Book picks similar to
Assassin by Maryam Durrani


high-fantasy
royalty
young-adult
young-adult-fantasy

The Wolf Fey


Kailin Gow - 2011
    Will it be with Breena?This is a novelette introducing a new werewolf mythology based on the concept that werewolves have fairy blood in them in order to help them shift. This is their magic.

The First Dragon Rider Trilogy: The Complete Series


Ava Richardson - 2017
     Neill Torvald is desperate to prove himself—his father’s warlord kingdom depends on him. When a vicious attack on the way to the Draconis Order monastery nearly kills him, it becomes clear that grave trials await him on this path. Jodreth, the wise monk who saves his life, advises caution upon entering the sacred halls. His mission is to learn arcane magic from the monks that will help to cement his father’s power, but Neill will need more than magical arts alone to navigate the challenges before him. Among the monks’ students, Neill meets the lovely and mysterious Char, who senses evil deep within the ranks of the Draconis Order’s members. She takes him to a dragon she has raised, Paxala, and the three of them become fast friends. Neill soon grows in strength as he and his fellow students gain ancient knowledge, and his closeness to Char blossoms into something more. But when Neill ’s brothers grow impatient and attack the monastery in a bid to seize power, he will have to decide where his loyalties lie: with his warlord father’s domain, or the new friends he has made in the wider world. Dragon Dreams Sometimes, the past is best left behind… 
 Char longs for peace and escape, preferring her dreams to the ugly realities of an uncertain age. As an illegitimate daughter of the North Prince, Char has always felt deep insecurity, but she must put that aside when Zaxx gives her the task of retrieving an ancient crown from her family’s palace. If she brings him this crown, he says, he will allow the dragon hoard to choose their riders.
 When her father sends for her to return home, fearing war, she senses an opportunity. But Char’s dragon Paxala has grander ideas—she wants to become the greatest of all dragons and defeat the ancient Zaxx. But she can’t do it without Char’s guidance and aid. Employing patience and skill, Char will have to learn the secrets of dragon lore hidden away in her father's archives before Zaxx’s suspicions turn aggressive. 
 With the help of her love, Neill, Char discovers the secret of the old queen’s crown in her father’s castle, learning a tale of dark magic steeped in blood. But when her father wishes to marry her off to the leader of the Wildmen, the fate of Torvald will depend on her difficult choice: accept the role she has always played, or learn to trust her own power.
 Dragon Mage To unite a fractured kingdom, a reluctant hero must rise. 
Neill has been charged with the impossible task of bringing the Middle Kingdom together to fight the burgeoning threat posed by the rogue sorcerer Ansall and his dragon Zaxx. Neill longs for his old life as a mere foot soldier for his father responsible only for his family’s wellbeing, and is unsure about whether he is fit to lead an army. Neill’s contemplative nature forces him to consider every aspect of the problems he faces, but often makes it difficult for him to take action—and failure to act could mean the deaths of many.
 Now, echoing Char and their dragon Paxala, his duty beckons him to lead the Dragon Riders—and take his rightful place as king—but with doubt and new enemies creeping in, his resolve will be tested. When the mysterious Dark Prince arrives with an offer, Neill will have to make a decision that could change the course of history. 
As Ansall grows in strength by harnessing black magic, Neill must choose between his own desires and the welfare of the entire kingdom.

Nine Tails 5: Void Shift


J.L. Weil - 2019
    Karina and Devyn are on the run. No destination in mind. Sleeping in random hotels. And running from a band of faes sent to kill her. Sounds like a good time...if you were insane. There was nothing glamorous about Karina’s current situation, except for Devyn St. Cyr. The Shaman born to protect her, but Karina can’t seem to stop thinking about his lips, his eyes, his hands, and how he makes her feel. The last thing she should be doing is falling in love. Karina struggles to control her powers. The stronger she gets, the harder it becomes for her. She always knew there would come a time when she would have to travel to the Second Moon, but it might be sooner than she is prepared for.

Echoes to Ashes


Ainsley Shay - 2018
    But, I was wrong. And it could cost me my life. When I’m sent to finish my last semester of high school in the peculiar town of Veil Rock, I thought that would be punishment enough. But when mysterious vampires, shifters, and witches come to seek me out, there’s no escaping the clutches of this new hell.They believe I am powerful enough to be their ultimate sacrifice to break a binding curse, and they will stop at nothing until they claim me as their own.I laughed at the absurd idea until unexplained and magical things began to happen to me. Now, unable to gain control of my newfound powers, I’m forced to rely on the very ones who plan to sacrifice me to keep their immortality.As my world breaks apart into a thousand pieces, it’s flight or fight. Since I’m not one to run away, the only thing left to do is decide who I can trust and who is manipulating me as I try to unearth ancient secrets that may save my life.My name is Everly Shade, and I’m not ready to die. *Echoes to Ashes is the first in this YA paranormal mystery series. Expect romance, magic, and twisting plots that will have you guessing to the very last book.*Scroll up and one click to enter the mysterious world of Veil Rock.

