Starred Review Being a clipper legal assassin a ruthless life for Lea Saldana and her secret boyfriend, Val, a member of a rival assassin family. These nine families of killers all have their own rules, and murder is common, both as a contract and a training exercise. They kill in service to Safraella, the goddess of death, murder, and resurrection, and each body is given a coin to ensure its rebirth into a new life. Such a rebirth is all Lea can ask when her entire family is brutally killed kely by Val's family. Now, on a one-woman mission of revenge, Lea seeks out the help of a long-lost uncle who may have started the whole feud decades before. As she runs from the enemy families and the angry ghosts of the haunted plains, she hopes to calm her anger, her vengeance, and her broken heart. Equal parts adventure, romance, and politics, Ahiers' first novel is astonishingly good. This is a unique twist on a love story, and the exciting Godfather-esque plotline adds layers of intrigue d, despite her dubious occupation, Lea is a hero worth rooting for. Fans of Robin LaFevers' His Fair Assassins series will snatch this one up in a heartbeat, and they won't be disappointed.

Gr 7 Up-In the kingdom of Lovero, Lea Saldana belongs to the First Family of assassins. The nine Families of "clippers" are hired throughout the kingdom to kill in the name of the goddess Safraella. Lea keeps her relationship with Val, a member of the Da Vias Family, a secret. She knows her Family would not approve, but she can't seem to help herself. One night, she is betrayed and her Family is murdered. Lea must flee the only home she's ever known before the Da Vias realize they missed a Saldana. She discovers her estranged uncle is still alive and sets off to find him in order to avenge her Family and destroy the Da Vias. Along the way, she discovers a place and a mission all her own. The action and adventure packed into this first-person narrative will keep the pages turning, although the pace slows as Lea gets her bearings in a new city. The secondary characters are developed enough to be distinctive, and Lea's convictions and determination will keep fans of strong female leads rooting for her. The familiar elements of fantasy are all evident here. VERDICT Recommend to those who enjoy fantasy, adventure, and love stories; a first purchase. Natalie Struecker, Atlantic Public Library, IA