters has suffered greatly because of it. If this is triggering for you in any way, you might want to skip this book.

Two things I wish I had known before reading this book… Now this is the part where I spoil you, so you have been warned. If you read on, it is on you.







At the very beginning, the content warning mentions explicit romance. While there is some spice, there are only about one and a half scenes, and they come very late in the book (slow burn at its best). If you are looking for smut at the beginning of the story, this is not the book for you. I personally love the buildup and banter of a slow burn, but I have to admit I was expecting a bit more after reading that warning.

Also, I had no idea this would be part of a series. As someone who has followed Brigid’s books, I should have known, but still. This book starts the fire and then ends with the biggest cliffhanger EVER. I have no second book to continue and I am spiralling.

Now that I am done, I need to find that special edition to display as a trophy on my shelf 🏆 Thank you Brigid Kemmerer, HarperCollins UK, and NetGalley for this...

I just want to say: add this to your TBR because the release day is approaching soon, and you’ll want to read it.

4.5 ⭐️

What to expect:
Elemental magic
3 POVs
One horse
Political intrigue
MMF
Slow burn
Touch him/her and die
Forced proximity
Who did this to you?
Trauma

I didn’t really know what to expect when I started this, but… wow. This was such a fun read, I had the best time! I ended up binging it in just two sittings.

I loved getting all three character POVs; it really added depth to their stories. The dynamic between the mysterious assassin, the innocent princess and the ruthless warrior was *chef’s kiss*. The tension between them was delicious. I screamed “JUST KISS!” multiple times!

My favourite was definitely Asher. His story was heartbreaking, and I just wanted to give him a hug.

I would have liked more worldbuilding, and while the magic system was intriguing, I’m hoping we learn more about it in the next book.

This was my first Brigid Kemmerer book, but it certainly won’t be my last.


Thank you NetGalley and HarperVoyager for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

OHMAGOSH this book was so bingeable I am genuinely going crazy bc I have no more material to read about these characters 😫

The characters:

The Warrior — oh I was drawn to him from his first pov. Gahhhh his whole character and personality was so stable and safe it litch made me wanna find comfort in him myself. I love how he did what’s necessary for a king. He’s not impulsive and observes behaviour, assesses situations before he speaks or does anything. I loveeeed everything about him.

The Princess — as much as I understood her role in this book she was giving nothing to the overall plot. Her character just did not mesh well with me and she was a bit irrelevant at times to be honest. She felt like dead weight.

The assassin — he made me so emo 🤚 litch want to protect him with my whole body. This man just could not catch a break pls I was on the verge of sobbing for him 😭😭 his whole character just spoke to me. I loveeeed that he was competent in his role and omfds I was eating it up how he bested half the ppl in this book 💋 so satisfying

The romance:

I felt more chemistry between Ky and Asher than any of them with Jory. Like hello the actual betrayal omg the ANGST??? So scrumptious. I did see the potential with Jory and Ky but her with Asher was a mess to be honest. It always felt to me Asher was an afterthought for her.

I’m really glad with how things worked out with them though because they do make sense with each other. The soft moments??? 😫🤚 *on my knees banging my fist on the floor* no bc they were violent one second and then sweet and soft the next plsss I was living for it.

The writing:

As good as the story was, the writing felt overly formal sometimes. It was a bit rocky at the start of the book but I think as the author got more comfortable with the characters, the writing also eased up a bit. Once there was a flow to the book, it became so bingeable u would be able to tear this book away from my hands.

The world building was good but it’s not exactly the best I’ve ever read about. There are still some things that need expanding and fleshing out. I still have questions about the whys and hows. But this is definitely another aspect of the book that’s making me want to come back to this world for more when the next book releases.


Overall it was soooo good and had the perfect pacing.

ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and HarperVoyager for the ARC! ♥︎

Thank you to HarperVoyager and NetGalley for the eARC.

A sheltered princess, married off for an alliance. A war-hardened king with ferocious magic, hated by his people. An assassin without a place in the world who only craves sanctuary. These three make an unlikely trio but they're thrown together by necessity which blooms into something much more.

I enjoyed the beginning of this book and had quite high hopes, but ufortunately it just didn't hit for me. There isn't a whole lot of plot. Much of the book is the characters travelling from one place to another, and when I finished the book I looked back and had the distinct impression that the plot had barely moved forward.