Excerpt: Finale


Stephanie Garber
    Now, Legend is preparing for his official coronation and Tella is determined to stop it. She believes her own mother, who still remains in an enchanted sleep, is the rightful heir to the throne.Meanwhile, Scarlett has started a game of her own. She’s challenged Julian and her former fiancé, Count Nicolas d’Arcy, to a competition where the winner will receive her hand in marriage. Finaly, Scarlett feels as if she is in complete control over her life and future. She is unaware that her mother’s past has put her in the greatest danger of all.Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun―with lives, empires, and hearts all at stake. There are no spectators this time: only those who will win...and those who will lose everything.

Touched: The Complete Series


Elisa S. Amore - 2017
    Over 200,000 copies sold. 60 MILLION pages read. 2000+ five-star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Only true love can survive a journey through Heaven and Hell. My name is Evan and I’m a Soldier of Death. For centuries I’ve killed mortals in order to ferry their souls to the other side. Until I met her. Her fate is sealed—I must take her soul. What never occurred to me was that I would fall in love with her. If I don't kill her, the forces of heaven and hell will be unleashed, and others will come to take her . . . Will I be able to protect her? For a limited time, save 50% compared to buying the individual books by reading the entire Touched series in this special bundle deal! #1 in Best Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy on Goodreads Top 100 of over 23,000 in Books that Should be Made into Movies on Goodreads Lovers of vampires, werewolves and witches, be ready for a new, deadly race. The Soldiers of Death are coming to take your souls. Are you brave enough to face them? Take the risk and click the buy button to meet them now . . .

Dragon Academy


Devonnie Asher - 2020
    At the Academy nobody asks questions, especially of the deranged Headmaster—and Kaos somehow finds herself in his crosshairs.The only people keeping her sane? A swoon-worthy lieutenant, her mismatched duo of friends, an alchemist who takes a shining to her, and her mysterious dragon partner, Ignimitra.But as Kaos soon discovers, her dreadful past is woven into the dark tapestry of the Dragon Academy. What she finds will shatter her future. Can she survive long enough to unravel the secrets lurking in the shadows?Dragon Academy, the first of the Dragon Tamers of Pyralis series, is perfect for you if you like insistent heroines who save themselves, powerful majestic dragons, and edge-of-your-seat fantasy adventures!

The Land of Ingary Trilogy (includes Howl’s Moving Castle)


Diana Wynne Jones - 2014
    Deciding she has nothing more to lose, Sophie makes her way to the moving castle that hovers on the hills above Market Chipping. But the castle belongs to the dreaded Wizard Howl whose appetite, they say, is satisfied only by the souls of young girls… There she meets Michael, Howl’s apprentice, and Calcifer the Fire Demon, with whom she agrees a pact.But Sophie isn’t the only one under a curse – her entanglements with Calcifer, Howl, and Michael, and her quest to break her curse is both gripping – and howlingly funny!CASTLE IN THE AIR:Abdullah’s day-dreams suddenly start to come true when he meets the exquisite Flower-in-the-Night, daughter of the ferocious Sultan of Zanzib. Fate has destined them for each other, but a bad-tempered genie, a hideous djinn, and various villainous bandits have their own ideas. When Flower-in-the-Night is carried off, Abdullah is determined to rescue her – if he can find her.HOUSE OF MANY WAYS:Charmain Baker is in over her head. Looking after Great Uncle William's tiny cottage while he's ill should have been easy, but Great Uncle William is better known as the Royal Wizard Norland and his house bends space and time. Its single door leads to many places – including the past and a cave under the mountains.By opening that door, Charmain is now also looking after an extremely magical stray dog, a muddled young apprentice wizard and a box of the king's most treasured documents, as well as irritating a clan of small blue creatures.Caught up in an intense royal search, she encounters an intimidating sorceress named Sophie. And where Sophie is, can the Wizard Howl and fire demon Calcifer be far behind?

Thorn


Intisar Khanani - 2012
    A destiny all her own.Between her cruel family and the contempt she faces at court, Princess Alyrra has always longed to escape the confines of her royal life. But when she’s betrothed to the powerful prince Kestrin, Alyrra embarks on a journey to his land with little hope for a better future.When a mysterious and terrifying sorceress robs Alyrra of both her identity and her role as princess, Alyrra seizes the opportunity to start a new life for herself as a goose girl. But Alyrra soon finds that Kestrin is not what she expected. The more Alyrra learns of this new kingdom, the pain and suffering its people endure, as well as the danger facing Kestrin from the sorceress herself, the more she knows she can’t remain the goose girl forever.With the fate of the kingdom at stake, Alyrra is caught between two worlds and ultimately must decide who she is, and what she stands for.Includes The Bone Knife, a bonus short story set in the world of Thorn.

