Reviewed by Susan
TITLE: The Prince’s Assassin
SERIES: Tales Of The Thasali Harem
AUTHOR: Danielle Summers
PUBLISHER: Tulabella Ruby Press
BLURB:
Rumors and whispers of plots in the shadows send royal agent Duga Rigers undercover into the matriarch’s harem. Secrets stalk the silken halls threatening not only the royal harem but the Crown Prince’s chosen lover. Will death find Duga Rigers and the other boys of the royal harem or will the royal agent unmask the assassin hiding in the silken shadows?
If Rigers doesn’t succeed in his mission, he and a hundred other beautiful men may die. Crown Prince Baboye begs Rigers, his special advisor, to save Eyakan, a harem boy with eyes the color of smoke, that he wants to take on as his consort during the upcoming jubilee. But when Rigers learns that Eyakan is the potential assassin, he must figure out how to save the harem, Eyakan, Eyakan’s family and the crown prince while dealing with his own malaise and loneliness.
REVIEW:
I was not sure what to expect when I started this book. It has a sci-fi label on it but it feels more like a fantasy book to me. It is definitely not a traditional romance with two main characters and a happy ending.
Duga starts this book his place in the world, but questioning it. Having been a harem boy who was chosen as the crown prince’s favourite and moved up in the royal court to become also a trusted advisor, he is accomplished but alone.
He enters the harem again after many years to try and find an assassin. There he is intrigued by the crown prince’s potential consort, Eyaken. But he knows that Eyaken is meant for the crown prince.
He starts the book alone and he finishes the book mostly alone. There are sexual encounters in the story, but no intimacy. No romance.
Duga is a likeable main character and voice for the story. He is surrounded by characters that have potential to be very interesting. The Queen is horrifically powerful. The crown prince is relatable but underdeveloped. Overall I am intrigued by the beginnings of this story and will investigate book 2.
RATING: 
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