Being a character-driven story, its enjoyment really hinges on forming some attachments to the three main characters. I enjoyed Asher's backstory, his vulnerability; Ky's relationships with his men and sister. I actually really liked these two, and their dynamic is really quite touching with lots of tension right from the offset. Jory, the FMC, was another matter. I felt as if she was just...there, not really contributing a whole lot. She is portrayed as innocent, naive and sheltered, but some of her actions didn't feel all that believable. I didn't get on with her characterisation at all which is a big deal in a why choose narrative!

I had a decent time reading the book but won't be picking up the sequel, unfortunately I think it's too much romance and not enough plot for my tastes.

This is the first book in a new fantasy series by Brigid Kemmerer and while I excitedly requested an ARC, I must admit I had little idea what the book would be about.. Luckily, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would certainly recommend if you like a mostly character driven romantasy!

The plot starts off strong and hooked me in: we meet the three main characters, there’s already some romantic tension brewing, there’s intrigue and the author slowly eases you into the magic system and world she created. I personally liked this set-up for a first book in a series as there’s not too much ‘info dumping’ and already at the start romance is a big part of the plot (I’m a romance reader at heart)

One thing that might not be everyone’s cup of tea: the polyamory. As mentioned, I knew little about the book going in and was surprised by it hehe. I didn’t mind it and it felt very natural to the storyline and the characters, but do keep it in mind before picking this book up!

While I thought the first part of the book was really strong, at about 50% of the book the story started dragging a bit for me. The book is very character driven (which I definitely appreciated), but after countless somewhat similar internal monologues and not that much happening plot wise, I did loose my interest a bit. Rest assured, after roughly 75% the story starts picking up again and I finished the book already thinking about the next one!

I would definitely recommend reading this if it sounds like something you’ll enjoy! Also, when is the next book releasing?! Thank you to Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC for review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was very excited to read Warrior Princess Assassin due to having read and really enjoyed Brigid Kemmerer’s "Defy the Night" Trilogy. I was curious to see what she might come up with for her adult debut.

What I liked about this book, as well as her previous work, was the political plot, the issues of the Kingdoms and the question as to who might be behind the conspiracy against the Princess and the Warrior. It mainly is what kept my interest in this book. The story was also very easy to follow.

The three main characters on the other hand, couldn’t win me over. I found none of them incredibly interesting, especially the princess seemed to lack depth with those stereotypical character traits: naive, unknowing, innocent, lonely and easily swooned.
I didn’t mind the love-triangle in general, but the way it was approached did not seem to make a lot of sense to me. The book takes place over a course of a couple of days, the romantic plot seemed to advance way too quickly, which felt unauthentic, especially with the political storyline, and the way the book set off, in mind. Even towards the end of the book, moments shared between the three main characters felt a bit out of place, considering the circumstances.

I appreciate the authors approach to writing an adult fantasy book with a romantic storyline as what seemed to be the main plot, it just didn’t feel quite right. I will be looking into Brigid Kemmerer’s future releases, as well as her backlist, but this series might not be for me.

(more like 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3)

Warrior Princess Assassin has a cool world and interesting political drama, with three different viewpoints that keep things fresh. The characters feel real and flawed, which made me care about their stories. That said, some parts felt a bit slow and heavy on detail. The ending picked up nicely though. There’s some mild violence but nothing too intense. Overall, a good read but could’ve been tighter pacing.

Brigid Kemmerer’s Warrior Princess Assassin swept me off my feet from page one and refused to let go. This isn’t just an adult fantasy debut, it’s an intoxicating blend of slow-burn romance, razor-sharp tension, and three unforgettable characters whose chemistry practically sparks off the page.

We follow Jory, a sheltered princess betrothed to Ky, a feared warrior king with fire magic, in a political marriage meant to save their kingdoms. Standing between them and their future is Asher, Jory’s childhood friend, a lethal assassin, and the one sent to kill them both. The setup alone is delicious, but the magic lies in how Kemmerer brings these three together, moving from guarded mistrust to a sizzling, heart-wrenching MMF dynamic that feels inevitable and perfect.

Yes, the world-building is more intimate than sprawling, and the plot simmers before it boils, but that’s the beauty of it, this book is gloriously character-driven. Every POV is distinct, every emotional beat earned. The tension is immaculate, the moments of vulnerability breathtaking, and when the spice finally hits, it’s worth every second of the wait.