Healer


J.K. Swift - 2011
    For all her skills, Deenah is unable to identify the strange forces at work on the injury.To save her master's life, Deenah must join the young Warder for the area, Kaern, and an aging veteran tracker, as they set out on a manhunt into hostile lands.Rating: PG (some violent scenes)7000 words (approx. 21-28 pages)

The Moon Hunters


Anya Pavelle - 2019
    A group of survivors finds an island sanctuary.Three generations later, no one has heard from the outside world in years. The old radio only crackles with static. The Pestilence either finished its job or the world tore itself apart.In the Village of Lehom, Leilani has been called to court as a Virtue by the King. Going to court means losing her independence and self-respect. Unfortunately, she doesn’t have a choice.Leilani decides to take a stand; the King be damned. She plans a daring escape and sets in motion a series of events that will shake the foundation of her village and the island to its core.

Shadowborn


Moira Katson - 2013
    Shadows gather: legacies of the centuries-long rivalries for power, old betrayals, the endless plots of the courtiers, and the murmur of rebellion in the southern provinces…Catwin, plucked from her life at the edge of the Kingdom, is thrust abruptly into the world of the Court when she is chosen by the Duke of Voltur to be a Shadow—spy, shield, and blade—to his niece, the Lady Miriel DeVere. The Duke’s ruthlessness is legendary, and he will stop at nothing to become the power behind the throne, using Miriel as a pawn to catch Garad’s heart.But the Duke's carefully-laid plans are only a piece of the intrigue of the court, and greater forces than Catwin can imagine are massed against her, determined to eliminate Miriel and impose a new order of their own. If Catwin and Miriel are to survive, they must learn quickly who to trust, and when to turn their skills against the very people who have trained them...

Two Thousand Years


M. Dalto - 2018
    But instead of the coming of a prosperous world, a forbidden love for the Empress waged a war that ravaged the land, creating a chasm between the factions, raising the death toll of innocent lives until the final, bloody battle.Centuries later, Alexandra, a twenty-two-year-old barista living in Boston, is taken to an unfamiliar realm of mystery and magic where her life is threatened by Reylor, its banished Lord Steward. She crosses paths with Treyan, the arrogant and seductive Crown Prince of the Empire, and together they discover how their lives, and their love, are so intricately intertwined by a Prophecy set in motion so many years ago.Alex, now the predestined Queen Empress Alexstrayna, whose arrival was foretold by the Annals of the Empire, controls the fate of her new home as war rages between the Crown Prince and Lord Steward. Either choice could tear her world apart as she attempts to keep the Empire's torrid history from repeating itself. In a realm where betrayal and revenge will be as crucial to her survival as love and honor, Alex must discover whether it is her choice - or her fate - that determines how she survives the Empire's rising conflicts.

Written In My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon - Reviewed


J.T. Salrich - 2014
    Salrich.Written In My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon is finally here! After waiting for 5 years, fans of Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander series" can finally return to the characters they know and love. Written In My Own Heart's Blood picks up where "An Echo In The Bone" left off and gets right into the action. If you’d like to enhance your experience while reading Written In My Own Heart's Blood then this book review and study guide is perfect for you! Yes, in Written In My Own Heart's Blood, Diana Gabaldon once again takes us on an action packed roller coaster ride that you’re sure to enjoy. Follow along with Jamie, Claire, Roger, Buck, Brianna, Jem, Mandy and all the rest as Diana Gabaldon weaves their stories through the past and present and all over the world. When you read Written In My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon - Reviewed you will get a deeper understanding of the characters and plot found in the original book, Written In My Own Heart's Blood as well as the themes and symbolism included in the novel. You also get a detailed chapter by chapter breakdown and analysis of the events as they unfold along with a glossary of the important characters and terms used in the original book. Just in case that’s not enough for you I’ve also included a list of possible study questions (book club discussions topics) and quotes from the book that I found interesting. Wrapping it all up is a discussion of the critical reviews for Written In My Own Heart's Blood as well as my overall opinion of the book. Plus much more! Whether you’re reading this for a book club, school report, or just want to catch up with your favorite characters and find out what happens before diving into the full length book, you can use this book review and study guide to get most out of your experience reading Written In My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon.

The Bone Coven Chronicles: The Complete Series


Jenna Wolfhart - 2018
     Ever since my parents died in the demon war, I’ve paid my way through life by using magic to con people. It’s not right, but a girl’s gotta do what she can to survive. Unfortunately, my latest con has left me smack dab in the middle of a murder scene. Now, a coven of angry mages thinks I’m the killer. In order to clear my name, I have to team up with an infuriatingly sexy warlock whose powers are far darker than he admits. Throw in a string of related murders and a vexed vampire clan, and I’m up to my eyeballs in danger. But that's not even the worst of it. When I get too close to the real killer, he casts a life-threatening curse on my grandmother. Before, I just wanted to save my own butt, but now I’ll do whatever it takes to track him down—even if it means following him through monstrous dimensions. Because I don’t play nice with magic. And when you mess with Grandma, you become #1 on my sh*t list.