There are twists, betrayals, and just enough political intrigue to keep you guessing, but the real treasure is watching these characters heal, grow, and find love in the unlikeliest of places. By the time the cliffhanger lands, you’ll be feral for book two.

Romantasy fans, especially those craving a slow-burn, high-tension poly romance, this is the one. My heart belongs to Jory, Ky, and Asher now, and I don’t want it back.

Well, this is not what I was expecting from this book.

Warrior Princess Assassin is full of yearning and betrayal.

I found the plot to be a bit thin and the betrayals predictable. Unfortunately, I just wasn't feeling the romance between Jory and Ky but I was hooked after the first scene between Jory and Asher and hardly put the book down wanting more of their romance to unfold.

The whole book over covers a short amount of time and not very much happens. There's plenty of plot points mentioned regarding Jory, her potential magic and the Draegonis kingdom that I would like to read more of in the next book and less of the romance. With this three way romance, most of the yearning etc became repetitive. I want more action and plot please!

3⭐️ because although I didn't completely enjoy every aspect of the book, I still didn't want to stop reading 👀

I loved it!!!! It was so good and interesting I couldn’t put it down. The characters development was great, the plot was good
I got easily attached to the characters and I definitely need book 2 now!
Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to review it.

The way I consumed this in one greedy gulp, give me more.

Warrior Princess Assassin follows Jory, Ky, and Asher as they all get used to their new positions. Jory is a princess set to marry King Maddox Kyronan to bring more troops and food to their respective regions. Jory and Asher have been close friends since childhood until Asher is thrown out of the palace and now someone wants his best friend and her betrothed killed. And he's been hired to do it.

I really liked the way that the chapters were woven together, seeing motivations and reasonings behind their actions. The way that trauma was depicted and the aftermath was really interesting and I think it was important for it to be shown in the way it was, especially in Asher's case.

Overall, I really liked this book! I think it may have benefitted from potentially another edit as some of it did read very YA but this seemed to dissipate in the second half. For an adult debut, this was brilliant and I can't wait to see where Kemmerer goes with this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperVoyager for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was EVERYTHING I was hoping it'd be and more. My sleep was sacrificed and I'm not mad about it.

Warrior Princess Assassin follows a Warrior (Ky), a Princess (Jory) and an Assassin (Asher) as they try to navigate the circumstances they find themselves in. Jory's been betrothed to Ky, thanks to her brother and her father, but the night before the betrothal is to be made official, Asher, Jory's childhood best friend, receives notice that his next job is to assassinate both Ky & Jory.

The story unravels chaotically from here and it is ADDICTIVE.

This was a fast-paced read and the world-building was perfectly balanced to take that into consideration - too much and this book would risk feeling overwhelming considering we're following three separate main characters. However, I had a clear vision of where we were, the political climate and how each character fitted into the story, but I also didn't feel like I was missing any detail.

For me, this was a book where the characters really shine: their POVs were distinct and insightful, their development was important to the story, and their backstories (one of them nearly having me weeping on multiple occasions) clearly impacted their present day decision-making. Each relationship within the trio had a different dynamic and it was a joy to see these relationships evolve and develop over time.

This is an MMF why-choose romance and. it. was. PERFECT. The yearning in this was INTENSE. The slow-burn was worth it though and we were blessed with some truly scrumptious spice after waiting so (im)patiently to get there. I fear I'll never get over this polycule and I think I'm actually okay with that?

Warrior Princess Assassin comes out on 14th August and I'm absolutely going to be getting a trophy copy. I'm so tempted to reread it soon as I just loved it so much.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Trust me when I say Warrior Princess Assassin is everything you could want for out of a romantasy and more! As someone who has rarely enjoyed romance heavy fantasy this one or is at least critical of it this one hit the mark.

from the first page I fell in love with our main trio, Jory the naive but determined princess who wants to save her kingdom. Ky the warrior King who wants to save his people too and Asher the assassin desperately trying to save his childhood friend. The banter, the dynamics, the chemistry??
This book has a true love triangle (because why wouldn't all three be attracted to each other?).

and honestly the way they started to open up to each other, start to trust each other was just beautiful and yes there is plenty of romance, medieval, shabby moments and elemental magic too which I'm keen to learn more about in the coming books.

Trust me, mark your calendars you are going to pick this one up!

YES! This is the type of story that sucks you in from the start and devours you whole! I barely came up for air! Magic, royal alliances, arranged marriage, political intrigue and yes, why choose! We have 3 different POV and I loved each of them straight away, chilhood friends Princess Jory & Asher (Assassin) and her new betrothed King Ky (Warrior) and wooooow do these three have chemistry! 🔥

“I can’t decide if they’re the bravest pairing I’ve ever met, or if they’re so wildly chaotic that they might one day lead each other straight off a cliff”

The book takes place over a few days and is very character driven which I love!! It’s an incredible mixture of both high stakes assassination attempts, possible royal alliances along with evolving relationships and truth and trauma reveals. The emotional depth we witness through each characters chapters means we start to develop deep understanding of why they behave in certain ways and the journey that they are beginning together is beautiful (and HOT!) There is a lot of tension throughout and the three main characters are destined for a relationship together (MMF) I cannot wait to see where the rest of the series goes! Thank you Harper Collins for the eARC!

I had a great time reading this book, the pacing was excellent and it felt like there was enough action to keep things going whilst also allowing the relationships between the characters to develop faithfully. And intriguing plot point to end on, I do wish we got to see more of the characters magical abilities but I’m hoping this will happen in the next book. Really looking forward to the next instalment!

3.75 stars! ⭐️

ok but brigid really said ✨girlboss ✨ with Warrior Princess Assassin. this book had me hooked from the first page! and its been a minute since that has happened to me. like, imagine being royalty and a trained killer? the pacing worked for me without feeling chaotic, and the action scenes? love. and i loved the inner conflict the MC had between duty and desire, Bonus points for the romantic tension (you KNOW what I mean) that had me kicking my feet and internally screaming.

that being said, it didn’t fully hit five stars for me just because I wanted a little more emotional depth in certain scenes? sometimes it felt like we skimmed the surface. overall? a promising story and i really enjoyed myself more than i was expecting as i barely ever enjoy romantasies anymore 😭

thank you netgalley! <3

4.5/5 stars

Warrior Princess Assassin is the first book in Brigid Kemmerer’s debut adult romantasy trilogy, Braided Fate. Warrior-king Maddox Kyronan has a reputation for ruthlessness with his fire magic but needs an alliance to help his slowly burning kingdom. Princess Jory agrees to a political marriage with Maddox to protect her own realm from invaders despite (or because of) the fact that her family’s weather magic is secretly fading. Assassin Asher is Jory’s best friend since childhood whose Guild has tasked him with killing both the princess and the king she’s promised to. As loyalties waver and an alliance in doubt, the three must decide who they can truly trust—and it might just be each other.

Terrible title aside, this book was simply so much fun, and I loved every second I spent reading it. This is romantasy in its purest form: the romance is front and center with an otherwise barebones plot. The entire story spans just a few days as the characters journey from one kingdom to another and ends rather abruptly with little narrative resolution yet. The The prose is simple, the story straightforward, and it reads very much like YA in tone; though make no mistake, the spice near the end (at about 90%) is anything but PG.

Where the book truly shines is in its characters and the incredible tension between all three of them. I was fully on board with this true triad, and I adored their banter, flirtation, and friction. There’s just so much to love about all three of them. Jory is willful and headstrong despite her sheltered naivety, and that she didn’t annoy me at all speaks volumes. Asher probably has the most emotional depth, a broken man hiding behind bravado, and I was absolutely heartbroken and shed several tears for him. Ky may initially seem like your typical tall, dark, and brooding fantasy male lead, but he reveals surprising nuance as the story unfolds. None of them are perfect with each having clear flaws, but their dynamic together is simply magnetic. The chemistry crackles not just between Jory and each man, but also between Asher and Ky. And that spicy scene? Tender, hot, and somehow both wild and tame at the same time.

Warrior Princess Assassin may be light on plot and heavy on romance, but it knows exactly what it is and completely delivers a scorchingly tension-filled MMF romantasy.

*Thank you to HarperCollins UK for the eARC via NetGalley

This was so good, I was hooked from the very first chapter and couldn’t put it down. We love a one sitting read!

We follow three POVs:
👑 King Maddox (Ky), a battle-worn ruler with a dying kingdom
🌩️ Princess Jory, a weatherwitch bound to marry for an alliance
🗡️ Asher, her childhood best friend who calls her “my Jory” turned assassin who’s been ordered to kill them both

Their fates crash together on the day of the royal alliance, when Asher is given an impossible choice-carry out the kill order, or risk unleashing more hunters on them all. What unfolds is a tangled story of loyalty, betrayal, and survival, all wrapped in elemental magic and political tension.

I loved the way Ky, Jory, and Asher’s relationships evolved🥹 especially how their loyalty slowly shifted and deepened through shared trauma and impossible choices. The chemistry, the tension, the heartbreak? Perfection. I also adored how the POVs flowed together seamlessly, each one added so much emotional weight and insight into what they were going through.

It’s a solid 4 stars from me. The only reason it’s not a full 5 is because the last twist felt a little rushed, I was still fully immersed in the character bonds, and the ending snuck up on me a bit. But I was still screaming in the best way. It was a bit more character than plot focused but I really can’t complain!

And listen… if you’re asking who does she choose? I’m here to tell you she gets the boy and he gets the boy.
It’s not just messy,it’s magnetic. And frankly, I’m rooting for all three. I was surprised in the best way that this is the road the book is taking! I’m excited for book 2!

“Rest assured, I know how to go to war.”

👑 Royal Engagement
🔥 Childhood Friends
👑 Touch Her/Him & 💀
🔥 Found Family
👑 MMF

I fear this book may have ruined me. In the best way.

If you are looking for a Romantasy absolutely full of tension, the slowest of slow burns (did I mention the tension?) intense emotions that will make you want to steal these characters and wrap them in bubble wrap. An extremely interesting plot full of betrayals, so so so many betrayals and political intrigue. Seriously, trust no one. Then this is the book for you.

This is the perfect introduction to Kemmerer Adult Debut Trilogy, nothing was overwhelming (except my pain for these characters backstories) the magic and plot are interesting and unfold definitely add to the story. But it is the relationships where this story really shines, and boy do they shine. From the relationships between Ky and his soldiers, I swear all of the characters are so intriguing! I can’t wait to learn more about them. To the MMF pairing between our main characters. As soon as Kemmerer said the main characters won’t have to choose… I was sold. I could not be more excited for this dynamic.

“Somehow, they each have the talent to wake something inside of me, a flame I thought I smothered years ago.”

The tension. The vulnerability. These characters will leave an impression, that is for sure. Kemmerer has done such a beautiful job of creating such developed relationships between Ky, Jody and Asher. And this is only the first book in the trilogy, I can’t wait to see how their relationships progress. They compliment each other so well. From Ky’s steady strength, his protective instincts are everything. To Asher’s loyalty to Jory, he will do anything for her even to his own detriment. He is ultimately a very dangerous cinnamon roll. Then there’s Jory who by all accounts should be this sheltered innocent princess and she absolutely is but she is also so very strong but this allows her kindness to shine. As the story progresses and she is given the chance you really start to see her character grow. I can already tell she is going to be one formidable FMC by the end of this series and I can’t wait for it.

“Individually or together, they’re both intriguing. Compelling. Striking, if I’m being honest with myself. But they’re also exasperating. Complicated. Messy.”

Oh my poor messy babes. I love these three far too much. The way Ky is with them both is… well it’s honestly beautiful. He’s so gentle but he knows when it push, he can read them both so perfectly.

From the first moment they meet his voice is their downfall. And I can’t blame them. Imagine this great big warrior with this captivating voice. I’d be doomed too.

“He’s so harsh and fearsome that it makes him downright captivating when his voice goes quiet.”

I have such a soft spot for each of them, they each have experienced hardships in totally different ways but it means they can understand each other easier.

I need desperately need some payback for all Asher has been through because the poor guy needs a hug.

“She’s so different from Asher, and I find it fascinating, especially considering their connection. He’s full of violence and rage, and it’s completely unbound. Every time he settles under my touch, it’s like taming a wolf.”
“The princess is the opposite. This feels like freeing a caged falcon and hoping it returns to your hand.”

It is safe to say I am well and truly hooked, I can’t wait to see where Kemmerer takes this story and these characters in the books to come.